Chapter 7

Lily ran until her legs could take her no farther, her legs ached after running for so long, till the point at which she felt she would die if she took any more steps, stopping underneath a tree to rest with her head laid down on the forest ground. She looked up panting for a few minutes as she lay, telling the time from the skies, evening had come, she’d better be running home now, else she’d have everyone at home worried. Even though she still felt crappy at what happened a few hours ago, it still didn’t make her change her decision, neither did it make her regret what she did. Nothing, no matter how worse things got, would ever make her regret her decision of refusing to marry Walden.

After resting for a while, she got up from the ground, it was a good run, and it was time to go home now. It was when she looked around that she then noticed that she’d entered a different territory. With the different trees and plants that grew around this area, also with the different soil, she could tell that she wasn’t anywhere near the lotus territory, nor the goddess’s crescent. Oh no! Whose land had she stepped into? How could she have been so absent minded? Was she running for that long that she didn’t even notice? Along with the questions, different feelings of fear and worry winded her then as she figured a way out of this place before she was caught.

Suddenly, she began to hear footsteps, soldiers marching this way, they were far away but she could hear them well of course, they were wolf soldiers approaching, they were coming from the border; the direction she was supposed to return towards. Oh no! This was not good… this was not good at all! She’d better hide, she shifted to her human form quickly, her eyes searching for the perfect hiding spot, she then spotted a rabbit hole in a corner on the opposite, a perfect place to squeeze herself undetected while the soldiers would pass. Good for her! Since she had a small stature, she should fit into that hole well, she’d just get something to cover up the hole when she entered inside. Voila! A pile of dried-up leaves also stood near the rabbit hole. Just perfect!

She ran over to her intended hiding place, analyzing the hole to ensure that she would fit, of course she did. Now for the leaves, as she stretched her hands forward to gather up as much as her hands could carry, something unexpected happened. Poor Miranda was unaware that hidden beneath those leaves was the rope of a metal net trap, waiting to catch its next victim, the leaves were just used to cover up the rope so the intruder wouldn’t see, and as her hands dug inside, the trap snapped and as quick as lightning, the hidden net scooped her up, until she now hung trapped hanging from the tree. She roared and growled, pushing against the net she was trapped in, trying to shift back to her wolf form, maybe she could cut herself free, but it was no use, the strong mesh from the net stuck to her skin like glue, trapping her so she couldn’t shift. The one who had built this trap really intended to catch a werewolf, and now she’d been caught!

**********

Beta Renard of the silver pack had gathered the soldiers to survey the terrain, ensuring there were no mines bombs, or anything inauspicious planted by the rogues, the troops scouted every area as their normal daily routine, main instructions from the mighty alpha Damian, who had ruled over these lands for nearly a decade and had ensured the protection, peace and prosperity of the silver pack till date.

Renard was about to call off the patrol for the day when one of the wolf soldiers ran towards him, panting hysterically.

“Barack, what is it?” He asked.

“Huh…. Sorry sire! He said, catching his breath. I came to alert you of an intruder on our premises.”

“An intruder??? How?”

“We found footprints sire; the trails lead into the bordering forest. Our men were patrolling the other edge when the one-man intruder came in unnoticed.”

“If this intruder, whoever it is has dared to step foot in our territory, it means he must still be in the bordering forest, hopefully one of our traps must have caught them since we haven’t heard of any new visitors in the main city for some time now.”

“Yes sire,” Barack confirmed.

“If so, search the entire forest for as long as you have to, we must find this person, close the city gates and every soldier should be at the border, no escape for this person… in or out of our territory…” and then…” a pause, as if remembering something crucially important, “go to the packhouse and alert the alpha immediately.”

“Yes sire.”

As the guard ran off to carry out the instructions, the beta began to mumble some words to himself.

“We will make this intruder, whoever those bloody rogues might have sent this time, regret the minute they ever thought of stepping foot on our lands.”

**********

“What about this one?” Katrina beamed a sexy smile at alpha Damian as she held up one of his favorite shirts for him to see, a solid dark casual top, which came with a pair of matching trousers. She’d picked it out from his closet, knowing he’d like this one, black was Damian’s favorite color.

He smirked for a second, standing up to take the clothes from her. “I’ll wear it, now get out.”

“What?” Katrina frowned, reaching for him. “Why won’t you let me watch you while you dress? You and I are so close and….

“Katrina.” With a stern tone, he uttered her name. That was all he needed to do… he didn’t need to raise his voice, he didn’t need to say anymore words, he didn’t need to repeat himself.

She quickly withdrew her hand like his skin burnt her. *Gulps*, “y-y-yes… of course sire… I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Katrina bent to pick up her clothes that were thrown across the floor, alpha Damian had served it to her hot today, just the way she always liked it, even after many years of being his mistress, the two of them never bonded outside of their sexual relationship, but Katrina was hoping that would change soon.

Alpha Damian watched her as she dressed herself, swinging her hips sexily as she put on her clothes one by one, he didn’t seem to appear moved by any of her gestures, guess he’s had enough of her for one day.

After dressing, Katrina was now about to leave the alpha’s chambers before, “can I ask you for one more thing sire?”

A moments pause. As time dragged, she felt like her heart would drop at any second now, and then…. “What is it?”

“C-can I dine with you tonight sire…? Please?”

Another pause, but this time she felt much better since he didn’t refuse her at first, not a pin drop was heard as the alpha thought of what answer to give her, she waited for long before he finally responded.

“Yes… Katrina, I would love to dine with you tonight.”

“Oh, thank you!” She smiled, jumping. Oh, how she wished she could give him a hug right now! She didn’t because she sure how he would respond to it, she’d be dead meat if he didn’t welcome her touch.

As Katrina opened the door, still voicing her thanks out loud, someone was waiting at the door, the guard who had informed him about two hours ago about the presence of an intruder on the silver pack territory.

“Come in Barack.”

“Thank you sire,” he entered and nodded at Katrina in greeting as she walked out, but she only scowled at him, useless servant that can’t even greet her properly. If the alpha wasn’t here, she’d have taught him a lesson.

After Katrina left, alpha Damian took his robe from where it hung on his bedstand, using it to shield his nakedness. “What news do you have about the intruder?” He asked Barack after clothing himself.

“It’s a woman sire, a she wolf.”

He didn’t appear moved by Barrack’s statement.

“And so? Are you not aware of what I always preach??? The rogues aren’t trustworthy people, of course they wouldn’t send a spy so easy for you to detect. In fact, they’d send who you least expect, someone innocent, someone you would never think in your wildest dreams, you mustn’t be fooled by any of her innocent tricks she might try to play on you or any of the others. NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!! Do you understand me???”

Barack nodded firmly, “yes sire,” the alpha rarely gives advice, rarely talks much, but when he does, better deem yourself worthy of it.

Alpha Damian then walked over and took a seat at the table.

“So, what else have you come to tell me?”

“I just received a call from the station at the packhouse gates. They’ve caught her sire, and she’s already being brought here by Beta Renard’s men.”

Alpha Damian nodded, “good, that’s good. I’ll get dressed now and meet with her soon in the court, make sure everyone is gathered, she’s done for once we found out who it was that sent her here. And then… I will teach you all how to throw mercy into the gutters where it belongs; I’ll kill her myself for all of you to watch.”