Kabata IV

***

LILITH felt nervous, hearing what he said.

"You smell just like a wolf, but reak smell of a blood sucking parasite," sambit nito habang nakangisi.

Isang ngiting walang laman at mga matang walang emosyong bahagyang nagpatayo sa mga balahibo niya.

Sa isang iglap ay nasa harapan na niya si Devon na ngayon ay hawak ang kaniyang leeg, amantalang si Aztect ay bigla na lamang tumalsik.

"N-no. . . I didn't d-do anything. . " nahihirapan niyang saad.

The alpha then signed Devon to put Lilith down.

"I'm gonna ask you questions. Nakasalalay sa mga sagot mo kung makakalabas ka pa ng buhay rito," seryosong sambit ni Alpha Hendrix.

His gold eyes almost seems like glowing as he stared at her, seems  to be observing her every move, counting her every breath.

It is making her feel anxious and frightened.

"What is your connection with the Lunar council and their evil schemes?" The Alpha asked on a bored tone.

"I-I am their captive, Alpha," nakayukong sambit ni Lilith.

Tumingin ang Alpha sa gawi ni Devon na ikinatango nito.

"That's true Alpha," he confirmed.

"Why would they capture you? What is the council planning, that they experimented a hybrid for all those years?" he asked.

Bahagyang napalunok doon si Lilith, hindi sigurado kung sasabihin sa Alpha ang kaniyang kakayahan.

"Answer me woman!" he growled enough to make her collapse to her knees as her tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Nanginginig siya sa takot.

"Alpha! she won't be able to answer your questions if you were scaring her," matigas na sambit ni Beta Aztect na ngayon ay nakaharang sa sa kaniya.

"Don't test me Aztect, hindi ikaw ang kausap ko," Hendriz hissed.

Si Aztect naman ay abalang dinadaluhan si Lilith na nanlalamig ngayon ang mga kamay na pilit pinatatatag ang sarili.

The man in front of her can kill her in a second like a mere bug. 

'Moon goddess, please guide me. . . ' she prayed.

"Why are you being experimented at?" malamig na tanong ng Alpha.

Hindi niya alam kung anong maaaring kahinatnan niya sa oras na isiwalat niya rito ang kakayahan.

Ngunit sa pagitan ng alpha at ng council ay mas palagay ang loob niya rito.

"B-Because of my ability, Alpha, the council wanted to have my ability, but wanted me to develop it stronger first," nanginginig niyang sambit kasabay ng pagpatak ng kaniynag mga luha.

"What ability?" madilim ang mukang tanong ng alpha.

"What is your ability that the Lunar council just couldn't sit till right now just to find you? I wanted no lie, woman. If you speak me the truth I might think about helping you, but if you even dare to trick me in my own land, I would send you to the after life this instant," walang emosyon niyang saad na nagpalunok lamang kay Lilith.

"I wouldn't dare, Alpha!" nakayukong saad ni Lilith.

"I-I wanted to live. . ." bulong niya.

"Then tell me the truth, hybrid," he said on an authoritative tone, making her knees wobble even more.

The alpha is indeed intimidating. She's never met such a strong being base on his aura alone. 

And she could feel how menacing his wolf that even if he isn't in that form, she could still feel how frightening it is.

"I have the gift of foresight alpha. I can see a glympse of the future through dreams. T-they wanted to use that ability against you in the future," garalgal ang boses niyang saad na nagpatahimik sa lahat.

It's a gift that no one had other than her. The reason why she was held captive by the greedy Lunar Council for so long.

"She's telling the truth, Hendrix," sambit ni Devon.

Binalingan siya ng matalim na tingin ng Alpha dahil sa pagtawag niya sa pangalan nito na kaniyang hindi pinagtuunan ng pansin.

"I see. . . That's enough" serysong sambit ni Hendrix habang madilim ang ekspresyong nakatingin sa kaniyang gawi.

"Go back to your quarters for now, I will think about what to do with you for now," malamig na sambit niyang nagpailing kay Lilith.

"B-But Alpha, when can I leave?" Buong tapang niyang tanong rito.

"When we confirm your statement and when we proved that you bring no harm to the empire," seryoso nitong saad saka lumingon sa gawi ni Devon.

"Bring me the council members, responsible for experimenting her," ngisi nito.

"Alpha, may I go instead?" Beta Aztect said with a dark expression on his face.

"May atraso pa sa akin ang mga iyon, I want to be the one to take them to you," tiim bagang nitong saad na nagpatango kay Hendrix.

"Okay, do what you want, as long as you could take them in front of me without anyone noticing," blangko ang mukhang sambit niya.

"Devon, you'll find leads about the oldest witch, Nimue," utos niyang nagpatango sa dalawa.

Nanghihina namang napatayo si Lilith na inalalayan lamang ni Aztect.

Nangunot lamang ang noo roon ng alpha sa di pangkaraniwang ikinikilos ng kaniyang beta sa babaeng hybrid.

"Take her to her quarters, Aztect. Then head to your mission tonight," utos ng Alpha saka tumalikod na lamang sa kanila.

"Yes Alpha," Aztect uttered then held Lilith's arms gently.

"What's gonna happen to me now?" nanginginig pa ding saad ni Lilith nang tuluyan silang makalabas ng mansiyon.

"Nothing's gonna happen to you. Alpha may seem ruthless, but he doesn't take innocent lives, I assure you. . . I won't let it," he smiled then held her hand.

His gentle voice somehow made her feel better. And for some reason, Beta Aztect seems familiar to her.

Para bang nakita na niya ito noon. Ngunit pinili niyang iwaglit ang kaisipang iyon sa kaniyang isipan.

"B-Bakit ba ang bait mo sa akin? I saw how you protected me back then and compare to the alpha, I am a mere stranger to you, so why are you so good to me?" takang tanong niya na nagpatahimik dito.

His silver eyes glistened with loneliness as he looked at her.

Ngunit agad din iyong nawala saka ito ngumiti sa kaniya.

"I just know that you were innocent that's why I am siding with you, nothing more," ngiti niyang nagpatango kay Lilith.

Saglit na natigilan doon si Aztect.

'I miss that smile. . .' he mumbled making Lilith froze.

"Ano?" tanong ni Lilith kahit pa narinig niya iyon.

Umiling lamang sa kaniya si Aztect.

"Nothing, let's go to your quarters," he said.

"If you ever feel suffocated I could tour you around when I'm back. But you could also ask some warriors while I wasn't here. I'll tell them to escort you, so you won't get bored, staying in your room all day while waiting for the investigation to finish," sambit niyang nagpakurap kurap kay Lilith.

"Really? I could do that?" gulat niyang tanong.

She's afraid of cramped and dark places, she doesn't like staying in her room all day either. . .

"Yeah, I'll just tell the alpha that you won't get out of the border with all the guards patrolling so we could just let you tour around with guards to observe you, I hope you understand," saad n itong nagpatango tango kay Lilith.

"S-Salamat," nakayukong sambit niya rito.

Being able to run free like this, being able to walk around freely is something she never experienced in ten years she's been held captive.

Ang madilim at nakakatakot na silid na iyon na ang naging buhay niya. She's been chained, experimented and tormented in those ten years, everything she's seeing now is new to her.

Kung tutuusin ay tila ba ayaw na niyang umalis.

Ngunit alam niyang delikado din ang buhay niya sa imperyo. 

Even outside is dangerous for her because of the council, chasing after her.

Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin.

"Y-you're going to find those c-council who held me captive r-right?" kinakabahang tanong niya nang maalala iyon.

"Yes," diretsahang saad ni Aztect saka napatiim bagang na lamang.

Napatitig sa kaniya si Lilith na ikinangisi niya saka ginulo ang buhok nito.

"No worries, I won't be the strongest pack's beta without a reason," ngisi niya saka kinindatan si LIlith.

"I will avenge you, just wait. . . 

***

As promised Aztect did inform some female warriors to escort Lilith  when she needed fresh air.

"You smell strange," sambit ng isa sa mga ito sa kaniya.

"Keisha!" saway ng isa pa.

"Sorry, I just thought out loud," natatawa nitong saad.

"Ako nga pala si Ralna, at ito naman ang mga kasamahan kong si Keisha at Heleina," seryoso ang mukang pagpapakilala ng sumaway kanina.

"Magandang araw," ngiti ng kasamahan nilang si Heleina.

"H-Hello, ako nga pala si Lilith, pilit ang ngiting sambit niya.

Hindi niya alam kung paano makikisama sa mga ito dahil bukod sa mga daga at mga kasamahan sa kulungan ay wala na siyang iba pang nakakausap pa.

"Bagay sa iyo ang ngalan mo, katulad mo ay maganda din," ngiti ni Keisha.

Inaasahan niyang hindi siya magugustuhan ng mga pack members, ngunit nakapagtatakang maganda ang pakikitungo sa kaniya.

"We don't like you, but we won't do anything about it. Dahil oras na gumawa kami rito ng gulo ay malilintikan kami sa alpha," Ralna hissed making Lilith stop.

"And I am not a mind reader. Halata lamang iyon sa iyong ekspresyon," kibit balikat nitong saad na mahinang nagpatango lamang kay Lilith.

"N-Naiintindihan ko," nakayukong sambit ni Lilith.

The pack members doesn't trust her. . .

She could feel their guards raising as their teeth grinds and some even growls when she's walking pass them.

Naiintindihan niya iyon dahil may koneksiyon siya sa Lunar council at alam iyon ng lahat.

"Pay them no mind, they wouldn't hurt you unless you do something," sambit ni Keisha na nagpatango tango sa kaniya.

Nagpatuloy lamang sila sa paglilibot.

"Babes!" sigaw naman ng isang pamilyar na boses.

I heard Ralna growled in annoyance as she walked faster. Nasabayan naman namin siya.

"What's the matter? Nag away kayo ng mate mo?" Heleina asked.

"Babes naman hintayin mo ako!" Narinig naming sigaw pa nito.

Ralna glared at him as we continued walking faster. Nailing na lamang si Lilith doon nang may naalala.

'That man. . . There is really something strange about him. . .' she thought.

She's not as strong as the big three of the midnight fangs. But Lilith has sharper senses and stronger than most werewolves and vampires, considering the blood running through her veins.

Nitong nakaraan lamang niya iyon nadiskubre nang sa wakas ay magkaroon siya ng tapang na tumakas sa impyernong pinanggalingan.

That's why she could feel someone's intention or how strong the being in front of her.

And that ghost could defeat even the kings combined.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nananatili ito sa midnight fangs sa lakas nito ayon sa obserbasyon ni Lilith.

Kung tutuusin ay kayang kaya nitong mamuno sa kaniyang sariling pack.

"Ghost. . . The one who took me here, who exactly is he?" tanong niya sa katabing si Keisha nang maalala ang lalaking nagdala sa opisina ng Alpha sa kaniya kanina.

"Oh him? Aside from the Alpha and Beta, no one really knows him. Maging ang muka nito ay walang nakakaalam. He just randomly showed two years ago, mukhang matagal na itong nagtatrabaho kay Alpha," kibit balikat niyang sagot.

"I heard ghost lost his wolf after loosing his mate, that's why he couldn't transform. That's what they say," singit pa ni Heleina na nagpakunot ng noo ni Lilith.

"That's weird. . ." she mumbled.

If he doesn't have a wolf, they how is he so strong?' she thought.

Hindi niya maiwasang maalerto nang maisip iyon.

Ngunit natigilan na lamang siya nang umihip ang isang malamyos na hangin na tila ba tinatawag siya nito.

"Rogues!!!" Narinig niyang sigaw ng warriors na ikinatigil ng lahat. Ngunit ang kaniyang atensiyon ay nasa kalmadong hanging tila ba yumayakap sa kaniya.

The warriors transformed into their wolf forms as they prepares to fight. Facing a huge group of rogues near the border.

And in the midst of a chaos a woman suddenly faced her making her gasp.

She had a long black hair and a very mysterious aura around her.

Ang babaeng kaharap na yata ang pinaka magandang babaeng nakita niya.

As if she saw a goddess, right before her eyes. . .

"You dropped this," sambit nitong nagpakurap sa kaniyang tinanggap ang binili kanina. 

'Her voice sounds like a lullaby. . . ' Lilith thought.

"S-salamat," sambit niya habang nakatulala lamang dito.

Nilagpasan lamang siya nito nang maibigay ang nahulog niya.

"Sanda—" Lilith froze, the woman is gone, just like that.

"Huy! Sino bang kausap mo diyan? Kanina ka pa namin tinatawag!" Kunot noong saad ni Heleina na nagpakunot sa kaniyang noo.

"N-Nakita niyo ba yung babae?" tanong niya sa mga ito.

"Anong babae? Kanina ka pa tulala diyan, tinatawag ka namin. Tara na at kailangan mo ng bumalik sa iyong silid dahil may mga rogues sa border!" sambit nitong ikinatigil niya habang tulala pa ding nagpatianod sa mga ito.

'What just happened?'