Chapter 9

"Ahem! It's not what you think, dad. You know that I went around earlier, right? I met a lady on the market and she gave me these oranges..."

"Gave you?"

"I mean... she said someone paid for them. I didn't take it for free. Technically..."The girl trailed her voice off and took a peak on her sidelines.

"What did I told you, Ayesha. Don't---"

"Don't talk to strangers and don't take anything for free. They might've done something with them. There's no such thing as free meal in this world. Yes, I know! But take a look on these fruits, dad. These oranges are innocent!"

Hector just sigh looking at his daughter's puffing her cheeks. He started the engine and drive again.

"This is the last time, young lady. No more next time." He answered sternly.

"Of course! Besides, it's not like I'm going outside again..."

Yeah, it's probably the last time. Leo gave her until her birthday before she transfers to the packhouse. She wouldn't know what will happen to her once she goes there or she can still have a control over her life.

The man notice her sudden change of expression and tried to change the topic.

"So, about the man you were asking about..."

"I don't know him, dad. According to the lady, he told her that he is my friend but how would I know anyone from that town?" She shook her head.

"Did you see him?"

"Nope. The lady told me he's a tall guy with black wavy hair. Did Leo perhaps change already?" She blurted out her suspicions. He's the only guy she knows that has something to do with black.

"Hmm no. Majority of the new generation has already taken their human form but he still wasn't able to transform into one." He massage his temple as he suddenly thought of this again. It's one of the issues that's giving him a headache.

He knows that it would take a month at most to change and there's still a few weeks until a month. But how can the alpha of the pack gets to transform last?

Though there are still many of them who haven't transformed but his brothers already change their forms except for him. This is a mess! This will definitely be an issue with the hierarchy on the pack.

So, it's not him. Ayesha thought and felt relieved. She doesn't want anything to do with him. The idea of him doing her a favor doesn't go well with her.

The sun is about to set and they still haven't reach the entrance to the forest. The road is quite rough and bumpy. She tried to sleep but she couldn't.

They set out earlier at dawn and it took them five hours to reach the human settlement. It will be dark when they reach home.

Hector is a bit antsy when he saw the sun slowly going down in the horizon. Changing its butter color to a shade of orange. They're still outside their territory.

Although the road they've taken is relatively safe and is a neutral zone, it's doesn't mean that conflicts don't occur.

Just as when Hector was thinking about it, a large shadow appeared from nowhere and instantly collided with his truck.

*Bang!

"Ouch! Dad, when did you started driving so recklessly?" Ayesha massage her shoulder that bump on the side of the window.

Hector didn't try to argue. His focus is on the tjing that lying in front of the truck. He unbuckled his seatbelt and look seriously at his daughter before going out of the vehicle.

"Stay here and don't ever go out no matter what."

"Dad..." She look nervously on her oldman with eyes full of worry.

"I'll be back, okay?" He patted her and smiled.He opened the door and went outside to inspect what happened.

Hector's eyes glowed. His irises changed into a shade of amber like a miniature sun at dusk. The pupils became sharp like that of the cat's eye and his nails grew long and sharp.

"Argh!" A large dark brown wolf groan while it's lying on the hard ground.

He cautiously went closer. Raising his sharp claws up high, he was ready to deal the final strike. The only thing that is running on his head is death for anyone that posts danger on his daughter. The alpha wolf in him gave off a cold and dominating pressure full of bloodlust that instantly sent shivers in the whimpering wolf. Although he became weaker, the cruelty and ruthlessness of someone who once rule over the savage mountain wolves is very evident.

Just as when his strike reaches the wolf's neck, the young wolf screamed in horror.

"Elder, no! I'm a pack member! Elder!"

The attack halted and Hector's eyes momentarily flickered as if regaining his sanity. His bloodlust instantly diminished when he smell the familiar scent of the pack member. Even though the wolf in front of him had an unfamiliar face, to him, the keen sense of his kind will never betray him.

He help him to get up and supported him to lean on a tree trunk on the side of the road.

The wolf crawled behind the tree with so much effort. Hector pulled a garment from the car. He saw his daughter wondering what's happening. He just smiled to give her assurance and went back to where the he left the injured wolf.

He lay the clothes on the ground near the tree and a soft white hands grab them from the shadows.

A girl with a milky white complexion with a dark chocolate colored long hair full of bruises appeared.

"Thank you, Elder." She bowed with gratitude.

"Get on the truck. It's not safe to stay around here. Let's talk inside."

He could feel the eyes that silently observing them. But Hector fight the urge to engage. Protecting his daughter is already hard. Now that another female from his pack is with him it would be close to impossible to get away. He doesn't want to endanger any of the two.

They hurriedly left the place. A number of wolves full of scars on their bodies came out from hiding and followed the car with their eyes.

"Awooooo!" The large wolf with a scar on his left eye who seems to be their leader howl under the setting sun. His followers followed suit. A creepy and menacing sound filled the atmosphere scaring away the nearby animals.

---

"Anne!" A worried lady entered the packhouse and clung onto the girl frantically checking her body.

"Oh my poor daughter! What happened to you? Who did this?" Her tears fell when she saw the bluish-purple spots on her body.

"Mother, I'm alright. The elder helped me. If I didn't met him and her daughter on the road, I would have fell prey to the rouges already." Her body tremble as she remembers her experience with them.

The lady and her partner turned to face Hector and bowed to him.

"Thank you, Elder. We owe you our daughter's life."

"Don't mention it. She's a precious female of the pack. Besides, you've also treated my daughter well in the pack. Let it be my way of returning the favor to you."

Ayesha also bowed to them. They are very kind people who treated her well.

"The leader and the priestess are here!" A member of the pack announced.

Leo, still on his wolf form, entered the hall walking magnificently in his black colored fur. Following him is the priestess and his borthers and sister in their human form.

"Greetings to the leader and priestess!"

Everyone in the room saluted including Ayesha who's standing meekly on the corner.

Leo stride off to his throne-like seat and inquired the girl of what happened.

"Tell me what happened to you and how did you come to a place near the humans?" He look seriously that everyone in the room fell into a silence waiting for the girl's answer.

Anne felt hesitant and her eyes roam around the place.

Leo knitted his non-existing eyebrows together looking impatient. Russel who is familiar with his younger brother's temper cleared his throat and encourage the girl to answer quickly.

"Just tell us the details, Anne. So that we can deal with it accordingly." He explained calmly.

That's Russel for you! Ayesha thought and smiled. He acts mature and responsible like a true born leader. His dark chestnut hair and eyes that looks like a clear blue sky is like Bailey's but a bit lighter. Under his eye glasses, it made him look more reliable.

Anne who was staring at Ayesha who was busy admiring Russel took a deep breath and started talking.

"I went to visit Ayesha yesterday because I heard of her injury. Then I heard that they will be going to a human town outside the territory so I got curious. I tried to follow them but I got lost along the way and met the rogues on my way..." Her voice grew weaker as she completes her sentences.

She's quite close to Ayesha when she was still a cub. She was worried when she heard what happened to the girl. Although the girl might not remember her much because her looks and features are quite common among their batch. Ayesha played with her during gatherings. She was part of the reason why she started to anticipate the community gatherings which she initially dreaded because of other females bullying. She remembers everything. The same is true with her memories with the four brothers who are always around the girl.

"Anne! How can you do that? You know how dangerous it is to venture outside the territory!"

Her mom yelp and scolded her.

"Calm down, darling. The girl already look exhausted please be lenient." Her partner tried to calm her nerves but she still look sharply at her daughter who held her head down.

"I'm sorry..." She mumbled weakly.

"The winter season is approaching. That means the mating season is just around the corner. And rogues will be very active during this time to capture their prey and unmated females." Eleonor chime in.

"You're lucky to escape from their captivity. Let this experience be tattooed on your memory and to never make the same mistake again." Leo warned. "The same goes to the other females. You are the lifeline of the pack. Don't let your guard down." His eyes travel and stop when he met Ayesha's eyes like his words are directed towards her. She looked away and break the eye-contact.

Leo turned his attention to his pack members. Right now he needs to focus on the well-being of his tribe. It's a crucial moment for them and the next generation. As their leader, it's his duty to fulfill.

"Always be vigilant while guarding the boarders. It's not just the rogues that we need to look out for but also the other packs that might intrude on our territory. Hunt in small group and do not stray alone. Make sure that we will have enough supply before the winter arrives." He commanded.

"Brothers, create a group with the new warriors under you and help with hunting. Take those who are ready and capable. Leave the ones who are still lacking to avoid unnecessary loss." He turned to his mother and continued. "I will leave the preparation of the courtship ceremony for the new wolves before the estrus of the females begin to you, mother. Support her on the sidelines and learn from mother, Leona."

The courtship ceremony is where the warriors show their might to the females through gifts or brawls. The female will choose her partner or partners from the males. Because of the unbalanced ratio of the females to males, they can have multiple partners. The stronger their partner, the better litter of cubs they produce. It also ensures the females' safety to have multiple partners or strong ones. Someone who can protect them during dire moments. This is why courtship ceremony is more like a battlefield than an actual courtship that is presented through shared feelings.

"Very well. Just leave it to us." Eleonor accepted his order.

"You can leave with your parents now, Anne. Recuperate well and stay with them until you get better."

"Thank you, leader." The family of three responded and the couple supported Anne as they walk away from the hall. "And you, pack your things. You'll be staying here from today onwards." He look directly at Ayesha's eyes without a hint of warmth from his usual self. He won't take no for an answer this time.

What? But he said she can stay until her birthday! Ayesha wanted to protest but Hector held her hand and tried to convince her.

"I need to set out and hunt, sweetie. It will probably take a week or so before I return. I won't feel at ease thinking that you will be left in the cabin all by yourself. It will be very dangerous for you to stay alone in there. Stay with Leo, he will be able to protect you if anything happens."

"But I don't want to stay with---." Him. She swallowed her word before completing it when she sense the dark aura coming from Leo. Her eyes glistened with tears ready to fall. She wants to stay somewhere she can feel her family's presence. She would rather stay at the cabin alone than to live with Leo in the packhouse.

"I will be back and we'll celebrate your birthday together but for now I need to do my duties to the pack and lessen everyone's burden."

In the end, Ayesha reluctantly obliged. She doesn't want to make her father more burdened. He already look more haggard and exhausted than usual. If this will make her father feel at ease then she will accept it even if she hates to be in the same space and near Leo.