CHAPTER 3

After the death of the Alpha and Luna of knighthood pack, the rest of the pack were chained up and locked in a room that used to be a storage room in the pack. All the food was carted away by the vampires, leaving the wolves inside and heavily guarded on the outside.

It was midnight already, hours after the death of their leaders, everyone held sad and gloomy faces, still not over how what was meant to be a surprise birthday turned to a surprise attack. Their hatred for the vampires was so deep and unforgiving. This was especially so for Alicia and Alice who was directly related to the Alpha and Luna, they weren't their usual bubbly self, they just sat close to each other in the corner, their face dried of tears and eyes staring into empty space. They had cried so much till they were no more tears in their eyes, they were a complete mess, the image of their parents' deaths was like a constant nightmare in their heads. They spoke to no one but stayed close to each other, scared to let go and lose their only family left.

There was some movement and then a familiar voice spoke up, “No, we can't stay like this, We have to find a way out of here or else we will become slaves to this bloodsuckers” it was Bill, the head of security that spoke up. The spell that was placed on the pack members to stop movement and speech had been removed before they were brought to the storage house. 

“What do you suggest? There are vampires everywhere in the pack taking away all our valuables, they will surely catch us” another pack member said with frightened face.

“But we can't stay here, do you want to be held captive and ordered around?” Bill asked back as his eyes wandered across the small crowd of chained people. Some shook their head while others said no, no one wanted to lose their freedom. Bill continued after seeing the responses, “Then we must escape tonight, no matter what because once we are taken to their kingdom, it's over” 

“So what do we do?” another pack member asked.

Bill put on a thoughtful face and began to crack his brain for ideas, his eyes meet the absentminded twins in the corner and he called out to them, “Luna Alicia and Luna Alice, we need to think of a plan, gather round quickly” he said can as he gestured with his hands.

The call out snapped the girls out of their thoughts and they shared a look in surprise at the way they were addressed, “Y..you talking to us?” Alicia asked with a cracked voice from screaming so much.

“Yes, who else?” Bill was in front of them now, while he understood that they were mourning, now was not the time, they needed to act fast and sharp. “I understand how hard this must be for the two of you, Alpha Louis was my best friend, we've known each other since we were just children. But as of right now, we don't have the luxury of mourning them, we need to figure out a way to move everyone out of here safely first. By tradition, both of you are now the leaders of the pack, it's not the right time but fate has pushed us to a corner and we have no choice than to adjust. I know you girls are the least unprepared on taking over but as of today, the pack is in your hands now and you are going to stand up to it” Bill finished with a firm voice.

Alicia was the first to nod and stand up before Alice, they knew Bill was right, the pack was their responsibility now whether they like it or not. “So what's the plan?” Alicia asked.

“The plan is to get out of here, it's short and we are just going to wing it” Bill said and the girls nodded.

“Alright everyone, gather around. When we get out, we might get caught and some might lose their lives. I can't ensure everyone's safety so let your instincts drive you, if you see a good time to escape, go for it alright?” Bill instructed. Everyone nodded in agreement and arranged themselves. 

Bill and a few other men tiptoed to the big wooden door of the warehouse to check if there were any vampire there. As if luck was on their side, the two vampires in front was suddenly called to help carry something.

“This is our chance” Bill whispered and he braced for impact before ramming into the door with his body. The warehouse has been around for many years so it wasn't very solid, the door broke open after the second try. Bill and the men went out first to check if it was safe while the others waited. Alicia and Alice stood in front, as alert as they can be, looking around to ensure they were safe.

Bill returned and signalled the others to come out quickly, everyone stayed together, their heart in their hands as they came out of the warehouse. 

“We are going straight into the forest and separating into twos there, they won't be able to find us if we are scattered. Everyone try to find a way out, we will gather again at the human town close to the pack by 6pm. Good luck everyone, try to stay alive till then” Bill said hurriedly, attempting a joke at the end to lighten up the air. Everyone nodded unsurely and then the journey began, they followed through houses, cars and out of vampires sight.

After few minutes of walking, they arrived at the foot of the forest and just as they were about to breath out in relief, they heard shouts coming from the direction of the warehouse. 

“Those filthy wolves have escaped, they must not be that far” it wasn't hard to hear as wolves were blessed with supernatural hearing.

“Shit! they know we are gone, it won't be long till they find us here. Remember the plan, scatter into the forest and remeet tomorrow at the human town. Good luck” Bill said and everybody immediately dispersed into the dense tall trees, there were wolves afterall, they understood the terrain quite well.

Alicia and Alice went into the forest together, unlike the others, they were not too familiar with the forest. They didn't hunt or train because they saw it as barbaric, so their father or some wolves usually brought meat from the forest for them. They had only gone into the forest, twice in their eighteen years of life so it was good to say they were screwed. 

“Ugh, now I regret some life choices I made very much” Alice cussed frustrated as a thorny bush grazed her arms, drawing blood.

“Some? All for me” Alicia said with a frown.

They both stood and observed the eerie forest they never liked, ironic how it's the same forest that's about to save them.

“Can we really do this?” Alice asked, shifting closer to Alicia for safety.

“We don't have a choice on this one, our days of princess life is over” Alicia said as she took a glance behind them. The footsteps and voices were getting closer, supernaturals had heightened sense of smell so it was quite easy to trace them. The other wolves have already ran off, so the girls were behind.

“They are coming. Do we run like this or shift?” Alice asked with a face full with dread. She didn't like shifting to her wolf form, she said it made her extremely vulnerable and she didn't like it. She rarely shifted even after getting earfuls from their parents on the issue.

“Shifting is preferable, we are wolves aren't we? Don't worry, just stay closely behind me” Alicia assured as she grabbed her sister's hand and squeeze lightly. They nodded at each other before letting their wolves take control.

Their fur was a mixture of blonde and brown and were identical in appearance and size just like their human self, the only differentiating feature was the pattern of of the colors. They took off into the forest, jumping rocks and navigating through trees, they didn't know where they were headed but didn't slow down either, they just let their instincts drive them.

By now, the vampires had already infiltrated the forest as well, going after the wolves by tracing their scent. True to Billy's word, it was a bit harder to track with their scent scattered around but it was not impossible.

The girls ran as fast as possible, as they got deeper into the forest it was even harder to navigate through. The rocks were slippery and the trees began to look identical. 

“We are lost Alicia, what do we do now?” Alice sent a mindlink over, panicking and frightened.

“Calm down, give me a moment” Alicia replied. They stopped running for a second and she sniffed the air deeply with her eyes closed. There were different scents that trickled her nose and she struggled to segregate them. She smelt game, wolves, vampires and tiny traces of humans.

“I smell some humans, the town must be close, we are still in the right track” she said excited to her sister.

“Thank goddess, let's go, the vampires are gaining on us” Alice sighed in relief.

They were just about to take off when a strong scent suddenly wafted into their nose and made them halt. It was a sweet smell of pines and lemon, had an intoxicating edge to it that made it too hard to resist.

“Do you smell that? Where is it coming from?” Alicia asked in alarm. She had never smelt anything else so divine, she was tempted to find the source of it but shook her head to clear the fog off a little.

“I must find the source” Alice voice came out slurred like she was high from alcohol, she didn't even wait for Alicia before she took off in an opposite direction.

“Wait, where the hell are you going?” Alicia asked surprised as she ran after her sister. She suspected it had something to do with the strange scent, while she was able to resist it, her sister couldn't. Alice did say she was more vulnerable in her wolf form.

“Alice, stop, snap out of it. You are going back to the lion's den” Alicia screamed at her through mindlink. Alice was running on full speed back to where the scent was coming from which was the direction of the vampire. They were totally screwed if they ran back to the vampires. 

Alicia increased her pace in a bid to catch up with her tranced sister, just when she was almost losing hope, Alice suddenly slipped on a rock and fell, the impact was enough to make her snap out of her trance.

“Hey, are you okay? what is wrong with you, you were going straight back to the vampires” Alicia scolded as she got to her.

“I don't know, I just ...” Alice was caught off by footsteps. In seconds they were surrounded by vampires, even after their efforts, they were still caught.

“My king, we found the Alpha's daughters” one of the vampire was heard reporting to an approaching figure.

The girls held unto each other in defeat and fear, they tried to peer into the darkness to see the so called king who ordered for the ruin of their pack. As the figure came closer, the stronger the scent was, it almost made them feel light headed.

And then they saw him. Tall, sharp jawlines and handsome face. Their eyes met, his dark as an abyss, seeming to draw them in the more they looked. It was funny how the reason for their grief and wrecked life looked attractive to them... too appealing to be normal.

They could not control themselves as a word came tumbling out, “Mate”

Oh hell no.