In The Arms Of An Alpha

Chapter 36

Noctis's P.O.V.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Tanong ko kay Promto habang nakatingala sa matayog na tore sa harap namin.

It was plain 40 feet tower without any doors aside from the medium size terrace near the roof of it that's facing the cliff. However it's too high even for us, unless you can fly.

"Shall I go ahead and shout 'Artemis, Artemis let down your hair'?" Promto joke while mimicking the voice of a 'handsome prince'.

I look at him with disgust. "I really need to re evaluate my decisions in life and check why I assigned you to be my gamma." Wika ko na ikinatawa lang nito.

"What? The design of this fortress looks like it was taken from that famous fairytale. Well, minus the beautiful fair maiden with a long hair." He said and started to look around for entrance.

I decided not to answer back to his 'witty remarks' and just look around the tower. That old wolf is such a weirdo. First he is considered as rouge since he did not belong to any packs however since he is the oldest wolf living and he is not causing any harm, packs respect his decision and just let him be. What I can't understand is why does he need to build this kind of fortress that seems so excluded from the world? Is he hiding something?

"Noctis, I think I found the entrance." Napalingon ako kay Promto. I walk to his direction to check what he found only to be surprise.

"A cave?" I muttered in awe. "That wolf is a psycho." I said as we started to walk towards it.

The sound of our footsteps echoed on the walls of the cave as we enter Artemis's fortress, only to be surprise again with three paths that welcomed us. Who would have thought that the entrance to his lair is labyrinth cave? Asar na napahawak ako sa noo ko.

"Damn, I'm grateful that he decided to meet us the first time we came here in the river." Komento ni promto habng nakatitig sa tatlong daan na maari naming pagpilian.

I did not come here to play hide and seek with the old wolf. "Artemis." I called out his name with authority and irritation. Napabuntonghininga na lang ako ng wala akong madama o marinig na tugon mula rito. I guess we don't have that much of choice but to play his game after all. That damn old mutt.

"I guess our wolf's tracking ability would be very useful at the moment."

Tumango ako bilang pagsangayon sa suhestyon nito. I close my eyes and let Fenris takeover.

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Fast forward

Asar na napasalampak ng upo si Promto sa malamig na sahig. "This is hopeless!" He exclaimed. We've been 'strolling' in the cave for hours but it seems that we are not really going anywhere. Unfortunately our wolf's strong sense of smell is useless, it seems like the whole place was covered with a spell that's not allowing us to use our sense of smell.

Now we can't even find the entrance of the cave where we came from.
I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. My luna is trapped in a void and here I am playing labyrinth with an old wolf. I covered my hand with the scales of leviathan and let out my frustration, punching the stone wall of the cave with my full strength. The cave trembles at the force and the stone wall break into pieces falling into the ground.

Napangisi ako. "Now this is something I didn't really plan to do." I said to myself and while looking at the broken stones in the floor. A bright idea suddenly pops up in my mind.

"Fenris you can't do that." Wika ni Promto na nagpalingon sa akin dito. "Tenebrae might feel our presence on their territory or we might end up getting buried here forever if the foundation of the cave broke." He warned.

"Well then, do you have a better suggestion? I don't have a whole day to wander in this cave."

Napabuntonghininga ito sa sagot ko. Realizing that we don't have that much of a choice he nodded his head in agreement. Without another word I walk towards the next stone walls and break it. Napangisi ako. Now this is easy.

"Finally!" Wika ni Promto habang nakatingin sa bakal na pintuan sa harap namin. I withdraw my scales from my hand and arm. Massaging it a bit to relax the muscles that's starting to ache after breaking more than 20 stone walls. "I just hope that this is going to be the last time that I'm going to enter Artemis's lair." He continued.

I can't help but smirk at his comment. I take a short moment and admire the design of the metallic door in front of us. The design of it is very European and I can say that the attention to the small details is impressive. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa disenyo ng door handle. The handle of the door is a face of half wolf and half dragon. Now that's unique.

Promto walk towards the door and push it open. Kumunot ang noo ko. A dangerous aura envelops the whole place making me feel uneasy and edgy. To our surprise a spacious throne room greeted us. Manghang inilibot ko ang tingin disenyo ng lugar. It was impressive just like its door however this place is nothing but a huge throne room with a 40 feet high ceiling.

"And to whom do I owe this surprise visit young prince?" Dumako ang mata ko sa taong tahimik na sumisimsim ng alak habang tila isang hari na nakaupo sa kanyang gintong trono.

Tumiim ang mata ko rito. Why do I feel like we are about to uncover a forbidden secret he's been hiding from everyone.

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Promto's P.O.V.

Humakbang kami palapit sa trono kung nasaan nakaupo si Artemis. The whole place feels suffocating and I can feel that my Alpha's sudden change of aura. Naging alerto ito at ramdam ko ang bigla nitong pagiging teritoryal na isa lang ang ibig sabihin. Fenris feels threaten and I can feel it too.

Tumayo si Artemis mula sa trono at nagbuhos ng alak sa tatlong baso na nakalapag sa maliit na mesa katabi ng trono nito. Tumiim ang mata ko rito. Taliwas sa binitawan nitong salita kanina. He is expecting our visit.
We walk towards the old wolf and accept the wine that he offered. "So? May I know how can I help you this time young prince?" He asked as Fenris take his first sip on the wine.

The Alpha let out a grin on his question and put the wineglass back on the small table. "I came here to ask for the location of the black dragon however it seems that it is already unnecessary." Wika nito. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. Why is it unnecessary? Am I missing something?

As to answer my confusion Artemis speak the words we did not expect to hear. Unveiling the darkest secret that leaves us both stunned and livid.

"Alpha Regis, your father is a great king but also a foolish one. He trusted someone whose loyalty is in no one." Umpisa ni Artemis. Kumuyom ang kamao ni Fenris sa binitawang insulto nito sa yumaong Alpha. "His death should not be my option if he did not sign the treaty and just kill the prince of Tenebrae just like what we planned. I could have been able takeover the Alpha position of Tenebrae without a problem."

My eyes darken in fury in his indirect confession for killing the late King Regis. Nabasag ang kopitang hawak ko at sumabog ang laman nito sa carpeted na sahig. Ramdam ko ang pagiba ng ihip ng hangin sa paligid. Fenris looks he is ready to kill any moment. The cursed mirror that traps the Alpha of Tenebrae and the sudden death of the late Alpha of Niflhiem, now it all makes sense to me. Kumuyom ang kamao ko sa galit. How dare he use the strife between the two kingdoms for his own gain?

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The ending is so near that I can already feel myself crying as I bid my goodbyes to Luna Freya and Prince Noctis.

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