ALISTAIR
"One more," my voice sounded bored cause I was bored of Carlos's poor attempt at heavy weight lifting.
Carlos is a friend from my pack and has been arrogant since he challenged me to carry more weight than me, a few days back. But he failed pathetically yesterday in front of all the guys in the pack which deeply wounded his ego.
As it should.
After all a man has their man-ego and pride in their.... thing.
So after that shameful defeat, I felt bad for the lad and offered to train him more only if he wanted and not to challenge me again in the future unless he was strong enough.
After all, I was the Beta of this pack. I am not all big muscular man but was strong and buff as a guy in a rank should be.
Sitting on the flat bench beside Carlos, who was trying hard to lift merely 90 kg. I helped pick up the barbell and placed it on the stand as his arms started to shake.
"You dared to challenge me? Huh bro," I teased him, nudging my knee with his.
"I will train harder and beat you," He narrowed his eyes while wiping away the sweat from his face.
"Just stay healthy man. I am worried about you, you know," I said, playing with the water bottle cap.
Carlos suffered greatly from a recent rouge attack and almost was on the brink of death. Thankfully he recovered but he was left weak and fatigued. So I am happy to help him to get back on his feet. The match was just a joke between us and it only encouraged him to push harder.
"I am fine. Relax Mom," he said rolling his eyes.
"Okay Daddy," I said, putting my hand over his butt which he slapped away.
We chuckled and grabbed our bottles to chug at.
"Alert: we have come across a dire situation," Austin's voice rang in my head suddenly, making me go stiff and back to my role.
"Update," Arthur's voice rang next. Arthur was the Alpha of the pack.
Werewolves connect and communicate with each other through mind-link. It's like someone is talking to you through an imaginary phone in your mind.
"We have come across a rouge who has attacked a passing car of two civilians. Cylon, Russell, and Jose along with a few more wolves have reached the site and have undertaken the rogue,"
"Update about the civilians," Arthur's voice sounded cautious and alert.
"The car has crashed against the tree and we see no movement of them," Austin spoke,
"Uh Arthur, I think one of the girls might have seen me transforming back," Cylon spoke, sounding guilty for not being careful.
"Russell and Jose with the other two men bring back the rogue. Cylon and the other present carefully inspect the civilian's car and look for any signs of recognition of you. Search their car as well and update,"
I heaved a sigh and grabbed my shirt quickly.
Here goes my peaceful day.
"Did something happen?" Carlos asked, probably unaware of the situation.
You see we can talk to whoever we want only if they are either blood-related or your pack members. It is like we can control whom to project our conversations and whom not to.
"Nothing special. Man, I have to go. That's enough for today, go home and rest," I said, fist-bumping his bicep, and walked out of the gym.
I transformed into my wolf form. My wolf was big with dark brown fur with hazel green eyes. Wolves build vary among the members. The Alpha always has the biggest build, then comes the Beta and the warrior and then the size gets smaller until you reach a usual bit larger build than a wolf.
I ran through the forest, my muscles twitching with anticipation as I reached the main building where we had our offices. Transforming back to my human form, I walked naked near the large cabinet that was placed outside the building for this very purpose. Every building has this cabinet outside. When wolves change back to their human form they are practically naked. And yes the clothes we are wearing before transformation get torn apart if we don't take them off. We had manners and discipline. Whoever walks naked after transformation, unless in a dire situation, is punished for not wearing clothes.
Opening the cabinet, I found the clothes that would fit me and quickly wore them. Walking into the building towards the Alpha's office, I fixed my hair.
Opening the door of Arthur's office, I gave a slight nod to him to which he gave me a similar nod.
We don't particularly say hello/ hey. A simple nod expresses the same meaning.
"Is the rogue here?" I asked after taking a seat beside him.
"On the way. Who could it be? Why do I feel like he is one of those bastards man" Arthur spoke, fist closed tightly and his nostrils flared with anger.
"It might be. Or. It might not be. After only a few of them were left behind and they left no traces of their path,"
We were attacked by a large rogue group- Black Howler. Whose leader- Deacon was once a member of our neighboring pack- the Cylons pack. He trained and became the best warrior in the pack but soon rumors of his dad's murder came forward. A few onlookers came forward, exposing Deacon of murdering his father late at night. After the investigation, he was then stripped of his position and ended up in jail for killing his father. From what Cylon told us, he did so cause his father used to personally abuse him for years. Deacon hungry for power and revenge
rebelled against the Alpha and almost killed the Beta. The reason behind it was snatching of his position. To him, it was an unfair decision unlike all of us. Years of abuse don't justify or give him any right to take his father's life.
Deacon was also a friend of Arthur and when Deacon asked him to help him out of jail. Arthur refused and told him it was not the right decision to take to which he burst with anger and even lashed out at him. Since then Arthur stayed away as per Cylon's Alpha orders. After breaking out of the jail, Deaon was gone on the frosty night of winter. And after two years, he came back to seek revenge on Arthur. Only in his sick mind- would he think about it as revenge out of betrayal. That's when Carlos was attacked by them while he was patrolling the borders two months back. However, we took control of the situation and almost had Deacon under our hand when he slipped out leaving his men to die behind. A few wolves of his group hid and ran away as we were trying to hunt Deacon and lost them later. We found no traces of their scent or any pawprints. Nothing. They were good at covering their paths.
"But again, if they wanted to attack us again so soon, then they would have come in a group and with Deacok leading them. Why would a single wolf come alone to its enemy's home? Don't you think?" I put forward my thoughts.
Arthur nodded his head in understanding.
"Yes it makes no- "
"Alpha. One of the girls does recognize Cylon and we found some suspicious-looking papers related to us in their car," Austin's voice cut Arthur in mid-sentence.
"Use the drugs to make them unconscious and bring them here this instant and lock them in the dungeon. Tow their car along with their stuff back to the pack,"
We were on our feet as soon as Arthur was done speaking.
"I hope they are not hunters for god's sake. We have just settled the tension around the pack," Arthur spoke, voice stressed out. He ran his hand through his hair making a mess.
My jaw ticked as nodded my head.
"Let's go and pay a visit to the wolf," the wolf sounded so acidic by Arthur.
The walk to the dungeon was silent as we both were lost in our thoughts.
The wolves and other creatures that were locked in woke up from their slumber and started yelling and cursing at us when they saw and smelled us passing through their cells. Russell and Jose stood outside the cell and we walked towards them, to which they bowed their heads in respect with a palm pressed to their chest.
It's a gesture a wolf must do to their higher-ranking wolves to show respect.
Arthur entered through the opened gate into the cell which was adequately lighted and I followed suit.
The wolf was well beaten up and laid across the room. He huffed and growled lowly as he sensed us near him.
Arthur grabbed him by his hair and pushed his head up to have a clear look at his face. Blood dripped down his lower lip, one eye getting purple with a few scratches across the body.
I didn't recognize that face in my memory.
Arthur shared the same look with me and glanced back at him.
"State your name and which pack you belong to?"
"Why do you need it for?" He spoke with a crazy look in his eyes.
He was a nutjob. There I just diagnosed him.
"Why did you attack the civilians?" Arthur changed his question, still holding his hair.
My brow creased with anticipation.
"For fuuunnnn," he dragged the letter as he chuckled.
It was like he was drunk talking.
"What's is his deal?" I questioned in my mind and projected it to Arthur.
Arthur crouched to his eye level and growled which was low and threatening.
"You better spell what is your business here in my pack before I force it out of you. Don't make me bring hell on you," Arthur threw him with a single push and growled to show his authority.
The wolf hit the wall with a grunt and curses.
"Alpha the civilians are here," Russell informed us quietly,
"You go and check on them. I would like to try my way on him," I said to Arthur and stepped aside for him to walk out of the cell.
"Best,"
I cracked my knuckles which created a popping sound that was truly satisfying.
The wolf glanced at me and laughed.
You asked for it.
"Jose, bring me wolfsbane," And as expected as soon as the weapon was laid out, he paled and shuddered.
You see wolfbane is venomous and acidic to wolves. It kills you internally as well as externally.
"You had a chance to answer but you lost it by being imbecile and now you have to face the consequences," I shrugged my shoulders.
I grabbed the knife and dipped it into the wolfbane. I could feel his eyes jumping from me to the knife in my hand.
"I-I will answ-er," he stuttered,
I spared a look at him and found him smiling like a madman. It made me frown and just look at him.
What if he is just a psychopath? Or sick in mind?
I guess I have no choice.
Pulling the knife out of the liquid, I stride towards him only to watch him remain unfazed.
Okay, let's see if you can laugh through this.
I quickly sliced the knife through his thigh to which his left leg thrashed strongly. He gasped with glassy eyes and still had that frenzy look.
"Are you going to open your mouth or not?" I threatened with narrowed eyes.
"N-no," That's all he was able to say before he passed out.
I sighed.
"Jose keep an eye on him. Shuffle with Russell throughout the night. If any issues you know what to do," I said, putting the knife back on the table where a few weapons along with wolfsbane were placed.
"We have a little problem, come to the study," Arthur's voice rang when I stepped out of the cell.
I walked straight out of the dungeon and headed towards his office. The night was buzzing with insects and leaves rustled as the chilly wind blew against the dark hollowed trees. The warm, dry earth will soon dampen with the rising mist in the sky. I couldn't help but sigh as another winter season was on the way.
Still alone.
I hope the nickname doesn't become a permanent stamp on me. Or rather I should say insult.
Lonewolf
Yeah, you are guessing right. Single/ bachelor. It's been quite a few years since I have been mateless. I didn't let it get to me. But as time passed the wolves showered me with prayers and praised my kindness and goodwill will always bring fruit to my life. I never paid heed to their statements but it somehow felt like an insult to me. For instance, even a good person like me can be mateless or it was deemed as dishonourable to your family. Of course, I was the Beta of the pack, they never spoke ill of me in front of my face but I was sure they considered my matelessness being dishonourable.
To hell with that.
I was done waiting and searching every pack for her but couldn't. I rather be single forever now.
Shaking my head to get rid of stupid thoughts and continued walking towards the office. Stepping inside, I found Arthur with his arms crossed over his chest, sitting on his desk, Jazmine standing beside him with a hand resting over his shoulder. Lastly, I looked at Cylon who had a flushed face and a troubled look.
"What happened man?" I asked, sitting across from him on the sofa.
"He found himself a mate. Who is a human girl that they brought here," Jazmine informed me with pity in her eyes.
I had a smile before her sentence was completed. I pursed my lips into a line.
"It's okay man. Loosen up. We will find a way. Aren't you confident enough to make her fall for your looks and accept you?" I teased him trying to lighten the thick air.
He chuckled along with us. Running a hand through his hair and scratching his neck in anxiety, he sighed.
"I don't know man. How to break it to her and what if she hates the sight of my real self and what if she already has someone in her life !?" Cylon objected with fear in his eyes.
It might seem like an unserious problem but to us, it was like a life-and-death situation. Without our mates, we are just half-filled, like a part of our soul is missing and we can't fill that void with another person. We can't be at ease and peace without them. They are our lives.
I felt an ache in my heart at his statement. I knew I was mateless but I wished I was in his place and considered this anxiety and fear- a blessing.
A blessing.
This specific word resonated within my soul.
Then once again, when have I been ever lucky in my life?
............
.