The Alpha King and His Luna

CHAPTER 3

THE death of the man that Celeste killed was never made known to the public. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero iilan lang ang nakakaalam sa pagkamatay nito. His family and friends are the only people knew about the man killed by Celeste. Celeste wonder why they didn’t publicize it but these fast few days, the pack was quiet. Pero wala siyang pakialam.

Unbeknownst to Celeste, nagpadala ang Alpha ng mga magagaling na pack warriors upang imbestigahan ang pagkamatay ng lalaking ‘yon.

Just after one week after Celeste killed that man who pushes her from the rooftop, the whole River Valley Pack was busy of the upcoming arrival of the Alpha King. Everyone was thrilled, except Celeste. She wasn’t thrilled at all. She was excited to other things.

Sa ganitong pagkakataon, mukhang ang matagal na niyang hinihintay ng matagal na panahon ay magaganap na, ang matakas sa lugar na ‘to. Wala siyang pakialam kung maging isa siyang Rogue, ang mahalaga makaalis siya sa lugar na ito at makalayo.

Kaya naman siniguro ni Celeste na abala ang lahat bago siya dahan-dahang pumunta sa bundok. It was still part of the River Valley Pack but she discovered a passage. That was the only hope she had left to get her out of this place.

Sinugurado ni Celeste na walang nagbabantay sa kaniya. Nagpapasalamat na lang siya na noong nakaraang araw, kinuha ni Catherine ang mga pack warriors na nagbabantay sa kaniya. Ayon kay Catherine, hindi raw siya mahalaga upang bantayan pero hindi naman niya hiniling na bantayan siya ng mga pack warriors.

The Alpha only wants to guard Celeste for the fear that she would escape. Natatakot ang Alpha ng River Valley Pack na makatakas siya sa pack nila dahil kapag nakatakas siya, alam ng Alpha na hihingi siya ng tulong mula sa iba. At natatakot ito na baka ipagsabi niya sa iba kung paano siya nito itrato pati na kung paano siya itrato ng ibang pack members nila.

But it’s a pity that Celeste had no intention of asking others for help. If she wants to take revenge, she will do it herself without asking for help from other people. At isa pa wala siyang tiwala sa ibang tao. Alam niyang lahat ng bagay ay may kapalit.

Tumakas si Celeste gamit ang daan na nadiskubre niya pero naramdaman na lang na may matang nakamasid sa kaniya pagkalabas niya ng pack’s border. Hindi na lang niya ito pinansin dahil mas mahalaga pa rin na makaalis siya sa lugar na ‘to bago pa man malaman ng River Valley Pack na nawawala siya. Ang gusto niya ay makaalis sa lugar na ‘to dahil hindi na niya kaya ang mga pang-aapi nila sa kaniya.

“Are you going to escape?”

Napasinghap si Celeste nang marinig niyang may nagsalita. Mabilis siyang tumingin sa paligid pero hindi niya ito makita pero nararamdaman niya ang presensiya nito.

“Look up here.”

Mabilis na tumingin si Celeste sa itaas ng puno. Nakita niya ang isang lalaki na nakatayo sa sanga ng puno at nakasandal sa katawan ng puno. Hindi niya ito kilala at ngayon lamang niya ito nakita. He doesn’t smell like rogue or a human but Celeste could feel the powerful aura coming from him. And he looks handsome and gorgeous.

“Sino ka?” tanong ni Celeste. She made sure that she hid her scent so this man won’t know her scent.

But as Celeste looked at him, she could feel her heart beat rising. Kinakabahan siya. And her mind filled with many questions. What if he’s one of the pack warriors of River Valley Pack? What if my father sent him to spy me? Am I caught?

The man opened his eyes and looked at Celeste. Agad na tumingin si Celeste sa malayo. She’s not used to have an eye contact with someone else because every time she looked into other people’s eyes, the only thing she could see in their eyes was disgust. They are disgusted on her.

Napabuntong hininga si Celeste.

“Why can’t you look at me?” the man asked in cold voice. Bothered that the woman couldn’t look her into his eyes.

The coldness in his voice can freeze anyone but Celeste already gets used to this kind of coldness. Sanay na siya sa malamig na pakikitungo sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama at lahat ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kaniya kaya naman ang malamig na pakikitungo sa kaniya ng ibang tao ay wala lang sa kaniya.

Sumulyap si Celeste sa lalaki. “I will look at you if wanted to but I don’t want to look at you so, yeah,” sabi niya.

“So, audacious.” He growled.

Ngumisi lang si Celeste at hindi nadala sa pag-angil ng lalaki. “Growled all you want.” She waved her hand goodbye. “Bye. See you.” Then Celeste runs away.

Celeste looked at her back, she thought he will follow her. She breathes a sigh of relief when she saw no one was following me but her eyes widen when she saw the Head Warrior running after her. Kasama niya ang mga maraming pack warriors.

“Celeste, stop running away!” The Head Warrior yelled to stop Celeste but she didn’t listen. She pushed her feet to run faster.

But it didn’t last long when she suddenly felt a whip hit her back. Nadapa siya at gumulong siya sa lupa. She couldn’t bear the pain caused by the silver whip.

“Trying to run away.” The Head Warrior spit out. “Dream on.”

Napasigaw si Celeste nang apakan ng Head Warrior likuran niya, sa mismong sugat niya. Sumigaw si Celeste sa sakit. Because of her loud shouting, the birds perched on the branches fluttered.

Celeste cried.

“Take her back. Take her to Alpha Calixto.”

“Yes, Head Warrior.”

Naramdaman na lang ni Celeste na binuhat siya ng mga pack warriors. Nawalan siya ng pag-asa. Akala niya ay makaalis siya ng pack pero sa tingin niya ay may nanood sa bawat kilos niya.

Ipinikit na lang ni Celeste ang kaniyang mata kasabay nito ang pagkawala niya ng pag-asa. The small glimmer of hope dies as the pain on her back was unbearable.

“Loser, the silver whip had a poison. You will lose your sight in a month.” The Head Warrior told Celeste and smiled evilly. “From them on, no one will really care for you.”

Ngumiti lang ng peke si Celeste. Mahina siya at hindi na niya kayang protektahan ang sarili niya. But she won’t allow them to humiliate her. She will avenge herself one day.

Iniharap nila si Celeste sa kaniyang ama. She was put in the chain at the center of the platform. Sa nanghihina niyang katawan tiningnan niya ang kaniyang ama at nakita niya ang galit na emosyon sa mga mata nito. Pero may nakikita siyang awa… awa? Gusto tumawa ni Celeste dahil alam niya sa sarili niya na namamalik-mata lamang siya. Umaasa na lamang siya na kahit na kaunti ay maawa sa kaniya ang ama niya pero alam niyang hinding-hindi ‘yon mangyayari kahit kailan.

“Dad, punish this pathetic loser. She’s the one who killed Cane. Cane is a promising pack warrior but she killed him!” Galit na saad ni Catherine.

Of course, Celeste won’t plead guilty.

“Whip her!” The Alpha ordered.

Ipinikit na lang ni Celeste ang kaniyang mata at hinintay ang mga latigong lalatay sa kaniyang katawan. Naririnig niya ang sigaw ng mga pack members.

“Kill her!”

“Kill her, Alpha!”

Celeste just wished that she has died but no, she won’t let herself die. Maghihiganti pa siya sa kanilang lahat.

Tiniis ni Celeste ang bawat hampas ng latigo sa kaniyang likuran. Namanhid na kaniyang katawan at wala na siyang maramdaman. Hindi na niya maramdaman ang malalakas na hampas ng latigo. Tanging iniisip na lamang niya sa mga oras na ‘yon ay sana hindi na lang siya naipanganak sa mundong ‘to.

“My child…”

Celeste heard a melodious voice from a far.

“My child, I know you can endure your suffering. I didn’t send you here just for you to suffer but it was your fate. Just sleep and I promise you, you will leave this place.”

“Sino ka?” tanong niya.

“I’m your mother.”

“M-mother…”

Hindi na mabilang ni Celeste kung ilang hampas na ng latigo ang tumama sa kaniyang likuran. But before she lost her consciousness. She heard her father saying, “from now on, Celeste will live at the mountain and she’s not allowed to leave. No one is allowed to see her and no one must see her from now on until she dies.”

Celeste smiled. “Good thing…” and she black out.