“They're coming,” Sarah said, placing her hand on my lip, which means I should stop talking. “The Matilda pack is coming.” Matilda's pack! I repeated it in my head, and my heart skipped a beat before it stopped functioning completely. I could feel this strange adrenaline rushing through my head, spreading through all the veins that carried blood in my body, and making its way to my leg. I could hear my intelligence screaming at my leg, yelling at it to move so we wouldn't face the wrath of the Matilda pack. I don't want to have anything to do with the Matilda pack again. I'd disappear at the sight of them. Ever since their ruthless Alpha nearly took advantage of me, It took all my strength not to commit suicide that day. All thanks to Sarah's stupid prank. She's the culprit, and I was the one who faced the wrath instead; and, she was the one who ended up saving me from the same mess she created. She was the one who suggested that we try something new and crazy that day. It's the day that the Matilda pack and their ruthless Alpha came to tour the Hudson River. We crept into their camp, stole their supplies, spoiled their clothes, and poured bugs on what remained of their provision. I don't know how they did it, but they tracked us down. “They're near,” Sarah said again, scaring me more. By now, my legs are heeding my intelligent call to run. The idiot is even moving without my consent. Just when I was about to take to my heels, I felt something holding me back. “Release your f*cking hand from my shoulder!” I screamed at her, jerking furiously to break free. “Easy, baby.” She said, “We got caught that day because we didn't mask our scent. I promise you that won't happen now.” She assured me I frown, raise my eyebrows in confusion, and say, “Scent! What was that supposed to mean?” “Scent is what differentiates people. There's no way those b*stards could have tracked us down if we had hidden ours that day.” Sarah explained in a whispering tone. I rolled my eyes dramatically and asked, “Why didn't you think of it earlier?” “It escaped my mind,” she explained, sniffing the air again. “They're coming in this direction.” She said it hastily. I stretch my neck, looking around and wondering where the so-called beings are coming from. When I couldn't see anything or hear the rustling of snow, I asked, “Where the hell are they?” followed by a hissing sound that left my mouth. “Shut up and listen to me,” she whispered. Before I could blink, Sarah covered my body with snow and buried my head underneath it. “And here they are.” I heard her say: However, it was like her voice was coming from afar. I felt a great cold gushing into my body and freezing my blood. Rapidly, the thought of the Matilda pack disappeared from my mind. I couldn't find it again. I tried forcing my head out, but her grip was too strong. I couldn't wriggle my body free. Just when I thought I was about to die, she released me. I dragged in a great quantity of air and exhaled sharply. My breath was rough, and I could still feel the watery snow in my throat. Angrily, I turned around and tried slapping her. She was quick to grab my hand midway. “Why did you do that?” I shouted at her, totally forgetting about the Matilda pack. It was like Sarah already knew about my next move. She picked up another great quantity of the snow and shoved it into my throat, making my voice come out muffled instead. She dragged me toward herself and then closed my mouth and nose altogether, forcing me to gulp down the snow she shoved into my mouth earlier. As the snow went down my throat, it left a frigid temperature on my throat and at the back of my tongue. I could feel it touching the bottom of my stomach and nearly freezing it. I don't know whether to break down or bit her. I looked at my body. I could see that I was now covered in snow, and I couldn't recognize myself. I resemble one of the snow walkers. The Snow Walkers were the creatures that were rumored to be living in the snow. From what Sarah told me, she said they are like the undead army. Their group was made up of bodies that weren't burned. If a wolf is killed and the body is not burned, it will resurrect and begin living in the snow until winter arrives. When it's winter, they will all emerge as one and cause havoc, killing any being they come across and gaining more population. Though I haven't had the chance to see one, I've only heard the tales from Sarah, and I'm yet to believe her. Why? because I believe it's a superstition; especially when she said the last of the snow walkers was killed by Alpha Rey. I jerked furiously and tried to free myself from her grip. However, she's just too strong. “Easy, baby. You're going to blow our cover.” I don't care if I blow our cover! I screamed in my mind. Blow our cover! The word repeated itself in my head, and I was able to grasp what she was saying. I quickly composed myself and went mute. Instantly, the spirits of the deaf and dumb seek shelter in my body. It's the thought of the Matilda pack that makes me useless and vulnerable. I remained calm and watched from beside the rock where we were hiding as Alpha Rey led his beta and some omegas past us. At the sight of him, I felt like hitting him for what he did to me the last time. However, I couldn't. There's something strange that's rendering me useless. A strong aura was radiating from him, which made me feel powerless, though it didn't last. It's just for a while. They were almost past us when Alpha Rey halted. I couldn't get a clearer vision of his face because of the position I was standing in, yet I could see him looking around as if sniffing the environment, his head wandering around like an antenna. He let out a growl and ruffled his hair like someone in frustration. After searching around for several more minutes without seeing anything or any clue, he continued his walk, and the rest followed him. I looked at Sarah and gave her a high five. “How did you know snow would mask our scent?” I asked while grinning widely. “It's what every supernatural being experiences,” she said, confusing me more. “Snow doesn't allow the night-walking creature to catch a scent. It covered it and lessened the power of the night-walking creatures.” She clarified. I raised my brow at her, “Including you?” I asked. “I'm different, baby. I'm a coyote. I can evolve and shape-shift.” Before I could ask what she meant by evolving, she grabbed my hand and yanked me up with her strength. I could feel my arm nearly removed by the strength she used to drag me up. Sometimes, I tend to wonder if she doesn't know that I'm not strong like her. At least not yet. “Come here, baby, let me show you something,” Sarah said hastily while dragging me into the deepest part of the snowy mountain. After ten more minutes of walking, amidst the desolate snowy mountaintop, an abandoned hut stands as a lonely sentinel, weathered by time and enshrouded in a pristine blanket of glistening snow. The once-sturdy walls, now worn and sagging, display the marks of neglect and isolation. The structure, small and humble, exudes an aura of melancholy, bearing witness to the passage of seasons without the touch of human care. The hut's roof bows under the weight of accumulated snow, creating a picturesque scene that seems frozen in time. Icicles hang like delicate stalactites along the eaves, their sharp edges reflecting the faint sunlight that peeks through the overcast skies. The windows, once clear panes to the world beyond, now appear frosted, veiling the interior from prying eyes. As the snow drifts gather around the hut's base, they create an embracing mound that seems to cocoon the dwelling in a protective embrace. Footprints of wildlife and occasional wanderers leave traces of life's fleeting encounters, but they too fade away with each fresh snowfall, leaving the hut to its lonesome existence. The wooden walls bear the scars of time and weather, their paint long since stripped away by the elements, exposing the raw, grainy texture of the timber beneath. Gaps and cracks now serve as a refuge for snow and the chilly wind that whistles through, giving an eerie whispering sound that echoes through the emptiness. The hut's door, once a portal of welcome, now hangs slightly ajar, creaking faintly in the breeze like a forlorn cry for attention. The hinges, rusty and weather-beaten, tell tales of the countless times it swung open and shut in its heyday. A forgotten threshold, once traversed by lively footfalls, now remains untouched and forgotten. In the winter twilight, as the sun sinks beyond the horizon, the hut takes on an otherworldly charm. It was like no one had been here for centuries. Yet it's not. It might've been abandoned for a long time, but I knew Sarah was here before. She was just too perfect at everything, including how to cover tracks. I knew she did this to avoid people from prying inside the hut. She's hiding something in the hut. “What's inside?” I asked anxiously, curiosity taking the best part of me. Sarah said, “This is where I came to enjoy my day whenever you slipped from the mountain. It's where I saw the jam I brought home a week ago.” I felt a pang of jealousy arise in me as soon as Sarah finished her explanation. “So, you've been enjoying all this without me,” I accused, trying my best to sound angry. Yet my voice comes out like the meowing of a cat. “But I always bring something,” she argued. I waved her speech away and dashed to the front door. “Wait, something isn't right.” She tried to warn me. However, I wasn't in the mood to wait. She might be playing another prank on me. I concluded in my mind. I grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open. The door easily opened, and it was too late before I realized that Sarah was right. Something is wrong indeed. Waiting patiently inside the room is something I didn't expect. It scared me to the bone, and I could feel myself peeing on my pants. It has been a long time since I was scared like this. I should've listened to Sarah! I blamed myself

I should've just listened to Sarah when she warned me to be careful. I should've waited a little while and heard what she wanted to say. I should've been patient and found out what was wrong. It's my fault. Curiosity took the best of me. I was jealous because I didn't have the chance to climb the mountain on time and discover this hidden hut with Sarah. Now, I'm facing the consequences of my disobedience. If there's anything I dread most in my life, it's reptiles. I could remember the day I encountered one. I was returning from Valeria High School and walking through the woods. I met it on the way. It coiled in the middle of the road, swallowing a rabbit. It took all my strength and Sarah's intervention not to faint that day. Won't I faint now? I asked myself. Of course, that's the next thing I will do. I could've run, but I can't. It was like my legs were glued to the ground. I couldn't take a single step. I tried speaking to my brain to find a way out or anything I could use as a defense, but the idiot wouldn't respond. My brain had deserted me again. The same goes for all the bones that were controlling the movement of my body, right from the end of the medulla oblongata down to my joint bones. All of them have deserted me, making me stand still like one of the statues in New York. Standing in front of me is a snake that has adapted to the harsh treatment of the weather on this desolate mountain A deadly snowy mamba was waiting for me inside the hut Unlike its tropical relatives, this unique serpent has adapted to harsh winter conditions, boasting scales as white as the freshly fallen snow, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Its eyes, however, glisten with a chilling glint, betraying its venomous and predatory nature. Within the hut, the deadly snowy mamba lies in wait, coiled with deadly precision, its muscular body poised to strike at a moment's notice. Even from where I was standing, I could feel the serpent's instincts that drove it to remain perfectly still, patiently awaiting its prey. As the afternoon light filters through the cracks in the hut's weathered walls, the mamba's eyes narrow, clearly aware of my presence in the room. I could see that the hut itself is a stark reminder of the unforgiving environment it inhabits. The wooden walls on the other side are weather-beaten and sagging, barely providing shelter from the icy winds that howl outside. Abandoned tools and remnants of human presence suggest that this place was once a refuge before Sarah found it, now reclaimed by the harsh, wintry wilderness. Eventually, the reptile repositioned itself and attempted to dash at me. Not knowing what to do, I closed my eyes in anticipation of my death. Instantly, my ear caught the creaking sound of the door as it burst open. The brightness of the sun filled the room, followed by fast-approaching footsteps. I don't need to turn before I can guess who entered. It's none other being than Sarah. Her presence in the room brought me back to my senses and helped me regain my strength. I opened my eyes, half expecting to see the reptile leaping at Sarah instead. However, I was met with the greatest surprise of my life. Surprisingly, the black mamba is gone. Impossible! I yelled in my head. This is a trick! I assured myself. I'm sure of it. This is a trick. I rubbed my eyes to be sure that I wasn't dreaming. The snake was standing right in front of me a second ago. But right now, it's gone. Sarah's present had made it disappear. “Did you lose something?” Sarah asked, her eyes wandering around my body like a robot. I was sure she was looking for any signs of wounds. “You should've listened to me earlier and waited. I hissed, shoved her out of the way, and decided to take a proper look at the small hut. The truth is that I'm damn hungry to listen to any of her moral speeches or her mother's quotes again. She grabbed my hand and said, “Remember, I'm almost ninety, and I have more experience than you. You should just listen to me.” Eventually, I decided to give her my attention. “I know! But please, can we eat first? All the hiking and everything nearby has made me exhausted. She sighed in defeat and let go of my hand. “That's why you should learn how to harness your power. I scared that reptile away with just a growl. Ignoring Sarah's speech, I dashed to the end of the wall, toward the provisions that were neatly arranged on the top of a cabinet. I scrutinized everything to pick something that would quench my hunger. I opened the cabinet, and my eyes landed on a jam and a hamburger that were inside the cabinet. As I attempted to bring out the snacks, I heard something hissing behind me. I could feel all the dread and scary attitude I hid earlier returning. This time, fear was flowing through my veins multiple times. It's twice as bad as the one I felt before. “Marvel, dodge to the left!” I heard Sarah alert me. But I couldn't process anything. I could hear my intelligence screaming at my leg and telling it to desert me again. I could hear them telling each other that they didn't want to be victims of the reptile. I could hear them discussing the venom of the mamba. I looked at the wall, and I could see the shadow of the snake rising and getting ready to lunge at me. I heard Sarah screaming again, “Marvel, shift to the right now.” This time, I was able to grasp what she was saying. Before my brain and legs could run like a rabbit that was running away from a cat, I snatched them, called them to duty, and ducked aside. Instantly, the reptile struck the wall of my previous position, shattering the wall in the process. Sarah dashed at me and grabbed my hand before we both rushed out together. “That's a narrow escape,” I mumbled. My heart was racing badly, and I could feel myself breathing heavily. Sarah said proudly, “All thanks to me. I had just saved you once again.” I rolled my eyes at her reply: “Isn't that your duty as a mother?” “Yes, and I didn't fail,” she said, not ready to accept defeat. “And you must not fail,” I warned her with a stern look, and she giggled. “What about the reptile?” I asked while looking back at the hut before switching my gaze to the wall that was shattered by the creature. “Who knows?” She shrugged, “It could still be lurking around and waiting for another victim.” She explained and made her way toward the bottom of the mountain. “I wish the Alpha of the Matilda pack would become his next victim,” I said venomously, and Sarah gave me a quick hard glance. “That's my wish!” I repeated it and strolled after her. I hadn't taken more than three steps when I felt a strong scent hitting my nostrils. It's the scent of vanilla and chocolate cream. It smelled so sweet that I could feel myself salivating. “Can you smell that?” I asked Sarah. She paused and gave me a puzzled look. She asked, “Smell what?” while walking toward me. “Tell me you don't smell that vanilla and chocolate cream!” I exclaimed while sniffing around for where the scent might be coming from. Sarah said, “I couldn't smell any…” She was still talking when I noticed that she furrowed her brow as if she knew what it meant. “Your mate is nearby!” She exclaimed Mate!!! I screamed in my head. Rapidly, something struck my mind. I had smelled this scent before, but I couldn't remember. I was sure of it. I ransacked my brain and tried forcing myself to remember. After a few seconds of searching my mind, I was able to remember. Mate!!! Sarah's voice replayed in my head, and I felt my heart skip another beat. It's the same scent I smelled when we went to prank Alpha Rey and his pack. That means one of the Matilda Werewolf is my destiny mate. Not only that, but it also means they are nearby “Sarah!” I shouted her name. “They're nearby.” Her eyes widened at my words, which also meant she knew what I was talking about. Before the blink of my eyes, I watched as Sarah started transforming. It starts with a soft, gentle breeze that begins to pick up, swirling around Sarah as if whispering secrets of ancient power. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, for she knew what was about to happen. From what she told me, It was a secret she had guarded close to her heart, a gift passed down through generations in her family. I watched in anticipation as Sarah closed her eyes, and a serene calm washed over her. At the same time, the last rays of the setting sun kissed the mountaintop. Her body started to tremble slightly, and a shimmering light enveloped her form, like a cascade of falling stars descending upon her. Her hair, once flowing like dark rivers, now shimmered with the brightness of the snowy mountain. Her skin took on a pearlescent glow, and her eyes gleamed with an otherworldly radiance. Sarah's body elongated, her limbs stretching gracefully as she grew taller, and her fingers transformed into delicate, silken white paws Before long, a magnificent white coyote stood in Sarah's place. Her coat was as pure as the freshly fallen snow, with faint, ethereal patterns that seemed to shift with every movement. She blinked her eyes, now reflecting the wisdom of ages past She gazed at her new form, feeling the power coursing through her veins, the spirit of the coyote now one with her own. With newfound agility and grace, she leaped through the snow toward me, leaving no footprints in her wake. As she stood in front of me, I needed no one to tell me what to do next. I jumped on top of the Coyote and grabbed her fur in readiness for the long sprint away from the Ruthless Alpha of the Matilda pack.