CHAPTER 07

“Yes, I'm sorry, Miss Bal. What are you trying to show me? The Alpha is currently busy. Maybe he has something for you inside the Wildrift. Oh! My bad. Such a talkative mouth.” Monta giggled, which made Bal awkwardly smile too. ‘Just listen!’ Bal cried inwardly. Then she began to draw her mice friends on the sand. Though her drawing was vague, the mouse figure was still visible. It is recognizable if you just look closely while using your imagination.

“You want us to catch a mouse? Are you hungry, Miss Bal? You sure? We. Don't. Eat. Mice. We. Eat. Fish, fruits, meat, and vegetables,” Monta explained, which gave her an obvious headache. Bal began pulling her hair and was starting to lose her patience. She began stomping on the ground and was relentlessly circling around her drawing. ‘If you just see this! Understand this!’ Bal’s thoughts were screaming. She began looking around, trying to look for another help.

“Hey, Tracker Monta. The Luna might be telling something about the mice,” said one of the warriors who was carrying a bunch of gold stuff. His bulky figure was covering the sun, making Bal the shed that she needed for the blinding sunlight. A creature like her who was denied with light for many years, she couldn't just say that the sunlight was blinding.

“Eh?” Bal’s eyes began to flicker when she noticed that the warrior might understand what she meant. Her eyes were beaming with hope. She couldn't even stop her bodies excited and anticipation.

“See? It looks like a family or friend inside a box that gets along together. She acts like a mouse. So, maybe . . . I'm sorry for being blatant, Dear Luna.” That's when Bal started to draw and elaborate herself and put it in a box, lined together with the two big mice. With that, Bal then looks at Monta while smiling from ear to ear. It means the warrior was saying an accurate thing.

“Can you call the Alpha? Thank you?” Monta asked the warrior while playing with her chin, thinking. The warrior acted quickly. And after a moment, the gusting wind blew, and Kaylon was now standing tall in front of them. Like a soldier waiting for his task.

“What is it?” Kaylon asked, and kissed Bal’s forehead. Sweat was dripping on Kaylon’s forehead and face like he was just done from an extreme workout.

“Sir. What does Miss Bal mean by this?” Monta showed Kaylon about Bal's state-of-the-art drawing.

Bal was smiling. She's proud because her drawing looks the same as her friend's looks. While on the other hand, Kaylon was thinking about what he was looking at. For it appeared to be a tangled knot with his poor perspective. A tangled knot with ear and tail with a tangled girl in the middle.

“Ago told me that it's a mouse—family or friend, something close —get along . . .” Kaylon tried to explain which made Bal’s eyes roll in dissatisfaction. “Oh! I got it now. Kindly call Lider.” Kaylon waved his hand.

“Yes, Sir.” Ago sprinted.

“I’m sorry for not thinking about that earlier. Of course you have a family too.” Kalylon rubbed Bal’s face and helped her get out of the sand. Kaylon then started squatting, cleaning off the sand which stuck on Bal’s clothes.

“Sir? You were asking for me?” asked Lider who was also wiping the sweat dripping from his forehead.

“Yes, Lider. Let's head to where you first found Balvina. She left her friends there. Let's set out and get them.” Kaylon was mimicking Bal’s hand gestures while explaining. Making sure that Bal would get a hint of what they were talking about.

“The underground dungeon where we found the Luna, Sir, is located just under the main mansion of the late pack,” Lider explained. “The place was cramped with unimaginable looks and smell,” Lider added.

“Oh. So, I supposed that cowardly old man did this to her. Bal had that man's kind of distinct smell. And there is only one explanation for that; they are related.” Kaylon's brows narrowed as he was remembering Balvina's situation in the dungeon for years. “So, there's still wolves around the world who can do despicable things like abandoning a child for power.” Kaylon gently rubbed Bal’s hand. His bulging veins were showing a sign of pressure and force. Despite that, his touch remained gentle with Balvina's little hand.

“Yeah, I think so too, Sir. Especially . . . The Luna is kind of tall. If she gained weight, she'd probably be a giant.” Bal could see the smile on Kaylon’s face when he looked at her. She was just walking with them while holding on to her mate's arm. She couldn't understand a bit of their conversations. But she's still vibing with them since she can't feel any danger that is lurking.

When they finally came into the right place . . .

“Are you okay?” Bal pretended to smile as she was looking at the place, even though she was afraid. Bal knows that she can handle the place's presence, but it's different when it comes to her horrible memories in the cold empty room. When she experienced the outside world, Bal could say that she had a cursed life for the last nineteen years. So, when it comes to her new life now, she is certain that her previous life can never rival what she's been experiencing on Kaylon's side. Bal wanted to protect her peace as long as she could. For even she does not have the slightest idea of when her heavenly life would end.

“Hey . . . It's okay. I'll be coming with you down there.” Bal could tell that they had arrived. Because she could now smell the familiar rotten smell of the place where she thought that was normal before. The place reek of smell that was giving off a bitter taste of life for her.

A glimpse of a bittersweet smile was lingering on Bal’s lips. It stayed for a while while staring at the man standing in front of her.

“You. Stay here. I'll. Be. Going. Down.” Bal could understand what Kaylon was trying to say for the first time. But she didn't like his idea. After all, if she leaves the place for good. She should at least bid farewell to it. So, she constantly shook her head and started making her way down without even waiting for Kaylon to catch up. Bal was also aware of her family's temper. And there's no way they would welcome Kaylon and Kaylon’s men with open arms without her around to pacify them. Because she was certain that her family thinks Kaylon had abducted her.

“Lider! The torch.” Even without a torch, Bal knew that she could still clearly see everything. Her eyes were badly beaten by the dark for the previous years. Her life three days ago had no lights or colors. There were only darkness and abundant filth. So being in the face of darkness is no big deal for her. Darkness was embedded on her entire being. Balvina was not thinking about it in a negative way.