THE MASKED MATE

EIRA The wild lands are my home. I know every nook and cranny of this said dangerous lands, which to me brought nothing but familiarity. That was the fate of an only survivor of a ruthless attack on a pack. Those heartless bastards, they killed everyone, my alpha, my parents, my brother… Stop! I shouldn’t be thinking about that right now. I know who it was that killed my family and destroyed everything I knew, my life my future as a warrior, The Dark Fang Pack. Ruthless monsters, who got off on destroying packs just expand their land. They kill and they torture for their own selfish reason. Their Alpha Kael Blackthorn a savage, who still encouraged the barbaric practices of his pack. I have been navigating this lands since I was four, and while some might say I am lucky to be alive for this long, no one knows the moon goddess as much as I did. She is a hardened b***h and I know that the moon goddess isn’t that gracious. If she was, my family would still be alive today. But then again I am alive and I’ll have my revenge. Those monsters who did this to us must suffer a fate more painful than death or i will die trying. Those thoughts run through my head as I navigate through the trees with ease, light on my feet. That is what an entire lifetime of running does to you. Arriving at my destination I put my mask in place. A neutral land between the wild lands and civilization. There I saw him waiting for me with an impatient scowl on his face. Perfect. “You’re late” “And you waited” I replied nonchalantly, information is power and I happen to be fountain of the said information. Alpha Konan of the Ray Sinn Pack growled at me, probably his huge ego couldn’t handle a little fracture. “You will not disrespect me rouge, I am an Alpha” he said gold specks running across his pupils, signifying his wolf was at the surface. “With all due respect, you are not my f*****g alpha and I do not owe you anything, now do you want the information or not?” She asked and he straightened up his posture. “Tell me what I need to know to finish this war” ‘That would be 60 denning” I said not minding his shocked look, in order to win a war, one must have Intel on the other party, information that I risk my life to get and so prices wouldn’t be any less than standard. The old geezer knew better than to argue, but he did not look pleased. “Ok” He handed over a bag filled with coins. I took my sweet time inspecting them to ensure that it was real coins. Some of the Alpha’s thought they were sly, giving fake currency in exchange for information only I could provide. They have all regretted it though as the agency makes sure to get even with them but that was all too much stress so I preferred not to take chances. Satisfied I told him what he so desperately wanted to know. “The Mines Park claim to still have their stronghold but that is a lie. This war has taken a toll on their numbers and now they are beginning to conscript adolescent wolves into the army, just to inflate their numbers. The children never fight in the heart of the war but that’s only a matter of time. They are panicking but hoping their numbers will be able to deceive you and keep you intimidated so that you will yield and step back from the war; the ultimate form of deceit lies in the eyes. The more you look the less you will see. Look more at their numbers and see less of their weaknesses” Alpha Konan had a kind of crazed look in his eyes. And I was all too familiar with that crazed look, it was one of those looks that made me wonder if it was worth it, trading information to the highest bidder, notwithstanding whether the winner of the war was worthy. In another lifetime I might have felt guilty, but this was my life now and there was no space for guilt. Something was wrong I could feel it in my bones. All my senses peaked at high alert, and even though my wolf Sicily had been docile for quite some years now, it didn’t mean that I didn’t have keen senses. That look was back on his face, crazier than ever and that’s when i… how could I have missed it, my senses were on high alert now and I caught the slight rustle of dry leaves. “You didn’t come alone” I say accusingly and just like that I was surrounded. Six wolves, probably hunters surround me from every corner baring their fangs at me. The old turd chuckled coldly “Well the thing is while I appreciate you or your information I can’t let you live” he said “What makes you think that I need you to let me do anything?” “I have heard of you” he continued assuming I was interested in his monologue “always selling information to the two warring parties in order for them to attack each other’s weaknesses. I now know that of the Mines Park and I can’t have you running your greedy little mouth equipping them with information to draw out this war. I plan to have this war finished swiftly so that their land can be mine” he said. While he was busy running his mouth I had to scout my environment. The only advantage I had was aviation. You see wolves didn’t climb trees and losing my wolf for quite a long time has been able to help me master my skills. Most picks leaned more to their animal side. Wolves were proud creatures and while strength was a thing to be proud of most wolves lacked skills, always rash and this foolish man and his little pack of wolves seemed to be just as she had anticipated. “While it’ll be a shame to lose your services I doubt anyone would miss you with the amount of trouble you’ve caused over the years”. With that he gave a signal ad the six wolves attacked all at the same time, foolish. Quickly drawing out my dagger, I stabbed the first wolf midair in the gut, not pulling out until I heard satisfying c***k, probably the ribs not enough to put him down, watt a shame. Before I could gain control of myself I was swiped by one of the other wolves my back slamming against a tree bark. The pain was bearable but that didn’t make it any less painful. I quickly stood to my feet. One of the wolves scratched me with its claws and a burst of pain fizzled, my skin felt like it was burning, that’s because it was. These fuckers had to play dirty their claws were coated in wolf’s bane. The next time i saw the claw coming. I dodged the wolf and used my dagger to chip of one of the claws of a wolf before stabbing it in the eye. Everything felt like a blur as I stopped thinking and let my body do the movements for me. Swift, fluid like the ocean. I was not a person I was a f*****g machine. They were gaining on me I was bruised but I had seen worse. I heard the alpha’s voice, I know that he isn’t far away but his voice felt like an echoing a distance “just give up rogue it’s over” Smirking, I used my dagger and stabbed straight into the chest of one of the wolves, the worthless whimper as it took its last breath like music to my ears. Games were over. I jumped and caught one of the branches on the highest tree top of one of the oak trees. “No I think you should give it up you old bastard” And what I would pay to see the look on his face again. No wonder this war was taking so long, his entire pack was just incompetent really. “And you really should do your dirty work yourself and not send out your dogs to attack me, it’s embarrassing” I scoffed. If he could turn redder he would, but I doubt that would be scientifically possible without his eyeballs popping right out of their socket. “I’ll end you myself” he fumed saliva pouring out of his mouth. “You’d have to catch me first grandpa” I taunted and like the fool he is he took the bait. Telling his other wolves to stand by while he handled me himself. Not like there was much they could do they were already pretty battered. I took off into the woods, faintly hearing him dash after me. When I said the Wild Lands was my home I meant it. I navigated the woods with ease, jumping from tree to tree while he followed me deeper and deeper in the woods. I was suddenly knocked down mid jump and landed on the ground with a thud. “f**k!” A huge wolf stood over me in all its 6’ft glory. And I know I didn’t speak wolf, but I knew that the fucker was smirking. That’s the thing though, counting your chickens before they are hatched. I took the little claw I severed and stabbed him right in the chest. He growled in pain and a little bit of spittle dropped on my face, f*****g disgusting. I pushed him off me “Get off me you old bastard”. Standing up to my feet, I pressed my leg to his chest pushing the single claw deeper until i couldn’t see it anymore. “You’ll remain here none of your dogs will find you and the poison will seep deeper into your veins until you’re f*****g paralyzed”. He changed back into his form, his skin almost ashen white “you’ll regret this” he spat. “I know, but it’ll be worth it” The wolf’s bane was catching up to me. I had to get to Asha fast before I suffer the same fate as him.