Blood Secrets

Beyond The Woods

There are a lot of reasons why Aedion chose to live in the mountains. One of them is the fact that he hates the city. His father, the previous alpha of the Bloodbrook pack, has chosen the mountains for the whole pack to thrive. Malayo sila sa mga tao at higit sa lahat, sa mga bampira.

It was worse before when all they do is attack and defend. Vampires and werewolves already had a rift that stems from a bitter history. Kaya naman masasabi niyang mas mabuti ang kalagayan nila ngayon.

The city of St. Angeli is swarmed with supernatural beings. Witches, vampires, and wolves lived together with humans for several decades now. Over time, they have made and improved rules that benefit all the factions of St. Angeli.

Witches, since the beginning of time, have always been the ones who balance the supernatural world. That is the reason why they may be physically weaker than vampires and werewolves but they could easily kill a werewolf or a vampire with a few spells. The witches of St. Angeli belong to one coven led by Esmeralda Forbes. For the most part, they didn't have any problems. Witches rarely cause any trouble.

Vampires, on the other hand, are blood-thirsty monsters that feed on human blood. It may sound absurd for the humans to be allowed to live in the city but the mayor thought they could work it out. Hence, they made all those special holidays and made sure to make them extra grand and tourist worthy. Sa pamamagitan nito, maraming mga turista ang dumadayo sa syudad nila and these tourist are compelled by vampires for them to feed. The mayor was wise. He had a whole plantation of azaleas strictly warded by some invisible magic barrier courtesy of the witches so that rogue vampires won't be able to destroy them. And with the help of the witches, he also made sure to put azaleas in the city's water supply. Kaya naman lahat ng mga tao sa syudad ay may mga azalea sa katawan. This prevents the vampires in the city to feed on the locals.

Maliban diyan ay may mga malalaking hospital sa syudad na maraming supply ng dugo. The mayor also made sure that the blood supplies came from another city and made sure to set aside a ration for the vampires. Dahil kung walang mga turista, doon kumukuha ang mga bampira ng makakakain.

As for the wolves, they have been living here even before the city was named St. Angeli. Their pack has resided in the mountains for a century. All they ask is for the other factions to stay out of the mountain. Lalong-lalo na kapag bilog ang buwan. The mayor had announced to the whole city that the locals are prohibited to go to the mountain for some dangerous landmines buried there. But there are some curious humans driven by conspiracy theories who go to the mountain every full moon. They never came out alive.

As the Alpha of the Bloodbrook pack, Aedion represents the wolf faction. And so far, living in the city of St. Angeli was alright. They get to live in the mountains far from human interaction and a place safe for the young wolves to turn. Most of the human deaths in the mountains are caused by the young wolves who still could not control themselves. He had to explain to the other factions, especially to the mayor that it wasn't his wolves' fault that those dead humans were killed.

He doesn't know if the mayor was just scared or just really understanding that he just nodded. After a few days, the news was released about an animal attack in the mountains that took five people's lives. The humans never dared go to the mountains ever again.

He hopes to remain that kind of peace. The Bloodbrook pack belongs to the city but they rarely go there unless deemed necessary. Lalong-lalo na ngayong nabalitaan niya ang mga bagong lipat na mga bampira. The Sylvaines never fail to make a grand entrance every time they go somewhere. This time, they managed to do it by making their way to the council and now leading the vampire faction. He shouldn't be worried since it's mostly led by the eldest Sylvaine. The more reasonable among the three, but a monster still.

He has heard of so many stories about the Sylvaines and each one is always worse than the last. Alam niya kung ano ang mga ito. They're one of the vampires that ever walked the earth. The wolves and that family have a long history.

"You awake?" A head popped on the crack of his cabin's door. Joana Jade.

He folded his journal and set it inside his bedside drawer before he got up from his bed. Pumasok naman si Joana sa loob ng kwarto niya and a smirk played on his lips the moment he saw Joana blushing profusely at the sight of him shirtless. It wasn't intentional.

"You should have gotten used to this by now," he said as he wore his shirt. Joana gave him an incredulous look.

"I mean, you barge in a lot inside my cabin every morning and you know I don't wear a shirt when I sleep. And you've seen a lot of our other men here training without a shirt." He turned to look at Joana Jade whos looking outside the window or just avoiding his gaze. He could never tell.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

She cleared her throat. "Nothing. I just...it's just...it's different when it comes to you—"

Natigilan naman ang babae nang makita ang mukha niyang naguguluhan sa kung ano ibig nitong sabihin.

"f**k. That wasnt the question to your answer, was it?" This time, mas lalong namumula ang mukha ng babae.

"I wasn't sure what you were trying to say—"

"Stupid, idiot, Joana Jade," she mumbled to herself dahilan para magpigil siya ng tawa.

"I was asking why you're barging inside my cabin this time?"

"I know," she said and could barely look him in the eye. "It's just the young wolves have already finished their training. They're ready for the full moon tonight."

The young wolves of the pack are nurtured since they are young until they are ready for their first turn when they turn the right age.

"How many tonight?"

"Ten of them."

"Who's the strongest?"

Joana gave him a look. They never compare the young wolves but it couldn't be denied that there are some who are inherently stronger and faster than the rest.

"There has to be one, Jo." He sat on his bed and started wearing his shoes.

"Well, as someone who oversaw their training, I could say they are all capable. But if I am going to choose the strongest, it's Ayla and Rian."

He narrowed his eyes. "They are on each other's teeth since day one, right?"

Joana Jade smiled and walked towards his window where they could see the training field. Sumunod naman siya sa babae at napatingin din sa bintana. He saw Ayla and Rian bickering at each other.

"They're not on each other's teeth. Rian likes Ayla but he doesn't know how to show it to her so he's being a jerk about it. Ayla is strong and doesn't take s**t from anyone but Ria is slowly getting less of a jerk about it. And if I am going to guess, I think Ayla realizes it and is too afraid to take her wall down because she's used to Rian making fun of anything. She's afraid this is all about Rian trying to make fun of her."

He looked at Joana. "And you got all of that information from just...looking?"

Joana looked at her. "You can get enough information from just a look, Aedion. You just have to be observant enough. That's something you immensely lack."

Before he could even say something, Joana Jade walked out of the door and left him dumbfounded. Nakanganga siyang nakatingin sa pinto kung saan lumabas ang babae.

He doesn't have any idea in what way he lacks the observation and it bothers him that he lacks something as the alpha of the pack.

Napatingin siya sa gawi nina Ayla at Rian at nakitang nagtatawanan ang grupo nina Rian nang hindi matamaan ni Ayla ang target. Sa inis ng babae, itinutok nito ang pana sa grupo nina Rian kaya naman nagsigawan ang mga ito.

He tilted his head. Whatever Joana saw between the kids, he couldn't see it. He shook his head and decided to go out.

Their camp was already bustling early in the morning. May mga nagsisibak ng kahoy. May nagluluto na ng agahan para sa kanilang lahat. Some are managing the young ones while they train.

He went straight to the training field. The young ones who were fooling around immediately behaved at the sight of him.

Victoria, the oldest among them stood beside him. "The wolves are going to run free tonight. Stop that worried look on your face."

"Have you heard about what happened to some wolf pack a few miles away from here?" He looked at Victoria. "The young ones were kidnapped. Word got out that they were taken for their venoms. Vampires are behind this again."

"Undoubtedly. But you don't need to worry now. The older wolves will be with them."

As much as he want to be assured by it, he couldn't. With the appearance of the Sylvaines, he knows this is not something to be taken lightly. The news of young wolves getting abducted is one thing. The possible involvement of Sylvaines is another. Kaya naman hindi siya mapakali.

"This mountain is protected by witch spells. Our young ones will be fine, Aedion." Victoria clapped his back before she walked towards her own cabin.

Napatingin siya ulit sa mga batang nagsasanay. In the field, he could see Joana glancing at him. Nginitian niya lang ito ngunit nag-iwas lang ito ng tingin. He furrowed his brows and walked towards the weapons room where the rest of the young wolves are.

Sila ang mga hindi pa nakatungtong sa taman edad. Which means they wont be turning tonight.

Naabutan niya ang mga ito na naglilinis ng mga sandata nila. For tonight, they are assigned to stand watch. Since they are trained to hold weapons since they are ten, they are assigned to guard the camp together with other wolves as the rest of the pack goes to the deeper parts of the woods. Hindi man siya kampante dito ngunit wala siyang ibang magagawa. As alpha, it's part of his duty to trust his people.

"They said it's going to hurt," said a voice. Napatingin naman siya sa batang nakatayo sa harapan niya. Jax was one of the kids who had just started training. "They said all this training will not make the pain disappear."

He smiled and crouched down to meet the kid's eyes. Hinawakan niya ito sa magkabilang balikat. "It's true. It will hurt," he said. Nakita niyang nag-iba ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng bata. Kita niya ang takot dito. But he went on, "When you turn, every bone in your body will break. It's painful and you'll be conscious the whole process. So you will feel every pain in your body."

He could almost see Jax turning violet at what he said kaya naman nginitian niya ang bata. "But once you become a wolf, your senses are heightened. You can see from very far away. You can smell things you have never smelled before. You will be more connected to nature. And when you run, you can run as fast as you can that your surrounding blurs. You will feel the cold wind on your magnificent fur and it will be the most wonderful feeling in the world."

Nakita naman niyang umaliwalas ang mukha ng bata habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Masakit din ba sa iyo? Noong unang beses kang naging lobo?"

He nodded. "It was. I cried when I turned the first time. So when it is your turn to turn into a wolf, scream and cry all you want. It will all be worth it."

Ngumiti ang bata sa kanya at saka ito bumalik sa ginagawa nito kanina.

"That was encouraging," said Joana behind him. He stood and faced the woman.

"What would you have said?"

Joana let out a laugh. "I would have said the same thing."

Silence covered them until she sighed. "You led this pack well, Aedion."

"I am only leading this pack because my older brother is not here."

Joana groaned. "We both know he is not fitting to be the alpha of this pack. He doesn't care about the pack because if he does, he wouldn't have left this place. He's selfish and he is ruthless, Aedion."

Napatawa naman siya ng mahina. "I get that you're hurt because he left you---"

"I was. And I was so mad at him for leaving but I have already come to terms with the fact that he doesn't deserve my time and that I would rather spend it on more...important things."

"Like training the young wolves," he added.

Napatingin naman si Joana sa kanya. And there was that look again. Like she wants to say something but couldn't. "That and other things."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Do you have something you want to tell me?"

The moment he said those words, nakita niyang labis na namula ang mukha ng babae. Kaya naman ang buong akala niya ay masyado itong personal kaya nahihiya ang babae. "It's okay if you can't tell me. I'm sorry for asking." He clasped her shoulder and was about to walk away when Joana Jade held his wrist.

Tiningnan niya ang babae at nakatingin ito sa kanya. Namumula pa rin ang mukha nito. "After the full moon, I will tell you about it. I promise," she said. In all honesty, he doesn't know how to respond to it. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay binitiwan na ni Joana Jade and kanyang kamay at agad na itong naglakad papalayo. It was the second time that she walked away, leaving him hanging kaya naman hindi siya papayag na makaalis ulit ito. So he ran after her and held her arm.

Nanlalaki naman ang mata ng kanyang kaibigan habang nakatingin sa kanya. Halatang nagulat ito sa kanya.

"I'm sorry but you're starting to make it a habit to walk away from me," he said.

"Well...do you have something to say?"

He sighed. "I just want to tell you that whatever it is you're going to tell me, don't think too much about it. I'm sure I can handle it better than you think."

Joana Jade looked at him before she burst laughing. Nakampante naman siya dahil nakita niyang hindi na ito tensiyonado.

"Let's see, Aedion. Let's see."

He was about to say something else when another wolf came to call him. It's time for them to survey the woods. Kailangan nilang tingnan ang buong kagubatan para makasigurong walang mga ligaw na tao doon. Lalo pa ngayong kasagsagan ng selebrasyon sa syudad, some tourists might have gotten curious and went on a hike to the mountains. They have to make sure na magiging matiwasay ang gagawin nila mamayang gabi sa kabilugan ng buwan.

He turned to look at Joana Jade only to see her already walking away from him.

"Jo," he called. Humarap naman ang babae sa kanya at ngumiti.

"After the full moon," she said and walked away.