The situation didn't really differ in the first pack meeting of the year. The hundred werewolf students gathered in the auditorium that Friday to discuss their issues and plan their annual workshops. They also welcomed the first-year students and addressed their number one goal: to bond with the other pack members. 

Delta boys already occupied the back row of the seats. Luka and Ariane had to find empty seats in the middle, far from their other friends. 

As the discussion went on, two girls who sat in front of them were also in the middle of their own heated discussion. It's the phrase 'failed to take internship' that took Ariane's attention to them. Apparently, these girls were in the same group project as Brayden last year, which made them get the same result as him. 

"I mean, you can't blame Brayden entirely," blathered the girl with a ponytail. "I think we failed to take it because of the compassion test. We should've said yes to that lady." 

"It's not about Brayden as our group member, but Brayden as the alpha," gabbled the girl with pixie cut hair. "He's not quite exemplary on that area. Misleading, even." 

"Too bad there seem to be no contender for the title this year either. All these freshmen look weak as fuck." 

"Not just weak, they're problematic too. I heard someone protested about the shifting suit. Some said they want to abolish it, some others said they want it to be free of charge." 

"At least Brayden never argued with the rules. Or broke The Vaults." 

That's where Luka picked up the conversation. He glanced at Ariane who apparently had been glimpsing at him.

"Whoever gets to replace Brayden will have a hard time with that guy," continued the pixie cut girl. "Wait, it's the guy, right? Or is it the girl? There are two white haired freshmen, right?" 

Both Luka and Ariane swiftly covered their hair with their hoodies. 

"The guy," answered the ponytail girl. "With that kind of werewolf, I won't be surprised if he gets to be in The Vaults forever. Remember Schwartzman?" 

"Didn't he stay there for two years because he couldn't obey Brayden?" 

"And what makes you think this werewolf will obey Brayden with this kind of attitude?" 

"Oh, yeah, you're right. Well, maybe it's for the best. I can't imagine what he'll do once he gets out in the wild with the rest of the pack." 

The cousins glared at each other once again. They became more confused as to which solution would be better for Luka. Stay in The Vaults or get out to Full Moon Forest? 

Meanwhile, Castor clearly distanced himself from Luka and hung out more with his incubus friends, but when the gang surprised him for his birthday, he realized how much he missed these weirdos and how much he actually worried about Luka. 

Until the next full moon appeared. 

The campus was restless as soon as the announcement ended. Luka, who was on his way outside Olympus Hall with Finlay and Matthew, stood still for a few moments.

"I hope they've built a safer cell for ya," Finlay tapped his shoulder. 

"I wish there's a place where there's no full moon," Luka sighed. "So I don't have to go through this all over again." 

"Hey, that's it!" Matthew stopped walking. His friends turned around and saw the sparkles in his eyes. "Can't you see? There are places where there's no full moon! Or at least, where the full moon is already over." 

* * *

The first year werewolves had gathered in Maeda Hall once again. Except Luka. Ariane realized he must have decided not to show up after waiting for him for more than ten minutes. She instantly reported that to the staffs. 

It was 6:21 p.m. and the security team had spread across the campus to find him. Some of them even searched for him downtown. 

Professor Xan’odath was just having a cup of tea when someone came in without knocking. 

"Good evening, Professor," a woman in a security uniform appeared. "I apologize for barging in. We have a serious situation going on. Luka Cunning is reportedly missing. He signed up for the vault placement, but is yet to arrive in Maeda Hall." 

"How can I help, Miss Jollimore?" Professor Xan’odath put away his tea. 

"I need you to track down his phone," answered the head of security. 

"Right," Professor Xan’odath hobbled to his desk. He opened the laptop. After making sure it was connected to the internet, he just touched the keyboard. 

The screen glitched before a few new windows popped up. The last window that appeared was showing a map of Erebus University. A pin dropped on Olympus Hall. 

Professor Xan’odath zoomed in on the map. It showed the precise location of the pin. 

Miss Jollimore touched the in-ear communication device and said, "He's in Olympus Hall. Sixth floor. Room 516." 

"Copy that," someone answered. 

The security arrived on the fifth floor in Olympus Hall. He knocked on the door first before slammed it wide open.

The room was empty. 

"He's not here," Miss Jollimore received his report. "I can see his phone on the desk, but there's no one here." 

"Dammit!" 

At 6:53 p.m., Miss Zhou, the deputy head of security, received approval from President Weatherhall to use the blood sample Luka had sent in his application package to track him. After enchanting a piece of paper, her team handed her the blood sample they acquired from the health center. With just one drop, they would be able to locate his exact position, and then Miss Zhou would open a portal to force him to return.

While mumbling the spells, Miss Zhou circled the paper with her wand. Then she tilted the vial, poured one drop of blood to the paper. White smoke raised from the paper. Red lines formed on the surface, creating borders and shapes of a map.

And it stopped.

The magic vanished after a world map was drawn on the paper.

Her team gasped. Miss Zhou turned to one of them, “Jairo, go!”

The bearded man who sat behind a computer typed something on the keyboard. Luka’s profile came up. He stared at the photo, scanning every line and color on his face. Then he closed his eyes. An entire world was drawn in the dark. His mind traced thousands of faces within a few miles. Not one matched the profile. The only thing he could get from him was the sound of his beating heart.

“I can’t see him,” he spoke up. “But he’s safe. Far from here.”

Miss Zhou clicked her tongue then touched the comms in her ear and said, "He's using magic of untouchability." 

"Well played, young wolf," Miss Jollimore murmured. She looked up at Professor Xan’odath who just took back his cup of tea, "Apparently, he gets help from a warlock or a fairy friend of his." 

"Oh, right," said the engineer. "When I came to talk to him about the full moon incident the other night, he was with two of his friends. I don't remember how one looks like, but the other is a Shimbran male. One half of twins, as seen from his eyes." 

"Great, thank you, Professor," said Miss Jollimore. "Please be ready for his arrival." 

Just as soon as she stepped out of the lab, the moon was showing a full circle. There was a howling in the distance. The full moon phase was complete.