Teach Me How To Alpha

BEFORE 40 - LAKAN

POV TRAEVON ERIKSSON

Polaris used his teleportation ability to bring me and Caelen back to the Philippines. I asked him to drop us by my house, instead of going to Tanay, Rizal. Bumaba kami ni Caelen sa lobby ng condominium unit at isang limousine ang naghihintay sa amin sa harapan ng aming residential building. Kahit nag-aalinlangan, pumasok si Caelen sa loob ng sasakyan.

"First time ko po makasakay ng ganitong sasakyan," sabi nito habang pinagmamasdan ang loob ng limousine.

Kahit lumaki sa Manila si Caelen, mukha itong probinsyana na ngayon lang nakasakay ng mamahalin na sasakyan.

"Sir Traevon, ano po ang Lakan na sinasabi ni Aris kanina?"

"Lakan is a title given to a supernatural hunter of evil creatures here in the Philippines. They have an ability similar to Werewolves like enhanced speed, regenerative skills and high intelligence."

"Marami po bang Lakan sa Pilipinas?"

"There is only one Lakan at a time, though there are other supernatural hunters around the world. There was a time when several Lakan appeared due to the emergence of the Demon Generals. They are also called Alagad ni Bathala."

"Immortals din po ba sila?"

"They may be powerful, but they are considered humans. They are not immortals like the Werewolf Clan. There is a prophecy that the Lakan needs to be married to a Kaliyah to put an end to the apocalypse."

"Sino po ang Kaliyah?"

"She is the queen of the Kalingayan Village, a hidden village of babaylans in Mountain Province."

Tumango lang si Caelen na parang interesado sa mga sinasabi ko. Mabilis kaming nakarating sa sinasabing dog shelter foundation sa Tanay, Rizal. Mukhang kinausap na din ni Polaris si Kaliyah Amihan dahil inaasahan na niya ang pagdating namin.

Pagpasok namin sa loob ng compound ay itinuro sa amin ng isang caretaker ang daan papunta sa isang waterfalls. Nandoon daw ang headquarters ng kasalukuyang Lakan. Napansin ko agad si Kaliyah Amihan kasama ang isang matangkad na lalaki. Ito na siguro ang tinatawag na Lakan.

Nang malapit na kami sa waterfalls ay napansin ko na napasinghap si Caelen nang makita ang lalaki sa harapan namin. Mga ilang sandali din silang nagkakatitigan na parang magkakilala.

"Levine? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Traevon, bakit nandito si Levine? Anong ibig sabihin nito?" naguguluhan na tanong ni Caelen.

"Greetings, Your Highness. My name is Amihan Lacandula. I am the Kaliyah of the Kalingayan Village. This is Thaddeus Levine Cloud Elizalde, the current Lakan. It is our honor to meet you," pakilala ni Amihan.

I have already met Amihan a few times, but this is my first time meeting the Lakan. My father once told me that the great grandparents of the Lakan are good friends of theirs. I can't help but to feel uneasy by the way he looked at Caelen as if they have known each other for so long.

"The Werewolf Clan sends our regards. My name is Traevon Eriksson. Just call me Traevon, no need for formalities. This is Caelen San Rafael, my soon to be wife."

Levine Elizalde looks like a confident man, but his confidence suddenly shattered when I revealed that Caelen is fiancee. Amihan motioned us to follow her. We used a metallic bridge connected to a silver elevator in the middle of the pool, just in front of the waterfalls.

If I am correct, the headquarters of the Lakan is situated underground.

The underground headquarters look impressive. Amihan welcomed us to an office-like conference room with walls made of fiberglass.

"Your Highness, nabanggit sa akin ni Polaris na kailangan mo daw ang tulong ko. How can I help the Royal Heir of the Werewolf Clan?"

"I just need your help in regard to a certain Sealing Spell," sabi ko sabay bigay ng papel kung saan ko iginuhit ang marka sa dibdib ni Caelen.

"Caelen, can I talk to you for a minute?" tanong ng Lakan na si Levine kay Caelen.

Tumingin lang sa akin si Caelen na parang nagpapaalam at tumango lang ako sa kanya bilang pagsang-ayon. Lumabas sila ng Lakan at naiwan kami ni Kaliyah Amihan sa conference room.

"Trae, do you want to talk about the Sealing Spells or do you want to talk about them?" tanong ni Amihan sabay nguso kay Caelen at sa lalaking si Levine.

"Anna, how is the Lakan related to Caelen?"

"You don't know?"

"Itatanong ko ba sa'yo kung alam ko?"

"Papakasalan mo si Caelen, pero hindi mo kilala ang ex niya? Thade is her ex-boyfriend, pero mukhang wala din alam si Caelen na isang Lakan si Thade."

"Why do I have a feeling that I am not the only one who is affected by this rendezvous?"

"Trae, hindi ako affected kahit magkabalikan sila. Ikaw ang affected dahil ikakasal ka na sa kanya."

"Anna, the descendants of Kaliyah Kalingayan and the Werewolf Clan were both blessed by the Guardian Raviael. Our clans are both bound by the power of Raviael. Your village people are our closest family, our allies. If you want to save the world from apocalypse, you have to do your best to fulfill the prophecy. In other words, pakasalan mo ang Lakan."

"The union of the descendant of the light and the slayer of darkness? My marriage with Thade Elizalde? Inuutusan mo ko na pakasalan ko si Thade dahil ba sa prophecy or dahil sa selos. Make up your mind, Royal Heir."

"If we have to break the two of them apart, we have to."

"Traevon, do you really believe that my marriage with Thade Elizalde will really resolve this? Bakit sa prophecy namin ni Thade naniniwala ka pero sa vision ni Jedidiah ayaw mo maniwala. Double standards?"

Huminga ako ng malalim at inirapan si Anna. Nabanggit ko na sa kanya noon na nakatakda ako ikasal kay Zackie kahit labag sa kalooban ko.

"Anna, I think the prophecy means something else. But I would be more than happy if you will end up with the Lakan. Suportado ko ang love team niyo."

"Mukhang malabo 'yan. He is still in love with Caelen. And he is not exactly the man of my dreams, the man of my nightmare siguro."

"The Royal Heir of the Werewolf Clan will be forever in your debt if you fulfill the prophecy. Ask anything and I will provide it to you within my powers," nakangisi na sabi ko sa kanya.

"You are asking for my help to break them apart even if they are no longer together? You must be desperate, Your Highness."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"What if gusto ko ng new sports car? Bibigyan mo ko?"

"Ang tanong, ilang daan sports car ang gusto mo?"

Tumawa lang si Amihan sa akin. Naka-kwentuhan ko na ito noon at nakagaanan ng loob kaya tinatawag ko siya sa tunay niyang pangalan na Anna. We have a similar destiny that is both affected by a vision or prophecy. Ang kaibahan lang ay labag sa loob ko ang pagpapakasal kay Zackie, samantalang si Anna ay mukhang nabighani na ng kasalukuyang Lakan.

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Lots of love,

ChinChin