White Wolf

CHAPTER 4

Words became a great difficulty for Carl and Marlyn to utter as they both stared wide-eyed at Raina with their mouths opened in extreme shock.

She felt her wolf?

Not only did she feel her wolf... she- she had found her mate??

"Wha- what did you say?" Marlyn finally spoke, still recovering from the shock.

"I think I've found my mate." She repeated, firmly this time.

The couple had the same question in mind. Who was it? But they asked something else.

"Where did you meet him?"

"Where my father died. Shocking, isn't it?" She smiled brightly at them still.

Yes, it was extremely shocking to them, especially Marlyn.

She held Raina by her arms, "Don't you think it was a mistake? Personally, I think he might even be dangerous, maybe."

Raina's smile dropped ever so quickly at her words. They weren't asking the questions she wanted to hear. 'Who is he?'

Weren't they curious?

She was tempted to just spill and tell them it was the Alpha but she decided not to. She would let them find out themselves. That way, she would even be sure and confirm that she was truly his mate. His Luna.

The thought of it brought the smile back to her face.

She had always adored him and now, she was going to be his? Oh glorious days!

"...-are you listening to me? Raina? Rai?"

She blinked as Marlyn shook her lightly, bringing her out of her thoughts, "Did you hear what I said?"

She didn't but nodded still. She had lost interest in whatever they were saying. She was done trying to understand them.

Why they had kept her hidden... why she wasn't allowed to be like the others. She was done.

"So you'd listen to us and do as we say?" Carl spoke, invading her thoughts again.

Do as they say?

She hesitantly nodded again. Tomorrow will tell if she'd do as they say - that which she didn't even hear - or do what she would always do.

They hugged her and asked her to go change and come down for dinner which she politely declined saying she was extremely tired.

They nodded and let her go, watching her go up to her room.

As soon as Raina shut her door, Marlyn dropped down in tears.

How did this happen? She tried her possible best to keep her hidden and just when she lets her guard down a little and lets her wander off, she immediately meets her mate?? How is that possible?

It was obviously a trick of some sort. She wasn't sure. No nudging feeling that it was but she believed it had to be. It just had to be.

Hopefully, Raina would do as she had said.

She told her whoever it was, he was just out for her. To kill her. Like her parents.

She never wanted to bring her parents up but she knew that was the only thing she could say to get to Raina. And it worked. Maybe.

She gave a positive response and agreed to do as they had said.

They were going to leave. Go somewhere else. Somewhere far but safe. Anywhere that is.

But sadly, Raina had plans of her own.

She was going to leave, but not with them. She was finally going to be a wolf... and someone's mate. Her hazel eyes sparkled every time she thought about it.

>>>>>

Raina woke up earlier than normal. She wasn't the type to wake up late neither was she an early riser but for some unknown reason, her lids opened ever so lightly at the break of dawn.

Her aunt would be awake already. She was the early riser. It made sense. She was a wife and her now mother.

She sat up at a random thought she had. What was it they wanted her to do? What did they say?

Ugh! Why did she have to be so lost in thought at the time?

She rubbed her hands on her face and into her hair in frustration.

Hey eyes went to her window. She started having a weird feeling about it. She squinted at it and then went off the bed and headed towards the window.

She got to it and pushed it open but-- no. It didn't budge. Huh? Why?

She paused for a second and pushed it again, a thought coming to her.

'Don't tell me...'

She pushed it again. And again. Then stopped.

They didn't want her to run off again. Very much expected.

With no much reaction, she turned and went for the door but-- no. It didn't budge as well. Huh? Wait...

She tried again. And again. With both hands, again. Then stopped.

She scoffed. They didn't want to keep her from running off again, they wanted to lock her up so she wouldn't run away.

They had a plan. That which she didn't hear for she was so lost in her damned thoughts!

She wanted to hit the door. Bang it so hard they'd come up and she'd ask them why?

She wanted to scream so loud but she didn't. All she did was to slide down the door and sit at the foot of it, waiting.

She didn't know what next to do. She just waited, with so much faith in nothing in particular.

*****

Marlyn looked up at Raina's door from where she was setting the dinning table for breakfast. She had seen the handle rattling earlier. She must have been surprised to see her door locked from outside but she said no word. Then it became quiet. Oddly quiet.

Raina doesn't really stay quiet in these kind of situations. It's either she's calling for them or she's... gone through another way. Her window.

No. She made sure she locked it too so she wasn't sure-

There was a knock on the front door that cut her thoughts off as she swung her head in its direction.

It came again.

Confusion was plastered on her face as to who it might be.

Then another.

Now shock was registered on her face as she immediately realized that... nobody knew here.

Maybe they knew but nobody ever came knocking. They were either too scared or unbothered.

This person wasn't.

Carl ran down the stairs hastily. He thought it was all a dream till he heard it the third time and ran out of the room.

His first thought was Marlyn. She wasn't on the bed when he jolted up. Where was she?

Reaching the end of the stairs, she was the first in his view, her expression just like his.

He sighed so deeply one would think he was holding the world in his lungs a moment ago.

Marlyn looked at him with fear fixed on her face.

She mouthed, "Someone's knocking."

He nodded and held her arm as they waited. They needed to hear a voice.

There was a knock again that came with a loud voice, "Who's in there? Open up before the count of three or this door goes to the ground."

Marlyn fear increased to a notch.

What would they do now? They had only made their plan the night before... how did they know? Were they going to kill them? What- why?-

Her mind was in shattered pieces but Carl moved. She stopped him immediately, her eyes so wide as she looked at him.

"What do you think you're doing?" She whispered to him.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine." He reassured her.

She shook her head vehemently. She wasn't taking any chances. No. Not at all.

He smiled at her with so much reassurance begging her with his eyes to trust him and then left for the door before whoever was behind it could break it down.

He opened it just after the last count and was met with the faces of warriors. Two warriors of the pack. One was a bit taller than the other but both were of the same build. The other had a short scar on his left cheek.

He let out a small exhale before smiling at them warmly, "Greetings, warriors."

They scowled at him, "What took you so long?" The taller one spoke.

"Oh, sorry. I was having a banter with my wife upstairs. I didn't really hear the knock. My apologies." He gave a slight bow.

The tall one gave a nod, looked inside but continued, "I'm here to pass a message from the Alpha. He has demanded for an urgent census to be carried out and it is mandatory that every member is involved."

"Oh... that's not a problem. I and my wife would surely partake in it. I'd come to the council and submit our details."

The warrior with the scar watched Carl speak. He noticed he knew he was watching him observantly but didn't blink or look in his direction.

He suddenly felt suspicious of him and everything concerning the house.

"We'd like to see your wife first." He spoke this time.

"Oh." He looked at him, "Let me call her-"

"No need. Won't you let us in?"

Both parties were suspicious of the other. Carl now suspects that they were imposters, pretending to be warriors all so to get into the house and kill them. Especially Raina. His thinking had increased. What was he to do now?

While on the other hand, the warriors thought Carl was hiding something. His expression showed he wasn't very pleased to see them. He was on guard.

"Won't you?" He repeated again, his hand now on his side, slightly touching the hilt of his dagger.

Carl saw this and knew this situation was now beyond conversing. He needed to oblige or he'd lose both Marlyn and Raina.

He forced a smile, "Why won't I?" Then he opened the door wider so they could go in.

As soon as they entered, they came in contact with Marlyn still standing by the dining table, visibly shaken in fear.

If what Carl had told them about both of them having a banter before he opened the door was true, then would she be this shook with fear.

Marlyn looked scared. She was scared. She overheard their conversation at the door. She thought same with Carl. That they were imposters.

"Welcome." She said with a forced smile.

Both men looked around the house, accessing everything. Every detail.

They accessed Marlyn from head to toe. She looked fine. Absolutely fine. She looked taken care of. So what were they hiding?

The scarred one - which was obviously the observant one - looked up at Raina's door. It piqued his interest for some reasons.

"You say you live alone with your wife, right?" He asked Carl but his vision was still focused on Raina's door.

Carl followed his vision and answered hurriedly, "Yes."

"Can I check to be sure?"

Both Carl and Marlyn's eyes went wide.

"We... we live alone. Why... do you want to check?" Marlyn stuttered making him look in her direction.

"The Alpha's orders."

Marlyn nodded.

"So do you mind?" He stretched a hand towards the door.

Right. They were here for Raina. It was obvious now. As clear as day. If not, how then did they know that was her room?

Carl was thinking. Thinking hard. They had his wife going up the stairs to open Raina's door with the scarred one trailing behind her.

Marlyn's heart was in her throat. She was scared for Raina. If only she had not locked the window. Just why did she have to lock it today of all days?

She held the handle, squeezing it tight as she prayed for some miracle. But nothing happened.

She had failed Raina's parents. She promised to protect their child, but now she's bringing harm right to her doorstep. Isn't that cruel coming from someone who claimed to love her?

She unlocked the door and slowly opened it till it was wide open. She had her eyes shut, afraid to open them.

She slowly opened them and looked into the room.

Raina... she was...