TACFR 1 - Pickpocket

"Marry?!" The word came out like a surprise from Manu's mouth. It was as if he never heard of it before that the sound of it rolling off his tongue was like an alien from a planet yet to be discovered.

He coupled that with a widening of his eyes upon hearing his mother's ridiculous request. But of course, he wouldn't dare say out loud that it's the most preposterous thing he had ever heard his whole life.

The old woman's birthday was in the next two weeks and she was asking him to be married by then. Like where the heck in the world would he drag a bride from?

"Magnus, you are twenty-eight. Haven't you found your mate yet?" Selina's tone was hopeful that he somehow already did.

After all, didn't wolves usually find their mate when they turn eighteen or twenty-one? Manu was way past that age.

Manu stood up and walked towards the glass wall of his office. From there, he could see the dazzling city being illuminated by the moonlight above and by the city night lights below. The entire view from where he stood seemed like he was looking at a giant treasure box with its precious jewels shining brightly all over the place.

"Look at you, staying up late in your office as if there's no more tomorrow. Maybe you seriously need to take a break and pay attention to finding your other half," Selina followed him and held his arm in a loving gesture. "You are not getting any younger, honey. It's about time you take yourself as your priority."

"Don't worry about me, Mama. I'm still happy taking care of everyone," he said, pulling Selina into a light hug.

It wasn't just that he had yet to find his mate. It's the big responsibility over his shoulders that prevented him from thinking about himself first.

Because to be an Alpha was to ensure everyone of his huge pack was well taken care of. City Magnificent pack, being called as it was located in Magnificent City, was one of the largest, most powerful and the most peaceful packs in the world.

In this city that he reigned, humans and werewolves could live peacefully alongside each other. While his concern was mainly his pack members, he didn't let any interfere with the humans who were just trying to live peacefully with them.

Humans were given as inferior. And for him to see a wolf taking advantage of one, was a crime for Manu. Thus, no one dared to mistreat humans as they would surely be punished by him.

However, he would not bat an eye to kill a human who would dare cross his pack member. His kind was still his priority at any given situation where a human was proven guilty.

So by that rule of the Alpha, peace was ensured in their city.

In fact Magnificent City was the top choice of humans who were taking refuge from bad werewolves.

"No matter how noble that is, I still hope to see you happily married," his mother insisted. "How about Cheska?"

"Cheska?" he repeated, searching his mind for the familiar name.

"Silly. She was your friend in grade school. Did you already forget? She got married five or six years ago. But her husband left her for someone else."

"You should know that it's not how things work, Mama. I don't wish to get involved with another wolf's mate," he pointed out.

"Then, should I hold a party for every single lady to attend? Let Mama help you find your mate," Selina carried on, as if very determined he got married asap.

"I don't think I have time for that," Manu indirectly refused.

"Find time, son. Mama is old, I don't want to leave my only son alone," his mother suddenly became emotional.

But fake or not, Manu knew he couldn't continue to disappoint his mother and make her unhappy. If he was willing to do everything for his pack, then the more he was willing to ensure Selina's happiness.

Selina's been a very good Luna. She had spent all her life being the mother to a huge pack. It's about time she gets her well deserved retirement. Manu should really take that into consideration.

But where would he find his mate? Surely, the moon goddess didn't accidentally forget all about him having a mate, right?

"Alright," he said, sighing in defeat. "I promise to spend some time off to look for my mate. But do not hold a party, Mama. It would look like you cannot wait to give your son away. It's embarrassing."

Selina chuckled. "Ah, yes. The handsome Alpha remaining single at twenty-eight is quite embarrassing!"

"So don't announce it," he rode on.

"Okay. But at least, bring a date on my birthday, Magnus."

"Okay. I promise." He knew he couldn't win over his mother. So an empty promise might as well do to escape the situation at the time.

Selina bid him goodbye after another few minutes. He stayed to finish his work before resigning to rest at around ten in the evening.

"How about a drink to ease the pressure, huh?" he told his wolf, Cole.

"I suggest we go for a walk. Or a good run might as well do," Cole answered.

He liked the idea. As opposed to drinking, a run would most likely relax his body and mind.

"Off to the forest park then." Manu picked up his things and left his office.

He had maintained a forest around Magnificent City. It's about a few hectares before the surrounding great wall that kept them safe from intruders. The top of the wall was wide enough to house his pack army that was guarding the city.

While he allowed life outside their refuge, there were only a few entrance and exit points that he had left heavily guarded to ensure safety at all times.

He couldn't risk the lives of his pack. Especially that City Magnificent didn't maintain its peacefulness by complacency. They had fought for what they're enjoying at the present. And by they fought for it, meaning to say, they conquered and won wars. And winning meant they did have adversaries.

And they could still be lurking around, probably waiting to wage war with them again.

"I say, let me have a walk first," Manu decided to have a walk around the city first. It's also like a routine check around the place he ruled.

He was the Alpha. But he forbade the overly respect he gets whenever he tried to go on a random walk. So, when he was out like that, he did not find himself being bowed to or curtsied to by his pack members.

Manu was looking at a building that was being built to rehouse wolves whose current residences would be affected by their latest livelihood development, when his phone in his pocket rang.

"Ma, we just separated a couple of hours ago," he said as he answered Selina's call.

"Magnus, you won't believe who I ran into on my way home." Selina's voice was full of excitement.

"Who?" He tried to sound interested.

"It's Kiera! Tell me you remember her, son!"

"Kiera, who?"

"Your Aunt Lima's daughter!" Selina's voice wasn't pleased at how poor his memory was. "She just arrived from studying overseas. And my, she's bloomed into a very beautiful woman!"

"I don't remem—" Manu's words were suddenly cut off when someone bumped into him.

"Sorry!" He heard the person apologize before walking away from him.

"Magnus, are you listening to me?" Selina asked.

"Yes, Ma. Sorry, I got distracted with something," he answered, looking around him. He was standing by the roadside where it wasn't crowded. How could that careless person still bump into him? "Where were we?"

He tried to brush off what happened but found himself watching the person clothed in all black attire and a hoodie slowly disappear from his sight. Weird. His heart seemed to beat unusually fast. Why was that?

"Nevermind. Let's just talk about it when you get home," Selina said.

"Okay, see you, Mama." He ended the call and was about to return his phone in his pocket when he noticed that his wallet was gone.

"The girl took it," Cole said, as if rolling his eyes at Manu's absentmindedness.

"What?!" he exclaimed. He was in no so much need of that wallet. But how a girl took it from him that way, he felt utterly disrespected.

Before he knew it, he found himself running after the thief.

Perhaps, the pickpocket had been carefully watching his move. So when he began to run, she also ran as fast as her human feet could.

Now that he was back to his senses, he knew she was just some lowly human. How dare she do that? How bold was she to steal the Alpha's wallet? Didn't she know him?

Manu was about to tackle her down when she suddenly tripped on her own. She fell down face first on the ground.

Horrified at an impending confrontation with her victim, she attempted to stand up. But a probable broken ankle prevented her from doing so. Instead, she bowed herself at his feet and apologized.

"I'm sorry!" She blurted out, though her voice lacked the sincerity it should desperately have now that Manu's instinct was telling him to kick her mercilessly. "I'll return it!"

She looked up at him with a tear stricken face while she offered him his wallet with both hands.

Manu was stunned for a fleeting moment.

Perhaps it was her tears, or maybe the way how pitiful she appeared. Or the fact that she was too small, he could easily crush her bones, that prevented his foot from swinging it on her fragile body.

Instead, he looked down at her, confused whether he should let the incident slide or not. After all, could he hurt a child? And a human for that matter?

"Please, take it and let me go," she pleaded. "I have small siblings waiting for me to come home. Please, I beg you…"

Did something tug at his heartstrings? Because he retrieved his wallet without a word and decided he wouldn't waste his energy with such a lowlife.

Manu just turned his back a second, but when he looked again, the girl was already nowhere to be seen.

But of course, he could easily tell where she was hiding. But instead of pursuing the thief, he decided he would let her be…