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

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The night came. Tuluyang binalot ng dilim ang kakahuyan. Tahimik ang paligid ng bahay nila Duke at wala akong nakikitang anumang paggalaw maliban sa pagsayaw ng mga sanga ng puno.

I never felt so calm my whole life. Staring at the darkness from the balcony has never been so peaceful. Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang kapayapaan sa puso ko pagkatapos mamatay nila Ama at Ina. But never, never in my dreams I've imagine this scene in my head. Me, in a house full of wolves... I've never wished for this. Simula nang maging Assassin ako ay umikot na sa pagpatay ng mga lobo ang aking buhay.

All my life, since my parents died, I planned for getting the revenge to those people whom I thought killed my parents. Buong buhay kong itinanim ang galit na iyon sa puso ko. I've loved the revenge so much that peace never found a way into my heart. Puro sakit, galit, at hinagpis lang ang bumubuhay sa'kin.

I thought that was it. Kung makakapaghiganti na ako ay pwede na ang lahat, na kaya ko na ulit bumalik sa dati kong buhay. But I was wrong.

It's the revenge that slowly kills the soul. The hatred, the agony. And it was Duke's love who made me realize that doing the same thing to the people what made you suffer won't give you a peace of mind. It was his love which gave me peace.

We're all gathered here at their cozy living area, maybe for a little discussion about the possible threats of the hunters. Ang pinakauna doon ay si Uncle Rayman, Gesa's father. Wala na kaming naging balita sa kanya at ni hindi kami nakapagpaalam noon. If we can't find him earlier than them, maaari nila itong gamitin laban sa amin.

I glanced at Theron. Tahimik itong nakaupo at nakatitig lamang sa coffee table. I don't know what's going on his mind. Alam kong mahirap sa kanya ang kanyang ginawa. I've talked to him earlier, telling him he should go home because that's where his family is and I will forgive him if he'd turn his back on me, but he refused to. Ang sabi'y wala ng silbi pa kung babalik siya doon. He'll be labeled as a traitor to the clan.

Dumating si Ylva at Karleen sa sala na may dalang kape at ibinigay nila iyon sa'min. I guess this will be a long night of discussion. Maging sina Nicholas at Bryan ay nandito ngunit nagbabantay sa labas kasama ni Hansel. Sina Audrey at Mela naman ang nagbabantay sa likod ng bahay.

"You okay?", biglang tanong ni Duke sa'kin. He's slightly brushing his finger on my hands while leaning on my shoulder. I could even feel his breath on the side of my neck. Kanina niya pa ito ginagawa simula nang maupo kami sa sofa, and I can't help but stare at his hands, firmly holding mine. It was like my world he's holding and my whole life depends on him. Tumango lang ako sa kanya bilang pagsagot.

But I guess, I'm not. Hindi ako magiging komportable hangga't hindi natatapos ang gulong ito, hanggang walang maging kasagutan sa mga tanong ko.

"Venus and I... we know each other.", Duke's mother Solene spoke. Nabaling sa kanya ang aking paningin nang marinig iyon. Maging ang atensyon ng lahat ay napako sa kanya. She's sitting beside Fabian, Duke's father, across our place. Itinigil din ni Duke ang kanyang ginagawa sa kamay ko at tahimik na hinintay ang kanyang ina. Maging si Vil ay napaayos ng upo nang marinig iyon.

"We usually spend the days talking about stuffs, dreaming about the unreal, planning our future. Fabian is with us the whole time. Sabay-sabay kaming kumain, mamasyal, at gumawa ng kahit na ano.", she added, slightly smiling as she reminisce their past with my mother. Nakatingin lamang ito sa kanyang kamay habang nagsasalita. Fabian gently stroking her hands at her back, tila naghahandang aluin ang asawa sa maaaring mangyari.

"She's sweet and kind and loving. She has this positive aura of pulling everyone around her. Marami siyang kaibigan, including us, with Fabian.", dagdag nito. Tila nagbabalik ang ngiti ni Ina sa aking ala-ala. Her vibrant and capturing smile, her expressive eyes, and the way she laugh at father's silly jokes. Parang isang palabas na iyon na lumitaw mula sa pinakalikod ng utak ko.