Embracing the Burning Passion

14: Wolf

New Moon Pack was the life of the other two packs. Masyadong seryoso ang pamamalakad sa Full Moon Pack at may pagka-traditional at conservative naman ang Crescent Moon. Jacques was able to maintain the pack's life like how his father did.

Pagkatapos bumisita roon ay nasa byahe na ulit kami papuntang pack ko. Hindi na nakasama sa amin si Jacques dahil kailangan niyang tutukan ang pack para sa magaganap na The Ceremony. Hindi naman natitigil kaka-text sa akin ang pamilya ko nang sabihin kong papunta na kami sa pack.

Like the other packs, my brother and his beta were waiting for us in the borderline of the pack. May kasama silang warriors. I could almost hear my father in the mindlink asking me so many things, so anxious about the visit.

"Welcome to the pack, Alpha Ashton... and everyone," seryosong bati ni Kuya sa amin nang makababa sa sasakyan.

"You're Aurora's brother," payahag ni Alpha.

Sumulyap saglit si Kuya sa akin bago tumango kay Alpha.

Nagpakilala sila saglit sa isa't isa. Walang masyadong nagsasalita habang naglalakad kami papuntang packhouse. Unlike the other packs, Crescent Moon was more traditional than others. Our infrastractures were more likely made of stones and bricks rather than glass and tiles. Pati ang paraan ng pamumuhay namin ay medyo makaluma rin. Kaya nga kami lang ang may kumpletong opisyal kumpara sa ibang packs na ayos lang kung Alpha at Beta lang ang meron. Although we adapt and adopt modernization, the past Alphas liked it better if we stick to the old way of living.

I believe they just feared facing the changes.

I smiled at the few female warriors who are guarding the packhouse.

The packhouse was calm and solemn... very different from Jacques' lively place. Sa receiving area pa lang ay kitang-kita ko na si Mama at Papa. Kasama rin nila ang ibang opisyal.

My parents smiled at me as they also welcome our visitors.

"Welcome to our pack, Alpha and friends," kalmadong bungad ni Papa sa kanila.

"Thank you, Alpha." Nilibot ni Alpha Ashton ang tingin sa paligid. "Your pack feels..."

"Old?" pabirong dugtong ni Papa na inilingan ng isa.

"Different," he said. "Victorian era theme, huh?"

"Only the packhouse, Alpha."

"I noticed you have little to no female warriors?"

Natigilan ako sa narinig. Hindi ko inaasahang mapapansin iyon ng Alpha. Talaga namang kaunti lang ang babaeng warriors sa amin. Aside from the Victorian themed house, our pack also practiced women to only act as the inferior. The pack was a partriarchal shit with male dominants who think that their dicks have something to do with why they should lead. Women were molded to be submissive and work for men. But when my grandfather took over, we slowly altered that notion. It was not an easy change, but we're trying. Right now, we're more focusing on encouraging new generation female hybrids to try training as warriors. It'll be good not only for the pack, but for themselves, too.

"Some are still hesistant to train as warriors, Alpha, but we are not closing our doors for women who want to try," sagot ni Kuya Arzhel.

"Takot lang namin kay Aurora," segunda naman ni Elarian.

"Why?"

Nagulat ako sa biglang pag-imik ni Blake. Simula kahapon ay hindi ko na muling narinig ang boses niya. Talagang hindi na siya nagsalita hanggang ngayon.

"She was the one who raised hell just to let women have the freedom to choose what they want to do for the pack." Natawa si Papa na parang naalala. "She was only 10 when she talked back to my father- who was the former Alpha of the pack-and cursed him for still not giving our female pack members the chance to train and be a warrior if they want to."