Chapter 4 - Memories

Nathan Black

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

Huh, that’s interesting.

It was not everyday that one heard an Alpha being called a coward. In public if I might add. My head moved, searching through the crowds for the source of the voice. It, then, landed on the two figures, remote from others as if they were purposely being avoided. 

Seeing a woman standing in front of a man with her figure all tensed, it must have been her. I stretched my neck, aiming to have a better look on her features. 

It was all futile. Having her silky chestnut locks waves through the wind, grazing her shoulder had unfortunately covered most of her face. My throat let out a grunt, irritated. 

Wait, irritated? What am I annoyed about? 

I shook my head a couple of times, prompting me to focus on the subject matter. My brain moved on drive, curious as to what causes her to venture on such an act. 

By the way she set forth her emotions, the Alpha must have infuriated her greatly. Alphas are sometimes very vexing to be around with. I won't deny that. 

An amused smile found its way through my lips. She is a brave one.

“Oh god. She was done for.” The guard mumbled under his breath, earning my attention. My eyebrows furrowed. 

I almost agreed to it. Looking back at it, disparaging an Alpha so blatantly might be deemed as disrespecting them. 

She might be in danger. 

I wouldn't know how to point it out as I had barely known her. And yet I could feel that it was not the slightest bit of her fault. Despite the fact that Alpha was defined with a higher status among all, they are unescape from being ill mannered.

I sighed. I feel like I am pondering over it too much. I might have overlooked the situation more than I should. I don't even know her.

I doubt I should even involve myself with the internal issues of the pack. Not when my head was racked, filled with the complications of  my own. My eyes flickered to Ethan, attention solely on the two, clearly interested in their affairs. 

Differ with Allan, who was facing fully on a certain group near the stage, distracted as ever. I wonder what caught his attention when there was nothing fascinating to look at. 

All I could see was what I supposed was a group of Alpha. By looking into their more confident stance, they do vary to the other two groups. 

“Allan, what are you–” I started. However, a collection of gasps halted me from finishing my sentence. 

Even Ethan had shown the same reaction. Gasping with his hand slumping around the guard, oblivious to the frightened look on the latter's face. 

Look at him being too friendly as he always was.

I faced her once more, curious to the cause that arose such a response. That was when I saw the man with his pointed claw out, wounding her face. 

A thick liquid trailing down her cheek, making me hold my breath. Is that tears? No. That’s blood.

My tongue plucked on my cheek. Annoyed as ever.

I couldn't stand it. Seeing the way he stood all high with the expression he wears. Sneering at her. With the way the blood had trickled onto the ground. It felt so familiar. 

It had unconsciously plucked out something deep in my memories. 

What was it?

Ah.

I see. Now, I remember. 

It was the same as that night eight years ago. 

The trembling that I felt that night rushed to my body. My mother’s dead body limping on the ground flashed through my eyes along with a man standing next to her with similar demeanor. 

His face blurred from my tears. My hand reached for her whilst the man shifted to his wolf form, vanishing into the shadow of the night.

Unknowingly, I felt my blood rushing with the situation in front of me. ‘Alpha should always protect others.’  Mother’s soothing voice ringing through my ear. 

“Who is he?” My voice was sharp as a knife, eyes trained on the man. 

The guard was startled. Averting his attention to me when his eyes turned wide as the atmosphere around me abruptly changed. 

Ethan seemed to notice it too. He hastily removed his hand around the guard with his forehead wrinkles into lines. 

“Nathan.” Ethan warned.

“He is Sir Joshue’s son. Sir Thomas.” The guard tilted his head down, avoiding my eyes. 

Thomas. 

I knew I had heard the name before. It was the same boy I had met the day I visited the pack with my parents eight years ago. 

A twelve years old, having almost a similar attitude with his father. Though minus the bravery, timidly hiding behind his father’s leg.

My feet moved on the ground. Making my way towards Thomas as I startled both Ethan and the guard. 

Allan too seemed to regain from his stupor, alert to his surroundings. I could discern their movement trailing on my back, leaving the guard behind. 

It was all dead silence inside my head. I knew I should be calming myself down to recoil from making a scene here. Despite that, with what had happened with my father earlier. And forcefully reminded of my mother. I could hardly keep my emotions at bay. 

I would have fumed on my temper there and then. 

That if not for the faint scent of a delicate, sweet rose brisking through the wind, all the way invading my senses. The tension gripping my muscles bit by bit loosened its hold. Melting to the air as it gave me a moment to compose myself. 

Strange.

Reaching closer to them, a line formed on my forehead. The scent had grown stronger than it had been beforehand, and yet, it gave more comfort than distress to my being. 

Whatever it was with the scent, it does as much as assist me to govern my actions. Clearing my mind better as I towered over Thomas.

“I apologize if it seems as if I had interrupted your ‘talk’. However, it would be welcomed if you leave them alone.” I phrased amiably. 

It was far from my intention to spook the other two. However, I do assert the sternness enough to display my disapproval of Thomas. 

In the corner of my eyes, I witnessed Ethan tipping his face to one of the girls I didn't realize was there. Signaling her to leave which she thankfully caught on, tugging her supposedly friend away. Gone along was the fragrance of roses enveloping me earlier, leaving me yearning for it more.

This situation was odd. Something must have been wrong with me.

Thomas resembled a statue when his figure was facing me. He may have recognized me with the horror look he had portrayed. 

Though, I might be wrong. He was only twelve when we first met. 

He jumped in alarmed, looking as if he was being terrorized. “Nathan Black.” He croaked out.

I arched an eyebrow. So, he does remember me. 

“You know him?” Ethan whispered, having his face jerking towards my side. Eyes never leaving the said man. 

That reminds me, Ethan had never been here before. With the fact that he was only so young during the time. 

I nodded, not explaining any further. It would be embarrassing for Thomas if I did. Recalling the way his back on the ground, with his face twisted in pain after challenging me into a duel. 

He was just presented as Alpha during the time. I do somehow understand him being enthusiastic about it.

“This is my territory. What makes you think you can stop me?” He suddenly snarled, still on his defense stance. 

“Don't be all too defensive now, Thomas. I am merely doing you a favor.” I shrugged, giving an unimpressed look towards him. 

“Or you would be called a coward again for wounding a girl.” I snided, pressing a certain word to get on his nerves. 

It worked successfully. Seeing how his face flushed with embarrassment and irritation knowing we had been an audience to his early banter. 

Allan clears his throat. If I had known better, I would say he was holding his laughter. Now that I think about it, I wonder what had caused his distraction earlier. Remind me to ask him later.

“Aside from that, I am here for your father. I would be delighted if you could show us the way.” I continued. 

He seemed conflicted between agreeing or rejecting the offer. However, the aforementioned Sir Joshue sure had got the work done. Knowing he would want to get on the good side of his father.

He grumbled, turning on his heel to lead the way. “Follow me. Just to be clear, I would have left you on your own if not for my father.” 

Ditto.

– 

The silence of Ethan had picked my interest as we walked towards Sir Joshue's house. It certainly was uncommon for him to be this tight-lipped. 

"Something bothering you?" I first inquired. 

Allan's inscrutable face might have fooled me if I hadn't known him better. Even I knew his attention had been on him too. Eager to be versed in with the information.

A certain distance was left between us as we tagged along behind Thomas. It was to refrain him from eavesdropping our conversation.

Ethan bit his lower lips. His eyebrows furrowed as if trying to search for a suitable way to express himself. His thoughts whirling inside him.

“Something weird just happened back there.” Ethan stated, his face surprisingly void from any trace of playfulness that was habitually there. Allan grunted, encouraging him to continue on with his notion. 

This certainly has garnered my attention.

“Okay. So, we were walking to Thomas just now, right?” His whispered, eyes flickered to Thomas, making sure he was out of range. 

I nodded, confirming his words.

“Then, all of the sudden there is this strong scent all over me. What's weirder was that my body reacted to it. It was really strong, yet it was oddly very soothing.” He exclaimed, catching his breath slightly. 

Hold on. That sounds familiar. My brain recalled the scent of roses earlier. Now that he mentioned it, that certainly portrayed how I had been feeling too. But was it the same scent as I had smelled?

Silence enveloping us before Allan decided to break it.

“Huh. If I were to assume, it might be because your mate is around.” Allan tilted his head with his thumb and forefinger on his chin. Muttering his assumption as if oblivious to the weight of his words. 

That undoubtedly grasped our attention, eyes bewildered on the conclusion coming from his mouth.

What in the world did he just say?