Kabanata XIV

***

FEW HOURS since the Moon Valley pack's beta came, the alpha of the North arrived after he went separate ways with Farkas to secretly go to the empire. 

They had to do that so the enemy wouldn't suspect anything.

"What?! A tribrid? and an ancient one?" kunot noong sambit ni Conri ang alpha ng pinakamalakas na pack ng Norte.

"Yes, according to the information I've known, our enemy has a noble demon blood, a vampire and a werewolf. He had a mysterious power that we have to watch out for," Paliwanag ni Hendrix dito.

"What is he planning then?" sambit ni Conri.

"He wanted war between races a huge war. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang motibo niya roon," sambit ni Hendrix habang nakatingin sa gawi ni Devon na kasalukuyang nakadisguise gaya ng nakasanayan.

Hindi nito siya tinitignan at abala lamang sa pakikipag usap kay Farkas na ikinairita niya.

"He wanted revenge that's all I know, I didn't know towards whom," Devon uttered that caught their attention.

"But what is the war's connection to that revenge?" kunot noong tanong naman ni Farkas.

"Is he avenging towards the goddess of moon or something?" natatawang biro naman ni Aztect na ikinatigil nila ngunit nailing nalamang din.

"Kung ganoon ay wala siya sa katinuan," Conri commented while shaking his head.

Samantalang si Devon ay nanatiling tahimik lamang.

"I've met hybrids before and they are unbelievably strong, what more a noble hybrid?" Conri uttered.

"Strong enough to bring down the fifth kingdom. Ang pack na halos kasing lakas ng empire ay napabagsak ng kalaban natin sa isang gabi lamang," sambit ni Hendrix na nagpakuyom ng mga kamao ni Devon maging si Farkas ay natigilan at napatingin sa gawi ng kababata.

"Do you mean?—"

"Yes, the new ruler of the fifth kingdom is our enemy. He killed everyone in winter moon more than two hundred years ago as a stepping stone of his revenge," mariing sambit ni Devon na nagpatahimik sa lahat.

"That bastard, I knew something is wrong with him when I last saw him in the conference!" galit na sambit ni Farkas.

"Matagal na akong nagtitimpi sa hayop na iyon," malamig namang saad ni Aztect dito.

"I wish the Western, Eastern and Southern packs answers soon, so we could have a bigger move. I will also try to communicate with other race' rulers secretly," Hendrix uttered making everyone nod their head.

"Be careful, our enemy has ears and eyes everywhere," Aztect said making everyone agree.

"Maaasahan mo ang kooperasyon ng Moon Valley Pack, Alpha Hendrix. Mag oobserba muna ako saka ko aabisuhan ang mga alpha sa ilalim ng aking pamumuno kapag nasiguro ko kug sino ang kakampi natin sa mga ito," Alpha Conri informed.

"I'll hold onto that Alpha Conri, you also have our support," walang emosyong sambit ni Hendrix na nagpatango dito.

"Thank you Reigning alpha," ngisi nito saka tumingin sa gawi ni Devon.

"So this is the rumored emperor's ghost huh?" He smiled.

"You can go now," Hendrix said impatiently.

"Interesting," he chuckled.

"I said you could go now," Hendrix hissed.

"I'm injured after fighting on my way here and now you're sending me away? that hurts," he chuckled.

"Then go get treated, I'll call the pack doctor," Hendrix hissed.

"Sheez you're too protective," Conri whistled then again looked at Devon and just shook his head as he headed out to meet the pack doctor.

"You know him?" Aztect asked Devon.

"Yeah, I met him a hundred years ago, I killed his brother for him to be the next alpha," Devon shrugged.

"What?!" nanlaki ang mata ni Aztect roon.

"I was running an important errand that time in the north, buying some stuff and all for my guardian when I encountered them. His brother is an annoying one, he also hired me to kill Conri, in exchange of giving back my necklace he stole, but Conri had a better offer," Devon shrugged.

"So that was you?" Kunot noong sambit ni Farkas na nagpatango kay Devon saka inalis na din ang kaniyang disguise.

"If I knew you were there—"

"It's okay, things happened, I didn't know you were there either," She shrugged as she tied her hair in a bun.

"How did you know it was me anyway?" Devon asked.

"I encountered Aztect last time, nadulas siya saakin nang mapag usapan namin ang emperor's ghost na uap usapan ngayon," paliwanag nitong ikinakunot ng noo ni Devon saka binalingan ng masamang tingin si Beta Aztect na umaatras na ngayon bago pa siya bugahan nito ng apoy.

"Hindi ko kasalanang chismoso iyang si Farkas," Nguso nito.

"Ang sabihin mo ay madaldal ka lang," Devon hissed.

"It's glad to see you again S—"

"Devon," she reminded making Farkas stop and just smiled.

"Noong nalaman kong kasama ka sa mga nakatakas ay kahit papaano ay gumaan ang loob ko sa kabila ng nangyari sa Winter Moon," napabuntong hiningang saad nito.

"Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa iyong mga magulang at maalapit kitang kaibigan noon kaya naman ay lubos akong nanlumo sa nangyari. The moment I left our pack, I started searching for you and I am so glad I finally found you Devon, you don't know how happy I am right now," bakas ang sayang sambit nito na nagpatango kay Devon.

"Masaya din akong makita kang muli Farkas," tipid ang ngiting sambit niya.

Farkas is from a small pack under the fifth kingdom. Kalaro ito noon ni Devon at malapit na kaibigan, kaya naman ay isa ito sa naghanap sa kaniya nang makaalis sa pack na tinitirahan.

***

Hendrix is annoyed, it's been a week but Alpha Conri and Farkas didn't leave. It is because the pack doctor is actually Conri's mate so they had to stay.

He told Conri to just take Sierra with them when they were about to leave but Sierra had to finish her job first before someone takes over her position, which is her top student in the pack.

He is looking from outside the window, a miles away from the mansion, he could see Devon, talking with Farkas again.

He didn't like their closeness at all, Devon wouldn't even talk to him let alone look at him, it's annoying Hendrix as well.

'Strange, I should be glad she's avoiding me, what the heck?' kunot noong sambit nito sa kaniyang sarili.

Napatingala siya sa kalangitan, tomorrow night will be full moon, bukas na bukas din ay aalis na ang Beta at Alpha ng Norte na kaniyang ikinatuwa sa hindi malamang kadahilanan.

"It's only for my peace of mind alright," he told himself.

But it seems like as he continue watching the two, he is only loosing his cool every time. And it's weird, because he used to not feel anything at all.

She's not even his mate to begin with, yet she's making him feel all sorts of things which is confusing the Alpha more.

'Ayaw ko nalang magtalk,' sambit ng kaniyang wolf na si Night.

"Oh shut up," Hendrix hissed as he continued watching them.

Mukang nagpapaalam na si Farkas dito na ikinatuwa niya.

Ngunit nang makita niyang yakapin nito ang babae saka hinalikan pa ang kaniyang noo ay halos sumabog siya sa galit.

'What if Farkas is actually her mate? they are so close,' His wolf commented angrily, as if he is looking at an enemy he had to eradicate.

Nakita niya ang dugong tumutulo sa kaniyang kamao sa higpit ng pagkakakuyom nito, as if, his instinct is kicking in every time the Beta of the Moon Valley is touching her.

"I won't let him take her away. . ." mariing bulong ni Hendrix.

His breathing is heavy and his pair of golden orbs are dilated, as if he was about to shift out of anger at the thought.

Farkas being her mate is making him feel so mad, the thought of her being taken away is making him loose his sanity.

Sa isang iglap ay nasa harapan na siya ng mga ito kasabay ng pagtalsik ni Farkas sa malayo.

"What the—" Devon glared at him.

She was about to go to the direction where Farkas went, when Hendrix suddenly pulled her arm closer to him.

"What the heck?! Let me go I will check on Farkas! Why did you suddenly attack him?!" galit na turan ni Devon dito saka marahas na inalis ang pagkakahawak niya.

And for some reason his chest suddenly tightened.

"You won't, I command you," mariing sambit niya.

"I repeat, I am not your subject, you do not own me, Hendrix, stop acting like you do. Now I have to go and see Farkas, wala naman siyang ginagawa sa iyo," kunot noong sambit nitong ikinakuyom ng kamao ni Hendrix.

"Stay, Devon!" mariing utos niya na nagpatigil sa kausap.

"A few days ago, you told me to avoid you and now you wanted me to stay? make up your mind dumbo!" inis na sambit nito saka tatalikuran na sana siya ngunit bigla na lamang hinila ni Hendrix ang kaniyang braso.

Tila ba wala ito sa sarili at galit na galit.

"What if I tell you I want you mine?" Hendrix asked with a dark expression.

"Then just fucking rot, asshole. I am not your dog that will follow you around as you want, I wouldn't bark for you, not even wag my tail. Spare me your bullshits, wala ako sa mood, tngina ka," mariing sambit nito.

"Are you that angry because of what I did to that stray?!" giit nito.

"Yes, Farkas is my friend, of course I'll be mad when you suddenly attack like that, are you a child? and I am more annoyed because I feel like you're disrespecting my boundaries, stop acting like you own me, you know how much I dislike it," sambit i Devon habang nakikipagtitigan dito.

"Be my Luna, Devon," sambit ni Hendrix na nagpatigil dito.

"Your Luna?" Mapait siyang napangiti doon.

"Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo?" taas kilay niyang saad saka hinarap ito.

"Seryoso ako," malamig na sambit ni Hendrix.

"You have a mate," kunot noong saad ni Devon.

"It's pointless anyway, I don't think I will ever find her anymore," nag iwas tinging sambit nito.

"So what am I? an option?" pagak siyang natawa doon.

"You're perfect for that role," Hendrix said while staring straight into her eyes, seems mesmerized.

"You wanted me to be your Luna huh?" She grinned.

"Yes, be my Luna, Devon," puno ng awtoridad niyang saad.

"Then kneel," Devon said smiling t him but her eyes were cold.

"I want that prideful reigning alpha to kneel in front of me and beg me to be his Luna," Taas noo nitong saad sa mapanuya at malamig na tono.

Hindi nakasagot agad doon si Hendrix.

"What? you don't want to?"natawa doon si Devon.

"I'd rather be a rogue," Devon hissed as she left.

Nanatiling nakatulala lamang doon si Hendrix at pinanood ang papalayong bulto niya.

"What the fuck did I just do?" He said frustratedly.

"Unbelievable!" Napahilamos siya sa kaniyang muka roon.

His chest is tightening which made his feeling worst.

***

Full moon is the night Hendrix hated the most. Most mateless wolves does. And he had to endure another night of full moon inside a very strong cell that he created so he wouldn't hurt anyone.

Because there is only ways to stop the effect of it to a wolf. Either a mate or through violence and in Hendrix case, it might become a massive massacre and he can't let that happen.

Every full moon, he looses himself and commanded every one to to go to the dungeons under ground which blocks their smell and sound so they would be safe. Each houses of the empire has that kind of dungeon underground to hide every full moon.

Except the strongest warriors who had to be on patrol to protect the pack. But once the alpha was about to break free, they have to hurry at the emergency dungeons to hide or they might loose their lives.

"Do we really have to double the security?" Aztect asked before dusk as he put Hendrix on a silver shackles embued with magic so Hendrix wouldn't be able to get out once he lost his mind since the effect of full moon is double to him.

"Yes, I almost broke the cell the last time," he said.

Napatango na lamang doon si Aztect na sinunod ito at matapos iyon aykinailangan na niya itong iwan upang makauwi na din sapagkat naghihintay ang kaniyang kabiyak na si Lilith.

"Where is Devon?" Hendrix asked.

Nangunot ang noo roon ni Aztect.

"What? why are you asking?" he asked confused.

"I'm asking where she is, Beta," Hendrix hissed.

"Dunno, probably dying somewhere, it's full moon soon," he shrugged.

May gusto pa sanang itanong ang alpha ngunit nauna na ang beta sa pag alis dahil kinakailangan na niyang umuwi.

He then locked the cell tightly to make sure, the alpha won't break free. He's just praying that the night of full moon will pass smoothly.

***

"Serene," Nimue called the silver haired woman somewhere in the woods.

"I have to go now, mas malakas lumalakas ang mga nilalang ng diyosa ng buwan sa tuwing kabilugan ng buwan, walang maaaring makaalam na nagagawi ako sa lugar na ito. I need to go back into hiding, ayos ka na ba dito?" alalang sambit ni Nimue.

"Yes, I'm alright Nimue, you casted your strongest magic in this cage. Imposibleng makawala pa ako dito." she sighed.

"But it's the first time you'll spend full moon in here, you usually spend it on my mountain, hindi ako sigurado kung dapat ba kitang iwan dito," napabuntong hininga niyang saad.

"I'm okay Nimue, masyado lamang akong naging abala kaya naman ay hindi ko na nagawa pang maglakbay patungo sa iyong pinagtataguan. You can't teleport me with you either, it consumes too much magic. Hindi tayo pupwedeng sumugal dahil maaari kang matagpuan ni Bardulf oras na maramdaman niya ang iyong kapangyarihan," sambit niya.

"He's chasing you too Serene," Nimue said.

"You casted the same magic in the cage right? just like my necklace? I'm sure this is enough for me to hide during full moon," She smiled.

"But this is't exactly as the blue moon's tears, this cage cannot hide you completely, but since Bardulf is far away. he wouldn't sense you," Nimue explained.

"Then that is enough, you have to go before the moon rises, Nimue," alalang sambit nito na nagpabuntong hininga sa kausap.

"Are you sure you won't wear the necklace?" Nimue asked.

"Yeah, it already had a lot of cracks, just one more time that my power unleashes and it will completely shatter. I can manage, Nimue, don't worry, this cage is strong enough," she smiled.

Nimue sighed as she looked up to the sun setting.

Kailangan na niyang umalis.

"Take care, my child, contact me if anything happens," she uttered.

"I will, thank you, Nimue."