THE LOST SON OF THE ALPHA

Chapter Seven: HUMAN IN THE PACK

FATUMA’S POV~

Since Aunt Mariam and Tony left me in another hotel, I hadn’t been in peace. They left me in the hotel which was near the first hotel where Tony was attacked. The scene I saw when Tony was attacked by a strange guy haunted me for nights. When Tony told me to run, I ran straight to Aunt Mariam who was still making stories with the front desk attendant. I called her emergently and told her what was happening to Tony on the second floor.

She immediately rushed outside the hotel and in less than a minute she came back with a motorcyclist. She paid him some money and told him to rush me to the Moshi Hotel, which was not far from where we were. She said she would come there soon and see me and told me that I had to feel comfortable there because she had already paid for my suite, and the reservation was all set.

As soon as I went out with the motorcyclist, not understanding fully what was going on, Aunt Mariam ran to the second floor.

The actions she did spoke louder than words: she was going to save Tony and that would cost them both their lives, and I had to be safe at the hotel where she sent me and have less hope of seeing them alive again.

The night I slept at the Moshi Hotel, I was not at peace. I was alone. My aunt didn’t come back, nor did Tony. I was afraid about my safety, worrying about being attacked by the same guy who attacked Tony. I wondered if Tony was alive and Aunt Mariam. I stared at the ceiling and didn’t dare sleep all night, until the morning where the sleep came whole and washed over me.

The next day I woke up and had breakfast. Still there was no call, no any sign of existence from either my Aunt or Tony. I waited and waited until noon. Now I started worrying about Tony. Io didn’t worry much about my aunt because of something I’m not sure of. Maybe because she was a wolf expert or she was older than Tony. Or she was not my boyfriend!

Now I had a mind of calling them. When I called them on the phone, no one was available. Now I had an obvious answer, the most terrifying one: they were dead!

I panicked. I immediately ran to the previous hotel where we parted and ran to the front desk. In too much panic, I explained what I needed to know. I told the attendant about the day we came there with Aunt Mariam – which was yesterday and explained how they made me flee to Moshi Hotel. Then I asked what happened to them.

“The police are searching for them!” The attendant answered me! Well that was heartbreaking. But at least they were not dead!

“Where are they?” I asked immediately.

“They took a taxi and headed for the tourist camps.” She said.

Then I felt my blood cool a little, but I added a question:

“Were they alone? I mean they were not chased by any bad guy?”

“No,” said the attendant, “but they were in a hurry. Probably running from the police.

“Oh!” I started to panic again and asked, “So, how can I get them?”

“I don’t know,” the attendant answered sympathetically, “but whatever you want to do about it, take a taxi to the camps. They must have gone to the tourist camps.”

I waited for more explanation, but that was all she had. I rushed back to Moshi Hotel and went to my room. Once I was there, I tried to stop panicking and tried to think about what I was doing.

Suddenly, Tony came into my mind. I remembered the day of his 16th birthday when he became a wolf and ate his friend. He never looked happy about it. Even when he accidently found me hiding from him at my aunt’s, he looked troubled very much by his condition. He hated it. Tony and I loved each other.

I remembered the day we met, the day we started our relationship. By then I didn’t think he was serious, I took him for being a guy like other guys: loving just because the girl is sexy, and not because they love the girl. But the way he cared about me, the way he was there for me, always ready to do what I wanted, I created a trust to him. I trusted him, something I had never done to any boy.

Tony would hold my hand and walk with me in the public, we would pass near his friends and my friends with him beside me, and we posted each other on social media. Every day he would bring me gifts – chocolates, bracelets, and he once bought me lingerie!

I trusted him, but my love to him was not one hundred percent. I did not love him that much, because part of my heart told me that any time he would leave me and find another girl and treat her even more he was treating me.

Tony had no much money. I mean he was just a simple guy who lived alone in his room. So when he worked and got something he managed to get, he would share it with me and tell me he would bring more gifts next time. He would look very worried when I got sick. He would rush me to the hospital, or even pay for my medication. But I still didn’t love him with all my heart. He was just my boyfriend, but not my love.

One day he dared begged me for some private time at his place. I knew what he wanted. He wanted s*x. I did not want to spoil myself to some little guy who I was not sure if I loved him, so I said no. I told him that he had no respect to me, and if he did, he wouldn’t had asked me for s*x.

Then he quit it. He apologized for that and promised to never ask for it again until I was ready, or until we got married. He was so naïve! He believed we would get married! I wasn’t that older, but he was acting childish. But at least he kept me away from those playboys.

When he begged me to be his birthday girl on his sixteenth birthday, I accepted with one intention: I wanted to see his friends, his face during the party and I wanted to make new friends. Honestly, I didn’t accept because of my love to him.

Then he turned into a wolf! A human-eating wolf! Then I knew he was evil, he was not a human! I ran and hid at my aunt’s place in another city, but he found me there! I was angry and afraid, until my own aunt told me to go with them in Kilimanjaro City. I didn’t go with them because of Tony. I went with them because of my aunt!

But all that time when he we were in the trip, and when I knew more truth about him, he kept trying to apologize to me and show his love. But what I felt? Fear and terror! And all because all the truth I knew about his background, I believed it was not true. Just a story; just a lie!

Until that time.

Now as I thought all this, I began wondering where Tony was. I acted so mean and he never noticed it because of his love to me. He loved me truly. Every time in the back days, he would hold my hands and tell me he loved me. He would look in my eyes, hold my hands and in a low soft voice tell me “I love you”!

Now I had messed up. I felt guilty about this. The sudden fear and worry came to me as I lay on my bed gazing on the ceiling. Tony was now away, nowhere to be seen, and would probably die. Now I understood! I thought of going away and finding another boyfriend, and I immediately realized that I couldn’t find a boyfriend as loyal, as loving as Tony. He was a fairy tale, he was my Prince Charming. He had true love, but I had not!

Tears rolled down my eyes as I thought about him. I wondered where he could be. I remembered what Aunt Mariam told us the last day: Tony had to go to the Pack and get trained how to control his powers. That was risking his life. He was in danger. I had to find him!

Then I thought: the attendant told me that they took a taxi to the tourists’ camp. I was not sure if he went to get trained in the camp. Wait! He was the wolf, then he wouldn’t go learn how to use his powers in the camp, or in the city. He was probably going to some sort of wilderness, because commonly wolves live in the forests. I had to find him immediately.

Then I planned how to get him.

A few hours later, my door was knocked. It was time for lunch. It was late and out of time, but I wasn’t ready to eat. I was ready to the quest of finding my boyfriend. I needed to apologize to him and tell him he was special to me of all people. I now felt so much love for him burning in my heart.

I put my backpack on my back which was full of clothes and sheets I would need in my mission. I wore a wool jacket, a scarf, wool gloves, jeans pants, and a head warmer. I took other important things like my pen, my money and my handkerchief!

I strode to the door, and the maid was about to knock again, and I thought she had gone back already. I didn’t see her there at first until I bumped into her and made her drop the plate full of Pilau and Mtori, the foods I ordered earlier that day.

“Sorry Mary!” I said, although I was not sure her name was Mary.

I ran out of the hotel and immediately took the taxi to the tourist camps. I persuaded the driver to drive as fast as he could so as to get there on time.

At last we reached at the first tourist camp and I told him to stop. I paid him and he went away. That is when I realized that I had no idea of what I was doing!

I came all the way from the hotel, and now it was evening already, but I had no idea of what I was doing and where I was going. I regretted, and started thinking on going back. But suddenly Tony flashed again in my mind, and I remembered that I was there to search for Tony. So I waved all fears away and decided to face dangers of the environment to find my love.

I looked around and saw many cars of elegant types and brands getting in the camp and others were parked outside. Armed guards stood everywhere around the camp and there was no way I could go in the camp if I was not a tourist. I scanned the place and suddenly saw something: the camp was beside a huge, dark forest which was just right in front of me.

It looked dark and creepy. I knew wolves liked forests and I had to try this. I sighed and walked towards that huge, dark forest. There was a little path leading to it, and I followed it carefully. I wished I had something to protect me like a knife, a gun or something. I reached at the forest itself and stood there for a moment and peeped inside.

It was already night and the cold penetrated in my jacket. I shivered. So I unzipped my backpack and took out my Maasai Sheet which Aunt Mariam gave me in the plane and wrapped it around my shoulders. Then I stepped in the forest. It was chilly in there and crickets were heard from every corner of the forest. The forest was so huge that I almost backed up. I couldn’t see the end of it but the endless dark growth of thick and very tall trees. It is in this forest where the tallest trees in the world are found!

I walked slowly, stepping carefully so as I couldn’t break a dried stick and attract the dangerous animals. I avoided looking up the trees because the trees were very tall and it looked super creepy!

Suddenly, clap! I heard a sharp clap far behind me. I turned suddenly and looked there to see who clapped. There was nobody but the thick trees. Now it seemed like I was in the middle of the huge forest at night, alone, something even a super wolf couldn’t do alone! I started to tremble in fear. I breathed heavily and wrapped my hands around me, holding tight my Maasai sheet.

Suddenly, I heard a whistle. A light, slow whistle. It came from above me. I yelped! When I yelped, my voice echoed in the forest and I heard my yelp being repeated again and again and again!

“Tony?” I called in fear.

My voice echoed again and again, and it seemed like my voice trailed in the whole forest. I felt like I had woken all the animals and creatures and any time they would rush toward me and compete eating me.

“Yeeaaah!” The roar was heard behind me!

My heart burst in fear. There was something behind me! Suddenly, I heard the footsteps of an animal running towards me in a high speed. I screamed.

I now ran forward, screaming. The louder I screamed, the creepier my voice became. I couldn’t see the animal behind me. It chased me, roaring, “yeeaaah!!!” and its speed was as high as of a train.

I almost hit the trees in front of me as I totally didn’t see anything in front of me but total darkness. The animal behind me got closer and closer. I screamed.

“Tony! Help me!” I screamed in extreme terror!

Suddenly I hit something as hard as a tree, but it was not a tree! It was something – an animal standing on two legs! I hit it face to face and the eyes of the animal were evil and really terrifying. It roared angrily and I fell down. Using its claws, it stabbed me on my stomach, and that is when I passed out!

When I woke up it was already morning. I felt extreme pain and I felt really cold. I felt stiff like I was frozen in a freezer.

“Hello!” I called aloud, still not understanding where I was.

“She is awake,” a man above my head said, “check her out.”

I turned my head and scanned the place. I was I a large wooden hall with a lot of weapons and rough materials. There were like four men who stood there probably waiting for me to get up. When the other man said that I was awake, the other guy came to where I lay. I tried to get up but realized that my hands were tied up, so were my feet. Fortunately, my clothes were not changed.

“Damian!” Said the man who spoke first, “Check this girl and find answers from her.”

The other men got out and I remained in the hall with the man called Damian. He walked slowly and reached me. I looked at him angrily, not understanding what was going on. He looked at me and smiled.

“Hi there!” Damian said, “Are you okay?”

I became mad. He was asking me if I was okay in the condition that I was totally NOT okay! I was tied up, I was lost in the forest and I remembered to be stabbed by the claws of an animal the other nights, if it was not nights ago.

“Where am I?” I asked angrily.

“Don’t worry,” said Damian, “you are in the Black Moon Pack. You are safe here. My name is Damian, and sorry for whatever happened to you last night.”

“Would you untie me?” I begged.

Damian untied me and helped me sit up. I put my hand on my wound, and realized that it was bandaged. My backpack and my Maasai sheet lay beside the wooden bed where they put me.

“Where did you say I am?” I asked curiously, because I didn’t quite hear the first introduction.

“I said,” Damian explained, “that you are in the Black Moon Pack. And my name is Damian.”

“The what?!!” I couldn’t believe my ears.

“The Black Moon Pack…”

“Oh my God!” I said I terror. I had heard and read about Black Moon Pack from Tony’s diary.

I stood up, feeling extreme pain on my belly side. I staggered and when Damian brought his hand to help me settle, I shrugged it off. I was in the dangerous pack that killed my boyfriend’s parents. And I was right in their territory.

But wait! These were people. Damian was a regular guy with old fashioned clothes and a sword on his back. He looked charming but strong and ready for anything. When he smiled, he had no fangs. His eyes were regular human eyes. Damian looked strong and young. His hair was perfect. He was muscular and he was tall. By looking at him, he was like eighteen years old. Or less.

But also that did not stop me to worry. I knew he was a wolf. The way I knew Tony, and now he was in the wild! So there was no difference.

“Why am I here?” I asked Damian, “Why was I kidn*pped last night? Why did you tie me up?”

“Oh,” said Damian, “sorry about that. You were running wildly in the middle of the forest, which is very dangerous for a little human girl. You were almost attacked by a Chaliba!”

“A what?!”

“A Chalibar! A very dangerous beast that eats mortals – animals, people who intrude in the forest, even wolves! It almost got you when my father passed you out because it doesn’t eat a fallen meal. Dad killed it and brought you home. He explained what happened to the Alpha, and the Alpha was shocked. It sounded like he knew about you. So he ordered us to hold you captive until we find all the truth about you.”

I shuddered. I was now in the middle of bad black wolves who knew about me and I didn’t.

“So, how can I see Tony?” I asked.

“Who is Tony?” Damian asked.

“He is…” I began to answer, but,

“Because last night when dad mentioned that you were shouting Tony’s name, it is when the Alpha King was shocked and ordered you to be tied up immediately.”

“What?! He knows Tony?!”

“I don’t know what the Tony is,” Damian said in confusion, “all I know is that Tony saved your life!”

“WHAT?!” I was confused.

“When dad brought you home, he wanted to keep you for today’s dinner!”

“Oh God!”

“But he was ordered to take you to the King. When he saw you, he immediately ordered you to be prepared for the king’s breakfast! But when he heard that you knew this Tony thing, he ordered you to be held captive instead, and your life was spared that way!”

I was trembling now.

“So I must be eaten?” I asked in fear.

“No.” Said Damian, “Who is Tony?”

“Tony is my boyfriend.” I said.

“Is he a human too? Like you?”

“Yeah… kind of. But he suddenly turned into a wolf on his birthday.”

“He is a werewolf?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know and I came here just to find him. He left me at the hotel, alone and went away. Do you know where he is?”

The look on Damian turned from curiosity to sadness. I wondered why he was sad.

Now I began to think of what I had to do to get out of that hall and out of those wolves. But also I had to go find Tony. I knew now that I was in the Black Moon Pack and they were the enemies of Tony’s pack. I was worried and needed to get out of there.

Suddenly, the door of the hall opened and in came soldiers in traditional attire with spears, swords and long knives in their hands. They marched in, following an old man who looked fierce and strong. He was old with modern clothes – a black trousers, red shirt and a brim hat. He had a sword on his back and held a long spear on his left hand.

When he entered, Damian suddenly stepped back from me and made a quick bow and kneeled down on one knee. After a short time, he rose again and stood up straight.

“My king,” one soldier among the soldiers who came with him said, “that is the human girl. We held her as you said.”

The king was that old man in the modern clothes. He walked slowly to where I stood and looked down at me. He was tall and strong. His eyes were monstrous and they looked like the eyes of the wolf.

“Girl,” said the king, “what is your name?”

“Fatuma.” I answered as shortly, as generally as I could.

“Do you know Tony?” He asked.

“Umm,” I glanced at Damian who looked at me plainly, “no!” I said.

“Well, kid,” said the king, “I know Tony. He is your boyfriend from the White Moon Pack. He turned into a wolf on his sixteenth birthday. You came here looking for him because he told yu he went to find his pack. Correct me where I am wrong.”

I popped my eyes. How did he know?

“So, you know where he is?” I asked the king, trying to sound respectful.

“Yes,” he said, “he is in his Pack. We need him immediately, and we can’t get him. The only way to get him is you. And then you are going to be rewarded.”

“What?!” I asked in confusion, although the explanations he gave were clear, “What are you going to do with him?”

“We have something for him.” Said the Alpha, “But it is a surprise. I have to give it to him myself.”

“Is it a good thing?” I asked.

“Yes, he totally deserves it. It is a good thing.”

“What is it, sir?”

“Death!”

I yelped and almost fell down. When the Alpha said ‘death’, his eyes glowed red and turned to normal again, just in a flash of terrible light.

“And what will be my reward?” I asked, expecting something even worse.

“Your reward will be not eating you until we get Tony in our hands.” He told me what I expected.

I felt extreme fear. There was no way to run now. The Alpha king was right in front of me with his soldiers.

“Why Tony?!” I asked in sobs.

“He is our enemy!” The king said evilly, “He is the threat of our pack. We can’t live longer if we don’t kill that little dirt!” The king growled like an angry wolf and turned around to go back out.

“Tie him!” He ordered!

The soldiers held me and tied me back to the wooden bed where I was tied at first and left. Damian did not go with the other soldiers, he stayed there with me in the hall, and making sure I did not try to run away.