Damon could hear the bear catching his breath now. He couldn’t stop right away. He knew he already angered the bear too much. If he stops now, the bear won’t hesitate to tear him apart. No one wants that. As for him, he was panting too. The chase and the way he’s wearing the bear out requires his full energy. Asher and Norton could only observe him. The former was alert in case Damon would call him to hop in. Norton was on edge. He was hiding behind a huge board, didn’t want the bear to see him. “Anytime now… look at the bear, he’s slowing down…” – said Asher, pointing to the bear“Are you sure?” – Norton asked, couldn’t see what Asher was pointing at“Yes. I can attack now if Damon would allow me.”He was on alert. Anytime now, if given the signal, Asher’s ready to jump on the bear and wrestle with it to the death. He got himself a pointed dagger from the weaponry. Again, close contact. It’s what he needs to have and the beast is his. He just needs to have a close contact with it
Marion cleared his throat and instantly, everyone in the roundhouse quieted. Instantly, all of their attention was directed to him.“Welcome, everyone. To my dear Virgo wolves, you are here to witness for the last time, the toils of our brothers-to-be. They have bravely and boldly conquered the two challenges set before them. They have hurdled enough and they deserve to be here. For the last time, we will test them. And with that test, it will determine if the moon goddess wants us to take them to our family. One last fight for a lifetime of being a Virgo.”Everyone clapped. Except the men. All they were thinking of the moment is how to fight off a giant bear.“Damon, Norton and Asher… for your last challenge, we want you to work as a team. A single unit. With any weapon you want to use. The bear is starved for three days, and that meant it will try all its might to tear you limb by limb. By that, you have to work as one mind. Attack the bear while also trying to protect yourselves an
They didn’t waste any more time. As soon as they were given the permission, the three of them went to sleep early that night.“Good night, boys. Don’t forget to wake up at 4 am tomorrow morning, okay? We have a long way ahead of us.” - Damon said and closed the door to his secluded room. He didn’t wait for the response of the boys anymore. Surely, they would only affirm what he said“Congratulations today, Damon. You did great out there.” – said Asher“You both did great. I’m so proud.” – said Norton, blushingDamon smiled at the other side of the door. He heard them say that, luckily the walls and doors of the conjoined rooms weren’t soundproof. He stopped eavesdropping on the other room when he heard Asher talk Norton out of his insecurity. It was out of his business so he didn’t listen any longer. Instead, he crashed on the bed. His whole body aches, including the cut he obtained on his right leg. Thankfully, after that short welcome ceremony Marion did in their honor, he was cure
“You’re saying the moon goddess herself went to your room to talk to you?”Damon could only nodded. There’s nothing else to say. He has said the important words, and now he could only wait for Asher to either laugh at him or take him seriously. Hopefully, it would be the latter. It would be great to have someone who would believe it so he could say something more.“I… I think that would be possible. You have the ring of strength.” – Asher saidThat brought up light to Damon’s eyes.“Exactly! That’s what she told me. She said I need to discover what I can do with this special ring.”Asher looked amazed.“Wow, and she told you that NOW?”“I know.”“MAN! It could’ve been easier if she told you about it before our initiation rites!”I nodded… but now, in retrospect, I got the moon goddess’ point. I got the fact that she wanted us to play fair and square with the initiation rites. She also wanted us to be accepted here in the Virgo using our own skills. Not with a magic ring or whatever.
Damon knew what to do the moment they arrived in the city. He chose to get down at the nearest school supply center at the end of the road. Asher and Norton were curious on why they stopped there rather than the usual bus stop towards the city. “I need to write a letter to Marion. Now that we’re brothers, we can count on the pack to defend us. If what Anthony said is true, and that they’re coming to the city as we speak, we have no specifics on what and where they are now. Who knows? They might be just around the corner.” – Damon explained as they walked briskly to the store“Yes, but that would take a day before the letter reaches them.” – Norton answered“I know… it’s only a risk. They’re going to be the backup plan. But we’re the main defenders.” – clarified Damon“Anthony is with Harper now, correct?” – Asher askedDamon answered with a nod.“That means Brayden already knows something is up. He now knows that Anthony was an insider.” - Asher pointed outDamon figured that out th
Harper didn’t say anything to Damon though. Or at least not yet. However, she’s certain she’s seen that ring before in her life. She has seen it in her childhood, worn by her mother herself. That only meant it belonged to her family. The question is how did it come into Damon’s possession?She knows that it wasn’t the great time to ask it so she kept her mouth shut. That can wait. Perhaps later when there’s only her and him on a room or something. There are a lot of questions in her head that needs Damon’s answer anyway. Later, later. “This Marion you’re talking about… where did he come from? Why did we only hear about him now?” – Anthony askedDamon cleared his throat before answering. He already expected there will be a lot of questions that will be asked of them. And it’s justified. Though he knows he has to tell him about the initiation rites he has to undergo before being a part of the Virgo. The initiation rites for men alone.“He’s friends with my father, he said. They came a
Harper chose to trust, to at least rely on her guts and take a leap of faith. There’s no guarantee that Damon’s plan would work, not to mention that they’re doing it in the city. It’s not only an issue of safety, they’re also risking their exposure to the humans. For all she knows, some have already noticed what’s happening now. Wolves chasing after a black car on a highway street. It would look crazy on the headlines. “Do you trust me, Harper?” – Damon askedThe three men on the back seat has already prepared themselves, only waiting for Damon’s signal to jump off. Asher was holding the door on the right side while Anthony was on the left. This has to end. This has to be over as soon as possible.“Of course, I do, Damon.” – This isn’t an issue of trust. It’s the possibility of death and exposure that scares her.Damon gave her a sad smile.“Nothing’s going to happen with you and Hector. I’ll make sure of it.”Harper chose to believe him. Or at least just to calm her drumming heart.
“I know the world’s fucked up with you in it… but you, with your father makes it a living hell. I cannot just stand on the side and watch that happen. I have to interfere. I have to make sure nothing like the Great Rebellion happens again.”This time, Brayden laughed. Hysterically. Was Damon laughing? Hasn’t he realized it’s too late to wish for that now? After all, this is what is happening. Which part of all these does he not get as a preparatory for war?“Are you for real? What do you think’s happening now then? All of this stuff? Don’t you think this is war enough?”Damon was silenced. Perhaps denial of what’s obvious would make the impending truth disappear. Or not. “I see what you’re doing, Brayden… but know that waging war requires a huge casualty. You don’t want that, do you?”“Why wouldn’t I?” And then Brayden got enough of the foreplay. He has waited too long to play this game with Damon that he couldn’t wait for it. He did the first strike, jumping at him with his full s
“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