Wolf

Kingdom.

Moon’s

Wrath Pack.

It’s

been seven days since Heaven arrived at the Moon’s Wrath tower, and

she hasn’t had a good sleep yet.

Today

is one of those days when she wakes up sweating and in fear, when the

sordid visual of her father’s death haunts the walls of her room,

her demons flocking about in the mild darkness; some laughing, some

whispering barbarous ideas into her mind.

‘Kill

yourself.’

‘End

it all.’

‘You

don’t deserve all this.’

‘Your

breakfast fork can be a good weapon.’

‘How

about starve?’

Sitting

up on her bed, Heaven draws her knees to her chest, her chin placed

on them, and her eyes closed as her palms cover her ears.

While

resisting the urge to obey the voices, she tries to convince herself

that they will stop. And, soon, they do—when the door of her room

opens.

Heaven’s

eyes snap open. There stands the maid by the door, her monolid eyes

set on Heaven.

“Morning,

ma’am, you have a dance lesson with Kaicha after breakfast,” she

says quickly while rushing to set a tray of food on Heaven’s

bedside stool.

She

proceeds to light all the candles in Heaven’s room, including the

ones on the vanity that rests beside the window.

Heaven’s

eyes dart to the vanity, its mirror—crafted with curvy intricate

designs—dulled by age. Through it, she captures the maid’s swift

actions, seeing as the candle flames reflect on the girl’s brown

skin, her straight black hair gathered up in a messy bun as usual.

The

mosquito net around Heaven’s bed is quite thick and has a sort of

illusion that presents a clear view of the maid to Heaven even though

the former can only see little of the latter.

Because

of that, the maid walks up to the bed and lifts a part of the net.

Just

then, the window lets in a gush of dawn air that makes the flames

tremble. And Heaven shivers. Not of cold, but of the fear that still

clouds her mind.

“Are

you cold, ma’am? Do you want me to prepare a hot bath for you?”

the maid asks, her brown eyes scrutinizing Heaven’s skin.

Heaven

doesn’t reply, but her eyes are on the girl, glaring. “Why only

you get to ask the questions, and I don’t?” she asks instead.

“You don’t answer my questions, and you expect me to answer all

of yours?”

The

maid sighs. “Hot bath it is, then,” she says before letting go of

the net and heading to the bathroom.

Heaven’s

fingers tighten into a fist as she closes her eyes again, though she

reopens them just in time as the maid reenters the room after a few

minutes.

“Your

bath and breakfast is set, ma’am,” the latter announces while

making for the door. But Heaven is faster.

She

leaps out of the bed in a flash, jumping to the maid’s position and

grabbing her by the arm.

“Tell

me, what really is going on?” she asks in a frenzy but suddenly

pauses. Was that really the right question? At times like this, she

just needs one question. One meaningful question that provides the

answer to all others. “Why does Ziason want Kaicha to dance so

badly?” she queries again.

Ziason

going all these lengths just to teach Kaicha dance seems unfair. It

can’t simply be that the girl wanted to dance.

There

must be something.

There’s

always something that triggers an action, or series of actions, in

the wolf kingdom.

If

only she can find out why Ziason wants Kaicha to dance, then she can

understand why she’s here and what’s going on. She may also be

able to figure out a way to save herself from all these.

“There

has been talks of a huge war that will claim a lot of lives,

including ours,” the maid says as she forcefully removes Heaven’s

hand from hers, “yet all

you think about are books and some dead bodies. Many lives depend on

how you behave, ma’am. One wrong step and a lot could die. Please

consider that.”

The

girl leaves the room, while Heaven stands stunned.

She

doesn’t understand the meaning of the maid’s last sentences. From

how she sees things, it’s her life is in the hands of the Alpha,

not other lives being in her hands.

One

day, her corpse could be among the male corpses that are always

carried out of the tower. And the worst thing is nobody would know of

how she died. No one would ask about her in the human world, and no

one knows her here in the wolf kingdom.

Since

she can’t understand most things about this place, she has to act

fast. Even though it’s risky, she’ll try escaping. Who knows,

Ziason’s threat about killing her if she escapes could be empty

threats to keep her in check.

After

pacing her room for a while, Heaven dashes out of it.

She

goes straight down to the gym, peeking into it to find Ziason hasn’t

arrived. That’s good. Before he would come here and discover that

she was gone, she would be far gone.

But

she doesn’t know how she’ll leave yet.

Since

the doors are locked, Heaven scrutinizes the windows. The only halls

that are accessible to Heaven are the gym, the ground hall, and the

dance hall. And all three halls have locked windows, unlike the rooms

in the top floors that are without windows.

Ziason

probably installed the windows to block her escape. But he undermined

her. She’ll certainly find a way.

Heaven

pulls the handles of all the windows in the ground hall and the gym.

They’re pretty strong, so she needs something strong enough to

break one down. And her eyes just happen to catch Ziason’s

dumbbells.

Heaven

smiles, reaching for them. “There you are.”

She

picks up the one with lesser weight; the one she can lift and haul.

Then she throws it at the gym window, which forms a crack on the

wood.

She

hauls the dumbbell at the window again. This time, a good chunk of

the latter falls of, making it easier for Heaven to pull off the rest

of the wood with her hands. While doing so, a sharp piece of wood

slits the palm of her right hand, blood sipping out of the cut

ignored.

The

window isn’t too high to climb, so she mounts it and jumps down

outside the tower, her heart beating fast as she darts to the main

gate.

Some

days ago, when a little rain fell, Heaven looked down her window and

found a small trail of water flowing out through a spot on the bottom

of the fence—beside the main gate.

She

finds the spot and realizes it’s an arched carve big enough to fit

her, although barricaded by a cage.

Squatting

down beside the hole, she tries pulling the cage. It seems to have

been built for a long time, seeing as the irons are rusty and crusty

around the edges.

Sitting

on the brick floor, Heaven kicks the cage. It falls off after a few

kicks, and she quickly passes through it to the other side of the

fence.

Heaven

faces a dilemma with two paths before her eyes.

One

is the wide pathway of sand and pebbles on which she stands. Starting

from the main gate, it stretches out almost endlessly in front of

her, flanked by two shallow hills.

The

shallow hill at the right of the wide pathway carries a narrow track,

which is the other path. Adding up the direction of the path and the

position of Kaicha’s window, Heaven concludes that the track leads

to the pack houses.

Knowing

that the wide path leads to an asphalt highway, Heaven decides to use

the track on the hill instead.

From

what she knows, the highway stops being accessible to humans at a

certain point, which means she would have no aid. Plus, it’s pretty

far to travel on foot, so it’s useless going with it, especially

since it’s quite exposed—when the Alpha finds out she’s gone,

the first place he would start searching is the highway, as he would

think she would be heading directly to the human world.

Heaven

decides to do the opposite of that. If she blends in with the pack,

she could find a way to get a horse, even if she has to steal it.

Then she’ll travel through the bushes until she gets to the

boundary between the wolf kingdom and the human world.

Her

only problem is that it’s been fourteen years since she last

navigated the wolf kingdom. The last time she was in such situation,

she could quickly find her way out. But now it’s different. Plus,

she’s not familiar with this part of the kingdom, so it would be a

bit hard. But she’ll try.

When

she reaches the pack houses, she finds the people clustered on the

street, all moving toward a particular direction.

Heaven

tries to push her way through against the human forces, making for

the opposite direction. But, somehow, the bodies take her as well.

Her strength against theirs isn’t enough.

Although

chaotic, Heaven picks up the people’s words.

“An

important person is on his way way back. Everyone has to be on their

best behavior.”

“Finally,

our savior is back; he can save us from the Alpha’s rage.”

Heaven

doesn’t know who is so powerful to be able to save the people from

the Alpha’s rage or whatever, but her curiosity gets the best of

her.

Instead

of going against the crowd, she follows them, pushing her way forward

until she finally gets to the front, where she stops before a huge

building that seems to belong to the Alpha.

The

crowd is gathered in front of the building, all looking into a big

hall with wide open doors.

But,

due to the able-bodied men guarding the entrance, no one can enter.

On

a raised platform far across the hall, there’s Ziason seated in a

big black sofa, his black hair pulled into a style that reveals his

forehead.

Seeing

him in that chair, Heaven senses an uncomfortable aura around

him—that mystic, dark vibe that always clung to him, only it was

faint before. Now it’s stronger, and he looks scarier; feels more

terrifying.

Two

men, whose backs are turned to her, bow to the alpha.

The

one by his right is dressed in a velvety wine-colored suit, while the

one by his left looks rough around the edges, his whole attire made

of black and brown leather.

The

shrieks and whispers continue in the background, especially from the

women.

“They’re

here! The alpha’s brothers are back! The pack’s ambassador and

the pack’s delight are here. Moon’s Wrath’s powerful trinity

are finally together!”

“Oh

my gosh, they’re so handsome!”

“Gosh,

they look so strong!”

“Moon’s

Wrath’s delight is the strongest warrior in the pack. I want to

marry him!”

“I

want the pack’s ambassador so bad. His calmness is too hot!”

Slowly,

the people’s murmurs begin to fade in Heaven’s mind. What gets

louder is the pounding of her heart as her heartbeat picks up a

faster pace.

As

her knees weaken and threaten to give out, Heaven

starts gasping for breath, and she doesn’t know why.

Why

is her heart malfunctioning? Why can’t she even breathe? She would

say it’s due to her fear of Ziason. But even when he stood right in

front of her, her heart didn’t beat so fast and loud to this

extent.

Or

is it some sort of anxiety attack?

Would

that also explain why she’s now feeling dizzy, or why the world

around her is blurring as much as clangor takes over the noises of

the people?

Would

it also explain why everything about the alpha and his brothers are

growing vivid to her senses?

That’s

weird, right?

She’s

not supposed to be seeing the brothers clearer now, their image

zooming in front of her eyes to the point she even notices the tiny

pores on their skin.

Despite

the huge space between she and Ziason’s, Heaven notes how red his

irises are, and she sees the gray strands speckled here and there in

the long, black hair of the rough-looking brother.

Their

scents mingle together—woody, earthy smells that are strong enough

to make her swoon—driving her crazy due to the fact that she can’t

decipher which belongs to who.

This

feeling is new to Heaven, as she has never smelt or seen things so

clearly before. And it’s stranger to think her elevated senses are

only focused on the three brothers.

‘Mate,’

she hears in her head. It’s her voice, but she knows it’s not her

speaking. It’s not her demons either.

‘Mate,’

the voice comes again. This time, Heaven has the urge to step

forward. Something about the men reaches to pull her, and she takes a

step.

‘Mate,’

she hears again. Then she tries taking another step forward, but her

dizziness gets the better of her. Darkness gradually close in until

Heaven sees nothing but shadows swirling in front of her eyes.

"Report

your standings, brothers," Ziason says to his brothers after they

were done bowing.

Zechariah

goes first. "There are no sign of an attack yet, but I left my men

on the borders. They'll keep watch."

Ziason

nods at Zechariah before looking at Zeedar, who starts talking. "The

company is fine. Technology in the human world is vastly spreading,

and electricity is highly needed, so sales are doing well. However,

there is another matter I want to discuss."

"Do

say."

"As

you may have already known, the alpha of Tribalan pack is a mystery,

but he used his Beta to relay his conditions for a peace treaty to

me."

Ziason

remain silent for a very long time, his expression tightening into a

deep frown. "Peace treaty? Conditions? Since when did we start

discussing a peace treaty, ambassador?"

"I

acted alone, Alpha. This war needs to stop no matter how you deny it.

The condition isn't difficult. They just want the old acre of land

uncle gifted father."

Ziason

reclines in the sofa and crosses his legs-his left leg over the

right. "And you think-"

He suddenly stops talking when a harsh unpleasant sound hits his

nostrils.

Scrunching

his nose, he doesn't need to search where the smell came from, as

he could already see the perpetrator.

Zechariah.

The

man quietly unwraps a bubble gum and tosses it into his mouth,

looking up to find Ziason glaring at him.

He

enjoys the glare, and he smirks while chewing the gum, fully aware of

what he's doing.

Ziason

thought a full year in the border between Moon's Wrath pack and

Tribalan pack would change the man. But he was wrong. His youngest

brother is still very much interested in annoying him using his

despise for garlic.

However,

before he could order Zechariah to throw away the gum, another smell

overshadows the stink of garlic. A more pleasant smell. A mixture of

peony and lemon.

Something

pulls his attention to the hall's entrance. Not only him. Zeedar

and Zechariah perceived the scent too.

As

they're prompted to turn toward the door, they feel something rise

within them, like a subtle heat at the start of a rising sun.

However,

they see nothing special at the entrance. Even as the crowd jeers the

moment they turn back, it's all uninteresting.

Slowly,

the scent begins to fade, but the magnetic feeling doesn't.

Something still captivates them. Only, this time it doesn't feel

close.

"Peace

from an enemy's mouth is a piece of shit. Do you think giving back

the land will solve everything, ambassador?" Ziason asks, snatching

his brothers' attention from the door as he rises up and steps down

the stairs of his raised platform.

"I

think it will serve as the best framework for peace, my lord,"

Zeedar replies with confidence.

Now

pausing in front of the latter, Ziason huffs a smile, maintaining eye

contact with Zeedar, who doesn't relent. "And what do you say,

Zechariah?" he asks the last brother without breaking his eye

contact with the ambassador.

"I

don't mind which prevails," Zechariah mumbles, "but I prefer to

be in a battle scene."

"Do

you hear that, brother?" Ziason asks Zeedar. And, without waiting

for a response, he continues. "You went behind my back without

finding out what I want. What I want is war. What I want is power.

With you as my adviser and Zechariah as my warrior, I will dominate

packs. I will grow stronger and overtake even the Alpha King. Until

there is terror on every single minds at the mention of my name, I

will not rest. I ask again: do you hear that, brother?"

"What's

the use of being your adviser if you don't take my advice,"

Zeedar simply says before walking away, using the back door to leave

the hall.

Due

to growing up with an abusive father and a manipulative mother,

Zeedar has not always been uncomfortable staying in the wolf kingdom.

He prefers the human world. And in times when it's necessary for

him to stay in the wolf kingdom, he prefers to roam about.

Like

now.

Sitting

under a shade in the pack street, he can't help staring up at his

old home from time to time.

The

tower's length is domineering to the point one can see it from

afar. And it always looks dark, like a shadow threatening to swallow

every piece of light around its environment. It gives Zeedar chills,

and it carries heavy memories that he wishes he can forget.

However,

despite the unsettling feeling lingering within him, there's also

something else, and that's what makes him stare at the tower every

time.

As

he can't hold the curiosity any longer, he proceeds toward the

building.

The

more he closes in on it, the more a certain feeling of familiarity

grows strong, trailed by the sensation from earlier; that subtle heat

at the start of a rising sun feeling.

So

as not to roughen his suit by jumping over the fence of the tower,

Zeedar results to using the combination lock on the main gate and the

main door.

Inside

the tower, the air feels thick with bad memories. Even though the

hall is now empty, Zeedar can still tell every item that was in it,

as well as their positions. And he recalls running up and down those

staircases in terror, sometimes falling and cutting his skin.

Despite

all these memories, the air soon starts growing lighter. More

pleasant and perfumed. And the same peony and lemon scent he

perceived at the pack hall starts clouding his senses again.

Zeedar's

stiffness locks when a loud bang echoes from the next hall, followed

by the noisy clatter of wooden planks. He becomes alert on instinct,

but settles down when he perceives Zechariah's artificial perfume.

The

faint sound of clinking metals introduces the man as he walks in

through the next hall's entrance, dusting his elbows.

On

sighting Zeedar, he mumbles. "Jeez. Why did brother lock every

bloody window?"

Without

responding, Zeedar jerks a brow up at the thought of Zechariah

breaking a window. The pack's delight only approved of actions that

would not incur Ziason's wrath. But here he is going against his

rule book a few hours after landing in the pack.

"Brother

reformed that into a gym. Wasn't it father's meeting hall?"

Zechariah asks as he points back at the hall he came out from.

On

reaching Zeedar, he stands akimbo, still loudly popping the garlic

gum. "You've not been here since we packed out after father's

death. Why come back now?"

Zeedar's

eyes move from Zechariah to the stairs. "I sensed something."

Zechariah

huffs. "Why not just say you sensed a mating bond? You of all

people should know how it feels."