Asher’s shoulders and bare arms were sore from carrying the king. He hasn’t woken up to his senses yet. Asher’s shirt has been stained with the blood from the back of his head as well. Some areas or patches on his shirt has now dried, leaving a map-like shape because of the blood. Harper was walking behind Asher a few paces behind. She kept on checking on the king, alert for any sign of movement to believe he’s well. So far, no sign of any of those has happened yet. “Are you tired yet, my queen?” – Asher asked, panting“Not really. Are you?”“No. But we’ve been walking for half an hour now. Let’s have a quick break. Prince Hector may be hungry already.”Asher pointed on the small baby being carried by the wolf queen. He has been sucking on his thumb, an indication of hunger. Harper nodded, as his legs were hurting because of the walking as well.The two of them found a huge tree for shelter from the sun’s heat. Behind it were fallen logs. Half of these logs have been dug on the grou
Shahila didn’t realize that the Harper she was staring at now isn’t the same Harper she used to know. So many things have influenced her change. The innocence she knew of her, the easily-manipulated and the version of hers they all knew before were now strange foreign qualities that is forgotten by time. This wolf… this is a different one. “Or what?” – Harper responded, unblinking. She said those two words with her teeth clenched and her voice firm. “Or else we’ll see.” – Shahila said For a moment, Anthony was waiting for what’s about to happen. Half of his mind was telling him to tell the queen to back off, but the other part of him says no. He has somehow bypassed the queen’s decision twice in a day now, he doesn’t wish to have a third. After all, his respect for her needs to prevail over anything else. “I’M SAYING THIS ONE LAST TIME, SHAHILA. GET OUT OF MY WAY.” Harper said in a deep voice, different from the usual sweet and pitchy voice of hers. Shahila took another step for
Damon reached the camp with a striking and ringing sounds in his ears, echoing as he moves. There’s only one goal he has in his mind: to find the queen and bring her back. The sight around him was sickening. It’s already dusk, the remaining embers of the sun peaking at the sides of the faraway mountains, like the horizon was an entrance to a different world where the sun is being swallowed. The wolves have now lessened, as some were already dead, some were wounded. Those who were still anxious about their enemies were still not settled. They have chased, fought against and came after those who wronged them. Damon thought that the Great Alpha and the Black Alpha has ordered the soldiers to do this, or if not, they didn’t care if lives would be lost because of their selfish manifestations. Eyes here and there, only searching for one queen or wolf. He’s sure she’s gone to find the leaders of the pack. However, when Damon ran closer, he noticed something… someone.It was Shahila Ruben,
Harper doesn’t have an idea either. On whether or not what matters more to the king. Is it the name and the throne? Or would she let herself believe that she, after more than a year, has overtaken the weight of the throne? Would she let herself believe that? Despite the odds?Their eyes met, for one brief moment. There, she hoped her gaze communicated what she failed to say in words. Her life fully depends on him now. Whether she survives the next one or not. Here, she has absolutely no control. She could only wait for what he decides for her. Hopefully, it’s the better one for both of them. “WE DON’T HAVE ALL DAY, DAMON… you might as well make a choice now.” – Brayden said with a smirkWhen Damon looked at the Great Alpha, he was busy now with sharpening a sharp knife with a thick wool. Either side of the knife was wiped clean. With the faint light coming from the open areas at the side of the hall’s roof, the knife shone like melted silver.And the sight was enough for Damon to tr
Alpha Draco watched as his eldest son struggled to drag the wolf queen from the stage. They’re both not in the greatest shape and everything they do is simply becoming thrice as hard with their current situation. Anthony stepped in to help and the soldiers let him, with the nod coming from Alpha Draco. He has to help his superiors, especially because he knows time’s running out. The queen has told him earlier that Prince Hector was being held by Asher at the middle of the woods, waiting for her. From the gaps on the wall and the roof, he can say the night hasn’t been young. That’s why he has to act fast. “Here, my king, let me help.” – he said, placing the queen’s other arm on his shoulder.“Thank you, Anthony… and you cannot call me that anymore. I’m not a king now. I’m only a common werewolf. You might as well get used to it.”A sad smile was Anthony’s reply. It hasn’t dawned on him yet. The realization that he’s no longer the king he grew to respect and obey. Perhaps it will nev
Harper didn’t say a word to anyone but she’s unsure of what she suggested as well. She couldn’t help but start doubting her suggestion. True, she has spent quite some time with Mrs. Keevah but the circumstances of their last meeting made her doubt if she would take them under her roof. However, in desperate times like this and when they have no liberty to choose any other option, she knew she has to take the leap for everyone. It must be her to make the decision now since the king’s broken.“Perhaps that meant we should get going now while the night’s not over.” – Asher said, finally supporting Harper’s decision. “Yes, we should.”- Harper affirmed“Wait… how about the rest of the pack?” Damon said, looking back at the direction of the campAnthony and Harper exchanged glances. Right before the king showed himself in the camp, they saw it all. Most of the white wolves perished through the battle. Those who survived were only few and are now stuck at the camp, under a foreign leader
After some more walks and misdirection, the small group of four reached their destination. They sat at the side of the bench, right where the house in question was located. Harper took a deep breath, closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. It was a habit, where she does the lip biting when she feels nervous. Not that it calms her nerves, it never does. However, it felt right. The temporary feeling of home she felt back in the past felt the same now. With trembling hands, she raised her knuckles to knock on the wooden door. Once, twice, three times in a row. She heard footsteps leading to the other side of the door. She alerted herself, knowing that there’s only one occupant in the house. Their hostess.Slowly, the door opened. Mrs. Keevah looked the same from the last time they talked. Aside from the additional hair accessory of a white headband, her face still gave the same kind aura, her smile still warm and most of all, her overall demeanor being the same.There was a look of su
These two men aren’t really just his allies, but because of the times they shared together, the three of them grew to be friends. He couldn’t deny it, could he? The treatment these two have for him aren’t just utter respect but also mutual care. Growing up, he didn’t have any longtime friends. Those who have the same age as him calls him “my king” as the moon goddess prophesized him to be that. He’s nothing to them but a royalty, making friends a strange concept to him. So this is what it feels like, he thought. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to bring the baby to the bathroom.” – Damon said and left the two men in the room. The last time he checked, Norton was puffing the pillows one by one. Damon got out to see Harper sitting on the edge of the ouch, breastfeeding their baby. The slight sight of her nudity made him look away. It doesn’t feel right to be caught staring at her bare breasts. “Sorry… I thought it’s time for his bath.” – he said, looking at the window panes instead“La
“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