Knight's Tempus [16+]

Chapter 2

Third Person's Pov

Red is helping Ava prepare for dinner. She's placing the plates on the table while Ava is on the kitchen cooking. Some of the female warriors and male weres are out and guarding the entire mansion where majority of the elderly and children are after the announcement that the pack is under attack.

"Hey, you're done?" She asks Ava as she entered the kitchen. Ava is spacing out and Red can't help but sigh. "You look ugly when you're worried like that."

Ava instantly glared at her, she shrugs. "Why are you even worried? Mr. Nicolo Smith looks capable and so is your brother whose with him. I'm sure they'll be fine." Red said. She is telling the truth, even though she knows she can't stop Ava from worrying she will at least be there to remind her of her mate and brother, of what they're capable of. Between her and Ava, her best friend knows those people well. By the looks of them, they look MORE than capable.

"I can't help it, Red. You might not know this but I, as their Luna, I can feel when I lose someone from my pack. I can feel when they're extremely distressed. I..." She takes the bowl of soup Ava prepared, placed it on the counter and took the nearest chair and she pulled Ava and forced her to sit. She handed her a glass of cold water.

"Drink. It may help you calm down." She smiles, "Tell me more about your pack, 'Va. I wanna know more about your pack." She urged as she holds Ava's hands.

Ava sighs, "How about I tell you later? Let's get the people here to eat first." She eagerly nodded her head and called for everyone on the dining. The atmosphere is heavy, it's no question that everyone is agitated and she can even see how uneasy the elderly are. The children are happily eating, completely unaware of what is happening outside the mansion.

"Enjoy your dinner, we have more if you want." Ava announced breaking the silence between the elderly. Looking at Ava's smiling face, reassuring everyone—especially those who are aware of what's happening—Red knows Ava is a great Luna. She have seen how anxious she was in the kitchen but right now, as she faced her pack mates, she looks unbothered.

"Luna Ava, are we going to sleep here tonight?" The girl with pink hair and pig tails asks. Is her hair naturally pink? Looks cute.

Ava nodded and smiles at the little girl while Red is just standing on the dining's door frame. "Yes yes. We'll be having a sleep over!" Ava's enthusiasm affected everyone in the room, even the elders but most especially the children.

"Yehey! I'm so happy, Luna! It's my first time in a sleep over!" The same girl exclaimed. Red chuckles to herself. That girl's tiny voice is adorable.

"That's right Mia so you behave. Listen to me like what your Mommy Maggie always tells, okay?" Red's ears perked up upon hearing what Ava said. Ah, that's why the little girl has some resemblance to Maggie. They're related. She wonders if Mia is Maggie's child. If so, then Maggie must have a mate.

"Yes Luna Ava! Wait," the little girl's head turns to her and then so is everyone. Red gulped and avoided their gazes and looks at the ceiling instead. That chandelier looks expensive. "Who is she, Luna?" She asks while pointing at her. Err, why does she need to ask about me? Can't she just enjoy her food?

Ava laughs. "She is your Aunt Red. She is my best friend and your Mom's new best friend too."

"Really?"

Red started to sweat. They're still not diverting their eyes back to their foods and she can feel it. It's penetrating the side of her head.

"Mia, you should eat. I have a story to tell later. Everyone, please continue eating." And they did.

Phew. Red almost scurry away from the room. Does pack needs to be like that when there's someone new? Their scrutinizing eyes frightened Red out of her wits.

Why am I not a sociable unknown being? She asks herself sulking.

"You're not hungry yet?" Ava inquires as she approaches her. She shakes her head. Somehow, Red wants to be on guard. She wants to protect Ava, she wants to protect her pack because only then Ava will be reassured.

"I can guard too, you know." She said and started to walk out of the dining.

"Red, no. You don't have to. The warriors can manage, we have enough people to protect us."

She looks at Ava walking along side with her and sighs. "I can't help it. There's something in me that wants to go out and be like Maggie. I want to protect you. This feeling of wanting to protect something ... someone, the feeling to protect you is so strong Ava that I ... I can't explain it." She tried to explain further but she can't. All she knows is she wants to protect Ava, like she always wanted, the moment Ava showed her kindness in Tirada.

Ava ruffled her hair with a smile. "You haven't changed a bit, Red. I just taught you how life is, that's all. You don't have to protect me, it's not your responsibility."

Red frowns. "Of course it's not. I never took protecting my best friend as a responsibility. Protecting you is not a responsibility, Ava. It's a promise." Her frown disappears and she looks at Ava intently. "A promise that I'm not planning to break. Not now, not ever."

They both stare at each other when...

"Why do we sound like we're lovers?"

Red stilled. "Oh..." she scratches her temple. "We should stop. It's—"

"Cringing." Ava cut her off. "No offense Red, you're beautiful and all but—"

"I don't think I swing that way either, 'Va. And besides, you're not my type." She rolled her eyes and left Ava whose gaping at her.

RED opened the front door to see four wolves guarding the front, two males and two females, they're all in their human form.

Red scratches her temple because she is embarrassed. "Hello, good evening. I uh ... brought some foods for you guys. Ava cooked this and since you're out here guarding she asked me to ... give you these." All of them are staring at her until one of them approaches her smiling.

"Thank you, Ms. Red." The man kindly smile at her, it helps lessen her embarrassment.

"You should all eat."

The other three looks at each other and nods, took their foods from her and started eating. It's a sandwich with pork. Ava told her while they were preparing the sandwiches that werewolf's appetite is extraordinary so they decided to make bigger sandwiches for the werewolves on guard. That's why I'm such a big eater, it's a werewolf thing.

"You're not eating, Miss?" The same man asks her. He's lean and has gray hair.

She shakes her head. "I'm done." Yes she is, she and Ava ate at the kitchen counter while talking. She asks her the basics about pack that Ava wasn't able to tell her before and even if she does, Red is too uninterested listening to them before. She was more focused on learning the basic of life before, for example, how to use a phone. Yes, she also forgot how to use smartphone or maybe she doesn't really know how to use smartphone even before she lost her memory.

Losing memory sucks. Not only does she not know her past life, she can't completely move forward because she feels that a huge part of her is missing and that part of her can answer what she truly is.

The sun has already set yet Alpha Nicolo Smith and company is not back yet. Red is sure Ava is more worried. They've been out for three hours already but she still doesn't have news about them. Tsk.

The gray-haired man tap her shoulder and is smiling awkwardly. Oh. "Sorry I wasn't paying attention. What was that?" She asks.

"Oh it's nothing important. I, we, would like to thank you for bringing our foods to us, it wasn't necessary Miss but thank you for doing so. I, uh, we really appreciate it." Red's forehead furrow. Why is the man's cheeks tinted red?

"Are you ... okay?" She carefully asks. Wait, is he feeling hot? Why? Could it be that the sandwich is spicy? Did she put the wrong herbs on the meat that's why? "Is it spicy? Wha— what's wrong?" Ugh. I knew kitchen and I aren't meant for each other. Maybe helping Ava was a huge mistake. Look what happened.

The guy looks baffled upon her question but his face morphed into realization. "Oh no, you're mistaken. I'm okay— we're okay. The food isn't spicy. I, uh," He stretches his right hand in front of her. "I'm Owen. These are my friends, Telly, Carla and Jon. We are pack warriors. Nice meeting you, Miss. Red."

Red looks at the other wolf behind him, they all smile at her and she returned the gesture. All of Ava's pack-mates are kind, so far all of the weres she have met are kind towards her and she can't be more thankful. This is her first time meeting and talking to a lot of people ever since she woke up three yeas ago. She only has the old man before and then Ava came.

Old man...

She misses the old man but she is sure he's happy wherever he is now. Finally, he's in peace.

"It's nice meeting —" Owen's eyes suddenly turned blank and his eyes are glassy. Red stepped back, then he blinks and he's back to normal, actually no, he looks worried over something while Red is freaking out. What the sugar lala, what happened?! "What ... happened to you? Your eyes were ... clouded." She asks in bewilderment as she points his face.

"I'm sorry, someone mind linked me." He then turns to his co-warriors. Heh, co-warriors. "I'm sure you got what Gamma Maggie said. We have to be more alert. The Alpha and his group is facing mad wolves right now. Mind link everyone to all stay at home and hide at the secret rooms of their houses." Then he turns to her, "Miss, you have to get inside. It's not safe here, you—"

"Why do you sound so scared, mutt?"

Everyone froze, except Red.

She turns behind her to see a man who looks like he came from pool of blood and mud. He looks disgusting. His smile looks creepy. And disgusting. Red finds his half naked body fit. And disgusting. His hair is messy which is supposed to be sexy but Red thinks it's disgusting.

"Hey," she started and the man's eyes dropped to hers, "do you know what bath is?" She asks while covering her nose because most especially, he smells disgusting.

Something growl behind the man and then, from the hidden and dark part of the forest inside the compound emerged ten wolves, they look like a normal wolf in Red's eyes. Their size. Their fur. Their... yeah, they look normal except for a fact that their eyes are red. Good thing they're not salivating. Ava's wolf is still the best looking wolf ever. She thought.

"Oh, we have a feisty one here who most likely is all talk but less action." The man same who doesn't know what bath is, mocks.

Red can't help but chuckles. "You're so funny! Ladies and gentleman, we also have a all talk, more threat but less personal hygiene man here guys." She said and looks at the other four wolves with her. They tried to stifle a laugh but failing miserably.

The disgusting looking man growl at them, at her specifically. "Don't try being arrogant with me, b***h. Your Alpha can't help you all right now because they are too busy dealing with our friends."

Red gritted her teeth. Five versus ten, no, versus twenty, more wolves appear from behind them. So they were hiding. Is this... Red looks at the disgusting man intently. Could he be the leader? Nope. Too impossible. As Red scrutinizes the man, she came with the conclusion that the man is not the leader. He's too messy to be one. He doesn't look like someone whose capable of thinking much and planning this kind of attack either, no offense— nope. All offense meant.

If she isn't wrong, the entire attack is a diversion. Whatever those mad wolves are, they are used to divert the Alpha's attention and these weres in front of them sneaked in. But why? They could attack the Alpha with their number given that the Alpha brought few wolves compared to their numbers. And if the Alpha is indeed struggling against those mad wolves—whatever they are— why are they here?

Tsk! Red keeps on thinking until more wolves, this time from their side, some in their human form and some in their wolf form appeared. Looking at it, the number seemed fair. There are twenty of the red-eyed wolves and there are twenty or less of them. It's fair enough.

"Miss Red you should get inside. The Luna is now aware of the situation and she told us that you need to get in."

"Text her, tell her I'll be fine. I can manage and Ava knows that. Tell her I'll be fine. Wait.." she looks at Owen, "lend me your phone. I'll talk to her instead. Gah, that woman needs to know I'm perfectly fine." She rolls her eyes. She appreciates Ava being worried and all but now is not the time for it, especially since she needs to teach this man hygiene. Seriously.

Owen nervously looks at her. "I don't have my phone with me.."

Red is confused. "How did you talk to her then? Magic?" She laughs. Does werewolf know magic? Nah, only spell casters can, according to what Ava told her before, but she haven't met one.

"We.. we have mind link." Red grew interested. She jumped on Owen like a bunny, her eyes twinkle with interest.

"What is that?"

Owen looks at their surrounding before answering, "Well, its kind of communication within the pack. We talk through our mind, like telepathy."

She smiles, "How does it work?! I want to do that to!" Red's excitement is totally undeniable to the point that she forgot what situation they are in.

The disgusting man growled. "We are not---"

Red's sharp eyes glared at the foolish man. "Don't be rude, can't you see we are talking?!"Red snapped

The man's eyes widen and with his mouth agape, he pointed Red, he looks like he's in a state of shock .

"You ... How dare you raise your voice at me?!" The man growls, the veins on his forehead is now visible because of anger.

Everyone is on high alert. Red placed her hands on her hips and jutted her chin.  "How dare you interfere in our conversation AND HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME?!" She growls back. She is really interested on knowing about that mind link Owen said, she wants to do it and now this disgusting looking man butted in like he's part of the conversation. It pisses her off, her blood is boiling with irritation.

The disgusting unknown man is about to talk when a large black and gray wolf leaped in front of her, shielding her and the others from the group of the disgusting man.

The black and gray wolf growl loudly, she heard some of the werewolves from the other side whimpered. Well, that was one powerful growl.

"Beta! We're glad to have you back!" Owen greeted the new comer wolf. The wolf nods in recognition but it's eyes lingers on her for a little longer.

Red unsure of what to do so pointed her self and laughs, "Don't mind me. I'm a nobody." She said and waved off. The wolf then looks at Owen as if asking him who she is since she forgot to introduce herself.

"She is Luna Ava's friend, Beta. She just arrived today."

The wolf softly growl, talking to her. "Oh nice meeting you too!" She happily greeted, well, the wolf must have greeted her because of that soft growl. The wolf once again growl, with a little force now. Red is confused. "Uh? Ah, I'm Red. That's my name." She said but the wolf shakes it's head and gently push her body with it's snout. "Hey hey hey! You can't go on pushing people like that. That's bad! Bad wolfy, bad!"

The entire place is filled with silence.

I guess I shouldn't have said that?

Suddenly, the disgusting man and his companion growl at them, it hurts her ears because they growl in unison. "Attack them! Don't leave anyone alive!" And his minions obeyed his command.

"Tsk, if I were to become I villain I'd choose to be neat and clean like I'm not a villain at all. You know, element of surprise." Red muttered to herself and positioned herself.

Her adrenaline is pumping, she can feel her heart beating rapidly in anticipation. She longs to fight and beat these weres up, they are after all the reason why Ava is anxious.

"Are you not really going inside Miss?" Owen asks.

She shakes her head. "Don't worry about me. I can manage. Fight these stinking wolves and don't mind me." She looks at him and smiles, "Let's teach them personal hygiene!" And with that, their fight began.

Third Person's Omniscient

As the dark wolf tried to attack Red, she easily dodge it's attack. It was a close call, she almost got her throat ripped, good thing she was able to duck. Red hissed and using her inhumane speed, she moved from her place and into the wolf's behind. She kicks the wolf with her strength and sent the wolf flying to the nearby tree with a whimper.

The nearby wolf who witnessed what happened are stunned, her speed and strength is like a vampire but she is not. When she snapped at the rogue for a moment because of its interruption, the nearby wolves were able to catch a faint scent of a werewolf on her and as quickly as it appeared, it then disappeared. Not a trace of it like she never carried that scent, like it wasn't there.

Red wipes the imaginary sweat on side of her face. "Phew, that was one nasty and angry wolf right there."

Her eyes followed the movement behind her without her head moving and when the distant is safe, she back flipped and landed on the wolf's back and by doing so, the wolf tried to reach for her, sadly, it can't no matter how much it twisted its head and growl at her.

Looking upon the wolf's red eyes she can't help but sigh. "I almost feel pity for you, almost. If only you're not here to kill us all intentionally." After whispering that, she hit the wolf's vulnerable neck and jump away from it as it limp and loses its life. The pressure she placed on that hit is critical that it severed its neck, breaking it on the process.

A light brown wolf appeared beside her, it doesn't smell disgusting and does not have a red eyes like others. "I don't talk wolf so I can't understand you. You'll go that way, be careful wolfy." Using her speed, she helped her allied wolves who seems to be struggling when someone caught her eyes.

Poopery! The stinking man effortlessly sneaked inside the mansion while all of them are busy. Why would he ... Her eyes widen in realization. That's why these wolves are here, they're aiming for Ava!

In a lightning speed, Red hurried towards the mansion but he can't find the man and Ava everywhere. Why don't I have a huge nose?! I can't even smell where she is! Frustration covered her face when she heard screams from behind the mansion. Without hesitation and she run towards the direction leaving a gust of wind behind.

"Ava!!!" Poop it! Ava is in her cream-white wolf protecting the children, good thing she is not wounded. Red wonders where the others are but froze seeing that they all lay in their pool of blood. She gulps. The weres, they are all old and frail. How can this man cruelly kill them?!

Red growl loudly catching the man's attention once again. "You stinking piece of s**t!!!" She screamed, unaware of the reason why her body is burning. All she knows is she's angry especially upon seeing the fear stricken faces of the innocent children.

The man laughs at her, "Of all the people to come and save them it has to be you?" His voice is mocking and is laced with malice and insult. The way he looks at Red from head to toe is adding fuel to the fire.

Ava's wolf growl at the man, turns to her and growl at her too. Red is baffled. What? Why is she growling at me too? "Laters Ava. I don't talk wolf."

Ava's white wolf raised its head and howled making the rogue man growl angrily, in a blink of an eye the man morphed into its dark brown wolf. Red and Ava both saw it, the man just turned into his wolf like nothing. No cracking of bones, no concentration needed. Like the man just disappeared and the dark wolf appeared.

Ava looks at her best friend, Red. Red did it again, because of her anger there's a whiff of familiar scent emitting from her, it was faint but it's there. The scent of a werewolf. The scent of nature, it smells like forest after it rained.

After one her pack members mind linked her that there are rogues in front of the mansion, she decided to take the elders and the children to the underground shelter and the only way to go there is through the tunnel at the back of the mansion. Unfortunately for them, before they can reach the entrance of the tunnel, a man stopped them. He seems to be the leader of the rogues, Ava noticed how he seems faster than average wolf in human form.

Along with her are the seven elders of their pack, human elders, she commanded them to remain behind her but they did not. Despite their old age and can not shift, they protected her. They died protecting her. She felt it, their connection to the pack and to her, it's gone. What pained her the most is their peaceful faces as they lost their lives, as one of them, Elsa, closed her eyes she smiled at her. Until their last breath, they protected her. They protected their pack.

Ava growl at the wolf in front of her. She did not miss the dark smoke emitting from the wolf's body. She tried to reach for Nico and Knight but there seems to be something blocking them. She can't mind link Nico's group. Ava keeps wondering the reason for that, she failed to prepare herself from the wolf's attack, she steps back and ready to fight when Red appeared in a blink of an eye, Red uses her right arm to block the wolf's mouth, it ended up biting Red's arm.

"Ah!" Red gritted her teeth because of pain. She can feel its canine buried in her arms. She look behind her to see Ava's wolf. "Go! Take the kids and yourself in a safe place." Ava's wolf whimper and shakes its head. Red struggle to keep her body firm to block the wolf from attacking further. With her arms still on the wolf's mouth, she pushed it off slamming it on the nearest wall. She looks at Ava. "I'll be fine. I'll hold him off, go!" Red demanded and faced the wolf again. Its eyes are glaring at her, hatred visible.

Ava's remained rooted on her place until Red snapped her eyes at her. "AVA! You're a Luna, you are their Luna. They need your protection more than I do." Red then smiles, "I'll be fine. I promise." After saying that, Red faced and attack the wolf that seems to be focused only on her.

Hesitantly, Ava on her wolf form went to the nearest tree and transformed back on her human form, changes her clothes and walks back to the kids. They are all scared especially after what they witnessed.

"Sshh, I'm with you. Luna will protect you, okay?" She smiles at them and guided her towards the forest where the entrance is. "We have to go to a safe place come on.." She wanted to look back, to look at Red but she choose not to. She can't bear to look at her because she might come back and help her. Red's determination while looking at her, Red reminding her of her role in the pack, she knew who needs her help more. Ava is afraid, she's afraid for Red. She can't lose her like ...

She shakes her head and hurried the kids while telling them to stay quiet as she listens to her surroundings. Staying alert for a surprise attack.

Red is right, she is a luna. These kids' Luna and she must protect them, like how Red protected her.

--

I edited this chapter due to an error of the paragraphs, apparently, it's over 5,000 so I'm unable to edit it so the continuation of the chapter will be after the "AFTERWORD" chapter. I am so sorry for the inconvenience guys...