The Werewolf and the Hybrid

LAWRENCE was staring at the necklace in his hand. It was a Red Crystal Moon Necklace. Seeing this necklace, he knew that it was an ancient necklace or an heirloom. This necklace was given to him by the girl he met when he visited a pack in a neighboring country. The little girl's smiles were engraved on his mind and never left his even it was already a decade had passed. “Your Majesty, you’re staring at that necklace again.” Sabi ni Cade na kapapasok lang sa loob ng throne room. Lawrence was sitting on the throne and was just staring at the necklace. He sighed and looked at Cade, his Beta. Cade Asteria-Montero was the former beta and former hunter leader’s son. Cade is a pure werewolf. While his brother, Cole, had the blood of being a hunter. Cade and Cole are not biological brothers, but they grew up with the same fathers. “Cade, do you think I can find her?” tanong niya. Tipid na ngumiti si Cade. “Your Majesty, kung siya ang mate mo katulad ng akala mo, siguradong magkikita kayo anuman ang mangyari dahil kayo ang tinadhana para sa isa’t-isa.” Napatango si Lawrence saka tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa trono. “Samahan mo ako na maglakad sa paligid.” Yumukod si Cade. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Napailing na lang si Lawrence. “I told you to call me by my name when no one is around. You and Cole are like brothers to me.” Ngumiti si Cade. “Cole will be happy when he hears it, Your Majesty.” Lumabas sila ng throne room. Lahat ng makakasalubong nilang pack warriors, kawal ng palasyo at mga katulong ay tumitigil at yumuyukod kay Lawrence. Kaya minsan ayaw ni Lawrence ang lumalabas sa study room niya dahil sa mga nakikita niya. Yes, he grew up in the palace and his life was easier because of the people around him. Pero bago ipinasa sa kaniya ng kaniyang ina ang trono at titulo ng isang Alpha King, his mother let him go out of the palace to be trained and see the outside world – the real-life world. Kaya sa loob ng limang taon bago niya tinanggap ang trono, pumunta siya sa iba’t-ibang lugar upang bisitahin ang mga packs na sumusuporta sa Crown o sa Alpha King. Iyon din ang panahon na nakilala niya ang batang babae na nagbigay sa kaniya ng kwintas na suot niya ngayon. Habang naglakakad si Lawrence at Cade sa labas ng palasyo, nadaanan nila ang Ancestral Hall. Huminto si Lawrence sa paglalakad saka napatitig sa nakasarang pinto ng Ancestral Hall. Walang sinuman ang nakakapasok sa Ancestral Hall maliban sa kaniya at sa taong papahintulutan niyang pumasok. “Pumasok tayo sa loob.” Ani Lawrence. Naglakad palapit si Lawrence sa pinto ng Ancestral Hall at kusang bumukas ang pinto nito. He walked inside and immediately saw the Golden Sword placed on the floating platform. Dati itong pag-aari ng kaniyang ina pero dahil isinuko ng kaniyang ina ang kapangyarihan nito bilang diyosa para sa kaniyang ama kaya hindi na ito pwedeng gamitin ng kaniyang ina. The Golden Sword needs divine power to use it. O sa madaling sabi, maliban sa divine power, maaaring ang gumamit sa Golden Sword ay nilalang tao na may busilak na puso. Now, the Golden Sword is waiting for its new Master. Cade was mindlink by Samuel, the Delta, the car was ready. “Your Majesty, the car is ready.” Imporma niya. “May sasama bang pack warriors?” tanong ni Lawrence. “Yes, Your Majesty. Hindi ako papayag na wala tayong kasama patungo sa Valley of the Old Kings. Mas magandang mas maingat pa rin tayo kahit pa tahimik naman ang mundo ngayon. Hindi natin alam ang pwedeng mangyari.” Seryosong sabi ni Cade. Then he received a message from his brother. He smiled after reading his brother’s message. “Cole also sends some of his hunters to protect you.” Napailing si Lawrence. “I can fight to protect myself, Cade. I’ve been into a lot of combat trainings. You and your brother are just paranoid.” “Your Majesty, it’s better safe than sorry.” Napabuga na lang ng hangin si Lawrence saka napailing. Wala na talagang pag-asa na makinig sa kaniya si Cade at Cole. Kapag lumalabas siya ng palasyo hindi hinahayaan ng dalawa na wala siyang kasama. He felt like he was a damsel in distress. But he knew better, ito rin ang gusto ng mga Council Elders. Ayaw ng mga ito na maulit ang nangyari noon. They lost his father and the Council were afraid that someday, they would also lose him. After all, he is the only heir of Alpha King Lucian and Luna Queen Celeste. Lumabas si Lawrence ng Ancestral Hall at sumunod naman sa kaniya si Cade. When Lawrence reached the front of the palace, the car was indeed ready and so were the pack warriors and some hunters sent by Cole, the new leader of the Hunters. “Your Majesty.” The pack warriors bowed their head. “Your Majesty, please.” Iminuwestra ni Isaac ang kamay sa nakabukas na pinto ng kotse. “Thanks.” Sumakay si Lawrence sa kotse. Sumakay naman si Cade sa passenger seat at si Isaac sa driver seat. Nagtaka si Lawrence nang hindi niya makita si Ezra, ang Gamma ng Night Moon Pack. “Where’s Ezra?” “Report, Your Majesty. Ezra is strengthening the border security so that we won’t be infiltrated by our enemy – the Rogue.” Isaac informed. Napatango si Lawrence saka sumandal sa back seat. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mata. Their destination was the Valley of the Old Kings. It was actually a valley. The Valley of the Old Kings is the resting peace of the royal members of the Royal Family. And every year, he went to the Valley to pay tribute. Arriving at the Valley of the Old Kings, he entered the valley alone. Pagdating niya sa libingan, napangiti siya nang makita ang isang taong nakatayo sa harapan ng isang puntod. “You’re here.” Lawrence smiled. “Dad.” He walked towards his father and embraced him. His father chose not to announce that he was still alive. Hinayaan na lamang nito na isipin ng lahat na patay na ito. “I never thought that I would visit my grave one day even if I’m still alive,” Said Lucian. Natawa si Lawrence. “Dad, pinili mo ng hindi magpakita sa lahat. Good thing that no one is allowed to be here after the burial, and I am the only one allowed when I pay my tribute or else other people who will see might think that they saw a ghost.” Sabi naman niya. Lucian sighed. “But I didn’t regret it. You see I am living in seclusion with your mother. It’s just us and no one disturbs us.” Mentioning his mother, he couldn’t help but to ask. “Nasaan po si mommy?” “Nasa lake cabin siya. Hindi siya sumama rito. Wala naman raw siyang bibisitahin.” Matter of fact na sagot ni Lucian sa anak. Sa totoo lang pati rin naman siya ay walang bibisitahin rito pero gusto niyang makita ang anak niya. Matagal na rin mula ng hindi ito bumisita sa kanila. He knew that Lawrence was busy dealing with some court affairs within the werewolf society. He reigned for over one hundred years, and he knew how hard it was to be an Alpha King. Lawrence’s reign had just begun. Marami pa itong pagdadaan sa paglipas ng panahon. Napailing si Lawrence. “Pati rin naman ako, dad. Wala akong bibisitahin rito dahil buhay ka naman pero para hindi magsuspetsa ang mga Council, kailangan kong pumunta rito taon-taon.” He complaint. Lucian chuckled at his son’s complaint. He tapped Lawrence’s shoulder. “You can do it, son.” Napabuntong hininga na lang si Lawrence. Kapagkuwan nakita ni Lucian ang suot ni Lawrence na kwintas. “Still looking for her?” Tumango si Lawrence. Alam ng ama niya kung kanino nagmula ang kwintas na suot niya. But he could see the strange emotion in his father’s eyes while he was looking at the necklace. The strange emotion in Lucian’s eyes disappeared. Ngumiti siya. “I admired your dedication to looking for her. Pero tandaan mo, anak, na kahit anong mangyari kung talagang kayo ang para sa isa’t-isa, magkikita at magkikita pa rin kayo anuman ang sitwasyon at panahon niyong dalawa.” “Alam ko po pero wala naman pong mawawala kapag hahanapin ko siya. Malakas ang kutob ko na siya ang mate ko. Kung alam ko lang sana noon pa hindi ko na siya pinakawalan pero bata pa siya noon. It would be a crime if I took her away from her parents.” Sabi ni Lawrence habang nakatitig sa puntod na nasa harapan niya. “Dad, may tanong po ako. Hindi ba kayo komportable na nakikita niyo ang pangalan niyo na nakasulat sa puntod?” Lucian chuckled. “I felt uncomfortable at first, but I have got used to it now. “Kibit balikat niyang saad. Lawrence stayed in the Valley for more than thirty minutes, and he was just talking with his father. Nang magpaalam na ang kaniyang ama at babalik na ito sa lake cabin, umalis na rin siya at bumaba. But before his father left, he embraced him. “Done, Your Majesty?” tanong ni Cade. Tumango si Lawrence. “Let’s go back to the palace. Marami pa akong kailangang gawin.” Yumukod si Cade. Arriving at the palace, Lawrence was informed about the situation at the border. “Your Majesty, something has happened. May nakitang katawan ng isang tao malapit sa border natin. She’s dead.” Imporma ni Liam, ang Head Warrior ng Night Moon Pack. Napatigil si Lawrence sa pagbabasa ng dokumento. “Human?” Tumango si Lawrence. “It wasn’t our jurisdiction. You should have called the police, Liam.” “It was strange.” Pagkasabi nun ni Liam, tumayo agad si Lawrence. “Was it done by Rogue?” “Hindi ko alam, Alpha King. The woman died in a strange way. No wounds, no bruises, just two small holes in her neck.” Sabi ni Liam habang nakasunod na naglalakad sa Alpha King. Lawrence used his unhuman strength to go to the border. Pagdating niya doon, natakpan na ng puting tela ang bangkay. “Your Majesty.” They all bowed to him. “Rise.” Agad na tumayo ng tuwid ang mga pack warriors. “Alpha, this woman died without any wounds except these two holes in her neck.” Sabi ni Ezra. Ibinaba niya ang puting tela na nakatakip sa katawan ng babae. “Rogues?” Lawrence asked. Umiling si Ezra. “Malakas ang kutob ko na hindi Rogues ang mga kagagawan. Rogues will dismember their victims.” Lumuhod si Lawrence at tinignan ang sinasabi ni Ezra na butas sa leeg ng babae. It was indeed two small holes. May napansin siya habang nakatingin siya sa bangkay ng babae. Using his sharp claws, he cut the woman’s shoulder, but only a small cut. Walang lumabas roon na dugo. “No blood?” Nagtaka si Ezra. Nagtaka rin si Lawrence. “So, this woman died by losing too much blood. Pero kung namatay siya dahil sa pagkawala ng dugo sa katawan niya, bakit wala siyang sugat maliban na lang sa dalawang butas na nasa leeg niya?” tanong niya. Nahilot niya ang sentido. Magsisimula na naman bang sasakit ang ulo niya? Sa nakikita niyang sitwasyon ngayon, mukhang kailangan nila ng masusing pag-iimbestiga. Samuel, the Delta, who has the keenest smell among them all, smelt something on the dead woman’s body. There was a smell that lingered on the dead body. “Your Majesty, may amoy akong naamoy. It wasn’t a normal scent. Ngayon ko lamang ito naamoy.” Lawrence looked at his Delta. “Anong ibig mong sabihin?” “It was like an incense smell – but it wasn’t incense. No werewolves have this kind of smell, Alpha King.” Sabi pa ni Samuel. Napatango si Lawrence. “We need to investigate…” but then he realized how could they investigate if there was no lead at all except the woman’s body, and they didn’t even know who the killer was. “Bring the body to Dr. Mendez. And tell him to find out the real cause of this woman’s death.” Lawrence ordered. Ezra bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Lawrence sighed. “I need to consult the ancient books. Liam and Samuel, accompany me to the palace library.” Sumunod naman agad ang dalawang tinawag. But, what Lawrence didn’t expect was, except from Rogue, who has been an enemy of werewolves over the centuries, he would encounter a new enemy. A new enemy that could be a threat to him and to his people.