Chapter 5: The Curse That Follows

VALKYRIE

The shadow of the night slowly separated the light from the sight of the world as the sun said farewell once again. Like the dark speck in my heart for being separated from my mate for the first time, the cold air brushed through my skin as a reminder of my longing. It was still the very first day of our separation and yet it felt like my soul was being slogged apart by two black holes already. However, I needed to fulfill my duty first as one of the second-in-command to the Alpha so I tried to divide my emotions aside for a meanwhile.

I was sitting at the table next to my father and one of our deltas, Enzo while the Alpha of the Wolf Grave and his own two warriors were seated across from us. Although our pack was more formidable than them, Zymir had more experience with his age and Wolf Grave was a necessary ally towards the main goal of my father——peace among our kind.

My father had insisted me to come to the meeting with them which was taking place in neutral territory, at the crest of the smallest hill of the town. We were inside a cabin built for this purpose while the rest of our warriors were outside, securing the area. The aroma of the oak woods somehow calmed my yearning for my mate as the fire in the hearth kept us warm during this chilly night. It was already September and winter was coming in two months, reminding me of the battle last year, and now, a drawn-out war was about to transpire again.

"The volume of the missing people is increasing and the town is already dreading for their own safety. Some teens who disappeared are from here, mostly the others are from nearby towns. Dimitri, I think this is the time to act now or else, I fear that the humans are already approaching towards the discovery of our kind."

My father looked down at the stacks of paper of all the missing persons before placing them on the table, pondering about Zymir's statement. I could feel his fury over this situation as it threatened our existence severely as well as it could cause more slaughter within our pack.

"If all of these missing persons are linked with the hybrid, then we could outnumber them easily, but what of their strength? Where is their territory? Who could be manipulating them?"

"Amelia of the Phantom, who else?" Zymir answered my father, speaking the name who murdered my Aunt Aria seventeen years ago. "She is the murderer of your sister and my oldest son. She's the only one who wants to bring calamity to our lineage."

"Are you certain of this?" My father needed to be sure.

"One of our sentinels was killed by her hands at the border of our territory. She purposely came over to us to initiate a war," one of the warriors of Zymir confirmed our doubts, his expression was filled with anger. "I was there to witness how she murdered one of our kin. With just a breath of command, she has this full control of the hybrid who came with her."

Clenching my fist on the table, I leaned forward to display my imperious presence. "If you don't mind me asking, how strong these hybrids are?"

He shifted his eyes to me, acknowledging my superiority. "More powerful than two deltas combined. Probably a little less than Alpha's but surely equal to a mated Betas just like your twin brother. Pardon me, but I've heard you aren't mated yet so I think that you won't have a chance against them."

I smiled grimly but chose not to respond. I hadn't told my father that I already found my mate and would like to keep it that way. Though it was impossible because my twin brother was probably telling about it to our mother already as we speak.

"I suggest we both form a team of scouts to explore the whole area," my father proposed. "And I'll have my daughter to supervise it. She may not be mated yet but I'm confident about her wits and leadership. What more if she finds her mate?"

My neck almost cut off as my head jerked to my father in surprise. He seemed sure about this decision as he kept eye contact with Zymir. And I wasn't in the position to deny this responsibility because he clearly wanted to prove that I was also capable in the field even if I wasn't mated yet.

"I see. Then I'll have my youngest son to oversees mine," Zymir said, nodding.

It looked like they were competing among themselves though.

My father stood up so we followed. He reached out his hand and Zymir gladly took it as a sign of agreement. "Let's meet here again as soon as we find something. With the help of the all-seeing moonlight."

"With the help of the all-seeing moonlight," Zymir replied, then the meeting was adjourned.

Zymir left first together with his warriors while my father had decided to stay for a while. He gestured his hand for me to step closer so I sauntered next to him and we both stared at the dark woods from the edge of the cliff. The song that the woods was singing with the air sounded like a warning for impending dangers.

"You know what to do, right?"

I nodded as a response. "I'll just have to study the town structure and look for their possible hideout before I send the scout team member of your choice. During daylight, I'll have them position all over the town depending on the range of their senses and have them report to me while I'm in school. Then we will explore the possible areas after sunset and during weekends."

"Good, it's a better choice to investigate at night. Just make sure that the humans won't spot you. And your brother will help you in exploring."

I nodded then a moment of silence fell between us, knowing that my father was already thinking ahead. But maybe I should tell him about my mate because he would find it later anyway.

"Dad, I found my mate today," I muttered, earning his full attention. He grinned at me with hope in his eyes——hope that I wouldn't be killed at the first sight of the hybrid, perhaps. But I could see that he was happy for me.

"That's great news, Val! In which pack he came from? Is it from the Wolf Grave? He must be because there are only two packs in this area. Should we arrange for meetups tomorrow after——"

"No, Dad. She's a human," I said, cutting off his excitement.

My father was stunned for a while before he finally collected himself. "I see, your mate is a human and a woman."

I tried to make out his expression and I could see that he feel saddened about it. "Are you against the idea of her being a woman?"

He shook his head and stared at me with sincerity in his blue eyes but there was also sorrow in them. "No, of course not. You just truly remind me of my sister Aria. She almost looks like you and maybe that's the reason why I spoil you too much. I haven't told anyone about this including to your mother but Aria was also mated with a woman."

I blinked at this revelation. "Really? And where is her mate now?"

He sighed heavily, staring back at the woods as if he was recalling memories. "Her mate died with her. Her name was Sara of the Phantom. Val, your Aunt didn't die just because the Phantom wanted her dead for being the greatest Alpha our pack had ever been. She was targeted after she was vanquished by our father for having a taboo relationship with our sworn enemy. My sister fled together with her mate as the elders of the Phantom sent a group of executioners to kill her alone. But Sara died along with her at the hands of her own sister. Amelia executed them both. If only I was more capable back then, I could have prevented her death and help her bring peace among our kind. It was Aria's dream to stop the war between the Triad so that she could love Sara freely."

I gulped from all of this new information. Now I knew why my father wanted peace so much. He wanted to fulfill Aunt Aria's dream. I just couldn't believe that Aunt Aria was mated with a Phantom and it brought tragedies to her. They both perished because of this war and hence why I shouldn't involve my beloved Sage with it.

"Dad, I won't claim my mate unless we stop this war. Your sister's death is more than enough reason for me to not let her get involved in this."

My father turned to me abruptly, his dominance roaring but I kept my hold. "Foolish! You'd be dead before you even stop this war, child! You heard what they said, right? You won't have a chance against a hybrid alone. But once you're mated, you could be on par against their might. The more reason you have to claim her as soon as possible."

"I'd rather die fighting in my own strength than to drag Sage to this war."

"And you think not allowing yourself to be at your best prevents bloodshed to our people? What about your brother? Your mother? Our friends? This is not only your war, Val. Every vein of our kind and all those innocent humans are at stake."

At my own accord, I stepped back an inch, sensing my father's supremacy all over me. Looking down in shame, I just realized that he was right and I couldn't help but feel wretched about it. "I apologize for my foolishness, Dad. I just met her just this afternoon and yet I already feel like I'm about to lose her. I'm scared of losing Sage."

My father placed his index finger under my chin and forced me to look at him. "We are all scared to lose everything we love, Val. But you have to overcome this and face the path ahead with courage. Let your mate be aware of your connections and it's for her to decide if she wants to accept you fully. And by the moonlight's grace, I hope she doesn't reject you because I knew that there's a possibility that I might lose you once she does. A rejection is more lethal than anything in this world. But I have this feeling that this Sage of yours will soon be part of our family. So get your girl, Val, at soonest."

I gave him a bitter smile but nodded anyway. "I'll do my best."

My father's eyes shifted to Enzo who was standing in a distance behind us before he turned to me. "I'm waiting for the messenger that the Elders had sent to us. Go ahead first and choose your scout team this time."

Enzo and I left the hill by foot and once we'd gotten to the car that was parked in a hidden spot, I climbed into the passenger seat while Enzo drove us back to the manor. As I stared outside of the car window, I pondered how could I explain all of these things to Sage. We'd just met today and we personally haven't known each other yet. Yeah, our souls recognized each other but it didn't mean she was willing to jump into this underworld I was living in.

"I didn't mean to hear things, Val. But I think I should give you a piece of advice," Enzo suddenly spoke earning my attention. "I say you should go for it."

My brows scrunched at him, then I recalled that Enzo's mate was also human. "I remember that your mate is also a human. Where is she now?"

"I left her in the city with our first child," the warrior in his thirties answered my question with longing in his eyes. "I had to because I don't want them to be caught up with this hybrid army. Aside from our people, they are one of the reasons why I must survive. So you should be grateful that you'd found your mate at this crucial time. Her existence in your life will give you more reason to win this war and the power that comes along with being one with her will give you persistent courage to keep on living beyond your limit."

"But in return, she'll be in danger and that's what I fear, Enzo."

He briefly glanced at me before going back to the road ahead. "Yes, but even if you don't claim her, you are tied to each other no matter what. She'll get involved even if you continue to resist this connection you have with her. I tried it before with my mate, but the more I resisted our bond, the more disaster occurred to us. Just think of the resistance as destiny being manipulated by a witch, and you are that witch, and so a curse follows after."

Nodding my head, I heeded all of his advice within me. "But how did she take it? You know, you being a werewolf?"

Enzo chuckled softly. "She didn't take it so well. She was so scared when I transformed in front of her."

"You wh-what?! You have guts, Enzo."

He laughed at my outburst. "But I made sure that she had nowhere to go that time. I locked ourselves in an abandoned warehouse so basically, she was forced to talk to me. But after that, in my relief, she didn't tell anyone, and that her love for me is stronger than anything so she eventually accepted me for who I am."

I hummed. "Maybe I should do that to Sage. Lock her up until she accepts that we are born for each other. But I have to be her girlfriend first."

"Yeah, do that first," Enzo urged further, giving me courage. "In two months, the blood moon will show itself. You know that the bond is deeper and never breaks once we do the Nexum under the blood moon, right? Sturdier than under the lunar eclipse."

"Yeah, so I guess I only have two months to make her fall completely in love with me."

Enzo shook his head laughing. "No, trust me. You'll be the one at her feet in no time because you can feel her more than she does."

I groaned. "Ah, you're right about that. I can't even——"

As my body shoved forward, I was interrupted when Enzo suddenly hit the brake in the middle of a dark road. I was about to question him but a foul smell hit my nostril and I instantly recognized that it was a smell of blood. Looking ahead of us, my eyes narrowed at the form holding a man on his neck, its red eyes were surrounded by pitch-black sclera as it screeched at us. Due to light coming from the headlights, I could see its clothes were torn apart and its skin was almost decaying to shred. The strong foul smell wasn't from the blood itself but also from the body of this bastard.

"Hybrid," Enzo muttered before the vile being ran towards the woods as it also dragged the familiar human it was gripping with him.

"Wait! I know that guy. She's Sage's friends," I said, jumping out of the car and sprinted towards the direction it went to. On the corner of my eyes, I saw another kid on the ground with its neck torn apart but I disregarded him and Enzo's call.

With my enhanced speed, I chased behind the bastard deep into the woods as my eyes adjusted with the night, seeing the hybrid vaulting forward with the human limping on its shoulder. Even though the trees were acting as obstacles, I used its durability by leaping on its branch and pressed my legs against it to sped up.

However, the hybrid sensed that I was getting closer so it unexpectedly tossed the boy towards me. My body collided against the unconscious kid, breaking my momentum and causing me to fall on the ground with him.

I grunted in pain but before I could even gather myself, the hybrid jumped on me with its sharp claws aiming at my eyes. To shield myself, I grabbed its wrist with all of my strength with my fangs bare and my eyes burning in fire. I kneed its stomach then kicked it away from me but it managed to stand up again and attacked me with the back of its hand. I was hurled away against the tree with a loud groan of pain coming out of my mouth.

'Don't fight it alone, Val."

I heard Enzo yelled through our pack link, telling me that he was already near. I stood up, glaring at the abomination before me who was also cautious of my movement.

'You better be here before it kills me then,"

I said to him before I roared loudly at the hybrid, letting my wolf out. The power within me burst out as my bone cracked all over my body, the pain no longer existes, unlike the first time I had transformed. My skin shredded to fawn furs as I felt my ears and fangs extended into an anomalous shape.

Without wasting any time, I hurdled towards the hybrid, aiming for its neck but its speed was too impeccable as it dodged my attack before it jumped on my back and ripped my shoulder with its claw. Struggling against the pain, I held both its arm and knocked it against the trunk of the tree behind us. The loud screech it released out sounded like a screaming wild hyena in my ears.

Then I smashed it again against another tree before I lifted its body over my shoulder and flung it off me. The hybrid rolled over but the force was stopped by a rock as the bastard collapsed on the ground. However, it stood again and snarled at me with its eyes enflamed and mouth's full of blood, its stance was winding for another attack.

But before it could even do more damage to me, Enzo was able to lock its arms, letting me finish its life as I ripped its head apart. I watched as its severed head fell from its neck and dropped on the ground.

Enzo released its decaying body and made a disgusted face. "Ugh, we're lucky. It seemed hungry and weak. It was here to drink some fresh blood to regain its strength."

'That must be the case——like a vampire. Yes, it's powerful yet not fully in its shape unlike the Wolf Grave had claimed but it looks more spiteful than any kind I'd encountered," I analyzed, then turned to the boy who was still lifeless on the ground. I remembered him at the last class we had this afternoon. He was the one who was next to Sage that I wanted to rip apart because of how close he was to my mate. 'We must take him to the manor immediately. I could still hear his heartbeat but I saw a bite mark on his neck. We must confirm if it's infected by whatever this ghastly thing had in him.'

"How about the other?" he asked, and I just remembered the other kid laying on the road before I sprinted into the woods. "He's dead and I think we shouldn't let someone found its body in that state. He lost a lot of blood."

I growled lowly.

'Yeah, we should also take him and let father decide on what will we have to do with him.'

"We must take this monster to the manor too. Vida can study its body," Enzo said, talking about our pack doctor.

I nodded. 'You take them using the car while I go ahead directly to the manor with the guy there. He needs immediate assistance, Enzo. He is my mate's friend."

The warrior agreed, pulling his shirt off, then giving it to me before he dragged the hybrid's head and body with him. I hid behind the tree and transformed back to my human form then I used Enzo's oversized shirt to cover my bare body.

"You'll be okay?" Enzo asked me.

"Yes. See you later," I said, using my voice this time.

Carefully, I carried the unconscious guy over my shoulder and rushed towards the direction of the Olca Manor, hoping him not to die. Or else, Sage would be heartbroken. Even though I hadn't known her deeply yet, I knew that she had a kind soul and she would be saddened about this poor lad.

Somehow, I felt that this was the curse that follows when you resist your destiny. And that caused me to think that maybe I should let this bond with Sage be fulfilled under the blood moon.

But I should tame her heart first then she had to accept me next. And I wished that it would be easier tomorrow once I see her again.

.........