Chapter 2 – A Rebel

I got home feeling exhausted. My whole family is in the living room talking about something but I just walked pass at them. I have nothing in mind other than laying in my bed and rest in peace.

I am about to enter my room when I heard my father calling me.

"What is it father?" I lazily asked. 

"Did your mom tell you about our training?" His disheveled hair makes him look neat and presentable. I guess he just got home too. Just a little bit earlier than me.

"Yes, she did tell me. Except the date, time and place." I'm so tired! Nahuhulog na talaga yong eyelids ko. 

Tomorrow princess, are you free?" Agad akong umiling sa sinabi nya.

"Father, I'm not free tomorrow. I'm free the day after tomorrow." I said. He shows me his thumbs up and I nod as a response. I'm so tired to keep up with them so I just take a half-bath and sleep.

The next day all I did was taking down notes. I often forget my memories so just in case. Just memories of a certain situation. I take down every conversation I heard from Loren and those living creatures he is with at that night. I also take down everything that happened yesterday.

As I was taking down notes at my table, I saw the box at my peripheral vision. Nilingon ko iyon at kinuha. I almost forgot who gave me this. Father makes me remember everything that happened that day so I was able restored my memories. The knife that's inside the box makes me lose my sanity so I didn't display it outside the box. Baka nga galing yan sa mga witches and maybe they cast a spell on it. It feels weird holding it in a long period of time.

Nang dumating na si Jaime ay agad kaming pumanhik na papuntang kakahuyan. The place doesn't scare me even if it holds a weird history or maybe they mislead the tale as it's history. Nahaluan na kasi ng mga haka-haka makalipas ang ilang libong-taon.

Naglakad lang kami nang naglakad hanggang sa bigla nalang syang tumigil. He's so quiet ever since he picked me up at our house so I didn't utter a word as well.

"We're here." He said and I roam my vision around. There's nothing and no one in here except us. I was about to say something when he transform himself into a wolf and howl.

I didn't move nor say anything. Pinagmamasdan ko lang sya. Seconds passed and I slowly heard big footsteps that became louder and louder until I see werewolves. I took a step back. S big werewolf caught my attention most. Loren.

"Meet my family." Jaime said that shocked me. That didn't even cross my mind.

All werewolves I've seen at this exact place are here. I breath in and out to compose myself.

"Hello!" I said cheerfully and waved my hands at them. They don't look welcoming except Loren. He waved back at me.

I cover my mouth as if in shocked as I saw him. I acted like he's not the first one I recognized.

"Omg! Loren!" I smile so widely that it hurts my cheeks.

"By the way he's my father." Now that's a revelation. I lag for a minute until he's statement hit me.

"You said your father is dead. How come its actually alive? And Loren?!" I asked trying so hard to sound polite but my tone doesn't seem like it.

"I thought so too but he's back now." The others are too quiet that I almost forgot about them. 

"Are you two in a relationship?" A women asked. I don't know if I should nod or what. Friendship is also a relationship but I don't know if she can pick that up.

"Yes." He answered instead. Yon lang ang sinabi nya. Hindi man lang nya pinaliwanag kung anong klaseng relasyon meron kami.

Nilagay nya sa bewang ko ang kamay nya. I looked at him in confusion but he just smiled at me and whisper, "we'll talk later." 

Wala namang ibang nangyari maliban sa pag-imbita nila sakin sa bahay nila. Their house is big almost the same in size as ours. All of them aren't living in the same place pero sa bahay nila Jaime sila nagtitipon-tipon. Hindi naman nangyari ang inaasahan ko. It's just a simple meet and greet.

Hinatid nya ako pauwi and the sun is already out. Papaalis na sya nang tinanong ko sya sa sinabi nya kanina.

"I hope your family knows that we're just friends, Jaime. It's nice meeting them and I have a great time." I said while smiling. Ngumiti sya sakin pabalik.

"But I want you to be my girlfriend. I like you ever since." He said. I don't know but hearing what he says excites me. I don't like him in a romantic way but there is something in me that wants to agree. 

"Can you be my girlfriend?" I shyly nod in response. He immediately embrace me. I hug him back. Nag-usap kami saglit pagkatapos ay pumasok na ako sa bahay.

From that day onwards, we hang out my most of the time. Our friends know it already and his family always invites me at their house. He always reminds me that he likes me so much. Siguro hindi nga konektado sakin yong pinag-usapan nila noong naabutan ko sila sa kakahuyan.

"Are you okay? What happened?" It's suppose to be our date but he's late. Dumating pa siyang mukhang pinagsakluban nang langit at lupa. Agad naman nyang hinawakan ang kamay ko habang nakaluhod. We haven't seen each other for quite some time.

"Please help me! Talk to your parents, please. My father. My father." He said habang nanginginig yong mga balikat nya. Kinuha ko ang kamay ko at pina-upo ko sya sa upuan. Nag-aalala ako sakanya. He's my friend after all.

"Calm down first." Hinahaplos ko ang likuran nya at yong isang kamay ko naman ay pinisil-pisil ang kaliwang braso nya. Huminga naman syang malalim bago tiningnan ako nang seryoso.

"Your brother almost killed my father! Your parents as well are trying to kill him. My father didn't even do anything and they don't even listen to him. Their is someone who set this up to happen. You are their daughter after all. Maybe they'll listen to you." I don't even get what he's trying to say. I just nod and trying to make him calm. I smile as I see his reaction.

Later that night, I spoke to father. Miraculously nasa bahay sya. While he's at his favorite spot at the house ay nilapitan ko sya. He immediately notice me kaya nakatuon na sakin yong atensyon nya.

Ngumiti muna ako at umupo sa tabi nya. I take a deep breath and exhaled silently.

"Father, I heard about what happened. Please don't be mad but can I asked you something?" I believe there are two sides of the story.

"Is it about that rebel Alpha?" He seriously asked. Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi nya. Rebel? 

"No. It's about Loren. And yes, he's also an Alpha." Ingat na ingat ako sa tono ko.

"I'm talking about him. He's a rebel. I can't explain any futher information. Not until I'll caught that Alpha." Napatango naman ako sa sinabi nya. So it's about a serious matter.

"His son is your boyfriend. Am I right?" I stared at my father's face trying to find any hint of rage. 

"No. He's just a friend." I said truthfully. As far as I remember friends lang naman talaga kami. 

"So you didn't say yes to him? I thought he's courting you because your brother often seen you two together. Only the two of you." He said. 

"We haven't seen each other for a long time, father. What are you talking about." I laughed at him. He's quite a joker in the family. Napailing nalang sya sa reaksyon ko. Maybe he doesn't believe me.

"We'll go to Isla de Versiera. Tonight so pack up your basic essentials and we'll go." He said and stare at me.

"I'm excited but your stare makes me uncomfortable. It's been so long the last time I go there." That place is actually isolated. Only a few people are brave enough to go there. Anyone who will go to that place will never be able to come back. I'm still alive up to this day so maybe they're just unlucky.

"What? You've never been there." He exclaimed. Hindi naman kasi ako nagpaalam non na aalis ako at pupunta sa lugar na yon.

"I did. I even considered it as one of my most memorable adventure. It was on the fifth of July, Red Bloody Moon." I spent days there too. 

"You passed out that time. Maybe you were just dreaming. No one was able to get out of that place either." Nalilito ko rin syang tiningnan. I checked my wrist to see if the tattoo is still there. Luckily, it's still there.

Pinakita ko to sakanya.

"Here. They even put this on my wrist as a reward for being able to defeat the beast who's been attacking them. Wait, what was it's name again?" Sinubukan kong alalahanin yong pangalan nung halimaw pero hindi ko na muli matandaan.

"H-how come?! Do you know what's the meaning of it? Did they tell you and did--" I cut him off. I'm starting to get irritated because he asked too much and the pile of doubts is very evident at his reaction.

"Death. That's the meaning of my name, isn't it? They didn't tell me but it's not like I can't read" I boredly said. They use their language to abrade the meaning of my name into me.

"No one is allowed to speak or even learn their language. They considered it as a chant. They won't imprint someone unless they claim your body and your body belongs to them or you are a part of them."