Episode 3

Two nights ago.

 The woods were in a fit from the frightened predators that moved with caution. Their place of freedom has become a memory of torment, they sought to hide their young from the ones who hunted them blindly. The trees whispered to each other through the wind. The ever green forest was a witness to blood soaked by the earth. When the wolves emerged from the fog that clouded the dead of night, it wasn’t to hunt but to rescue. 

A pack of six moved in the night advancing in still motion. Their paw print caved into the earth and it would remain the only evidence of their presence. Like a hunter who knew his way around death, the leader motioned his pack of warriors into a dark cave. It was a spot well hidden from the human eye but an alpha could smell the claws of death miles away. The cave had no shed of light and in the darkness, their eyes glowed and transcended like colorful fires in the dark. They got to the end of the cave but there was no one to save. It was another night in his territory and death was King.

Adam marched up the staircase towards his bedroom. He stripped from the door, his muscles clenched when he climbed under the freezing jets. He stood still in the shower and imagined it was the rain on his skin. Time crawled by with him not moving an inch. It was the third rescue of the week and each time they came back empty handed. His wolf could not handle the disappointment and predicted failure in the eyes of his pack. He knew how they felt about him and worst of all, he knew what they thought of him. 

An alpha was the only one privileged in a pack to be born with telepathic abilities. It was a power unlocked once the assigned leadership of a pack was accepted. The rest of the pack had their unearthly strength and heightened senses as he did. It was a curse, he mused, to hear them compare him to his perfect, loyal elder brother. 

To them he would always be the beta that abandoned his pack. He could hear them as he stepped out of the bathroom, their comparisons and regret. He toweled his body then pulled up a Jean. He stood shirtless and listened to the wind from his window as it brought in the static whispers from his pack. They thought about his similarities to his father and unlikeness to a brother he idolized. 

“Don’t listen so much,” a deep voice came from the door, “they can feel you eavesdropping.”

Adam had sensed his beta, Everest, before he spoke. “I don’t think they care.”

“Your job as an alpha isn’t if they care, it’s their survival,” Everest stepped in, “and every warrior that walks with you into darkness knows how much you fight for the pack.”

Adam pulled his thoughts away from the people he’d sworn to protect with his life, he turned to his cousin and grinned, “are you a poet now Everest?”

“Not yet but if you keep sulking,” he teased, “I’ll go Shakespeare on your ass to keep your head on straight.” 

Adam shook his head, chuckling, as he strolled pass an adjoining door in his bedroom which lead to his study, more like his brother’s. In four years, he didn’t have the mind to change a thing. He sat on the mighty chair behind the large desk and gestured for his beta to sit. 

Unlike his name, Everest was average height and skinny. His short, dusty chestnut hair which suited his pale skin and brown eyes skimmed off his neck and forehead. He had the friendly face of a cashier at a candy store but when he spoke, his voice ran as deep as can be. Hearing it for the first time frightened and surprised a lot of people. His name Everest came from his wolf form. When he transformed, he was larger and fiercer than most wolves in their range. He was Adam’s best soldier because at first glance he was widely underestimated.

Adam opened a half bottled of scotch and offered a glass to Everest, he savored a sip then eyed his friend, “the last time you were in here, it was to report another attack.”

Everest shook his head in the middle of his drink, “no attack, just updates from Kingsley.”

Adam sighed, “tell him his offer to return is denied. I need him where he is.”

“That’s not it,” Everest thought of how to say his next words, “it’s the girl.”

Adam zeroed in a grave stare to the man sitting opposite him, “what about the girl?” His voice was low and icy.

Any other living thing would have crumbled at the sight of the threatening look on the alpha’s face but Everest shrugged and took another sip of his drink, “He is not certain but Kingsley believes she is being watched.” Before Adam could speak, he continued, “though when he tried to sense who it was, he sensed nothing. And you know the only living things we can’t sense.” 

Adam filled up another glass, he took a sharp whip of its content and rose to his feet. He walked away from his desk towards a frame of his father. A mighty man who woke up one day and left his pack, with no reason or goodbye, he didn’t just leave a spec of the lycanthrope race that day. He left his family as well. This year would make it a decade since the night his father disappeared. 

Once again, Adam had a decision to make. He had always expected his enemies to go after her but he’d thought it was him creating an excuse to see her again. He frowned into his glass, if he left the pack, it would do nothing to nurture the trust he was trying to earn. He scoffed as he took another sip, if he stayed it’ll do nothing either.

“They don’t have to know you’re gone.” Everest was standing behind his alpha, decades has taught him to understand every look that escaped his best friend’s eyes.

“I can’t stay here if she’s in danger,” he placed his glass on a short shelf below his father’s frame, “if the pack is hurt while I’m away, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

“Who are you arguing with?”

“Him.” His wolf wanted to protect his pack but he could not bare the thought of not keeping what was his safe from danger. Adam closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, he opened his eyes and turned. “I’ll be back in a week.”