Three

Nicholson's pov

"Nichole?!"

On hearing her voice, I lost my composure and some ashes from my cigarette spilled on the front of my shirt.

"Shit." I swore as I tossed the cigarette blindly off the edge of the building where I was seated before grabbing a handkerchief and dabbing at the stain.

"Why did I have to wear white today… shit shit… " My eyes noticed the shadow of my assistant coming close to the entrance leading to the roof where I was and Ihurriedly dabbed at my shirt again, straining It and standing straight in time to see her walk through the door.

Shirley.

She had on the same white outfit consisting of a white shirt and white blazer with matching white pants, but she didn't have as many gold badges as I did on my blazer, evident of my accomplishments over the years.

Despite her age, she had a strong build, beautiful tanned golden skin and fierce brown eyes that were glaring hard at me right now. Her chocolate afro hair was puffy and soft to look at, and her tribal marks, drawn over her cheeks creased with the frown on her face.

"You were smoking again…?"

"I wasn't. Would you stop accusing me of smoking whenever you find me alone."

"I wonder what else you'd be doing on the roof while everyone else is downstairs." She approached me and grabbed the collar of my blazer which had bits of ashes still on It.

I rolled my eyes and slapped her hand away.

"Okay fine, I was. Please don't tell Amira or Nat. I promised them I wouldn't smoke again, and I've really been trying…"

"We'll try harder or I'll let them know their sister is a pretentious liar."

"Of course Shirley. I'll keep that in mind.," I replied sarcastically. "Why were you looking for me?" I sat back down at the edge of the roof, overlooking city X flooding with people going about their normal activities, seeing the top of other buildings and the clear blue sky…

I heard the ruffling of papers and turned to see she had a newspaper with her. She handed It to me and pointed at a particular spot.

I lowered my head and read through lazily, but a small smile formed on my lips after a second and before I could stop myself, a chuckle escaped my lips before I finally got down and snatched the newspaper, reading through It again like I was fascinated- which I was by the way.

"Mortema?" I scoff with another chuckle, feeling Shirley right behind me as she followed me. "That's the most ridiculous name I've heard."

"Do you not know what It means?" Shirley raised a brow as I flung the newspaper to the ground and headed for the office.

The hallway we passed by was filled with different people who saluted us both as we passed by, acknowledging our ranks.

"Am I supposed to care?"

"Mortem… Latin name for death. It.. "

"I still think It's stupid. And the fact you did research on the name makes you even more stupid."

Shirley burned as she got ready for another round of our usual banters, but suddenly her Lunarcom beeped, and she tapped the side of the small device fixed in her ear to receive the incoming call while I looked through the snack bar machine lazily for something to drink.

"Fucking cigarettes… always makes me crave something sweet." I murmured to myself.

".. yes sir. I'll call her in now. Yes… yes.. I'll let her know. Thank you, Colonel." After the call, she tapped the side of the device again before turning to me who just opened a pack of sour candies.

"What did Joel want?" I asked, digging through the bag.

Shirley gave me a disapproving look and folded her arms under her chest.

"He wants you in his office, and also, he's been trying to reach you all day. Where's your Lunarcom."

"Oh yeah.. I lost It."

"This is the third time this month. For fuck's sake Nichole… those things cost 30,000$ each."

"So?" I held the bag of candies with one arm and used the other to pull my platinum blonde debit card from my back pocket before tossing It to Shirley who caught It clumsily, not expecting me to throw It. "Get me another. It's not like I'm going to go bankrupt anytime soon."

Shirley just stood there, staring at me with a glare as I turned and began heading in the direction of the Colonel's office.

"I feel like I have to babysit her despite the age difference. She's 29 and acts like a child while I'm just 18 and have to clean up after her every mess." Shirley grumbled before leaving.

***

"Yo, Axel. Help me hold onto this for a sec. I've got a meeting with the Colonel." I approached my colleague, Axel, who was a rank below me.

"No way. Not this again." Axel made to walk past me but I barred his way.

"What?"

"You always do this. You'll give me the bag of candies and forget to take It afterwards and after like a week or some days, you'll randomly remember It and make It seem like I'm owing you, and then when we go shopping, you pick something ridiculously expensive and make me pay for It."

"Fucking annoying…" I sneered and Axel heard me, but he pretended not to hear me and made to leave.

"Okay fine. Just hold onto It for a second, let me fix my shirt…" With that, I shoved the bag of sour candy in his arms which he stared Into, shocked.

"How many of this did you even eat…" however, when he raised his head, I had already disappeared into the office leaving him standing there, fuming.

"Good afternoon, Colonel. You sent for me?" I shut the door behind me, dusting imaginary bits of what I think might still be some ashes before standing behind the seat In Front of him.

"Lieutenant Nicholson. Have a seat."

I settled on the chair, taking note of his serious expression as he looked through his laptop.

Colonel Joel.

Holding the highest rank in city X, he automatically was our leader. He was a man of few words, but his intense gaze spoke volumes. His neatly trimmed beard and military uniform always looked impeccable, but his dark eyes betrayed a ruthless and cunning mind. He was relentless in his pursuit to ensure only the existence of humanity and the complete eradication of the werewolves.

I've known him for quite long, and with the years we've spent together, I could understand why he deserved his rank.

"I believe you've already been informed of the recent news going round."

"Yes, Colonel."

"However, I have gotten a more current update on what's going on from Lupusia from our reliable source. They're planning a bride finding ceremony for their youngest Leader, Alpha Thane. They believe as he doesn't have a mate nor heir to succeed him in his death, It would be dangerous to his territory If they don't take action."

"They haven't done a bride finding ceremony in ages though." I smirk to myself, knowing the effect Mortema had on them, and yet, I would strike when they least expected just like 16 years ago and they wouldn't be able to do anything.

Just like 16 years ago when I had their parents/ past leaders under my mercy and slaughtered them, bathing in the thickness of their blood and savoring their screams of agony as I let them burn in my rage…

I smiled, feeling my heart pump as I gripped the air, fisting my knuckles in anticipation…

"Fortunately for us, It would seem as though they would be doing It in our favor because they just made things much easier for us."

"What do you mean…"

"We've already made arrangements for you to go in guise as one of the potential brides and ensure you're picked as Alpha Thane's mate."