Birds that were resting in their nest flew as a loud and threatening sound rumbled and had shaken the forest. The silhouette of the innocent birds who doesn't know what's happening was observed after they passed through the large full moon.
The growl that awakened all the creatures lurking in the forest was heard again. Alpha Sigmund and the rest of the pack ready themselves for they don't know what was the earsplitting sound meant, was it a threat, a warning or a declaration of war. No matter what it was indicating, one thing they were sure is that it was from an unknown pack heading towards their place. Nonetheless, Alpha Sigmund can sense something.
A werewolf who's still on his human form came with sweats flowing down on his chest. His heart beats can be heard and he's struggling with his breathing.
“What's happening? You didn't see this all coming before?” Alpha Sigmund worriedly asked. “Haven't you patrolled on the area where the sound was first heard? Are you here to report something?”
Questions that were consecutively thrown to the tired werewolf made other werewolves especially the omegas and the pups panic.
“I'm sorry for I presented myself as if I was being attacked by rouges and rival pack,” the werewolf answered, pressed his chest and blew a sigh. “Fret not, Alpha Sigmund. The growls that we all heard were from the newly formed pack and they're from other place.”
“Scout, don't tell me you had a race with those werewolves.” The tired werewolf is a scout. He is member of the pack who's responsible in guarding the territory, the representative of the pack, give warnings if threat is on its way and the ones who keep friendly relation with other packs. “Their growls gave shiver to the pups. Anyhow, what made them come here?”
Before the scout answered, he took a glance at the pups who were hiding behind the omegas' back. Pups are werewolves with the lowest rank in the pack. They have social freedom and their antics are being tolerated by other werewolves. Pups are the “babies” in the pack. Meanwhile, an omega is the second to the lowest werewolf ranks in the pack. An omega could be a young and still learning werewolf and a werewolf who did a misconduct and being lowered in the rank. It could also be a former member of the pack who decided to leave but then came back. Omegas are in charge of taking care of the pups when other members go to hunt or in a mission.
“I really don't know for they never told me. Even our sentinels who greeted them doesn't know the werewolves' purpose of coming here. All I know is that their alpha wants to personally talk to Alpha King Placido. They are a newly formed pack, a pack I haven't get in touch with yet.” Alpha Sigmund clenched his jaw with the incredulity. “As of now, the werewolves I had a “test of agility” are in the salutary's head quarter for they have to wear something—a jeans that would cover their lengths.”
Alpha Sigmund can't feel anything bad after the scout reported to him. Those werewolves are in fear—those growls were asking for help, he thought. If those werewolves didn't mistreat the sentinels, they must be good. But, he thought again that he should trust no one. Sentinels are those in the pack who patrols in the territory and greets the visitors. It is also their responsibility to know the visitor's intentions and report it to the alpha king or the alpha when the alpha king isn't present. An alpha king is the leader of the royal pack. He has the highest in rank and next to its position is the alpha. He manage group of packs and command alphas according to his will. In Alpha Sigmund's territory, it is composed of more than three packs. Each packs has one alpha but they only have one Alpha King, Alpha King Placido, Alpha Sigmund's uncle. Since Alpha King Placido isn't present, Alpha Sigmund is the acting Alpha King for he is believed to be the successor of the title and power. Other alphas envy him but don’t really see him as a competitor.
While thoughts were reeling on Alpha Sigmund's mind, he immediately went back to reality when a group of masculine men arrived. They're only wearing the jeans and the rest are left uncovered and bare.
A man with a not-so-long beard and hairy chest stepped forward. He has a dull gray eyes and blonde hair.
“We're very sorry to disturb each one of you,” he started and took a short glance at other werewolves to show his sincerity. He faced at Alpha Sigmund and looked him in the eye. “You must be the Alpha King of this royal pack. Anyway, I'm Dominic, the alpha of our newly formed pack.”
Alpha Sigmund's face was too serious. He can't even give a single smile but his aura was a mixture of light and heavy rays—no, he forgot how to smile. The light aura in him was being locked by a heavy and dark one. Alpha Sigmund’s a serious, well-trained, intuitive and an unpredictable alpha. He's intimidating and always mad, some werewolves often say.
“Alpha Dominic, I'm not the Alpha King but I'm one of his alphas,” he corrected. In a snap, he also noticed that one of the werewolves leaned toward Alpha Dominic and whispered something.
“Sorry, again.” Alpha Dominic smiled. “By the way, this is Gilbert, our beta familiarized you. Thanks to your golden colored right eye and cold blue left eye. He also mentioned about the mallen streak on your head.”
Alpha Sigmund closely looked at Gilbert if he can remember this werewolf but he can't. He doesn't have any idea as to how did Gilbert familiarized him. Did they meet somewhere?
“I might be familiar to him but were not on the same line.” He stared at Alpha Dominic. “I can't remember him, his face or any feature he has that I should be familiar with.” He turned his gaze to Gilbert. “You're completely a stranger.”
“You were still young when I first saw you, Alpha Sigmund, an omega.” Gilbert finally spoke out. He could clear things out and won't add confusion to Alpha Sigmund's mind. “This royal pack was just starting and that time, I was a rogue. Despite with the rank I have, my morality and dignity was clean until I set my feet out of this place.”
“I bet the reason why you all came here was to announce or tell us something not to introduce yourselves and tell your life's past stories, the hell we care!” He almost bellowed but the werewolves in front of him was so calm. Fear and shame couldn't be seen on their face, it's all sadness. Sadness, for what reason? Sadness for?
“We mayhap irritated you for you to treat us this way,” Alpha Dominic seriously said and Alpha Sigmund smirked. “We came hear to tell all of you that in the neighboring town, some townspeople there suddenly got missing. They were believed to be abducted by werewolves which I totally agree.”
Everyone who heard the announcement was pushed to the cliff of anxiety and fear. Some werewolves snorted and forcibly grew their nails out, pointed and sharp.
“How can you be so sure?” Amongst the werewolves from this royal pack, Alpha Sigmund is the only one who wasn't affected. “How sure are you?”
“A single person can't do a couple of crimes in just a day,” Alpha Dominic responded. No matter how pissed he is with the other alpha's treatment, he had no choice but to be nice. First, he's not in their territory. Secondly, he wanted to have a good intention with this royal pack. As a starting and new pack, they need a friend, an ally and a pack to run on. Lastly, he is sensing that the alpha in front of him is chained to something he doesn't know. “Fret not. I'm not suspecting any of you here.”
A wide smile teared Alpha Sigmund's face. He's not happy, he's being sarcastic.
“The neighboring town is quite far from here and every werewolf agreed to the conditions set by the former President years ago.” He paused and the smile was replaced by the clenching of his jaws. “To never get in touch with human, unless needed, that's the main point of those conditions. So, no one from our royal pack's indeed behind those attacks.”
“Right,” Alpha Dominic responded and nodded. “We won't be taking here for long. We just reported what we found out because I knew that this royal pack is strong.” He heaved a sigh. “It would be an honor to me if my message will reach the Alpha King. Any respond that he'll make, I expect it to reach in our territory.”
“I don't think he would spend his time giving response to your announcement that accuses breed in the same line as yours, as ours.” Alpha Sigmund turned on his back. Before he could walk away, Gilbert reached for his shoulders and tap it.
“You have both of your parents' physical attributes but I wonder where did you get your attitude.” Those who heard Gilbert almost drop their jaws and bounce their eyeballs out. “Don't be a prisoner of your past. You have the power, you have the curse.”