True Self Underneath
1335 Words
Javier's Point of View.
Pulling my sleeves up and fixing them, I looked at my own reflection in the mirror, pushed my hair back, and made it slick. My ears moved slightly upward when I heard slow footsteps coming into my room. I stopped and tried to take a guess at who is coming.
It's one of my triplet brothers, Sean.
"I am getting ready," I said without waiting for him to say something that could ruin my mood. "No need to rush me. I'll be there in a minute."
"Not my intention to rush you, though," he said from my back. I flicked my eyes in his direction without moving my head. I saw him leaning on the door, casually placing his two hands inside his pockets.
"Is everyone at the ceremony already?" I asked. "I don't want to waste my time any longer. Can we start by now?"
I heard my brother scoff. "Jav, you are the only one everyone's waiting for," he answered. "That's why I am here; now get your ass down here."
I almost exhaled a laugh. It's not my brother's attitude, but he was already mirroring me, and I was glad to know he did. He was all nice and polite. Maybe that's why he wasn't called as an Alpha like me and Liam. He was just labeled as the Gamma, or the Luna's favorite son.
Yet the labels wouldn't matter anymore. Once the Moon Goddess claimed Liam to be the next Alpha, I'd be out of here. I didn't belong here anyway; what's the point of staying?
I left my room and went downstairs, straight to the ceremonial gathering. All alliances of my father, the current Alpha, were here, too. All of them were anticipating my brother's reign once my father stepped down from the role.
Never in my wildest dream did I wish to be here.
I sat down between my triplet brothers, Liam and James, in silence as the ceremonial officer in his royal attire came up on the stage.
"Tonight," he said to the crowd. "We are going to witness the revelation of the prophecy from our most beloved Moon Goddess, Hecti. But first of all, let me just introduce the sons of Alpha Jhared!"
The applause was loud like thunder inside the manor. I held my breath and waited to be announced. When Liam stood up, the round of applause was louder than before, and when my name was called, just a few of the members clapped.
I gritted my teeth and rested my face, trying not to show any reactions while my younger triplet brother was mentioned.
"I am not going to waste everyone's time," the officer said with a humorous tone. "So, we can already have the feast! I have..." he continued as he raised the sacred scroll. "... The prophecy is in my hand tonight, for I am going to mention who the future alpha would be between these three brothers in front of us. I see that the members have their favored one, but our next alpha would be..."
I sank myself deep on my seat as the boredom enveloped me wholly. When will this be over?
"Javier Wonstill...?" There was a slight confusion in his voice.
Suddenly, I stood up together with Liam beside me. "What!" both of us exclaimed.
There's a loud gasp heard from the crowd. Everyone in the hall froze; even the man on the stage stared at the paper, rereading the prophecy and hoping he just read it wrong.
But he read it right.
I was the destined Alpha.
"That can't be true!"
"Liam must be the next Alpha!"
"Yes, not that one! The arrogant, selfish brother!"
I took a step back as I saw how the people in the crowd protested. One by one, they stood up and showed their distaste for the idea of me being the next Alpha. My nerves sent an electrifying anxiety that made my hands tremble.
For the first time in my life, I felt fear. The distaste they have for me.
The rejection.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Liam glance at me, but I didn't give it back. I just continued taking steps backward until I noticed a door near me.
"Petition to change the prophecy!"
"This can't be true, good heavens!"
"Moon Goddess, please forgive our sins! Having Javier as our ruler is a punishment to us, really!"
That's it. I had enough!
I ran as fast as I could. I traced my past footsteps towards the place of escape. That's the reason why I felt like disappearing and running away. In that place, I know I really belonged.
I sensed a scent. A scent that pulled me wherever it went. It was something I couldn't find here in my world.
I saw the mirror, slowed my pace down, and took a breath as the flashback of the crowd's protest kept on repeating in my head. The screams in disgust. The frown on their faces.
The stare Liam gave me.
The more steps I took toward the mirror, the stronger the scent was. I stared at it for a minute before coming into it.
"Get off me! Let me go!"
I froze on my feet the moment I heard the begging screams. There, I saw a woman struggling to pull her arm away from a man who seemed to have a malicious intent toward her.
"What did you say?" His eyes widened as he leaned more closely to her.
"Kevin, let go!" she continued to scream. "You are hurting me! Let me go!"
"What did you say? You just turned me down? After all I did for you, you just turned me down? Huh?"
"Help! Somebody, please, help me!"
My vision darkened as the blood in my veins boiled. I took a loud thud of steps, which they still never noticed. I clenched my jaw as I raised my hand.
I had enough of everyone tonight. I am going to break this bastard's skull.
I need to burst my anger out on this asshole!
"Who do you think you are for rejecting me!? I am rich; I am all you wanted! Why did you—" His line was cut off.
I clutched his head and flung him violently across the room. I walked toward his direction again, gripped his neck, and shoved him up on the wall.
Our eyes met.
While his eyes conveyed obsession a minute ago, that twisted into shock and fear. Mine stayed the same.
Anger.
I threw him again across the room.
"S-stop..." The pathetic man mumbled between his breaths as he dragged himself away from me. The satisfaction of seeing someone domineering and scheming struggle and catch his own breath. "I can pay any amount you wanted, j-just don't—EURGH!" I raised him up again by holding his neck.
If only I could do this to someone I know that's like him. Deceiving. Manipulative. Conniving.
As his figure flashed before my eyes, my hands tightened on this man's neck before speaking in a firm tone.
"Do not ever lay a finger on my Luna."
Deep breaths were heard after that, but those weren't his. I stole a swift glance at her, who was limping on the floor. Another wave of rage came again. With all of my nonhuman strength, I threw him out the door and prowled closely toward her.
I saw how she pushed herself away from me. The moment I sensed the familiar scent again, my nerves calmed down and my pupils dilated. I noticed her fear when I heard how her breaths labored.
"Don't be scared. I am not going to hurt you," I told her under my breath. "I smelled something on you..."
But before I could finish my sentence, her eyes shut close. I tapped her cheeks repeatedly, but a realization hit me. I remembered I'm not in my world anymore.
Damn, she's a human?
But why do I smell a wolf within her?
- Writer
