Chapter 2 - Reality

The leaves on the ground waggled as the padding of wolves’s paw reverberated through the forest. All strive to be the fastest before a pearly silver fur passes through the others. 

He tilted his head to the side with a growl as though snickering towards the other.

The tanned brunette behind him rumbled. Reckoning his paw to speed up his pace in sight of the black flag near the finish line ahead. 

Unfortunately for him, the silver seems to notice his advances. Without further wasting any time, he jumped over to the finish line while shifting back to his human form. 

With all his might, he reached towards the black flag, grasping it tightly in his palm as he rolled through the ground. Ending on his back. 

A charming smile decorated his face. 

—

Nathan Black

A light chuckle left my throat as I shuffled towards him. Ethan, who was breathing heavily on the ground. 

I offered him a hand which he grasped on tightly, pulling him on his feet.

“I won.” He cheekily smiled. 

His eyes traveled before it landed on the brunette. The said man stomped towards us, already in his human form. He was clearly dissatisfied with the result.

“How does it feel to eat my dust, Allan darling.” He snickered, adding to the fuel. It had earned him a dirty look from the latter.

I sighed. Here we go again.

“I can snap your neck right here, right now. If you don't shut it.” He glared menacingly.

Great.

“I like to see you try.” Ethan challenged with a smug face.

“That’s enough for both of you.” I pat their shoulders almost roughly. 

“We need to meet up with the Solis pack later, remember? You both better be ready by then so as to not upset Mr. Black.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. 

Having to address my father by his last name. Totally absurd.

“Wow, you both still call your father Mr. Black?” Allan grimaced. Being our best friend since childhood, he kind of knew some of our family history. 

I forced a smile. 

“He says it. Until he knows which between us would be suited as the soon to be leader, we are acquaintances.” He declared that, but what acquaintances dine on the same table and live in the same house. 

Absolutely preposterous.

“Like hell I care. I would call him Ranny all I want.” Ethan cackled. Eyes skimming back and forth in our direction, probably anticipating our reaction to his unlaughable joke.

“Let's just go home, Ethan.” I sighed while turning towards the direction of our home. 

“See you at the gate later, Allan.” I waved, not waiting for him to reply.

“Yeah, see ya.”

“Wha—wait for me, Nat.” I can feel my lips forming a smile as I left him behind to catch up. 

It was somehow funny. Recalling my father’s scandalized face when Ethan started addressing him by his nickname for the first time. It was rather funny. 

Hilarious, I must say. 

Ethan really doesn't have a care in the world and I would willingly keep him that way. 

Immediately after we were both presented as Alpha, we were forced to be rivals against our own will. 

And it was all because he wanted to see who would be fitting to be his successor as the leader of Luna pack. 

Although, I know being the firstborn in the family, the pressure would always end up on me. 

I would forever have to carry this burden. Being the responsible one among us two. 

Still, as long as he can be as free as he wants to be. As long as he won't have to face what I have to. Then, it was fine.

He finally matched his steps with mine, slumping his hand around my shoulder. 

“Hey, are you alright there?” Concern decorating his face, seeing my mood darken.

I fondly ruffled his hair instead, giving him a reassuring smile. 

“I'm fine.”

–

“You’re late.”

No shit Sherlock. 

In my defense, I was not even late. I wondered who could have possibly satisfied his demand as even I had failed miserably.

“I apologize, Mr. Black. As I have to attend to other matters.” I could feel Ethan rolling his eyes behind me. 

I would've certainly done the same if his eyes weren't throwing daggers towards me. 

“To be a leader, Nathan, you have to learn how to respect other people’s time. And clearly, you still didn't have it in you.” He eyed me up and down, judging every small detail displayed before him.

“Chill, Ranny. It's my fault he's late. Don't be so bummed up about it.” Ethan isn't having it. It was known how he disliked the treatment I had received from father ever since we were little. 

Father’s face turned mortified, clearly annoyed at this point. “You—“

Ethan cuts him off nevertheless. 

“Nathan, I am going upstairs now to get ready. Leaders don't keep others waiting…” His eyes glowered sharply towards our father. ”...isn't that right, Ranny?”

Ethan, then, stomped towards the stairs to his room, leaving me and father alone. I hid a smile on my lips.

It all brought me back to several years past.

–

The Black family was well-known to this pack, being my father as the leader. Though, it surely looked all sunshine and rainbows on the outside, it was hell once one live inside it. 

It was all nothing but filled with rotten and wretched.

I could never forget the sinister grin stretching his face that night. When Ethan was presented as Alpha.

The villagers congratulated and celebrated with us, for us having a pure bloodline and all. Yet, all I could do that night was dread. 

Since then, he has made us rivals. He makes us believe that in order to be the best leader one could ever possibly be, we have to be better than anyone else. 

Because that was what it takes to be a ‘real leader’. 

I knew my mother disagreed with all of this. Still, she doesn't really have a say in this family. Everything he says goes. 

Every night, her sorrowful features unfailingly haunt me. For her to witness us brawled against each other. It must have broken her heart.

Everytime she attends our cuts and bruises, her whispers vibrate through my soul. Before she caresses my hair to sleep.

“Always remember, Nathan. Both of you are stronger than you think you are. You should always use it to protect others.” Her kind smile lulled me to sleep.

“Then, who would protect me, mother?” My voice low, eyes barely holding together.

“One day, there will be someone who will be willing to protect you, my dear Nathan. And there is Ethan.” Her eyes fall to the sleeping figure on the bed across from mine.

“Thus, whatever happens in the future, always know that you have each other’s back. Understand dear?” I nodded. Fluttering my eyes closed to her gentle touch.

I held onto those words as though it was my pillar of life. Never once had I stopped praying, with the intent on never letting myself turn out to be like him. Let alone Ethan. 

–

If only my father had realized. That he had not once had control over us. That it had all lost the second mom–

“That rotten child. Ungrateful just like your dead mother.” He hissed. 

My eyes snapped menacingly back at him. The word rang in my ears, clarifying what I hoped I heard wrong. 

Don't say it, father. For I might not know what it could unleash.

“At least she’s dead now.” He snorted. 

That was all it took as I felt my brain shut. All left was the rage consuming my senses as I clamped my fist tight.

“I would very much appreciate it if you mind your words, Mr.Black.” My jaw clenched as those words flowed menacingly through my lips, eyes looking down on him. 

“Or I promise you. I am going to make you regret even uttering her name in front of me.” My cynical aura filled the room, darkening my senses even more.

“What are you going to do about it?” He leered, as though challenging me. Although, his eyes were suspiciously unfocused.

A sinister chuckle unfamiliarly left me. My eyes were cold, lacking in emotions as I stepped closer to him. Slowly, I leaned to his ear. 

“There are many things you don't know about me, Black." The claw that I paid no heed to had already painstakingly stretched near his throat.

"And you should start wishing you would never find out.” I smirk, straightening my back while not breaking eye contact. All the while retracting the claws to my side.

His eyes wide, almost comical. I might laugh if it's not for the situation. 

“Okay, what did I miss?”

My shoulder jolted to Ethan’s voice as if jerking me awake from my fury.

I took a deep breath, calming myself. The room suddenly felt cold. 

“Nothing. We just have a little talk. Let’s go, Ethan. We wouldn't want to be late.” I turned towards the door, finding my way out of the house.

“Until we meet again, Mr. Black.” I muttered. Without looking back, I twisted the handle open and walked out the door.

—

“You don’t know how curious I am right now, Nat. What happened back there?” Ethan had been pestering me since we left the house. Wheedling me into spilling my encounter with father. 

I intend to pay no mind to him. Aiming to just sort out whatever it was with the Solis pack and call it a day.

That was when he suddenly halted on his track. Puzzled by his action, I searched his eyes as I tried to discern what was on his mind.

“He talked about mom, didn't he?” His wide silver eyes met mine. 

“Or else you wouldn't be so worked up about it. You only show that side of yours when someone talks shit about mom or me.” He successfully guessed.

I sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.” I agreed, not in the mood to argue about it.

“Really, he should’ve known better than to do that. He knows how protective you are with us." When something clicked in his mind. "Wait, he doesn’t know, does he?” He snorted.

I shrugged. Who knows.

“You look happy.” I stated as we resumed our walk.

“Well, it feels good having someone on your back. Don't you think so?” He chortled. His words suddenly reminded me of our mother. 

A smile winds through my lips.

Yeah. It does.

As we were nearing the gate, Allan greeted us.

“Took you long enough.” He pushed his back against the tree where he just leaned in, ready to walk away. 

His feet stopped with his brow instantly furrowed as soon as he noticed the dampened mood on me. 

“Nathan had a fight with Ranny just now. Good thing I stopped them or who knows what would’ve happened.” Ethan blabbered out of his way.

He snorts. “I seem to not remember myself asking you, Ethan.” 

Ethan seemed offended, fingers pointing to his direction. “You—one day you’re gonna regret this.”

"Looking forward to it." He smirks, which earned a groan from the latter.

I could only shake my head. 

These two can't even go a day without bantering. Although their antics did successfully distract me from my solemn mood.

Allan stole a glance at me when a small smile finally slipped on his face. 

He was probably glad that my mood was slightly better now as we strolled towards the gate.

—

We have arrived in front of the Solis pack's gates. And everything about this place screamed bone-chilling. 

We were about to walk in before a man appeared with a wooden spear in his clasp.

“Who are you! How dare you step in our territory.” The man shouted, looking guarded as if we’re trespassing in their territory. 

Well, technically we are. But we were, in a way, invited here. 

From his scent alone, I could identify that he is a beta. That alone had sparked something in my memory based on what I’ve heard off. 

About the beta in Soris pack.

Allan unknowingly triggered with the other’s outbursts. With hiis claws already growing longer, face wrinkled with rampage. 

He was ready to attack the man before I held my hand in front of him, stopping his track.

The poor man seemed frightened enough to cowered into himself. 

I let out a sigh. Allan really needs to work on his temper.

“I apologize for our sudden intrusiveness. We don't mean any harm. We are here with the invitation from your leader.” I muttered calmly, not wanting to scare the man further. 

His face, however, became paler as the words dawned on him. He hurriedly bent over towards us. 

“I-I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t know you’re the guests. I would do anything. Please don't tell Sir Joshue about this.” His body trembled in fear.

Sir Joshue? If I was not mistaken, that was the Solis's leader, Joshue Miller. 

I couldn't help the unpleasant feeling rise off my chest hearing his name.

We exchanged looks. Something was definitely off about this place. 

Why would a Beta guard the border of their territory alone? Even Alpha would need more than one to secure the territory. Looking at his stance, he seems new too.

Weird. I could feel many questions piling up in my head as I pondered about it.

“Umm… sure. How about you show us the way? That would be nice.” Ethan offered awkwardly. 

The man seems relieved enough as he brings us deeper into the wood. Until we were greeted with a vast field. 

“You are just a coward Alpha!” A loud voice vibrates through the field, catching our attention.

Huh, that’s interesting.