Under Love's Illusion

CHAPTER 8: Spy

CHAPTER 8: Spy

“On the first night of the full moon,” I hissed.

The sky was clear, the clouds were paved aside to give way for the sunlight. Ang mga dahon ng bawat puno ay kumikinang sa saglit na pagtama ng liwanag ng araw sa kanila, nagsasayaw sa marahan na ihip ng hangin. Ang amoy ng kagubatan. Ang amoy ng kalikasan.

Napunta ang tingin ko kay Silver na sumama sa akin para magbantay sa paligid ng mga bahay para tingnan kung may banta ng gan’to kaaga. We are both on our human forms.

“You’re not a spy, are you?”

He raised a brow at my sudden comment of suspicion. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. “You’re a b***h, aren’t you?”

Nagpakawala ako ng mababang angil dahil sa sinabi niya. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. I cringed when his smell infiltrated my nostrils. Suot niya pa rin ang damit na suot niya noong unang dating niya rito. “You really stink the smell of those greedy werewolves.”

“If they are greedy, your pack is a monster.”

I smirked. “Yes, I’m fully aware of that fact. No need to remind me.”

Napailing siya sa kayabangan ko.

“Alnwick pack will always remain as one of the most legendary packs of werewolves in our history.”

Hindi na siya nagsalita pagkatapos kong sabihin ‘yon. Silence reigned us when he decided to answer my first question.

“If I am a spy, I would have not risked my life having a duel with your Alpha─”

“Our Alpha, if I may correct you─”

“Our Alpha, rather, who I didn’t know, is an Epsilon like me. May tyansang ikamatay ko ang paglaban sa kaniya.”

“Dapat namatay ka na nga lang,” komento ko sabay iwas ng tingin para lalo siyang asarin.

“Now, I am certain you are not just a b***h. You’re a devil.”

I looked at him and shook my head. “No, I am a monster, the lead warrior of pack of the Alnwick.”

He grunted. “Let’s say, I am a spy─”

“You’re really a spy, we don’t have to assume that.”

“You should silence your mouth for once in a while.”

I laughed knowing I pissed him already. Inilibot ko ang mga mata sa paligid at nanatiling alerto.

“If I am a spy sent by Chiannons, there are choices they can take for their advantage.” He showed me his hand, veins becoming more recognizable as he demonstrated me his five fingers. “The fact I have told you is that they would attack on the first night the full moon appeared in the sky.”

I nodded, eyes not leaving him as he explains.

“The first one is, if their first objective which is to make you believe what I said has been achieved, they could deceive you by attacking on the second or third night of the full moon. Thinking your guard is up on the first night, your pack would probably decide to lower down the guard assuming that I was lying about their attack and that their interests in claiming your territory and overpowering your Elders and Alpha are not serious knowing how powerful Finn is compared to them.

“Second, Chiannon pack would possibly attack on the first night like what they have initially planned. This could happen if your pack believes the information I told them and thinks that now that they have known the day of their attack, the Chiannon would probably not continue to their plan.

“Third, Chiannon would assume your Alpha is smart enough to now lower down the guards of the packs no matter what day they decide to attack. Ang gagawin nila ay aatake kung kailan nila gusto. Susugod ng basta-basta laban sa pack ninyo.”

“You are now one of us, so it is our pack,” I told him.

“You are sometimes kind but still a bitch.”

I groaned. He chuckled. Sinuri niya ng tingin ang kabuuan kong anyo. Nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang.

“Glad to know that you’re alive.”

Napataas ako ng kilay. “What do you mean?”

He looked away and focused his sight to the tall trees. “I almost killed you that day.”

It caught me off guard. Suddenly, I closed my eyes as memories hit me like a bullet. Sinapo ko ang aking ulo sa naramdamang sakit.

Malalakas na ungol ang pumailanlang sa buong kagubatan na para bang ilang lobo ang may gawa no’n. I left the ground with the warriors, leaving the Deltas to check the members of the pack. Pagdating ko sa kalbong bahagi ng lugar kung saan walang kapuno-puno at ilang metro ang layo sa mga kabahayan, tanging mga ligaw na d**o lang ang nakatanim, nasulputan ko ang lupon ng mga lobo. They turned into humans. Nakatayo sa pinakaharapan nila ay ang tingin kong pinuno ng grupo.

Sa likod niya ay nakahilera ang mga lalaking may malalaking pangangatawan. Some sorted their rugged style perfectly with their looks, while some seemed to be better in their wolf form.

“I am the Alpha of the Chiannon pack,” deklara nito.

“Hindi ko tinatanong,” bulong ko.

“Anong sadya ninyo sa aming teritoryo?” tanong ni Largo.

“Narito kami para bantaan ang samahan ninyo.”

Sumabat na ako dahil sa pagkairita. Ang kayabangan niya ay nag-uumapaw. Umaabot dito sa puwesto ko ang alingasaw.

“Sinong tinakot mo?” Ngumisi ako. “Not to brag, but I am sure I can defeat you myself.”

Hindi siya nasindak. He smirked, too, and clenched his jaw.

“Catori,” pagtawag ni Largo sa akin. “Huwag kang mag-umpisa ng gulo laban sa kanila.”

Hinarap ko siya. “I am not starting a fight, Largo. Look.” I pointed the other pack standing in the opening of the forest. “Sila mismo ang pumunta rito, naghahanap ng gulo laban sa atin. He even brought companies. Kung banta lang talaga ang pakay niya, sana ay hindi ganyan karami ang mga kasama niya.”

I harshly turned to the Chiannons and stretched my neck. I can feel the nails on my fingers elongating, my bones flexing. Fangs appeared, I growled loudly that the animals were disturbed from their sleep. As I ran to him, I transformed into my wolf form. He met me midway and turned into his wolf self with grey fur.

“Catori!”

Narinig ko ang malakas na ungol ni Largo ilang metro ang layo sa akin. Kasunod no’n ay ang mga angil na rin ng aming mga kasama hanggang sa ang kagubatan ay napuno na ng ungol naming mga lobo.

Sinalubong ko ng kagat sa leeg ang Alpha ng mga Chiannon. Gumanti rin siya ng kagat sa aking leeg. Pinanggigilan niya ito at gano’n din ang ginawa ko sa kaniya. Kapuwa kami lumayo sa isa’t isa at nagpakawala ng galit na ungol.

“Catori!”

Boses iyon ng Alpha. Pagtingin ko sa kaliwang banda ay isa na siyang malaking lobo. Tumatakbo nang napakabilis pasugod sa Alpha ng mga Chiannon. Hindi nakakilos ang huli sa pagkabigla.

“Alpha.” Saglit akong yumuko sa kaniya para kilalanin ang kaniyang presensya. “Salamat, Finn.”

I left their spot. I saw my co-members fighting with the other wolves. I threw a glanced at Finn, then to the full moon in the sky realizing our Alpha’s unusual strength tonight. The effect of the moon to an Epsilon.

In a blink of eye, I flew to the nearest tree. Napainda ako sa sakit dahil sa naging pagtama ng likod ko sa malaking kahoy. Nang makabawi ako sa sakit ay nakaabang sa akin ang isang lobo na may kulay pilak na balahibo.

He growled and lashed out. I positioned myself and leapt, landing behind him. He jumped and crawled over me, wanting to attack my neck. Pinipigilan namin ang isa’t isa gamit ang mga braso namin. He bit my limbs, I moaned in pain. I managed to pin him on the ground, but his feet kicked me causing my back to hit the branches of a tree. Bumagsak ako sa lupa at muli siyang sinugod.

He ran and assaulted me. Ang matatalim niyang ngipin ay agad na bumaon sa aking likod. I tried to fought, but he was so strong. Hindi ko siya maalis sa pagkakapatong sa ibabaw ko. His teeth pierced my right leg. I cried loudly and threw kicks while I am under his big body. Sa panggigigil niya ay ang leeg ko naman ang muli niyang kinagat. He held my neck with only his teeth and swayed me from left to right before throwing me again in the air. I fell on the dirty land and ate the dust.

He raised his head. Tumitig siya saglit sa bilog na buwan at umungol. He walked slowly to where I’m lying. Pinilit kong bumangon nang makita ko ang mga kasamahan kong pinagtutulungan ng mga malalaking lobo at tumakbo papunta sa kinaroronan nila. I wondered where the others are.

In the corner of my eye, I saw the silver-furred wolf positioned himself, ready to charge on me again when he stopped. The Alpha declared their defeat for their first attack and swore to claim our territory again.

While watching their backs leave our territory, I snapped out enduring a terrible pain all over my body.

Pagbukas ko ng mga mata ko ay si Silver ang sumalubong sa akin. He was staring at me intently, estimating my reactions. Probably thinking I would act violently now that I finally remembered who he is.

I pointed my finger at him. “You were that silver wolf!” Lumapit pa ako lalo sa kaniya at inamoy siya. “No wonder why you smelled very familiar! Hindi lang amoy ng pack ninyo, kun’ ‘di amoy ng lobong halos pumatay sa akin!”

Napaatras siya. “Akala ko kilala mo ako nang nahuli ako ng mga guwardya ninyo at nagbabait-baitan ka lang. Turns out you forgot me.”

“I have forgotten the whole fight actually.” I sighed. Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan bakit hindi ko gaanong maalala ang mga pangyayari no’n. “When I woke up, I felt like I was a different person.”

“Maybe, it was my effect.”

I shrugged. “Or, maybe, the full moon’s effect.”

“Fortunately, you’re still alive,” ulit niya. “Baka patayin ako ng Alpha ninyo kung sakaling nang gabing ‘yon ay napatay nga kita.”

“Kaya nga dapat ay pinatay ka na lang ni Finn.”

He glared at me. “b***h but weakass lady warrior who almost died because of me.”

I hissed. “Too full of yourself.”

Napailing siya at gano’n na rin ako. Sa huli ay nagwika siya, “I am not a spy but the savior of your lives.”

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