Embracing the Burning Passion

13: New Moon Pack

I was not in the mood to talk to anyone when we left Evren's pack for Jacques'. Nihindi ako naka-react nang yakapin ako ni Evren bago kami umalis. I'm trying to be polite to Alpha Ashton, but I only talk when I'm asked about something. Maybe they noticed I am not up for any conversation so the whole journey was silent except for short conversations between Beta Mars and Ley Anne.

We drove for 5 hours straight before we saw a clearing and was welcomed by a few border patrols and the Beta of New Moon Pack herself with her brother who is also the top warrior of the pack.

Excited akong lumabas sa sasakyan at malapad na ngumiti.

"Solace!" masaya kong tawag sa kan'ya sabay takbo at yakap sa kan'ya nang mahigpit.

Natawa siya saka ako niyakap pabalik. "You know, I'm trying to set a good impression to the Alpha King," she said, pertaining to how she is treating me casually right now in the middle of her job.

Alpha King... King of the Alphas... Alpha of All Alphas... Maybe that's what Alpha Ashton is to us now.

"I missed you, too!" sagot at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

Bumitiw sa kan'ya at nilingon naman si Santi. We did our signature bro greeting that includes weird hand gestures before hugging each other.

"I missed you, Straw!"

He chuckled. "I know you'll miss me, Berry."

Straw and Berry nicknames happened after they saw us fighting over a twin strawberry. We were kids back then and I was too stubborn to let him have the fruit. In the end, we had to split the twin strawberry into two.

Tumikhim si Alpha Ashton kaya humiwalay ako sa kan'ya at medyo nawala ang ngiti. I didn't bother looking at Blake's direction.

"Alpha Ashton, this is Beta Solace Crentasi and her brother, Santi Crentasi. He is incharge of New Moon Pack's warriors. Guys, this is... the Alpha King, Prime Ashton McKnight. Beside him are his children, Akivel and August. His Beta, Mars Benedict, and the Beta's mate, Ley Anne." Saglit kong nilingon si Blake na nakatitig sa akin. "This is the Luna's brother, Ash Blake."

"Good morning, everyone. I hope you had a nice travel towards our pack. Alpha Jacques is already in the pack house, preparing your late breakfast. Please come," nakangiti at magalang na saad ni Solace.

Ngumiti rin sa kanila si Santi at sumunod sa kapatid niya. Tumango ako sa mga bisita bago sumabay sa dalawa kong kaibigan. Gusto kong ipulupot ang braso ko sa braso ni Solace pero dahil may mga bisita kami, pinigilan ko ang sarili. Si Santi naman ay nakangisi at mukha ring gusto akong akbayan pero kailangan niyang maging propesyunal.

Marami nang tao sa labas at natitigil sa mga ginagawa kapag dumadaan kami. Binabati nila kaming tatlo bago alanganing binabati rin ang bisita namin.

Jacques' pack is more welcoming. I bet they already know that we have vampires with us, but they still manage to be polite. Well, Jacques is a great leader. No wonder why his pack is one of the best existing packs in the human world.

Mas malaki ang packhouse nila kaysa sa Full Moon Pack. Mas may buhay din rito. Maingay ang mga tao sa loob at may iilang lumalabas at pumapasok. They live here more humanly than the rest of us. Jacques always wanted his pack to live normally.

"Alpha Aurora!" gulat na saad ng iilang nasa bungad ng packhouse nang makita ako saka yumuko.

Tumawa ako at umiling. Kahit na ilang beses ko na silang sinabihang hindi nga ako Alpha ay tila wala silang naririnig. Hindi naman talaga ako Alpha. Ang kapatid ko ang Alpha ng pack namin. Anak lang ako ng Alpha. Still, may iba na ang tawag sa akin ay Alpha Aurora.