Marion was hiding inside his private quarters when Damon came knocking on his door. He can see who it is from the gaps on the side of the door and the hinges.He let out a snicker and then walked to open the door.“I know this is not what you want, but please hear me out first.”– Damon said. He knows Marion is not in approval of his and Brayden’s action this night. The duel that happened inside the roundhouse was a product of their personal strife but still, the Virgo’s alpha has a say to it. It’s his territory to start with. Marion opened the door wider, inviting Damon in. The latter looked around as he stepped inside. Neil and Jay are not in there, perhaps they were still tailing Norton as they he speaks with their father.“I understand that you and your brother have some unfinished issues with the Great Alpha, but this war doesn’t just revolve on the two of you. There are some of us who deals with the effect, too.” – Marion spoke his mindDamon sighed.“I know… but Brayden has hi
Brayden and Damon looked at each other, as if having a mental discussion on who’s going to help Alpha Draco up. However, both shrugged and got to their father’s side. Damon held his right arm and Brayden was on his left.“On three.” – said Damon and counted“One…”“Two…” “Three.”The two let out a grunt as they pulled Alpha Draco up. The latter also groaned as his bruise on the shoulder got stretched when he got up. “Your room, right?”“Yeah. Better mine than yours. Harper and Hector need a proper huge bed to rest.” – Brayden said and thought of Harper… again. Damon nodded and led the way. The two of them took steps forward in a rhythmic motion. They reached Brayden’s room in a little while. It was Damon who kicked the door open. The single bed and a small table on the right side welcomed them. The pillows were scattered and the blanket wasn’t fold. “Don’t judge me. We’re in a middle of a war. I don’t have time to clean the room.” – Brayden felt the need to defend the state of hi
Brayden didn’t need to ask, “what do you mean?” for Damon to get what his eyes meant.“You can stay with me and Harper in the same room. It’s also best that way since we have to guard Alpha Draco from the other room.”Brayden had to look away and think. Of course, he gets what Damon’s point was. It’s for extreme security for Alpha Draco. Besides, they have to be prepared all the time to attack if needs be. It would be hard to do that if Brayden’s missing in action.At least, it’s good to know that Damon can offer that to him now. Perhaps he already believes the misinformation that Brayden has already moved on from Harper. That the two of them are friends and can stand to be in the same room with each other. Comfortably and finally, with no thoughts of killing each other in their heads. As if that’s possible.“I get your point… but, do you think it would be okay for Harper? I don’t want to make things uncomfortable. Especially with Hector.”Damon snickered.“Harper’s fine if it’s fine
After five more minutes of convincing, Damon already got the answer he wanted. “Fine, then.” – Harper said monotonously.Damon knew a part of Harper didn’t mean that. Hell, maybe she didn’t mean that at all. However, there’s nothing else could have said. That’s what he needed to hear at the first place. Surely, Harper would understand why he insisted. “Thank you, Harper. This means a lot to me.” – he said and kissed her on the cheekBy the next minute, Damon’s out of the room. Harper was left, thinking of the consequences of what she just agreed on. She gave Brayden her permission to invade their personal space. Their intimate space, even. They have to be in the same bed as him. Even the thought made her cringe. Just when she’s stopping whatever weirdness she’s feeling in her heart with her mate’s brother… The timing’s just impeccable. and she hates it.Outside, Damon has already talked to Brayden about Harper’s affirmation. The latter was surprised to hear how easily convinced Ha
Alpha Draco opened his eyes in full darkness. Being in his human form, he cannot make up of the shapes and forms that he can see at the corner of his eyes. As he blinked to see clearer, he realized that the windows were open, thus explained the dark shadows that lurked on them. As he watched, the shadow forms moved closer. He panicked. It wasn’t just his illusion now. He’s sure it’s animate. Something that has life. “What are you?” - he spoke to the void. The formless shadow on the window frame didn’t move. It didn’t fly as well. “If you’re a witch or something, I order you to set me free! I’ll reward you with all the riches you wish to have in this lifetime.”The shadow moved a little, and Alpha Draco’s eyes widened in both horror and anticipation. The shadow stood up and grew. It maximized in its size. Like the feel of a crumpled paper being ironed out. Alpha Damon didn’t want to miss any moment. He didn’t blink. He didn’t even move. The form approached him in careful steps and
Brayde let go of his father’s wrist and cleared his throat. He was asking himself the same question as he walked towards this room: What exactly is he doing here?The question hangs in mid-air, the thought of which has been occupying his head the entire time. As he switched from the limited area of the bed, trying not to touch the pillow as physical barrier between him and Damon. “Someone has to come and check if you’re still alive.” – he said, hiding the lie“And no soldier nor guard can do that? Come one Brayden. You’re my son, I can smell it if you lie” – to emphasize his point, Alpha Draco sniffed loudlyBrayden rolled his eyes. Perhaps that’s true. Perhaps it’s not. Either, it still doesn’t nullify the thought that he’s here in his room, taking care of him. “You got me then. I actually came here because I have something to ask you.”Alpha Draco snickered and laid back to the bed. His back hurt from the position he fell asleep and came to. At least now, looking at him with his
Harper woke up the next morning in an empty bed. Even Hector wasn’t with her.Her first thought was to scream, but given that Damon was not in the room as well, high are the chances that he has Hector. Perhaps they’re all in the main hall having breakfast and that she only overslept.Now that they have the Great Alpha in their premises, Harper feels safer to go out and thoughts of war are not in her system as of the moment. what she’s more concern now is the welfare of her child. That’s all she ever thinks about. About time.After folding the blanket and stacking the pillows together, she left the room, locking the door behind her. The sun gets past the window and the feeling of morning crept past Harper’s face. She felt the warmth on her face as it enveloped and comforted her. She thinks of the possible things she can still do for the day. Basically, everyone has been occupied of the war and the things that goes with it. They become more and more engaged with it that they forget tha
A minute and 35 seconds after, the Lucas siblings were standing in front of Marion looking like two guilty thieves. Their heads were lowered down and their eyes were looking lost in the moment. There’s nothing else they can do but to listen to Marion’s rants first.“I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. NOT BECAUSE YOU DAMAGED MY PROPERTY BUT BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T RESPECT MY DECISION OF NOT INCLUDING YOU IN THE MEETING. DON’T YOU THINK I HAVE EVERYONE’S BEST INTEREST AT HEART? I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF THE BEST FOR ALL, AND THAT’S IMPARTIAL ON MY PART.”Marion’s voice was raised. Because of the broken window, the people and members of his council can hear every single word he’s uttered to the siblings. Including Eva who couldn’t help but giggle at the thought. “It’s my idea, Marion. I only told Brayden to go with it.” – said Damon, solely admitting the offenseBrayden looked at him and scoffed.“Don’t try to be a hero, Damon. It doesn’t suit you.”“I’m not trying to be anything-““I did the window.” –
“Alpha Draco requests your presence, sir.”The messenger talked in a slow fashion, careful that the Virgo Alpha would hear it properly. Marion just finished settling on an old room inside the common room. It looked like it belonged to a royal she-wolf, based on the expensive paintings on the wall and the hand-sewn dresses inside the closet. “Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”“He said it’s urgent, sir.”Marion nodded. There’s no excuses with the Great Alpha. Besides, he’s not in his territory. He’s at the Red Blood’s, the first time he got out of the roundhouse and housed in a different setting actually. The messenger left the door open. Marion put down the third pillow case he packed with him and followed the former to the main room of the common room. Inside, Alpha Draco was waiting. He’s sipping jasmine tea from a small teacup. A lady in waiting was at his side, holding the kettle by its handle. With a plain breakable plate placed under it.“You called for me, Great Alpha?”He lo
“I… I don’t understand. What do you mean, officer?”Harper was biting the edges of her nails in anxious anticipation. Surely, there’s nothing good that will come out from the end of this conversation. To mention the word “victim” mid-sentence doesn’t constitute good news. “You have no idea, do you?”Harper shook her head… then realized that the person she’s talking to is on the other end of the line. So, her nodding of head is not counted as a response.“I have no idea of what this is about. Please, just-“Harper couldn’t finish her sentence. She’s not even sure if she wants to. what has been unfolded before her eyes the entire day are facts - quickly given facts that either surprise her or catch her in the moment. And these facts aren’t even good news at all. “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t think you are clueless about what happened in this house. It’s all over the news this past week.”What is?, she thought. But then, it’s Mrs. Keevah’s house. There’s no one else in the house that cou
In front of them were the men, the woman and the little baby that they all hated: the ones they denominated as “rebels”. They were on the front of Marion and Alpha Draco.“We meet again…” – said Damon.Harper and the rest of the group stood behind their alpha. The men were carrying their own choice of weapons, their own poison against the enemy. They stood gleaming at the site of fresh dead bodies on the floor. Proudly. The look on Alpha Draco’s face says it all. He wanted the war to be over. He wanted the war to begin as soon as it can. Right in this moment. Right in this spot. “Finally… I’m tired of chasing after your tail, Damon. You and Brayden can come here and let’s finish this once and for all. I’m tired of chasing and of canceling this to another schedule.”Damon licked his chapped lips. He has the same ideas. He didn’t come here to visit his father. He didn’t come here for peace. None of them believes in peace anymore. “I cannot agree more. Later, then. Once and for all.
Just when the silence stretched between Harper and Brayden, Damon got up from his sleep and pulled Harper closer from the waist.Brayden’s eyes followed where Damon’s hands were and gulped. In a moment, he turned to the other side and tried to forget what he has seen. He managed to turn and keep his eyes and body that way.“You’re up early…” – muttered Damon with a raspy voice.“Yeah… my body clock’s messed up these days.” – replied HarperThat was a lie. Her body clock has nothing to do with it. It’s always her thoughts that keep on saying something to her. It feeds her negative ones instead of empowering her to think of solutions. And of course, the place and the ambience did help with the thoughts. It even made the way for it. It even made her feel worse.“Is that because of the war?”“No, something else.”Harper looked at the ring that’s still on her finger. If Anthony didn’t cause a distraction, would that scary man really cut off her finger? For the sake of proving a point?Are
“Elias! You wouldn’t believe it!”Elias was cleaning the Great Alpha’s office when one of the guards from the office went to approach him. The guard was panting, his sweat rolling down his temples down to his neck and chest area. These droplets of sweat blurs his vision as they get past his eyes. “Do you have some news?” – Elias already has some expectations in his head. Hopefully, this is going to be good news. And hopefully, this is about the Great Alpha too. “Yes. you should go outside to see what’s up.”Elias nodded and then he got up to check if there’s really someone inside waiting for him. As it turned out, there’s a small crowd gathered outside over something. The question is, what’s the cause? Who is there that everyone seemed to be alarmed?“Is that…”The rest of the sentence got drowned in the air. the guard who brought Elias the news did not even let him finish. Whether it was excitement or worry, none of them can tell. However, it’s clear from the circumstances that the
“…and here we are!”Everyone of them looked around, expecting a tavern or a cabin in the woods. None of those things were present. They were only surrounded by different trees and the dark moon above them. “Here?” – Anthony repeated, confused“Yes. Over there.”Brayden pointed on the cavern behind him. The boys walked closer to see what he’s pointing to. Then, Harper followed. She already knows what it is, she only got closer so the others won’t speculate. They cannot know she’s been here before. “This is where your safe place is?” – Asher asked with a huge question mark on his face.“Yes. This is what I meant by that.”They all didn’t look impressed. But then again, they’re hiding from Marion and their men. Anything safe that they can use will do. Just not to be caught. Anything. Just not that. They cannot be captured. Not this time. With Brayden leading them, they approached the mouth of the cave and got inside one by one. Among them, only Hector seemed to be enjoying the show.“H
“Goddamn it, you have a knife! I don’t care if you cut her finger!”Harper’s eyes widened when the huge man on her right got a knife from his back pockets. It’s a new one and surely sharpened just before they went to the roundhouse. The slight shin of the knife reflected the fear in her eyes. Damon’s hip still hurt with the hitting. He was held by four men, struggling as he throws all sort of cure words upon Marion.The man with the knife neared Harper and she stepped back, pulling the two men with her. They can’t be serious. They surely cannot just cut off her finger when Marion tells them to. Or she could be wrong. It’s also possible that these men are Marion’s puppets and would do anything he tells them to. No matter howbrutal or illogical that can be. “Damon, just go… “ – Harper’s vision blurred as the tears welled on the corner of her eyesDamon shook his head. No, he’s never going to leave her. Not this time. Not ever. The man pulled her hand as one man from the side brought
Damon kept on looking behind him. He hasn’t seen Harper yet, the entire time that they were inside. The last time he did was when they were sitting on the benches. Back when nothing seemed strange yet.Aside from that, he hasn’t seen her yet. The thickness of the crowd barred him from doing so. However, he’s sure she’s still inside. The slight gap on the door cannot hold a person going out yet. Whoever attempts may be squeezed. “Harper? Harper, where are you?!” – the question roared in the air. They were stuck in the main room with lots of the Virgo aiming at them. Not to mention that the great number of its members were clawing their throats to make their way out. Aside from that, there are two Virgo men who’s at his back as he shouted. They were trying to catch him and bind him with a thick rope. The rope was too thick and Damon noticed that if that will be used against him, he cannot break it with his fists. He cannot set himself free from those.“Harper!”And then, like a mira
Hearts flutter in a negative manner. This isn’t good. It couldn’t be good.Harper sensed Damon’s tenseness. She looked at his brother and it’s clear that he’s also in his fight-or-flight mode. Any minute now, something is about to happen. She’s positive about that.“I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling there’s something odd here, right?” – Asher voiced out and Damon shushed himAsher nodded slowly. He has confirmed his statement. “… and it is the duty of the alpha to put his pack’s safety first. Even at the middle of the war, the safety of the pack shall not be compromised nor put aside. The safety of the pack has to be the paramount consideration. It is because of that that any threat, no matter how small or insignificant, needs to be gotten rid of.”- Marion ended his speech with a dangerous stare at the Red Blood pack’s direction. “This is not good. Come on. We have to get going.”“What’s going on?” – Norton saidHarper and Damon looked at each other’s eyes. They already understo