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

Chapter Thirty-Five

We run through the dark woods with nothing but ourselves. Theron lead the way while we followed his steps on the dry leaves. Malakas ang pagbugso ng hangin sa mga puno sa paligid. The swirling wind made the surroundings cold and eerie. Sumasabay ang mga sanga ng mga puno sa pagwagayway ng hangin.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kami itinakas ni Theron mula doon. I didn't even know why I followed him in the first place. But Theron...

Saglita akong natigilan dahil sa naisip. I hate myself for doubting him. All of these years, he never made an action that could hurt me nor could cause my death.

Napatingin ito sa akin nang maramdaman na hindi ako sumunod sa kanya. His face remained stoic but I could almost feel him drowning in his own thoughts.

"What's wrong?", tanong nito sa'kin. Hearing his soothing voice breaks my heart. Do I deserve his loyalty? I've caused him pain from the beginning. Nawala ang tiwala ko sa kanya ilang araw na ang nakararaan.

Napailing ako bilang sagot. Conscience never had a part in my soul, but right now, what Theron did is slowly killing me. The time he unlock me on those chains is the time he's turning his back on his own family. I can't believe he's doing this for me. What did I do to deserve him?

Naramdaman ko ang paglapit nito sa'kin. His body obstruct the whirling wind that's touching my skin. Agad kong naramdaman ang init dahil doon. I kept silent all the time he's staring at me.

"Come on. Assassin never bowed on anyone.", aniya at iniangat ang aking paningin gamit ang kanyang daliri. My eyes immediately made a contact to his. Alam kong nahihirapan siya ngayon dahil sa kanyang ginawa. He'll be named as a traitor to his own clan.

"Bakit?", I almost whispered it to him. He stayed unspoken while I'm trying to compose myself with mass of questions racing in my mind. He gently caressed my face with his hand. Ang init ng kanyang palad ang namayani sa akin.

"You know the answer to your questions.", sagot nito sa'kin. Napapikit ako dahil doon. Isn't he hurting? I can't repay all of this. Umiling ako dahil doon.

"You don't need to do this, Theron. You turned your back on your family. You don't turn your back on your family just because of me!", I almost exclaimed it to him. Ngunit tila hindi iyon pumasok sa kanyang isip. Gusto kong maintindihan niya na hindi tama ang kanyang naging galaw. He'll lose everything. We're not yet on Winston. He can go back to the Headquarters.

Huminga ito ng malalim at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak sa akin. He turned his back and faced the forest. Saglit na nalinga ako kina Gesa na tahimik na naghihintay sa'min mula sa hindi kalayuan.

"But I did. If this love will destroy me, then I'll dispose every piece of my body.", he invincibly answered and continued to walk.

The heavy rain started to pour in our way. Naging maputik ang daan na nilalakaran namin. Theron never spoke to me after. It's been two hours since we ran from the bastille. Dalawang oras na simula nang tinalikuran ko ang mga prinsipyong kinalakihan ko. Or maybe, I already turned my back from all of it since I met Duke.

The muddy hill became slippery but we never stopped.

"You okay?", tanong ko kay Gesa nang maabutan ko ito sa paglalakad. She's shaking because of the weather. Agad kong tinanggal ang aking jacket at ipinatong iyon sa kanyang balikat.

"Paano si Papa?", biglaan nitong tanong sa'kin. The truth is, I don't know. I don't have any plan at this time rather than seeing Duke. I patted her back and she nodded.

Ilang paglalakad pa ang nagawa namin nang tuluyang kong makita ang isang pamilyar na karatula sa bungad ng isang daan. We're finally at Winston.

The place became familiar to my senses. Ang direksyon ng hangin, ang lamig ng paligid, ang mga puno na nakahanay sa gilid ng daan - everything returned back. Ang malakas na ulan ay unti-utning humihina kasabay ng pagkalma ng hangin sa paligid. Everything became hushed. Ngunit hindi pa man kami nakakalayo sa bukana ay nakarinig ako ng mga yapak galing sa aming likod. Agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng tunog at nakita ang paglabas ng tatlong lobo mula sa isang parte ng kagubatan.

Three, brown wolves appeared in front of our group. They towered us with their huge paws while they growled in unison. But when they saw Duke's father, they instantly stopped. I saw how they shift back to their human form. I heard how Gesa gasp at the sight. Maging ako ay humanga doon. I've never saw a wolf shifting in my entire life.

The three of them walk towards us. Agad silang dumalo sa mag-asawa at yumuko. They talk for a little while we silently stare at them. Their connection with each other is impressive. I have read an article about wolves' habit and behavior but I've never proven it. Kung sabagay ay agad kong pinapatay ang mga lobong nakakasalubong ko noon.

The three shifted back to their werewolf form.

"Let's go.", Duke's father said as he points the three wolves. Nagkatinginan kami ni Theron dahil doon.

"Unless you want to walk 'til the sun rise.", ani ng kanyang asawa at ngumisi. She, then shifted to her werewolf form. A white, magnificent wolf appeared. Her eyes are colored gold, as if I m staring at a pair of sparkling gems. Her canines appeared as he growled.

"That's my wife.", Duke's father proudly stated. Lumingin ito sa'min at tumaas ang kilay. He, then guided me to one of the wolves. Tinulungan nito akong umakyat pasakay sa mabalahibong likod ng lobo. I caressed the wolf's furry back. Pinaghalong kayumanggi at kahel ang balahibo nito. I guess, it's a breed. And I can't help to be amazed by this odd feeling. Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nakahawak ako ng lobo na hindi ito nilalagutan ng hininga. I wonder if they will forgive me once they know I've killed thousands of their specie.

The growl of a black wolf slash me off my thoughts. The black wolf slowly walk towards the white one. Napakunot ang noo ko nang mabasa ang kanilang mga galaw. It's like they are communicating through their eyes.

"Mind link.", rinig kong sambit ni Gesa mula sa aking tabi. She's also sitting on one of the wolf's back beside the wolf I'm into. Napatingin ako sa kanya at naabutan ang titig nito sa mga magulang ni Duke na ngayon ay mga lobo na.

"I've heard it from Papa. Some sort of communication - a secret.", pagpapatutuloy nito. Bumalik ang paningin ko sa dalawang lobo na nasa harapan namin. Ang sabay na pagungol ng mga ito ang hudyat ng pagkaripas ng takbo ng mga lobong kinauupuan namin.

Pumasok kami sa pusod ng kagubatan. Nagsisimula pa lamang ang pagsikat ng araw mula sa isang bundok at hindi pa nito ganap na nasisilawan ang aming daan. Napakapit ako sa makapal na balahibo ng lobo nang tumalon upang lagpasan ang isang malaking tipak ng bato. The cold forest breeze embraced my senses as we pass every tall trees. Napapikit ako upang langhapin ang sariwang hangin.

"Damn! This is better than car!", sigaw ni Theron mula sa aking kaliwa. Napangisi ako dahil doon. Just a little patience Duke, I'll see you again.