*Present Day*
Bryan’s thumb idly rubbed the rim of his teacup as he sat with his legs apart, head tilted slightly. The old man, Baba Razz, had served them some tea as he told them about the origin of their kind, and now Bryan was so calm, trying to process everything Baba Razz had told them.
“And that… is how our kind came to be,” Baba Razz finished, placing his own empty cup on the table with a gentle clink.
For a moment, there was this heavy silence in the room before Aiden finally exhaled through his nose and leaned forward. “So…” he said slowly, trying to find the right words to ask what he wanted to ask. “So, you are telling me… No, you mean to tell me that the evil witch Dahlia is…the moon goddess?”
Bryan, who also had this question in his mind, lowered his teacup but said nothing. His brows furrowed as he patiently waited for Baba Razz to confirm or deny it.
Baba Razz hummed deeply, already expecting this question. “Many have asked that same question, and many believe they know the truth,” he began softly, a faraway look in his eyes. “Some say the witch and the moon goddess are one and the same. Others claimed she repented and became the moon goddess. Just, so many answers.”
“But what I believe…” Baba Razz sighed. “What feels truest is that Dahlia was once an apprentice sorceress and devoted handmaiden to the moon goddess. She could harness the moon’s light as a gift to the world, and was also chosen to guard sacred knowledge.”
He then paused, making sure they were following. Since no other questions came from Bryan and Aiden, Baba Razz continued. “But of course, her heart started growing with greed. She was no longer satisfied, no longer content with the power she had. It was not enough for her anymore, which pushed her to want more…to want control… immortality, more power. And so, she betrayed the moon goddess.”
“So when Dahlia was caught, the moon goddess banished her from her Kingdom immediately. And in addition to the banishment, she cursed Dahlia to be at her weakest on the night of every full moon, the very thing she sought to control.”
“Also, this banishment was a surprise to Dahlia,” Baba Razz added. “She never knew the moon goddess would find out about her betrayal, she also had no idea that her banishment came with a curse in the first place, and the rest you already know.”
“We do,” Bryan nodded, although he was a bit suspicious about the old man’s knowledge. “But, how do you know all this? I mean… all of it? It is not exactly something one can find in a book.”
Baba Razz smiled, Bryan’s question amusing him. “How do I know?” He chuckled softly. “There are things in this world, boy, that you would not understand just yet. Things you are not ready to know.”
“Let’s just say… I do know,” he said to Bryan and leaned forward, his eyes sharp as it locked onto Bryan’s. “And that is all you need to worry about for now.”
“But-” Bryan started to speak, not satisfied with the old man’s response.
“But nothing Alpha Bryan, with all due respect. That is all for now,” the old man interrupted. “I have answered everything I can.”
Bryan was not surprised at the fact that Baba Razz just said his name. The old man somehow seemed to know a lot and well they were the most powerful and ruthless Alphas in the werewolf world, maybe that could be another way for the old man to know their names aside from his little tricks.
Aiden, who was quietly listening, shook his head, staring at Baba Razz. “Not everything,” he said quietly. “You have not answered everything.”
Baba Razz’s lips twitched, his head turning to meet with Aiden’s gaze.
“You never told us about your pack,” Aiden continued, also leaning forward. “What are you Baba Razz? What pack do you belong to? You seem to know everything, and it’s fair for us to know more about you, too.”
Baba Razz nodded thoughtfully. “I accept that you are right. You did ask about my pack and I will tell you about it, but first, you must understand where it all began.”
“We are listening,” Bryan responded.
“Alright then. Remember the four villagers that Dahlia terrorized?” Baba Razz asked them, making sure they were on the same track with him.
“Yes!” Bryan and Aiden answered in unison.
“Good,” Baba Razz murmured, his voice a bit low. “When they got used to their new life, like when they could finally cope, embrace and accept their new identities, they became the first-ever four original Werewolf packs.”
“These are the names of the four villages that became Packs.” He continued, “Noxian Moon Pack, Crescent Pack, Silver Claw Pack, and Mystic Howl Pack.”
As Baba Razz mentioned Crescent Pack, he glanced at Bryan and Aiden with a knowing smile. “Crescent Pack… and yes, your pack.”
“From these four packs, some could hunt better…” Baba Razz explained further, getting lost in his knowledge and history. “Some could track better, some were faster, stronger. Some had enhanced hearing than others, while some were bigger than others, some smaller, and the list goes on.”
“We understand that,” Aiden interrupted, “But which pack do you belong to?”
“I belong to the Noxian Moon Pack,” Baba Razz answered, meeting their gaze directly.
“I see. We have heard about all the other packs,” Aiden uttered, “Although, we have not heard of that pack before.” Then he turned to Bryan, “Or have you?”
“No,” Bryan shook his head, thinking. “I haven’t either.”
“Ah, yes.” Baba Razz exclaimed, his gaze turning distant. “My pack grew extinct many moons ago,” he explained to them, his voice thick and mixed with sorrow and pride. “I have searched for others like me but finally stopped when I found no one. I believe I am the last man standing.”
“We apologize for that. Losing a pack that way can be painful, but we also do not understand what you mean by searching for others like you.” Aiden inquired on behalf of himself and his brother.
“The pack members of the Noxian Moon Pack all have a mark that differentiates us from others. It is well hidden but helps us recognize one another,” he said to them, helping them understand what he meant.
Baba Razz then raised his left arm, pulling back the sleeve of his shirt as he showed them his mark. “This is the mark.”
When Bryan and Aiden leaned in close, their eyes widened.
“Isn’t this the same mark as Kira’s?” Aiden asked.