Chapter six

[Dylan]

I set out from my pack to an unknown pack, in search of the she-wolf who have had me in torments for two years now. For three days, I journeyed East, guided by nothing but the intensity of her pain, and my instincts which strangely functioned differently now. I continued on the path where I felt closer to her, and retraced my steps when I felt distant until I felt close to her again.

It was crazy, feeling close and distant to a person I didn't know. It was crazy, setting out in search of a person I didn't know but I didn't have any options. I could not continue living in pain, and this was the only way. Well I don't know, but finding her is the closest way to getting a permanent solution.

When I eventually arrived at moonfire pack's house, I heaved a heavy sigh. Not out of relief but in pain. I was closer than ever to the she-wolf, and I could feel it. Both in my guts, and in my stomach which hurt as though a strong hand had reached for my insides, and was pulling it out with so much force. She must be in so much pain now, I thought, looking around to see if the she-wolf that had made me travel this far was anywhere close. But the whole settlement as far as I could see had no one that could be feeling this much pain. Although they all looked poorly fed, and dressed.

Advanced men and women dressed so poorly that my first impression of the pack was that it was poor. Soon, I was met by some pack members who I was sure were warriors, and guarded the settlement. After a few exchange of words, I was led to the biggest quarters in the settlement that I believed belonged to the Alpha.

"What brings you to moonfire pack?" The Alpha who was yet to introduce himself asked after I told him my name. We were at the Alpha's palace, and I was looking around the palace, and trying hard not to let my assessment show. While the lack and poverty of the other members of the pack in smaller settlements was evident even in their walls, the Alpha's palace boasted of abundance. The Alpha must be a self-centered...

"I seek temporary refuge in your pack." I said, cutting through my own thoughts. I didn't realize that the Alpha was waiting for a response until I felt his eyes bore into my skin, and lucky for me, I remembered his question.

"Where have you travelled from?" He asked, and I contemplated between telling the truth or lying to him.

"Twin moon pack." I replied, going for the former. The Alpha nodded slowly, and was about to ask more questions but he turned to the men who had just come into the palace instead. I turned towards the men, and looked away. He must be the Beta, seeing how nobly he was dressed. The second best in the whole pack that I have seen. The other man who had come in with the supposed Beta bowed to the Alpha, and left.

"Maverick," the Alpha called fondly, and then he faced me. "You will settle in an empty spot in the Omega's quarters."

"Kyle!" The Alpha called in a voice that was neither loud nor low, and the man who had gone inside a few minutes ago came back out through the door that was behind the throne.

Maverick, Kyle. l memorized in my head.

"See to it that he settles in any empty spot in the Omega quarters." The Alpha called, and dismissed us both. I followed Kyle out of the palace, hiding my disappointment. I had expected to see her as soon as I got to the pack's settlement but it wasn't so, and aside from the increase in pain which I felt since I got here, there was no guarantee that she was in this pack, and I sincerely hoped she was. The thought of travelling this far for nothing didn't seem at all appealing.

I was led to the pack's Omega quarters, and just as I predicted, it reeked of hardship and poverty. The state of their dresses showed that they had no alternate dresses to change into after shifting, which was awful.

Kyle left right after, and I settled in an empty corner, after throwing my bag on the wooden plank which would serve as my bed for the next... Well, I hope I will only get to stay a few days in this awful place.

I laid down on the plank, and used my backpack as a pillow. Just when my eyes were drifting off to sleep, I began to hear movements from outside, quick and heavy movements. I lingered for sometime before I pushed myself up, and stepped outside but there was no one around. Wherever they had all gone to must be important but I didn't know where. I stood outside, waiting to see if anyone would pass by so I would ask for information from them but no one was in sight.

After waiting for a few minutes, I set out towards the Alpha's palace. If the whole pack had gone anywhere at the same time, it would definitely be the Alpha's palace.

I continued my walk towards the Alpha's quarters which was a little distant from the Omega's quarters, about five minutes walk.

When I had gotten close enough, the pain in my stomach suddenly became more fierce, and I had to take care to not clutch my stomach or even wince.

Avira!

My wolf called from within me just as I noticed a presence. It was her! The she-wolf who have had me suffering her pain for the past two years, the she-wolf who had made me travel all the way here. Avira was her name, or was my wolf wrong? I guess I would find out soon enough.

I looked closely at her as I approached her, noting just different she was from how I had imagined her to be.

Her eyes, although pretty, held hidden tales of pain. The exposed part of her body was strangely smooth. Too smooth that for a moment I doubted she was really the one but my wolf had confirmed her identity, and he cannot be wrong. Or can he?

"Hey," I called but she ignored me, and kept walking.

"You should have your stomach checked. That's a lot of pain right there." I said after a few seconds, in a bid to grab her attention, and it worked.

"There's nothing wrong with my stomach," She snapped, and continued her walk. Maybe I should tell her outrightly that it was pointless to lie to me since I could feel all of her pains, and fears but I didn't, instead I continued to walk beside her even though it was obvious she didn't want me to.

"Ouch!" I winced when the pain in my stomach suddenly increased. Usually, I will suck the pain in but I needed her to know that I could feel her every pain but she didn't seem to care.

"We can't be seen together," she said instead, and went ahead of me into the open shed where every member of the pack was assembled.