6 - Khalid's Worries

Khalid's POV

"Happy sixteenth birthday, Katie!"

The four of us greeted her as she blew out her cake. She hugged me so tight. A gesture I'll never get tired of feeling.

Percy and Rose gifted her some daggers and a whip. Katie even managed to joke that maybe she'd work as an executioner for other packs. I clenched my fists. I'll never let her get banished today.

Jessica came forward and softly held my sister's wrist. By the time she removed her hand, a crescent moon bracelet had been placed. Katie smiles so sweetly while thanking my mate. Placing a knee down in front of her, all of them gasped except Jessica. Since she already knew about this. The gesture means that I'll sacrifice everything for her.. To surrender my freedom for her safety. I did this when I proposed to Jessica, and this is the last time I'll ever do it again. My sister and mate are the only ones that I want to protect with my life.

I locked my gift at her foot. It is a crescent moon anklet.  The only difference is that Jessica's gift has a waning crescent design. It is known to symbolize inner peace, a period of self-care, and reconnecting with yourself. The anklet that I gave her had a waxing crescent as its centerpiece. It symbolizes motivation, putting your intentions into action, and committing to what you are building or what you believe in.

She was teary-eyed at the gift, as she also knew the meaning behind it.

We celebrated for a bit at her cabin. Katie told us that she wanted to rest first and insisted that we all go back to our duties. As we parted ways, I headed directly to the Alpha's office. Mother was there too. It seems like they are arguing, again.

"We need to banish her now," Alpha Fredrick mentioned.

"Definitely not! I object, Fred! You need my approval to banish our daughter officially! And don't you dare fucking use your Alpha command on me again concerning this matter ! I'll kill myself so that you'll die too!"

"She is now sixteen Kathrina! With no mate! Not even a temporary one!"

"Why on earth would she need one?!"

"At least it could prevent something? To let someone protect her?!"

"She even saved your ass, Fredrick! Katie's perfectly fine protecting herself!"

"The prophecy, Kathrina.. and now that the rogue has proclaimed another one!"

"We aren't even sure about that! Maybe he's talking shit just to scare our pack! And even if it's indeed real, then aren't you afraid of the devil's wrath!?" 

I held my temple as they kept on fighting. They didn't even notice someone else was here. This is what I and Jessica hid from Katie. The truth about the prophecy and the endless bickering of our parents for the past eleven years.

"Alpha. Luna." I cleared my throat and slightly bowed. Both of them exhaled and looked away from each other.

"Khalid, sorry. We didn't notice you." Mother apologized, and I just nodded. The reason she cannot show her affection to Katie is because our father is a dick. He alpha commanded her to do so. He argued that this is better for her because Katie will surely be banished. Either the easy way or a brutal one. 

Mother also explained to me that once Katie didn't wolf out, he immediately alpha commanded her to treat my baby sister coldly. I remembered my fist bleed that day once she told me all about it.

But Mother didn't give up. She was so bent on finding solutions for the first prophecy. The one I learned once I reached fifteen. That explains her continuous missions in search of something like a loophole to the prophecy. Or something to prevent the worst from happening. So far, no luck. Jessica and I were also alpha commanded to hide the truth from my sister.

Placing my hand on my back, I proposed to Alpha Fredrick that Katie shouldn't be banished. As mother said, she saved our dick father's life. I didn't tell him that he's a dick though. He was about to argue, but I compromised that just until she's eighteen and can fully defend herself in the wild. 

"She can work as a maid here in the central packhouse. That way, Katie can help and serve. We are lacking in maids anyway, so it's a plus." I bargained once more. I knew he would like this idea. He's sorta twisted. It's his unwritten rule that if he's giving someone a favor, the other person should reciprocate.

"Indeed. Some of the maids are complaining due to the workload. Very well then. She could stay. At least before she's eighteen. Although, I would not grace her with an adult age ceremony, Khalid. In case you're planning to ask for more," he stated as he jerked his head sideways. Damn it. He beat me into it. I just nodded.

The central packhouse is where we reside and fully oversee the whole pack. Katie is on the outskirts of the pack and prone to danger. That is why I decided she should just be a maid for her own safety. I'll have to apologize later, though, for speaking on her behalf. Alpha Fredrick agreed, and I was dismissed.

Spreading the news to my sister, she leaped in front of me. Crying her heart out. 

"But you have to be a maid, Katie. I'm really sorry I had to compromise," I mumbled. She squeezed my hand so tight.

"Khalid, even if I end up cleaning bathrooms.. I don't care. As long as I can stay here with all of you for a little longer," she chimed.

She didn't even care that she's a maid. That made my heart break. I kissed her forehead, and we packed her things for her to move. Once we arrived at the central packhouse, lots of whispering could be heard. I peeked at my little sister, and it seems she doesn't care. Like she's used to this kind of treatment. I accompanied her to one of the maid's rooms. She jumped on the bed and giggled. "It's been a long time since I slept on one of these."

I bit my lip and looked away in embarrassment. She really is brave and strong. I could not imagine if I were in her situation. Maybe I already died for making a stupid mistake. I imagined I'd challenge Alpha Fredrick in a fight to the death. Of course, he's still much stronger than me. And that is why I am more pissed. I can't do anything to protect my baby sister.

"I'm really sorry, Katie. You deserve so much more.." I whispered, and she stood up to smack me on the arm.

"Back to being gloomy? It's okay, Khalid. It's not your fault," she stated as she laughed. She smiled like a little kid. Like when she was four and our parents adored her. Even that jerk, Alpha Fredrick, loved her so much. But then he remembered the ancient prophecy that was kept in an old scroll when Katie didn't wolf out. It was passed from one leader to the next. In there was stated that once this specific event will commence.. The topic should be banished or killed.. The first prophecy is so simple and obvious. It goes like this..

Among the Alpha-born

A child will not shift

Five is the number sworn

And a curse will drift

It was not stated what kind of curse. But Alpha Fredrck thought it meant sacrificing his pack. As an alpha, he doesn't have it in him to kill everyone just for her daughter. I kinda get him. But he should at least tell Katie!

Leaving my sister so that she could rest, I went back to my duties.

------

A couple of weeks have passed, and I'm on a private and secret mission. One that Alpha Fredrick isn't aware. To investigate the rogue attack. The whole incident troubled me so much. To the point of not having enough sleep. Something was bothering me, and now I knew what. It came to my attention that all of the rogues were alphas. That explained why they were all huge. It was very unusual that they teamed up together. When I found out the reason why, I was utterly horrified. I'll keep it to myself for now and use it later. Although I still need to investigate deeper.

"Khan.." I whispered.

"I know. I'm utterly disgusted. How could our pack do this? And for how many centuries?" my wolf answered. I heaved a sigh as I rested on a trunk. Slumped on the ground.

Not everyone can communicate and talk with their wolves. Only future Alphas and Lunas can. But the ordinary ones can still feel and use their wolf's strength. Only the ability to converse is lacking.

"I think mother doesn't know about this," I explained.

"Of course not. Or else she already argued and condemned Alpha Fredrick about it," Khan responded. I stretched my limbs and neck as they were sore. Goddess, how I miss my mate so damn much. But I need to do this for Katie. It's the very least that I can do for her.

Still searching for answers, I went from one pack to another. I have friends from Alpha Academy, and they really are a great help. Got news that the last rogue alpha came from a pack that speaks of prophecies. That was the Moon Goddess' gift to them. I was kind of hoping the second prophecy was not true.

Now that I know he's speaking the truth and not some random gibberish, I fear.. Who was he talking about? Who's the devil?