Chapter 21: Hunting Games

Lyra's POV 

I wandered into the washing area even before it was bright enough to make out the colour of my own skin.

The indigo sky made me feel comfortable in my light night clothes. The chilly air made my hair stand on edge.

When I got to the lines, the cloak wasn't there. My eyes widened in horror, and I suppressed my own scream.

How could this be?

I searched the area frantically before hurrying back to my room. My heart pounded with the fury of a thousand starved wolves. I reached out and shook Saana.

“Saana, the cloak is gone!" I said in a harsh whisper as she rubbed her eyes.

“Huh?" She slurred, still struggling to get her eyes to stay open.

I raised my volume a bit. "The Alpha's cloak…. It's gone!" 

Saana became wide awake. She started. “Gone? How?" 

“Shh…" I motioned for her to keep her voice low. “I've searched everywhere around the washing area. I couldn't find it." 

“Who could have taken it?" She asked.

I shrugged. “I'm not sure." 

Saana craned her neck in the direction of the window.

“It's still dark now. How about we wait till it's bright? We'll search again. Maybe you missed it because you were alone, and it's still dark. Get back to bed, okay?" 

“Okay," I replied and returned to my bed, lying awkwardly.

It wasn't okay. Nothing was.

That cloak was my ticket to a right standing with Alpha Kieran, and I had lost it, just like that.

Why didn't I check on it before going to bed last night? I'm so done for. 

This is just the beginning of my story as the Alpha's personal attendant, and I had made so many mistakes already.

***

It was bright already. Saana and I just stared wide-eyed at each other, as if doing so will cause the cloak to materialize from thin air.

“So what do we do now?" I threw the question at Saana.

She raised her head sharply.

"We? Excuse me? You're the one in trouble here, Lyra. I fear what the Alpha might do to you; except his interest in you is strong enough to cloud his judgment.”

I scratched my head desperately.

"Let's go back inside then. I'll think of something.”

No. That was a lie. I couldn't think of anything. I could only hear my heart pounding in my ears. My chest felt like it would burst open soon.

A huge lump formed in my throat as I approached the Alpha's chambers.

"Come in. The door is open.”

Panic-stricken, I entered the room and closed the door gently behind me.

Alpha Kieran and his Beta stared hard at me, causing me to almost fall over. I staggered and regained composure. None of them moved the slightest. I shivered.

Alpha Kieran cleared his throat.

"You'll be joining Ethan and I in the hunt today. We're responsible for catching games that will be used for the feast tonight. Whoever catches the largest game gets to join me at my special table for the banquet. What do you say?”

My eyes slid from one face to the other. Saying no at this point would make me look weaker than I truly am. Cooking up an excuse will be much worse. I could say yes, and resort to catching small rabbits, or even frogs.

"It is an honor, Alpha.” I curtsied.

Both males looked at each other in pleasant bewilderment.

"Well, what are we waiting for?” Alpha Kieran asked enthusiastically. “Come along with us." 

He got up and put on his hooded cloak. Ethan followed suit. They looked strange to me—somewhat improper.

“Who gets to hold all the weapons?" I asked without thinking twice.

Ethan's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Alpha Kieran made a full turn.

“We are wolves. Why do we need weapons?" 

It dawned on me; like a slap after a public scolding. They were wolves; I wasn't—at least not yet.

I realized how much danger I had put myself in. What if something tried to eat me? Or trample me down? I swallowed hard, my own throat suddenly dry.

“Oh! Forgive my senselessness. I'm pretty nervous." I could feel heat rise to my face as I avoided Ethan's questioning—almost suspicious gaze.

“I can understand," came Alpha Kieran's cold reply, sending me to the verge of despair.

***

“How much longer do we have to wait like this?" I interrupted the heavy silence.

Ethan glared at me, his patience obviously thin from all my talking.

“Let's split, Alpha. I need to focus." 

I felt like a true nuisance.

Alpha Kieran gave the go-ahead, and soon, I was alone in this part of the woods.

The silence scared me, though it was occasionally punctuated by the sounds of the animals that inhabited it.

I couldn't hunt. I'd never hunted. I didn't know what to expect.

Then I heard a deep snorting sound. Sounded like a bull. I raised my head from behind the log.

In the distance, a huge animal like a deer with horns like tree branches stood by the brook, lapping up the fresh water. The moon goddess had finally smiled upon me.

Or so I thought. I looked behind me when I heard a clawing sound.

A bear stared me in the face with murderous eyes. Unable to scream, and almost passing out from shock, I ran towards the brook.

In a split second, lights sparked in the darkness behind my eyes. My heart pounded as I could still hear the bear growling in the distance. 

The hunter had finally become the game. 

This beast with branches for horns had hit me head on. I tumbled backwards on the rocky bank of the brook, sustaining many scratches.

The beast snorted and charged at me. I ran into the brook, unaware of the strength of the current. I fell many times in the water, realizing I couldn't swim to save myself, while being thankful that the water was shallow.

I continued to retreat till my back hit something hard. I checked behind me to find an extensive, high rock wall behind me.

Now, I had to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. 

The beast was charging at full speed with its head down, so I could see its horns alone.

I closed my eyes and yelled at the top of my voice.

I yelled till I couldn't hear myself anymore.