CHAPTER 3

Throughout their travel inside the dark and vast forest, Marcus and Bowei were alert. Their eyes always look beyond the trees. Even the sound of birds from the back of the carriage is enough for Bowei to make the horses run faster. 

They are not afraid to fight, it`s what they always do and has been a part of their everyday life. Marcus just wants them to arrive at Wolvendom without any trouble and delay. And it`s not just the citizens of the Dark Kingdom that he is trying to avoid, there are also rogues and vampires that hunt for preys around this forest. 

It was sundown when they finally arrived at the entrance and border of the Wolvendom Pack. Marcus did what he said earlier, he woke Ayla up and said that they are at the entrance of the Wolvendom. 

The Deltas who were guarding the entrance welcomed them and even took them to Ayla`s home. Now, Ayla, together with Marcus and Bowei are at the front door waiting for someone to open it after knocking multiple times and let them in.

“Sandali lang! Papunta na!” A lady shouted. 

After hearing the voice that is coming from inside the house, Ayla can`t contain her excitement, she missed her mom so much. When the door finally opened, Ayla hugged her mom immediately. 

“Ayla?!” Hindi makapaniwalang sabad ng kaniyang Ina “Ikaw nga! Anak ko! I miss you so much!” The lady was so happy that it made her cry.

When her parents sent the letter, they were not expecting for Ayla to come home immediately especially that there were no important reasons for her to do so. At least that`s what`s inside the letter. 

Umiiyak pa rin ang kaniyang Ina habang yakap yakap siya nito ng napaka higpit. It`s been years since she went home, she was so busy training to become a warrior and then her Aunt`s health is not doing great. The only way for them to see each other is when her family visits them at Amaruq. They also communicate through letters; she sends them two each month. 

Curious why his wife is crying, Michael went to the front door and saw that his wife is hugging Ayla tightly. Michael, who is holding a plate suddenly losses his grip and it instantly falls to the floor and breaks. When Ayla heard the sound of something breaking, she pulled away from her mother`s hugged and looked at the person standing at the kitchen door, it was her father. 

“Dad,” Ayla reached out both of her arms indicating that she wants a hug.

After realizing that it really is his daughter, Michael instantly walks toward Ayla and hugged her tightly just like what Penelope did. 

“Oh I missed you so much.” Michael said while still hugging Ayla and patting her head slowly. “Welcome home Sweetie.”

“Thank you Dad.” 

Ayla feels like she`s in cloud 9, it was almost 2 years since she last saw them. 

Remembering that she had someone with her, Ayla introduced Bowei and Marcus to her parents.

“Mom, Dad, this is Marcus, Alpha of the Amaruq Pack and this one right here is Bowei the pack`s second division commander.”

“Magandang gabi Alpha Marcus at Bowei, pasensya na sa inyong nasaksihan, talagang na miss lang namin si Ayla,” Nahihiyang sabi ni Michael, ang ama ni Ayla.

“Alpha, these are my parents, my father and former Beta of Wolvendom, Michael Dierkshiede, and my mother who is a former Delta Commander, Penelope Dierkshiede.” Ayla proudly introduced her parents.

“Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Dierkshiede,” Marcus reached out his right hand to shake hands with Ayla`s father while he bowed his head to great Ayla`s mother. Bowei just bowed his head to Ayla`s parents and smiled at them.

Realizing that they are still at the door, Penelope instantly leads them to the sala while Bowei went back to the carriage to get their luggage. 

“Mom, nasan si Ate Aster?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Ayla ng hindi nakita ang nakakatandang kapatid.

“About that, the reason why…” Naputol ang pagsasalita ng kaniyang Ina ng may sumigaw bigla at niyakap si Ayla.

“Ayla! I missed you so much. Welcome home.” Aster said while still hugging Ayla tightly.

“Can`t.Breath.” Ayla tapped her sister`s shoulders.

“Opps! Sorry. I just missed you so much that I can`t contain my happiness.” Aster said while pulling her hands away from Ayla.

“Alpha Marcus?!” Aster was beyond confused upon seeing the Alpha of Amaruq in their house. “Wait, are you and my sister…” Before she could finish what she was about to say, Ayla cut her off.

“NO! We aren’t what you think we are. I`ll explain the details later. Excuse us.” Ayla then instantly pulled her sister into the kitchen.

“What was that about?” Takang tanong ni Aster kay Ayla habang naglalagay ng tubig sa baso.

“Like I said, I`ll explain the details later.” Walang lakas na sagot ni Ayla habang humihila ng upuan.

“Ayiieeee. Crush mo no?” Pang aasar pa nito sa kapatid.

“Hindi no!” Pagtanggi naman ni Ayla.

“Eh bakit namumula ang mukha mo?” Pang aasar pa nito lalo.

“Hindi…” 

Naputol ang dapat pang sabihin ni Ayla ng biglang kumabog ng mabilis ang kaniyang puso na para bang galing siya sa isang marathon. Kasabay ng mabilis na pagkabog ng kaniyang puso ay ang napakabangong amoy na parang pamilyar sa kaniya ng kaunti. She can smell the fresh and sweet scent like when the spring season is about to begin. 

“𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡?” Her Wolf, Zira suddenly asks. “𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑.” 

“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.” Ayla replied while still thinking what could it be. 

Suddenly, the scent is getting much stronger and it`s coming from the front door. Ayla stood up immediately and was planning to tell her sister that she`ll just check something but Aster is no longer in the chair where she was seated. Instead, she hears Aster calling for her at the sala.

Dali dali siyang pumunta doon at nagulat na makita ang kaniyang nakakatandang kapatid na nakahawak sa matipunong braso ng isang gwapong lalaki.𝐻𝑜𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛.

“Ayla! Come here. Let me introduce you to my fiancée, Aidan Vanderwood. He is the Alpha of the Wolvendom Pack and we are getting married two days from now.” 

“EHHHHHHHHHH?!” Hindi makapaniwalang sagot ni Ayla.

Ayla was beyond shocked and confused at the same time. She is shocked to know that her sister is getting married and she just finds out. She didn’t even know that Aster has a boyfriend let alone a fiancée, her sister didn’t even bother telling her on one of her letters. 

She is also confused that, why is a masculine and insanely handsome man smells like a sweet scent of spring. 

“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑡. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑛'𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑦. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑠ℎ𝑒-𝑤𝑜𝑙𝑓.” Zira suddenly cuts off her thoughts. 

“𝑆ℎℎℎℎℎ. 𝑄𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒!” Ayla shuts Zira up. 

“Anong ehhhh?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Aster kay Ayla.

“You`re getting married two days from now?” Ayla feels like her feet is wobbling so she went to the nearest sofa. “You have a fiancée and he`s the Alpha of this pack. I don’t even know that you have a boyfriend. I`m sorry, it`s just so hard for me to take this all at once. Give me a minute.” Ayla looked down and closed her eyes. 

After calming herself, Ayla stood up and reached out her hands to Aidan indicating a hand shake and Aidan reached out his hand too. The moment their hands touched each other, Ayla felt like she was slightly electrocuted, her heart started to pound fast again and Zira`s eyes suddenly turned gold. 

“G- Good Evening Alpha. I- I`m Ayla Celimine Dierkshiede, Aster`s younger sister. It`s a pleasure to meet you.” Ayla mentally slapped herself for stuttering. That was so not like her. 

“The pleasure is mine as well Ayla.” Aidan replied and gently smiled at her.

“What`s with this awkward atmosphere between the two of you? Hahahaha.” Aster can`t helped but to laugh at her sister. She always sees Ayla as someone who is confident and straight forward. Ayla`s sudden stuttering was new to her. 

“Oh shut up. You`ll have an explaining to do later.” Ayla moved away from her sister and went to Marcus to sit beside him.

When she is finally seated, Marcus then stood up and went to Aidan and Aster. 

“Aidan, Aster, congratulations.” Marcus shakes hands with Aster while he slightly punched Aidan on his shoulders. “I didn’t know that you two are getting married this month. I was surprised when I received the invitation.”

“Wait… You know that Alpha Aidan is marrying my sister? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin kanina?” Ayla angrily looks at Marcus.

“It must have slipped my mind. I`m sorry, I didn’t do it intentionally. I really didn’t.” Marcus walked towards the sofa where he was seated while raising both of his arms midway indicating that he is innocent.

“How is something that important slipped out from your mind. Unbelievable!” Hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Ayla habang nakahawak sa kaniyang sentido. 

“Now, now. Bukas mo na sila bombahin ng maraming tanong Ayla. Nandito si Alpha Aidan para pormal na hingin ang kamay ni Aster. Ibigay muna natin ang gabing ito para sa kanila. Ipunin mo muna ang mga tanong mo at ibagsak mo bukas lahat sa ate mo.” Bago paman maka isip ng bagong tanong si Ayla ay pinigilan na ito ng kanilang Ina.

“Okkaayyy.” Walang ibang nagawa si Ayla kundi ang sundin ang sinabi ng kanilang Ina. Masyado lang talaga siyang nagulat sa mga nangyayari. “I`ll just go to my room. Magpapalit muna ako ng damit. Kanina pa kasi tong umaga tsaka galing pa kami sa paglalakbay. How about you guys?” Paalam ni Ayla sa kaniyang Ina pagkatapos ay tumingin sa kaniyang kasama na si Marcus at Bowei. 

“I was about to do that too. Pinapalipas ko lang ang tensyon. Nakakatakot ka kasing tingnan eh. Baka pag nagsalita ako bigla, mabatukan mo na naman ako.” Bowei as tactless as he is, got smacked in the head by Ayla again. Poor guy. 

“I`ll just go to my room. I`ll be back later.” Paalam ni Ayla sa Ina at sa mga kasama niya.

“Okay Sweetie.” Sagot naman nito. “I`ll just call you when dinner`s ready.”