"Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil." - Aristotle
Werewolf Kingdom
Blood Moon Forest
Moonlight Pack's Territory
Fyrrah's POV
I should've known something's wrong the last time we have seen each other. I should've been more careful and made sure the place where we met a couple of nights ago was free of eavesdropping followers of that 'loyal' general. The note Virgo had sent me a few hours earlier saying that Elisa was kidnapped since she never reached home was already crumpled from my tight grip as I raged and ran as fast as my elven feet could carry me. The trees were blurred from my sight as I passed by with a great speed. The shadows going lighter as I reached the tree line, reaching the edge of the Blood Moon Forest. The trail led me here and to what that sucker is planning I really have no idea. Wild, overgrown grasses were everywhere, fit for a hiding place of more than ten men.
I never had the chance to hide as a fireball was thrown directly at me, which exploded when it landed on the tree behind me as I ducked. The tree fell and the flames were quick to spread like a wildfire. Lowering myself, I fired an arrow to where that damn fireball came and shot the enemy dead. Maybe I can't play with fire, but whose to say I don't have a few tricks up on my sleeves? I reached for another arrow, lighting the tip like a match and aiming it towards the rustling of feet. The man screamed as the arrow struck him, the fire crawling up his arm making him thrash violently on the ground as the fire consumed everything around him. Damn, this is going to start a forest fire.
A series of fireball exploded behind me, the flames licking up my bare arms but the fire stone inside me protects me from being burnt. I can only feel a little amount of heat, so I resumed my attacks and one by one they fell on the ground, fire and blood pooling on the forest floor. No sign of Leo, and that means Elisa's not here too.
"I swear, Leo, once I get my hands on your sorry ass you'll be begging for mercy." I grumbled, standing on my five-feet-and-two-inches height. It came with being an elf. No one expects a giant elf, right?
Over the years, approximately two decades, Leonardo Calisto had managed to form a group of his own without the kingdom knowing it. So, spying became my priority. After miraculously surviving the fall, my siblings, Elisa and Virgo, found me and since then we made a plan to stop Leonardo's advances in becoming a king. With the fire stone being safe inside me the only problem is coming off clean, that is, vindicating my name and restoring my good reputation...okay, not really 'good' since I'm disowned but atleast not being looked at as a thief and a royal traitor. I survived stealing from Leo's men and Elisa's been feeding me information about the things happening inside the castle gate and the Firestate, the city where the kingdom lies and where most of the subjects are living. We managed to stop a few of their transactions for the past twenty years and I have a feeling that Leonardo have had enough and kidnapped my sister. He's really going to try harder than just beg me to pity him...
As I inspected the fallen group of seven known viscious criminals in our kingdom, I noticed one body out of place. He's a burly man, rugged and his face was contorted into an expression I'd once seen when someone - no, a werewolf - shifts into his wolf. His claws were out, and his hair had grown a little longer. It seems that he died in partial shift. That only means...
Shit! I panicked when I heard a loud howl and the thundering sound of paws hitting the ground. Wolves emerged from the treeline opposite of where I came from and they were quick to surround me, some yelping from the fire around the clearing. I killed a wolf... no doubt I also entered a claimed territory of the wolves. Growls filled the air as I grabbed my bow tightly, waiting for them to attack. Another wolf entered the clearing, his aura signifies he's an alpha. His loud growl filled the entire clearing as he approached, shifting into his human form and he wore his trousers never breaking eye-contact with me. If only this situation doesn't scare me, I would've blushed furiously staring at the very naked man before me. He's a little on the attractive side, though having a rough look on him, and he's well built. His blonde locks falling freely and those blue eyes held anger and curiosity in them.
"Who are you?" His voice boomed, full of authority.
I raised an eyebrow at him, "Do you promise on hearing out my explanation?"
"And why would I?" He glared, "You are trespassing into our land."
Really? And here I thought he would flip out because I killed a wolf. "Like I said I have my reasons. The name is Fyrrah Red by the way." I still have my manners, but no one told me I really have to be completely honest.
"State your reasons." He crossed his arms, intensely staring at me as if telling me he'll know if I decided to lie my way out.
"First of all I am a fire elf, though I can't play fire. Someone kidnapped my sister so I followed their trail. I ended up being ambushed by them," I explained, glancing at the dead bodies, "That's all. They are criminals afterall, have killed too many in our city. I'll appreciate it if you'll let me continue my way to find my sister." I finished. He doesn't seem to be in my 'danger radar' so I think he deserves the truth.
After a few minutes of staring, no, glowering at each other he sighed, "I'm Alpha Marcus Luces, Alpha of the Moonlight Pack. I'm afraid my king would have to decide on this matter, and I would have to lock you up in the cellars for the night as we wait for his arrival. The wolf you killed was a rogue though, I bet he would be happy hearing that."
I nodded in understanding, though I'm still quite suspicious. "Just remember Alpha, if you'd keep me in the cellars for more than a night I will personally break your neck." He growled lowly but he nodded anyway. I still needed time to think on where would Leo take my sister and if the ambush was framed to lead me away from their hideout, and I could only do that if I would stop attracting too many enemies. I was ushered in the dungeons and to a cell located on the farthest. There were other prisoners, all having the same crazed eyes. I assumed they were rogues. Thankfully, they didn't take my bow and arrows.
Alpha Luces said the Alpha King would arrive first thing in the morning, and he sounded furious over the phone as to how the elves managed to gain entrance into the pack territory. And yes, phone. We immortals also adapt to change and modernization. Elves are old-fashioned though, were not completely against the ideas of phones and gadgets but we're tied with nature so we stick to old traditions and lifestyles. Anyway, back to the Alpha King. His mere title sent shivers down my spine, and the anticipation and how scary he would surely look like is killing me.
Leo, just wait 'till I can get my hands on you...
My cell door opened a little and Alpha Luces entered carrying a tray. He smiled, setting the tray down on the bed beside me as he also sat.
"Figured you were hungry." He winked, sending me a flirtatious smile.
"So now you want to get in my pants?" I said jokingly as he feigned hurt, hands clutching his chest where his heart would be.
"You hurt me."
"I don't see any wounds, Alpha." I said, rolling my eyes as I started eating the sandwich and egg on the tray he brought. I finished eating, drinking water from the bottle. "Thanks."
"There's been a change of plans earlier though..." he muttered quietly making me stop and stare at him, "The Alpha King is coming...tonight."
It took me a few moments to react... "What?! You told me he'll arrive tomorrow morning!" My outburst must have scared him because he backed away a little, "Now he's going to murder me and feed me to the lions. You should have told me that there's a change of plans earlier atleast!" I began pacing back and forth now.
"He called back, okay? He said his wolf wanted to get here as soon as possible, and if he would really murder you, he would eat you himself rather than feed you to the lions." He said amused. Funny, ha ha.
"Are you trying to make me feel good? Because trust me, it isn't helping. I'm quite stressed right now and a stressed Fyrrah is an angry Fyrrah!" I knew they can't be trusted!
He held up his hands in defeat, "Okay, I get it!"
Any comeback I was about to make evaporated the moment a powerful aura entered the dungeons. And trust me when I say powerful, it's the kind that almost made me stagger backwards...keyword, almost. The fire stone strengthened my capacity to tolerate powerful auras. Elves can sense auras, just like how witches can read one though their's are more detailed. Silence filled the room as the dominating power invaded every space, bringing an unfamiliar sensation coursing through my spine when it reached me. There stood a man, more than six feet tall with a mesmerizing pair of piercing gray eyes and as our eyes made contact a growl erupted from his chest. It sent those same chills down my spine, as the walls vibrated. His eyes held possessiveness, adoration and a little surprise as he stared at me.
My eyes automatically avoided his, and inspected his appearance instead. Those full lips were pursed in a thin line, his crooked nose and the scar running down from his left jaw to his neck signifies many fights which almost cost his life. A light stubble was visible on his sharp jaw and his toned muscular body exposed, the fact that he's just wearing pants made me feel like flames were sensually caressing my skin. His skin was a perfect tan, and his muscles flexed as he clenched and unclenched his fists. All in all, he is very attractive. I looked up again only to find his eyes shamelessly roaming my body.
"My eyes are up here, Alpha." The remark was out before I can stop it, mouth filters are very expensive nowadays so you can't blame me. That seemed to snap him out of his creepy staring as his eyes went back to my face, and I can already see the cogs turning inside his head. He ran his fingers through his jet black hair and it glided softly, tempting me to reach out and run my fingers too. His anger and frustration was clear as day and I bet my brother's pet owl that I was the reason behind it.
"You're coming with me."
Wai-what??!