Katara’s POV "My question, Alpha, I want an answer and I do not wish to be impertinent. If indeed it is risky to have the women out there, why then are they allowed to go out there?" "Ah. You ask many brave questions, my dear. I will have you know that wherever we go outside our walls is risky. But I send the men to go out with them and see that they return safely.”"I see that. I can go with them and if there is a problem, I shall not hesitate to join hands with the men to correct the problem.”The Alpha smiled at my words and shook his head from side to side but not in disapproval. "You can go with them, Lady. Be careful. The Ladies know the exact time they should head back to the city and when it is past that time, they could be in danger and I do not wish to see or hear that they are harmed in any way.”The Alpha said. The Leader of the army had not said anything as I spoke with the Alpha and whether he made facial gestures, I did not know since I did not look his way. Soon,
Kai’s POV The Alpha and his men who had been standing right beside him exchanged puzzled glances, their hands still on their weapons. "We have not taken your Luna and we do not expect you to come looking for her here if she indeed loves to go missing," The Alpha said spitefully. He had intended the words to offend me and it had. But I kept my calm. "I have only asked a simple question. I do not know what intentions you have but I only demand if you have my Luna in your care. I do want her back and I do not want to have her fight her way here like she had been compelled to do the last time.” I said. "Take your men and leave here. We do not have your Luna and we do not wish to have you and your men accuse us like this a second time!" The Alpha yelled. Abramo lunged forward with his sword in his hand and struck the Alpha but one of the men held out his sword and defended his Lord. They began to fight and the rest of the men joined in the aggressive fight. The fight lasted for a
Kai’s POV She was still not looking at me and for sometime, I doubted her even without hearing where she would mention. "Call my Beta, Abramo for me.”I said to the guard who was standing by the entrance of the courts. The guard left at once and returned with Abramo. Abramo took one look at the lass and frowned. "Take your seat Abramo and stop scowling the way you are doing now," I told him. He took his seat and paid attention. "Do tell me, lass, where did the Luna go? What route had she taken?" "She knows?" Abramo asked. The girl nodded. "And why had she kept it to herself all the while we have been searching for the Luna? Why had she not spoken up in the beginning?" Abramo asked. He was facing the girl and he did not seem to be happy about her discretion. "I am sorry, my Lord. I had thought I would not be given Audience to speak, seeing that I am only a stranger here. Please forgive me.”She said, pleadingly. Abramo calmed and she looked up. "I had seen the Luna to down
Katara’s POV “Then you have not revealed your identity Because you want to be identified as a peasant?" He asked suddenly. I looked away and I heard his evil chuckle behind me. Did he know me? Had he gone out of his city to go ask about me? Did he not know that he was endangering himself as well as the other pack members? What if he attracted evil to his own people?? "Whatever information you got about me from anywhere, you better ditch it. You do not know me and you can not prove that you do. Besides, you Endanger your own family and pack by going out there for any reason to seek information about me!" "Hm, what makes you so sure that I had gone out to seek information about you? What if I only possess some sort of magic that helps me detect lies? Do you not think so?" "Your pack do not possess magic. Don't try to sound wise when you are not," I cautioned him. He seemed amused. What was amusing to him? My palms began to twitch, longing to hit him across the face. "You have
Alpha Kai's POV We had looked up all the tribes in the valleys and we had been involved in a fight with a pack who had refused to let us come into their town peacefully. Yet, we had not found Katara and even though we had promised gifts to some peasants if they told us what they knew, none of them had seemed to know or see anything. We were torn between returning to Valmore and go look for a magical pack to tell us what we needed to know and actually continuing the seemingly fruitless search. "What if the lass had said what she had not seen? Had it ever crossed your mind that she could have been lying?" Abramo asked suddenly. "I do not think she had lied. What would she gain from lying? She would merely be endangering her life and I am sure she does not want that, Abramo. She is not stupid.”"Maybe you think so. We have seen and spoken and even fought with the packs and tribes in this part. What do you suggest we do next? Go and consult the magicians?" "Perhaps, that is what we
Katara’s POV Kai said as he walked even closer to the Alpha but one of the men stepped out and barred him from going any closer. He stopped. "We do not have your Luna. But we do have a foreigner with us and she is from Valmore," The old Alpha said. Kai smiled and so did his men, Abramo's smile even broader. "She is the one we have come for, then…” "She has said that she is an orphaned peasants and she has made no attempt to leave us. She loves to stay with us and I shall demand from her if indeed she is the one you seek and if she desires to go with you." The Alpha signalled for the men to come and fetch me and I hid in the stables, not willing to leave with Kai. From where I was, I watched the men storm away to go and fetch me but none of them had thought that I was in the stables. Hoped my scent didn’t give me away… Dammit.As I continued to stand there and watch the men from where I was, hard palms rested on my shoulders. I turned around and it was the man. The same young m
Katara’s POV This was definitely how I expected things to play. Not at all. And I felt entirely like a fool. A dumbass… "I can fight my own fights, Abramo. I do appreciate your concern but this is my battle to fight.”Kai said as he stretched out a hand to hamper Abramo from going any further to the men who were still bubbling with energy, more than eager to fight him. "I do not want you for any reason to be hurt, my Lord.”Abramo said in a supposed whisper… It was evident in his eyes that he would rather the one on one combat did not happen. "I will not be hurt, Abramo. Besides, I am supposed to take these men one after the other and not both of them at the same time.”That seemed to have convinced him enough and he stepped back. All the other men from both sides had stepped back and the men who were to fight were now standing in a big circle that had been made for them. "Strip yourselves of all weapons and be assured that you will only fight with your bare hands. Whoever want
Katara’s POV It was on the tip of my tongue to demand that the fight be cancelled, if anyone would listen to me but Kai, I knew would never back down. He was grinning from ear to ear as he stepped forward with his sword in his hand. The young man smiled too. I had no desire whatsoever to watch them laugh and grin over what I considered not funny in any way. "Why, tell me, do you accept this offer?" I asked at once as the men began to round each other. I was audible enough for everyone assembled to hear and they heard, and turned to me. "I will not turn down this fight, Katara. I have never been known that back away in the face of wars and toxic battles.”A swipe. Kai had only turned his gaze to focus on me while he spoke and the young man had taken a swipe at him. He had seen it right in time and stepped aside only to lift his sword and aim at him. His sword was met and thwarted mid air by the young man's and again, they were circling each other, looking for the smallest openin
[Eight months later]Kai’s POV Katara had been with her ladies when she had been suddenly rushed out. I was right in the hallway, coming to the chambers to be with her when the ladies rushed her out. She was in labor and was going to give birth soon. I wanted to carry her off to wherever she was to be taken to but the ladies will not let me. "Let me carry her so it will be easier for you. Surely, you can not hold her like this and walk this slowly when she is in obvious pains." I tried to explain to the ladies but they will not hear of it. Katara was wailing as she took one laborious step after the other. I was not going to watch them continue in such slow progression so I brushed past them and whisked Katara off her feet. The ladies gasped in surprise but did not say anything when I began to walk away to the direction I suspected they were headed. It was to the midwife's place… Katara was still tearing at her clothes and thumping her fists on my chest when I arrived the midwife's
"It is perhaps by chance that I know this story myself. Now to the story, the men he had taken to form a pack had turned against him and had also taken with them the chest and had abused the magical items in it just as the son had done…They, captured many small packs and did many evil and perverted justice and looted packs and took the wives of others until the Moon Goddess had, had enough and the chest along with the items had disappeared on its own.”The men had thought that chest was stolen while they had slept, but when they could not find it, they had accused one another of the theft of the chest and they had fought and killed each other. For years, the chest appeared in many different places and so many packs had tried to open it to see its content all to no avail and then they had tried to keep it but it had kept on disappearing-“"Does that explain why we had seen it in a dilapidated house in the former Artic pack?”Kai asked. Abramo's eyes flung wide open in surprise. "Is th
The man explained. Kai had been listening attentively as well as all those who had been in the courts. I had been paying rapt attention too. At once, Abramo left the courts and went out to mobilize the men to secure the walls and the gates against any more miscreants. I could hear him shouting orders to the men as they ran to and fro. "The items are not yours to begin with. It is a bit difficult for me to understand how you have come to demand things that are not yours while trying to impress on us that you will take our fight and fight?' Kai said. He was angry as he spoke and the men did not speak for a long time. They were silent for a long while. "I will way you to leave Valmore now and we shall handle whatever trouble comes with the items we possess. It is ours to worry about not yours." Kai said. The men exchanged puzzled glances but did not make any attempt to leave. Kai stood there, brimming with anger as he watched them. "We are afraid you might be forced to submit the b
He said as he stooped and planted a kiss on my forehead. I nodded. I was not sure I wanted to remain indoors everytime if that was what pregnancy entailed. I was beginning to feel lazy. As Kai walked to the door, there was a sudden desperate knock on the door. He reached the door and opened it. The guard who was standing there was holding his sword by the hilt, he was breathing with so much gust and Kai walked with him down the hall, slamming the door behind him shut. I was worried as I leapt off the bed and went to the window to see what was really going on down there. There was an entourage and there were a few men on horseback. They were all waiting down the Castle floors, waiting to see the Alpha no doubt… I stood by the window for long, to see what was going to happen then. They did not look like they had come for peace. They looked like that were ready for war. Trouble. They did nothing to hide their intention. As far as I knew, Valmore was not in any trouble with any pack.
When I woke up, Kai was by the side of the bed. He had picked a chair and was sitting by the bed, watching me. I had no idea how long he had been standing there and as I opened my eyes to take in the environment, the bright afternoon light flooding the room, I was disoriented. "Relax, beauty. Hope you had a peaceful rest?" He asked as my eyes rested on him. I tried to nod but felt a sudden discomfort around my neck and so I ditched the idea. "How long have you been sitting there?" I asked instead. He smiled. "For a long time, beauty. A really long time." He said. He did not have the book in his hand again and he did not seem to be unkempt. He had even shaved! When had he done that? "You had the stubble last night and I've not seen you all morning Until now. When did you get a good bath?" I asked him instead. "I shaved last night. And, I was in here the moment you fell asleep to bathe and come watch over you while you slumber peacefully," He said. He was still smiling. I sighe
One thing I knew was that the Artic pack where not known for any form of magic even though it had grown in its time to become a terror to many other packs, it still did not possess magic and that was what I was sure of. Katara stirred on the bed while I was lost in thoughts and I turned to look at her. She opened her eyes drowsily. "Why are you not in bed yet, my love? You should come to bed now and have some rest," She said. She seemed to be having a hard time keeping her eyes open and I wanted her to go back to sleep "You can go back to sleep… I will join you soon," I said. She nodded and then stopped, her eyes flew open, wider. "Why are you still engrossed with that? You should leave that and have some rest." She insisted. I shook my head. She was being adamant. "Go to sleep my love. I will join you soon. I am only worried about a few things that I have found out in this book, " "Sitting up all night long will not solve the puzzle. I think so. perhaps, tomorrow you can cont
"You own it, my dear and you will make use of it the way you want.”I told her. She rose from the book and stood holding her wand. I continued with the book, the message became even more complex as I continued but I was able to grasp the messages and it included even the magical ability to grow a garden and chose the magical creatures to stay in it and tend it. There was so much knowledge in the book that I began to worry that the information was too much. "I am satisfied with the knowledge of the wand, i find it difficult to understand everything else you see in the book.”Katara said as she sashayed to the bathroom. "I will go have a bath now. Do not be too engrossed in that, hence you forget to do other things… one of which is getting up to come and take a bath.”She said as she disappeared from sight. I straightened up and took the book with me to the nearest table. I was still sitting there, totally focused on the book when she appeared again from the bathroom. She was drippi
It was a bit baffling that she was interested In magic suddenly and as we mounted the horse, I decided to ask her. She was still clutching the book and I had slipped the wand into the small bag I was carrying lest it comes alive and enchant the things around me that did not need to be enchanted."Why are you suddenly so concerned and Interested in magic?"I asked her. I hoped she heard since the horse was in motion and was whipping past trees and the wind will not let my words reach her as well as it should have. She heard me anyway. She had twisted her neck awkwardly to look back at me and speak as loud as she could. I kicked the horse and it slowed down. We are not being pursued. It was enough reason to drive calmly back to Valmore. The wind rushing past our ears were now calm and i could make out the words she spoke."I feel a certain sense of rightness with these... I value these things we found and I do not wish to lose any of them. I sincerely value them–“"I do not know why bu
The bolts had suddenly appeared and was to keep us still from using the door. It was amusing and and annoying at the same time. She seemed bent on not allowing us leave the place. I shook my head as I turned to her."Quit trying, Lady. We have to leave now."I said. Katara nudged me."Stretch the wand towards the door and it will come off." She said. She had sheathed her sword and one of her hands was now resting on the hilt of the sword. She was eager to leave. I turned away from Chloe and held the wand against the door. The door did not come open. Chloe chuckled behind us and the old lady stirred again. She was doing a good job of detaining us. She was almost accomplishing her goal which was to keep us until the old lady regained consciousness."Why is the wand not opening the door? Are you holding it wrongly?"Katara asked in a whisper. Of course Chloe and her mother did not know that the wand had only worked because I had struck it the right way without meaning to. Katara knew