Your Ring On My Skeleton

24 : Startling Night

Nikolai gave me the assurance on the answer I want. Before we go, he kissed my forehead and smiled at me. Inihabilin niya rin sa healers ang batang lobong tangay-tangay ni Benice kanina lamang bago siya umalis.

"Are you sure, Antara?" pigil niya sa paglakad ko patungo sa kung saan maririnig ang ilang mga matatapang na asik at pag-alulong. Runaways from the Inui homes which we were warned about by Shalailanie and Diego are all over the place trying to save themselves. "Once we accept them, they are now our responsibility."

"Nikolai, it's the least that we can do."

"I understand." he said.

Ilang segundo lamang niya ako tiningnan bago ko matunghayan na naman ang kaniyang pagbabagong-anyo. Just like the first time I saw how how huge he is, it never failed to make my heartbeat faster than it normally does. Ang balahibo niya lalo na ang mga mata niya, it all screams alpha superiority. He growled a little at me and it is the sign for me to hop on his back.

Nang maramdaman niyang maayos na ang pagkakaupo ko at nakakapit na ako, doon lamang siya tumakbo nang mabilis at kaagad kaming nakarating sa may border. It's only a few meters away from the cliff. Halos mapatabon ako sa bibig ko nang makita ko ang sitwasyon. My Zeta wolf, Anika, is growling back to a hideous alpha near our border.

A Thori.

Mukhang tama nga ang sinabi ni Benice. Runaway wolves from the Inui are being hunted down by their new alpha. Shalailanie ang Diego must have warned them to escape instead of following this new savage alpha that will do them harm in any way possible. Kitang-kita ko kung gaano nagsusumigaw ang intimidasyon ng lobong iyon. Besides him is the new Luna who seems to dislike the idea of standing there.

"Antara Loki,"

May lumapit sa amin. Hindi ko inaasahang ang mukha ni Shawn ang makikita ko ngunit makikita roon ang pag-aalala. Sa gilid din niya ay naroroon ang mahaba-habang kalmot na siyang nagdurugo habang kausap ako. I had to tap Nikolai because he is so protective about me knowing this same wolf abducted me nights ago.

"It's okay, Nikolai."

Shawn is looking weak. Malamang ay hindi pa ito nakakabawi sa mga sugat na natamo niya noong gabing iyon ngunit heto na naman siya at may panibagong sugat. He is already in our territory, so it means Anika obeyed what we told her to do. Our instructions were followed.

"I am sorry to risk your territory in this, Anika. Ngunit ito lamang ang tanging paraan. That new alpha already killed my sister and Diego. And his new Luna, is Diego's little sister. She cannot escape like us because she is vowed to stay as his Luna forever. She is forever loyal to the Inui homes."

"Marami-rami akong nakitang runaway. They are already inside the Loki homes."

"Oo pero may mas malaking problema. Narito na si Kuza Thori at pinapabalik kami sa Inui homes."

"We expected that. Go. Kami na ang bahala rito. Isama mo na ang ilan patungo sa gitna. May mga healer at hunters doon na gagamutin kayo at papakainin."