Just a few steps more, and I'd rest. I decided. If I walked longer, I'd arrive at the village and make my way from there.
I stepped foot off the dusty path that wound its way to the lush greenery and found myself in the quaint village. Unlike the tenseness of my pack, the air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sun bathed the scenery with a warm glow.As I strolled further into the village, ignoring their piercing gazes and questioning looks. I expected that much since I was dressed like a foreigner— what I wasn't sure of was if they welcomed people like me.I didn't plan to reveal my identity. It was more like there wasn't anything to reveal anyway, I was no different from them, and that was what led me there.The place looked perfect. I slipped by colorful houses with thatched roofs that lined the streets. There was a sense of harmony— like all was fine with them.Tired and panting, it was noon already, and I'd exhausted every iota of strength that I had, so I decided to rest for a while. My curiosity led me to a small, rustic restaurant nestled between the oak trees.The uniqueness was what made it catch my eyes, and I felt a strange pull to go in there. The wooden sign above gently creaked in the breeze, and I read the name of it. "The haven" — it read. The inciting aroma of freshly baked bread and herbs pulled me to venture inside.Also, I wanted to satisfy that voice in my head that led me there. Upon entering, all eyes shot in my direction, and they lingered in judgment, watching my every move as I settled at a corner and fiddled with the cutlery."Why am I even here?" I sighed, muttering under my breath as I looked around for anything that could look exciting at the very least.Nothing was. The restaurant was cozy, the flickering candles casting an eerie glow on it. Men and women chatted away— their loud voices and laughter angering me as seconds passed.The inviting aroma had faded, perhaps because I hadn't found anything worthy of my attention. It seemed like a hive of drunkards and lowlives, which must be why it's called the haven. It accommodated every class of people.It bored me. Right before I decided to get on with my journey, an argument ensued from a room behind the restaurant. The noise of yelling and cries filled the air. Like clockwork, the patrons adopted quietude, as they were curious about what was going on, too.The argument went on for minutes. It seemed heated. I didn't feel concerned, but there seemed to be a lady involved with a man. After a few minutes, it was over, and the ones involved weren't seen.Another man settled next to me and ordered a beer. I saw it as the perfect time to leave since I couldn't seem to stomach any social interactions. I was stopped in my tracks when a lady came out of the same room where the argument had gone on earlier.I settled back into my seat and observed her as she served some of the patrons hanging around. Her presence seemed to radiate an ethereal aura, almost as though she possessed magical powers.Something about her awed me a lot. I sat back, taking in her entire appearance. I watched her tuck her auburn waves behind her ears as she carried a tray off the table, a trained fake smile plastered on her face. She did not look happy at all.Even from the distance at which I sat, her ocean eyes were impossible to ignore. Her eyes were mesmerizing blue that sparkled with an otherworldly glimmer. There was something about her…I couldn't place a finger on it. It wasn't just her striking figure. It was the vibe that surrounded her, like she was light and stepped into a room, illumining it.My heart raced for no apparent reason, the sensation of satisfaction washing over me like I'd found what I was looking for. I felt a light tap on my shoulders that jarred me out of whatever trance I'd danced into."You like that one?" The unkempt-looking man next to me questioned, motioning towards the girl. "She doesn't come every day. The Shadowmaws would surely be willing to let her go."What was he rambling about? I thought but decided to play along since I intended to get information about her. "The Shadowmaws?""You new here? The Shadowmaws rule this town…and own the restaurant, you see? That one who's caught your eyes is a maid that belongs to them, and she works more in their manor than the restaurant….""Oh, that's….""Yeah, man!" The man tapped my shoulder again. "If you want her, talk with them, and maybe they'd have you lined up. All these men are probably here for the same reason you are, me included."Those brutes. I did not bother to explain that my attraction toward her was different. It was far beyond the physical. It felt more like an altering in my brain, something clicked the moment she walked in, and I could see the fire within her.Although she tried to suppress it, it was there. Perhaps because I'm from the lineage of wolves, I could tell that there was something more to her than meets the eye. She wielded power, maybe enough to make her my new master. I didn't travel this far for nothing.I turned to the man who had begun to gawk like he had no life prospect. "What's her name?"The man snickered, "You wouldn't believe this. Her name is…."Right before he could complete his words. "Luna!!" One of the men in the restaurant yelled harshly, and the lady turned abruptly.Luna. She answered that name. But why was it called so harshly? My head shot back to the angry-looking man Luna walked towards."This wasn't what I ordered!" He angrily banged the table, startling her and everyone around. "Take care of this." With a swift move, he hit the tray of food off that table, and it splattered across the room.Without argument, Luna knelt and began to pack up the mess. "I'd take care of it, " she responded softly, her voice carrying as much grace as her appearance did.I seethed. But there wasn't much to be done. I watched her pick up the broken plates. Just as she was about to head in, the same man called her again and pulled her towards him by wrapping his fingers around her hair and yanking it.I had promised myself not to make trouble. If I did, there was no way out of it. I wasn't powerful enough to help anyone. Still, the way she was being treated cursed anger to surge through my veins.I was filled with contempt. Luna cried out in pain, trying to wriggle free from the grip of the man with his arms around her hair. From the way her face reddened, I could tell the intensity of his grasp."You answer to me!" He barked at her. Could he be one of the Shadowmaws? That must be why he treated her so unfairly. Most masters always had it out for their mates.To stop any interference on my part, I clutched the table and tried to tear my gaze away. Her refusal to protest just proved that she had something to hide.Even the most quiet of people would react if they were being treated that way."Poor thing…" the man next to me muttered again, bringing his cup closer to his mouth slowly."Is that her Master?" I asked, trying to hide the urgency in my voice. I was one step away from sprinting across the room and initiating the most useless fight ever.The man shook his head. "What? No… That's just Bane. He always tries to shake the girls to their limits. This wouldn't be the first time, and Luna has always been a target for quite some time."Had she constantly been bullied like that? "And her master does nothing about it?"He shrugged. "Customers are always right. Bane had quite the reputation. He's respected and has to be pleased everywhere. That's just how—"The stranger's voice was caught off by another yell from Luna's direction. I couldn't stand it anymore.Before I could weigh my options and calculate how dumb of a decision venturing into such a pointless battle was— especially one that I could not fight— I was already halfway across the room, right before them, staring blankly."Lost something?" Bane barked. His hand still wrapped in her hair, holding her still. "Scurry out of here, child."I was at a loss for words but one glance at Luna, and I felt an overwhelming assurance that I was doing the right thing. However, she looked absolutely disconcerted to see me."Let her go, she did nothing wrong."Bane's interest seemed piqued as he now focused on me. He detangled his grip from Luna's hair and rose to his feet.God, damn. He was huge. Chills traveled down my spine as I looked up at the man. There and then, I realized I'd made the most terrible mistake of making things worse."What did you say?" Bane barked at me. He was easily twice my size with a height that should not be considered humane.Should I do the wise thing and run or hold it out before the lady who was going to become my master by all means possible?What was I thinking? I couldn't even save myself not to talk of someone else!"I- I," I stuttered as I backed away. Every statement I wanted to make died on my tongue. "She didn't do anything wrong, so just— let her go, sicko, pick on someone your size."Oops.Luna shoved me out of the way before I completed the nonsense I was fearfully spewing. She took the initiative. "I apologize, Bane. He must be new here! I'd remake your order immediately, and please don't be mad!"Bane looked like he'd been dipped in a furnace. His bald head was a hint of red as he clenched his fist while sizing up me. I was still confused as to how easily she'd apologized even though she'd been treated so badly."It'd take no more than a breath to crush him. He mustn't be aware of how things are done here!""But, he just—""You should really learn to mind your own business, stranger!" Luna retorted, then turned to Bane. "I'd remake your order in five minutes."I was confused. "Didn't he just maltreat you!? I mean…how could she be so okay with that? Acting like nothing happened?"Luna shot me a glare. "Mind your business, dweeb. Get your order and walk out."I was persistent enough to follow her, despite her harsh font. "You could have gotten mad at him, you know? Rather than transfer it to me." I paused and looked around. "Where's your Master?"Luna turned and placed her hand over my mouth urgently as if to silence me, after which she pulled me outside that restaurant for a conversation, just like I wanted.I had found my master. There was no going back."Do you know me?" I questioned him as we stood in an empty space next to a forest opening at the back of the restaurant.I leaned against a tree, my hands folded across my chest, and I watched her prance the small area, fastening her waves into an urgent ponytail."No," he nodded reluctantly. "I do not know you…yet.""Why are you here? Were you sent to me? Why did you think interfering would help me? I didn't ask for your help, okay? So do what you're here for and leave. Don't make things even worse."Quite the direct one. It just made her fit more into the criteria that I wanted. She turned to leave, but I called her back, addressing her by her name, and that seemed to bear more results than I expected. What was even funnier was how she wore a smile through it all."How do you even know my name?""Do you like it here? How long do you want to keep pretending? In all honesty, I'm here for a quest, and I seem to have found what I was looking for. If you could spare me a few moments, thi
Back at the Druid Peak pack, the news of Indrik's disappearance spread quickly amongst the council. This news sparked a reaction from them as the search for Indrik began. The Beta immediately ordered for Indrik to be brought to him the moment he returned, already promising to punish him. The boy had never thought to leave the pack, and he wasn't allowed to. For all the years he had been born, he only stayed within the pack borders, he didn't even dare go five meters close to it. The news of him truly leaving brought a lot of emotions, and anger was the greatest of them all. All the guards searched around for where they thought Indrik would have gone, even going as far as reaching the popular market where people were known to go. But what would have taken him that far out? They all wondered.Beta Green thought that Indrik's search for a master was getting out of hand and he needed to stop him before it got too late. The figure of Indrik walking back with someone is sighted by a me
The entire hall erupted in chaos as they all let what Indrik said sink in. No one had ever said no to what the Council ordered, and Indrik had said that today, shocking everyone who was present. Beta Green was the first person to snap out of his shocked state, he was furious at Indrik. “What do you mean no?!” He thundered. He was outraged that Indrik had said no to something the council had decided. “I mean. No, Luna won’t be getting punished,” Indrik answered. He had brought her here after a lot of efforts and he wasn’t going to let them punish her for something he did. “I would be taking my punishment and hers as well,” he announced, and everyone gasped in shock. Beta Green looked at Luna whose face showed surprise, then turned his attention back to Indrik. He wondered the relationship between this two and why Indrik had come home with her. Does he plan on taking responsibility of her too? Luna turned to Indrik in shock, surprise written on her face. Yes, Indrik brought
Blaire's Pov My heart twisted in my gut as I followed the guards who led Indrik out to the centre of the palace grounds. It took all my willpower to stop myself from running toward them and snatching Indrik away from them when they shoved him too hard. I exhaled slowly to prevent making things worse for him. The palace was a dazzling white which was made even more impressive by the way it caught the glow of the early morning sun and lit up under it. The main building and by that, I meant the one storey imposing building that housed all the major rooms (by which I mean the throne room, the meeting chambers, the Alpha's room and, I'm sure you get the gist) of the pack was set in the center of the half moon formation with two relatively smaller yet no less impressive buildings on the sides. I normally would take a moment to admire the beauty of this place like I always did but I couldn't because right in the center of this formation, under the eyes of everyone who cared to watch, my
Luna's Pov I watched as the person who was supposed to be my new owner was stripped and then flogged. My lips pursed as I roved my eyes over the small crowd that had gathered to watch him get flogged. Seeing the expression on some faces, I could tell that they did not really fancy him because how else would you explain watching someone get flogged with a smile on your face? I couldn't blame them though because I was not a huge fan either. Who would be after being bought like a piece of merchandise and then bundled like a sack of farm produce to this strange place? True, my former place was nothing to write home about either but at least, I hadn't been dragged there. I had been surprised by his offer to take my punishment though. That really wasn't an action that I would have expected from someone like him. Sure, he had tried to save me from Bane but I had assumed it was just to convince me to come with him. This though was on a whole new level. I was broken from my musing as I watc
Blaire's Pov"I hate her. I really do loath her. I wish she would be attacked by some stray wolves and ripped into a thousand pieces." These and many more were the thoughts that crossed my mind as I straightened my hair before the mirror in my room. Jamil had shown her to her room. Everyone seemed to be out to get on my nerves. Of all the rooms that they could have given to her, they had to place her in the room that was directly opposite mine. For her own good, I hoped that we would not stumble into each other because then, not even I could stop myself from gouging out her eyes. I gritted my teeth as the brush got caught in my hair. Wincing, I straightened it and continued to brush it. Flashes of Indrik being whipped, the mangled flesh and streaming pool of blood, his painful grunts. I could not get any of it out of my head and the more I thought about it, the more my heart broke and the more my fury grew against the person who had caused it. My reflection stared back at me from th
Blaire's PovI knocked on the door and waited. I was about to knock the second time when the door was opened. I could tell he was surprised to see me with the way his eyes widened. Behind him, I could see his room and truth be told, it was in a sorry state. I could see a boot standing at attention on his bed, clothes strewn all over, and that wasn't even the beginning of it. It goes without saying that Jamil is the worst housekeeper in the entire pack. He noticed my survey and grinned. "There was no rip!" I commented, hoping my eyes were as icy as my words. "Oh, you sure?" He asked, trying to hold back his smile. He finally gave up as he grinned, "alright, there wasn't but it was fun to watch you scurry like that."I huffed, holding back the barrage of words that came to mind. "I need to see you. And Ulo too. I will be waiting." His expression grew serious as he nodded. I turned my back and made my way down the other end of the corridor. This was a pretty impressive building if you
Luna's PovThe guy who had introduced himself as Jamil had led me to this room where he had told me to rest after I had told him I wasn't hungry. A comment that was now proving to have been too hasty. My tummy was rumbling angrily and more frequently now. I looked around the room. It looked pretty old and from the looks, it had not been occupied in a long while. There was a bed, a wall length mirror, a table beside it that had some facial and body care materials, a chair before it. On the wall opposite it stood a built in wardrobe which I had confirmed to have some clothes. A window stood open just above my bed giving me a view into a garden. All of these and nothing of mine. I still couldn't get over how that man had just uprooted me from my life like some plant and brought me here. He hadn't even allowed me to go back home to pick anything up. True, there wasn't really much to pick but still. I reached into my blue gown and exhaled in relief when I found that I still had my necklac