TRENT
It's a good thing I left for my pack, otherwise I wouldn't have known what was about to happen.
"Those blood suckers thought they could sneak into my territory without being seen. It's a good thing I intervened before it was too late," I sighed, sliding my hands into my pocket while making my way through Wolf Fall.
While drawing closer to my pack last night, I pacified the scent of Vampires lurking around my territory in the dark. My guards where at the entrance but failed to see them. It looked like they used some kind of spell to cover both their scent and body from the front, but not behind.
That's how I spotted them in time and dealt with those bats, tossing some of them into my dungeon.
"My Beta will fish out the truth from their guts. I need to know why they are roaming around the Werecat and Werewolf territories," I wondered, having a bad feeling about this.
"How long will you stay in Wolf Fall, Alpha Trent?" My Beta had asked this morning before I left.
"Until the Goddess says it's time," I had said, thinking of Evolet's words.
I've tried to return to my pack and never turn back to Wolf Fall, but it's been hard for me. Whenever I leave Wolf Fall, I always get this dream of someone calling me back there.
There's a blurry woman I keep seeing walking by my side and ahead of me most times. She had her hand reaching for mine last night while I was sleeping. But she vanished the moment I extend mine to reach out to her. And then she was replaced by Cadell and Evolet, who grabbed my hands to follow them.
That's a clear sign that my journey here in this pack isn't over. It's like Evolet said… Maybe she's just a bridge to my destination. "A bridge," I smiled, swaying my head. "You're indeed a bridge, Evolet. But to who?" I wondered, still walking.
"My staying here in Wolf Fall really helped my people and I from those bats. Looks like I'll start spying around the woods like Cadell," I chuckled, walking pass the pack square.
Just as I was thinking of getting Evolet something nice, my eyes caught sight of someone familiar. "Derby?"
I can never forget her face after that day we first met. It's like her image now has a permanent folder in my brain, refusing to leave me.
She was sitting on a bench under a tree, playing with her fingers with a long face. She was looking odd from her usual self. Like a completely different person entirely.
Honestly, she looked nothing like the jovial and crazy Derby that hovers around me whenever she sees me. What happened to her?
I didn't know if I should walk up to her and find out what the situation was, but that decision was made when I saw what she did next.
Her phone, it rang out from her pocket. I watched Derby pulling it out and pausing for a few minute, like she was under some kind of control. Then suddenly, she took in a deep breathe and gave out her familiar big smile, answering the call. "Evolet! Morning Bestie!" She was talking to Evolet, forcing a grin on her face just to sound like her usual self!
This is weird.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm busy with my… Family! Yeah, we're having a guest over, so I have to help around." She giggled.
I was stunned to hear her lie to Evolet. Why would she do that to her own best friend?
"But I will try to come over this evening. There's a show I want us to watch. I just saw on it on my TV not too long… Yeah!… Okay, bye!" She laughed, ending the call.
And as soon as she ended her conversation with Eve, Derby became sad again. Her face drew down into dullness, as she wrapped her arms across her chest, apologizing to Evolet for lying to her. "Do forgive me, Eve. I just can't come right now," she muttered with her eyes welling with tears.
Derby's sudden action and mood got to me. Now I was curious to know what was bothering her and why she lied to Eve. Something doesn't feel right.
Approaching her direction, Derby spotted me and became stunned. She immediately wiped her tears away and acted like one who was attending to her phone.
Standing before her, she lifted her eyes at me and gave out her usual gasp, jumping off the bench to welcome me. "TRENT!" She shrieked out my name, hugging me. "Oh my goodness! Looks like it's my lucky day. What are you doing out here?" She hopped, dragging me down to sit with her on the bench.
"I thought you looked familiar. It's a good thing I checked," I said, playing along.
Derby chuckled while tucking her hair to the back of her ear. "You did well. I didn't think you had the confidence to approach me. You're always fund of running away from me when I start with my… You know." She demonstrated a bit of her craziness, putting a little smile on my face.
"Let's just say I'm gradually adapting to things," I shrugged, staring at her face.
Her eyes were baggy from the tears she shed in secret. And the more I gazed at it, the more I felt bothered about her. I want to know what's wrong with her.
"So…" She scratched her back neck, trying hard not to look into my eyes. "Are you on your way to see Evolet?" she asked, keeping her gaze away from me.
"Not really. Her Mom isn't a fan of men around her daughter. I'm just heading… home," I lied.
"Oh, okay. So, you and Cadell are like room mates? You two are always around Eve, so that means you're room buddies, right?" She asked, finally looking at me innocently.
"Um… Yeah, we are." That's the truth after all. That crazy man is my room mate.
"Cool! I wish I had a room buddy to stay with and talk to all day. Take Evolet for example. If her Mom gave her the freedom to get herself a place, I won't hesitate to join her," She laughed, spreading her lips beautifully.
I'm surprised I'm just noticing how pretty Derby is. She might be a crazy girl, but… she's really good-looking.
"It'd be better than… Than…" Her smile faded, bringing back that dullness again. "Staying in loneliness even when you have people around," she said, losing her shine.
This is eating me up. I need to speak to her.
Derby snapped out of her mood, asking with a grin on her face, "Do you have anything doing this noon? I could really use your…"
"What's wrong with you, Derby?" I asked, interrupting her.
She lifted her brow confusingly, shrugging at me. "Wrong with me? I don't get."
"Why were you crying?" I asked, so she'd understand.
When she heard that question, she froze. "What?" she uttered, staring at me.
"I saw you, Derby. You were crying after talking to Evolet on the phone."
"I… I don't know what you're… I wasn't crying," She denied, making an attempt to leave. But I didn't allow it.
I held Derby back, stopping her from getting off the bench. She looked into my eyes worriedly, saying with tremble in her voice, "Trent… I need to go now."
"Derby, what's going on with you?"
"Nothing," she denied, looking away from my point. "Nothing is wrong with me."
"Are you sure? You just lied to your friend about your whereabouts and claimed to be in front of a TV! Is that really nothing?" I questioned her, while she kept her eyes away from me, staying quiet.
And from the corners of her optic, I saw droplet of tears escaping her eyes. The sight of it struck me in an unexpected way. It made me eager to help Derby with whatever problem she was facing.
"Derby… Look," I loosened my grip on her, turning her over to face me. "Tell me what is wrong. Maybe I might be of help. Just tell me what is troubling you," I requested, about to wipe the tears of her face when she gasped, widening her eyes in an alarming manner, looking behind me.
"Derby?" I called, wondering what was wrong. But on looking back, I saw a huge man staring at Derby and I near a car, angrily. The look in his eyes showed he was displeased with our closeness. He didn't appreciate it.
He looked familiar, like someone I've seen at the arena before. Yes! I saw him with Derby's family during her fight. Is he her brother?
"I have to go?" Derby said, rising to her feet.
The aura she released showed how troubled she was on seeing this man. I wanted to ask who he was to be sure, but I didn't bother. Didn't want to make things worst for her.
Derby took a few steps away from my side but came to a stop, turning around to face me. With her back against this man, she said to me, "Please, don't tell Evolet about the call. Yes, I did lie to her but not completely. My family is expecting a guest and they need me. I… had no choice." She sniffed, wiping her eyes herself.
Her tone was filled with sadness. She's trying to sound okay, but she's not.
"Derby."
"Don't tell her, okay? And yes, I'm not crying. Something got into my eyes that's why there are tears," She joked, smiling at me before hurrying up to meet the man standing beside the car.
She hurriedly got into the vehicle in a tremble, while the fellow took one nasty look at me before getting his car and driving off.
I got off the bench, watching the car vanish out of my sight with Derby's sad face shadowing my mind.
"She was afraid when she saw him. Is there a problem at her place?" I suspected, feeling worried about Derby.
She don't want Eve to know what is going on with her, but that doesn't apply to me. I'll have to find out what is wrong.
Whatever the problem is, it's affecting Derby negatively.
I have to help her.