Futile Efforts

Declan’s head whipped as soon as he heard Clarisse’s footsteps inside the manor. He couldn’t mistake her gait for anyone else – he has walked with her for too many years not to know.

“Alpha Declan, as the Luna of this pack, I hereby implore you to get rid of that woman who might as well be the enemy dressed in and injured sheep’s clothing.”

The Alpha’s eyes widened for a second, and then turned into narrow slits the very next. The woman in his arms stirred from the commotion, and her eyes slowly opened into the most mesmerizing baby-blues. He was unsure a few moments ago, but now that their eyes have met, Declan immediately knew.

“Ahh! Help! Help me!” the woman yelped like she was being chased by demons. “Please save me!”

Gasps and murmurs turned louder. Who was this unknown woman? She was grabbing unto him, pushing her head into his chest while tears spilled from the corners of her shut eyes.

Declan grabbed her tighter, and then signaled for Lowell. He whispered into Beta's ears and with a nod, Lowell blocked everyone’s view of Declan and the woman. The Alpha retreated and left a room full of confused pack members, the celebration slowly being ruined.

Clarisse was enraged by her husband’s insistence. As Lowell turned his back to follow the Alpha’s footsteps, Clarisse followed as well. She already knew where they were going in the first place.

‘That woman has caused more damage than good by dividing the loyalty of our pack,’ she groaned in silence, ‘She must not become the new Luna at all cost!’

She kept in the shadows from afar, watching as Lowell finally entered the infirmary. When she saw that the coast was clear, she slowly crept towards the door and pressed her ears firmly to listen to the conversation that was going on. If she was to burst in, she must do it at the right moment.

“Lady,” she heard Declan’s voice say, “You are safe now. I am Declan, the Alpha of this pack. What may I call you?”

Several seconds later, Clarisse heard the woman introduce herself, “Sha-Shannon. Please call me Shannon. That is my name.”

“Very well, Shannon,” came Declan’s soft voice now, “Please, tell me how you came to be here and why you have all these injuries on you.”

With those questions asked, Clarisse heard bawling once again. Shannon sniffled and cried for a solid minute before finally calming down enough to answer Declan’s query. All the while, Clarisse couldn’t help but roll her eyes over how dramatic she could be.

“I was being chased by vampires,” Shannon started to explain, “I had been picking mushrooms to eat by the Whitewash River, when all of a sudden, I heard evil cackling from behind me.”

Clarisse raised a brow as she listened closely. This was the first time she heard Shannon’s side since she took her place as the pack’s Luna. A frail woman like Shannon picking mushrooms by the Whitewash River was a little too suspicious in Clarisse’s opinion.

“It’s a miracle you came this far out,” Declan commented on the other side of the door, “However, I have never seen you before. From what pack do you hail from, Shannon?”

“I-I,” she stuttered, “I’m sorry, but Shannon doesn’t belong to any pack.”

‘A lone Omega?’ Clarisse thought.

Shannon was turning to be more suspicious to Clarisse now. Lone werewolves tend to be those who were ostracized from their original packs, or those who committed crimes and were on the run. If given a choice, a werewolf always stayed with a pack at least for the benefit of one’s protection.

Clarisse pressed her ears harder onto the wooden door, but suddenly there was only silence on the other side. How could it be? They were just talking a while ago.

“Clary, I know you are there,” she heard Declan’s voice.

“Tsk,” she clicked her tongue.

It was futile to stay undetected by an Alpha for too long even with her expertise on diminishing her presence. She already knew it was coming though. With a heavy sigh, Clarisse reached for the doorknob and entered the infirmary.

Inside, Shannon was attended by a physician. Her wounds were being cleaned and dressed, while an Omega brought a clean gown to change into. She was being treated with extreme care as if she was someone important.

“Declan,” Clarisse cleared her throat, “I don’t think I need to repeat myself back at the main hall. You are a wise Alpha, you should know what is safe for the pack and what isn’t.”

Her husband only raised a hand and shook his head, “You don’t understand, Clary. Shannon needs to be here, where she is safe.”

“And what of the danger she has brought to the pack? Vampires don’t just chase anyone and leave them with measly injuries,” Clarisse argued.

“Sha-Shannon is telling the truth,” Shannon said with a stutter, “Vampires chased me down as if they wanted to eat me.”

Tears welled up in her eyes once again, and Declan felt rage in his heart. He tried his best to stay calm, but the veins in his head were showing, and his face was turning red as well. Clarisse saw the telltale signs of his aggression, but she didn’t intend to stop.

“She should’ve been half-dead, that’s if the vampires had been playing around, dead if they were seriously hunting,” she continued and then stared at Shannon straight in the eye as she quickly added, “She might as well be lying about what she said earlier.”

Declan couldn’t believe what he had heard. He didn’t want to announce it tonight, especially with the ongoing celebration, but it seemed like his Chosen Mate had pushed him to his limits. The truth must be said now.

“Clary, my Silver Moon,” Declan’s face turned somber as if he was reconsidering his decision. He paused for a long while before he finally made up his mind, “Shannon needs to stay for she is my Fated Mate.”

The attending physician dropped his tray of medicines, and his assistant scrambled to clean up the mess. Even Lowell was shocked as his eyes suddenly widened. Normally, the Beta had always been expressionless, but tonight was different.

“Your Fated Mate?” Lowell asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Declan nodded, and then turned to his wife, “So, do you understand now, Clary? Shannon must stay no matter how much you say she has brought danger to the pack. I swear, I will fight those vampires to death if they ever come and bring us harm.”

‘How stupid do I look now trying to convince an Alpha to give up his Fated Mate,’ Clarisse thought.

Her fists turned into furious balls beside her. No matter how much she fought to convince Declan the second time around, he still took his Fated Mate’s side. No matter the danger and damage it would cost, to him, Shannon must come first.

“I think I need some time to think,” Clarisse spoke in a whisper through gritted teeth.

She turned her back on Declan and proceeded to dash outside the manor. Nobody even saw her out, as Clarisse took the back doors where no one was seemingly guarding. With tears starting to roll down her cheeks, Clarisse screamed in frustration at the full moon, running full speed ahead towards the darkness of the surrounding forest.

All her efforts were futile.