Hush, Howl {19}

=Darren=

Sapphire wasn't around school today and I feared that it was about what happened last night, though I was relieved about Rosy informing me that she had lost her flute and decided to stay behind to look for it. Too bad, I brought her flute with me just so that I can give it back to her.

It just so happens that she fell asleep, and I have to creep into her bedroom to put her back to bed--after shifting back into my human form of course. I brought boxers with me just in case! I don't want to walk around naked.

I managed to navigate my way around the house because of her scent, and I wasn't caught because of my stealth.

She was covered in grime and dirt so I decided to change her into fresh, new clothes. I did not look though, it would be a pure torture to do so. I'm only going to hurt myself.

I decided that jumping out of her bedroom window would be the fastest way to escape. So after leaving her room, I closed her window again and leaped back into the forest after shifting into my wolf form.

Heading back to my house, I felt a sudden urge to go back to the place where Sapphire usually plays. I decided to follow my instincts. Reaching the spot, there were silver glints caught my eye. The moon was shining directly towards it.

Shifting back into my human form, I approached it and noticed that it was Sapphire's flute.

She left it here.

There were rustles that alerted me, so I snatched all the flute from the ground and burst into an incredulous speed.

I headed straight to my bedroom, through my window and jumped on top of my bed.

With the flute in my hands, I scrutinized it closely. There were a few scratches that messed its appearance. It needs some retouch and polishing. But other than that, there are no harm done.

I shook away those thoughts and boarded my car after saying a small goodbye to Rosy and Daniel. He's planning on staying behind while I was excited on coming over to Sapphire's house.

Just when I turned the keys into ignition, making the car rumble to life, I received an incoming call from my father.

Clicking the 'answer' button, my father's voice echoed from the receiver.

"Darren, we have a big problem." His weary voice stated.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Let's discuss it later," He said. "Right now, I'm calling for an urgent pack meeting. Each member has their presence required immediately." His voice rang with authority.

"But--" I wanted to object about coming over to Sapphire's house before that, but he cut me off.

"I want to hear no protests from you, Darren. You are my successor and you must perform your responsibilities." He made a short pause. "Be here as fast as you can." With that, the line was cut off.

I removed the phone from my ear and stared at the screen, it was flashing the word 'Call disconnected'.

I sighed and placed it on my front pocket.

Stepping onto the gears, I drove out of the students' parking lot and headed straight to the pack house. Whilst driving, I decided to text Daniel regarding the situation and he told me he'll be right on my tail.

I felt quite disappointed for leaving Sapphire hanging. Even if I hated to admit the fact, I was really looking forward on seeing her this afternoon. But then again, I guess that'll have to wait. These soon-to-be-alpha responsibilities intended on me was really getting on my nerves.

After receiving a reply from Daniel, I sent another message to Sapphire, saying that I can't make it due to something that came up. I was a little bit too stuck up to care that I made my words full to express my sincerity, I really felt bad. Worse, to be exact.

Sapphire's my mate. Sometimes, I'll be giving her an undivided attention.

There was an instant reply from Sapphire informing me that she's fine with it and she also asked what was wrong.

I replied with family issues. That was the usual thing that we say when typical humans asks us why we are leaving with urgency. Still, I felt another wave of guilt for lying to my mate. She isn't just any typical human, she was my mate--my other half. Sooner or later, I'll need to tell her the truth so that there are no more secrets between us.

As I approached the pack-house, I scurried straight towards the meeting room. It was located in the basement which will only be used it situations like this, or the usual meetings that'll be held to discuss important matters between the pack.

Descending from the stairs, I dashed through the doors and was greeted by a long table with the highest members sitting in front of it. There were rows of tacky, plastic chairs that was prepared for the pack members to sit in.

I walked to the right side of my father, who usually sits on the farthest place on the left due to his position. And since I was the successor, it was usual for me to sit beside him.

"What's so urgent that you have to call this meeting, father?" I asked in a calm tone, just to show some respect. Even if he's my father, he still is the pack leader with a wide range of authority.

"That'll be discussed when each and every member of the pack is here." He answered.

"I guess I'll have to wait, then." I muttered, plopping down on the chair to his right.

I can't help but worry at this point. My father rarely calls on a meeting with urgency such as this. The usual routine was twice a month, which was before and after the full moon just so we can fix certain situations and discuss important matters regarding problems in the pack. The last time this happened, was because of the raging war between the pack and the flock of the Aves.

I can't help but find the word bitter even if I spoke it through my mind. The Aves were certain beings that are blessed with the capabilities of shifting into forms of gigantic birds. Although they aren't using their abilities to help mother-nature, they are using this an advantage to hold on to dominance and power. And due to their terrorism, my pack and I were forced to move on another territory so that we can be safe. Their atrocious acts and violence killed several of my pack members. And because of their power, we wolves hold no grudge against them.

"Who are we waiting for, anyway?" I asked my father, getting a little impatient. I continuously tapped my foot under the table.

"Daniel." He answered, clearly getting irritated of the noises bouncing off the walls in the room.

The door swung open and I was relieved to see it was Daniel. He headed straight to his seat beside his father. At this point, the meeting has officially started.

"Silence!" My father voice boomed. The noises slowly left the room and was replaced by an immense space of attentive silence existing between everyone in the room.

"All of you have been called due to an urgent, unpleasant discovery that Omega Max had came upon a while ago," He paused and spared a brief glance to Omega Max as he stated his name. "He has discovered a dead body of a deer." He stated. With this sentence, noise began creeping back into the room.

"Quiet, people!" He hollered. "This isn't just a normal kill. We all know that if we wolves preyed on lower forms of animals, all that'll be left if bones. But this time, I think it might've been used as target practice."

What is he talking about? Hunters?

"And by target practice, I meant another. There were long scratch marks that was left in the back of the deer. If a wolf would've planned on killing it, it would've headed straight to snap its neck. But no, the observation showed deep wounds that may have been caused by talons." There were a few, bewildered gasps that rang in the air. Talons meant birds, and birds meant Aves. All of it meant one thing.

"The Aves are back." I said, realization hitting me like a thousand bricks.

"Yes," my father told me. "If our suspicions are correct, but then again, they are just suspicions." He sighed. "I would advise each and every one of you to be alert and vigilant. This topic is meant to warn all of you to be careful when going into the woods. Don't go all by yourself when you're planning on getting out. It's a time of danger," He said, shaking his head.

"But there will be further investigations, am I correct?" I told him, hope clear on my voice.

"Yes," He answered. "But until then, keep your mates protected at all costs. Don't ever hunt alone for you yourself may be the one to be hunted. So far, if each or anyone of you have any information that'll refute or confirm our theories, please head straight to my office and tell me." He announced.

"But what'll we do if the Aves are really back?" A feminine voice from the crowd queried.

"Then we fight." My father responded. "It's time we face our enemies for we cannot forever run from them. They will find us over and over again." He added. "Right now, everyone will be placed under intense training for preparation in certain encounters. Just so you'll manage to defend yourselves and the pack no matter what."

The only thing that crossed my mind, is that I have to protect Sapphire. Maybe it'll be the best if I stay away from her for a while. Having connections with her will only put her life into danger.

But how did that happen? In only a matter of days, the Aves were able to track us down.

Still, I'll be keeping close contact to her to make sure she's safe. Texting wouldn't hurt right?

"Darren," My father's voice shook me out of my trance. "I want to ask you if you found your mate? Or if you're sure it's her?"

I glanced around the room and saw everyone's attention diverted to me. Hopeful gleams between the unmated girls' eyes stared at me. But, oh, to bad. I'm taken, ladies.

"Yes." I answered, making the room fall into loud murmurs and gasps of disbelief.

"Well then, is she a were or human?"

I took a sharp breath before responding. "Human."

He nodded. "Remember to protect her, son. The Aves may use her as a strategic weapon against you. She is your weakness." He told me.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "Who said it's a she?" I asked, playing dumb.

The expression of horror and bewilderment crossed everybody's faces inside the room. My father had his jaw hanging open while my mother stared at me in disbelief. I threw my gaze around and saw my mother, Zoe. Her eyes twitched at my remark.

"Darren, what are you talking about?"  She asked me. "I just saw your mate . . ."

A sly grin stretched my lips and I burst into a fit of hysteric laughter. "Relax, it's definitely a she. You saw it yourself." I said, making some people sigh audibly due to their relief. Some laughed at my crazy statement.

"Well," My father looked at me with his neutral expression. Still, you can see the relief plated on his face. "That's one way to release the tension." He barely shrugged and leaned back in his chair, breathing a small sigh.

"OK, the meeting's over. Please don't forget what I said a while ago." He pushed his chair back, making it scrape against the marbled floor and produce screeching sounds.

Everyone began leaving the room, heading back to their own businesses. But this is something that'll surely bother everyone in their sleep.

Let's just say our past with the Aves isn't really something pleasurable to remember. And all we want is for everything to be over.