Chapter 2: This Can't Be!

Rameric's POV:

I was ready for this day to be over with already and the day had only just begun.  My pack was tending to things while I stepped away to get myself another drink.  It has been some time since I took a bit of a break myself.  I have been out tending to a variety of things since before the sun came up that morning.  I knew we were expecting a new arrival of slaves today, as they always arrive on the last day of the month.  It was practically like clockwork.  The humans were always willing to do what they needed to do in order to make an extra wage.  They multiplied like rats so there was always a good supply coming in from time to time. 

"My Alpha Caine...," I heard a voice speak strong yet in a soft tone, as they came into the room I was standing and continued.  "...are you ready to proceed?"

I knew this voice all too well.  It was indeed my Beta, Galien, who needed something.  Otherwise, he would not have bothered to disturb me while I had stepped away to be alone for a bit.  I looked up from the goblet I held in my hand as I stood next to a table located in the back of the room.  As I looked towards the door where his voice originated from, I took the opportunity to sit down in the chair there next to me.  I figured there would be a brief conversation before we headed back out among the screams and yells of the newly arrived slaves for the ones who left them behind.  So, I waited there for a moment for him to tell me what his need was which warranted this disruption.  

"To proceed?" I asked curiously as I took a brief pause before raising my goblet and taking another drink before speaking again.  "I had only just stepped away."

"My apologies for the interruption, Alpha Caine," he said as he reached me and bowed over, holding his position as he continued to speak.  "We are expecting another arrival.  However, with this next arrival, ummm, well Sir, there has been talk.  I think you need to check this one out for yourself, if you don't mind my suggesting so."

Hmmm, that was indeed interesting.  It was not all that common that he requested my approval of an arriving slave.  He usually oversaw all of this himself.  It did make me wonder what I was going to find if there was this much interest in just the arrival of one more slave that would probably be used till they were no longer useful, by any means necessary of course.  

"Well, if I must see to it, then I shall be on my way," I finally spoke after another moment or two as I contemplated the outcome.  

I placed my goblet down gently on the table then stood and stretched before I headed toward the door.  As we traveled on our way, for Galien to come to and ask such a request, simply meant he knew something I was not yet privy to.  I have to say, this interruption did peak my interest more than I had originally thought possible.  

He oversaw those who managed the arrivals of the slave transference and ensured their treatment was, well, within limits according to their, situation if you will.  As we walked along the path to the main transition gate, I could not help myself when something came over me to ask my next question.  "What kind of arrival do you suppose will turn up this time?" 

"Well, Alpha Caine, some of the talk is the usual ramblings about what might turn up," he started to ramble on until his next statement caught my attention.  "However, there is talk about this next one looking like a reincarnation of the Fierce Lerion Warrior."

With that statement, I actually stopped walking in my tracks.  “The Fierce Lerion Warrior?!” I asked as I was shocked to hear his previous words just now.  “How could that be?  Weren't they killed in battle almost a decade ago?”

“My Alpha Caine,” he said cautiously as to my shocked tone, as he turned to face me with his hands raised slightly.  “Now granted this is just ramblings and talk from around.  Nothing is to say that this new arrival is even related to the Lerion Warrior.  And if that is the case, the Lerion Warrior was of Lycan blood.  We are getting a human arrival.  How could there be a connection anyway?”

“Well I do suppose you are correct,” I said as we both turned to walk towards the gate once more.  “We shall certainly see for ourselves what we are dealing with.  I tell you what, why don't you go out to greet the receiving party and I will wait back.  I want to get a look at the arrival and see if there is any resemblance.  I will determine anything for myself.”

“As you wish, Alpha Caine,” Galien said.

The rest of the way we traveled in silence.  It was a peaceful walk, other than the occasional screams coming from the pens created to hold the arrivals till their destined parties came to collect them.  This was always a cheery day.  The next day, things would return back to normal and all, with the usual beatings of the arrivals learning their new roles among the different sections of the various packs and all.  Oh, what fun it would soon turn out to be.

As we made our way up to the main gate, we passed several other arrivals being led away from their families they would likely never see again.  Some were walking with minimal guidance while some others were, well being dragged along as they had yet to accept their newly found fate.  I stood back away from the gate entrance while Galien walked on ahead and grabbed a pouch in hand as he was going to give in exchange for the newest arrival.  However, when the pack members brought her through the gate, I felt a sudden pull down, deep in my chest.  There's no way this is possible.  This can't be!  She is merely a human and I am a Lycan Alpha of the most fierce werewolf pack, The Crimson Caine, the most ruthless, brutal ruler around.  

How is it that my one true destined mate is a mere human, one as weak and feeble as the likes of her?  This has to be a very big mistake.