The North's Legend

If there was something I know nothing about, then that would be the existence of the White Stag and its significant purpose. When other regions said that the North Canideans believed in such a legend, I never acknowledged the idea of being one of the high believers because I thought that it was preposterous.

The prophecy itself was absurd and unimaginable. That’s why most people in other regions, specifically from the Central, looked down upon us for not accepting change and refusing to adapt to modernization, unlike others who had accepted it long years ago.

We, people from the North preferred to call our place Town when all of the regions upgraded theirs into a City. Our houses and infrastructure remained to be just a little wooden hut, our packhouse was some sort of old castle built centuries ago and had never been renovated even once, our clothing is perpetual, staying to be conservative, and we preserved our land by staying the way it was our ancestors left them for us. Almost all regions used bombs and guns for their defense, but we preferred to use hunting knives and swords as our weapons just like in the old times.

But no matter how outmoded our region was, our place became the refuge of the criminals from the Central. Too much from being modern and esteemed and here they were, treating our region as their safe haven. That’s why when the Justice Pack from the Canidean City Police Department roamed around in the North, it only meant one thing to us. A criminal is in hiding again. Even I have already lost count of how many times they searched in our region and caught criminals harboring in the woods, it’s outrageous.

If only looking for a White Stag is as feasible as seeing criminals get caught by the CCPD, then I wouldn't worry about its probability.

“But it doesn't exist...” I muttered, making Mason quirk his brow at me. “Does it?”

Mason narrowed his eyes at me for seconds, causing my face to heat in embarrassment and then panic when his gaze grew intense upon my face.

“If you believe it, then it will. Would you rather stay like this for the rest of your life then?” he asked testily, requiring an immediate answer.

“N-No,” I answered while looking down, my hands fidgeting in my middle. When I remembered that he didn’t want to hear me stutter whenever I spoke to him, I cleared my throat. “I mean, no. Of course not. I think I have had enough of disparage for the last ten years.”

“Then keep on the lookout for the woods starting today. It’s just a stag, it’s not that hard to find here in the North, especially in our town,” he said, as if nothing was to fret about.

Well, looking at Mason, maybe it was easy for him. If only I had his strength, agility, and not to mention his confidence, I wouldn't be having second thoughts about it.

“But it’s a White Stag,” I pointed out, refusing to meet his tenacious gaze. I was so agitated at the most ideal choice, it came out as a complaint.

“Sure, a white one was rare, Aera. But I know the Moon Goddess made it for a reason... and that is for you. It has to be for you,” Mason insisted while tapping my shoulder with rather powerful force. “Now, piss off, stop whining, and go home. I had enough of your trounces today.”

Mason pushed me so fervently that I almost stumbled at the exertion of it. I felt like somebody struck me on my shoulder because he had tapped me so hard. If I hadn't been so careful and quick to act, I must have already shoved my face into the ground.

Reaching for my shoulder, I secretly gave Mason an angry squint until Miya arrived, coming from their house just situated nearby in our training area.

She saw me wincing in pain while I was rotating my shoulder, so she darted her brother an arch look. As haughty and unbothered as Mason, he just gave it a careless shrug before walking away as he whistled.

“I’m sorry, Aera. Mason could be brusque sometimes, but believe me when I said that he’s a good brother,” Miya said and handed me a small container with a twisted cap. “It’s an ointment from our house. For your back wound at our next tending in your room. The one we have in your room already ran out and requesting one from your father would not be easy and efficient. He was so mad at you, there's a possibility that he wouldn't grant my request.”

Smiling, I accepted the ointment from Miya. “Thank you.”

She stepped closer to fix my hood and smiled at me while locking her hands on my shoulder as a gesture that I was ready to go home. “You did well with the shifting today, Aera. I’m so proud of you.”

I couldn't help but smile at the encouragement. And I never knew I needed it. That was the first time I ever heard a compliment from someone that didn't come from myself or my wolf, and I didn't know how gratifying it was to acquire.

I realized that it was one of the things that I was missing in this world. In fact, I was missing so many things that I couldn't help blaming myself for allowing me to be that ostracized in our pack when deep inside me I knew I could do more. At least, now I believe that I can. And I would gladly do anything just to receive some more compliments starting from now on.

That’s how huge Mia’s impact on me. She made me realize what instances I wanted for myself that I couldn't.

After that night, I woke up every day more determined, bold, intrepid even to sneak out of the house for months and train every night with Miya and Mason. At first, my wolf was slightly unsettled by my sudden change of demeanor, plausibly afraid that my father would find out about my secret endeavors behind his back, but then she failed to convince me to smooth down the growing sense of eagerness inside me because I was really unwavering.

I couldn't bear wasting any more time.

I have been wasting it for almost two decades now by being locked in my room and abused by my cruel father. If there was a right time to act for me, then it has to be now.

One morning, I spent my entire time in the woods, trying to have sight of a White Stag but only to no avail. Mason was right when he said that stags in the North were abundant and sparse in the woods, but there was no White Stag that I could find.

And maybe— just maybe, it doesn't exist at all, making that prophecy unattainable.

I heaved a long sigh and idled while leaning my back on the trunk. I directed my face at the radiating sun and prayed to the Moon Goddess in silence.

I cared less if I couldn't find a white stag any sooner, as long as I could locate one no matter how long it would take me. And if I can't locate one in this lifetime, then I hope I won't be the weak daughter of someone's father or a shameful sibling to someone's sister and have a fair life instead. Apparently, the White Stag was the only option I had. Finding and killing one was the only way to alter my sullied reputation here in our town.

I purposely went home late to have my lunch. I had a feeling that my father wouldn't love me to join him for lunch at our long table. If Aena was here, she wouldn't want me to join her as well, unless she had a plan on boasting about her achievements in front of our father, leading me to receive harsh comparisons and dejection remarks while she got the praise and appreciation she ought to have.

With that memory, I rolled my eyes in irritation and went back to the packhouse where we, the Alvarez family, had been living for almost five decades now.

On my way to the packhouse, everybody was eyeing me like I'm nothing but a disgrace in our average pack yet full of good fighters.

I would have been hurt if it was foreign to me. Except it wasn't because I had been receiving those gazes many times now, every day to be precise, that I no longer cared, unlike before that would easily dishearten me.

I walked past them and went straight to my room. When I was about to open my door, I heard a sound that I had never heard before.

A moan from a woman.

In fact, not just any woman but my sister’s, causing my brain to be short-circuited and unable to process what I was hearing.

“Yes, Jared... deeper,” Aena moaned, followed by a high-pitched whimper. “Oh, yes... yes!”

My hand flew to cover my mouth and I stiffened in front of my door before I found myself pinned in my position with wide eyes.

“Oh, yes... just like that!” Aena screamed, as if she was in pain and pleasure, making me wince in disgust.

And I swore in silence before I realized what they were doing inside my room. They were doing it in my bed. Hell, I'm not even certain if they were doing it in my bed or if they had been doing some of it anywhere inside my bedroom before I even arrived.

“I’m almost there, darling... don’t stop!” Aena demanded in between her heavy breaths. When her voice turned desperate and impatient, chanting her mate’s name, again and again, my eyes dilated and I found my heart racing. “Jared...”

My heart was beating so loudly inside my chest, it was jabbing my ears as it was in rhythm together with Aena and Jared's continuous moans.

My cheeks heated at the lewd noise and yet I couldn't move a muscle. And even though I knew I needed to leave, my wolf disobeyed me by being adamant and choosing to listen in exhilaration instead.

And it was then I realized that my wolf was in heat, making my body scorch and rouse all of a sudden.