Brayden laughed.“See how stupid their king is? Once a traitor, always a traitor. What does he expect from Alora anyway? He was even there when the two Denmark bypassed me.”The report on what was happening at the camp didn’t come much as a surprise for Brayden. It actually happened according to his favor. He thought it would come later but Alora shown her colors faster than a snake can shed its skin.“Is there something else you want to tell me?”Brayden inquired as the messenger didn’t leave his presence just yet. “None, alpha.”“Get lost then.”The poor messenger nodded and got out of the main hall. He’s actually a member of the opposite pack, one of the nobodies. Because of that reason, he’s the best option for the alpha to use as his eye. No one suspects a nobody, let it be noticed even. It was an advantage, or at least for now.When the man closed the door behind him, Brayden drank a mouthful of wine. His lack of action for the long months is actually working out unexpectedly.
“Let me help you with that, Harper.”Mrs. Keevah came fresh from the bathroom. A white towel was wrapped around her head to dry her hair. She placed the toothbrush she was holding to the small cup-like holder back in the bathroom, wiped her palms with the other towel wrapped around her body and rushed to grab the small pail of water Harper was carrying around.“I got this, Mrs. Keevah.”Another month has passed and her stomach swelled bigger. Who would’ve thought that was still possible. Every time Harper looks in the mirror, she couldn’t help but compare herself to an inflated balloon. Anytime, she’s gonna explode. And with it, she’s not going to be the same person she was. One will become two. Mrs. Keevah was insistent until Harper let go of the pail handle. The woman knows the 7th to 9th months are the most sensitive ones. If she can, she would rather let Harper stay the whole day on the bed rather than lift a fork. She was that hands-on with her, bordering the line to being prote
The two soldiers followed their king out of the camp’s gate. Spectators’ necks protruding from the room’s windows, even those who were training can’t help but pause and ask what has happened.“You’re sure about this, my king?” – Asher asked, tapping the pistol he has secured on a small bag. Deep in his mind, he’s thinking on why do they need to bring this against a helpless middle-aged woman. “I am. All I can think about these months is Harper. She needs to be home as soon as possible. In whatever way it needs be.”Asher nodded. Anthony was still quiet. Perhaps the guilt of disobedience towards his king was still ruining his normal interactions with him. He knew it that night when he confessed, nothing would be the same. The rest of the walking towards the end of the woods was silent. Their small trio was only comprised of two characteristics: the king leading the march and the two confused soldiers but are too loyal to ask some more question. “Have you called Irvin?”Damon asked a
Harper was feeling like there was something wrong. Right after she was done eating, she was told by Mrs. Keevah to pack up her things. According to her guardian, they would be staying at Leo’s, Mrs. Keevah’s friend that has a small inn in the city. What’s weird is the timing of it. Right after that call from the telephone company, Mrs. Keevah panicked. Harper’s starting to think what was told to her was not exactly the truth. “Is everything okay, Mrs. Keevah? You keep glancing on your phone.”She does, every 5 minutes. The question wasn’t heard by her and Harper had to repeat it. It was after the second time that Mrs. Keevah responded.“Yes. Don’t worry. We’ll come back there soon.”But the lie didn’t reach her eyes. She was saying something else but the expression on her eyes gives away the lie. Harper frowned. She doesn’t get it. “You know you can tell me anything, Mrs. Keevah. I will understand.”The woman acted like she didn’t hear what Harper said at all. She looked at the sid
The four of them were inside the car, but none has spoken anything yet. As for the two soldiers, they just wanted the king and queen have their own moment. It has been a long time, the reunion’s the best thing of the day. This time, Anthony sat on the passenger seat and let Damon and Harper occupy the entire back seat. Unlike earlier, the radio wasn’t on but the windows of the Sedan were open. They were traversing the same road leading north of the city. They still need to contact Irvin and return the car before they have to return to the camp. “So, how have you been?” – Damon was the one who broke the silence. This was what he wished before the day ends. To have Harper beside him and bring her back to their place. “Good.”“Has she treated you well?”Harper nodded. Her answer being limited, Damon turned his head and reached for her hand. It was placed on her right leg and he placed his atop hers. For some reason, she didn’t like it and removed her hand. Damon licked his lips. Som
They got the address. It wasn’t as complicated as Damon has thought. After having a quick stop at the gasoline station to fill up the car, the three of them got back in the vehicle and gone off. This can’t wait another day. Asher drove, turning on the car’s radio. This chase has already taken a lot of hours off their day. It has to end soon. It has to be achieved. The song was a rock song and Damon squinted his eyes when Asher looked at the rearview mirror.“Shall I turn it off, my king?”Damon shook his head. It’s not that it’s annoying or something. It only disrupts him from his thoughts. “Nah, keep it on. How long do we expect to arrive to the address?”“Fifteen minutes.” – Asher responded.Anthony was sleeping beside the key. Even letting out soft snores. Damon didn’t mind that. Mixed with the loud metal sounds from the radio. At this point, he doesn’t mind anything anymore. As long as they arrive to the destination. One way or another. --They did, after 12 minutes. Damon nu
Grandma Laura couldn’t believe her eyes. On her arms was the only person she cared for in the world. The only one she wanted to see and hold these past days. Harper, on the other hand, was dealing with mixed emotions. She was too glad that she’s back in the camp, but the thought of what Grandma Laura has to go through has been unsettling. Too much for thinking Damon would be sympathetic. “What’s happened to you? You didn’t come back for a very long time.”Harper nodded, feeling sorry that her Grandma has to undergo solitude and loneliness while she was away. “I did what I have to do, Grandma Laura. After what you said, I knew my safety and the child’s won’t be here by Damon’s side.”Laura nodded. That’s exactly why she had to tell her. Her misery and sadness aside, the truth needs to be told.“It’s fine. Your safety is all I want to secure.”Harper gave her a nod. “My queen?”A voice came from outside. Harper stood up and checked who it was from the window. Asher waved and opened
Wolford Damon hated that every nerve in his body was reacting to this close proximity with Harper. Of all, what he hates is lack of control.She wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she turned her head to the side where the door was. Damon followed her line of vision and realized that maybe she wanted to go out of the room. “Do you hate me? Be honest.”It was out of topic, what he just said. But the feeling of being this close to Harper dulls his senses. He couldn’t think properly. He only blurted out the first thought that came to mind. Harper was feeling it too. The sudden change of heart rate, the bothering stare from the king, the intense and sticky looks. It’s not like she’s immune to it. It still affects her big time, but what’s dissimilar between them is that she can shake it aside. What has happened in the forest during that one full moon shouldn’t happen again. A mistake won’t be fixed by another, she noted. That’s why she’s trying her best not to meet his gaze. Because if she
“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