CHAPTER 17

"Soundproof on," Ezekiel stated with a low voice.

They were now in an office room at the Wildcrest Pack Hall. A group of wolves in Farden City. He's there to warn his assigned leader of the pack under him about the danger of one of the supernatural hunters that had arrived in the city.

"It's already done, king." Rullo, the leader of the Wildcrest pack, replied as he walked to the living area of his private office. A three-sitting sofa across from each other with a coffee table between settling at the right side a few meters away from his working table.

The alpha king followed him to the guest area. Zek's warrior was just behind his leader, on alert in case any threat would arise. But Rullo would never dare to be on his king's enemy side. He had such an immeasurable aura. Just his presence could make anyone cower and feel inferior.

"Please, have a seat." He offered to his visitor. His wife had been silent all along, only staying by his side.

Zek plopped himself on the sofa, and Drasco remained in his position by standing at the right side of him.

"Let's get down to business directly." Ezekiel wasted no time and lean his body forward, both elbows on top of the knees and knuckles below his chin.

Rullo and his Luna took the seat across Zek and his guardian.

The peaceful land of the wolve's property remained quiet for the evening. Only the sounds of night insects can be heard.

"There's a supernatural hunter in this town."

As Ezekiel started with a few words, the bulging eyes and mouth-agape expressions of the two opposite him didn't go unnoticed. He proceeded to the topic.

"It's a girl, and she has a newfound friend. The hunters' clan is on it again. Just the poison is stronger this time. It seems like they exactly know the formula to end supernatural beings."

Rullo couldn't exactly know how to react to what Zek said. Though this is nothing new to him. But another hunter again in his city after almost three decades made him heave for some air. The last one before had taken his son. It turned out they were destined for each other. So he exiled him to make up for his betrayal to the pack.

His wife beside him, Shelon, stiffened. At first, she was very furious when she found out what Rullo did to Cabril, the younger one among the two brothers. He hasn't taken any statement from her. Rullo just exiled him directly on the spot.

"Hunters now we're using a syringe, and no human can be trusted around outside. They can be carrying it. The effects may be different for each being, but in the end, it is death."

"Oh my God, how did they formulate something like that?" Shelon gasped in horror and looked at her husband. He held his wife's hand on her knees.

"They really want to wipe us out," Rullo stated, looking back to the emotionless face of their alpha king. "We are already an endangered race. We can't let them succeed."

Zek's calm expression somehow eased the fear of Rullo and Shelon. Their alpha king won't let anything happen to his people. That's why they all respect him for being a protective and absolute leader.

"Yes. Werewolves are their focus now, for they know our number is coming close to extinction. That's why I'm here to warn you, but don't try to search for these people. Let me handle this."

"But King, you don't have to shoulder all of these. We can—"

The dangerous eyes of Zek made him stop talking. That stare can't be opposed regardless of anything. He looked down and bowed his head for compliance.

"The more people involved, the more dangerous it is, and more lives can be taken," Ezekiel said precisely. There's no argument in his tone. "As I said, I'm only here to WARN you." He punctuated the word of his intention. "Yes, we are all involved in this case, but I won't risk every one of our lineages. All I want you to do is keep an eye more on your pack. Do everything to keep them from roaming around carelessly outside your village. But don't ever tell them about the issue. We don't have to panic everyone." Zek sighed and stood up.

"Let Drasco stay here for the night."

Rullo and Shelon rose from their seats to follow their king.

"Alpha, where do you plan to go?" Drasco asked. He was not to leave Zek's side.

"I'll just be roaming around. You stay here. No one can hurt me. You all know that." He eyed everyone in the room, challenging them by king in their eyes if they opposed him.

"As you said, Alpha." Drasco nodded in resignation. Their alpha king is the most stubborn of all the wolves.

"Rullo, you mentioned Cabril's dead. Why haven't you told me about it?"

Everyone in the room stilled. Their heartbeats drummed together in their lungs. Rullo and his mate couldn't look the king in the eyes. They know their mistake of not telling him.

"King, what I meant was he's already dead for us. His mate was human—"

He stopped as he saw the burning fire color in the king's eyes.

"Don't ever lie again, Rullo." His voice is a calm thunder of the swirling dark atmosphere in the room.

He doesn't have to remove his ring for his presence to be felt or for his mood to be easily detected. The look in his eyes alone, just him standing there, glowering to the other leaders, was enough for them to know that they had made such a grave mistake.

"How did he die?" He asked, moving closer to Rullo. "Who killed him?"

Ezekiel can effortlessly discern every lie for his instinct. It is just inside of him that can detect if someone was lying.

"I had him killed for betraying us. If only he hadn't had a human for a mate. If only his mate wasn't a huntress" Rullo spilt. "How was fate so cruel to him? It had given him our mortal enemy."

Shelon wiped the tears that flowed down her cheeks. She doesn't want to hear any more of the subject. She doesn't want to recall how her youngest son died. It kills her inside, losing one of her blood.

"Please enough." She managed to say, even in front of the king.

Zek stared at both of them coldly. Shelon's pain tugged him inside. As a mother who lost her child, the hurt is never-ending.

Right then, he questioned himself if he really did the right choice that he made Rullo the leader of the Wildcrest pack. But then his loyalty was unquestionable. Yet, he doesn't have to kill his son for it. He doesn't have to sacrifice one of his blood.

Ezekiel nodded and turned to the door, Drasco opened it for him. But before he went out, he spoke out some words. "Fate can't be denied, but we can always do something in the outcome of it. Yet, you have chosen to kill him."

After that, he disappeared in front of them in just a blink of an eye.

He spat those words to engrave more pain to Rullo of what he did. Knowing he is guilty enough and regrets filled him. He deserved it. For choosing such action. But there's an inkling of doubt in him if Rullo was really the one who had his son killed.

For now, he brushed off the thought, he has more important matters to take care of first.

He went out of the camp and moved outside the wilderness. Roaming everywhere, jumping from rooftop to rooftop of the buildings. Right now it's almost midnight as he glanced his wristwatch.

He stopped at one of the tall building and looked up the crescent moon glowing from above, it's a starry night too. Swiping his hand through his hair that had covered his eyes. His medium-length jet black hair went dishevelled from the wind but never made him look any less attractive. The smooth wavy strands he has that covers his eyes if he won't comb back his hair.

The twinkles of the tiny stones on the sky always make him stare at it for some time.

"Please, let me find my mate sooner." He uttered under his breath.

......

"Should we be in the same room?" Liz asked Lorna as they entered a twin room with two single beds.

"Yes. It would be safer for us to stay together." The girl replied, putting carelessly her duffel bag on the floor.

Melisca placed the bags of food on a table across from the beds, near the flat screen tv stuck at the wall. She looks around the room, it's not that luxurious but cosy enough for them. The white cream colour of the walls, smell of clean bleach attacks her nose. A tall curtain caught the attention that made her approach it.

'Let it be a terrace, please.' She prayed in her head.

When she moved the curtain aside, a big grin plastered in her lips. At last, she can smoke then.

She turned around, seeing Lorna checking the door if it's secured.

Melisca chose the bed closest to the door, the girl seemed paranoid about whatever could happen.

She put her backpack on the mattress and sat down on the soft surface. "Are you afraid on your own?" Her mouth spat mindlessly. She had thrown the words, too late to swallow it back.

Lorna remained silent as she walks back to her bed and kneeled to rummage her bag on the floor, putting some clothes out on the bed.

"No man is an island, Liz. You can't do everything on your own." She replied after a few moments.

'I did for many years already.' Her mind retorted.

The girl stood up carried the clothes she put out along with the hotel towel on the foot of the bed. "I'll just go to the washroom." She said without glancing back at her.

She hummed as her reply and just followed the girl by look, entering the bathroom. When she heard the sound of the shower turned on, the splash of water on the floor, she then moved up and went to the girl's bag.

"Lorna, do you have a charger?" She called loud enough for the girl to hear her.

"In the bag."

Carefully opening the zipper encase there are any protruding needles again as a trap. It's her alibi to see what does other the girl has as a weapon. The charger lay on top of the folded clothes. She needs it anyway so she pulled it out.

Rummaging without making anything out of the order, she opened the other zippers and pockets. Her wallet and cellphone are nowhere, maybe the girl brought them with her in the bathroom. Smart move. Wallet and phones can have everything of a clue.

In the very last pocket, she saw a syringe with a cover. She held it up to her eyes the colourless liquid inside looks exactly like water. Her nose hasn't caught up any smell, regardless of how strong her senses are. She moves it closer and sniffed, there, she now got something, but it's not out of the ordinary. It gives-off a faint fragrant, like a sweet perfume. It's close to nothing.

Realizing that anytime Lorna might have finished, she returned it from the bag and made sure everything is in order. She doesn't have to worry about her fingerprints, she hadn't taken off her biker gloves yet.

She snatched the charger on the floor and stood up, went to the nearest electrical outlet to use the charger.

The water from the bathroom stopped and after a while, Lorna came out with a blower in hand. She's wearing a violet sleeveless shirt and a pyjama.

Melisca kept staring at the girl, not the face, but to her right arm, the tattoo that she's barely seen earlier, now on the full image. Her heart suddenly skipped a bit for she was now sure that she had seen it somewhere before.