Embracing the Burning Passion

25: Betrayal

“Amara? Baby? Are you okay?” Blake asked loudly before he could even reach me.

My eyes weren't crying, but my heart surely is.

“I'm fine, Blake. Why did the alpha call you?” I asked.

He went to me and hugged me tightly. “There was an attack near the territory. It was that creature. The hunters already took care of it though. Everything's fine. Now, what did you see?”

I recalled what I saw earlier.

"I... I saw two movements. They were fast. Hindi ko matukoy kung sino ba iyon. But I know one of them was like the creature I encountered before. I know because of how graceful yet obvious its movements are. They both vanished in the dark. In the woods. I waited, Blake. I waited because I know one of them might come back. I stared at the woods waiting for them to appear. And then..."

He held me close to his chest and kissed my hair.

"I saw him. Him, Ash Blake... My friend..." My voice held obvious disappointment and despair.

"Who, Amara? Who was it?" he asked.

I breathed slowly.

"Santi..."

------

I sat quietly with Alpha Ashton, Luna Ashley, August and Akivel, and Blake. I did not tell Jacques about what I found out. They left earlier, and I almost couldn't stand being in the same room with Santi. I wanted to threw up, but I had to keep a facade not to ruin things at the moment. We can't manage losing him if he'll find out we already know.

"What is this urgent meeting all about, Aurora? Blake?"

"Alpha, we need your help," said Blake.

"What is it?" Luna Ashley stared worriedly at me.

"It was Santi..." I mumbled.

"Aurora?" tawag sa akin ng alpha.

"It was Santi. I believe Santi is all behind these things," mas malakas kong ani.

"Paano mo nasabi? Hindi pwedeng basta-basta tayong tumuro ng tao rito, Aurora."

“He was there... last night. When there was an attack, he was there. He met up with that thing, Alpha. They vanished into the woods. Together. And he came back with a glint of malice in his eyes. He knows what he's doing. He had us under his schemes without us knowing.”

“He might be there to kill the creature, Aurora. He was with Jack when I ordered men to go after those things.”

Umiling ako saka pumikit. Moon Goddess... Please... Help me...

“We can go to Alpha Jacques' pack and confront Santi. We can catch him off guard and seize him if we prove he's behind the attacks,” ani August.

“Walang kawatan na umaaming kawatan sila, dumbass. Magiging Alpha ka ba talaga sa lagay na 'yan, Kuya?” asar na sagot ni Akivel sa sinabi ng kakambal na umirap lang sa kan'ya.

“August is right. I'll go to Jack's pack and confront Santi. I'll know if he's lying or not,” ani ko.

“How exactly will you know that he's lying or not?” si Luna Ashley.

I don't know. “I've known Santi since my teenage years. Although we weren't always together, I'm somehow familiar with him. I'll know if he's lying to my face, Luna. He's too expressive to read.”

"Nihindi mo nga nahulaang may ginagawa siyang masama," mataray na saad ni Akivel. Alpha Ashton gave her a warning glare.

“It may only be his facade. Kung totoong siya ang dahilan ng lahat ng ito, ibig sabihin matalino si Santi. He turned those creatures, for sure. He created his own deranged pack. We cannot underestimate that guy,” dagdag pa ni Akivel, hindi na natinag sa ama niyang masama ang tingin sa kan'ya.