Alpha Aziel

CHAPTER 9

MAEVE needs to buy things for Aziel so she went down from the mountain and went to the city. She wasn't worrying about money because she had money. As hunters, they are being paid too. Nang makuha niya ang mga kailangan niya sa condo kung saan niya inilalagay ang mga gamit niya, umalis siya at nagtungo sa mall. Bumili siya mostly mga gamit ni Aziel, damit at personal hygiene kit. Bumili rin siya ng first aid kit at gamot.

Nang matapos siyang makapamili, lumabas siya ng mall pero hindi sinasadyang nakita niya ang ina ni Aziel. Alam ito ang ina ni Aziel dahil narinig niyang tinawag ito ni Aziel na 'mommy'. Hindi na sana papansinin ni Maeve ang ina ni Aziel pero nakita niyang mugto ang mata nito at halatang kagagaling nito sa pag-iyak.

"Aaliyah, let's go home. Wala tayong mapapala rito." Sabi ni Roderick.

Tinignan ni Aaliyah ng masama ang asawa. "I'm just trying to find my son. Paano kung nandiyan lang siya?"

"Hon, our son fell off from the cliff."

"I know but at least, I'm trying to locate his scent. Hindi ko alam basta dito ako dinala ng paa ko. Maybe, I can find Aziel through his scent." Malungkot na sabi ni Aaliyah.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Roderick. He consoled his wife. They are both grieving because of their missing son. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang nangyari rito. Nahulog ito sa bangin pero hindi nila nakita ang katawan nito. Their bond with this son was still there but they feel it very weak. They are worried but they couldn't find him. The search party is still on going and are being led by Prince Dimitri and Prince Demetrus.

"Hold on..." napatigil si Roderick nang maamoy niya ang amoy ni Aziel.

"What's the matter?" Aaliyah asked.

"Naaamoy ko ang amoy ni Aziel."

Mabilis silang tumingin sa paligid at hinanap nila kung saan nanggagaling ang amoy ni Aziel pero isang babae ang lumapit sa kanila.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ni Aaliyah nang makita ang babaeng nasa harapan nila. Pamilyar ito sa kaniya at wala itong amoy. Except that their Aziel's scent was lingered onto her.

"Hunter..." Aaliyah and Roderick muttered.

Naging alerto ang mga pack warriors na nasa hindi kalayuan na kasama ng mag-asawa.

Maeve looked at the couple. They stared for each other for a while before she stepped back and walk away.

Mabilis na sumunod si Aaliyah sa hunter.

"Aaliyah!" Roderick called his wife but she ignored him. Napailing na lang si Roderick saka sinundan ang asawa. Sumunod naman ang mga pack warriors.

Sinundan ni Aaliyah ang hunter.

Nang makarating si Maeve sa isang tahimik na lugar at walang masyadong tao saka lang siya tumigil at hinarap ang magulang ni Aziel.

"Why my son's scent is on you?" Roderick asked and growled in low voice.

Walang emosyon ang mukha ni Maeve. "I saved your wife once so we are acquainted before," she said emotionless, "so, considering that we are acquainted before, I spared your son's life. Don't worry about your son. He's fine."

Aaliyah and Roderick were surprised and was shocked at the same time.

"You..." Roderick looked at his wife.

Tumango si Aaliyah. "It's her. Though she was wearing mask before but I knew her. She had no scent."

But Roderick didn't let his guard down. "Where is my son? Tell us, you are already surrounded, you will die if you dare to leave here."

Ngumiti lang si Maeve saka inilabas ang dagger. "Then whoever dare to stop me from leaving here will die." Malamig niyang saad.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Roderick.

"Your son was safe, don't worry. When he recovers, he will come back to you." Ani Maeve.

"Was it true?" Aaliyah asked.

Tumango si Maeve.

"Promise?"

Maeve hesitated to tell that word. She never tells that word to anyone else even to herself. She took a deep breath. "Promise," she said in promising voice.

"Let her go." Aaliyah ordered the pack warriors but no one from the pack warriors obeyed the former luna.

"I said let her go or I will kill you all!" Aaliyah's wolf takes over.

Roderick sighed and nodded his head. "Okay, I'll listen to you." Sinenyasan niya ang mga pack warriors na umatras.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Maeve. "I never thought that the Former Alpha of Dark Wood Pack actually yields when it comes to his wife." Napailing siya. "I never had parents and I don't who are they but I think your son was lucky to have you both as his parents." And with that she left.

"You trust her?" Roderick asked.

Tumango si Aaliyah. "She's maybe a hunter and she's dangerous to our son but as I looked into her emotionless eyes, and as I stared into her earlier, I saw that she was just like the others. At first glance, she had an emotionless eye but behind those emotionless eyes is a person who is suffering. Kahit walang emosyon ang mata niya pero hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pagbabago ng mata niya nang banggitin niya ang tungkol sa anak natin."

Kumunot ang nuo ni Roderick. "What do you mean?"

Ngumiti si Aaliyah. "Nakahinga na ako ngayon ng maluwang na marinig mula sa kaniya na nasa maayos na kalagayan si Aziel."

"Is there really a hunter that will help their own enemies?" Roderick asked.

Bago pa man makasagot si Aaliyah, may isang boses ang nagsalita.

"There is."

Sabay na napatingin si Aaliyah at Roderick sa nagsalita. "Luna Ava."

Luna Ava smiled. "Sinundan ko kayo nang makita ko kayo rito. Hindi ko inaasahan na kakausapin kayo ni Maeve. She was known to her emotionless personality. I didn't expect that she would inform you about Alpha Aziel."

"You know her, Luna Ava?" Aaliyah asked.

Naglakad palapit si Ava sa mag-asawa. "Not really. But I consider her as a friend. She's a hunter from different hunter's organization and she was known as the lethal archer."

"Is her word trustworthy?" Roderick asked.

Ngumiti si Ava saka tumango. "You can trust her."

"Luna, what are you doing here?" tanong ni Aaliyah.

Ava sighed. "My husband has been working hard to find Alpha Aziel and didn't rest for many days so I'm doing a favor for him. But after seeing Maeve, I feel at ease now."

"Maeve?"

Tumango si Ava. "That's her name but I'm only asking one thing from you."

"Say it."

Ava took a deep breath. "Though Maeve is a hunter and I consider her as a friend, please, don't tell anyone about this. Ipagpatuloy niyo lang ang paghahanap kay Alpha Aziel pero hindi dapat malaman ng iba mas lalo na si Prince Dimitri ang tungkol kay Maeve. I know even Maeve was emotionless, she's been through a lot of pain."

Tumango ang magulang ni Alpha Aziel.

"Promise?"

Nagkatinginan si Roderick at Aaliyah. "Promise."

Ava smiled. Nagpaalam na ito at umalis.

Bumalik naman si Aaliyah at Roderick sa pack house.

Maeve also went back to the village. Pero nang makarating siya doon, wala na si Aziel.