"Riaz!" Venusa exclaimed when She saw Atlas approach with him. He rushed to them and gasped when she saw the state in which her son was. "My love," she cried. "Let's get him to lay somewhere," Atlas said and they both rushed inside the house. Atlas put him lying on the bed and Venusa sat beside him. She placed her palms on his chest and closed her eyes. She chanted some spiritual incantations and Riaz's wounds got healed. "Baby. My love. Riaz, can you hear me?" Riaz groaned as he opened his eyes. "Mummy?" "Ah," Venusa breathed in relief, her eyes stained with tears. "Thank goodness you're okay." She said as she hugged him. "What happened out there, baby?" She asked. "Huh?" "You came home unconscious with wounds all over your body. Did you get attacked?"Riaz tilted his head sideways, thinking. "Did something happen to me, mummy?" Atlas and Riaz exchanged confused gazes. "you can't remember?" Riaz shook his head. "No, mummy. I went to the woods to feed the birdies I saved yes
On reaching home, Atlas found Venusa waiting for him in front of the house. Atlas rushed to her worriedly. "My love, what are you doing out here? Aren't you cold?" Atlas asked worriedly as he quickly took off the coat he was wearing and wore it on her. "Where did you go?" She asked, her voice breaking. Atlas cupped his wife's face. Her face held sadness and worry. Atlas sighed and embraced Venusa warmly. Venusa held Atlas tightly. Atlas could feel her vulnerability. "I'm fine, love." "Atlas..." Venusa choked on her tears. "I feel tragedy coming." Atlas withdrew. "Tragedy?" Venusa nodded. "I can feel it. It's near. It's only an amount of time before it strikes our clan. I... I've never told you this but I've been having some dreams lately." Atlas frowned. "Dreams?" She nodded. "I see our clan on fire. Today makes it the third time I dreamt about it. At first, it seemed like a silly dream but not anymore. Not after what happened to our son." Atlas's heart picked up its pace. H
Venusa stood up. Her lower belly was in pain but she had to be strong. Her people and family are in danger. She can't just lie around. Even if her limbs are cut off, she must find a way to protect them. Venusa faced Atlas. "Atlas. Can you fight them?" She asked him and he nodded. He's done it before and he'll do it again. Venusa smiled and gave him and kiss on his lips. "Fight them, protect the pack." She said with her eyes swelled with tears. "I gotta go." "My love..." Atlas couldn't complete his statement. His tears were already falling. Venusa embraced him and wept on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. I promise." Venusa said and Atlas nodded. With one final smile, Venusa turned around and disappeared. Atlas cleaned his tears and faced the approaching enemies. One turned and his eyes blazed with rage when he saw Atlas raging toward him. On getting to the wolf, Atlas grabbed him by his tail and swung him out of the way. Atlas recognized the wolf. He was Northwolf, the beta of Redmo
Riaz was teleported to the grounds of Whitepeak Pack by the cocoon. He stayed in the cocoon, unconscious but alive. He was in the cocoon for two decades but he stopped growing when he clocked eleven. On a starry night, a strong wind blew across the forest, causing the cocoon to fall from the tree and break. The impact snapped Riaz back to consciousness. He looked around where he was. He folded his legs and hugged them tightly. His body trembled as owls hooted and wolves howled. "Mummy." He called as he began to sob. He wiped his tears and sniffled. He heard approaching footsteps and his fear doubled. He picked up a tiny stick near him and pointed it at the two approaching boys. "Look! There's a child." "Huh?" One of them squatted before Riaz and stretched his hand. "Hi, I'm Ace." He beamed. Riaz stared at the boy's extended hand. He was hesitant. Ace saw that the little boy before him was afraid so he made a funny face. Riaz smiled and Ace grinned. "Will you tell me your name now
Akira's Point Of View"Akira, you should rest. You've been here since last night." Mother said but I wasn't going to listen. I stopped listening to any of them since a month ago. I thought she would wake up in a week. I promised to endure even two weeks without her but it's been two months! Two months without my love. Everyday I pray to the moon goddess to bring Alexa back to me. She is getting colder by the day and her breathing has become shallower. I don't want to lose her like this. There are many things I want to tell her. She still doesn't know my true identity. I haven't told her I love her. "Just leave, mother.""Your highness, you've not eaten for a whole week!" That was Raya. I turned to them. They both looked so worried. I hate that I worry them but why would I eat when my love is here, lying unconscious. She hasn't eaten anything all month. Is she hungry? "Alexa...please, look at me." I held her hand close to my heart. "Alexa..." My voice was breaking. I felt somethin
Riaz's Point Of View "Up! Up!" "Come on, Devan." I groaned in annoyance. I heard him chuckle and I covered my head with my blanket. I grinned when I couldn't hear his voice again. Is he gone? I was about drifting back to sleep when my blanket was pulled off my body."Stand up!" "Devan..." I whined and he laughed. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. He widened my eyes with his fingers and I swatted his hands away. "I'm tired." "What exactly did you do?" I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. My eyes met with his smiling face and I huffed. He's annoying but stupidly handsome. "My head hurts." I said. My heart skipped a beat as he leaned in and placed his palm on my forehead. "You have a fever." He said and I bit my lip to stop myself from blushing. "I'll make you hangover soup." He said and I smiled. He ruffled my hair and walked to the door. "Clean up." I nodded and he left. I fell to my bed and hugged my pillow to myself, smiling sheepishly like a little kid. What will do I
Riaz's Point Of ViewI stood up, unable to believe what my eyes was seeing. "Riaz..." My heart skipped a beat. It was real. He was real. My feet moved on their own towards Ace. "What...are you doing here? How did you get here?" He held my hand and I tightened my grip around his. I ran away from him. Because of him, I left my family to this strange land to find myself. Throughout my stay here, I prayed I wouldn't run into him but seeing him standing here, my eyes just can't help but water. He might have rejected me. Hurt my feelings but he is a great part of my life. He was the first friend I made at the pack. The first person who smiled to me and showed me kindness. He took care of me and raised me to what I am today. Whenever I was sad, he was there. Whenever I was happy, he was there. When I threw tantrums and fits, he didn't grow tired of me. Rather, he was patient and embraced me rather than pushing me away. "Riaz, I..." I jumped on him and he caught me by my waist. I held
Ace's Point Of View"I'm not going back Ace, and that is final!" I couldn't believe it. I took a step closer but he didn't step back. He was staring at me dead in the eyes, as if challenging me to say one more word. He was different. Yes, he was the same Riaz but there was something about him that seemed different. His hair was longer. Made me remember the first time I saw him. He had such long hair that I admired it every day back then. "Riaz, I..." "Is everything okay here?" Someone asked from the doorpost. I turned and saw him. What was his name again? "Devan," Riaz said and I hummed in realization. Yes, Devan. The one who saved Riaz. I should say thank you to him for taking care of Riaz for me. "We are okay." I said. "Oh...I just heard some noise so I thought -" Riaz shook his head. "We're really fine, Devan. Let's go. Weren't we planning to prepare breakfast?" Riaz walked up to him and linked his arm with his. Why would he link his arm with Devan's? What's going on here? D