TRAVIS' POV
A torrent of pain flooded my head and voices roared in the distance. I tried to move my hand to grab my aching head but found it too heavy to lift. The roaring voices gradually lowered until I could make it out as agitated cries. "His hand just moved; you saw it move, too, right?" I tried to make out who the voice belonged to and recognized it to be Adriana's. Who was she talking to? My brows scrunched together as a bolt of pain surged through my chest and I pressed my eyes together and gritted my teeth to stop myself from groaning out loud. After the pain subsided, which was a matter of seconds, I slowly opened my eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust them to the sudden brightness. "Travis, can you hear me? It's me, Adriana," She cried out, and I felt her hands grab mine, her voice choking with sobs. My eyes opened fully and the first person that came intoAUTHOR'S POV"Brother, how could you be so hasty? All of our years of hard work have been jeopardized by you. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to gain their trust? You are ruining everything." "Enough! Don't lecture me on what is right or wrong. How could I have passed on such a good opportunity...""But you could not even kill him," She interrupted with a distressed voice. "He is going to wake up and start hunting us. Do you think any of us will be safe then? Alpha Travis will kill us all.""Julian, this was not what Father wanted," She shook her head dejectedly. "We have always looked at the bigger picture before taking any actions, until today, you were shortsighted.""Killing our enemy, that's shortsighted?" Julian threw his head back and let out a belt of laughter and she frowned in confusion."They are not our enemies, Julian. They just don't understand us, and that's what I'm trying to do; make them see that w
I stared at Travis in silence, wanting to voice out my opinion amidst the tense atmosphere that had ensued once Adriana went out, an atmosphere he had created."What is it?" He asked, a little too harshly after he noticed me looking at him.Reflexively, I flinched, and the look in his eyes intensified, "Why are you even here if you are still so scared of me?""Until when will you be such a scaredy cat?" It was just a question but it hit me like a ton of bricks and made my heart feel like there was a needle plunged in it that was beginning to rotate itself.I stared back at him, feeling my eyes mist with tears and asked, "You don't want me here?" I hoped he would reply and not keep quiet like he usually would.More than wanting an answer, I needed to know how he was feeling. His words to me were an unspoken judgment, it was clear he detested me for being weak.Why had he not mentioned it before then? Why did he make me believe he
His hands softly caressed my face, and my heart momentarily faltered, and I smiled wryly in frustration at myself.When and how exactly had I grown to care about this man so much that every one of his words now affected my emotions?It was a jarring, uncontrollable feeling, and the thought of it made me even more upset."Let me go, Travis," I mumbled, gritting my teeth to strengthen my resolve as I snatched his hand away from my face and made to move, but my body refused to budge.'Lia, what the hell are you doing?' My face darkened with a frown.'Stopping you from making a mistake you will regret," She was in control now, and was going to do things her way.'I blocked you, how did you even get rid of that?' My expression now was a mix of curiosity and frustration.Could everyone else's wolf do this, or was this an exclusive punishment? Why did I have a wolf who could not only take control of my body but the existing bar
"Proceed," I said to Cameron who in turn nodded to Kyle who took that as a signal to start the investigation.Kyle was the wolf in charge of the scouts as well as all of the sentinel bases all across the city. The Female sentinels were also under his jurisdiction and he had been heading our investigation into the hybrids for months.I first noticed the unusual influx of hybrids into our city about a few month ago. It would have skipped my notice or I would have let them be had they not attacked my people, forcing me to create a team of scouts that would scour the city and hunt them down."Bring him in," Kyle gestured to two scouts who were positioned by the entrance and they walked out and returned after a few minutes, with an Hybrid in tow.He was one of the ones we had captured recently and brought back to hold in captive.As I watched them bring him, I silently applauded Maya for thinking up this idea even though we did not know how c
TRAVIS' POV"Do you know what this is," I asked, raising the small glass above my head. "It's the bane of our existence." The Hybrid's step faltered backwards while the others in the room looked completely unbothered. "Just a drop and it'll only take a few seconds before your insides start to burn. Would you like to find out what happens when I increase the dosage?" I posed a question for effect and watched his pupil dilate in fear. "Alpha Travis, may I do the honour," Kyle came forward subserviently, watching the hybrid with a predatory look in his eyes. "I will give you one last chance," I said to the hybrid instead, "Tell me all you know about the white-haired hybrid, and I will spare you a fate worse than death." "I will talk," He spoke with trembling urgency, eyeing the bottle in my hand fearfully, his quaking voice betraying his inner agitation. "Good, now save yourself," I nodde
All eyes turned to Sylvia who had pushed her chair back, scrambling to pick up her fork, "I'm so sorry," She said, pulling back her seat. "Are you okay?" Cameron leaned in to ask her, concern etched in his tone. "I'm fine," Sylvia replied but I could not help but notice that she seemed a little bit disoriented as the conversation between Adriana and Cameron went on. The latter kept passing concerned glances at his mate, making me sigh at his obvious show of affection while looking at my mate who was watching everyone with a faint detachment. "This Julian, was he the one that hurt Travis?" Adriana asked with a faint show of anger. "He is, we guess that he's gathering all hybrids across the northern lands. Their number was way more than I would expect and if there's one thing I know about hybrids, it's that they don't dwell together, unlike this population. It was suspicious and our suspicion was confirmed by o
"It does not matter to me how strong or weak you are, just stay next to me," He added.I honestly did not know how or what to feel after these next words of his."He's saying he is going to protect you," Lia chipped in excitedly.Of course, she would choose this moment to interfere.That was her interpretation, which was quite similar to mine, except I did not trust those words.With my hands pushing lightly against his chest, I took a step back from him to say, "I care." then headed over to the bed to wrap myself up like a piece of sausage while he watched me with hollow eyes.Did they just turn hollow, or was it like that from the start? It was hard to say.Relying on others used to be a trait of mine, one that I now realized was considered a weakness thanks to Travis' words.First my Father, then Shawn, I relied on everyone to protect me.Would there ever come a day when I could protect the people I
Sylvia's question seemed direct enough but there also seemed to be an underlying reason for her question that I could not make out.I set down the book on the table, raising my head to meet her inquiring gaze, "All societies breed both good and evil, even ours, and I do not think we should label the hybrids as evil because of our prejudice towards them. That's unfair especially since we have not tried to integrate ourselves in their society."Her brows raised with a tilt of acknowledgement like she was mulling over my words, and then she smiled softly, "You are right; classifying them all based on the actions of a few isn't right, so also is letting our fear of how they might change our society cloud our minds." There was a pensive look in her eyes as she spoke, almost as if she was far away while being present."That is why I decided to read up on their kind, to understand them better," My gaze switched over to the Brown covered book with pages
The air in the room seemed to freeze, going several degrees lower as Travis's presence filled the room overbearingly.His eyes were cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade, and his muscles were filled with tension as his eyes scanned both of me and Sylvia with demanding scrutiny.Sylvia's breath caught in her throat, all the colour draining from her face as she swallowed, her wide eyes flicking from me to him.I was sure my expression mirrored hers; my throat felt constricted and dry, and I could not formulate a quick response, gaping instead at him as his face hardened even further, "I asked you a question.""Travis," I pushed past the lump in my throat to say, my growing fear a chasm that passed between us.How should I begin to explain that Sylvia had come to seek my help to disrupt or at least stall his plans, and I, on the other hand, had made an instant decision not to tell him in favour of her? I had even hidden the fact that I ha
"What do you mean by that? What problem?" I asked, my brows knotting into a frown as I stared at her face searchingly.We had parted just a few minutes ago, so I wasn't expecting to see her so soon or that she would suddenly grab me.Her face was lined with worry, fear reflected in her wide-open stare, "Alpha Travis, he's planning a hunt.""A hunt? Why is that a problem? Isn't a hunt normal?" I questioned in bewilderment. Most werewolf Packs I knew frequently organised hunts to hone their skills and survival instincts so I could not understand why she was so anxious about that."No, no, you don't understand," She shook her head vehemently, "He's planning to hunt down the hybrids, he's going to kill them all."The realization of what she meant finally dawned on me and my eyes widened in shock, "Kill them all? How?"."Their trip to Chantel Ridge wasn't so simple; their true intention was to purchase Nightshade.""Nightshad
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy. "Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to." She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again. "Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly. It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes. "I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others." After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the h
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy."Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to."She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again."Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly.It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes."I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others."After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the hybrid Pack, lest the others caught o
"That's Alex, right there," Sylvia pointed towards a young man with dark brown hair in the distance who was heaving a squealing child above his head while the other children gathered around him tried to douse him with the water from the pond their feet up to their abdomen were submerged in.They were all hybrids; I could tell even though we were still some distance away from them."Alex, look who is here," Ava shouted, waving her hands towards the man who slowly turned and set the child in his arms down.The children all gave squeals of excitement, rushing out of the water to run towards Sylvia the minute they recognized her.They surrounded her, their cheery voices filling the air while giving me curious glances just like Ava had done earlier."She's just like Sylvia and those other big wolves we've seen," Ava chattered to them excitedly, looking back at me with the belief that I was oblivious to what she was saying because of how low he
I took in a deep breath, mulling over her words. You know what, maybe she was right; maybe we had never given the hybrids a chance to show that we could live harmoniously together."I know, I shouldn't have brought you here; I just wanted to show you a world different from what we know. To show you that the hybrids our kind detest are not so bad after all." She said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder with the knowledge that I was already giving in to her words.I grabbed her hands and let out a long sigh then smiled softly, "Alright, I guess I should get to know them. You are a kind and sweet person, Sylvia, and if these people are really what you say they are, then I trust you." I nodded firmly.It was about time to stop letting my past cloud my decisions; not all people would betray me, and I needed to understand that.Sylvia had been nothing but kind to me since I arrived and this was a time for me to reciprocate her goodwill towards me.
"Sylvia, what are we doing here?" I asked, a rising feeling of worry pervading my senses.Based on my recollection and observation of the path we had taken, we were in the next town, which was precisely the old inhabited land of the Lunarcrest Pack, which was a worrying sight.I could not understand why Sylvia had chosen to come here of all places when according to what I understood, this was where Travis had gotten attacked."I know you are nervous but I assure you, it's fine. I want to show you something," She said, grabbing my hand with a comforting smile as she began to pull me along.Her long hair billowed, soft strands hitting my face as we walked and I took in a long exhale of air, deciding to trust her.Based on my instinct, she didn't seem like a bad person or someone that would harm me. There were times when I could not tell what she was thinking, but every one of her gazes held no bad intentions.Discerning people's mi
"What are you working on?" Adriana asked curiously, leaning over to take a peek at the papers spread out in front of me.I twirled the pen in my hand then handed one of them to her, "It's the Female sentinel's budget for the month. Their coffer is almost empty yet there are still a lot of expenses to cover. I'm trying to figure out how to cut costs," I explained."Oh right, you are in charge of that now. Do you need my help?""Never mind," I replied, taking the papers back from her and pointing them towards the huge journal she had on her side of the table. "You already have a lot to do.""I had no idea you were good at accounts," Nicole gave me a curious look from the other side of the room where she was also seated knitting what seemed to be a sweater."I know quite a bit; my Father used to let me help out with his accounts," Her question brought back thoughts of my days back at the Raging Flame Pack when I used to help my Father with o
My cheeks flushed almost instantly and I hastily looked away.He kept staring long and hard, I could feel his eyes on mine but could not see his expression because of how low my head was hanging."I'm not avoiding you," I muttered guiltily, sneaking a peek just in time to see the amused expression on his face.His appealing visual, coupled with a rare smile, was a sight to see, and I found myself staring longer than I intended to."Had enough?" He said with a teasing tilt to his tone and I hastily cleared my throat."Now, do you want to tell me why you are avoiding me?""I'm not," I mumbled hastily in defence. "Why are you home?"Wait, what was I doing asking the owner of this house why he was back in his house?I chuckled, feeling foolish, but he surprised me by answering, "I came back to pick up Cameron; we are headed to Chantel Ridge."The fact that he had even answered and provided this much detail