Chapter 5 His name

TANIA'S POV

I hesitated at first because I still had my doubts about him but then I reminded myself that this man saved me and it was his place that I was going to. If he wanted to harm me then there would have been no need for him to save me from the Night Wolf. But what if he saved me to present me as a feast for his people? If that was the case, then he wouldn't have threatened to leave me to die here in the woods under this freezing cold?

Aside from that, there was just this aura of comfort that I felt around this man. I didn't know him but it felt as though he was someone that was worth knowing. Or someone that is worth being with. Maybe I was being delusional. Why was I even reasoning these things at this time as if I had another option aside from accepting his hand?

Without further hesitation, I placed my hands in his and good Goddess, his hands were warm to the touch. Warm enough to stop the goosebumps that rose up consistently on my skin. If only I can get him to hug me right now -- it was not like it was possible or anything, it was just a silly imagination that emanated due to my urgent situation.

"Talon," he said, catching me off guard and bringing my attention back to reality.

"What?"

"My name. It's Talon."

"Oh!" Now that made sense. I initially thought he was trying to say something about talons, I didn't think that he was trying to tell me his name. "That's nice. So you are a werewolf like me."

He paused and exhaled, as if he was tired of me already. "Why then am I bearing the name, Talon?"

That made sense. Talon actually means 'Claws' but that didn't mean that a werewolf had to bear related names like that. Anybody can bear any name. Like Lexi, I still have no idea what that fool's name meant.

"Okay, Talon, are you an Alpha or a Beta?" I asked, even though I had no idea why. Maybe it was because I just wanted to weigh his capability and ability to protect me or maybe it was because I have a thing for Alphas.

"You don't have to know. You should worry about other things and not my rank."

Was he kidding me right now? He didn't even need to tell me that he was an Alpha. I knew already that he was one by the way he fought that animal; without stress and he had this great stance and poise. Even Betas didn't fight like that. No… I was wrong right now. Betas actually fought well but I think I chose to believe that Talon was an Alpha.

Facing downwards, I chuckled, covering my mouth with my hand. "Alpha Talon," I remarked. "It suits you well. I like it." I threw my gaze to the other side, acting like I was carried away by the trees and that what I said wasn't referring to him.

I could literally feel Talon's gaze on me even with my face turned to the other side but I chose not to look back. Who knows? His death stare might pierce into my soul and destroy me right away.

"I find you very interesting, Tania. I don't know who you are but who you will be to me will be determined by how useful you'll be to me. You are the first person that..." He paused and nothing else followed again.

His silence caused a stroke of anxiety in me and I could only wonder what it was that he wanted to say to me at that time.

"You are the second person that has dared to speak to me so casually and I am very pleased with that." He pulled me towards a track road, so thin that I was struggling to remain on the tiny path.

With our heads slightly bent to avoid scattered branches from hitting us, we threaded along the path. I guess this was the path which led to wherever he lived and I could only wonder if we were close to the place or not because we trekked for a long time.

Even without the knowledge of where I was going to, I felt this instant excitement surge through me -- it was not an excitement as a result of where I was going to but it was an excitement as a result of where I escaped from.

For the first time in seven years I felt free. I had no idea if where I was going to was going to be worse than Crescida but I just had to relish the joyful feeling that I was experiencing at that moment, smiling my way through the journey.

"Are you smiling?" Talon asked. I didn't know that he was staring at me all the while that I had been smiling sheepishly to myself. "Something must have excited you enough to smile like you just won a stake."

I pulled myself together and cleared my throat. "Nothing," I answered. "It's nothing. Let's keep going. But how far is this place of yours?"

"We are almost there. Just a little while now and we'll be there," he assured me and we continued the rest of the journey in silence.

After what seemed like forever, we came out of the forest into a cleared out open space. The ground was leveled and underneath my feet I could feel the soft sand. It was like a village. Or maybe a town. I could clearly see fuzzy lights from lit up lanterns and hear the obscure voices of people from afar. There were some houses here and there and yes, the singing of the night birds blessed my ears. That was definitely a good sign. A good sign that I have arrived at a good place. At least there were people around. Though I couldn't see them from where Talon and I stood, I was relieved to know that we had arrived at a place where people resided.

I even wondered why the voices of the people were audible for me to hear. It was like they were cheering for something or maybe they were just going about their normal activities.

"Welcome to my place." Said Talon as he finally let go of my hand. "This is Ascot, land of integrity. Come. Let me take you to my place and after the celebration, I will introduce you to my pack."