CAN'T SAY NO TO THE WEREWOLF

LUNCH FOR THE HYENAS

***

Gregory often spent his afternoons at his study room researching the history of places and lands. It seemed a bit odd seeing him this time right in front of the blacksmith chambers having the intention to converse with him. The blacksmith was completely marvelled by this. Who was he for a whole prince to come visit at the time of his study? He'd let him into his small cottage but with a very nervous and insecure look. 

"I am sorry if I have done something terrible to anyone. I didn't intend to" He apologized falling down on his feet. 

"You did nothing to anyone. Stop blabbering" The prince told him with a wandering look. "I was hoping you have a gun here since you are also a hunter" 

The blacksmith was shocked at this. A gun? 

"Sorry my prince. I am not allowed to give the royals my guns" 

"What do you mean the royal? I ask nicely for your gun so that I don't take it forcefully" 

"I was given orders by the king himself not to release my gun to anyone, especially himself. He claimed he would surely request it out of anger to murder someone but we do know that anger gets the best of us" 

"You fool. Whatever I wanna do with the gun is none of your business. My princess was kidnaped by a stinky wolf and I do wish to hunt it down myself along with some of your men" 

"My prince,I don't have much" The blacksmith tried explaining with fear. The prince didn't bulge a bit. He stretched out his arm to one of his guards who gave him a small purse filled with golden coins. 

"Will this one be enough to recover everything? Or do you want more?" He asked waving another guard forward. The guard brought forward a large chest. Opening it slowly, the blacksmith almost collapsed seeing the amount of money that was. He couldn't shut his lips. 

"What do you say? You will give me all your weapons and men and I will help you establish a better business" 

***

Bianca sat in the kitchen with the other maids deep in thought. She kept staring at the clock hoping the princess would come back soon but it baffled her that the princess hadn't been around for 2 weeks. The queen was desperately looking for the servant who gave the poor girl the drink. She wasn't sure of what to do anymore. Her conscience pricked her hard. What if the princess was in trouble? What if she was in need of help? Worst of all, what if she was dead? Then it would be her fault because she broke the rules and helped the lady. Perhaps if she hadn't given her the wine, the lady would have been able to defend herself. Bianca couldn't take this feeling of guilt anymore. It was her fault she knew it. She had to pay for this. Dropping the dough of bread she was kneading, she washed her hands and began walking toward the entrance of the kitchen. 

"Mum, where are you going?" Her five years old daughter asked with confusion as she stared at her from the high stool she sat. 

"O! Dear, I just want to meet the queen. I promise, I will be fine" 

"Let me be with you" The child insisted. 

"No. It's not allowed. Only adults are allowed to meet the queen. Perhaps some day you will be able to as well. For now, I need to tell her something about the princess" The young girl eye widened. 

"The princess? Did she lose her shoe again?" 

"No. No. She didn't. She is just somewhere we don't know. I just want to tell the queen I know something that could help" 

"Don't Bianca!" She heard someone's voice stop her. She stared back and saw the butler looking at them both with a stern look. For how long had he been there?

"I know whatever happened that day. I saw you sneak with her but I tell you that confessing now will not help the situation. It will only get you killed" 

"You don't understand John. I have to tell the queen. It's my fault all this happened to her"

"It's not. The princess insisted for the alcohol. Can't you think of your daughter if anything happens to you?" 

"I never thought of the queen before getting her daughter in trouble. I deserve to be punished for this" 

"Mum, what is going on?" Her daughter asked with a nervous look. 

"It's nothing dear. Mum did something bad and needs to pay for it" She explained brushing her silky hair down. 

She didn't realize the queen walked into their conversation. When she did, she bowed low immediately. The queen stared around suspicious of what was happening in there. 

"What conspiracy are you all plotting?" She asked. 

"Nothing my queen. I was about to go to your chambers" 

"O. I see. About what exactly?" 

"It's about the alcohol…" 

"Leave that matter. There were lots of guests that day. It's possible one of them went in there to make out or something. It's fine. The issue isn't the alcohol but finding my lovely daughter" 

Bianca heaved a sigh of relief hearing this. "But I do swear though, if I discover someone actually got her drunk that night. The person won't see the light of the next day" the queen threatened before walking out of the kitchen. Bianca could feel her heart race really fast. Did she just narrowly escape death or what? 

"I told you not to tell her. Just see how much you were saved today" The butler said with a smile. She said nothing. She pulled her daughter close, shedding tears of joy. Her daughter smiled and playfully pulled her hair wondering if this was some kind of game her mum wanted to play with her.  

***

"How big is the pack in this clan?" Olivia asked Dave as she sat at the entrance of the cave watching the wolves move around minding their own business. Some sniff the soil in search of something while others did their regular activities in their human form. 

"It's pretty large. Not the same exact population as you humans though" He responded sharpening a small knife he always kept handy. The knife was pretty small though. She wondered what he'd find amusing about keeping it close all the time. Olivia couldn't hide the boredom written all over her face. She saw herself growing older and older every single moment due to too much thinking and loneliness. She definitely will die of loneliness if she doesn't do anything about this. 

"I want to go round the clan. I wish to see everyone" She finally spoke out, giving up on pretending everything was going fine when it wasn't. Dave ignored her. Was he seeing her as invincible now or does he think he could belittle her just anytime he wants. She rose up from where she sat and made her way towards him. Without any warning, she snatched the knife from his arm and threw it deep into the cave rudely. 

"What do you think you are doing?" Dave asked in shock. 

"I am tired of you treating me like trash. I am your stupid mate after all so therefore before I die, you have responsibilities over me. There will be no slacking off under my watch" She insisted angrily. 

"Why do you keep mentioning you will die? I just don't get you anymore" 

"Do not pretend you don't know what is going on. You will kill me with your own hands in 3 months, there is no need to pretend it will all be rosy and beautiful…"

"Here we go again" 

"What sort of Alpha and mate don't have anything in common with each other? What sort of compatible couple don't even love each other at all?" 

"Olivia, let it be please" He said already, done with her arguments. "You want to take a walk, then let's go on a walk" 

He sprunged up and dusted his trousers before walking out the cave. She knotted her eyebrows with a smirk. 

"I will make your life a living hell you monster" She'd say under her breath. 

***

They took a walk around the clan. There was nothing much to be seen. Just some few caves and wolves going about their usual business. Few pups played chase around a tree growling at one another and biting each other's ears. 

"Come on, stop it. That's rough" Dave told them politely as he approached them. They stopped and gave him a confused stare. "You're gonna hurt yourself if you play this way. I have an idea, why don't we play another game? Don't worry it will be fun" 

"What game Alpha?" One of the pups asked brave enough to approach him while the others stood still where they were completely nervous. 

"It's called the best seeker. One of us will hide and the rest will find him. What do you think?" 

The pups seemed to embrace this idea. They hopped happily and nodded in approval. Olivia watched and was impressed how calm he was with the pups. 

"Who will hide first sir?" The brave pup asked, trying to warm up for a race. He wiggled his tail in super excitement. In fact he seemed way too excited. 

"Well I never thought of that…" He stared at the cubs for a while and then at Olivia who stood still wondering when the conversation will be over. "She can go. Olivia will hide and we will all search for her" Olivia opened her eyes in awe. 

"Excuse me?" 

"Do this for the cubs please" He pleaded to her showing no interest in arguing one more time. She wasn't sure of how to react. This was an unprepared situation. She stared at the cubs who were way too excited to even pay attention. 

"Alright. Who's ready to play… the finder?" She asked not even sure of the game title. Was it the hider? 

"It's the best seeker" Dave corrected her, not even bothering to stare at her. 

"Alright so, who is ready to play the best seeker?" She asked one more time. This time with a grin. The pups happily indicated they were, running in circles and being too hyper. The sight of this melted her heart. She'd known she was fond of animals but she was rarely around one. Her mum hated any form of animals and preferred they were never brought around the palace. She'd have to pet Bianca dog on rare occasions only if she was able to sneak it into the servant quarters. 

"Where's your mind? Go and hide" Dave ordered with a confused stare at her. She had been standing there the past one minutes staring at the pups who were still being hyper. She immediately got back to her senses and raced off into the woods wondering where the best spot was to hide. Goodness! She didn't know the clam well enough. Where could be the best spot to hide? Perhaps in one of the caves? 

She couldn't decide on any specific place. As she walked on deeper in the woods, she caught sight of an old looking cave which looked abandoned. Perfecto! Now they will never find me. Without thinking, she rushed into the cave and hid under the darkness hoping to win the game. There was a whole cloud of darkness and silence in the cave. She had never been somewhere so quiet before. With time she began to feel uneasy. Something wasn't right about this cave. She shouldn't be here was she? She thought of herself. Deciding on whether to leave or stay in the spooky arena, she heard a loud growl from deep inside the cave. Her heart skipped a beat immediately. What the heck was that? She could feel herself begin to panic. What sort of cave had she gotten into? Trying everything she could to calm herself, she thought of her mum's advice as a child. 

"Unleash the demon in you at a time of trouble. Be the demon to defeat the demon!" 

Her hands were trembling so much. How could she be a demon to defeat whatever was in there? Perhaps she would be a beast meal before she gets the couple. Coupling up all the courage she could, she slowly began to shift herself toward the entrance of the cave. Abruptly, she heard a laugh. A really weird laughter. A kind of laughter she would consider mixed with craftiness and evil. What sort of laughter was that? She needed no one to tell her she had to shift herself rather faster now. In fact, shift? Nope! She definitely needed to run for her life. Leaping up her feet, she raced out of the cave with every strength she could. Five ugly looking hyenas raced after her, still laughing the kind of laugh she hated. 

***

The cubs left Dave behind and raced off in different directions hoping to find Olivia first. Dave sighed due to the fact he'd lose her for a couple of hours. Now he would have to stay by himself or perhaps approach someone worth his time. Wondering who could be available at that time of the day, he walked over to his old friend's cottage. Her name was Laura. Laura was in luckily but she was so busy nursing her pups to even pay attention to him. 

"O! Hey" she gave him a dry greeting as she tried restraining her naughty pups. 

"They are always restless huh?" 

"Very. I don't even know what to do with them anymore. Too much for loving someone"

"Be patient with them. It's a phase" He advised as she was able to finally get them cleaned up. 

"Finally these tiny devils have been cleaned up. So how is your lady?" She asked. 

"She is okay. She is a pain on the neck though" he replied as he watched her let the pups go. 

" A pain you say! Don't you love her?" 

"That's no conversation to have with me Laura"

"What do you mean no conversation to have with you? You never want to have anything to do with emotions except when it comes to pups. You cherish them more than even your life itself. If you really love children that much then why don't you have one?" 

"I don't need children now. I mean ever...even if I do, it can't be with her"

"You seem to neglect her too much. Where is she now?" 

"I don't know. Playing the best seeker with some pups" He replied. 

"I saw you discussing it with the pups outside. Aren't you a part of the game too? Shouldn't you also look for her as well?" 

"I only needed her to find something to do since she complains of being bored. At least she will have a good company with the pups" 

"The clan isn't entirely safe Dave. She doesn't know anywhere yet. What direction had she gone?"

"The woods?" 

"The woods? Come on Dave, the woods are filled with hyenas. Hadn't you warned her about them? Even the cubs won't search for her up to that point" 

Dave felt just as if sense had been knocked into him. She was right. Recently hyenas had chosen to terrorize the clan but due to his dad and the army of wolves who chose to guard the clan, it had been really difficult for them to get in. Why had he never thought of this? 

"You need to go and check on her Dave" Dave gave her no response. He hurried out of the cave and raced into the woods in search of her.