Thinking out loud

    Chapter Three.

    

    Sabrina was my best friend since I learned to walk. She was my only friend to be precise. We grew up together and pretty much did everything together. Even though I was seven months older than her, that never bothered either of us.

    

    She was a beautiful woman with a tall, slim body structure and thick raven black hair which she always cut up to her shoulders. they barely touched her shoulders now as she walked towards me, she probably cut a few edges again.

    

    Her doe eyes lit brightly as she walked towards me, her hand moving up to wave at me. 

    

    I thought about what mom just said. The least of my worries was finding a mate. I still couldn't shift yet. But I knew my wolf was somewhere deep Inside me and she's probably too lazy to show herself. 

    

    Sabrina was lucky. She started shape shifting after she turned fifteen and she had never stopped. She's yet to find her mate too but she had less to worry about than me.

    

    " Hey, Rose, what's up? " She called out before she reached me. Looking behind me ,she asked " still busy in there? "

    

    " Not anymore, I wanna get out of here "

    

    " Not now, young lady " my father said from behind me. I turned to find him towering high behind me, a big scowl on his face.

    

    My father was our Alpha's Beta and he held a rank within the village as the council leader. He took this very seriously and would always frown upon anyone who tries to stop his ruling. When the Alpha isn't around, he acts as the alpha for his friend.

    

    The Alpha had a daughter but no son and she was mostly away from the park. I always wondered why but my mother told me she leaves for protection. Wars were coming.

    

    " Where are you off to again, woman? " His voice is deep and demanding.

    

    " Dad! " I chuckled nervously.

    

    " Sabrina? " He called sabrina who stood behind me. " Where were you two going? "

    

    " We? Nowhere! " She replied, chuckling sheepishly.

    

    He sighed unbelievably, then said " come with me ". Dumping his heavy council book on my hands, he turned away. I felt like screaming as I watched him go. He's gonna make me sit through his council meeting again!

    

    Sabrina placed a hand on my shoulder and laughed mockingly before saying " I guess there's no skatering the woods tonight then " 

    

    " No way, we're definitely going, " looking up to the starry sky, I added " the sky is full of so many stars tonight, I wouldn't miss that "

    

    I walked ahead with Sabrina, towards the pack's council house. I walked inside, the long table already surrounded with twelve members with four other seats empty. Alpha Jamie was off on a journey to another neighbouring pack on an alliance meeting and my father currently held the meetings around here. He stood tall at the head of the long wooden table, a white paper folded up in his hands. Placing the book he'd given me earlier on the table before him, I walked back to where Sabrina stood at the door and stood beside her.

    

    I knew the perfect time to sneak out of here.

    

    " I am very sure that you all know the reason why I'm calling this meeting so late in the night, " my father started " there's been word from the boundary watchers. The night stalkers are invading territories and are heading towards North now. We all know that Jonah's team are still yet to return with the alpha from the white mountain pack. According to our boundary leader, it's only going to take a few weeks before the Night stalkers reach our territory"

    

    " So what do you suggest we do, Beta? " Harris, one of the council elders asked " pack up and leave here? "

    

    " I never suggested that, chief, " my father replied boldly " running away is never an option. The blue moon has always been known before of this place which our ancestors strived to protect. I called this meeting so we can put heads together "

    

    "Jonny reported that the night stalkers were last seen at the outskirts of the Ago pack, south, " Polka, another of the council members spoke " it's only a matter of time before they reached here"

    I found myself, for the first time listening deeply to the conversation happening before me. I never took much interest in listening at these meetings like my father would've wanted but at this moment, I couldn't help picturing scenarios about what they were talking about in my head. The night stalkers scattering other villages and killing them. 

    

    The night stalkers I've heard were as fierce and inhumane as the tyrant, Emi from many decades ago, from the werewolves' history. Today he was a story told to the little children around the pack. The night stalkers were known to travel in packs, invading other territories and forcing their women into slavery. They were ruthless and the thought of them entering our territory frightened me. 

    

    " I would suggest that we wait for the Alpha's return " one of the men suggested.

    

    " While doing that, I think we should come up with a plan, " my father replied " we need more warriors "

    

    " Warriors? You know we do not have much men to spare, Beta " Polka replied

    

    " Then should we say we're doomed? " My father asked, the seriousness in his voice reaching out to me.

    I looked down, my mind traveling far into my own thoughts and drifting away from the talks and voices. How serious was this?

    

    They continued to talk about the matter and soon their voices became distant to my ears. Looking back up, I saw my father spreading out the folded white paper across the table and the others moving closer to look into it.