Chapter 4: The Connection

Chapter 4:  The Connection

“Shahida!”

Isadora raises her voice a little to Shahida. It looks like a warning to her. But, Shahida is adamant of her claim. Base on her attitude, I know she won’t drop this topic that easy.

“She’s really the late mate of the alpha! Why can’t you see it?”

Shahida keeps on pursuing Aunt Isadora who is now tired and fed up of Shahida’s childishness.

It is been five minutes since she insisted to Isadora that I am the late mate of the alpha. But Isadora just shrugged her off and told me not to bother what Shahida is saying. But ignoring her is so hard. She keeps on examining my entire being as if she is undressing me.

That is ridiculous. How could a mere slave like me would be grace by the moon goddess of this rare opportunity? It was true that in the book, the Moon Goddess graces an individual to be reincarnated for her unfinished business. It will happen every year this month, but it did not happen for almost half a decade.

“Shahida, stop it. The alpha’s visitor might scared of you,” she warned her for real, who is now sitting beside me on the bed. “I don’t want you to report to your brother but you are pursuing me to do  so. Should I, young lady?”

Even though Shahida is the alpha’s younger sister, Isadora treats her like her own child, reprimanding her if she is at fault and warns her if she is in danger. Like how a real mother does.

“Your brother’s mate is a woman, Shahida. This is Elias and he is a man. You are being mean. Apologize to him,” she told her. But, Shahida believes that I was really her brother’s mate. “Even if she’s a woman by heart, you should not out him because that is his life and choice.

“It is okay, Aunt Isadora. She is just a kid,” I assured her, not minding what Shahida blurted out. I am used to it. Even outside this place, I am seen by people as woman because of my feature.

“I am not a kid. I am already eighteen. I can even provide an heir,” Shahida insisted.

Aunt Isadora slapped her shoulder lightly which Shahida exaggerated her reaction.

“Such a vulgar kid. Do not joke like that. If your parents heard what you were saying, you would be betrothed by a wicked werewolf.”

Shahida faced me again and continued, “But, you really looked like her. Your face, your nose, your plump lips.” She sighed heavily as she sat back on bed. “I wish Venise is here with me.”

I smiled at her. Everyone knew how the late mate of the alpha died drastically. It was a long mourning in the entire Northcrest that the alpha suffered from a heartache after her passing. It caused a chaos in the title and Northcrest itself. And the unexplainable curse happened that very night. No one knew who did it.

As what Aunt Isadora said, the alpha passed out thrice a day if he exhausts himself too much of work. That is why Andrius has been hands-on about eradicating crimes within their jurisdiction. He made sure that the alpha will worry nothing if he inspects and visits. Most of the time, the alpha is in his office with documents and reviewing new and old bills of the council.

Shahida suddenly jumped off from bed and grabbed my hand. Even Aunt Isadora was shocked when Shahida did that. I have no choice but to go with her flow. Aunt Isadora could not do anything as Shahida was too fast.

This girl is so unpredictable. I wonder if her brother is the same.

IN THE EMPTY hallway from the room I was in, it was eeriely quiet. I do not think I can live in this house. There is particularly no one here except for stoic pack warriors and numbered servants. They were like robots in action. Do they breathe in their accord?

Those who move naturally in this placa are the Valencourts, Aunt Isadora, and the people who hold a title. Even the crickets are silent itself.

“Shahida, where are we going? The alpha might caught us dead. I do not want to be in the bad side of the alpha,” I told her, admitting my fear of her brother. I caught my breathe.

“He is not going to do that to you. Do you know that you are sleeping in his room which is highly prohibited by everyone, even me?” she asked while she grinned.

“Brother knows you, I know. Why would he let a slave—I do not mean to mock your status but yeah. Why would my brother let you sleep when he is a clean freak?”

Shahida made me think that the alpha knew me, which is unbelievably impossible. He would not let me sleep in his chamber even if I am just a mere settler in town. But, what if he is just nice? That makes no sense either. Riley told me he was not. He is a modern murderer of the town.

I shrugged the thought off.

I did not know we have reached our destination. Shy is still holding my arm as she slowly walked, not wanting the warrior caught us. We used the scullery chamber to sneak in. From there, we crawled ourselves, head down, and passed through the fish pond.

We picked a rock from the garden and used it as a ladder because we are obviously not grace with a good height.

From where we are, we heard a man ordered, “Execute the fittest sentence for thieves like them!”

“It was the Senior Council,” Shahida muttered. Shahida explained, “He sometimes to be the one who would suggest a sentence and then my brother would reconsider it or not. Oftentimes, his sentence is right for the crime so my brother acknowledged them easily.”

I nodded at her explanation. But there is a question that occur in me. “The sentence was written in the Northcrest Codal, is not it? Why would the alpha need to hear the Senior Council’s opinion?”

“You are right. But, the codals are not yet updated as the member of the justice system are still scholars and young. Only the Senior Council have the wide knowledge about it so the youngsters respect him by not studying the law deeper and understanding them even better,” she answered.

The defendant was sitting on the wooden chair, legs are tied together as well as the hands were tied together.

“Forgive me. I didn’t know that we were heading in the palace and took out the family crest,” one of the thieves, pleaded. He cried in front of the Senior Council, rubbing both his palms.

I think he is a human who was part of the opposition pack.

“Who are they?” I asked Shy who is with me peeking from a distance, fearing we might get caught.

“They are Rowan’s people.” Shahida’s face turned sour.

“Who is that?”

“Rowan, my brother’s opponent when the alpha positioned was left unattended, created a pack to fight against my brother because he could not accept the fact that brother defeated him.

“Because the alpha is known to be ruthless when it comes to sentencing. Human-werewolves, a pack consists of human and wolves went against alpha Apollo, believing that it highlights inequality and favors the upper hand of the society. Thus, the alpha creates a law mandating the prohibition of human-werewolves in the Northcrest City,” she explained.  “The are the one’s who killed my tutor. I will not forgive them.”

The alpha who is about to leave turned his back from the man, “You weren’t aware? You took poison while knowing it is poison. Make those you kill while stealing be born again. Then, I will forgive you.”

The alpha did not look back and walked straight in our direction with conviction. He is fuming mad. His strides are fast pace which Andrius trying to catch up. His fists balled in anger, veins popping directly on them.

When he is halfway of the hall, his heart aches like being crumpled into paper. It was visible on his face. He stops mid way and exhaled heavily.

He stilled, tapped his chest, and his face grimaced. He tapped hard and rubbed softly. His shoulder leaned on the wall of the hallway, trying to be of support.

My heart started pounding so hard at the sight. What is happening? Is his illness attacking again?

When I glanced at Shahida, she was too focused on the sentencing of the man with 100 lashes. She did not even flinch when the defendant is lashed and screamed in pain.

“That’s it. You deserve it, you thief and murderer.”

Instead of focusing on Shy who is enjoring her view, I saw the worried look of Andrius. He suddenly looked at the alpha and they exchanged conversations with their eyes. He has been with him since he was an alpha at the young age because of the tragedy.

Even though the transition of leadership usually happens during 21^st birthday, it did not went well. Apollo took the pressure and title at a young age which is so devastating to witness, I guess.

I have read books before when Riley lent me one. That was the Northcrest history book but I did not focus on that too much because I did not even think I would be here. Who would have thought that after a decade under Samael’s roof, I would be able to free myself with the help of other town?

His people in the crowd made a way for him to pass through like a King everyone praises. People dispersed like how Moses parted the sea. Everyone bowed down until his shadow left the sentencing hall. But I saw him whimper, reacting on the pain he felt.

“Shahida, I think your brother is in pain. We should help him,” I told Shahida but she seemed to not hear me. She did not let her eyes fell of the sight of the punishment.

Contemplating on what to do, I decided to stand up and walked towards the alpha’s direction. It was as if my foot have lives on their own. My heart trembles in pain seeing the alpha in pain.

Beta Andrius left him for a moment in the alley where no one could see him and sped away. That is when I moved nearer him until I am close with him. His back slide down on the wall when it could not handle the pain anymore. His face turns pale and lips were dry. Breathing is unstable and his legs straighten on the floor. I am sure it is numbing. His eyes are close.

“Alpha…” I called him softly, his breathing is ragged.

I am aware no one should see him in this state but I coul not help myself but be nearer at him. It is like we are two magnetic poles attracting each other and if I could not be close to him, my heart weakens, too.

I held his palm, squeezing it in a slow manner until his heart calms. This is how I saw my late mother did to her real daughter before, that I believed is convenient and effective. I heard the alpha slowly calming down and opened his eyes, blinking twice. His orbs narrowed as if questioning why am I here.

He grabbed me closer to him, an inch away from each other. His breathing smelt like mayonnaise and fuel mixed together. Addicting! I was so lost with it that I forgot who he is.

I took my hand away after realizing my hand with his intertwined.  

“I am sorry, alpha. It was not my intention to hold your hand without your permission. I would accept any punishment for my mistake,” I apologized.

“How did you do it?” he asked, instead of entertaining my apology.

He’s examining me closely with his emerald green eyes, like Shahida’s, turned into a radiant gold flickering with hot embers.

“W-What d-do you… mean?” I stutter, unable to grasp words after.

“I ask you!” He groans. “How did you do it?”

“W-What… w-what did I d-do, alpha?” I stammered, couldn’t answer him.

What am I supposed to do? He glared at me as if he is devouring my entire being. Only if he could straight himself up, I’d become bones this instant.

“Answer me, slave!” He yelled. “How did you f*cking fill the emptiness in my heart?”

My eyes grew bigger at his question. Filling his heart? Who? Me? How? I did not do anything. I just held his hand and nothing else happens. I crawled back in fear as my heart beat faster than usual. Is this going to be my end?

His grip on my wrist tightened as I grunted in pain.

“Alpha, it hurts,” I complained. “Please, I’m sorry. I did not hurt you. Please let me go.”

I heard shoes running through our direction so I grabbed my wrist from him and stepped backward. His eyes were dark, menacing, and handsomely evil. I couldn’t look straight to him. More than anything else, I don’t want to see darkness. It creeps me out.  

“Look at me!” he ordered, his eyes were full of fury.

Heart beats faster. Mouth slightly open. I felt a hand holding me from behind and saw it was Shahida. Even herself, she did fear her brother when that eye turned to life.

“Bring him into the dungeon.”