“Alpha!”
Clayton turned when he heard him being addressed. He frowned when he saw Lily McAllister, his Beta and best friend’s fraternal twin, running towards him anxiously with a look of concern on her pretty face.
She never calls him Alpha, and he made sure of that since he considered her as one of his closest and trusted friends. The fact that she suddenly addressed him that only meant that something serious has happened.
It has been over three months since he took over as Alpha. And as what he had promised his pack, he served them with all that he has. He made sure that their welfare always comes first. He judges any conflict with fairness and always made sure that he is available for any emergencies.
Over the short course of his leadership, he had also started intensive training for his warriors. Under the leadership of his Delta, Jacob, he had started a thorough and extensive training for defense from any attacks and for combat. It received a huge positive response from the members even with the females, that Jacob had to request Clayton for two assistants to help him.
Clayton was more than happy to comply with the request. He was glad that his pack members also felt the same way in protecting their territory. He was even surprised that they took the initiative to implement stricter border patrol and he was more than proud of their actions.
“What is it, Lily?” He asked patiently, checking his watch. He turned his body completely towards her and gave her his full attention. “It’s still early in the morning for some errands to be made. Or did you go for an early run?”
Lily stopped, catching her breath while she is shaking her head vigorously.
“It’s your grandmother,” she finally answered. “She’s asking for you.”
She hesitated for a few seconds.
“I don’t think she’ll have more time,” she said softly. “She’s ready to cross, Clayton.”
“I’ll go see her now,” he replied seriously. “Will you tell Liam?”
Lily nodded.
“I’ll have him follow you there,” she answered as she pushed him to go gently. “Go, Clayton. She wants to see you the most.”
Clayton turned and started running on his feet as fast as he can, his pace picking up just to get to his beloved grandmother in time. Every pack member he passed by, called out a greeting but seeing that their alpha didn’t return their greeting and his motion of urgency, they knew why.
It has been reported to the members, that Catherine Fine-Langston, their former beloved Luna and Great Grand Luna, will soon be crossing over. They knew the close bond of the older woman and the alpha, who had taught him well enough to always show kindness and compassion.
Clayton has finally reached her small, house and he felt dread rising in his body at the number of his pack members outside who are holding a vigil. He knew deep inside his heart that his Grandma Cat will be leaving soon.
“Mom,” he said when he entered the door.
Evangeline Langston walked towards him and gave him a comfort hug, rubbing his back. She pulled away and looked at him calmly, her one hand on his cheek. “It’s her time, Clayton. Just be there for her. Hold her hand and tell her that everything will be okay. Let her passage be smooth and peaceful,” she whispered softly. She turned when she heard the door to her room open and saw her husband come out. “Go on in. She wants to see you the most before she goes. Her wolf, Constantine has already passed on. You don’t have much time.”
He nodded and his father, squeezed his shoulder before he went inside his grandmother’s room, closing the door behind him gently.
“Clayton?”
“I’m here, Grandma,” Clayton answered, and he immediately went to her side. He sat on the floor and took her frail hand, clasping it gently and bringing it to his lips. “You know that I’ll always come whenever you call for me. No matter how busy I will be.”
Catherine turned and smiled at him.
“Constantine’s gone,” she whispered slowly.
“Yes, mom just told me,” He replied as he brushed her hair off her forehead lightly. “I’m sure that Wyatt has already met up with her and they can run freely as much as they want.”
“She sure has been a joy, huh?” She asked.
He nodded and he smiled as he recalled the number of times when Constantine will let him ride on her back when he was still a small boy. As she starts to pick up her pace, Clayton will then sit up straight, raising both hands high up and happily feel the wind hitting his face.
“She will always be my favorite wolf,” he assured her softly. He looked at her lovingly and dropped a kiss on her hand. “And you will always be my favorite person. Remember that. I love you, grandma Cat.”
She smiled weakly and she reached out with her other hand to touch his face.
“Clayton, the wolf less child story…” She started, her breathing starting to get ragged. “Do you know it?”
“Of course, I do, Grandma,” he said calmly. He looked at her intently, gauging her breathing and he gently tightened his grip on her hand. “Lily always talked about it.”
“She always loves that story ever since you, kids were young.”
He smiled at that remark. “Lily will always be a hopeless romantic, grandma,” he explained patiently. “She became like that from being always with you. Do you know that she’s dreaming that whoever will her mate be, it will be like a prince charming of sorts?”
“Your granddad has been my prince charming ever since we’ve met,” she argued lightly.
Clayton watched as his grandmother took a long, deep breath.
“You don’t need to talk, grandma,” he said calmly. “I’m here. I won’t let go until you tell me to. I’m not going to leave your side.”
“My time is almost up, Clayton,” she insisted weakly, and she took another deep breath. “Your grandpa Fred will be here soon to fetch me. I can’t wait to be with him again.”
“The story is not just a story. It’s a prophecy made a long time ago,” she continued with a hint of urgency in her voice. She looked at him intently. “Fifty or more years ago. Your parents know about it. Ask them, okay?”
Clayton nodded and he felt his heart squeezed tight when he saw breath with extreme difficulty.
“Find the girl, Clayton,” she said weakly. She squeezed his hand weakly, but Clayton felt the urgency of her request. “Find her and when you do, help her. You must protect her with your life. And please do this for me. I know you’re angry but find Conrad and help him, too. That’s the only way that can help you and the prophecy.”
He remained silent at the mentioned of his older brother. After he had banished him and his followers from the pack, despite keeping tabs on them for a while, Clayton had finally lost traces of where he is now. Despite his anger over Conrad, he could only hope that they are doing well in whichever pack they entered.
“I will do my best to find Conrad,” he answered lightly.
“The girl, Clayton…”
“Do you have an idea of who she is or to which pack she belongs to?” He asked calmly, looking at her carefully. “Or where I can find her?”
Catherine shook her head once.
“There’s a Sigma that…,” she whispered, stopped, and then she suddenly turned, lying on her back. A soft, loving, and warm smile appeared on her face. “Frederick, you are here.”
Clayton stared to where his grandmother is looking.
“I am ready, Freddy,” she whispered again. “I’m coming home with you.”
He looked back at his grandmother and before she had closed her eyes and took her last breath, he saw that her face became calm and serene, a loving smile plastered on and her eyes sparkling again like they always had.
There was a moment of dead and peaceful silence and Clayton closed his eyes, dropping his head on the bed, squeezing his grandmother’s hand tightly. He let his tears fall profusely for a long while. He let out all his emotions that he always had in control.
Finally, after a long while, he gathered himself, wiping his tears away and finally stood up. He placed his grandmother’s hands on top of her stomach, clasping them together. She looked like that she is only sleeping, and Clayton is glad that there are no signs of strain on her face.
“I love you, grandma,” he said with feeling. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead lovingly. “You are in my heart always. I promise that I will do what you asked of me. I won’t let you down.”
Clayton then walked towards the door and quietly opened it.
His parents, presence met him when he stepped outside. Evangeline is sobbing on Theodore’s chest, and he is hugging her in comfort, rubbing her back gently. Liam is also hugging his sister, Lily, whose tears are running furiously down her cheeks. She buried her face on her brother’s chest.
Clayton nodded at his father, and he finally went out from the small house and stood at the deck, looking at his pack members, who were holding a vigil outside.
“Our great-grand Luna Catherine Langston has passed as well as her wolf, Constantine,” he announced, his voice breaking a bit. He took a deep breath before looking back at them. “We will observe our five days of mourning. Let us all remember with love in our hearts our beloved Luna. She will be sorely missed.”
He then immediately transformed to his wolf, Kragen. He let out a long howl that could be heard all over their territory. A howl filled with sadness and sorrow. A howl of losing a loved one that means so much to the person.
A resonating howling echo also filled the air as the pack members one by one started to mourn the passing of the great-grand Luna. It became like that for the next few hours as the observation of mourning has begun.
Thousands of miles away, a sixteen-year-old girl suddenly turned as if she felt someone had just passed by her like the wind.
She only shrugged when she saw no one.
Heavy rain poured down mercilessly as well as thunderous claps from the thick gray clouds above sounded, replicating the atmosphere now at The Night Howlers territory.The five days of mourning have been completed for their great grand Luna. The pack members had all gathered at the burning site for the last ritual for the dead and watched with mournful eyes as Clayton walked towards the body of his grandmother, who is placed on a high constructed branches of twigs with a white cloth covering her entire body except for her face and clasped hands that are on top of her stomach.All alphas and lunas of the allies they had made over the years attended the last rite, giving their last respect to the woman, who they cherished and treasured. Even the Lycan King, himself, King Atticus the Fourth, and his family came and the sorrow on his face could not be hidden. He had considered Catherine as one of his closest friends back when they were still young.White flowers wer
Five years later... It was a late, dark, and foggy Wednesday night. The heavy rain that started in the afternoon has finally subsided but that didn’t stop the cold from enveloping the atmosphere. The streets are nearly empty and from time to time, a car will pass by, splashing water on the puddles that they will be driving over. Clattering sounds of tin cans dropping on the ground can be heard as several cats were fighting over food that they had scavenged from the garbage bins located in the alleyway. Twenty-year-old Amarah Saville wrapped her wool scarf around her neck and put on her gloves, to protect herself from the cold after closing the door of the clinic, where she works as an assistant. She was about to walk towards the direction of where she lives, which takes around twenty minutes, but stop when she heard her phone ringing in her jacket pocket. “Matt, I just closed off and will be there in fifteen minutes. Glo has all the details o
Clayton, now twenty-six years old opened his eyes but immediately shut them after being blinded by an intense lighting shone above him. He moved his head to the side to try eliminating the illumination. He tried raising his one arm to shield his eyes but felt it heavy and immobile now. He was attacked, taken by surprise by a trap that he knew his brother had set up. Ever since he had overtaken him and became the alpha of their pack, Conrad had never forgiven him for taking what he thinks was rightfully his. It had finally confirmed Clayton’s suspicions that his brother had pledged his allegiance to their father’s old nemesis, Ian Fullerton, alpha of The Rebel Rogues. Clayton was on a mission on a source that he got with regards to the last wishes that his grandmother had told him. It has been five years since her death, but up to this day, he had managed to only accomplish one. But, only a bare minimum. With Lily’s research and help, she finally discovered th
Alpha Ian Fullerton of The Rebel Rogues, looked up from his desk when he heard a knock on the door of his office. He ordered the one knocking on the door to come in and he saw that it was his beta, Anthony Madison. Anthony is a tall, muscular-built guy with dark hair and dark eyes. He has a scar on his face, running from the bottom of his right eye down to his chin. He looks formidable alone with that look and he had used it to his advantage. “Langston has just returned,” Anthony informed after he closed the door. “He’s waiting outside and wants to speak to you.” Ian leaned back on his chair, clasping his hands in deep thought. “How is he?” “He’s still hungry for power,” Anthony answered seriously. “The disgrace and banishment that he received from his pack seems to be the one fueling his drive for it. If I was on his shoes, I would rather be killed than having that trademark for the rest of my life.” “That’s why I still don’t understa
Clayton could not remember how long he was asleep or unconscious the moment that whatever was administered to his body took over and lose the fight for control of trying to stay alert. But, now that he had regained his consciousness, he felt his strength returning and he can finally move his hands and feet without feeling heavy.He tried rising but he can still feel his body aching from the attack. Finally giving up, Clayton remained lying on the bed he is on and let the medicine do its work in his body so he can be able to recover and heal fast.He needs to return to his pack.He finally was able to open his eyes and he realized that he is inside of what look like a small hospital room. There’s a counter with a sink to his right and some medical accessories that will be needed for any dressing of wounds. There’s also a small basin and a sponge beside some toiletries.Could not be able to sit up, Clayton raised his arms to check on the injurie
“Hey, let me out of here!”The minute Clayton was conscious again, he started struggling from the handcuffs that was placed around both of his wrists and tied to the bed railings. He tried to break from him, using his strength but somehow, he could not. He started shouting from his room but there wasn’t anyone who came to check on him.“Hello?! I’m f8cking sure that you can hear me out there!! Get me out of here, you f8cking as$holes!” He shouted angrily. “I demand that you release me immediately or you will suffer the consequences!”He tried transforming into Kragen but could not even do it.He even tried linking with Liam, but somehow, whatever that was injected in him prevented him from doing that as well. Clayton cursed loudly so that he could be heard.“It’s best you conserve your strength,” an amused and dry voice finally replied. “The sedative is still in your system. Tr
Clayton paced back and forth inside his office, his mind getting restless as well as his body. He stopped for a few minutes before resuming his actions, closing his eyes, and bending his head in deep thought.It has been three weeks since he was discharged from the clinic by that Matthew Slade, and he did what he was being asked of much to his frustration. He remembered lingering at the clinic’s waiting area despite being discharged early, when Amarah, her real name, finally coming in through the front door after Matt.“Amarah,” he stated softly.To his discontent, Amarah stepped behind an amused Matt for her protection and hid herself. He noted that she had a scarf wrapped around her neck and her eyes reflected fear when she looked towards him. The last thing he wanted her to feel if she is around him is fear. But, because of what he did, he somehow instilled that on her.“Amarah, please know that I didn’t mean to hurt you l
Amarah opened the cabinet, which contains the clinics stock of medical supplies and started counting them for their usual monthly inventory on a not so busy Friday morning. She counted the number of boxes of surgical gloves they have left and wrote it down on the paper pinned to a clipboard she is holding.She then proceeded checking and counting the saline solution bottles.After two hours of doing inventory, she went back to the reception lobby and proceeded to her computer to start on her report.“Hey, would you mind doing this for me as well?” Tracy Sutton quipped.Amarah looked at the document being handed to her.“Isn’t that supposed to be your task to do?” She asked patiently as she open a new file and started encoding the standard format. “Matt will be reprimanding you again if he finds out that I did your report like I did last month.”“Like, please stop telling me that, Arah,” T