I came home with a heavy heart.
But all sadness left me the moment my dogs welcomed me home. They were all jumping and dancing in joy as I kissed them one by one. Linly, who wasn't expecting my coming, was inside my home. She cooked and prepared everything I needed including the bath so I could take my time to relax. I told her everything that happened ever since we left. That was how she found out how devastated I am.
I spent the nights watering my pillows with my tears. My dogs were unaware of my exact situation but they were there whenever they sensed me crying, licking my tears, and cuddling with me. Three is my golden retriever and my sweetest dog. She's also the one who loves to assist me in gardening and errands. She was holding the basket by her mouth when I bought sweets that might comfort me.
And every time my mind rewinds memories of him, my spring shall be mixed with my tears again.
I told all my emotions to Five. And his reverence while listening to me brought lightness to my chest. I played with my dogs every day and shopped with One before the festival of Vengeance pack. I was picking a preferable dress and sandals when I felt sudden dizziness. I sat on the provided bench in the store and tried several sandals. It all felt tight before I realized that my feet were swelling.
Those few signs reminded me of the expectation. The day before the festival, after 2 weeks, I was helping the Vengeance pack prepare the decorations in the castle. They wanted it purely made by their effort and unity. These werewolves, almost, adopted the kindness of humanity since their generation is in the peaceful days. They were helping one another, the youth were working with fun, and we, mages, input the finalization of every decoration.
It was a busy day that caused me to fall out of my balance. A concerned wolf took me inside the palace to rest in the living room. They gave me water and fruits to boost my strength again.
One thing I recognized in their pack: revenge kills their future. Instead of inheriting the strength and commemorating the righteous legacy of their ancestors, they look back at the agony that shall stir their anger toward the one at fault in their eyes.
The real villain is their pride.
It has been their wound that remained unspotted and unhealed, the wound that made them divide and suffer.
The arrival of their Alpha shook the silent palace. Matheo was with him. His presence delivered bad news to me, that something happened in their land and with Hessuel. He was imprisoned in a room and a priest placed an enchantment on the door to keep him locked. All the moon's servants in Plandreas including the Beta and Gamma are gathered to discuss the preparation for Hessuel and his pack's expected ambush. Biaco seems distressed while discussing his backup plan and proposal to Hessuel.
The mood has easily dominated me. In the middle of the discussion of our plan, the moon priest mocked me saying, "Are we supposed to create plans with the moon priestess? a friend of another treacherous priestess?"
"You may ask me directly anyway," I intervened. "I will hinder the silver wolf if he ever infiltrated the palace." I had to stop him lest the two Alphas would die! What happened to Hessuel? What came into his mind to seize the Vengeance pack? I found it out with Biaco. He dismissed everyone in the room except me. I played the pawns from the table where the plan was laid. "Biaco... what have you done?"
He propped his hands on the table with a long face, slumping to the table. "I've done what I thought was wise. And I'll still think the same for the next few hours. Have you ever questioned the riddle the Eldar told me before he vanished?"
"Isn't that your own privacy?"
"I'll tell you. 'In the fall of a ruler shall the dead rise again. In the claws of the opposite identity shall be my downfall.' After all those years, I made the boy suffer by misunderstanding. All I've known was he was the Eldar. But he is the son. I feel both satisfaction and guilt. The boy is the Eldar's flesh and bone. I afflicted the innocent instead of the deserving, but that shall surely whip the father in pain."
"Are you... going to avenge your clan through Hessuel?"
"My proposed plan shall be done."
"Good. Because if not, I will stop you now." I walked toward him to decrease the amount of voice needed. "Not all of the wisdom is right. Even a tactful person has flaws. Do what you think is right and trust luck. The peace of the werewolf race is in your choices," I said, authoritatively. I was on my steps to leave when he spoke again that halted me.
"Peace is a useless remedy for a scar, but then it can prevent a scar for those unscathed. I will consider peace for the sake of my wolves. I bet you have no idea who Hessuel is now. He is not the guy you used to protect. I understand it is my fault. I will accept any punishment from his claws and rest in the grave with no more remorse. If he rejects my kind offer, then I shall use him to take revenge on his father. I'd rather trust my intuition than luck. You better not hinder the battle."
His words left me silent. I felt disrespected when he walked out first! I slammed my hands on the table and slumped my face. Sounded my heavy sigh. Nothing could stop the revelation I've seen where the two Alphas shall die. Biaco has learned to embrace remorse. And something must've happened to Hessuel why he would ignore the danger. It was the road paved by the Moon Goddess and I felt that I made a role to fulfill what she has written by making me think that my decision is wise and right.
However, my actions brought it into reality.
What have I done?
I hurried to interrogate Matheo in his room and I found him watching through the window, then I manifested my spellbook in rage. He waved his hands to calm me. "What happened to Asfara!?" I question directly.
"Asfara? The land was fine when we left."
"Then why did you leave!?"
"He's coming here to free the white wolves." And he told me everything they've been through including Biaco's crime in Small Vil. I was nudged with anger when he testified to me that Biaco assaulted Hessuel alone with his Omegas! Matheo wasn't expecting Biaco in the village after several years of being a vagabond wolf. However, he was against Hessuel's plan and eventually chose to betray him instead.
Now that Hessuel was approaching the city with his pack, he could have a morbid lust for blood that lured him to come. "And you, Matheo, I know you're not stupid enough to betray him or do idiotic choices like this only because you disagree with Hessuel."
"..." He tilted his head. "I'm flattered you never thought about me as a moron. Of course, I had to betray my Alpha to infiltrate this palace. Nothing changed 'tho. It remains like the back of my hand." His eyes glowed and his hands manifested an enchast. From behind, someone pointed a claw at my neck and it was Matheo! He was gone from the spot where he was standing a few seconds ago! "Yes, I have a purpose. And I'll make sure to make way for my Alpha."
He pushed me to the window, then he was standing near the door in a snap. I know that magic. Similar to Acro, Lanasia can see others in the eyes of another vessel and lend them her power. It was like two people in one body. The heck, this couple is a standard! Being an enchantress and a werewolf is a powerful advantage!
"Mage versus mage. That would make a balanced battle. I shall deal with the moon priests except you."
He left immediately and locked me inside! The doorknob twisted like a hand of the clock, which meant that the door shall remain closed for a limited time. I humbly watched every moment through the window to the castle ground. I witnessed the arrival of Hessuel's pack bring tension to all the werewolves. While his presence for me thumped my heart in joy after the past days without seeing him.
I had a hunch while watching them, manifested an enchast, then I teleported Biaco inside his room, the second Hessuel wielded his claws against him. Horrible haywire followed after his howl. I touched my womb and told my child that we were going to meet their father. I heard the clunk of the doorknob and left the room immediately. Moon priests were defeated which made me the only mage available. However, I almost met my demise too.
He broke and trampled my heart with his cold approach. That was when I knew that I couldn't approach him as a stranger anymore. And it hurts that he couldn't recognize me. What we had in the past became my infirmity. His eyes which used to look at me with affection were now nonchalant. His hands that used to hold me dearly harmed me. His strength that he used to protect me now shall kill me.
It felt like thorns knotted in my heart. After all the sweetness he invested in me and after he made me acquainted with his love, I couldn't endure the pain of how cold he treated me at that time. I couldn't see him as an opponent. Apparently, I'm still there in his life when he failed to realize that he was crying in front of me. He fled and left me numb. I couldn't uphold my prior decision.
It was the last time I made contact with his warm body. The next heartbreaking thing that happened was I found him covered in soot and cold. No matter how much I hummed, his cold body shall never again absorb it. It happened in the end. I lost him even if 'twas just his intelligence... because he will never be the same.
...
...
6 months had passed after the death of their intelligences. The 2 packs became one by the oath of the 2 new and elected Alphas; Alpha Matheo and Alpha Elibur.