Knight's Tempus [16+]

Chapter 1

RED keeps on glancing around hoping to see the familiar face of her best friend but all to no avail. She huffed a breath, shakes her head, and sits down again. She's been waiting for Ava to appear magically for thirty minutes now, she's tired, hungry and most of all, she feels irritated. Some weres keep on looking at her from across the table. She can feel their eyes burning a hole on her back and it makes her want to make a hole on their forehead instead.

Gah! I have to calm down. I'm foreign, I can't be in trouble on my first day. She reminded herself. Just when she's really about to calm down and ignore the weres, really ignore them, one of them approached her. Well, that took longer than I expected. She thought they will approach her sooner but she was wrong and she doesn't know if it's a good thing or not.

"Hi..." the guy greeted her. She studied his appearance, he has blonde hair, a pair of green eyes, his body isn't filled with too much muscle like he's on steroids but close to it. She smirks on the inside. In short, the guy looks like a typical muscled-ish werewolf.

"Hello," she answered politely still glancing at the door hoping for Ava to miraculously appear but still, none. The guy takes the seat in front of her without her offering him. Well yeah, have a seat boy.  Must have been tiring looking at me. Heh.

"You're new here?" the guy asks and she hummed in response looking anywhere but him. "Are you hungry? I can treat you for a meal." Her eyes instantly snapped at his direction upon hearing that. Now that's how you start a conversation. She smiles sweetly at him.

"Ye---" The familiar bell of the shop rang and Ava's long and wavy ash brown hair entered the shop. "Ava!!!"

Ava who just entered looks for the source of the voice and is greeted by Red with a blond man. Hmm, it seems like that man got charmed. Ava thought as she approached her best friend.

"Here you are, sorry I'm late." Red nods her head standing up and then directed her attention towards the blond man. Too much for having free lunch I guess.

"As much as I'd like to have a chat with you, we have to go. See you!" Not. No offense, the man is a fine piece of meat, given that he is a werewolf, it's just that Red is not in the mood, like always, to flirt with or even entertain him. Well except for that free meal. She's more than willing to say yes to that. She's a busy jobless woman after all. She almost cringed upon remembering her current status. JOBLESS...

The moment they left the cafe Red glared at Ava whose looking for her car keys and oblivious to her murderous glare. "I got the keys, let's go." Red did not move a muscle so Ava looks at her and then she paled.

"Uh... What?" She asks Red but the latter just smirks at her. An evil one. Ava gulped and laugh nervously. "Stop it Red... It wasn't intentional okay... I uh, was... busy."

Red's evil smirk didn't falter. "Busy with what? Thinking how many male weres approached me already?"

"Of course not! Why would I do that to you when I know how much you don't want to entertain those pieces of walking meat flocking around your gorgeousness?!" Ava defended raising both her hands up in a sign of surrender yet Red did not miss the glint of amusement on her eyes.

"Really?" she raises her brows and Ava dramatically nods her head. She just sighs, "Let's go." She then entered the car leaving Ava gaping.

"Wow girl, that's my car and... I'm not your driver." She whispers but she's sure as heaven that Red heard her.

"Ava, double time!" Red ordered playfully and Ava left with no choice but to take the driver's seat looking like Red's personal driver. This bitch... Ava thought but then chuckles, she's not Red if she isn't bossy.

~

The moment Ava parked the car Red instantly went out inhaling and exhaling loudly.

Ava grimaced looking at her best friend huffing for oxygen like an exhausted dog. "You still don't like car air fresheners?"

Red's eyes snapped at her wildly. "It's not air fresheners when it smells like that, Ava! You have to change that into something else, it smells like rotten socks."

Ava crossed her arms. "It's lavender, Red."

"It's rotten socks, Ava." Red retorted mimicking her best friend's crossed arms.

Ava sighs and massaged her temple. She loves Red, really, but sometimes she's too willful even her gets a headache.

"Then I guess you better start looking for a job so you won't have to use my car—"

"—that smells like rotten socks." Red cut her off. Ava sighs, again. With Red, Ava feels like she's growing ten years older. It's weird. "But yeah, I'll look for a job AND... for your information, I'm not planning to ride that car of yours again, I can just run, you know how fast I am." Ava laughs at Red's proud statement. Indeed, she's fast, too fast in human form.

Red who recovered from the disgusting smell of Ava's car looks around. They're somewhere in the forest, that's the only thing she knows. Right now, she's facing a huge black gate along with gigantic brown walls on each side.

"Where are we?" She asks Ava.

"We are about to enter our pack ground." Red look down.

"So we're not in your pack ground right now?" Ava nods her head. "Whose pack is this, then?"

"No one, this is a free land but somehow other pack thought that our pack claimed this land so we created these walls. The actual pack is far from here tho." Red nodded her head upon Ava's explanation.

"If that's the case, then let's go?" Red suggested while Ava only mumbles a small yes. Red stops walking and look at Ava's car.

"We're leaving your car?" She asks Ava who stops walking as well and is looking at her.

"Yeah," Red's forehead crease, Ava then knew she's confused. Right, who would leave their expensive car outside her pack's borders? "Don't worry, someone will fetch that here."

"Where are they gonna take this, then?"

"Somewhere..."

"Somewhere... Where?"

Ava grunted and glare at Red's genuine curiosity. Her glare disappeared and she laughs lightly. Red is utterly adorable when she's clueless like this. "To the pack's garage. Let me tell you this, Red. This—" Ava pointed the gate, "this is one of the entrances of the territory and as you can see on the inside, they're too many trees. A car won't pass through. They'll use the other way to take it to the garage."

Red's forehead crease further. "Why don't we just use that way where a car can pass then? Why must we walk?"

Again, Ava grunted. "It's because it'll be too far from here."

"So it isn't too far if we just walk on our way there? Didn't you just said the actual pack is far from this border?" She asks again. Ava is really confusing and so is their pack entrance. The entrances are confusing, what more the actual system of the pack? Red almost cringed.

Ava stares at her blankly. "What?"

"I won't entertain further questions." Her best friend said with finality. Red makes a face.

"That's unfair, Ava. You know how clueless I am about the werewolf system even though I am one. You don't expect me to just shut up even if I'm confused, do you?"

Ava whose about to take a step, stop midway, turn to look at Red and sighs. How many times has she sighed meeting Red today? Even she doesn't know the answer. "I don't expect you to shut up when you're confused, Red. Even if I'd want you to, you won't. Your mouth has a life on its own when you're confused and curious. But, I'd really appreciate it if you won't ask questions anymore, for now." Ava explained seriously. Oh, moon goddess and other high beings out there. Thank you for giving me this patience. "Let's go?"

Red blink. She wants to ask Ava a question but she chooses not to. She will prove to Ava that she can shut up even if she's dying of curiosity. She can, it's not that hard to shut up. Hah, who says she can't keep her mouth shut?

They've been walking for a while now, wait, how many hours passed already? Was it already hours? Red doesn't know. Ava is quiet, like her sometimes self. She isn't usually quiet but knowing Ava for two years now, Red knows this is part of her best friend. Her only best friend.

Red still trying to prove Ava wrong, keeps her mouth shut tho she's been biting her lower lip. She keeps on glancing around the forest and all she can see is endless trees and bushes. They're not near yet.

Keep that mouth shut, Red. You can do it. It's not that hard. Nope. It's easy. Yeah. Easy...

Red gulped and looks at Ava whose staring ahead seriously. She wanted to say something but shut up instead. She opened her mouth to say something but shut up instead. She shakes her head. She can still shut up. She can... "So uh Ava..." She started.

Ava smiled to herself. Three minutes. Red was able to zip her mouth for three minutes. They've been walking for three minutes now but Ava is sure as a werewolf has fur that Red thinks otherwise. "Hmm," she mumbled not looking at Red. She keeps thinking if the pack's garden is already set. She can't fail surprising Red now on her first day in their pack. On her every first pack visit.

"How do you think will those people or weres will take your car if you have the key with you?" Ava stop walking as soon she's done telling her that. Red stop walking along with her.

Like a horror movie possessed doll, Ava turns her head towards her. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Red cringed. Ava's voice is too calm. Too polite. Too sweet. It's scary along with that smile plastered on her lips.

Red take a step back and laughs. Ava, when she's mad is not a good sight to see. She knows it well. "You told me not to ask questions anymore..."

Ava's smile didn't falter. "That's true. I told you not to ask questions but I don't remember telling you not to tell me something."

Red scratch her temple. "Uh..." Right. Why didn't she think about it? She could just tell Ava that she's holding her car's key.

Red's eyes widen when Ava launch at her that's why she unconsciously dart away from Ava.

In a blink of Ava's eyes, Red is gone leaving a gust of wind behind. Did she really scare Red? Nah, she's sure she didn't. Red must have thought she's serious that's why she left for her to calm down. How sweet of her. Not. Ava is sure Red is just running away from her because she just realized her mistake of not telling her about her keys.

Wait... Where could Red be now? Ava facepalmed. Her important guest is now missing in action.

~•~

RED keeps on running away from Ava. She doesn't know why the moment she saw Ava's position like she wants to attack her, something in her snaps and she just darted away.

Red's forehead crease. Even she does not know the answer. She doesn't know why she reacted that way. Realizing what she did and thinking about Ava being alone in the forest doesn't sit well with her. She's worried. She is about to stop running when— "Ah!" Her vision turned upside down. "What the... What is this?" She fell for a trap. She's now stuck in a web, like some animal. She growls. One of the things she hates the most is being stuck. She doesn't like being restrained.

"Who are you?" A cold voice suddenly spoke. It's a man.

"Red. Red is my name could you uh, help me out?" The man didn't respond. She rolled her eyes. If she only knew that this would happen she shouldn't have run away from Ava. Wait... Ava! She's alone! Red growl to herself. Such stupidness led to this. "You unknown man, I know you're still there. Will you help me or not?" She asks impatiently. She can't help it. She's worried about Ava being alone in the forest that she totally forgot one important fact, that Ava is from here.

"Your scent is strange. You do not smell human but you're not a werewolf either. What are you?" The same voice spoke.

Red makes a face. Who are you, now, what are you? What's next? How are you? "I'm a werewolf!"

"You do not smell like one."

Her crease forehead returned. "How sure are you that I'm not?"

"I can tell by your scent."

Red scratch her temple. Well, that's new. A werewolf has a scent to know that it's a werewolf? How come she doesn't know about that? Wait, what does a werewolf even smell like?

"Are you sure you're nose is not broken?" She inquired. She's starting to feel dizzy in her position.

The man did not answer. "What a mitch." Red mumbles. Red grunted. "Hey you unknown man, I'm dizzy now. Will you help me now?"

"No. Tell me how did you get in here and who sent you here." The same coldness and bored tone in the unknown man's voice are starting to get in Red's nerves.

She gritted her teeth, heaved a sigh, and smiles to herself. Calm down, Red. He's your only hope.

"Again, my name is Red. I get in through your gate then I walk along your forest. My friend scared me that's why I ran and then bam, here I am. Upside down. No one sent me here, I came here all by myself. The plane and train trip were exhausting but I'm fine." She explained. Red is sure that the man understands her now, she was able to explain it thoroughly. The person who won't understand that will receive a mind-blowing smack in the head from her.

"I don't understand."

Red's brain started giving suggestions as to what to do with this unknown man behind her after she's released.

"Actually never mind. Could you call for Ava? She's from here. I'm here friend. Tell her I'm drying." She hurriedly demanded.

The man grew silent for a moment. "You're a friend of Ava?"

"I just said that..." she trailed off, "Wait, how many girls named Ava do you have here?" She asks. If Ava is not the only Ava here then it will not only be troublesome but it will put her into more trouble since she claims to be friends with Ava. Oh no, then if that happens they need to compromise and bring all the Ava to prove her innocence.

Heh, Red nodded her head with what she thought. "One. There's only one Ava here. She's the Luna of this pack."

"Luna? What's that?" If there's only one Ava, then her best friend, Ava, is the luna? But what's a Luna? Furthermore... "I'm seeing red now. So, will you help?" She asks with her eyes close. Red is serious, except for the part she's seeing red part. Her vision is not red but she wonders if she opens her eyes and peeks, will it be red? One thing is for sure, her eyes are about to roll out of its socket because of how dizzy she is. I wonder if my brain has too much blood now? She thought. Nah, maybe not. Yet. Heh.

"You claim to be—"

"Puh-lease, let's skip another lesson and put me down first. I seriously need help now." And she is.

"How can I be sure that you're not a threat in this pack?"

She chuckles. It's confirmed. This man is now on her nerves. On every fiber of her being. Her brain is screaming one thing. To tie the man upside down as well. "I am not a threat to your pack, but I'm sure as hello that I'm a threat to your life," she heaved a sigh and then, "MITCH!!!" She screamed.

It wasn't part of her plan, her two-seconds ago plan to threaten the man. The plan is to sweetly and politely ask for the man's help but then, it's what she's been doing since the man showed up and yet the man did nothing but keep asking her. She. Is. Pissed. And dizzy, of course.

"Wha—"

"Brother! What happened?" Red's world lightens upon hearing Ava's familiar voice along with other footsteps.

"This girl—"

"Woman," she corrects the man. Girl? Who?

"This girl here seems suspicious. I did not do anything to her—"

"Aside from interrogating her while she's upside down." Again, she butts in. She confirmed another thing. She does not like the man's cold voice. He seems nonchalant and bored with everything. Even when they were conversing. Uh nope, even when he's interrogating her.

Ava looks at her brother and she found him with a knotted forehead and is staring at Red—whose now upside down— with an unknown expression. Though he looks bored and uninterested, Ava can't help but think that there's something odd about this glint on her brother's eyes.

Her brother then turns to her. "This girl is your friend?" Ava nodded her head.

She was worried about Red's whereabouts that's why she mind linked some of her pack warriors and trackers to help her look for her. It's not because the territory is unsafe, she's more worried about Red's well-being since she is unfamiliar around the area, and most of all, alone. Ava's guess isn't wrong though. The moment Red left, she has already foreseen that Red will be in trouble—in any way possible— and here they are.

"I told you I am not a girl, you ice cube!" Red growl. Ava grimaced and so are the three of her pack members. No one raised their voice at her brother, no one. Not even Ava, she wouldn't dare.

"Release her. I'll go ahead." Her brother ordered shaking his head as he walks away. Did Ava saw it wrong or was her brother has a small smile? Why would he smile?

"He's leaving isn't he?" Red, still upside down spoke. Her brother isn't too far, he's casually walking away like he's strolling in the park. "Asked too many questions yet he didn't even help. And he ordered other people when he could have done it himself. What an arrogant iceberg. Hey Ava, I love you and all, but the moment I see your brother I won't hesitate to give him a piece of my mind. I swear."

Ava nervously laughs as she looks at her brother's retreating back. She knew he heard Red's dilemma. "Red... ha-ha, you're not serious, are you?" Even her three pack members are unmoving and nervous.

Just who is this mad upside-down woman? They thought.

"I'm serious. Now, release me here. My brain is about to explode!" Back to being bossy. Red dramatically complained. Ava looks at her pack members and signaled one of them to cut the rope and the remaining two to catch Red. She's tempted to just let her fall on her butt but she chooses not to.

"Divine sugar, I missed earth's floor!" Red dramatically kissed the ground the moment she's released. She looks up and showed Ava her pitiful puppy dog eyes. Ava finds it disgusting. "Thank you, best friend!" She exclaimed.

Ava sighs and turns her back on Red, shaking her head. "Let's go, I'm sure the other wolves are starving to death waiting for us."

Red stood up and run towards her. "Waiting for us? Why?"

Ava sweetly smiles at her and ruffles her hair. "Because I prepared a surprise welcome party for your arrival. And we're an hour, thirty minutes and," Ava glanced at her wristwatch, "twelve seconds late." Red grimaced.

"Sorry..." Ava nods her head in understanding. It wasn't Red's fault. She understands that. "But it's your fault for scaring me though." All of Ava's understandings vanished in thin air as soon as Red said that.

What an ungrateful clueless b***h. Ava thought.

~•~

Red stare in awe at the huge mansion in front of her. "Wow... who lives here?" She asks Ava still gaping at the mansion. It's her first time seeing such a huge mansion because all her life, her three years living in Tirada, she only sees small houses. No one in Tirada owns such a huge and extravagant house.

"I live here and other members of the pack," Ava answered with a soft smile playing on her lips as she looks at Red's expression.

Red's forehead crease because of Ava's answer. "Pack members? Why do you live with them? Don't you have your own house?"

Ava laughs, "I do. We do, but we choose to stay in the packhouse because we can overlook the pack and its members. It's also lively in the packhouse with many people around. It's fun, I'm sure you'll like it." Ava didn't miss the excitement on Red's face upon hearing that.

"Really?! Wait, do you think they will like me? I'm a stranger and I don't smell like a werewolf." Red couldn't help her disappointment upon remembering that odd man's statement regarding her scent. She doesn't smell like a human, not a werewolf either. If she doesn't smell like any of the two, what is she? What is wrong with her? Why is she different? Why is she fast if she isn't a werewolf? Is she a vampire? No, I'm not! Yuck, blood. She shakes her head. She was never tempted to drink blood and she doesn't have fangs either.

Ava messed Red's hair. This girl, she's been through a lot even though she doesn't remember anything. "Don't worry. My pack will like you, they have to." It was a joke. Ava is sure that she doesn't need to do anything for the pack to like Red. They will. Red may be clueless and bossy almost all the time but she's naturally a charmer and she's also friendly. Ava just needs to warn them later on of how moody Red is.

Red bit the inside of her cheeks. "You can't force them to like me." Then she smiles, "If they won't like me, I still have you. It doesn't matter whatever they think of me but you, you're my only best friend so you, matters to me."

Ava almost tears up listening to what Red said. Red is very outspoken about what she feels. She smiled at Red. "Right, so let's go? I can hear your stomach complaining." She laughs when Red makes a face. She takes Red's hands and softly drags her towards the pack house's garden where some of her pack members are waiting, for an hour or so now. The moment they place their feet on the garden, her pack members exclaimed in unison.

"WELCOME TO DRAEKUS PACK!!!"

Red's eyes widen staring the group of people compressed together, some are holding balloons, smiling widely and warmly at her. Her heart thundered with sudden happiness. The feeling is familiar like she experienced the same warmth before. Red, unsure of what to do looks at Ava with her eyes begging to help her. In front of her are strangers, she's only comfortable with Ava around. Too many strangers. It was fine if it's just one or two, but they're too many. She doesn't know what to do. What should she do? What is she supposed to say to start a conversation with them?

"Don't worry, they don't bite." Ava smiles at her as she guided her closer to the pack members. Red gulps.

A red-haired woman approached her with a big smile. Her vibrant red hair is familiar to Red. She knows she has seen this hair before, but where? She looks down and thinks. She saw this woman before but she's not sure where and when she feels like she saw her just recently though.

"Hi!" The woman greeted surprising her. Her wide smile directed towards her.

"Uh, hi..." Red trailed off and unconsciously leaned closer to the woman's face to study it because it might help her rememberer where she saw this woman. Wait... Red's eyes turned into slits. "You're from the airport. I saw you on the way here on the train too." She pointed out staring at the woman who doesn't seem bothered of how close their faces are, instead, the woman laughs, maniacally.

"Yes yes, it's indeed me. You see, this lady here," the red-haired maniac laughing woman pointed Ava whose busy looking at them talking with a smile. "She asked for my help to watch after you travel from Tirada up to Oklad Mesto." Red instantly directed her gaze towards Ava.

"Why?"

Ava shrugs. "It's your first time to travel outside Tirada and though you insist on coming alone because according to you, you're old enough, I'm still worried. That's why I asked Maggie's help looking after you secretly." Ava winks at her, "It's a win-win situation. You were able to travel alone for the first time, you arrived safely and Maggie was able to visit Tirada island." Red scratches her temple. What Ava did makes sense.

She smiles at Ava. She is very lucky to have met and become Ava's best friend and she swore to her life that she will keep her only best friend safe. Always. "Thanks..." she whispered directed to Ava, the latter just nods her head.

"I'm still here," The woman called Maggie spoke, "Oh right! I'm Maggie Collins.." Red smiles at her. Red feels like Maggie and she will get along well. She's thankful for her watching after her as she travels alone after all. She promised to treat the woman well"... I'm Ava's best friend." Maggie added and just like that, Red's eyes sharpened.

"No, you're not." She said. How dare this red-haired laughing maniac claims to be Ava's best friend? She is Ava's best friend. Red and Ava are best friends. No more extra and background character.

Maggie still has this warm smile, not bothered by Red's eyes glaring sharply at her. She is supposed to dislike Red for looking at her like that and making her wait for more than an hour just to eat, but being able to witness how clueless this girl in front of her is, from the Tirada island airport up to Oklad Mesto train until they arrive here in Lupus, Maggie knows she's genuine and yes, she was able to witness how outspoken Red is on the train. That was such a sight to see. Kicking a male werewolf where the sun doesn't shine after Red argued with him because the man thinks so highly of himself, it's one of Maggie's unforgettable moments.

"I am. Ask Ava." She smirks at Red. Red is cute! She wants to pinch her chubby cheeks despite having a petite frame. Red is really adorable with a pair of natural big black eyes, jet black hair, her small Asian nose, and her plump lips.

Red directed her glare towards her best friend, Ava. "Is she telling the truth?" Red's voice is sharp but it's not the type where Maggie's blood should boil upon hearing, it's actually cute how possessive Red is towards her best friend and their Luna.

Ava chuckles nervously. "Well... yeah." Ava looks at Red's expression, she is expecting a saddened reaction, after all, Ava would always tell Red that she is her best friend. She was planning to introduce Maggie formally here but she was scared of seeing Red's reaction if she finds out she is not only her best friend. What shock Ava is Red's wary expression as she regards Maggie's face.

"Does that mean she's my best friend too?" Red asks. This red-haired woman, she's beautiful. Will they be best friends too? But she only has Ava as her best friend. If Ava and Maggie are best friends, is she the extra best friend?

Red is surprised when the red-haired laughing maniac woman suddenly hugs her. "Of course we are best friends now! You, me, and Ava! The three of us are now best friends! It's official, now, Ava, I'll borrow Red for a moment. I'll introduce her to the others, you should go to Nico's office. He was looking for you, I'm sure your mate misses you." After saying that, Maggie drags her towards the table where the foods are, and other weres. She turns her head at Ava whose waving her hand at her and mouthed 'good luck'. She sighs and smiled back.

~

Ava is walking towards her mate, Nico's office, some of her pack members greets her whenever they see her.

"Good afternoon, Luna."

"Welcome back, Luna."

"Luna, hello!"

"We're glad to have you back, Luna."

Ava would smile and nod at them. She's about to turn the knob of Nico's office when the door abruptly opened and she is pulled inside, the door is closed, she's pushed against the door and her mate's scent enveloped her as he crashes his lips unto her. Ava gasps at the sudden assault but then closed her eyes to return Nico's kisses. She can feel him caressing her thigh covered in jeans and his other hand lifting her shirt to caress her now exposed stomach.

Nico groans while she keeps on returning his kisses, their tongues lapping, licking and biting each other's, the moment they're done, both of them are breathless. "Hi..." Her mate greeted, she can feel his smile on her neck where his face is buried.

"Hi," she bites her lower lip when Nico bit her neck and lick it. "You... wanted to see... me?" She asks breathlessly. Nico hums in response before he lifted her bridal style and takes a seat with her sitting on his lap sideways.

"I missed you," Nico confessed as he steals a kiss on her cheek and buried his face on her neck, inhaling her scent. "I wasn't able to accompany you fetch Red, I feel awful, my luna. Comfort me..." Ava laughs but complied. She caresses Nico's hair softly.

"I missed you too. Tired, hmm?" She asks, Nico slowly nod. "Take a break, come on. I'll introduce you to her."

"Later. I wanna have a moment with you alone."

"You're such a big baby..." she teased. Nico playfully growls and again, licked her neck. "Stop it, you know I'm ticklish!" She gently slaps his shoulder when Nico didn't listen.

"Have you eaten?" He asks her, kissing her neck from time to time. Ava glances at her mate whose looking at her softly with a small smile with his face still placed on her neck.

She shakes her head, Nico frown. "Why?"

"I wanna eat with you," Ava kissed his nose, "And, took us longer than expected to arrive. Red got in trouble, good thing Knight was there." Her mate's forehead crease.

"Knight? He's out?" She nodded. "That's unusual of him. I thought he won't ever come out of his room."

"I'm glad he's out. It was my first time seeing him after two months. I wonder when will I be able to see him again."

"Ava..."

Ava shakes her head, this time, it's her who laid her face on his neck. She needs his comfort right now. Seeing her brother again for two months, she knows she should be happy and she is, but, somehow, she is sad because she does not know when will she be able to see him again. Her brother just come and go around the pack, he is within the pack, he's inside the border but it sometimes takes several months before she sees him. He basically became invisible.

"Hush now, you know what he is going through..." Nico kissed her head.

"I know, of course, I know. It isn't easy to lose your mate, but seeing him so dull and lifeless like that, after so many years that had passed, I just wished he's better than before." She looks up to Nico, teary-eyed. "He has become so... cold. I don't know him at all."

"Shhhh, I can't blame him. I wouldn't be able to live if I lose you, my luna. Let's just be thankful that he is alive and sane. It's more than enough for me, I don't know what I'll do if he's gone rabid and uncontrollable." Nico gritted his jaw. "You know how I respect Alpha Knight, losing his mate must be very painful for him. It's a miracle that he's... alive and sane."

Indeed. It is indeed a miracle if a werewolf who loses their mate remains sane. Almost all the time they went berserk, creating havoc and killing innocents to release the pain of losing half of their souls and after that, they become insane and uncontrollable that leads to their death. The wolf needs to be killed in order to save other lives. A widowed wolf loses all his sanity and rationality, even his humanity dies along with his mate. They become empty and turns into a killing machine. Nico, as Knight's former Beta, he does not want to take the life of his most respected alpha. Good thing he doesn't need to. Knight lives. He did not become what they expected him to be after his mate's death.

They're thankful for that but somehow, Nico would sometimes think of what kept Knight sane, though cold and emotionless, what kept him sane up until now? He was able to kill all the wolves involved in his mate's death. He could have ended his own life afterwards. Not that he hoped Knight did but the questions how's and why's remains.

~•~

"Alpha and Luna are here..." someone spoke. Red looks at the direction where all of them are looking to see Ava, with a man. He is dressed in a brown shirt and pants. Looking at them, Red can see how they look perfect together. Ava's face is glowing with happiness while the man keeps on looking at her best friend from time to time. Their bodies pressed together and how the man's arms are wrapped around her best friend's waist didn't go unnoticed by Red too.

Could he be Ava's mate?

Well, Ava's lesson and the only thing Red remembers is about supernaturals having a mate of their own. Someone to share their whole life with. Someone to feel the connection with, someone who can send shivers down your spine, give sparks on your body, and can make you feel alive—like you were dead before you met them— and someone that will love you.

Seeing how happy Ava is, Red knows. This is the man Ava keeps talking about when she was with her in Tirada.

"Red!" Red smiles at Ava when she called her. She walks towards them and when she's close enough, Ava pulled her. "Too slow, tsk." Red makes a face. It was intentional, she's trying to tease Ava and test her patience. Seems like Ava's patience is impenetrable. "I'd like to introduce to you, Red, this is my mate, Nicolo Smith, and love," Red almost cringed, almost. "this is Red. Say hi to each other!" She glared at Ava but her best friend just smirks at her. Ava is making fun of her! She knows how awkward she is when it comes to introduction and starting a conversation.

"I won't mess this up!" She thought. Uh no, she voiced it out. Her cheeks tinted red when Nicolo Smith chuckles. She scratches her temple and awkwardly smiles at him offering her hand. "Hi, I'm Red. Nice to meet you." Was all she can say. It's the safest way to introduce herself.

Nicolo smiles at her, "Hello, I'm Nicolo, Ava's mate, it's a pleasure to meet you." They shake hands and then grew silent. Red doesn't know what to say next and it seems like Nicolo too. Still shaking hands, Red scratches her temple and force a laugh.

Ava whose watching the interaction can't help but cringe. Both of them sucks at first meetings, seriously. "That's enough awkwardness you two, come here Red," she grabs Red's wrist and pulled her towards the table full of foods. "Eat up! Eat more, I wanna see that you are really full." She said enthusiastically.

Red, upon hearing Ava is horrified. "But I—" Ava did not bother listening to her as she already filled up a plate for her. Staring at the plate Ava is offering, she heaved a deep sigh. She wanted to say no, tell Ava that she's full especially after Maggie served her foods too, but looking at Ava's beaming face, she doesn't have the heart to. She smiles at Ava and gladly takes the plate. "Thanks! I will surely finish this, quickly!" With enthusiasm, she sits at the nearest table and started eating. Minutes later, she wants to start crying secretly. She can't breathe already because she's too full! She glances at Ava preparing a plate for Nico as well, smiling widely but her best friend would glance at her from time to time as if making sure she's eating. Ava is her best friend, sister, and mother at the same time. She gave Ava a thumbs up and she returns the gesture.

"Hey!" Red almost jump when Maggie suddenly appeared in front of her while her mouth is stuffed with foods and because she can't talk with her mouth full, she could only nod at Maggie. "Why are you eating again?" I wonder why too. As much as she wanted to answer she can't. Maggie chuckles at her and ruffles her hair causing causing her to frown. Ava and Maggie, why do they like to ruffle and mess her hair? "Ava is a wonderful cook, isn't she?" For a moment, Red was confused about what Maggie meant until it dawn to her. Ava cooked every food serve in this welcome party for her. Ava...

Red gaze towards Ava and Nico's table, the two of them are talking and laughing and she can't help but smile too. Ava deserves such happiness, she deserves to be happy.

"They really are a perfect match for each other. Alpha Nico is a great cook as well. Whenever he cooks for the pack, we are always bloated." With that being said by Maggie, Red is assured that Ava is in good hands. He can cook. She thought. If the man can cook and Ava can cook, she wonders how their pack members remain physically fit. Will I still be looking like this if they both are great cook? Red sighs.

"Wait.. Is that... Alpha Knight?" Maggie mumbles staring at someone behind her in awe. Curiosity got the best of her that's why she look behind her only to see a man. Red can't take her eyes off the man and she doesn't know why. He looks... like a man, except for the part that he is extremely gorgeous. Red unconsciously swallowed. How could a man be so good looking?

"Isn't he beautiful?" Whispers Maggie. Red's eyes widen and she wildly shaker her head. "You don't think he's beautiful?"

She shakes her head again and looks at the man. "I think don't that word can describe how... good looking he is." She answered and looks at Maggie who looks surprised. "I think his beauty is otherworldly."

Maggie is shock of Red's answer. This girl is really outspoken. She smiles at her. "Yeah, I think so. You have a crush on him already?" She teased Red but the latter again shake her head.

"I don't have a crush on him. He's otherworldly beautiful, so am I supposed to have a crush on him because of that reason?"

Maggie shakes her head. "Not really. I just thought you'd have a crush on him because most of the she-wolves upon seeing him does."

"But I am not a she-wolf."

"But you are a werewolf."

Am I? Red is not sure. Is she really a werewolf even though she doesn't smell like one? Having a special ability unlike others, is she still a werewolf?

On the other hand, Ava is gaping at her bother who just arrived and is looking at her mate. This is the first time, after five years that she sees her brother's face two times in a day.

"Brother! I'm glad you decided to join the—"

"I'm here for important matters that I need to discuss with Nico. Can I excuse him for a moment?" Ava stilled but slowly nodded, smiling at her brother though her eyes tell otherwise. She wanted Knight to stay with them, to eat with them, laugh with them and be happy with them, but she knows it's impossible. Knight may appear fine, but he's not.

Nico stood up and kisses Ava's forehead before leaving along with Knight.

Red's ears perked up upon hearing what Ava called the man. The otherworldly beautiful man. Brother... Could he be that... Red tried to be pissed at that man again, but, she isn't. She's not. Why?

"That man, is Ava's brother?" She whispers to Maggie.

"Yeah, they're actually cousin's but after what happened to their former pack Knight and Ava treated each other as siblings. He actually adopted Ava."

"What happened to their former pack?"

Maggie's eyes widened. She seems surprised. "You... didn't know?"

Red shakes her head. Ava never mentioned about it. So Ava wasn't from this pack and so is her brother, but what happened to their former pack?

Maggie shakes her head about to say something when they heard a howl.

Suddenly, everyone tensed while Red, being Red, is clueless.

"We... we are under attack!" Someone exclaimed and the next thing Red knows is she is being dragged inside the huge mansion along with the other female wolf while Maggie is still outside.

"Ava, Maggie is still outside! We—"

Ava shakes her head at her and smiles, reassuring her. "Don't worry, Maggie is a warrior. She can take care of herself. For now, we stay here and protect the elderly and the children."

Red doesn't understand what's happening, all she knows is they are being attacked. This pack is being attacked. By whom? Why? Everything was fine just a few seconds ago and now this. Well, isn't this an interesting welcome for me? Heh.