Kabanata XIII

***

"NOTHING, Just passing by," the alpha looked away.

'Why does she treat me like I'm nothing? Like I'm not here? Does she have no shame?' he said behind his mind.

"I see. . ." she said then picked up a cloth to wipe her wet face.

Tila ba hindi makapag isip ng maayos si Hendrix dahil sa magandang hubog ng kaniyang kaharap. Hindi iyon normal sa kaniya, sapagkat karaniwan ay wala naman siyang maramdaman sa iba.

Hindi niya mabatid ang pinagmumulan ng epekto ng kaharap sa kaniya.

"You're spacing out, is there any problem?" Devon asked coldly while buttoning her top.

Ni Hindi niya namalayang nakapagsuot na ito ng kaniyang pang itaas.

"You're not wearing anything underneath?" kunot noong tanong niya.

Tumingin si Devon sa kaniyang gawi.

"I didn't know you were conservative, you're not affected by me are you?" saad niya habang may maliit na ngising naglalaro sa labi habang isinusuot ang kaniyang pang ibaba.

Simpleng aksiyon lamang iyon ngunit tila ba ay senswal para sa alpha na naninibago sa epektong hatid ni Devon.

"Bakit naman ako maaapektuhan sa iyo?! iniinsulto mo ba ako?" Giit niyang nagpangiti lamang kay Devon.

"Huwag kang magalit, nagbibiro lang ako," sambit niya saka mahinang natawa at ibinalik ang karaniwang blangkong ekspresyon.

The emperor's ghost, Devon had no expression on her face, yet she looks so charming to him.

She moves harshly and manly, her voice and her tone is far from melodic but more like terrifying authority giving commands, yet he still sees her as a woman.

'I bet she'll try to kill me if she knows what I am thinking,' he thought.

"What if other people sees that?" he frowned pointing at her chest.

"I always transform as a man in front of everyone remember? and most women these days don't really wear brassieres since it is a bother when transforming unless they are mated," she shrugged.

"What's your deal? you act like a territorial mate, alpha," she added making him froze.

"Huh?" he blinked.

"You're acting strange, you should be the one taking a bath here in the lake to cool your head off, you need it," she said.

Naikuyom ng alpha ang kamao roon.

"Huwag mo akong utusan," he hissed.

"Whatever gramps," Devon shrugged.

Napanganga doon si Hendrix.

"What did you say?" kunot noong tanong niya.

"Gramps, Granpa, Lolo," paglilinaw naman ng kausap na nagpanganga sa kaniya.

"What? You're more than a thousand years old, and I am just more than two hundred years old, you're like my grandpa na," she joked.

"Ha ha—funny," Hendrix tsked.

"I'm just brightening the mood, masyado kang hot, chill ka lang, alpha," saad nito habang blangko padin ang kaniyang muka.

Hendrix just shook his head as he held into the end of his shirt and started removing it while still looking at Devon intently.

"Just to inform you, I could smell your desire, stop it, I don't like it," she looked away.

Ngunit halos mapasinghap siya nang sa isang iglap ay nasa kaniyang harapan na ang alpha.

Halos mabuwal pa siya sa kinatatayuan ngunit nasuportahan ni Hendrix ang kaniyang braso na halos pumaso sa dalawang agad na humiwalay sa isa't isa.

"And I could sense your lies, ghost, you feel the same aren't you?" Hendrix asked.

"You have a mate, and I-I do too, ano nalang ang mararamdaman nila? naisip mo ba iyon?" malamig nitong sambit habang sinsalubong ang mga mata niya.

He hates how he is more affected by her than she is towards him. He hates how he is the only one frustrated and stressed out.

'I wanted her to be frustrated too, I wanted her to beg on her knees and moan under m—' bahagya siyang natigilan sa naiisip kasabay ng pag init ng kaniyang pisngi.

'It's strange I never heard anyone or have red anyone in history who ever felt this way towards someone aside from their mate, not even other races do. Pinaglalaruan ba talaga ako ng diyosa ng buwan?' Naguguluhan niyang turan sa kaniyang isipan.

"You're right," Hendrix said then turned his back on her as he walked towards the lake.

"You should go rest, I will say here," he said making her nod her head.

"Devon," he called her again as she turned her back on him.

"I don't like this feeling either, so stay away from me, do you understand? know your place, woman," mariing saad niya na nagpatigil kay Devon saka tumango.

"Gladly," Devon answered and just left.

Marahas na napabuntong hininga roon si Hendrix saka puno ng frustrasyong sumisid sa malamig na lawa.

He's not liking the growing feelings he had towards the emperor's ghost. Tila ba mas lumakas pa iyon mula nang malamam nito ang tunay niyang katauhan.

He remembered how he first met Devon ten years ago.

It was around winter, also his parent's death anniversary.

He does't feel any pain looking at the forgotten graves that only him visit. He doesn't even know why he visit it when they are just a mere stranger to him. 

He was still months old when they died after betraying the goddess so he didn't really know them and only knew the two according to the stories of his father's beta who also died in the second war.

It is war between races throughout the years where countless of blood were shed for peace.

Now finally, all races had an agreement not to meddle with each other to prevent losing more lives.

It is already peaceful but some still hold grudges.

Specially to the blood of the cursed he is carrying.

"A very tiring life, indeed," bulong niya sa kaniyang sarili habang nakatitig lamang sa lumang libingan.

"You know what? The beta used to read me a myth when I was a child, it is about a creature who could talk directly to the goddess," he stated.

"Kung totoo ang nilalang na iyon ay masasagot na ba ang lahat ng aking katanungan? Everyone says you two betrayed the goddess and I am the one paying the price for it, but why does it feel like I am missing something?" he asked.

Ang bunga ng pagsasamang hindi pinahintulutan ng diyosa ng buwan at ng kabiyak nitong diyos ng araw. Ang unang lobong umibig sa mahigpit na katunggali ng kalangitan.

"Talking to the dead like this, I must've gone crazy," he added then stood up after placing each flowers on the grave.

"Who knows, that creature might be a real thing," Someone said from behind, alerting him.

Isang lalaking mistulang anino.

Balot na balot ang buo nitong anyo ng itim na kasuotan maging ang maskara nitong walang butas na nakalaan upang makakita siya ay pawang itim din.

"A spirit? you don't smell like a demon, but you look like one," he stated. 

He couldn't let his guard down, since it might be an evil spirit.

He came into that conclusion since the one in front of him does not possess any kind of smell, and doesn't even have a presence.

"I am not a spirit," the man let out an empty chuckle.

Naikuyom ni Hendrix ang kamao roon.

He is ready to shift at any moment. He is confused because if you double your concentration, you'll notice that he had a slight smell of a wolf.

A very enticing one and for some reason it is making him feel uneasy even his wolf feel the same way.

"State your business," he uttered.

"Who are you? why are you in this territory?" the alpha asked with a cold tone.

"I got lost, I'm here to visit my cousin," he shrugged.

Sakto naman ang pagdating ng humahangos at kabadong beta.

"A-Alpha!" he said nervously then looked at the man as if he knows him.

"Do you know him, Aztect?" the alpha asked with a sharp gaze.

"W-Well, how do I tell this—"

"My name is Devon, the beta is my cousin," diretsahang sambit nitong ikinakunot ng noo ng alpha saka tumingin sa gawi ni Aztect.

"Uhh. . . Devon a-asked if you could permit him to live here?" Aztect asked.

"Why would I?" the alpha asked.

"S-Sabi ko nga! ito kasi eh—"

"Why not?" Devon stated letting out an immense aura, alerting the alpha more.

"You said you don't have any relatives left?" Hendrix eyed Aztect darkly.

More than two hundred years ago, when the attack happened, it was already too late when Aztect found out.

"Ngayon ko lamang din nalamang buhay ang anak ng tiyuhin ko, Alpha," napabuntong hiningang saad nito.

"At kung pahihintulutan niyo sana ay kung maaaring hayaan ninyong tumira dito si D-Devon. Wala na siyang mapupuntahan pa, pakiusap," nakayukong sambit nito.

"I don't want to be this pack's member, I only want a a place to stay, my home is in the Winter Moon," nakakuyom ang kamaong saad nito.

"Then go back in there and leave my territory," malamig niyang saka tumingin ditong tila ba nakikipagsukatan ng tingin.

"I wish I could," the man said.

"If you permit, I would like to serve under you in return of letting me stay," he said.

Pasimpleng kinukurot na siya ng beta dahil sa kahangalang ipinapakita.

"How impudent, how are you so confident?" the alpha said on a bored tone.

Napatango tango doon si Aztect ngunit natigilan nang makitang nakatingin sa gawi niya ang pinsan at nangiwi.

"Fine, show me your what you can do so I can see where that arrogance is coming from or if you're just all talks, and I might think about it," he stated with an authoritative voice making the man nod his head.

Mariing napapikit si Hendrix doon nang maalala iyon habang abala sa paglangoy sa lawa, ngunit ang laman ng kaniyang isipan ay ang babaeng iyon padin.

After that he agreed letting him stay while he continued to observe him. It doesn't matter to him if Devon had ill intention or not, he could just crush her if she does something, that's what he thought back then.

But strangely, he always felt uneasy around her even when he is still known as a man. And that feeling became more than that when they came back from the Lunar Temple for a conference, five years later. 

And now, after her fight with Helga, the feeling got a lot more intense.

'Strange. . . ' he thought.

Marahas siyang napabuntong hiningang puno ng frustrasyong umahon. Umaagos ang tubig sa kaniyang kahubdan kasabay ng pag agos ng tubig mula sa kaniyang mahabang buhok na kaniyang pinasadahan ng kaniyang kamay.

He is staring at the bright moon, seems to be mocking him.

Ang kaniyang gintong mga mata ay walang emosyon ngunit tila ba nagnininging habag nasisinagan ng bilog na buwan.

The alpha then shifted into his wolf form and let out a frustrated howl which his subjects followed from a far.

"That woman better, stay away from me, as far as she could," tiim bagang na bulong niya saka mariing napapikit na lamang.

But deep inside he knows. .  . He knows how much he wanted to own her, he wanted her to be only his that every bit of her system only screams his name.

'That woman is right, you act like a territorial mate,' his wolf said to him.

'Shut up, you also feel the same,' Hendrix hissed.

***

"How did you know that?" kunot noong tanong ni Devon kay Lilith habang nasa kwarto niya ito sa mansiyon ng alpha.

"I saw it in a dream," Lilith said to her while eating the apple Devon sliced for her.

"Cute, how did you do this?" Lilith giggled looking at the bunny apple slice Devon made.

They are talking about what the alpha told her earlier before she left him in the lake.

"My father used to cut apples this way when I was a child since I like this shape so much before. Nakagawian ko na din hanggang pagtanda," pagkukwento niya.

Lilith nodded her head on Devon. She wanted to ask about her family but it seems like a sensitive issue to her.

"My cousin is a jerk for saying that, that's mean, hindi mo naman kasalanan iyon," Lilith pouted.

"He's still the alpha, baka marinig ka non, sige ka," sambit ni Devon na nagpatikom sa bibig ng kausap.

"Sabagay, you also tell him mean things a lot than he does. So pareho lang kayo," kibit balikat nitong saad na nagpangiwi lamang kay Devon saka nailing.

She saw Lilith neck and it seems like her cousin already marked her. Nang mapansin iyon ni Lilith ay bahagya siyang namula na ikinailing lamang ng kausap.

"I'm you finally found a home, Lilith. Aztect is a bit too much to handle, but he is sincere and I can see that he really loves you." she said making Lilith smile and hugged Devon tight.

"Yes, I even found my cousin, my mate and even someone like a sister," she giggled.

Nailing nalang doon si Devon na hinawakan ang mukha ni Lilith para paalisin ito sa pagkakayakap saka umirap dito.

Natawa nalang doon ang kausap.

"Sungit talaga, ngiti ka din minsan," nguso ni Lilith.

"Ayos ah, may sulutan ng nagaganap!" sambit ng isang boses na ikinasimangot lang ni Devon.

"Iuwi mo na itong mate mo at matutulog na ako, panggulo kayong dalawa," Devon hissed.

The two just frowned.

Nailing na lamang siya doon at nahiga saka iminwestra ang kamay upang paalisin ang dalawa.

That night as she fell asleep she feels like there is a pair of intense eyes looking at her intently, yet she couldn't feel anyone. 

Tila ba may humahaplos sa kaniyang muka at sa kaniyang labi na humila sa kaniya mula sa pagkakahimbing.

 Ngunit nang iminulat niya ang mga mata ay walang ibang nasa kaniyang silid kung hindi siya.

Nangunot ang noo niya roong napabangon at ang marahang ihip lamang ng hangin mula sa pintuan ang kaniyang naramdaman.

"Why didn't those two close the door?" she hissed and stood up and as she is closing the door she saw a familiar shadow passing on the hallway.

Napataas ang kilay niya roon saka nailing lang na isinara ang pintuan.

The next few days, like what the alpha wished, she stayed in the mansion like a ghost that couldn't be seen as usual.

She treated him like usual and will only talk to him when he does. Hindi niya mawari kung bakit tila ba hindi parin ito nasisiyahan doon.

At ang pack ang nagdurusa dahil sa intensidad na namamagitan sa dalawa.

"Beta! tulong! mamamatay na kami sa dalawang iyon!" humahangos na sambit ng mga warriors na sina Bobo kasama sina Tanga at Tado.

"Nag iisip ka ba! Edi ako naman ang mamamatay!" Nakapamewang na sambit nito.

"Eh pano kami?" paawang sambit ng mga ito.

"Sino bang mas importante ang role dito?! kapag nakielam ako ay ako naman ang pag iinitan ng dalawang iyon! ayoko na! pagod na ako! pagod na pagod na pagod na ako! mga ekstra lang kayo! kaya siya, balik sa training!" madramang sigaw niya kaya naman ay wala ng magawa ang mga ito kung hindi bumalik sa malaimpyernong pagtitraining sa ilalim ng dalawang superiors.

"Ang harsh mo naman," sambit ni Lilith na humahangos sa ilalim ng training kasama ng beta at ng iba pang warriors sa ilalim nito.

"You seem problematic, are you okay love?" she said making him frown.

"Kasi naman!" nanlumo ang muka nito.

"Ano bang gagawin ko? kapag sinabi ko ay papatayin ako nung isa, kapag hindi ko naman sinabi ay yung isa naman ang papatay sa akin," halos maiyak nang saad nito at madramang napaluhod.

Ngunit naputol na lamang ang pagdadrama nito nang magmind link ang mga nagpapatrol na warriors.

'Alpha! The beta of the north is here to meet you.'

Natigil na lamang si Hendrix sa pagpatay—sa pagsasanay ng mga warriors nang marining ang mind link ng isa sa mga bantay ng border.

'Let him in,' he answered.

Tila ba nagpugay ang mga warriors sa narinig dahil sa wakas ay tapos na ang pagdurusa—ang pagsasanay.

"Continue your training," he commanded while eyeing them sharply.

Wala ng nagawa pa ang mga ito kung hindi ang sumunod.

The alpha then went to the entrance to make sure if it is really the beta of the northern pack but froze the moment he saw him hugging Devon tight while smiling happily.

"You're alive! I can't believe it! It is really you!" he shouted in glee.

Napatiim bagang doon si Hendrix.

The alpha let out a growl informing his presence.

The two stopped and glanced at him.

He jus met him, but he already felt like killing him and he hated how Devon look delighted while hugging the Moon Valley pack's beta.

"I pay my respects to the Reigning Alpha, Hendrix Kayden. I am the Northern Kingdom's Beta, Farkas."