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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Everything is blurry. I felt like my head was fragmented into pieces. It is throbbing so hard, so painful that I immediately closed my eyes.

Gusto kong matulog. Pakiramdam ko ay hinugot ang lahat ng lakas na mayroon ako. I feel like my bones isn't working. Ngunit kahit anong pilit kong matulog ay hindi na ako tinatablan pa ng antok.

Ibinukas kong muli ang aking mga mata. I blink for few seconds to adjust my eyesight. Isang puting ceiling ang bumungad sa'kin. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at nakitang nasa loob ako ng isang pamilyar na silid. The familiar lampshade beside the bed, the matte black cabinets - they all matched the feeling of being a hunter. Even the air I am breathing became familiar. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Dapat sana ay masaya ako ngayon dahil pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ay nasa loob na ako ng sarili kong kwarto. But I don't feel like I am home.

Iniling ko ang aking ulo upang mas lalong magising. Pinilit kong tumayo mula sa malambot na kama. Even the bed doesn't make me feel that I am in my own den. Napasulyap ako sa lamesang katabi ng aking kama. My knife were placed on the top of it. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari kanina. Ngunit klaro sa isip ko na may itinurok silang pampatulog sa'kin.

I remember Theron. Did he really betray me? Hindi ko inaasahan na malalaman niya ang pagpunta ko kay Duke. I was sure I am being careful all the time. Hindi ko maipagkakailang may pagkukulang ako sa pag-iingat. I don't know if I was negligent or I only trusted Theron too much.

Dumeretso ako sa banyo upang maligo. I guess I need to stay here for a while. Some part of me is telling this is where I can find Duke's parents.

Pagkatapos magbihis ay lumabas ako mula sa kwarto. Bumungad sa'kin ang tahimik na hallway. Walang pinagbago ang disenyo ng kisame at dingding. I passed some of the rooms. May isang kwartong nakabitan ng pulang tela na dati ay wala naman. It symbolizes that a hunter is living in that specific room. Kung ganoon ay may bagong miyembro ang Trevino.

Dumeretso ako sa cafeteria ng Headquarters. I choose to order pancakes and hot chocolate. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa lugar. May mga ilan na napapatingin sa gawi ko habang may mga iba na piniling ideretso ang tingin sa pupuntahan.

I waited for over thirty minutes. Ngunit wala akong nakitang Theron na dumating o sumulpot sa kung saan. During times like this, he will always approach me even though he know I would just glare at him. Siguro'y plinaplano na niya kung paano ako patayin. He knows what I am up to with Duke. Hindi malabong sabihin niya iyon sa kapatid niya. And maybe before this day ends, nalaman na ng Chief.

Nang mabagot ako sa paghihintay ay pinili kong lumabas ng building. The smell of natural land welcomed my nose. The wind blew stronger than usual. Sa tingin ko ay nagbabadya ang pag-ulan kahit na magtatanghali pa lamang. May mga ibang nag-eensayo sa training grounds. Ang iba ay nasa forest part at sinasanay ang kanilang liksi. I saw some students training on swords, some in katanas, and some chose to improve their physical strength.

I found my feet walking towards them. Matagal na panahon narin nang huli akong tumapak sa mismong ground. When I was named as the official Assasin, I never had the time to check on where I started. Ngunit sa ngayon ay kailangan ko itong makita. I need to remind myself that I was trained to be a hunter, that I am the Assasin.

"Get up, Louise. You don't want to be expelled, do you?", matigas na utos ng isang lalaki sa babaeng nakaluhod sa lupa. By how her back rise and fall, she's probably tired. She's catching her breath and her pedagogue keeps on forcing her to stand up.

Nanatili akong nakatayo hindi kalayuan sa kanila. Sumandal ako sa puno at pinagmasdan ang paligid. When I was kid, I used to spend my time on our backyard. Doon ako ineensayo nila Ina at Ama. Malimit lamang ang pisikal na ensayo sa'kin noon. They trained me more on thinking skills, senses, and movement reading. Binibigyan nila ako ng madudugong problema. Hints and clues, even the tiniest ones has to be involved. Si Ina ang tumutok sa'kin sa pagpapabuti ng aking pandinig. She said, in order for me to see the surroundings, I need to first improve my hearing senses. Hindi laging nasa liwanag ang paningin. When times that I have to go through the dark, sense of hearing is the best weapon.

I've been trained by my own parents for almost two years. Ngunit nang namatay sila ay kinuha ako ng Headquarters bilang isa sa mga estudyante. And there goes physical training. Most of the times, I fail at everything. Hindi naging madali ang pagkamatay nina Ina at Ama para sa'kin. It was my world being torn apart and my heart being stabbed a million times.

But it was the wrath that had driven me to strive harder. Sa pagtratraining ko ibinaling ang lungkot at pighati ko sa mga panahong iyon. And everyday, I improve. At sa bawat paglipas ng araw ay mas lalo kong pinangarap na makaganti sa mga pumatay sa kanila.

Una kong natutunang gamitin ang katana at samurai. The next ones are the arrows, javels, guns, and lastly are knives. I excelled in all aspects. Ngunit ang paggamit ng kutsilyo ay pinakabihasa ako.

"That's enough.", I commanded the pedagogue. The girl is already on her back. Sandaling natigilan ang lalaki ng makita ako.

"Nasa training po siya, Assasin. Hindi siya pwedeng tumigil hangga't hindi niya nagagawa ang dapat niyang gawin.", malumanay na pagpapaliwanag nito sa'kin.

"Give her a break.", utos ko ulit sa kanya. Nakita ko ang pag-aalangan sa kanyang mga mata. I wasn't supposed to be here, comanding him what to do. But I can't let the girl die just because she can't do what she's supposed to do. Kung hindi ay mauuna pa itong mamamatay bago maging isang malakas na hunter.

"Free the girl.", ani ng isang boses mula sa aking likod. Lumingon ako at nakitang si Marcus iyon. He's on his usual attire wearing his usual annoying smirk. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang muli. And I don't know how to react now that he is infront of me.

Yumuko ang pedagogue sa kanya at umalis. I remained impassive as he stared at me. Nakita ko ang babaeng unti-unting tumayo. Hawak-hawak nito ang kanyang bewang. Ang sugat sa kanyang siko ay dumudugo. Nang tuluyang nakatayo ay napatingin ito sa'kin. Shock is written all over her face. Pinilit nitong tumayo ng mabuti at bahagyang yumuko sa'kin.

"Assassin...", she whispered. Exhaustion is evident on her voice. As much as I want to bring her to the clinic, I can't leave Marcus in here.

"Treat yourself.", ani ko at nakita ko ang pagtango nito sa'kin. Dahan-dahan itong lumakad paalis ng training ground. I stared at her the whole time until she entered the building.

Nang nawala ito sa paningin ko ay bumaling ako sa tahimik na si Marcus.

"It's been how many years since our last training with each other?", patanong ang naging tono nito sa'kin. I shrugged my shoulders. If he wants a reminiscing talk, at this point, I am not in the mood to bring back the past.

"How I wish I'll fight with you again.", his voice became soft. Ibinaling ko sa ibang direksyon ang paningin ko. Base sa kanyang boses ay alam ko kung saan na naman ito patungo.

"I'll wait for you. Tonight. The same place. Same time. Please. Be there. I'll wait.", ani nito sa nagmamakaawang boses. I fixed my eyes on his, like it is his eyes where I can get an answer. But after some seconds of thinking,
I turned my back on him.

If he'll be the one who has the mission to kill Duke, I guess I don't want to hear any of his words.