The Vagabond

Chapter 2

Valdec City

Ivy exited the kitchen holding two plates in her hands walking into the dining room.

"Ashley! Bring your ass down here now! You lazy girl!" Ivy screamed at the top of her voice.

That scream was meaningless as Ashley, who was lying down on her bed, facing the TV in her room, and a wireless pad in her hands with a headset on. She was busy playing video games.

Ivy patiently waited for her to come, but she didn't. Ivy walked towards Ashley's room.

"Ashley!" She screamed once again, and opened the door to Ashley's room.

Ashley, who was playing video games, sat on her study chair right at the corner of the room, and with all seriousness she stared at Ivy, her mother.

"Mom? what happened to knocking?" Ashley asked, looking disturbed.

"I'm sorry, you would have told me you were studying" Ivy apologized, closing the door behind her.

Immediately Ivy closed the door, she jumped on her bed, and resumed her game. Ivy stopped on her way, turned around, and went back to Ashley's room. She opened the door, and still saw Ashley in her study space.

"What again Mom?"

"I hope you have arranged the other room for my nephew"

"Yes, I have. Since yesterday"

"Okay"

Ivy closed the door, and opened it back almost immediately. Ashley stared at her Mom, she looked really frustrated.

"I'm your mother, and what can you possibly hide from me?" Ivy brought to her notice, then she walked towards the TV, Ashley looked scared. Ivy turned on the TV, and looked back at Ashley. "Playing video games?" Ivy asked, and Ashley bowed her head in shame. As the never giving up Ashley, she spoke out.

"I was bored after reading."

Ivy stared at her. "Then you should have taken a nap," Ivy replied. They stared at each other for seconds, before Ivy's phone started to ring. Ashley would be thankful to the person that just called, but Ivy was still there staring at her daughter, then Ashley pointed to her mom's pocket, "Mom...your phone...it is ringing"

"I know, I know, I know..."

Ivy picked up the phone.

"Yeah?" Ivy asked without saying hello, that attitude runs in the family too.

"Bad news," The caller said.

"Then let it out," Ivy spoke casually.

"The Alpha is dead" The caller said.

"When?" Ivy asked.

"Yesterday night" The caller replied.

Ashley looked at her Mom questioning the caller on the phone.

"Where did you get that information from?" Ivy asked again.

"Where are you? It has been rumoured all over the city!" The man shouted and hung up.

"What was that for?" Ivy whispered, staring closely at her phone. She looked at Ashley.

"Won't you prepare for school? or you will just stay here and play video games" Ivy told Ashley.

"Mom, we are not in session. Why are you trying to pick on me, because someone shouted at you?" Ashley retaliated.

"Me!" Ivy shouted trying to get hold of Ashley, thanks to body size, she was unable to get hold of her as she ran out of her room.

"Come here little Ash!"

"Don't call me that Mom!"

Ivy laughed, "Why won't I?"

Ivy locked the door to Ashley's room, "Ashley! Where should we go today?" Ivy got no response from Ashley.

"Ashley?"

Ivy slowly walked to the sitting room to check what was making her daughter silent.

Ashley was staring at Ethan, and Alisander, but was totally lost looking at Alisander.

"Hey Ashley! You have grown!" Ethan shouted walking towards Ashley with arms wide. Ashley went under the left arm of Ethan, got past him, and stood still in front of Alisander.

"Hi, my name is Ashley Grey, I'm 17, and I school not far from here" She narrated to Alisander who was lost in thoughts.

Ethan gazed at Ashley then at Alisander who was staring at the small sized girl with a little black dot stuck underneath her nose; her upper lips shaped in a zigzag notion, and her eyes as white as snow.

"Ethan, Ethan" Alisander called, still staring at Ashley.

"What?" Ethan replied frowning his face.

"Have you ever seen an angel before?" Alisander asked with his eyes fixed on Ashley.

Ethan looked at Alisander irritably, but Alisander didn't care about Ethan's feelings right now.

"I think I have seen an angel, Ethan," Alisander said, and Ethan looked more irritable.

"Don't worry son...I can send you to heaven right now. They are lots of angels there" Ivy halted their fantasies as she walked towards them. Ashley shot her Mom a very devilish look, and her Mom noticed.

"What!?" Her Mom shouted, making Ethan and Alisander fright. She calmed down, and smiled. "Welcome Ethan." Ethan stared at Ivy not knowing what to do with her. She patted Ethan's shoulder, and walked up to Alisander.

"You must be Alexander from the Pastore's family right?" She smiled.

Alisander stared at Ethan, "Why is your family this dumb? Can't you all pronounce my name correctly, my beauti--" but before he could finish, he got a s***k on his chest.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Alisander complained about touching his chest which was beaten by Ivy.

"Don't you know I can hear you?" Ivy shouted.

"Wait what? Alisander was surprised.

"I'm a white wolf, an--"

"Wow! You're a white wolf!" Ashley cut Alisander off as she placed her hands on her cheek. Alisander smiled sheepishly, and turned to Ivy.

"But, how come I can't get you guys' scent? I thought you were human! and--" Alisander paused and turned to Ethan. "You are also a wolf?" Alisander asked, staring at Ethan, and Ethan returned the stare.

"If I were, do you think I'd need your help?" Ethan replied with very calm voice.

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Flashback

Ethan was running as fast as he could, and some people chased him from behind. He tripped, fell, and stood up again. Suddenly, he halted - he was at a dead end, no way unless he had to turn back to face his chasers. He was scared, and death took a toll on him when he had a scream from another direction.

"I don't have to die this way. I deserve a better death" He thought as he saw a white wolf running towards him.

"Death, can't you consider that I have a very long way to go in life?" He thought again.

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Alisander was around where Ethan was. His father had instructed him to go to the very end of the dark forest every night.

"Why did Dad ask me to come here though?" He talked to himself walking aimlessly in the dark forest. He saw various lights moving fast. "What the f**k is this?" He said as he ran towards the light. His eyes locked with Ethan's body running as fast as he could, and he looked at Ethan's chasers, and he remembered his father's words.

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"In case you come across a boy who is in trouble, save him with your life" Alisander's father said.

"I might die" Alisander brought it to his notice.

"I know, but you must not see him die. He is about your age, and believe me when I tell you, you might break a limit in your life as a young wolf." Alisander's father replied him, and Alisander sighed.

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"What to do now?" He whispered, running towards Ethan. Alisander ran with all his strength, he knows, if he keeps running like this, and doesn't do anything to save him, he would fail his father, then he summoned up additional strength, he tripped, and fell screaming loudly. His cloth tore from the back, as his spinal cord shoots forward, his fingers became claws, his legs took the shape of a fox, but longer than that, his canines grew long, and sharp, his eyes turned a little bit smaller than usual, his ears became longer, and white furs covered his already skinny body. He stopped shouting, and he caught Ethan who was looking in his direction, he could hear his heartbeat, and, "I don't have to die this way. I deserve a better death." He could hear his thoughts. Everything looked different as he felt himself in wolf form.

He ran very fast, and Ethan saw him coming. He heard his thoughts again. "Death, can't you consider that I have a very long way to go in life?." Alisander shook his head, "Stupid boy" He mind-talked to himself, and ran faster.

Ethan's chasers were a few metres away when Alisander tugged Ethan up with his head. Ethan left the ground, and landed on Alisander's back as he zoomed off.

Ethan's chasers halted, and saw no trace of Ethan.

"He might have fallen off the cliff," One of the chasers said.

"Fool, just say you are tired" A man with a scar on his right cheek said looking down the pit at the end of the road. "Hey! one group this way, and the others should follow me" He commanded them, and they all obeyed.

"Are you alright?" Alisander who was already in his human form asked Ethan who was staring at Alisander.

"Who are you?" Ethan asked, ignoring his question.

"You will say thank you first," Alisander said.

"Thank you. So, who are you?" Ethan thanked him.

"My name is Alisander, and I saved you because I think -- I think" Alisander emphasized on the "think." "I think my father had already seen this day coming" Alisander finally explained.

"Thanks though" Ethan dropped a sincere appreciation. "My name is Ethan... Ethan Domino" Ethan introduced himself.

"I thought I have heard that name from somewhere in the past" Alisander thought, but he ignored the thoughts as he tendered his hand forward, and Ethan stared at the hand. "Nice meeting you," Alisander said.

"My pleasure" Ethan replied, and took his hand.

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"Forget it" Alisander swiped his hand up leaving their presence. "I'm hungry," Alisander thought.

"Don't worry, your meal is ready, but you need me to show you your room, and you guys should shower, then you will eat" Ivy said out loud.

"It is really creepy now. And I used to enjoy mind talk back then" Alisander said looking at Ivy who was smiling at him, he frowned back at her, then pivoted his head at Ashley who had been looking at him the whole time, but this time, he changed his emotions as he smiled back at her.

Ethan looked around the house, and Ivy gestured to both of them asking them to follow her.

"Mom, I will show --" Ashley paused and turned around to look at Alisander.

"Wait... What's your name? You didn't tell me your name" Ashley asked.

"My name is Alisander, but you can call me Al," Alisander replied.

Ethan looked at Alisander, Alisander noticed that Ethan was looking at him, but he didn't turn to him.

"You're giving her the nickname I have given you..." Ethan protested.

"But, she is related to you, so she can call me that," Alisander replied, finally turning to look at Ethan, then he smiled, then pivoted his head back to Ashley.

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"When are we appointing the next person to be Alpha?" Sasha asked anyone that was willing to answer.

"Let's still follow the linage... Griffin would be the next Alpha'' Kelvin suggested.

As they were all discussing the next person to become Alpha, the door became wide open, and that drew everyone to the person that had the audacity to open the door like that. They were all kept in suspense as to who the person was. Then, a manly figure, whose face cannot be recognised because of the sun shining slightly behind his face. Almost immediately as he halted at the entrance, his face became visible.

"Max Garrison?" Sasha whispered.

"Max?" Kelvin looked more brokenhearted than amazed.

The rest of the elders stood up as they looked at the man at the entrance. He looked like a warrior, his grey moustache, and beards made his mouth less visible, his grey hair was packed neatly to the back holding it with a pin, also if devil can be seen, his eyes matched the devil's, and a deep straight scar on his right cheek. He smiled devilishly.

"Do you guys miss me? Because with the way you guys are staring at me, it seems you are" He said as he walked in grinning...