AN ALPHA'S OBSCURED VENGEANCE

4.

After Due’s treatment, it took a while for Lyall to treat the rest too. He leaned against the wall a bit far from everyone. The rain was falling as heavily as ever seemingly without the intention of letting on. It was a bit cold and most of the injured had fallen asleep as the rest rested with their eyes open and on guard.

Unfortunately for them, the rain never ceased and the sun remained hidden behind the clouds. Minutes turned to hours and the day went by giving way to the night. Apart from the sound of the rain hitting the ground, it was relatively calm and the night paved way for the day.

“Let’s get going then,” Ashina said. She glanced at Due who had been awake for a few hours more than her.

It was still day break and not everyone was awake yet.

However, there was a particularly handsome man who was awake too.

Lyall had barely slept and stayed awake staring outside the cave and watching the rain fall. He had given every piece of clothing that could be worn to them so he didn’t have anything left to pack.

His once heavy and full bag was as light as a feather and he could barely feel its weight.

Due watched Lyall fold the cloth he laid on with a slight purse of her lips. Everyone was in a shirt from Lyall. They had basically stripped him of every piece of clothing he had. And Due wasn’t one to feel good about owing someone. And in her opinion, she owed Lyall a big deal. Apart from the clothes he had given them, he treated everyone's wound with his own supplies even if it was some basic treatment.

“You….Lyall.”

She called about, feeling some kind of way about calling him by his name he turned to her with a raised brow.

He had done everything she could for them, he didn’t think there was much more he could do for them even if Due asked him.

“Where are you going from here? There are only a handful of packs here and I wouldn’t call the relationship between them ‘peaceful’”

Lyall had expected her to ask the first question, but he didn’t expect her to willingly give any information without him asking for it.

He had already realized that the packs he came across weren’t all too friendly with each other as they never ceased to ask him which pack he was from without looking as though they had sticks up their asses. However, they didn’t look like they were at war with each other too.

“ Can you elaborate on what you mean?”

Due sighed, “Although there is not much conflict and no one is attacking anyone, there is still a very weak ‘peace treaty. We are too territorial and Alpha’s too possessive and domineering…. Someone will sooner or later start a war. And it will cause a ripple effect.”

That much information was no secret amongst the Alphas of each pack but to normal members, everything seemed fine and they were kept in the dark.

Lyall’s brows creased with a frown. He momentarily glanced at Ashina who remained silent as her friend went ahead to divulge what might be precious information depending on how it was used.

“Why are you telling me all this? You and I are aware that we are merely strangers whose paths crossed for a brief moment” He stated. No one in their right mind would tell something or do something without expecting anything in return. Everything depended solely on how someone can be of use to the other. That’s what he knew.

“You helped us.” Due answered as if those three words were reason enough. Her words made him slightly apprehensive.

“Besides, you would have found out sooner or later even if I hadn’t said anything. It’s no big secret. Anyone attentive enough would figure it out.” She added. The shirt she had on had rolled up, showing more than half her thighs, her hair was all over the place and the only way she was able to make some sense of the mess on her head was when she combed through it and held it in a ponytail with a piece of fabric she tore from the shirt.

“Ah, sorry..” Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head as she realized what she had done.

“I’ll get a new one to make up for it.” She guiltily said, barely holding back from biting her lips. She was too used to doing whatever she wanted.

“It's no big deal. You can keep it.” Lyall replied.

He leaned against the wall he sat beside, his left knee was raised as he leaned an elbow on it and thoughtfully stared at her.

“Of course, I can’t give this back to you. I ruined it. And everyone basically totaled your clothes. It’s only fair that I get new ones for you.” Due stubbornly insisted after clearing her throat.

A moment of silence passed between them. Lyall couldn’t figure out what she wanted from him. To him, her every action and word was illogical.

“To answer your question...”

His voice drew her attention more than the words he spoke.

“I don’t really have a place in mind… I didn’t like the packs I passed by so I simply moved on.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Then try coming to my pack.” She suggested, rising to her feet as the others started to wake up. Her suggestion didn’t fail to make Lyall’s brow raise in question.

“I’m not saying you will be accepted as a pack member yet. I’m simply letting you have a feel around and if you like it, the final decision is still up to my dad.”

She continued when he attempted to say something, “I don’t like owing others. You helped us a lot, letting you stay here to shelter from the rain is not nearly enough in my view. And what I’m doing is giving you an opportunity.”

Lyall took a moment to look at the persistent woman in front of him. Her gaze was unwavering and fierce as she literally looked down at him from where she stood.

Lyall sighed out loud and hung his head momentarily before looking back at her. This time, his lips raised with a slight smile. Ans he nodded accepting her offer.

…………

The journey back was slow and steady. The injured couldn’t shift into their wolf since it might cause a bigger problem, and Lyall wasn’t fond of shifting into his wolf so they all walked, taking their time as they were not in a rush.

An hour went by just like that, then two, three… they walked for a little more than five hours, only stopping to rest for a few minutes and eat before they continued.

Soon the forest gave way to rocky terrain. There were tall sturdy trees too but they could mostly see those trees and rocks, passing by a few small harmless animals.

When they got to their destination, Lyall saw a town bordered by a lofty and sturdy wall with only one entrance. A few people were going in and out and there were four guards at the ginormous gate.

Due glanced over her shoulders at Lyall, “Welcome to Reika.”

Her soft small voice oozed with pride, making Lyall twitch with slight anticipation. And he was by no means disappointed when they finally passed through the gate.

What he saw looked more like a huge bustling town like some ‘wolf pack’. It was loud and lively. The fact that he couldn’t see the end of the wall gave him some insight as o how big Reika was.

It was a town built right beneath a mountain.

The wonder on his face although barely noticeable, made Due puff her chest with pride.

“Our pack has a few humans so we don’t call it a pack but a town instead.” Due answered his silent question when they passed by some humans on their way to the clinic.

“They don’t know about us?” Lyall questioned raising a questioning brow at her.

“Nope. Although they live with us, the houses given are in a selected part of the town. No one’s movement is restricted, but at the end of the day they go back to their homes.”

“Okay! Everyone should get checked, no exceptions this time, the wounds have been left for too long even with some basic treatment.” Due’s glare pierced Ty’s face but he acted as if he didn’t feel the prickling gaze on him.

This time even he did not argue with her.

When they had all entered the clinic, Due faced Lall when they were the only two present.

“Want a tour?” She asked with a slight smile.

Lyall squinted at her with a grin as if she didn’t make any sense, “wow… You are in the worst condition amongst them, yet you ask this?”

Due’s eyes grew wide as if she just realized the condition she was in and her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.