Mad wolves pack

I stood a meter away from the oak tree while Hugo introduced his companion to me. I felt nervous under their gaze, making me grind the nail of my thumb against my index.

"That curly guy is Ivo. Those two who are sitting side by side are Kieran and Cyran — they're twins. That buff guy over there is Tito. He may look scary, but he's too soft for his own good."

Hugo kept pointing at the men around the tree while I followed his finger. Ivo, the tall youth with curly hair, was still hiding behind the tree while peeking at us. I could feel the dark shroud emanating from behind his back.

My eyes then fell on the two men sitting under the tree, Kieran and Cyran. The identical twins both shared the same brown hair, dark eyes, lean face, and narrow nose. They looked so similar that I was certain I wouldn't tell them apart; they also do the same thing as they both tilted their head to the right, and then to the other at the same pace!

And then I gazed up at Tito, who was standing and leaning his side against the trunk, arms crossed. Among all of them, his physique was far too robust, as if he could uproot this oak tree with brute force. He looked scary, indeed, as if he looked angry.

"Up there is Mitch and Edge. They're actually not that important. You can say they're simply existing." Hugo pointed up, and I looked up at the two men, who found their comfort on the separate branch. They were both lean, so the branches could carry their weight.

"Alpha! How can you say that to me?! I am the hope of this world!" A long-haired man that had it tied up frowned, complaining at the blatant insult from Hugo. If I remembered correctly, his name was Mitch. I tried to control the dismay tempting to show in my eyes upon his remarks.

And then my eyes veered to the other person on the branch.

"I am a disgrace... I know that already... a pathetic wolf..." Mitch murmured, getting depressed by the second as he continued insulting himself. Listening to him also made me feel a bit down.

"... I should've been born as a flea. Forgive me for existing..."

"Can you fucking shut up!?" Mitch roared, annoyed at the murmuring man near him. But that didn't stop Edge from apologizing even more.

"Even my murmuring doesn't do good to anyone... I'm sorry for speaking. This pathetic mouth is worthless, just like my life..."

"Ugh!!!!"

I pressed my lips together while I took a deep breath. Mitch was already throwing a huge fit, but Edge just kept apologizing. I didn't know which one to feel sorry for, honestly.

"Winter is behind the oak tree. He is the shy type, so he is probably hiding there." Hugo then faced me. I nearly jumped as I faced him as well, raising my brows nervously.

He planted his hand on his hip and then cocked his head to the side. "That one over there is Reks. He is a love fool who falls in love so easily and confesses to every girl he meets. So far, out of 567 women he confessed to, 567 rejected him."

I moved my head in the direction where that man who had spoken words of flattery and was sent flying by Hugo. He had returned, looking all haggard with twigs and leaves on his golden hair.

"Alpha, it's 568!" Reks corrected in between his gasp and then dragged himself in our direction. "I met one yesterday!"

"Then, it's 569 now, including her." Hugo pointed at me with his thumb, causing my brows to raise while I gaze back at him. He narrowed his eyes and frowned.

"You're not accepting his confession, do you?"

"Pardon?"

Hugo took a step forward, bending over with disbelief in his eyes. "Is he your type?"

"Huh? No?" Confused, I shook my head, as I was still in the process of remembering each one of them. Hugo smiled brightly and nodded approvingly. It made me wonder what was wrong with him.

"So, it's 569!" he clapped and turned his head to Reks. "Keep it up, Reks. You will soon break a world record. You make me proud."

Unlike Hugo's bright grin, Reks frowned as he walked while swaying lifelessly. Who would be happy to confess to that many ladies and get rejected every time? On the other hand, who would take a man seriously who gives love so easily?

"Are you familiar with them now?" Hugo asked, catching my attention from Reks. I snapped my eyes and faced him once again, nodding as an answer.

"Good!" he intoned, nodding approvingly. "Although these boys are weird, they are kind people. You don't have to worry about them."

"Mhm."

"And they are quite strong."

"Alright."

I kept nodding at his bragging, and he soon noticed it. Hugo frowned, looking at me with a dead expression.

"Actually, they can be quite scary and crazy — brutal, if I may add," he continued, and I nodded once again. "Girl, are you planning to just nod your head?"

And I nodded again. Hugo sighed helplessly while stretching his neck in a circular motion.

"I…" I cleared my throat, waiting for him to set his eyes back to me before I continued. "I'm just… a bit tired, that's all."

My stomach found the right time to make a sound as it grumbled right after I told him that. I flushed and held my breath, gazing down in shock. Of all time! Does my stomach have to announce how empty it was right in front of him?

"Ahh, right…" I gazed up at him as he scratched the back of his head. "Silly me. How can I forget you must be famished?"

"It's fine. I mean, it's just…" I trailed off when Hugo cocked his head back, casting a look of death at the men around the oak tree. From my perspective right now, he looked like a total lunatic about to snap.

"Hey... how long do you plan to stay idle here? She is hungry. Do you want her to eat grass?"

I gasped in horror, afraid they would think badly of me for making Hugo treat them terribly. But as soon as I caught their aghast faces cast onto me, my brows rose even more. Why were they looking at me the same way I looked at them?

We stared at each other for a second before I flinched when Hugo roared loudly. "Get moving!"

"Yes, sir!"

Each of them jumped from their position and before I could grasp what was going on, some of them already skipped away. I only snapped from my initial shock when Hugo stood beside me.

"Let's go," he said, pointing at his back with his thumb. "Hop on my back. We'll find a good place to eat and sleep."

"Uh…"

"Geez," He clicked his tongue and before I knew it, he swept me off my feet and carried me in his arms. My eyes dilated, clutching at his chest on instinct.

"Take some rest. Once you wake up, we will be in Althea. It's another small kingdom nearest this place," he explained, looking at me straight in the eye. "And don't even fight me since you can't possibly run there on your own."

I pursed my lips before I nodded. "Alright. Thank you."

"Heh. You're welcome."

Just like last night, Hugo carried me in his arms and sprinted while I just stared at him in silence. I had heard the kingdom of Althea many times, so I knew that it would take days to get there by carriage. What more, by foot? I wasn't so stupid to refuse his offer.

"Hugo," I whispered while blinking slowly, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. His face immediately hovered over me after my call.

The side of my lips stretched subtly. "Woof," I barked softly, recalling how I used to call that small pup before falling into a peaceful slumber.

*****

"Woof."

Hugo quirked a brow as she finally stopped fighting her exhaustion and succumbed to stupor. A faint exhale slipped past his lips, along with a deep chuckle.

"How can you woof like that, then sleep?" he muttered while shaking his head lightly. His eyes then softened as he gaze ahead.

"I'm sorry for what you went through, Rinnie. I couldn't save them."