Selene

Chapter 13

"And what about those rouges that involuntarily goes in to the territory?" Tanong ko at binilisan ang paglalakad para pumantay sa kanya.

She's walking too fast. O ako lang talaga ang mabagal?

"In that cases, we have set four regulations on how to handle a rouge and what to do. Pero bago 'yun inilagay muna namin sila sa interrogation room. Kung sino man ang hindi nagbibigay o sa tingin namin ay nagsisinungaling then, that's the time we apply."

"Then, can you tell me how this really work?" I ask with curiosity in my voice.

This pack was almost as big as the humans population and run by one and it's the alpha. I wonder how did he manage to run this pack with ease? He was so calm and always at ease, but he has authority surrounding him.

Running a pack with almost two thousands of population is not an easy task but Zachary handled it like he's been born to rule.

Well, he's an alpha. An alpha's blood run in his veins. The Alpha of Golden Stone Pack.

"This don't work, Selene. The pack wasn't some game simulation na gumagana lang dahil sa may naglalaro o kumukontrol. Packs are also like humans. Kung paano mamuhay, magtrabaho at ginagawa para kumita. We are the same but in supernatural way. They don't have special abilities while we have."

Tumango ako. And she smiles.

"At kung mayroon silang mayor, meron naman tayong alpha, and as I've said, in supernatural way. Dahil alphas are above all those normal wolves. They have the authority that no wolves has. And they can only get replaced if 'the alpha' choose a new alpha. Or by getting killed."

Natigil ako saglit. An alpha can be raplaced if he's been killed? Ganyan rin ba ang mangayayari kay Zach?

Hindi! Hindi. Wait! Ang layo na naman nang nilakbay ng utak mo, Selene. Stop that!

I shake my thoughts off.

Tumingin ako kay Jana na nakangiti parin. Para bang balewala lang sa kanya ang sinasabi niya samantalang ako... No. Stop thinking, Selene! I shake my head heavily at huminga ng malalim.
Na trauma yata ako sa sinabi niya.

"So, if an alpha got killed. Sino ang hahawak sa posisyon niya? Automatic ang anak ba ang maitatalaga?"

"Nope,"

Hindi? But, she said it was only the son could replace the alpha's position. Since alpha son has more authority other than any werewolf. Right? Mas may karapatan silang mamuno. And how come, hindi?

Nakita niya sigurong naguguluhan ako na dahilan para bumuntong hininga siya.
Ngumit ako ng maliit. Sorry naman, hindi ko lang maintindihan.

Umiling naman siya bago magsalita.
"As you know, Alphas are born to lead. They are the only wolves that could handle normal wolves dahil sa sense of authority nila. Ngunit may mga pangyayaring hindi naayon sa nakasanayan. Alpha's position would get cut out if he was killed. His position could be taken by the one who killed him."

"Kahit pa walang nananalaytay na dugong Alpha ang pumatay sa kanya?" I asked.

"Uh-huh. Either the wolf is normal or an Alpha. The said position will automatically laid upon who killed him."

Ganun? So if i challenge one of them and i won, agad agad mapapasakin ang position? Pero paano naman ang anak? Paano naman ang mas may karapatan? Does it mean, even they have the power ay baliwala lang iyon?

Unfair naman ata pakinggan. Ibang iba sa mga nababasa ko sa novels na kapag mamatay ang leader nila ay ang anak ang susunod na mamuno whether napatay ito o hindi. The son should stand in position no matter what.

And maybe, this is the reality. A reality where fairness isn't on the list to follow, and depravity is normal.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa unti unting lumitaw sa paningin ko ang main house. 'Yan ang tawag nila sa bahay na inaakala ko noon ay isang apartment dahil sa laki at dami ng kwarto.

Habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad ay iginala ko ang aking paningin. Wolves are everywhere, mapa bata, matanda, o teenagers ay naroon. Dahil narin siguro weekend at walang pasok kaya madaming nagliwaliw sa labas. Kapag kasi may pasok puro nalang adult ang makikita ko, most of them were housewives. Iyong nasa bahay lang at nagbabantay ng anak. Minsanan naman iyong may edad na.

"The main house would be full again."

Naptingin ako kay Jana saka sa bahay nang mapansin ang titig niya rito.

"Bakit naman?" di mapigilan kong tanong.

She looked at me and shrugged. "On every last saturday of August, magkakaroon ng pagsasalu-salo. Tribute narin sa unang naging alpha ng Golden pack. Kung 'di dahil sa kanya ay 'di matatayo ang pack na ito. Kung 'di dahil sa kanya, walang Golden Pack. At kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay wala sana kami ngayon rito. Living the best of our lives. And we are so greatful to him kaya.. idinadaos namin."

Ganun ba.

I stopped asking ng nasa hamba na kami ng pinto. Jana was the first one to enter pero nung papasok na ako ay ramdam ko agad ang pag-iba ng mood niya. Ang kaninang nakangiti, ngayon ay wala ng ekspresyon ang kanyang mukha—nakatitig ng mariin sa kung sino man.

Agad na sumunod ang mga mata ko sa tinitingnan niya. My breath suddenly hitched as my eyes stucked on him. Zach was standing in front of us proudly with his neat and clean black suit. He wasn't looking at me pero pakiramdam ko ako iyong tinitigan niya ng mariin. His presence made him do it.

Naputol ang titig ko sa kanya ng tumikhim si Jana sa tabi ko. Mariin itong nakatitig na para bang inis na inis ito sa kaharap niya. Ang bilis naman magbago ng mood niya parang kanina lang ang saya saya niyang nagku-kwento but now, para siyang may galit sa mundo o whatever.

Kunot noo at nagtataka ay sinundan ko ang titig niya.

I thought she's pissed at his Alpha dahil sa pwesto niya nakatitig si Jana. But I was wrong and I wish I was just wrong. 'Cause the second time my eyes landed to him it suddenly drifted to the girl beside him.

The girl was clinging in to him with a proud smile. A proud smile, saying he is hers. Not to anyone else. Not to some girl. And not even me.