The Alpha's Claim

Chapter 5: His Absence

Ellio awoke in the middle of the night feeling like his stomach was turning upside down. He felt as if the food he ate were having a war with his internal organs and he needed to poop all of it out.

So, he went to the bathroom but right before he was about to open the door, he heard a sound of a bird crowing inside so he retreated from his plan and went dashing to Xorran's room instead. He entered, interrupting the Alpha from his sleep and unknowingly saved him from his nightmare.

"Xorran, I wanna poop!" Ellio says while shaking Xorran with the shoulders.

"Ellio." Xorran was bathing with his own sweat and was still confused whether he was dreaming or not anymore. Ellio's hands gripping on his shoulders is proof that he's awake now. He sat up. "What's wrong?"

Ellio was in pain. His legs crossed and has both of his hands on his stomach, trying to stop something from coming out from his bottom. "It's coming out of my butt! I wanna poop!"

"What's a poop?" the confused Xorran asked.

"You don't know what a poop is?!" Ellio couldn't believe it. "It's the smelly brown thing your butt pushes out!"

It took Xorran a whole five seconds to realize what Ellio was pertaining to. "Oh feces?"

"Take me to your fùcking bathroom!" Ellio shouted when he was unable to hold it anymore.

Xorran panicked and immediately guided him towards the bathroom inside his room. The design and form of the toilet bowl was different from the one that humans use but Ellio couldn't care less as long as all his waste comes out.

"Ugh! That feels good!" he says as he finishes off. "Xorran, do you have any tissues here?!" Ellio shouted at the Alpha leaning against the door outside.

"I have no idea as to what a tissue is but you can use water to clean yourself." Xorran says with his usual cold tone.

"What?! Water?!" Ellio wishes he heard that wrong. "Ew No! And what, use my hand to clean my s**t-filled ass?! No way! I won't do that! That's gross!"

"It's either you clean yourself with water or don't clean at all."

Ellio is obsessed with cleanliness. Having a butt stained with s**t will make him uncomfortable.

"I d-don't know how.." his ears flushed in pink in embarrassment. "Can you.. do it for me, Xorran?"

"Insanity!" Xorran blew off. He couldn't comprehend the fact that Ellio requested him to touch and clean his butt for him. He is the Alpha of the wolves, no one, not even a mere human could make him do something as filthy as that. "Are you hearing yourself right now, human?!"

"Fine! Fine! I'll do it myself!" Ellio rolls his eyes. "But how do you flush thi― Oh nevermind! It flushed automatically! This is so cool, Xorran!"

Ellio was amazed, not knowing that Xorran used his powers to push the flush lever for him. When Ellio came out from the bathroom, a sign of relief was to be seen on his face. "I shouldn't have eaten that whole roasted chicken."

He halted from his steps upon seeing Xorran sitting on a chair with hands crossed against his chest.

"Why have you come all the way here to use the bathroom when you have one in your own room?"

Ellio had disturbed Xorran from his sleep but he was somewhat thankful that Ellio woke him from that nightmare but of course, he shouldn't show it.

"There was a crow on my bathroom, Xorran." Ellio answered. "What if it transforms into a monster and eats me?"

"A crow?" Xorran furrowed his brows.

There is only one species that could shift or use black crows. The Vampires.. Salem..

"Yeah, and it's dangerous. I am your claim that you vowed to protect so I'm sleeping here in your room." Ellio decides, his voice expressing that he will not accept refusals. He smiles. "Don't worry, Xorran. I'm not very picky so you can go ahead and sleep on the floor and I'll take the bed."

Xorran glanced at the cabriole. With his size, it would be uncomfortable and so he muttered, "No."

So eventually, Ellio was the one who ended up on the floor. He was frowning and mumbling words, cursing the Alpha who lies comfortably on the huge bed.

Morning came and when Ellio woke up, the bed was now empty. He rubbed his fingers against his blurry eyes and looked around. Upon standing up, Ellio winced in discomfort when he felt the pain on his back, waist and neck. It was the effects of sleeping on that hard, cold floor.

When Ellio went downstairs, every servant was busy doing their own designated duties. One of them took him to the dining area and there he saw Pawn eating all by himself.

"Xorran had some matters to attend to with Kerry." Pawn said, answering the question that Ellio was about to ask.

The human was really intimidated by Pawn's presence. By Pawn'w treatments and actions towards him, Ellio knows that this wolf doesn't really like him.

"Eat." Pawn instructed, wiping his lips with a napkin and finishing off. "Afterwards, go and find me on the farmland. Xorran told me to keep you busy so I will be giving you light duties."

Ellio nods. "Okay."

Then he left.

Ellio watched his back walking away and when Pawn is out of sight, the human started to dig into the breakfast dishes served on the table.

…

Just like what Pawn had instructed, Ellio went to the farmland with the help of a castle servant. The farmland was vast and Ellio could barely see how far it extends.

The place was divided into various sections. Almost every species of animals and plants are present. Some wolves are planting, plowing, watering, harvesting, and taking care of the animals. Everyone has their own duty which they perform with diligence.

This huge farmland is what feeds the whole Northern Dimension so every plant and animal is treated with uttermost care.

Upon his entrance, the wolves on their duties halted and took a glance at the human. Some of them were amazed to finally see a mortal but most were staring at Ellio with hatred.

"That's the human, right?"

"Yes, the one that the Alpha had claimed."

"What's so special about him? Why did Alpha Xorran choose him over our Luna?"

"They said that Alpha only claimed him to protect him from other guardians. Xorran said he might help us save our collapsing dimension."

"That's absurd. What can a mere powerless human do?"

Ellio didn't know if they were gossiping. Their voices were intentionally loud, it was as if they really wanted to make Ellio hear them but Ellio just decided to ignore their words.

"You will be tasked to clean this whole area starting from today." That was Pawn's instruction when they arrived at a stable filled with creatures that looked close to horses.

It does not look like the ones that Ellio sees in the human realm. These horses have much longer hairs on the back of their head and tail that extend to the ground, swaying with elegance as they move.

Their faces were designed with small thorns that complimented their beauty. They have wings that are kept on their back that will open upon flying.

Their appearance amazed Ellio. He didn't know that such beautiful horses exist.

"These are Zetecons, Ellio." Pawn said, correcting Ellio's identification of the animals. "Your only duty is to clean their stables. You are not allowed to touch any of them. Clear?"

Ellio looked down at their stables and his moment of amazement dropped to disgust seeing large feces all over the place.

I'm doomed..

"But Pawn I don't know how to―"

"Once you're done let me know. I'm gonna give you another task to do."

What?! There's more?!

Pawn left and Ellio stared at the dirty stables. Ellio was treated like a Prince back in their mansion. His smooth hands had never experienced any work but in this dimension, he knows he doesn't have any right to refuse.

He heaved a deep sigh before grabbing a wooden tool that seemed like a shovel. He opened one of the stables and started shoveling the feces that built up in the area. He puts it inside a wooden pail and when it is filled to its capacity he'll go out and transfer the feces to a large wooden box that will be used by the farmers as fertilizer.

It was not an easy task especially since Ellio doesn't have any gloves and is barefoot. He almost throws up every time he shoves a big amount of dirt. Its stinky smell has made his nose hurt to the extent that he became immune.

"What do you eat to push out these enormous shìts?!"

There were more than twenty stables with four Zetecons each but Ellio was the only one assigned to the task, unlike those other wolves who work in three to four groups. Considering that he's a human, this task was heavy for him but still, Ellio did his best to accomplish it and to be of help.

Every time he's done, Pawn would assign him to go and fetch water from the well. All his life, he never experienced such work so he oftens spills the water from the pail. When he returns, the pail is either half empty or no water left at all. One of the head wolves there often scolds him for wasting water.

He also once helped in butchering one of those pig-like animals that they call Reotris. Ellio was traumatized and couldn't go to sleep that very night.

Pawn will also instruct him to go and harvest eggs from the huge chicken's nest.

"No! No! No! Oh fùck no! Help! The chicken is running after me! It's gonna kill me! Somebody, please help!"

It was not an easy task to do too because whenever the chickens got mad at him for stealing its eggs, they would chase Ellio until they could fill him up with pecks. The other wolves will either turn a blind eye or laugh at him. No one ever dared to help.

His work at the farmland went on for a week. Xorran and Kerry still haven't arrived too after all those days. Whenever Ellio asks Pawn where they are, he always answers that they're doing something important and that it's out of his business.

Within those days of not seeing the Alpha, Ellio felt empty and he doesn't know why he felt that way. Instead of looking for answers, he busied himself with work instead. To distract him from the urges of his heart.

Unknowingly, Xorran, who was traveling with Kerry, was feeling the same way too but unlike Ellio, he knows what the reason for that emptiness was.

"I found it," he announced holding a map that he got from one of the libraries located far in the southwest. "I think we should go back already, Kerry."

…

The long hairs of the Zetecons added to Ellio's difficulty in completing the task 'cause every time he turns, he unintentionally steps into their long hair. The Zetecons will neigh and kick Ellio in the gut as an automatic response.

"What the fùck is wrong with these horses!"

He plopped himself to the ground. Sweat dripped down from his forehead. He can feel his arms and whole body in pain after all the work that he had done.

From where he sat, he looked at the Zetecons. Their hair was swaying on the floor and almost covering their eyes. Sometimes they step into their own long tail hairs that cause complete discomfort. With that scene, a bulb lit up in his head. Hmmm, I have an idea...

…

"What have you done, human?"

Pawn, together with other wolves who reported to him, came to the stables. Anger was seen on their faces as they watched Ellio stand up from sitting down inside the stable. He was filled with hair with a scissor in his hand.

He smiled, proud "I gave them a haircut!"

"What?!" Pawn exclaimed. "I told you to not touch them, didn't I?!"

Ellio paused, trying to remember. "You did?" he forgot. "But look Pawn!" Ellio pushed the wooden lever and all the doors of the stables opened.

"No!" Pawn exclaimed.

The Zetecons suddenly ran out. They opened their wings like butterflies going out of their cocoon. Together, they fled toward the sky. Their hairs were not as long but it allowed their eyes to now be free of hair, allowing them to see things in a much clearer view. Ellio cut the dead ends of the hairs in their tails and now it was swaying in the air in a much more elegant way.

"I did great, right?" he smiled, expecting everyone to praise him but his smile turned awkward seeing their panicked reactions.

"Shift into your wolf form and go after the Zetecons before they reach the Phenos! Quick!" Pawn yelled and the wolves quickly shifted before running.

Ellio looked back at the sky and saw the Zetecons flying away.

"Why did you free them?! Are you insane?!" Pawn grabbed him by the collar.

"No, I.. I.. thought you've tamed them and they will just come back to the stables like I've watched in the movi―"

"Those Zetecons are going to the Northeast. Their presence will disturb the sleeping monsters in that location and they could attack everyone!" He harshly lets go of Ellio making him almost lose his balance. "You've caused another trouble again!"

Pawn ripped out from his clothes, slowly turning into a huge black wolf. After huffing loudly to express his rage at Ellio, he immediately followed where the others had run to.

"What did I do.."

Ellio helplessly leaned against the wooden stable. The only thing that he wanted was to help but it turns out that he was just making everything worse, bringing harm yet again to the peaceful life of these creatures. Night came and Ellio was still by the stables, waiting for Pawn and everyone to come back.

"Is that him?!"

"Yes, that's the human!"

"The curse!"

Ellio was alarmed when a group of wolves in their semi-human form holding a torch were running toward him. They were more than twenty in number. Expressions are scorned, showing how furious they are, blaming the human for the possible danger that their dimension might face again.

Ellio stood up. What's happening?

"Hey, you!" one of the wolves, a male in particular shouted at him. "You're a pawn of Nefario, aren't you?"

Ellio's brows knitted in confusion for he does not know who Nefario is and what it meant to be his pawn.

"He sent you to ruin us! To fully destroy our collapsing dimension!"

No, it's not like that...

"You even compelled our Alpha to claim you!" a female shouted. "You successfully deceived Xorran but not us! Reveal your true self, human!"

Ellio was unconsciously fidgeting with his fingers while hearing those screams of hatred from the wolves. The blazing fire coming from the torches reflects in his trembling eyes. His feet take a step back every time a wolf goes a step closer to him. The beat of his heart goes faster and louder as seconds pass.

"You're a curse! Bringing nothing but danger and unfortunate events to us! You need to get out of our dimension and go back to where you came from!"

"Go back to hell!"

Suddenly, a wolf grabs a handful of the Zetecons' feces from the near wooden box and throws it directly at Ellio, hitting him directly to his head. Ellio touched the part that was hit and then looked at his palm. Feces and blood were mixed there. The feces was stuck on the side of his head before it dropped to the ground, leaving a stain and a stinky smell.

The other wolves followed. Each of them scooped up enough dirt on their hand and threw it toward Ellio.

"Wai―Argh! P-Please..! Stop!"

The wolves showered Ellio with feces. The dirt was hard and heavy, enough to cause pain every time it hits Ellio's body. Because of the impact, his wounds that were not fully healed yet opened once again. Blood ran and dripped out from his injuries, staining his clothes with red.

The human tried to cover his face from the attack using both of his arms.

"It hurts.. p-please..! stop..!"

Ellio begged them to stop but those wolves turned deaf to his pleas and were blinded by hatred.

"You don't belong here!"

"You're a curse!"

"Die, human, die!"

"We loathe you!"

Yes, the feces hurt but what tore Ellio's heart apart was their screams of hatred towards him. It felt like daggers were raining, hitting directly to his heart. His eyes were blurry as tears form on his bottom eyelids. This scenario took him back to that incident when he was young.

An eight-year-old Ellio was accused of pushing a kid from the top of the slide. The kid fell and bled its head. Their playmates who saw the scene blamed Ellio who happened to be on the top of the slide too. They all teamed up against him and accused him of a crime that he didn't commit. He tried to explain but no one was willing to listen. All eyes and ears were shut.

Tears streamed down from his eyes.

"I.. d-don't want to hurt anybody.."

His weak knees collapsed and he fell to the floor. The attack continued. Ellio's lips were trembling, eyes producing endless tears, as he covered his head.

"I'm begging y-you please.. please stop.." Ellio sobbed, feeling defeated and wronged.

Ellio's body trembled, now numb from all the attacks. Their screams became muffled against his ears. It was echoing and piercing through his head. Ellio didn't know but in his mind, he called Xorran over and over again. As if the Alpha will hear his call for help.

In the middle of the chaos, a person came...

"What a beautiful sight.."

Ellio was startled and immediately looked up.

Upon this person's arrival, the attack from the wolves halted as if they froze.

A tall male with messy dark hair, wearing pitch black traditional clothes, looked down at the pitiful Ellio. His red eyes stared at the human with glints of hunger and desire. His bloody red lips were tugged in a corner producing an eerie smirk.

"Salem.."