The Pack

Damon knew Harper needed rest. Even after drinking the healing tea, her body would feel tired and exhausted. The tea would only heal the outside signs of the attack but the feeling that it brought would cost her days to recover from.

After letting her rest for another half hour, Damon convinced Harper to get out of the room to see what was outside and to meet the people under his command.

She changed her clothes first with a loose white gown that one of the guards handed her. It was knee-length and has long sleeves. While Wolford Damon stood at the door, she combed her long hair as well. When she was done, she climbed down of the bed. She wobbled for a bit, but her feet found her balance quickly, like a child rediscovering how to walk.

“I’m ready, my king.” – she said and Damon turned.

For a moment, his eyes found her to be beautiful. Now looking presentable for some of his pack to meet, she stood beside him and let him hold her forearm to guide her out.

As soon as the door opened, she squinted her eyes. She didn’t expect it to be bright outside.

The moon was crescent and it was a large area in the middle of the woods. Aside from that, the pack also used torches placed on tree branches to help with the illumination. It worked, giving the camp an orange and red hue that came with the fire and the moonlight combined.

When she stepped out, everyone turned. This was the girl their king told them about.

She looked around and noticed that there were multiple tents set up. It’s like a camp in the middle of the forest. However, she was certain this one’s unknown. And far from people and other wolves.

For a moment her heart drummed. What if… what if Brayden finds her here?

She gulped, drowning her worries at the base of her throat. Damon left her side for a while and greeted some of the men who were outside. In less than a minute, they were all gathered on a wide circle, waiting for an order or an announcement that was sure to come.

They were whispering or pointing to the girl their king just brought to the camp.

Finally, Wolford Damon spoke up, gaining everyone’s attention.

“It is a beautiful night, my brothers and sisters of the moon. As you heard, yesterday, I and the white guards rescued a maiden from the grasp of the brutal wolves. Here she is now, and I, as your king, would like you all to know that I am claiming her as my mate. My wolf queen, Harper Redmayne.”

There was a mixture of reactions from everyone. Half were glad because finally, their beloved king has found his queen. Others were confused on the who this new member of the pack was. Her last name sounded familiar but everyone knows that lineage has long disappeared. For what reason? No one knows why.

“Hail!” – one of the men shouted and the rest followed

“Hail! Hail! Hail!”

Harper couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. It’s as if her entire life got twisted in one snap. She was running for her life one day from the Red Blood’s alpha who wanted nothing but to use her for his selfish sexual desires. On her venture back in the city, she checked in on a hotel and got drunk. She couldn’t remember the rest of that evening but she knew there was someone else with her on the bed. There was a man.

She blinked twice, as if that would make the memories disappear.

She gave the wolves her smile. Damon was grinning beside her. A long introduction of the members of the pack followed, and then she was brought back to the room.

“How’s that?” – Damon asked

Still confused, she shrugged.

“It’s… nice. But are you sure about this?”

He nodded. He waited too long to find her. He sure hell this is something he needed and wanted.

“I am.”

He said, and remembered there is something else he needed to tell her. She might not have remembered it well because of the state she was in, but it happened. That is how he found her.

“How did you know me, my king?” – Harper asked, sitting down on one of the chairs inside the common room

“I’ve been stalking you for a long time now. Since you were living with your grandmother in that small cabin.”

Her eyes dilated, remembering something.

“Ah! Grandma! How can I forget?! She wasn’t there when I came. Where is she?”

He looked away.

“Somewhere. Don’t worry about her.”

How could she, she thought. Her Grandma Laura was the only family she knew growing up. Everything that she is now and all that has happened was because her grandma cared for her.

Despite that hesitation, she gave him her nod. As much as trust was the biggest word to her now, she knew being her is better than being chased down by the black wolves.

“You should rest, Harper. I have something to tell you when you’re properly rested.”

The man said and turned his back. He wasn’t aware that she was looking at his retreating back. A multitude of questions ravaged her mind as she did so. His identity, this place, the wolves under his command, his rather vague and sketchy story of how he knew her. She knew deep down her guts, she has her own share of hesitations and doubts.

All that prophecy crap.

Upon closing the door, Damon called one of his white guards. The man came jogging and stopped in front of his king. He bowed and when acknowledged, spoke.

“The black alpha has gone back to their camp, my king. I believe everyone in the Red Blood Pack now knows what happened.”

He nodded. It was actually a part of his elaborate plan.

“Good. That didn’t take him long.”

“Is there anything else you want me to do, my king?”

Damon looked around, careful not to let anyone hear what he was about to say. Especially Harper. In a low voice, he signaled for the man to lean in closer. There was no one around, but one has to be careful. To make sure no one’s within earshot.

“Have you found the grandma?”

The man shook his head. Disappointing, Damon thought.

“Find her. Don’t stop until you do.”

“Why, my king?”

“Let’s just say there’s something about her that I need.”

The man nodded twice and was dismissed.

Wolford Damon turned to his left, hearing something from the trees. A slight movement. A rustling of twigs and dried leaves over shoes.

The hair behind his neck rose. He knew there was something in there.

Or someone. Perhaps.

He cracked his neck and crossed his arms across his chest. With concentration, he managed to changed the form of his eyes. From brown to burning red. With it, his vision intensified. He could see even the smallest colony of ants at a great distance. He looked at the place where the rustling came from.

There was something behind the wide trunk of an old oak tree. And then there was nothing. It was only for a split second that he heard something coming from it.

Damon exhaled, quite disheartened.

Not until his gaze shifted on the small uprooted fern plant at the bottom of the tree.

There was blood on it. The question is, who’s?