Alice and The Rogue Wolf

Chapter 14

"Your mother told me you asked her just the same question. Well, my answer remains the same and is the truth. I told you that the Rogues are not a pack to mess with and very dubious." Jonathan cautioned without mincing words.

"But… " I tried to protest but he wouldn't even let me speak.

"No buts! I don't care whatever lies Brayden has been feeding you but you have to keep in mind that the sole reason I allowed you anywhere near that beast was that perhaps you can squeeze any useful intelligence we can use from him. This is very important and I need you to focus on the important things."

He retrieved a rectangular parcel that was lodged in the breast pocket of the leather jacket he wore.

"Here, I got you a phone, " he disclosed, making me pull closer excitedly. "It is a huge difference from the phone model you're probably used to, but it's easy to use and I'm sure you'll figure it out. Plus it has my mother's number and mine."

"Thank you! " I exclaimed, not taking my eyes to the ultraslim phone I was fondling. I was so engrossed in checking out the device that I didn't notice him slip out the door.

After learning some basic features of my new phone, I got bored and laid back on the bed. The discouragement I was getting was making me consider quitting on finding out the cause of my father's death, but recalling my promise at the driveway, I continued to hang on by a loose thread.

What saddened me the most was that Jonathan who I'd thought would nudge me on turned out to be the one dissuading me the most. At this point, I had exhausted all my options and was now left alone, disheartened, and with a turbulent mind.

I rolled on my face, my sobs getting muffled by my pillow. " If these guys are adamant about telling me what happened, where else could I possibly go?" I asked no one. I couldn't even try to mingle with the neighbors as I knew almost all of them wouldn't say anything other than what they were told to say.

"Dad, I know you're up there somewhere watching and are probably listening to me. This is getting more strenuous than I thought and I need your help." I cried out staring at the familiar scenes pinned on my ceiling.

I was still staring at the ceiling when an idea popped into my head. I could still remember when I was five how whenever the night was at its brightest, he would strap me carefully behind his back and head off into the woods for the most serene place in the jungle, as he would call it.

It was a spot a bit farther into the woods and just before the creeks where the moon, as well as the stars, could be seen in clear sight, carefully hoisted above the mountain.

"The mountains are the footstool of the moon goddess, if you peek perhaps you will see her seated up there watching over us," he would usually say as we reclined on the grass with our backs to a boulder that lay underneath the tree.

To make it even more magical was the silver shadow that the robust moon would cast as it met the clear water surface, and the myriads of nocturnal insects with their endless ballads as they hovered over the broad-looking oak tree, as well as every burrow in the vast forest. Looking at them, I now understood why I had those glow-in-the-dark stars and moon up there.

In a jiffy, I rose and grabbed a light, and headed out of my room to the living room where I stumbled on Jonathan sorting through some files.

"Where are you off to?" He asked as I walked past.

"I'm just taking a walk, or am I not allowed to?" I was still annoyed at what had happened earlier and I was willing to let it show.

"Have you checked the time?"

"Yes, it's just a couple of minutes to eight pm."

"You don't find that odd?" He took his eyes off the documents.

"I just need to clear my head alright? I'll be back when I'm feeling better."

I hissed once I was out the door. Quite ironic of him to find something odd," I muttered under my breath.

Even though we are expecting the drizzles of late spring soon, the road stood dry. A few days ago, ripe dark clouds had appeared threatening to explode but just as it came, so did it disappear, leaving the ground parched with heat and the cold breeze which now swayed as proof of its visit. The whistling breeze which hovered around lifting the once idle dust, was the only assurance of coolness the earth had, and even with that, there were nights when the wind ceased to flow, but thank the goddess this wasn't one of those nights.

As I trampled along, I noticed that the usually spacious forest path had shrubs and vegetation threatening to close in. The spring effect seemed to be heavy this year and along the way, the offshoots interlocked and within it grew thorns. I sighed at the inconvenience, trying to pave my way through but when I got injured in the leg by a protruding thorn I gave up.

It was beginning to get cold, perhaps too cold, and I had nothing on but barely enough to keep me warm. I quickly disintegrated into my werewolf form giving me the warmth and thick skin I needed. With this added strength and speed I tore through the high bush and when the spot came into sight, I slowed my pace to take it all in.

For a second it seemed all the things that pestered me had somehow vanished. It was more beautiful than I had imagined. Slowly I made my way closer, and just as I approached the tree the boulder caught my eye.

I had fancied The possibility of it rolling away and I didn't count on it not rolling away. It was there and even though a bit of alga lined the sides, its structure remained the same. Slowly, I transformed back to my human form and settled down beside it surprised that my transformation had somehow healed my legs.

"Whoo!" I screamed into the moist air and listened to my voice reverberate through the woods. I had to let the frustration all out even though it was at the cost of me disturbing the stillness of the night.

Unbeknownst to me, the crawlers of the night had taken offense and responded with a sharp sting on my left thigh to which I yelped. Quickly, I took out my phone and when I finally located and switched on the flashlight, I could see my attacker wobbling away in a haste. I waved the shimmering light around to trace his tracks but instead my eyes fell on something quite unusual; a pendant sticking out of the ground.

Out of curiosity, I drew closer and realized that the patch of ground was a shadow of what could have been a deep hole. I looked around instinctively and when I was assured I grabbed a nearby stick and began poking on the moist earth until I could draw the silver-plated jewelry to its full length.

"Wow!" I mouthed, brushing the mud off it. I held the necklace against the moonlight and it looked very beautiful but familiar. I strained my eyes to have a look at the inscriptions that were penned down on the sides of the pendant but it bore another language, one I didn't understand.

I wondered to whom the piece of jewelry belonged. Granted It was my only spot, meaning it could have belonged to me, but perhaps someone else had rushed down here and buried it, someone who had an expensive taste, I could tell from the quality of the necklace. The necklace looked familiar but I went back to the hole to return it when my eyes fell on a bottle sticking out as well.

Once more my curiosity got the better of me and I drew it out as well. Taking a better look at it, a feeling of nostalgia sets in. I recognized the bottle, it was my favorite champagne. As I gently lifted off its lid, the stale stench of the wine stung my nostrils but I peered in and I could see a rolled-up piece of paper which I took out.

Whatever was contained in this piece of paper must be imperative, I thought, as I slowly stretched it out.

"That's my handwriting!" I muttered in shock. Even in the moonlight, I could tell my handwriting by its usual curviness, and even though it seemed I must have inscribed this note in a hurry, it didn't lack its legible nature.

What was inscribed baffled me. I mean, he had always felt familiar but I was never really convinced about him until now. Slowly, I read out the words to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

"Trust Brayden!"

I had known his story was sincere and most likely true, but due to so much pressure from everyone, I was led to believe that he was the predator and we were the unprovocative prey. But on seeing this note I began to doubt what I knew.

Quickly I wore the necklace, grabbed my phone, and headed back home with a lot of unanswered questions on my mind. I knew something wasn't right, but as the note instructed I would trust Brayden. Perhaps, all hope wasn't lost, and Brayden would reveal the truth, the real story behind my father's death.