Under Love's Illusion

CHAPTER 5: Epsilon

CHAPTER 5: Epsilon

Ilang araw ng abala ang Alpha at Beta sa pagsisigurado na magiging ligtas nga ang buong pack sa nagbabadyang umpisa ng gulo sa pagitan namin at ng Chiannon. Ipinaliwanag lalo ni Finn na ang mga bahay sa village na ito ay magsisilbing main site ng aming pack. The two abandoned houses they found in the East will serve as another lair where the newly joined werewolves will stay with other Delta and warriors. From that zone to the main site, our pack will occupy the remaining area.

I was walking down the ground when I heard Terra’s voice talking with the pups. Mula sa puwesto ko ay kita ko ang saya sa mga mata niya habang nakikipagkuwentuhan. Maybe, she imagined herself having her own kids.

I went to their place. The Omegas greeted me. Even the pups stood from sitting on a large log. Napahinto sa pagtawa si Terra nang makita ako. Iniwasan ko lamang ang tingin niya.

“What are you talking about, kids?”

“About how the Elders managed to have this place!” one cheerfully answered.

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Their eyes were twinkling in so much excitement, while I am here, thinking if I can still remember the historic events of our elders.

“Can I sit here?” I asked them, patting a space where no one occupies. “I want to listen, too.”

The children nodded happily. Pinagpagan pa nila ang uupuan ko bago ako pinayagang makaupo.

“Where was I again?” Terra said.

“The part when the Elders discovered this place!” the girl replied.

Tumango-tango si Terra. She gathered an air before speaking again. All the pups were attentive to her, and the Omegas seemed to forget their responsibility.

“Right.” She blew out an air. “The Elders were strong and brave. The former Alpha, Beta, and General made a good team. They were very powerful that other packs were also afraid of them.”

Their mouth opened in amusement.

“General po? Wala po silang nababanggit na General.” Tinuro ng isang bata ang mga nagbabantay. Ipinaliwanag ni Terra ang pag-iiba ng pangalan ng mga nasa ranggo.

Our pack is known to be the most frightening werewolves. Nagmula ‘yon sa mga ninuno ng grupo namin at hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala pa rin namin ang titulong nakakatakot hindi lang para sa mga kapuwa naming taong lobo.

Our pack had the most number of members. Isa sa dahilan ay ang pagtanggap namin sa mga taong lobo na walang kinabibilangan. Pangalawa ay para marami ang makakatulong sa oras na magkaroon ng kalaban ang aming grupo. Maliban sa titulong Alpha, Luna na asawa ng Alpha, Beta, at Delta, mayro’n din kaming General. The name was changed until the previous batch of packs. From General, we called it Lead Warrior. From having one, we have two. Kaya isa lang no’n ay dahil sa kakaiba ang Heneral ng naunang pack. Pandalawang taong lobo o higit pa ang lakas ng tulad niya. Under our monitoring were the other warriors. We were assigned to survey the surrounding to make sure no one pass the boundaries. We also fight. Another title was the Lead Hunter with his subordinates for searching foods to feed our pack. Pagkatapos ay ang mga omega at ang mga pup.

“Then? What happened, Delta?” the cute child asked.

Terra smiled. “Patience, dear, patience.”

“I want to know! I want to know!”

The others cheered for Terra to tell them more.

“Not only wolves and werewolves were scared of them, but also humans,” she continued. “There was once a human who called us flesh-greedy monsters.”

“Flesh-greedy monsters?”

“Why?”

“That’s harsh!”

I heard few comments from them and asked myself the same question. Whether I already knew the answer and it was something I do not remember, I have no idea.

Inaabangan ko ang sasabihin ni Terra na matamang nakatingin sa mga bata.

“It was because we are on the top of the food chain. We are known to eat someone weaker than us, someone smaller, someone we can overpower.” She licked her lips and started to talk. “And that title arose when our Elders found this village.”

“And then?”

I chuckled, seeing them as eager as I am to know our history.

“It was one summer noon when our Elders arrived in this place. The former Alpha, together with the Beta and General claimed the whole place, owning the entire village like it was their possession. The residents tried to persuade our Elders to leave the place, but the three of them growled loudly! So loud that the people had to cover their ears as the sounds tear them inside! The humans fell on their knees begging the Alpha to stop, but they wouldn’t unless they surrender the place!”

“Woah!”

“The Elders were persistent, Delta,” the boy commented. “Someday, I’ll be like them!”

“That’s good,” Terra praised. “Then, the former Alpha, Beta, and General walked slowly that terrified the residents of the village! Afraid that they might be devoured by the Elders, the people ran so fast the dusts flew and circled in the air! They rushed inside their homes and locked their houses.”

“Ibig mo pong sabihin, hindi agad nila nakuha ang lugar na ‘to?”

Terra and I chuckled.

“Of course not,” I answered. “It is not that easy to do.”

“Ano na pong sunod na nangyari?” tanong ng isang bata na mukhang naiinip na.

“Our Elders came back. This time, with the Delta and the Hunters to gather some food.” She paused and looked around. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay mabilis niyang iniwas sa akin ang mga mata. Napailing na lang ako.

“As what they have expected, the villagers were waiting for their arrival, with torches in their hands and axes on the other. Standing so tough with their brave spirits to kill our Elders...” she trailed off.

“Obviously, they didn’t kill our Elders,” the boy stated. “Weak humans.”

He was silenced by the little girl who is probably younger than him. “What happened next? Did those humans die?”

Terra nodded. “Some humans died, while some managed to survive and kept our Elders away from the village.”

“Tapos po?” wika ulit ng batang babae.

“Their first fight was bloody. The werewolves attacked the residents like an animal to devour. Their sharp teeth plunged through the humans’ skin and enjoyed the meat they could bring home to the pack,” she uttered in a serious tone. “Walang silbi ang dala nilang mga sulo at palakol. Our Elders’ speed and power defeated half of them. Sa sunod na balik ng mga Elder sa village na ito kung saan may mga tao pang natira ay hindi na sila nagpakita pa ng awa. They killed everyone with no mercy and claimed the territory for their pack.”

“What about the bodies of those weakasses humans?”

Terra was distracted by the faint sound I also heard coming from the forest. Sabay kaming lumingon sa kanang bahagi ng kagubatan. Nagkatinginan kami.

“Ano pong nangyari?”

Terra shifted back her attention and uttered, “They served as the pack’s foods. Naagapan nila ang kakulangan sa pagkain.”

Mabagal na tumango ang mga bata, iniintindi ang bagong kaalaman samantalang kami ni Terra ay lalong naging alerto sa nagbabadyang panganib.

“Where were our Elders living before discovering this village?”

“In the”─she looked to her right. Her stance was ready to attack─“cave.”

Napagpasyahan kong tumayo na para alamin kung anong mayroon sa kagubatan. Terra stood with me, too. Nag-aabang sa susunod na gagawin ng kung sino sa amin.

“Check the right side, I’ll check the other parts.”

Sumang-ayon ako sa utos niya. Ang mga batang lobo ay ipinaubaya na namin sa mga omega para sila na ang magbantay. Naglakad ako patungo sa kanang bahagi ng village upang makausap ang mga bantay. Saktong pagdating ko sa kung saan sila nakapuwesto, sa may patag na bahagi ng lugar ilang metro ang layo sa mga bahay at walang mga puno, ay may isang bagong dating na bantay na may hatak-hatak na lobo. Nagpupumiglas ito mula sa pagkakahawak at ilang beses nagtangkang tumakas. Ilang suntok, sipa, at angil ang pinakawalan nito ngunit wala namang epekto. Sa pag-ihip pa lamang ng hangin ay naamoy ko na ang kakaiba sa kaniya. Amoy na malayo sa mga kagrupo ko, amoy ng isang taong lobong mula sa ibang pamilya.

Tumayo ako nang maayos. Ang mga guwardya ng aming pack ay mas tumindig ang pangangatawan, pumosisyon na handa ng protektahan ang aming lugar mula sa inaasahang pagsakop.

“Sino ka? Anong kailangan mo?”

He didn’t answer me. Umungol lamang ito habang mahigpit na hinahawakan ng aking kasamahan.

Unti-unting nagiging pamilyar sa ilong ko ang kaniyang amoy na para bang hindi ito ang unang besess kong makasalamuha ang tulad niya.

“Uulitin ko, sino ka?”

Lalo lamang siyang nagwala. Habang tumatagal ay rumerehistro na sa akin ang kaniyang amoy. Series of scenes appeared in my mind. It was a fight between werewolves… between Chiannon and Alnwick packs kung saan ako nagtamo ng sugat.

“Kabilang ka sa Chiannon.”

Hindi iyon tanong. I am sure he was a Chiannon. Nakalaban ko na ang iba pa niyang kasamahan. Magkakaamoy ang mga magkakapamilya. Kaamoy niya ang mga mapaghangad na taong lobong gustong umangkin ng teritoryong pinaghirapan ng mga nakatatanda sa amin.

“You dared to spy in us in a broad daylight.” My teeth gritted in anger. “Is your pack thirsty for some blood?” I smirked. “Don’t worry. If there will be blood to stain the grounds, it will be yours and not ours.”

Maya-maya pa’y dumating na si Terra. Nilapitan niya ang lobong dala ng guwardya.

“Don’t make me wait to see your human form.”

He did not listen. He remained stoic.

Terra shook her head, pissed because of the fact the wolf did not do what she wanted. She held the werewolf’s neck, and he howled. Galit itong humarap sa aking kaibigan. Wala siyang nagawa nang diinan ni Terra ang isang parte ng kaniyang leeg. He transformed into a human form.

He whispered something, but it did not escape our sense of hearing.

“b***h,” he said.

I frowned, a growl came from my mouth in much annoyance.

He stood there grinning with arrogance. I ran fast and landed a punch on his face. Nagdugo ang kaniyang labi. Nadagdagan lamang ng sugat ang kaniyang mukhang puro gasgas, pero naligaw yata ang paki ko at hindi ko na mahanap.

“Freaking asshole,” my friend muttered under her breath. Her glaring eyes moved again to the man. “You are in our territory. Don’t expect us to treat you kindly.”

His grin did not leave his face. “I do not know kindness can be given by bitches.”

I pushed my tongue to my cheek. Hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa na bigyan ulit siya ng isang suntok. Nagngalit ang kaniyang bagang. Hinimas niya ang pisnging tinamaan ng aking kamao bago tumingin sa akin. Nakawala siya sa pagkakahawak ng guwardya, at sa isang iglap, ang kaniyang malaking kamay ay nakahawak sa aking panga, pinipisil ito. Nag-aalab ang galit sa kaniyang mga mata habang nakatitig sa akin.

“Sumusobra ka ng babae ka!”

Nasulyapan ko ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Terra nang makita ang aking sitwasyon. Hinawakan niya ang lalaki sa balikat. “Bitiwan mo siya kung ayaw mong mamatay nang maaga.”

Mas humigpit ang mga daliri niya sa aking panga. Sa kabila ng diin niya ay may lakas pa rin ako para hawakan siya.

“Pakawalan mo ‘ko.”

Muling umigting ang kaniyang panga sa aking sinabi. Walang sali-salitang ibinato niya ako sa lupa. Agad akong dinaluhan ng aking kaibigan. Masama naming tiningnan ang lalaki na ngayon ay hinawakan na ng dalawang guwardya sa magkabilang braso. Ang makitang hindi agad nakagawa ng aksyon ang aking mga kasama ay gumulo sa aking isipan.

“What are you doing here?” Terra asked, her chin raised in confidence. Her body oozed the aura of a Delta that I have not seen earlier when I needed it the most. “You are from Chiannon.”

Sinalubong ng taga-Chiannon ang tingin ng aming Delta. He was firm in his position, arms greatly flexing by the hold of our warriors. Malinaw sa aking mga mata ang mga ugat sa kaniyang braso na gumagapang paangat sa kaniyang balikat na natatakpan ng tela. Gutay-gutay ang kaniyang pantaas samantalang namumuti ang kaniyang pantalong suot.

“I was a Chiannon.”

It was a short reply, but it caught our interest. Pinagpagan ko ang aking suot at gano’n din ang ginawa ni Terra.

“What happened?” tanong ko ng ‘di siya iniiwan ng tingin.

Gone the playful grin after what happened earlier, his face showed seriousness. Ang kaniyang berdeng mga mata ay naglandas sa aking katawan. I became conscious for an unknown reason.

“I am an Epsilon.”

I held my breath when the word came from his mouth. Naalarma rin ang mga kasamahan ko na huminto sa pagkilos sa kung ano mang rason.

Ang Epsilon ang isa sa mga kinatatakutang lobo. They were more than dangerous. Kaya nilang pumatay ng napakaraming lobo kahit pa mag-isa lamang. The Epsilons I knew were the former Alpha, the former Beta, the former General, and our pack’s Alpha─Finn. Emotions can trigger them. And if they are powerful in a normal day or night, they become more powerful during the full moon. Bihira lamang ang mga tulad nila. Some believe no Epsilons exist in reality not until they met the members of our pack.

“An Epsilon, huh?”

Naputol ang titigan naming dalawa. Bumaling siya sa Delta. While amusement can be seen on Terra’s face, the guy showed no emotion. Nagsukatan sila ng tingin.

“What brought you here?”

I caught his attention. His lips curved into an amused grin.

Terra answered my question. I looked at her. “He must be against his former pack, so they planned to kill him.”

“Is it true?” I shifted my gaze from him to her. He was looking at my friend intensely. “You could just kill them!”

He frowned. “Let me remind you, I am not a monster.”

I scoffed. “But you are an Epsilon.”

In a blink, he was in front of me. The other hand held my hands below while his right hand stilled my jaw. “And you are mine.”

I blinked. I heard the warriors tried to move, probably to attack him, but they stopped because of Terra’s order. Nevertheless, I couldn’t care anymore. I was completely driven away by the scent of this man in front of me. The mixed smell of nature and a man filled my nostrils. It was intoxicating my rational thinking.

His eyes were fixed on me. Nakatingin lang din ako sa kaniya. He chuckled. Binitiwan niya ang panga ko, pero ang isa ay nanatiling nakahawak, kinukulong ang dalawa kong kamay.

He glanced at Terra.

“I am an Epsilon, a former member of the Chiannon pack.” His voice was the only sound that could be hear. The crickets must be afraid to overcome his powerful voice. “I want to be part of your pack, and from this day onwards, I oath to protect the pack and its territory”─he stared back at me─“and protect you, weakass b***h lead warrior.”

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