Shahila waited, her made up lie about what happened at her grasp. She already made sure there’s no lose ends in what she was about to say to the king. She even has an excuse on how the protective spell was removed and how the invaders entered the camp. She knew it was a bad thing, but she decided to name Aida as the traitor. It was the only excuse she can think of. That… or she turn herself in and be the one to be prosecuted instead. She can’t afford that now. Who is Aida, anyway? She’s just one of her servants. Well, she should serve. In whatever manner. The waiting took forever. As she sat on the common room’s steps, pretending to assist the wounded wolves to the infirmary so they can be treated, she couldn’t help but notice that the king hasn’t arrived yet. He also didn’t leave any message with anyone in the camp. She was starting to worry.“Hey, please help this man to the infirmary. Be careful with his arms, it’s fractured.” – she said to the person who just passed her side.
While they were traveling on a horse, all Harper can think about was Damon and the pitiful state he was in when they left him. She’s hoping that by now, people from the camp have already found him and placed him on a safer place. She hoped they were treating him now and most of all, she hoped they came in time. He was in a pretty bad shape. It hurts to even look at him. Hurts. It wasn’t easy to admit that to herself. Yet, Harper realized that she cares for him. Not just because he has saved her and claimed her as his mate. It was something else. Unlike with Brayden, she didn’t feel like a captive in the camp. She indeed felt valued and cared for. It made her realized she wanted to do the same thing to him. To make him feel seen, to make him feel heard.Funny how timing sucks. She was deprived of that opportunity now. In the meantime. Deep in her heart, she was hoping he would come and save her again… or better, this time, she saves herself.She wanted to check up on him so bad. Bad
The sight Brayden saw was of Alora on the floor, wrenching in pain. Her right hand was placed at the small of her back and on her face was a look of pain. He looked down at her and at Harper, who was standing at the side, her both hands hanging at either side. Harper knew she has to say something, but she had no idea on what exactly will make the situation better. What does Brayden expect to hear from her. A justification, perhaps? Why was she having an early catfight with her own best friend?“May I excuse myself? I’m to tired from the trip.” – Harper said and turned but Brayden held her wrist.“Where do you think you’re going?”She was forced to turn around and walk to the same spot she came from. “What do you need me here for? I already know you prefer her over me. That’s why you cannot treat me properly, right?”Harper couldn’t believe she was saying this in front of him. Gone were the days that she was terrified merely of his presence. The times when one look from him could si
Damon said he wanted to be alone, but he wasn’t completely honest. If truth be told, he only wanted a moment to think of something. He was sure of what he saw. It was a key dangling from Shahila’s pocket. Not just any key, but it was the key to the potions’ room. He was trying to make sense of it. The key, the poison on his neck, the disappearance of the protective shield, why and how Harper was taken. After ten to fifteen minutes, he connected the dots. There was only one person who could do this. He has no idea why, but she has… and she has to answer that to him soon.Shahila. It was all her. It makes sense to him now. She has the key to the potions room. Of course, none would suspect her to be doing something wrong. Everyone in the camp respects her. That’s how she got the potion to remove the protective shield of the camp. It was how the black wolves of Brayden came here and was able to attack. He wasn’t sure but he guess it was also because of that that Brayden knew he wasn’t i
When Alora didn’t find Harper at the grounds, she went back inside the rooms. She recalled where she was staying and decided to check in there. When she was on the door, she stopped. It was locked. When Alora tried to turn the knob, she realized it was locked. She called her name but Harper didn’t respond.Good enough, the door has a peephole. Alora looked at it. It didn’t give much of what was happening inside but she saw something significant. She saw one that’s helpful. A piece of blanket hanging out from the window. She didn’t need to guess what it was. One look at it and she knew. Harper was trying to escape. Alora ran out of the house and went to the back area of that one specific room. She was hoping to see Harper before she could go farther. And luckily, she did. Alora arrived just in time to see Harper jumped from the last knot on the blanket and stumbled on the wet grassy lawn.“Harper, stop!” – Alora shouted, running towards her. Harper heard it and looked at where th
Harper and Greg went on his way a few minutes after. Harper, having lack of faith on people, sneaked in a small knife at the girdle of her skirt. Trust is such a luxury to repose to someone. especially a total stranger from Brayden’s pack. They were walking side by side, her left hand alerted that in the slightest hint of danger, she would use the knife with no hesitation. “Are you an original black or a convert?” – Harper asked as they arrived at the highway. They have to take a cab to reach the nearby cabin of Gordon, their safekeeper of motorbikes and small cars. It was going to be a long way. A long travel. So Harper thought of utilizing the time for getting to know the man. “An original. My parents were Shayla and Hardin. They perished during the clan wars.”Both parents are dead because of the clan war? Now that’s one valid reason for him to have a grudge against the black wolves. “I’m sorry to hear that.”“Don’t be. It’s fine. They’re not the best people in the world.”Har
Slowly, Harper held the exact location of her concealed knife. She reached it with her hand under her dress and removed its cover. She kept one hand behind her as she stood up. Holding the knife. “I’m done. You can look now.”Despite the bile rising on her throat, Harper tightened her grip on the knife. There’s no one around to help her. So she has to build her own bravery and boldness. This is the only time she has to do it, she told herself. Greg turned and instantly, Harper attacked with her knife, aiming at his face. However, he was swift and dodged when the knife was about to tear off a part of his flesh. There was no shock on the look on his face. Harper guessed he knew it. “Alora already warned me you might do that.” – Greg said, advancing towards herHarper took a step back and held on to her knife like her whole life depends on it. But that part was true. Her whole life depends on her on this very moment. Greg was given the specific instruction to get rid of her on that ca
Damon waited long enough for his recovery. With Shahila being always around to check up on him, he had no choice but to wait until his whole health has recovered before thinking of a plan to find Harper and bring her back. “Are you sure about this? You can be in danger… again.” – Shahila was standing at the foot of the bed, observing as Damon got a backpack and store clothes and supplies therein. The night before, he had already decided to go on a search for her. He brought ten of his men and they’re leaving an hour from now, just when the sun comes up. The men were prepared and was waiting for him outside the common room. “You don’t understand. How many days have I waited? It’s been too long. I’m worried sick of her.”This, to Shahila, was like a pierce through the heart.“You… you really care for her, don’t you?”She knows she wouldn’t like to hear the answer to this question. It’s like she’s laying down the trap for herself… but before she could think, her lips opened to ask. “
“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