The Call

My phone buzzed and I stopped the movie that I was watching. Checking the screen, I saw that it was my bestie, Gabriella calling.

“Hey Freda, it’s Gabby,” she shouted joyfully.

“I know, I have your number, so the caller ID told me already. And please, not too loud. My head hurts when you yell like that, girl.”

Gabriella, also known as Gabby to her many friends, comes from a wealthy home. They were old money as our university batch mates called it

I wonder why of all the people in school, she chose me to be her best friend. We met on my first day in college, I was looking for my first class then. Speed-walking down the hall because I thought I was going to be late, I accidentally collided with her, scattering all our books and notes on the marble-tiled floor. After apologizing for not taking care of where I was going, I realized we had the same classes after comparing her timetable with mine.

“So, Gabby,” I began. “What’s up, bestie?”

With a loud voice, her best friend asked, “Did you see the hot new lecturer that just got assigned for the “critical thinking course?”

Rolling my eyes, I replied in a complaining voice, “Is that why you called me early this Saturday morning? Gosh, girl. I’m already done with my PhD so I don’t know, OK. Just because you’re still taking your master's and share stuff with me about the university, doesn’t mean I’m still aware of everything that happens there!”

“OK, OK…” Gabby said on the line with a softer voice. “You need to see him before you begin complaining, Miss Grumpy!”

Slowly shaking my head, I said, “Alright bestie, when I find the time from work,” I sighed in defeat just to end that particular subject matter. “So how have you been?”

It’s been two weeks since I saw her last. After I received my PhD and started working, I hardly saw her anymore. 

“I’m good”, Gabrielle responded cheerily. “As always.”

For the next one and a half hours, we caught up on things we had missed about each other’s present lives. 

I’m just very grateful to have a friend like her who does not concern herself with social status…

After the call, Freda took out a fast-charging data cord from one of her office desk’s side drawers to recharge her phone. It took only ten minutes to fully charge her mobile, so she sei it back on the stylish holder beside her LED screen to finish my movie while completing my pet project’s upgrades.

DAMIEN’S POV

Waking up late on a Saturday after a stressful week at work is one of life’s perks that I always look forward to.

Slowly dragging myself out of bed, I took a hot shower in my enormous bath’s etched-glass shower stall. After that, I brushed my teeth with the latest model of self-dispensing electric toothbrush in front of the dressing-room style mirror and sink set-up that was installed along one-half of one of my bathroom’s walls.

After finishing all my bathroom business, I move to my full four-wall walk-in closet which has everything from formal suits,

casual and rugged wear, personalized Italian shoes, elegant and sporty wristwatches,

and much, much more. These drawers and cabinets contain all I ever need at my disposal. I quickly got dressed and after checking my chosen watch checked my laptop for any urgent emails. As soon as I was done and turned off my PC, my beta and best friend Lyon mind linked me about the emergency pack meeting.

I quickly put on my formal clothes and ran out to the meeting grounds. To be honest, I hate pack meetings even though I’m the Alpha. I despise the piteous looks I get from my pack. They believe I’m not destined to have a mate, and therefore will never regain my father’s trust. After all, to every one of them, a Luna will guard and keep the pack together alongside me.

“What seems to be the problem?” I thundered.

 

My beta, Lyon stepped forward, “Alpha, some humans were spotted hunting for animals within our forest property. They shot one of our pack mates, Kira,” he reported.

I was so shocked that I lost my words for just a moment. “And?” I asked exasperatedly after I found my voice.

Kira’s twin who is just a year younger than Damon stepped out with tears running down his eyes was the one explained, “We were only running outside Alpha, as we usually do in our territory Sir. Those human hunters were the ones who trespassed into our property. It was too late when we saw them, Alpha. I was able to escape their rain of bullets sir but sadly, my twin sister got hit.”

“And Kira, where is she now? I asked with concern.

The pack nurse chose that moment to join the pack meeting. She responded before Lyon could answer me.

She is fine now, Alpha. Kira was shot in the leg but I’m sure she can run again when she finally heals. The bullet just scratched her and did not penetrate her skin or broke any bones.” she concluded her report.

“Thank the Goddess for that,” Lyon sighed in relief.

With a deep breath, I ordered all the pack members to only shift at noon and go out in groups if they transform to their wolf forms so they can avoid more incidents like this.

“I do not want the human world to know of our existence so there is little else I could do to avoid what had happened to Kira and her twin brother, Kael. The men should stay behind and continue our assembly while the women and children can go on with their business.”

It took some time until only the pack’s males in their human forms were left facing their young Alpha. 

“What do you all suggest can be done now? I asked those left behind. “Lyon, any suggestions? This must

not happen again if we are truly intent on keeping our pack’s existence a secret! 

Bren, one of the rogues we saved a year back replied, “How about we build a big fence around our territory’s edges?” he asked

“That will make humans more suspicious and their curiosity will bring them closer to investigate,” Henkjan, an older member quickly pointed out.

“Alright, for now, how about we take turns protecting the boundaries? We can form shifts to watch our properties per four hours,” Lyon suggested.

I agreed with my Beta’s suggestion and we concluded the meeting. However, a part of me felt that this precaution wouldn’t be enough but the alternatives can place our existence as werewolves in an alarming state.

If father wasn’t so stubborn about my business and the absence of my mate, I would really want to hear his advice about this…

Late that afternoon, Damien and a few of his pack members gathered at the end of their territory, contemplating on how to pair the pack men in twos to ensure they have enough man power when their boundaries is trespassed.

“Who will take the first shift?” the young Alpha asked loudly. His voice was being affected by his anger because his wolf, Thorn was still keeping quiet for this long.

“You and you, follow me,” Damien curtly commanded as he chose the frailer-looking men among those with him.

They were ordered to gather wooden branches and large stones to line where their territory starts and ends. They looked like a very rough demarcation line/fence for their territory but it will have to do for now. 

With the rest of the male assembly, the young business owner also mounted several “Do Not Trespass” signs on a few spots on their boundary’s edge.

“That’s enough for the time being”, he decided half-heartedly as he viewed everything that they had done.

Let’s hope and see if these ‘barriers and warnings’ can stop any more humans from entering our lands…

“The shift starts today. We cannot let any trespasser into our territory!” he bellowed.

“Yes Alpha”, the first batch of guards answered in unison.

I need to get back to work soon. I trust Lyon and Basil, my Gamma will know what to do without me, he said to himself.