(ALANA'S POV)

"Thief" the distress sound sent a real shock crashing through my heart.

They must have been talking about another thief, right? It cannot...it shouldn't be Keera.

Deep down, I knew the truth but I subconsciously did not want to believe it. It seems too good to be true. The reverend Keera will one day be called a thief, whose life and death are now uncertain.

I couldn't control my legs from moving quickly with the other wolves. I was scared a bit deep in my heart, and a faint cluster of joy was rapidly spreading.

If she dies, no one will stand in my way with Mason.

(KEERA'S POV)

What the heck!

A distress sound for this bracelet, it ain't even costly. It's just wood!

I glanced at the woody but comfortable bracelet in my hand and my entire body was filled with shock. No matter how precious it was, surely it could not be more than my life?

Where am I even headed to? It suddenly occurred to me that I did not know where I was going. I was supposed to find a quiet place to place my blood on the bracelet for it to recognise me, but the distress sound shocked me to the core and made me start running.

"Ehhhh, a cliff" my steps braked immediately as I approached a dangerous cliff. From a distance, I could see the world faintly on the other side.

The world I have never been allowed to explore. The feelings of my childhood suddenly flooded back to me with even more vigour.

I wanted to go down the mountain, I want to explore, I want to be a free werewolf, not a trapped girl in some mountain living off her mother's name.

"Keera!" A deep voice resounded in my ears, numbing my entire body.

"First elder," I automatically responded. The first elder was basically my adopted father; he was the one who was always with me and the main reason no one could bully me to my face in the tribe.

I....I wanted to speak, but his face of disappointment scared me into silence. When have I ever been looked at like this?

"What's wrong? What did I do? I just took this lousy bracelet? Why the look?" I screamed, my heart hurt, my head hurt, and my fragile ego was crushed.

It seems no matter how good I want to be, how I want to prove myself, I will never compare to a bracelet from a dead lady, is that not so unfair?

"Keera, what are you doing here? Step away from the cliff?" Mason thundered right over, at his heels was Alana.

My heart was comforted a little on seeing Alana, and I tried to communicate with her, but she immediately shifted aside.

Huh!

Her behaviour irritated me. We were both in this together, so what was she trying to do?

"Keera, I will only say this one time, and that is because of your identity as a Lovebird, immediately return the bracelet to me and come to serve your punishment?" The first elder's voice resounded again.

I subconsciously wanted to agree but a flame in my heart refused. Why should I be punished?

I refuse!

My voice sounded loud and clear.

"Keera, do not be absurd!" Mason shouted at me. "No matter how wronged you feel, no matter what your reason is, you must come back to the tribe with us."

"No, why is this bracelet even a problem to start with? This belongs to my mother. I want what belongs to my mother; is that not allowed?"

"No one, absolutely no one, tells me anything around here. I have no clue what was mother was like, what she even accomplished, who my father even is or how I was even born. The only thing I know is that I am a lovebird, the person from the chosen bloodline and... I chuckled at the reality of the matter, that's it."

"You do not need to know anything else. The secrets of the world are more fragile than you think. A poke in the wrong place can unleash irreparable damage. Whatever was hidden was hidden for your protection. You have not even summoned your wolf. What makes you think you can handle the weight that comes with secrets?"

"That's the reason!" I screamed at the first elder, fully losing it. "Up to this moment, I have not even summoned my wolf; the reason lies here for all to see. How can I? How can I summon an entity when I am unsure of what I even am? Am I even truly a wolf, I ask myself most times?"

"I don't know who I am, I don't know my identity, this bracelet is the only thing, the only thing that can cause me to find that out." I took a brief moment to catch my breath.

"In fact, I want to go down the mountain? I have a strong feeling, a feeling that whatever it is, you are hiding is down there? In that other world, over there."

"Grab her", the first elder suddenly spoke, he could not be calm to talk nonsense with me anymore.

"Really, you cannot wik my reason so you chose brute force instead?" I screamed, inching closer towards the cliff.

Alana suddenly came so close to me, thinking that she was about to help me find a way to get out of this entrapment, and I even held her hands.

"Keera, each time, you prove to me just how incredibly stupid you are. Why were you even born?" A cold whisper of Alana brushed past my ears.

I almost couldn't believe my ears, almost stumbling from disbelief. I looked at Alana once again, this time closely, and I noticed she had hatred for me in her eyes.

It was so obvious I felt like a fool but not seeing it all this while. "Did you set me up?" I squeezed her hands so tightly.

"No, you did this to yourself?" Alana whispered.

(MASON'S POV)

I was beginning to get seriously worried and freaked out. Alana was just standing so close to the cliff with Keera.

Their body movement showed that something was going on between them but I could not relate.

"Guys, step away from the cliff to talk," I had to speak up. The cliff was so deep that no one could ever survive a fall from there, certainly not two rookie werewolves.

"Is it because of him?" I vaguely heard Keera chuckle, staring at me with wild eyes before reverting back to Alana.

"What is because of me?" I wanted to ask, but I couldn't get a word in because the next moment, Keera.... Keera fell.

What happened?

HOW DID KEERA, WHO WAS JUST TALKING, FALL OFF THE CLIFF?

ALANA'S POV

"What happened?" Mason rushed towards me, his face filled with disbelief, shock and fear.

He probably did not notice it, but his sharp nails were already digging into my skin, and I could feel his hands shaking.

Hah!

Is he worried about her? Worried about Keera? What about me? What if I fell instead, would he show this same level of concern?

Probably not?

My mind drifted away more than I expected. The dark thoughts were still trying to enslave me. I had to slap myself away.

The sound of my slap forced Mason to stop asking me questions.

"What's wrong with you?" Mason looked at me weirdly.

No one will understand, I could feel it, something was going on with me, even at that very moment.

I did not want to let go of Keera's hands, but I just had to, and I did it.

(THREE MINUTES EARLIER)

"You want Mason? So that's where all this is coming from? How typical of you, Alana?" Keera hissed amidst her breath.

"You are always so good at trying to get what you will never have, always coming for what is mine? The identity of bringing the best, the great lovebird bloodline, even Mason, you want them all, don't you?"

"Everyone thinks you are such a hard-working werewolf, but your true self, you are a selfish and jealous wolf that is ready to kill, even her own conscience, to get what she wants."

"The truth is, no matter how hard you try, you will never make it, you are just that cursed to...stop it!" I tried to stop her from talking, but she continued on and I just let go.

I did not expect the force to actually make her fall off the cliff. I could have grabbed her back, I could have saved her, but that voice came again.

Why should I save her? Isn't it better she dies?

The moment I got myself, Keera was already deep in the fog below.

(BACK TO PRESENT)

"Everyone, report to the first elder what has happened here. I am going down in search of Keera." Mason's voice pulled me back to reality.

"What did you say? No, you are going nowhere?" I grabbed hold of his clothes, I am really never letting go.

"What are you all waiting for? Go and report to the first elder?" Mason again repeated his commands to the rest of the wolves, who scurried away.

Earlier, the first elder left believing that we were going to bring Keera back, imagining how he was going to react to the news of her falling off a cliff was not even what I could think of right now.

"Mason, do not be impulsive. Keera has already fallen down the cliff. Your father will be grieving soon. Do you not think that at such a time, the entire tribe will need you? Where do you think you want to go?"

"Alana, Keera's not dead yet? My father is not so weak as to collapse from the news of her falling off a cliff. She is a Lovebird; an entity like that could possibly not have died from a fall?"

"Oh, is she now? A super strong entity as you say? Then why are you going down? She will find her way back to us, eventually."

"No matter what you say, we are not going to abandon one of our own? This....what gad come over you, Alana?" Mason suddenly shifted back from me.

"You...have changed. You are not the Alana I know, what happened?"

"No, I didn't change, maybe....maybe this has always been....me and you just didn't notice."

"Alana, you are werewolf of strength!" Mason suddenly pierced my hands with his claws.

It was so painful but it helped to clear my head a bit.

"Alana, what have you done?" Mason did not even need to ask. His expression alone tells me he already knew what had occurred.

"It was you, all this while, Alana, you were playing Keera, and even now, you do not want her to come back, why?"

I was shocked!

I was actually expecting Mason to be angry and to actually rip my throat off for endangering the life of his fiancée, but he was very patient and clearheaded.

I opened up to him and just started talking, I just felt so good talking to him. It seems that, finally, this unrequited love of mine can find closure.

"Pack your bags." Mason's cold voice sounded.

"Are you kicking me out?" I stuttered, I did not want to believe it, but I guess, if I were in his shoes, I would probably do the same thing to a person who caused my fiancée to fall off a cliff.

"Don't be absurd, we are going down the mountain to find Keera!" Mason hit my head with his hands.

"No matter what punishment, I have no right to pass judgment, that's for Keera and you to debate on, all I know is that something made you push Keera off that cliff..."

Mason looked down at the endless fog below us, "In that case, someone or something wants Keera more than we do; we need to find her and bring her back to the clan's protection before it does!"

Fine!

I hurried back to pack, not because I actually cared to bring Keera back, but because I was going to have a journey with Mason.

Even if it was a journey to save my rival!

"Ahhh" the dark thoughts started to creep into my mind again. Honestly, it was getting annoying.

"If I catch you, whoever is doing this, I will make sure to rip your heart out with my own fangs."I cursed placing my hand on my chest.

(HUMAN SETTLEMENT)

A deep, dark castle situated in a dense stretch of forest stood tall like a demon crawling out from the layers of the abyss.

A cold wind blew past, exposing the eye of a statue, only the eye and the entire earth shook in response. A heavy downpour began as if mourning the fate of the coming events.

"SHE HAS FINALLY APPEARED. TOOK HER A THOUSAND YEARS?"

(KEERA'S POV)

"Ahhh, I am so going to die," I could feel the weight of the air, slashing against my face as I propelled downwards with no brakes.

I was seriously about to lose my life, in just an unsightly way no less.

"It's all because of this stupid bracelet." My eyes inadvertently drifted over to the bracelet on my wrist.

All my problems started because I tried to take this bracelet. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like ripping the bracelet off and throwing it away.

As I was contemplating, the bracelet suddenly increased in temperature, as if trying to brand my skin.

The sudden surge of temperature was so much that it knocked me out cold.

(THIRD PERSON POV)

The high temperature knocked Keera out and made her fall faster than before. Unknown to her, a blue light exploded from the bracelet covering her entire body.

When she made contact with the earth, there was not a single noise, only a crater silently opened.

The blue light receded into the bracelet, leaving an unconscious Keera sprawled on the ground.

"Ahhh, where am I? Am I dead?" Keera twisted herself up, looking at her entire surroundings with caution.

"Weird? Am I supposed to feel itchy even when dead?" Keera mumbles, scratching her shoulders, her nails nicked out a little bit of blood that made her freeze.

"Blood!"

"Am I not dead?" Keera sprang up looking around. "This is definitely not the afterworld."

Keera concluded that, after calmly observing the premises, she could even hear occasional whispers of humans who were probably out hiking or on an adventure.

(KEERA'S POV)

"How is this possible?" I touched my face and my limbs. Everything was in perfect condition, and I was not even feeling lethargic and weak despite running for almost the entire day.

"How is it possible that I could survive such a fall?"

This was a question I did not even want to dwell on now. I honestly had so many questions that needed answers.

This bracelet? My true identity? What exactly did my mother do? Who is my father?

I even gave in to get revenge for Alana's betrayal and make her feel the same way I felt when everyone turned their backs on me.

Brrrgh

"But first, I have to eat." My stomach grumbled away, distracting me from my thoughts.

"The nearest human settlement...Here I come."

I could not believe it, the thing I most wanted, coming down the mountain, would be achieved in such a dramatic way.

Now, I did not even come down; I got pushed down the mountain and survived a near-death experience mysteriously. Now, I am heading officially into a settlement occupied by humans, the weakest yet smartest creatures in the entire world.

My heart is palpitating, I am scared but curious about what to expect, how exactly are these humans? How would they react to the fact that I am a werewolf, are they hostile?

The excitement in my heart for a moment made me ignore my hungry belly as I followed the faint noises I had heard previously.

(An hour later)

(Inhorent and displeasing noises that give room for naughty imagination ebbs from the tent)

"What is that sound?" Some sounds were coming from the tent; humans were probably inside. I excitedly approached and peered in to see what was going on.

After one look, my view of humans plummeted to the lowest point. I know I am not supposed to judge, but two men and a woman were just wild.

I thought partnership was a sacred affair, a werewolf has no business with any other wolf apart from his destined mate, with whom he has passed the flames of fate. The sudden, careless disregard for mateship put me off quite a bit.

"Maybe they are not even married, just out having fun? Fun is permitted, right?" I try to convince myself not to be too quick to judge.

"Manager Steve, how am I? Probably better than that worn-out wife of yours, right?" A slightly high-pitched but annoyed voice sounded.

"You are the best baby, I can't wait for that old hag to pass away so that I can bring you to my house and shower you with love." An older voice, possibly belonging to the older man sounded.

"Yes, father, this b*tch deserves to be taken to a place as good as our house? Can't you quickly divorce that hag over there?" A younger voice came out of the tent.

"Oh my gosh, such a bunch of trash on the first day?" If I wanted to make excuses before, I seriously abhorred the humans in that tent now.

Not only are they doing something so disgusting but they are also father and son, and even badmouthing their wife and mother.

"Such trash does not deserve to live?" I desperately wanted to crush their tent or call on a wild animal to feast on them, but what if the wild animal turns to me after them? I could not take that risk.

After moments of contemplation, I sneaked to the back of their tent and ripped open a small space. Thank goodness they were so involved in their business that they even cared about their surroundings.

I took their entire provision bag and their clothes and left behind some scented leaves to attract dirty and smelly bugs.

Satisfied with my handwork and with the fact that I even have some dry rations to munch on, I dusted my feet and departed, going further along the fork road.

After so many hours of working, I came out to meet a tarred road with a lot of items on four wheels zooming past.

"Cars?" I wanted to recall all the pictures MASON usually brought back for me.

I could not come down the mountain so Mason was always telling me stories and bringing me pictures about a lot of things in the human settlement.

The picture of a car was one of them, and now, I am finally going to explore these wonders with my own eyes and body, without waiting for a picture.

"Stop," I came to the middle of the road, having the intention of stopping a car to get me to a more crowded place but....

"Bitch, get the fuck out of the road!"

"You brainless bitch, do you want to die?"

"All these shameless bitches, looking for how to scrape some cash?"

All sorts of disgusting words and high-life ched insults, along with some blaring of horns, quickly took me off the road. Even after I left the road, the drivers were still insulting me through their mirrors, some even spat on me and called me an attention seeker.

Seriously?

THIS IS THE SMARTEST CREATURE ON EARTH? ARE YOU SURE?