Suits and Rogues

Chapter 19

  And so, the hunt begins. The very moment Odin woke up in that strange male’s house with the hellhound, he knew that the hellhound is a tough one to hunt. After all, he managed to kill five of the biggest packs in the world without anyone anticipating or preparing for it. Not even a trace or a clue was found besides the fact that the hellhound was the one responsible for it. Anyone who dared hunt him died and anyone whom he hunts dies. No one ever survived being hunted by the hellhound.

  The whole council and werewolf specie had once attempted to hunt the hellhound but he disappeared without a trace and appears out of nowhere. The very few creatures and mortals that managed to know about him didn’t last long enough to share more information besides being a very huge male with a frightening aura.

  His mysteriousness made him even more dangerous because not enough information is sufficient to know how to defeat him.

  Add the fact that the hellhound has some sort of stealth power and that strange blend-with-the-shadows kind of power makes him harder to catch.

  He’s a master hunter and an impossible prey to catch. After all, the more the hunter is skilled, the harder he is to hunt.

  The probability of a successful hunt is dwindling the more Odin thought about it. Still, there’s no other choice. The only way he can have a chance at being accepted back by the pack or by his specie is to eliminate a threat that remains unsolvable up until now. If Odin could do the impossible, maybe, just maybe, he might be accepted back. He does not have to be an alpha. He just needs to be accepted.

  A wolf without a pack cannot survive figuratively and literally. Even rogues eventually gravitate towards one another to form groups and mini-packs. Only lone wolves have the chance to survive being alone but even they eventually gravitate towards packs.

  For a pack wolf turned rogue, it’s a pure nightmare and torture being alone. Odin is no exception.

  As Odin approached that familiar tall building, he reminded himself to calm down and focus. The last known place the hellhound appeared to was in the company building, excluding the strange place in Odin’s dreams. That’s where the hellhound’s trail is the freshest.

  The moon had risen already and despite it being near its full state, it is still not bright enough for every slight movement to be detected. It should be enough for Odin to sneak in and get to the top floor. However, the fact that the security stayed the same without any ounce of further caution in the company confuses him.

   From the fact that Odin managed to get inside the pack, they should know better than to leave the company barely guarded. Odin only managed to count 50 security guards and from the looks of it, they weren’t armed enough. The helicopters above seem to be inactive too and the security tech that he can detect from his spot all seems to be off besides the motion detector lights. It’s odd. Knowing his father’s expertise in security and traps, Odin doubts he’ll let the company unguarded especially since there’s a high possibility that Odin might come back to the company to usurp it. With Odin’s trip to the pack, he knew his father would be far more careful now.

   Then why isn’t he? Surely, this is a trap. After all, most successful traps are done unexpectedly. It’s the easiest way to catch a prey.

   Odin has to proceed very carefully at this. He has to be stealthy and undetectable but even that is not enough. He needs some sort of defense – a defense that can protect him from any possible traps and attacks that his father could come up with. Since his father had raised and trained him, he knows Odin’s strengths and weaknesses and can use that knowledge to take him down. So in order to get in the company, Odin’s defense should be close to invincible. But what defensive material can that be? In the past few centuries, mortals and creatures alike had focused on creating offensive weapons and almost completely overlooked defens-

   Just then, Odin’s eyes caught those familiar fur-like metals and were reminded of his creation. “That’s it…” he breathed out. “Aidra…”

*****

   “You mean to say…you’ve lost both targets despite having the opportunity to kill them?” A male’s voice asked calmly but the air exuding from him betrays his tone.

   “We apologize, e-“

   “Will your apologies make them dead? Will it correct your failures? Will it make you less incompetent?”

   The creatures within the room flinched at the venom lacing the male’s words.

   “No, sir, but we assure you, we won’t fail the next time.” Their leader said determinedly while placing his fist over his heart as a sign of loyalty and respect.

   “Next time, there won’t be any opportunities presented for you. Both of them are powerful creatures. Your only way of catching and killing them is by practical means and brute force. But even those will not be enough. Many of you will die for sure. Are you really up for it?” another male asked beside the window of the meeting hall they’re in. The darkness of the night reflects the gloominess of the atmosphere; making the tension more palpable in the air.

   All of the creatures in the room besides the two males berating them all bowed down on one knee and placed their right hand on their hand while proclaiming, “We will die for the goddess’ will!”

   The two males looked at each other and nodded. “Then don’t fail us and the goddess. The fate of the whole world depends on the success of this mission. Succeed!”

   “Yes, sir!” the creatures affirmed – determined voices echoing within the spacious hall.

   After that, they were dismissed and both of the males share another gloomy look as they looked out the darkness outside. Both of their eyes are trained on the moon above. It is close to being full but somehow, it is not as bright as it should be.

   “Darkness is approaching…” one of them muttered.

   “We won’t let it.” The other replied.

   “Indeed we won’t.”

   At the sound of the doors opening and that powerful aura entering the room, both of them turned their heads to the newcomer.

   “You know what to do, don’t you?” one of them asked.

   “I know.” The newcomer replied.

   “Then don’t hesitate even if he’s your flesh and blood.” The other male said.

   “It is by the goddess’ will.” Said the silver-eyed newcomer.