Rendered

Chapter 15

Nuzo's POV

Fifteen minutes proved insufficient for a thorough inspection of the premises, particularly considering my unfamiliarity with the land. Relying solely on map coordinates, I moved with stealth, avoiding direct line of sight. The landscape was undeniably beautiful, though my circumstances left no room for appreciation. As I approached the southern border, faint murmurs reached my ears, prompting me to halt. Cautiously, I advanced toward the source of the sounds. Upon drawing closer, the conversation between a man and a woman became distinctly audible. "I find myself quite uneasy about this situation. Why not simply flee instead of getting involved? If things go awry, we'll either end up dead or in serious trouble," the woman lamented. Dismissing her concerns, the man retorted, "You women seem to possess a fondness for complaints. Should we execute our task competently, we'll ascend from mere wolves to esteemed pack members."

Boredom prompted the woman to abandon the conversation's tedium. She clothed herself, exchanged parting words with the man, and left. Meanwhile, the man remained reclined, basking in postcoital satisfaction and the sun's caress on his exposed skin. As the woman distanced herself, I, in my lupine form, pounced upon the man, jolting him from his reverie. Swiftly, I drove my right claw into his left shoulder, eliciting cries of agony. Simultaneously, approaching footsteps — presumably the woman's — reached my ears. Reacting instinctively, I swiftly silenced him by slitting his throat. Thereafter, I followed the footsteps which had change direction with respect to their initial direction.

The woman I'd encountered before was the same one I needed to bring with me to the safehouse. "I can smell you; come out of hiding and stop following me," she declared. I had two choices, to reveal myself immediately or bide my time and let her approach. After careful consideration, I opted to wait for her approach. As expected she tried to attack me head-on in her human form with a knife. I dodged her attack and circled her. She kept trying to stab me but she kept missing. She was definitely no soldier. I turned into human form and allowed her to attempt stabbing me. However, this time I grabbed her hand causing the knife to fall leaving her shocked. With one hit on her head she collapsed. I took off with her on my shoulders. Running to the safehouse.

Upon my arrival, Kenny greeted me with a worried expression. "Oh, you're alive. What took you so long? And who is that?" he inquired. "I ran into two people. I had to incapacitate one and bring this one in for questioning," I explained. After setting the woman down, I embraced Kenny. "Charlie, come get your gift," Kenny called out.

After a refreshing shower, I checked my phone and noticed 10 missed calls from Gamma, Msizi, Dean, and my mother. While Dean and Msizi hadn't reached out since I'd left, my parents made a point to call every day. "Kenny," I called out to him, detecting his nearby presence. I found myself in the small walk-in closet (big enough to fix a double bed and double couch while leaving a bit of space to walk freely) that had been converted into a room for Kenny. Given that Kenny and Tony had their own separate space away from the rest of us, the accommodations were arranged accordingly.

"He's occupied at the moment. Also, addressing him as Kenny instead of Alpha sends the wrong message to the others. I suggest you use the appropriate title," someone's voice intervened. I couldn't immediately pinpoint the speaker, but my uncertainty was short-lived as a figure with a commanding presence walked in without a care in the world. It was Alpha Tony. I met his gaze, unsure of what to say. I hadn't interacted with him extensively, only knowing that Kenny had saved his life, and he was willing to put himself on the line for Kenny and his annoying sister.

"Alpha Tony, it's good to see you've recovered. Having you back is certainly a relief," I finally replied, though I couldn't help feeling a bit foolish after those words left my mouth. "We don't know each other well enough for you to speak to me like we're friends, BOY," Alpha Tony retorted, his annoyance visable. "My sincere apologies, Alpha Tony," I quickly corrected myself. "But the last image I have of you is on your deathbed, with Tiny practically pleading for Kenny to save you," I added with a smirk, knowingly stoking the flames. He seethed with anger, and I could tell he was on the brink of an outburst. "Well, if I were you, I'd think about keeping that temper in check and staying humble. Kenny and I have been in charge while you were incapacitated, and your twin wasn't exactly in any condition to lead either," I continued, pushing his buttons further. In the midst of his smoldering rage, I took the opportunity to introduce myself. "By the way, I'm Nuzo, the beta," I said, extending my hand for a handshake.