h o w l | chapter 03

We all know that Atticus would be lying if he said that didn't sting. Normally, being called a monster doesn't really affect him, it would even bring a slight smirk to his devilishly handsome face. But now, coming from his mate, is a completely different level. He felt as if his heart is being crushed in his own hands.

To him, the opinion of his mate about him is one of the most important things. He cares about what or how she sees him. Atticus values it. Deeply and meaningfully. That is why he is feeling this way; a thousand needles poking his skin, electricity running through his veins, numbness settling over his body and face. He is in pain.

But of course, Atticus being himself, put up a straight face as his pack members, mad that their Alpha was being disrespected, growled at her. He looked at her, expecting a frightened face from the queen, but disbelief coursed itself through him as she looked back at him with a blank expression, mimicking his.

"As I was saying, stop wasting my time and follow me." Octavia said sternly as she turned around to go back where she came from. "Xiomara, stay behind and help Area-6 clean up this mess."

The girl by her side nodded before helping an injured man and stating orders to every Lycan Shadow werewolf. Xiomara is Octavia's best friend and Gamma; she is one of the two people who are with her earlier. Atticus observed the girl for a while. She has ash blonde hair, ending just above her shoulders. She is lean with an average height. Atticus could not point out the color of her eyes because of the dark night.

"Alpha Atticus, follow me." Octavia called over her shoulder. The way she said his name made him shiver a little. It's like a sweet mockery tone that is laced with venom. She continued to walk with her other companion in tow.

Atticus glared at her back as he put Onyx in charge of the pack for the meantime. The latter nodded and set a course back home after whispering 'good luck' to his Alpha.

He then turned to Ludovic. "You will be accompanying me tonight. Get me a shirt as well."

"Why do I have to be the one who'll end up dead next to you?" Vic slightly groaned before handing his Alpha a nice looking shirt, also not seeming to notice the dirty look Atticus gave him. "I think it would be best right now if we do what she says and follow her, we both don't have a single fucking idea about the way around here and where she's heading to."

Atticus stiffly nodded, giving his Gamma a glance. He, along with Ludovic, started to run after the female Alpha and her associate. As they reach the two, he quietly trailed behind them as they are speaking in hushed tones, keeping a safe distance from them as well.

Ludovic walked beside Atticus. He looked at his Alpha's focused face with brows almost meeting. He followed Atticus' gaze on the two in front of them. Slight confusion ran through him before speaking up. "Why do you think she wanted us to go with them?"

"I have a strong inkling." Atticus answered in a murmur. Fortunately, Vic heard what he said since werewolves have heightened senses.

"What do you mean?" His now clearly and utterly confused companion asked.

"It's nothing." Came his short reply.

"I swear we are going to die." Ludovic said jokingly, but Atticus could hear the slight seriousness in his Gamma's voice. "In the most horrible way possible."

"What the hell are you thinking, Vic? I am the most powerful Alpha in the world and no mere she-wolf who hasn't even shifted yet can kill me."

His answer made Ludovic stop in his tracks, he appears to be calculating something in his head before coming into a realization and continuing to walk beside Atticus. "What makes you think the female Alpha hasn't shifted yet?"

"Onyx." He said, dodging a tree branch. "According to him, nobody really knows about her wolf. No one has seen her shift. Even when it comes to combat, she doesn't shift at all. She only stays in her human form."

The two males slowly looked at the dark-haired, fair-skinned woman in front of them at the same time before glancing at each other, as if reading each other's thoughts. After that, they continued to walk in silence through the thick woods.

"Uh where are we going, again?" Vic asked the Alpha female, which is in a very deep conversation with the boy she is with. They seemed to not hear the question still hanging in the air as they continued to have a conversation of their own.

Atticus slightly growled feeling jealousy course through his veins, but it still didn't faze the two. Frustration ran through him before looking at his mate's back with unlikeness. He continued to do so, slightly glaring from time to time, in hopes that it would somehow make the girl turn around.

At some point, he knew she was aware of his doing for he has noticed her slightly shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. After a few more minutes he just gave up and left them for his own thoughts.

Why didn't she felt the bond?

Why didn't she call out the word 'mate'?

Why didn't she run to me and hugged me or kissed me like normal mates?

Who the hell is that guy she's with?

What the fu-?

"Did you hear me?"

"What?" He was snapped back to reality by her authoritative voice.

"I said, we're here." She rolled her eyes before opening the tall double doors that was the entrance of her home; the Lycan Shadows pack house.

Atticus thought that with the size of the building in front of him, castle is a much suitable word to call it rather than a 'house.' When they stepped inside, they were greeted with white marble floors and walls. From the entrance to the top of a grand staircase is a dark red carpet that matches the curtains on the massive windows lining the walls of the foyer. On each side of the staircase is a hallway leading to who knows where.

Octavia strode to the right hallway, the three males following closely behind. She stopped in front of a large mahogany double doors leading to her office.

Her office is a very spacious room. It contains a tall bookcase and a bunch of shelves on the left side of the room, placed in them are books, some picture frames, some papers, files that are neatly stacked in some corners, and some other things necessary for business.

In front of 'the wall of office things' is an elegant and expensive-looking brown desk. And behind it, is a black desk chair with a tall backrest that is fit for a queen. Two regular but comfortable looking chairs are set in front of the desk. In the middle of the room, facing the door is a square medium sized table with a large map pinned to it. On the right side is where a fireplace settles with a mini living room set of sofas in front of it, like in Atticus' office.

Behind of all these and across the entrance to this sanctuary are five majestic and huge windows, starting from a foot from the floor reaching the ceiling. The windows are lined with dark, almost black, curtains that matches the black carpet and some furniture of her office.

He noticed that their office to be quite similar yet hers is grander.

The female Alpha waltzed in and sat down in her Alpha chair. "Introductions."

She gestured for the two males to sit in the chairs in front of her. "My name's Octavia Avalon, Alpha of the Lycan Shadows pack. And this is my Beta, Ignatius Avalon."

"Atticus Grady, Alpha of the Broken Blood pack. This is Ludovic Elliot Moretti, my Gamma."

"Oh, where's Onyx?" She asked, which made Atticus' eye flinch. She's looking for Nick, who happens to be my best friend while her fucking mate is fucking here. He angrily thought to himself.

Atticus controlled his inner jealousy and wolf, and took deep breaths before answering her. "He left with my pack."

"It's unfortunate that he cannot be here. I would've loved to have a chat with him. Anyways, why the hell did you attacked my pack?" She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her table, doing the same with her chin and hands. "That's a first. Well, a first in a hundred yea-"

"For a while." Ignatius cut off a muttering Octavia, while glaring slightly at her.

"Yes. For a while." The she wolf commented with a glazed expression and tone. She continued to stare of into space before clearing her throat. "Well? Answer."

"I was curious."

"Why were you curious, Alpha Atticus?"

Atticus almost couldn't help himself and clenched his jaw at the mention of his respective name. "I heard some things about your pack."

"Stop being so mysterious and all, and get to the point." He abruptly stood up, surprising everyone in the room, even himself. His mate slightly flinched back in her chair while Ignatius and Ludovic were on their feet, prepared to stop the fuming Alpha in case he would attack.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a few seconds and calming his wolf, before exhaling slowly. "I was planning to attack your pack for fun. But then Onyx came to the picture, warned me to not do the attack, and told me some other shit that sparked my interest in you." He saw her visibly shift in her seat as he leaned over her table.

Atticus wasn't sure if it was from because she was getting uncomfortable with their topic or because she's starting to fear him.

"And why is that?"

"Well for a first, your pack doesn't really get attacks. But right now my interest in you is way above the necessary." He smirked a little.

"How come?" She rolled her eyes.

"You're beautiful, an Alpha, terrifying, intense." Atticus stood up straight, fixing his wrinkled shirt. "Oh and one more thing." He added while walking over to the door and opened it.

"You're my mate. Now tell me how in the world that won't make me want to lift you over my shoulder and carry you back to my pack right now."

Atticus took a good look at her blank face and clenched jaw, before starting to walk out with Vic in tow. He hadn't made it far when he heard her gasp, he immediately glanced back at Octavia and saw her face contorted in pain with a hand on her chest. Ignatius was by her side, talking lowly beside her ear.

Concerned, he quickly strode back towards her writhing figure. Octavia noticed this and before he could get close to her, she let out a loud and menacing growl that made Atticus stop in his tracks.

"Leave." There was a silent threat in her voice and a dangerous glint in her eyes as she spoke.

Ignatius gave him a somewhat pleading look before speaking firmly. "Please, Alpha Atticus. It would be best if you leave immediately."

Atticus' gaze lingered on his tormented mate. He was in conflict with himself. Just seeing her like this is causing him pain as well. He couldn't leave her in a state like this.

"Now." Snarled Octavia, whose voice had greatly changed and was completely unrecognizable, sounding almost animalistic.

Ludovic grabbed him by the shoulders before leading him away. As they left the Lycan Shadow territory, a long and pained howl rang through the dark night.

And he knew.

Atticus oh-so knew that howl will haunt him even in his sleep.

〜 ※ 〜

Chapter dedicated to a friend, who is as excited for me to finish this book and for it to become a hit (which is impossible) as much as I do.

Hello Jheralyn!