Katara's POV I could not wrap my head around what had amused him and I was definitely not interested but his laughter annoyed me. I wanted to punch him and shatter his nose bridge in anger. "Bold of you to make such demands, Lady. Have I not mentioned earlier to you that you are trespassing on these parts that I have been set to watch over? You took this strange door and here, you are with me with no hope of ever seeing anyone but me." He said the words with so much glee and I though I heard the leer in his voice. He would die by my hands if he tried to do all he conceived to do with me. I was sure of that. How it would happen, I had no idea. As I looked forward, there seemed to be no more route. What happened to the route I had been running on only a few minutes ago? Did the road disappear? There seemed to have appeared only flowers and shrubs everywhere and the flowers continued to pop every second... the man was still holding my hair and my mind was in a jumble. I was scared
Katara's POV At once, I resisted the pain and leapt out of his tight grip. Perhaps, I had lost some hair in the process but that did not matter as I made a wild and desperate run for the door. I took the same direction that I was sure I had come through and ran for the door. I got there and stopped abruptly.There was no door. Where had the door gone? I broke into another run and headed for the opposite direction with the man in pursuit. There had been no opposite route when I had first come but now the roads seemed to be appearing and disappearing on different locations and I was determined, no matter what to find the door and land myself in the mansion again but that did not seem to be happening. "Stop there. You have had enough run for one day. Do well to save yourself the pain when at last, I shall have my hands on you." I heard the voice close to me and with every step I took, the thumps of his feet seemed even closer. At once, his hand reached out and grabbed me by the shou
Katara's POV There seemed to be no way to escape. The small opening of the cave was hardly enough to let me bolt out. I would be caught even before I reached the entrance.He was also sitting very close to me with his eyes fastened on me and that meant, he would easily reach a hand to me and grab my skirts even before I was close to the entrance.I gave up all hope of escape although temporarily and tried not to think much on what they were going to do with me. I had never been in any magical setting so close up and I had a tough time trying to convince myself that I was in an actual magic garden. What Where they going to do with me?Cut me into chunks and make magic broth? Serge had spoken about herbs, did it mean that there was something to cook with the herbs? It sounded too ridiculous.I turned to look at another part of the cave that was faintly illuminated by the small fire and what I saw confirmed my fears and doubts. I turned my face around slowly to look at Lazer and sure
Katara's POVThat definitely got his attention. It made him laugh and roll and beat the ugly dusty ground of the cave. The dust came in puffs into the air as he beat the ground and I felt irritated. Had he no shame that he could laugh and roll and make such flimsy show over a question I asked him?"We do not eat flesh, lady. We eat everything but never flesh. Do not be alarmed." He said. He was still chuckling and holding his toes as he resumed his position on the floor. He was hunched up and focused on massaging his toes again even though he now looked at me."Why then had my question amused you so much? You make me look stupid for asking questions while in the true sense, you are the stupid one! You and your hunched brother are the stupid and mean ones and you have kept a poor woman from going her way!""Uhh?"He seemed surprised by my many words. He now looked at me curiously. Perhaps, the abuse had offended him? I hopped not."I mean everything I have said. Do not look at me lik
"So, no one who is in this garden can ever go out?"I found myself asking the man even though I knew he would never aid me in my escape plans at the detriment of his body parts. Like he had earlier pointed out."What do you mean, Lady?""I had only asked an harmless question." I replied quickly. I did not want him to suspect that I was having the thoughts of running away. I wanted him to relax around me with the thoughts that I would not run away."The only time a captive an go out is when the Alpha comes into the garden. If you are luck that the all comes in anytime soon into the garden, you will go with him but if he does not, you will remain a captive here for as long as Serge wants and if you want, he could make you a frog when you get bored being a human."My eyes had widened in horror as he spoke. Did he mean that all the frogs behind me were once humans before they had been made to become frogs?"Those are real frogs. Only four of them there were once humans. They had whined s
Katara's POV "Please do not torment her so much, Serge. She had not come to steal from us."He said, when the chaos had died down and Serge was fuming. His mouth wide open and his long lashes standing high on his forehead."I have not said that she came to steal, brother. Do wells to keep your opinion to yourself, will you, brother?"He asked spitefully without even turning to see Lazer whom his words were directed at. Serge nodded and proceeded to tie boots which he had previously tied."I see you two had a good time and, it seems, Lazer has taken so much interest in you."He said with a chuckle. I shook my head and so did Lazer.."Do not think that brother, I only ask that you go easy on the Lady. She had meant to take a route that leads to the forest but had found herself here instead.""You defend her, brother. You really do. Would you continue to defend her at the detriment of your own body? I will take a tiny little portion of your flesh for every word you say in her defense,"
When I had gotten inside the city, I went straight into the Alpha's mansion. I did not have a problem entering. The guard assumed that I had come for peace if I had I been allowed access through the gates. I was not there for trouble either and so I went in with grace. When I stood before the Alpha, he was sure I had come to buy some of the Precious stones which they had in abundance. "Gentleman, where are you from?" He asked... I had not come to make long talks and do very lengthy introduction so I brought out my signet ring and held it before him "I am Alpha Kai of Valmore–" I heard his Luna who was sitting beside him gasp in surprise and he himself was surprised to enough to have his eyes pop out while he stared at me. "Never have I seen an Alpha make a journey to a far away place alone." He said, glancing around to make sure someone was sharing his surprise but his Luna did not seem surprised anymore. She was beaming with such relish, probably from meeting the Alpha of a bi
"Who is he, Lazer? What does he want?"I heard the first whiny voice ask. I turned around, my sword unsheathed, but I saw no one, save for the voice."I do not know." The other voice which was more rumbling and fear inciting answered"Perhaps, you should go and see what he wants and bring him here to me, Lazer."The whiny voice said again and the other replied,"Yes, I will be on my way to fetch him now."I was certain that I was being watched. They had seen me but I had not seen them and I had no idea where they were coming from.I turned frantically but there was no door. I was supposed to be in the mansion, looking for Katara and not in some damning magical garden that will impede on my search for Katara. I had just a day left and we will both lose our wolves forever. The panic had risen high in my heart and I was desperate to return and find her."I do not know who you magical creatures are, I definitely do not see you and I have no idea where you are coming from but I am not com
[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