Four years later, the Great War ended, and to make peace, they allowed werebeasts to take jobs that they could not before. Then, two years after that, Emerald Prep was built and it became the only school in the Four Kingdoms that allows were-beasts and half-breeds to attend or become teachers. Many people still wanted mages and werebeasts to be in chains for their whole lives, while a few others still wanted death to all non-humans.

When my mother finally showed off the fact that she had half-werebear children, the whole town despised her even more than when they thought she was a wed-less mother. My sister was kicked out of school because they found out that she was a half-breed mage, even though she looked completely human. She accidentally attacked some bullies and they had to send for some specialty medics to heal them. That caused the village to hate her even more even though she was only ten when it happened. I was bullied a lot by her ex-classmates, and one time, a girl used magic to help me, and ever since then the two of us have been best friends.

The end of summer that I turned fifteen was the greatest ever because it meant I would finally go to school for the first time in my whole life. My brother and sister were going as well but in their second year there. I know that it will be hard and full of trials. However, I have my best friends with me and I know that we will support each other.

* * *

I was sitting with my friends on my front porch, and we were watching the stars. It was our favorite pastime to do together at night. My house was the favorite to go because I live on the higher outskirts of town. I am sure that it must have been so rowdy inside, but we were in our little world outside. The stars looked so free and distant that we always wished that we could go see them.

"Can you believe that by tomorrow, we will all be first years?!" I said while jumping in my seat.

"So? It is not that different from regular school. You deal with stupid kids and stupid adults while learning stupid things," Joy said.

Joy Ravenwing, a wonderful friend to me since we were ten. Her name sounds sweet and girlish but she is the total opposite. She can be quite blunt at times but she never lies. Compared to most of the villagers, she looked very different from her tan skin and long chocolate brown curly hair. Rude with a bad mouth plus her ability to create dolls that could control people made many people scared of her. However, both Bram and I know how to calm her fury by giving her apples and tomatoes. Even though she tries to hide it, there are moments when she gets feminine with flowers and candy. She may insult us most of the time, but I know she means well and I would trust her with my life.

"Well, I don't know anything about regular school because this dumbass village doesn't allow half-breeds to go to school," I said while pointing at my ears. "I just want to leave here so badly!"

I started kicking the air in a fake sulk. Joy did a small smile at my childishness. I stuck my tongue out at her, and then she growled at me.

"I just hope that they have a good blood supply for vampires," Bram said as he opened a blood bag.

"I hope they have lots of painkillers if they don't," I said while rubbing my neck, "or you could remember to not bite so hard." I playfully smacked his arm.

"Sorry about that. You know that I cannot control myself if I get that hungry. Getting blood to drink these days is starting to get harder and harder. Ever since most of the villagers found out, they have been trying to destroy any shipments that come in."

"Just bite one of them, I won't miss them at all," I told him.

Whenever Bram accidentally runs out of blood, I am somehow constantly the target and each time my neck gets so sore. However, he has never gotten close to killing me, not even when he reaches blood rage mode. After the war ended, I stopped hiding my bite marks from the village. Now, most of the villagers dodge me for six different reasons.

"Bear boy, Fangs! Look up! There is a shooting star! Let's make a fucking wish."

We looked up and saw the trail of the falling star. I closed my eyes and made a wish.

"I know that you're not supposed to say it but I think it's fine if it's just us," Bram said as I heard him open our ice cooler.

Due to how poor the village was, the three of us saved up some money to get an ice cooler to help Bram's parents so they do not have to spend money every day for fresh blood. The only problem now is that they keep forgetting to buy him some more when he runs out. It was so costly because we had to get the ice cooler from Silvermine and the blood from Duskwell.

"Pass me a tomato, Fangs." She said as I opened my eyes. "My stupid wish is that we stay together, no matter what happens at school. Because everyone else is losers and you two are not assholes."

Bram passed me a drink after giving her a tomato.

"Thanks, well I guess it's my turn to speak. My wish is to learn all that I can and to eat lots of fish."

'And I want to find acceptance for who I am, not hated for how I appear.' I continued to myself.

I stuck my tongue out at them when they laughed at me. I started to take a sip as Bram sat up. It was a blackberry punch, my favorite of juices.

"Well, I guess we all love food! My wish is that I would find love and be accepted at this new school. Because it pains me when people are scared of me just for the fangs I have."

I saw Bram squeezing his blood bag as he said those words to us.

"It won't be that hard, I trust you with my life even though you keep biting me."

"Fangs, always remember that even if they don't even try to accept you, I will kill anyone that tries to hurt you." She had a glint in her eyes that showed she meant it.

He wiped his eyes and truly smiled.

Normally when he fake smiles, he hides his fangs. But, when he is genuinely happy, he forgets that he has fangs and shows them off as he smiles. To me, it feels like the world will end if Bram ever stopped smiling. He normally tries to hide the pain when people try to bully us for what we are. I may not be strong but I will do my best to make sure he keeps smiling. If he ever stops smiling, I would go to the end of the world to bring his smile back. In my eyes, he is a true warrior for always fighting on to survive in this cruel world.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me."

"Just don't get all sappy on us. Otherwise, I will smack you."

"Joy, at times like this, I wonder what drugs your parents were on when they named you," I told her.

She flipped me off as someone opened the door.

"Well, apparently the freshmeat is having fun without me! Shame on that!"

I looked up to see Viktor standing in the doorway. Viktor White is a half-werebird that is also somehow part Albino. He is only two years older than I am, but he thinks that makes him better than me, really he just acts younger. He is egotistical and offensive all the time. He picks on me occasionally, but playfully, unlike the other villagers. I seriously do not know what the hell Alex sees in him and his giant ego. Nevertheless, I could tell that they love each other completely.

"Viktor, just because you are dating my brother doesn't mean you can be a bother to me constantly."

"I am so cool I could do whatever I want! I don't need Snowflake's permission to bug you!" he said while messing up my hair.

The three of us started snickering because of Viktor's nickname for my brother. I have seen my brother, he does not look like a snowflake, but Viktor does look like one with his white hair and skin. I looked over and saw a section of the shadows reach out to pull on his hair braid. He squawked before going back inside. I high-fived Bram for that bit of spell work. When it comes to pranks or stopping bullies, Bram's shadow magic the best to use.

"Ugh, why must we go to school with him?" Joy asked before taking a bite out of her tomato.

"Because he is a half-were like me and no one else wants werebeasts, let alone half-breeds at their school except Emerald Prep."

"It is his third year there, so you only have to deal with him for two years."

Joy huffed at the answer.

"This village is full of dumbasses."

"That is so true. I wish that we could leave this stupid village behind."

"Doesn't most of us have that dream?"

"Hey Joy, is it true that your cousin, Anna likes Lewis?!" Bram said to change the subject.

I spewed out some of my drink when he said that. Joy started to pat my back while I was coughing out the juice.

"As crazy as that is, Anna likes him."

Bram handed me my glasses because they fell off when I spat up the juice. I carefully put them back on my face and the world came into focus.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just so surprising that someone could like Lewis. He such a…damn, I can't remember the word."

I started to snap my fingers as I was thinking of that word. Introduction no, hermit no, vertical no? I could not remember the word that I was looking for that fit my cousin so well.

"An introvert?"

"Yes! That is the word that I was looking for! But, I think it might be good for him if he dates her."

Joy yawned then I followed in suit.

"Well, I still need to finish packing up, so I will see you two tomorrow over here."

"Girls, always take so long packing up enough for a ten-year trip, you do know that we are coming back over here for the Yuletide vacation," Bram said.

"Well then, you will be fucked when you forgot something and I won't give you my spare thing."

Joy got up, grabbed her remaining fruits, and then walked away. Bram stretched out and continued gazing up at the stars. He had such a miserable look on his face that troubled me straight to my heart.

"Ash, I'm terrified."

I watched a single tear fall down his cheek.

"Why?"