Sitting in the bedroom, I stared down at the leather book in my hands. Selene said that I needed to read it. All the knowledge that she has on werewolves would be contained in these pages. A voice was urging me to open the book. Was I hearing things? Maybe, but I saw that silver wolf move when I opened the cover before.

  Open the book once more, Korinne. We have little time to waste.

  Yep. I am definitely hearing a voice. Magic has made me crazy. I should probably ask Felicity to find me a pleasant institution to live in back home.

  Stubborn child. I implore you. Open the book and everything will make sense again.

  Who talks like that? Is the book cursed? Shit. Moon grandma would give me a cursed book to learn from. My lunch slowly crawled up my throat, threatening to reemerge all over the bed and book. Stupid book. I curled myself up into a ball, trying to pretend that I didn't exist.

  This won't work, Korinne. You have to see what's in the book. There's so much to learn in such a short time.

  “No offense, cursed book, but I want to keep my life and control over my body.” I said, hoping the voice would be silent afterwards.

  Unfortunately, the book was as persistent as I am as it kept commanding me to open the cover. Each time I heard the voice speak, my constitution to ignore the voice lessened. Even in a mythical world of magic a ghost can compel someone to do something. The book was haunted by a werewolf of the past that I was sure of. We argued for an hour at least before I gave into the book's demands.

  Opening the book, the silver wolf began to move again. I swear it was looking at me. The wolf’s intense gaze made squirm backwards a bit. Yep. I was going insane.

  Finally.

  “Cut the attitude,” I warned the book.

  Korinne, you are no different than those who came before you. You are stubborn and in need of controlling everything. Just like Eron, Dymek, and Elena.

  The silver wolf ran off the page. My fingers brushed the edge of the page. Do I follow the wolf to the next page? Also, why is this book so sassy? I am doubting Selene’s magic more and more as I stare at this little book. If Felicity were here, she’d faint from the awe factor of this magic. I waited, but nothing happened.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “What now, book?” I asked.

  I am not just a book, Korinne. I am the spirit of Ianouários.

  “January? As in, Grandma Jan?” I clarified.

  Grandma Jan? I suppose that’s accurate since you are my descendant.

  Stunned, I stammered, “Damn. I thought you were dead.”

  Uncouth Child.

  Well, I feel like shit. I just insulted my ancestor out of ignorance. Fe’s right, I need to be more aware of my mouth before I speak. “Sorry.” I tangled my fingers into a mess, but the book remained silent. Waiting a bit, nothing happened. Maybe, I should just change the conversation. “Ok, so how’s this work? Do I just read the pages?”

  Just turn the page.

  I did as instructed, and a flash of light erupted from the book. My vision was filled with white light, but it didn’t bother my overly sensitive eyes. I felt a tingling warmth in my mind from Grandma Jan’s magic. I wanted to panic, but there was something soothing about the magic filling me up. Was this the moonlight that Grandma Jan bottled for the love spell?

  This is only a fraction of pure moonlight, but it will get the job done. I am going to transfer all the knowledge you need for now into your little brain. Only basic information will be provided, for more in depth knowledge, you will have to come back to the book. Hold on. This might be painful.

  True to her word, my head began throbbing from the intense moonlight.

  Bare it, Korinne.

  That’s when I started to see… I mean know things. Visions of Grandma Jan, the cursed Lycaon, Dymek, Elena, and all of the other lycans and werewolves passed through my mind. I felt the fear, anger, and greed that filled each of them.The transition to Dymek and Elena’s rule, and how they fostered peace bringing a balance to the supernatural kinds around them. Then, the wars and deaths of so many passed through my mind in flashes. I understood Selene’s rage at her grandchildren. They slaughtered each other for the throne. Even Eron was guilty of war crimes. They all fell to greed, hate, and revenge. The werewolves were capable of such passion, but those emotions could be negative as much as they were positive.

  Traditions flashed through my mind of moonlite runs under the full moon. The beauty of family between pack members. Fated mates that kept wolves bonded to the pack. Pups running in and out of their different forms. The first time a pup would shift was instinctual and painful. Not looking forward to that… The gifts given to blessed spirit wolves like my mindlinking thing. Speed healing might come in handy. There was so much to unpack from this knowledge download.

  Now, we discuss the trial.

  “Right,” I sighed. “This life threatening trial…”

  Korinne, pay attention. You started the trial by retrieving this book from the cave.

  “I figured that out.” I muttered to the book.

  The trial is over once you have proven that you are a worthy heir of the last lycan king.

  “Prove myself how?” I asked.

  Start with bonding and joining with your spirit wolf.

  An image of the fluffy black wolf came into view. A white crescent moon shined on her shoulder as she bathed in the moonlight. The poor girl was tired. Her eyes blinked slowly as if she might fall asleep. I know she has been through so much lately from losing her parents, her mate, and her pack territory. Maybe, she could use some help although I wasn’t sure what I could do for her. I am a human. She won’t trust me to help her at all.

  You must try, Korinne.

  “Kinda have to, Grandma Jan,” I answered. “It seems my life is on the line should I fail this trial.”

  Suddenly, the book closed, and I was blinking myself back to reality. I guess that’s all I get for now. Moody book.