The Alpha's Mate (Alphas of Lair Series #1)

Chapter Nine: Wicked

Elen left around midnight. Hindi ko na siya pinigilan dahil desisyon niyang umalis. It's been hours since she left the Headquarters, at kung hindi pa siya babalik ngayon, makakahalata na ang lahat, lalo pa't parati siyang kailangan doon.

After she told me the information, I started running in circles. Hindi matanggal sa isip ko iyon lalo na't may kinalaman ito kay Ina. On why it was found on my mother's blood, I don't know. And I want to know.

"Si vis pacem, para bellum."

She said those words while we walked to her motorcycle. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at naabutan siyang nakatitig sa akin.

It is almost rare for us to talk in the old language used by our ancestors. But hearing these familiar words I've only seen in our history journals sent a creepy feeling down my spine.

She promised not to mention the red pill to anyone. Kaming tatlo lang nila Gesa ang nakaaalam nito. And even if I wanted to ask her for more, we both know she can only give me superficial information.

Kailangang ako pa rin ang maghanap ng sagot.

Ngunit gaano man ako kalalim mag-isip ng posibleng dahilan, hindi ako nakukuntento sa naiisip na sagot.

I grabbed my leather jacket and headed out. Mababaliw ako sa kaiisip kapag nagtagal pa ako sa loob ng bahay kaya't napagpasyahan kong balikan ang lugar.

The cold, morning air welcomed me. Fogs covered the place and the green grass are moist. Dala-dala ang flashlight ay sinundan ko ang nakitang nilakaran ng babaeng nakahulog ng gamot.

It was a bit hard to recognize the footprints, given that it is still dark and the grass is a bit tall, but when I was about to leave, something caught my attention.

Pinulot ko ang hikaw at tinitigan. Kumikinang ang kulay asul na bato nito at maaaring nahulog nang hindi namamalayan. I searched for the lock near the area but it was not there. Muli akong napatingin sa hikaw.

Mas lalo akong nagtaka. If it fell unconsciously, hindi ba dapat ay mas unang nahulog iyong lock?

I kept the lost earring inside my inner pocket before deciding to leave. Hindi na ako nakatulog hanggang mag-umaga at nagpunta sa eskwelahan.

Tahimik ako habang nag-uusap ang grupo para sa magiging camping. Karleen gave each one of us a paper where our things-to-bring are written. Halos walang laman iyong akin dahil inako lang din niya ang lahat ng pwedeng dalhin. Hindi na lang din ako umangal dahil mas maganda iyon.

Napatingin ako sa paligid. This certain table under the acacia tree has been our spot during breaks. Vil has been paying attention to Karleen's instruction while Lara is busy sketching on her notebook.

It's been a week that we're planning for the camping. Isang linggo simula noong mahanap ko ang hikaw at isang linggo mula nang huli kong nakita si Duke. Hindi ko naman magawang tanungin si Karleen dahil ayokong isipin niya na interesado ako tungkol sa kanyang kapatid.

"So, it's final. Kami ni Dianne ang magkasama sa isang tent, Vil and Lara sa kabila, tapos mag-isa lang si Duke." ani Karleen.

So, he's still joining? Hindi ko alam kung magandang ideya iyon. I was planning to go out at the first night. There is this unexplainable gut feeling about the pill and the camping. Pero paano ko siya matatakasan? How do I escape them without them noticing I went out?

Isa pa, iniisip kong hanapin ang grupo ng mga lobo sa mga gabi ng camping, but at the end, it's useless. I am with them already. I am close to my target. What's the point of searching for one when I'm already a step away from the Alpha himself?