Mystical Shadows

CHAPTER 3 Hidden Agenda Lycan pov

What is your name?" The Alpha asked Ember

"My name is Ember." She responded sharply.

"We don't accept members of other packs but now that Lucuis brought you in, you must be of good conduct." He said.

"Yes sir, I will, thank you sir." Ember said happily as the Alpha left us.

" That's our Alpha, he lost his son in a battle, ever since then he took me as his own son, he made me equivalent to the Alpha's son as he bestowed all the rights and privileges of that position to me. Relax yourself, you are accepted here." I said, assuring her.

Ember was happy that she was accepted, she now had a home and people to call her family.

"The full moon is about to come forth, we need to join other pack members." I said looking upwards.

We went to the others and met them waiting already including the Alpha. The moon was radiant and full casting ethereal light on us.

Growls came out of our throats and a surge went through our veins, uncontrollably our bones began to break and muscles were tearing. I surrendered myself to the forces beyond my understanding, accepting the nature within me.

Hairs came out of my flesh, my claws extended and my senses were heightened. The moonlit ritual was to embrace the duality of our existence. A creature of the night as we howl echoing around the woods.

Dawn was approaching and the ritual's grip loosened as we all returned back to our human form. The moonlit ritual was a dance with the supernatural.

"Ember, you can go inside, I will join you later." I said to her,

We had a meeting, just our pack alone without any outsiders as we discussed somewhere in the woods.

" Father, these people should be dealt with, look at how they treated Ember and endangered her life, it's uncalled for." I said loudly.

" Lycan calm down, you must take things easy and learn not to be emotional, don't be weak." The Alpha told me.

" Yes father, have you forgotten that the Ragnar's pack has been our long time rival and this is the best time to strike them, Ember knows all their hideouts and weaknesses. Let's take advantage of this and destroy them all." I said to the Alpha.

I was talking when the Alpha signaled to me and I turned back, it was Ember.

She had been paying attention to everything that we have been discussing, our silent whispers of betrayal and revenge became obvious to Ember.

" Ember, I can explain.. it's not what you think!" I said as I held her hands.

"Get your hands off me, explain what? Why didn't you tell me that you knew Ragnar's pack and you were rivals? Now you want to use me to take revenge, you want me to betray those who had been there for me when I was little?" Ember said angrily.

" Ember, they did a bad thing to you….."

" You are not fighting for me, you are fighting for yourself! This is crazy! Ember cut in sharply

Ember looked so angry and sobered as she walked away, she loved the pack that rejected her, she had a soft heart but I was determined to harden her heart.

" Please I need to go and talk to her, permit me to go father." I told the Alpha.

He permitted me and I went running after Ember so I can convince her.

"Ember, please calm down, you know I can't hurt you, you need to see things from my own perspective." I said.

" Perspective? Why didn't you tell me about your clash with Ragnar's pack, why did you pretend that you don't know them? Why do you want to involve me in your revenge mission? I'm not a betrayal!" Ember replied.

" It was a long time ago and I couldn't tell you so as to feel safe, if I told you, you won't be comfortable staying here." I told her

" Now that I know, what difference does it make?"

" Ember, apart from them rejecting you, have you forgotten how you said they punished you severely when you committed an offense, how they put your life in so many risks before finally banishing you from their pack"

" Well, it's normal to be punished when you brake the rules, every pack has their rules, don't they?" Ember asked rhetorically.

" Not a death threatening rules, common you are a she-wolf shining with agility and beauty, you are meant to be protected and you have the right to fall in love with anyone you choose, you shouldn't be crucified by your actions." I told Ember with a smile.

Ember was silent as I emotionally blackmailed into believing that her pack was terrific and needed to be dealt with.

"I told you that our Alpha lost his only son and it was Ragnar's pack that killed him without any mercy, they are ruthless." I said.

"Really??" She said in shock

" Yes Ember, they are wicked."

" This is serious but I don't want to betray them, I can't fight against them." She said,

" You don't need to fight, just work with us, we just want justice and I promise not to hurt you."

I assured her.

I hugged her tight, patting her back as she had become vulnerable to me.

I took her indoors. As I prepared food for her, just to show that I care and make her more comfortable, she had finished eating and now she broke the silence.

" Thank you for the food Lycan, I really appreciate your hospitality and your acceptance." Ember said.

" It's my pleasure, don't mention it." I said confidently.

" So Lycan, tell me about yourself." She said

" Okay, you know my name already, I lost my parents when I was little and Alpha took me in as his own son. I was like a brother to his own son before we lost him in a battle."

" I have the responsibilities of an Alpha's son, I live for the pack members, I love nature and I hate seeing blood, I hate cheating and molestation and lastly I love and care." I told Ember while adjusting my seat.

" Wow, these are wonderful characteristics, I'm sorry about your parents." She said,

" It's fine Ember, thank you so much."

Time had gone, it was evening already and the weather had changed and everywhere became very cold. Ember had lied down as I covered her with a cloth so she won't be cold.

" I need to attend to some issues with the Alpha, I need to go now." I said while standing up from my seat.

" Do you want to leave me alone here?" I'm scared, I'm new here." Ember said, looking at my face soberly.

" You are safe Ember, no one can harm you, you are our family." I said assuringly.

I went near to her as she stood up to hug me, I looked into her tender eyes, my heart pounded very fast, I drew her closer to me as my lips moved closer to her, I kissed her with my eyes closed, she didn't return the kiss as I opened my eyes to see her looking at me with her eyes wide open.

" I'm so sorry, I shouldn't do this " I said

" No it's fine, I understand." She said sharply

I grabbed her waist and I kissed her passionately as she couldn't resist but kissed me back.

We suddenly heard heavy objects being thrown at the door, it was like a monster was outside as we quickly adjusted ourselves and stood in a defensive position. The door suddenly broke open and heavy footsteps came towards us, we couldn't see the figure so well in that position.

We hid under the bed to see what it was, we only saw the legs and it looked like that of a beast ready to devour anything.

" What could that be?" Are we going to die?" Is the creature armed?"

I said to myself as we were panicking, thinking of what to do.