Intertwined Fate

CHAPTER 4

SHAW'S POV

It was one of the many lonely evenings I've had since the passing of my father and former alpha of my pack, the Moonrise pack, some months ago.

Every evening since I was a boy, I've climbed up this hill with my father and since his passing, I've come up here to transform, be one with the earth, and feel closer to my father.

This place holds many memories for me, from my first transformation to the alpha rites and to the wise teachings my father garnered from wholesome experiences in his life.

It was going quite well until I heard a strange howl in my territory.

Alarmed by the possible threat, I followed the sound of the howl and eventually picked up the scent of an intruder, whom I trailed and observed what seemed to be a stray wolf pacing around my territory.

Still in my wolf form, I advanced towards the intruder, and at the sound of my footsteps and the rustling made by the leaves as I progressed, out of fear I suppose, it immediately took to its heels.

It ran for quite a while until it got distracted and ran head-first into the bark of a tree.

"Hmm, seems like the moon goddess is on its side tonight because if I had to continue chasing it, I would've torn it to shreds when I finally caught up with it", I thought to myself, riled up by the intruder who just interrupted my solemn time.

I could feel my rage increasing as I approached it and stood over it. I noticed that it had injuries on its thigh and arms and was squirming in pain from the head impact with the tree before it passed out.

After it passed out, it slowly transformed into a weak, tall, dark, and slim lady with curves in the right places but she had bruises on her shins and injuries on her arm and thighs.

"Who is she?"

"Why would she intrude on my territory?"

"Did she get injured while trying to kill one of my sentinels?

"Who is she working for?" These puzzling questions kept clouding my thoughts.

I decided to let her live and get her treated or at least conscious enough so she would give answers to my questions as this is a threat to my pack members and it can't be overlooked.

I transformed into my human form, picked her up, and walked down to where I kept my clothes. Luckily, it wasn't far from where she hit her head. One of the first things I learned from my father was never to wolf out with my clothes on, except during emergencies.

I placed her down so she would lay on the ground and I went behind a tree to put on my clothes. I covered her with my black leather jacket and picked her up. She was an intruder but I had to protect her dignity as a woman.

My compound wasn't a long walk from where we were so I managed to get there really fast, even with her in my arms.

On getting to my compound, I was greeted at the gate and I signalled two salutories -those wolves with the knowledge of healing with herbs-, “Take her and make sure she's strong enough for questioning by tomorrow morning” I ordered, as they bowed and hurriedly took her from my arms and left my presence, to begin their work on her.

With my solemn time interrupted and the safety of my pack in jeopardy, I couldn't go back to my spot to clear my head. I had to retire for the day and when I tried sleeping, I kept having nightmares of the possibility of this intruder being my wolfsbane thus, becoming like my father who was killed by an intruder.

I tossed and turned in my bed until I wolfed out in frustration and I ended up circling my compound till daytime to ensure the safety of my pack and the death of anyone with a plan to attack.

“Good morning alpha” greeted Dave -my trustworthy beta-, as he woke me from my slumber I couldn't remember falling asleep but it appears I did either way.

“Go and ensure she's conscious, clothed, fed, and ready to talk this morning” I ordered as I stood up, stretched, and proceeded to wash up.

Dave left me in the garden where he found me asleep to carry out my orders and I proceeded to the bathroom in my room to take a shower. While bathing, I had flashes of myself being killed like my father was and I swore that I wasn't going to suffer the same fate as my father.

I shook off those thoughts and proceeded to handle the business of the day as usual, planning our defence and settling disputes in the throne room, when I was informed by a female salutary that the intruder had refused our meal.

“Is she conscious now”? I questioned.

“Yes, she is,” she replied with her head bowed.

“Take three sentinels -those wolves that ensure the safety of the pack- and fetch her for me now,” I said as I dismissed her and continued discussing possible attack systems and better defense mechanisms with Dave.

Amidst our discussion, she entered the room to which we gave her a death stare for a while and, as if she was shy or scared, she hid her face with a bow. Not minding her sympathetic look, Dave said impatiently, “Kneel before the alpha”.

She looked up to see who said it and noted that it was Dave, although she had a look on her face that showed that she was trying to figure out who he was, and as she delayed, he said once more, this time with a more commanding voice, “Kneel before the alpha!!”

She looked terrified and slowly lowered her body to kneel but lost her balance midway and fell to the ground. She raised her head as if she was waiting for help from us to get up. I observed her next move and it was nothing but her slowly picking herself up to kneel as she had been commanded.

When she was on her knees with her head bowed, Dave asked sternly, "Who are you and what did you come here for?"

"I-I-I'm Mia, and, I don't know where I am right now", she muttered in a stammer with her voice quivering.

"You don't know where you are?"

"Are you some sort of spy?"

"Who sent you?" He yelled angrily in disbelief.

"N-N-Nobody sent me, I don't know where I am or how I got here but…" Mia stopped abruptly and tried convincing us of her innocence with tears.

"As if that was the first time an intruder tried that," I thought.

"You mean that you don't know how your legs carried you out of your house, brought you into my territory, the howl you made, and how you tried running away from me when you heard my footsteps?" I said getting angry at her for thinking she could fool us with her tear-filled acting as I stood up and charged towards her.

"I was scared, that's why I ran", Mia said in between sobs.

"Unbelievable. You were scared and somehow found yourself in my territory?" I retorted as if to point out how absurd her story was.

"She's not ready to tell us who sent her to spy on us, so until she's ready, she'll be thrown into the dungeon and will only be brought out or given food when she's ready to talk. Take her away!!!" I added impatiently.

"No please, I'm not a spy. Nobody sent me here. I just want to get home to Mr Stones", Mia said, begging and sobbing, but as one used to crocodile tears by guilty people, I was unwavering in my decision.

Two sentinels came to drag her away to the dungeon as I instructed.

"Please just tell me where I am. Please just let me send a message home. Please, I'm begging you. I'm not a spy." Mia reiterated as she continued begging while she was being dragged away.

I turned away from her to face Dave and continued our discussion when I heard another voice from a distance screaming, "STOP!!!"