Chapter 2: Coffee

CLAN

"Alpha..."

May bahid ng pag-aalala ang boses ni Zach. I know what my beta is worried upon. I found my mate, it should have been a good news.

Werewolves like us need our mate; it's one of our essential need. One cannot live without the other. We must be with our mate unless one will reject it.

"Don't worry about it Zach," wika ko sa kanya. I gave them a reassuring smile. Kahit ako ay medyo nababahala rin.

The pack needs an alpha female to make the pack stronger. I doubt if that girl will be easy to ask na maging bahagi siya ng pack.

***

Ginawa ko ang mga tuntunin ko bilang alpha ngayong araw. It's been three days since I saw Cattaleya but I made sure I didn't lose my mind just thinking about my mate.

I am an alpha, a busy wolf and I have so much to do so I cannot let my mind just wander off. Binisita ko ang pamilya ng mga nasasakupan ko at naghanap ng gamot sa karamdaman ng ilang miyembro ng pack. As an alpha, it's also my duty to protect my pack, from the oldest up to the newest pup.

With Zach and Daniel, we seek everyday for new cures and antidotes for silver and wolfsbane. I also need to make sure that the grounds are clear from rogues and hunters. Last month, I lost a member of my pack nang may nakasalubong itong omega-- o mga lobong hindi napapabilang sa pamumuno ng kanilang alpha.

Sinisigurado ko rin na hindi kami magkagulo sa kung ano mang uri ng nilalang, lalo na sa mga bampira. It was less than a century when my grandfather, the previous alpha made a treaty to a certain group of vampires to keep peace and harmony as we co-exist.

But still, gaya naming mga lobo, may mga bampira rin na hindi nabibilang sa pamilya na handang rumespeto sa mga alintuntunin ng mundo. In case we meet one, a bloody fight is always on.

I sat on my chair and rested my head. Malaking responsibilidad ang pagiging alpha but I was doing well for few years now.

For years, I get along with human and learned their way of living. Nag-aral ako na tila normal na estudyante, obtain a degree and graduate with flying colors. It's an essential weapon and edge when you are to become an alpha.

Kailangan mong maging malakas hindi lamang sa katawan kundi sa isip. I was an alpha by blood, the Goddess of the moon, Luna chose my family to run the Vanderwolf Pack. Though my pack is going well, hindi iyon ganoon kalakas kumpara sa ibang pack. That's because of my mate's absence.

If there's an alpha female, the pack will become stronger and firm. That's a must. Bawat lobo ay kailangang mahanap ang mate ng bawat isa. They mate during full moons and others who hasn't found their mates will go fucking any she wolf who's game and hasn't found her mate yet. That's not something to be ashamed of. We become horny at full moons. We reproduce at those times.

Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko si Cattaleya.

Tall, beautiful and has a firm body na tila sanay sa laban. She's not bulky but I can tell right away that even my strong members cannot bring her down without a sweat. She seems smart too, definitely on a higher level intelligence.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang maalala ko ang apoy sa kanyang mga mata. She's cool, she's burning with passion in everything she does. Hindi rin maikakaila na masyado siyang loyal kay Aurora.

At one glance, I can tell right away that Cattaleya is neither a wolf, nor a witch. My enhance sense of smelling tells me she's neither but I cannot smell human in her too. Well, there's a faint human smell but it wasn't the same than any other human. Hind rin siya bampira... kung ganoon, ano siya?

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in," wika ko at ilang sandali ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isa sa miyembro ng pack na pinamumunuan ko.

"Alpha..." she's in tears as she sat on the chair in front of me. "Dalawang araw nang hindi umuuwi ang asawa kong si Felmar!" wika niya habang umiiyak. "Alpha, tulungan mo akong hanapin ang asawa ko."

I stared at the woman in front of me. Her husband is her mate and it would be hard to live without him. She can find another mate if he's dead but it takes time. A wolf without a mate will lack energy and will to live. Isa pa ay may mg anak sila.

Tumayo ako at tumango sa kanya. "Hahanapin ko si Felmar, Teresa. Gagawin ko ang makakaya ko. For now, you have to take care of your pups, I'll alert you as soon as I found Felmar."

Teresa's crying eyes glistened as she stood up to take a vow. "Maraming salamat, maraming salamat Alpha."

I watched her disappeared through the door samantalang naggayak naman ako upang hanapin si Felmar. Lumabas ako sa opisina ko at saglit na tinanaw ang paligid. Each member of my pack is busy in each craft. We live in the middle of the forest but unlike what most humans believe, we're civilized. We live in huge houses made of glass and bricks and we run a semi-luxurious life. We also provide education for every member para kung sakaling mapadpad sila sa lugar ng mga tao, it wouldn't be hard to blend in.

Iginala ko ang paningin sa paligid. The place was filled with male wolves, half-naked and she wolves, almost naked. It's not new to us. Nudity is normal for us wolves, however, I keep training them not to be totally naked lalo na kung umaga. Who knows whoever lost their way at mapadpad dito lalo na kung tao, they might wonder what we are.

"Alpha, saan ka pupunta?" Napatigil ako sa paghakbang nang marinig ko ang boses ni Zach.

"Teresa said Felmar is missing for two days."

Napakunot ang noo ni Zach at hinablot ang kanyang gamit. "Sasama ako--"

"No," pigil ko sa kanya. "I'll be back later."

"Pero Clan-"

I gave him an assuring smile. "Come on Zach, I am an Alpha, I can handle myself." Tumango na lamang siya at hinayaan ako.

Zach is a close friend of mine, we even become closer when he became my beta. Leaving my grounds, I wander to the woods and smell Felmar's scent. Malayo-layo na ang nalakad ko ay saka ko pa nahagip ang amoy niya. It was just a faint smell but enough for me to follow. Hindi ko alam kung gaano kalayo ang nilakad ko hanggang sa marating ko ang pinanggalingan ng amoy.

There I saw Felmar in his wolf form, lying on the ground, dead.

Nasa harapan niya ang isang babae. Kahit nakatalikod ay alam ko na kung sino iyon. Other than the huge ax on her back, the tingles tell me that it's her.

Cattaleya.

She must have felt it too because she turn around and meet my eyes. "Oh, hello Mister Wolf!" bati niya sa akin. "It must be devastating to see a dead wolf in your very eyes."

I answered with a nod. "Right. It's devastating since he's a member of my pack."

She projected a sad face. "I'm sorry for your loss Miser Wolf."

Tinitigan ko siya sa mukha. She sounded sincere in her words. "You're not the one who killed him?"

Nagdilim ang kanyang ekspresyon. "Are you accusing me Stupid Dog?"

Hardly. The wound on Felmar's neck suggests an omega attacked him. Still, I cannot tell if she's responsible. What if she's good in making her attack looks like a wolf attack? She's a dangerous woman, no doubt.

Fire burned in her eyes. "You are really accusing me," sabi niya at bahagyang lumayo sa akin. "I'd love to kill a member of your pack Mister Wolf but unfortunately, he's not my kill. You see, I only came here for a swim and found his dead body here."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa katawan niya. She really came from swimming. Her white shirt clung in her body, showing an hourglass shape. Dahil puti at basa ang damit niya, mababakat doon ang suot niyang pulang bikini bra na nakatali pa sa kanyang leeg. She's wearing a super short shorts, the one that humans love to wear na tila maliit na piraso lamang ng tela at butas butas pa. Her hair is wet and just like I thought, lagpas sa baiwang niya iyon ngayong hindi naka-ponytail at basa.

"Are you done assessing me Mister Wolf?" tanong niya.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanyang mukha. She kept a seductive smile on her face but it's mixed with annoyance. Kumunot ang noo ko nang may mapagtanto ako. "Did you swim in your bikini?"

She laughed. "Why Mister Wolf, aren't you used to seeing naked bodies?"

I mentally agreed. Of course, we're basically naked all the time because we're wolves. Pero siya?

Nagsalita ulit siya. "Don't worry Mister Wolf, suot ko pa rin ang damit ko ngayon habang naliligo sa ilog. It's a river anyway, not a beach." I tried to hide my relief when she replied. "So Mister Wolf, what will happen to this dog?"

Muling bumaba ang tingin ko kay Felmar. There's no doubt an omega killed him. He's a loss to the pack at tiyak kong malulungkot si Teresa at ang kanilang mga anak kapag nalaman nila ang sinapit ni Felmar. I have no other choice but to bring him back to our grounds and provide a proper burial.

"Ibabalik ko siya sa pamilya niya," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Like now?" she asked kaya napatingin ako sa kanya habang nakakunot ang noo. She smiled sweetly, displaying her tiny dimples. "Coffee?"

When she smiles like that, she just look like a sweet girl. That's scary. People who looks exactly opposite to what they really are, are scary. Despite her sweet look, Cattaleya is someone dangerous. I have to keep that in mind.

And coffee...

Having coffee with her means she will likely to drug me and kill me slowly. Better decline. I have so much things to do for the pack. Even if she's my mate, my responsibility is still greater.

"Tatanggi ka ba ulit?" tanong niya. "Mister Wolf, I brought a coffee for three kahit mag-isa lamang ako. I didn't know you will be here today. That means it's for me as I enjoy myself swimming. There were also cupcakes and macaroons that I brought for myself. If you don't mind me sharing them with you..." She turned to look at a blanket near the river bank. May basket doon at tiyak kong iyon ang mga pagkaing dinala niya para sa kanyang sarili.

I sighed in surrender. "Alright, I'll watch you eat."

Her face lighted. "And?"

"And watch you swim."

"Perfect!" bulalas niya at hinila ako palapit sa kung nasaan ang picnic na hinanda niya para sa sarili.

She put away her ax, laid it beside the basket at naglabas ng ilang food container. Like she said, she brought along cupcakes and macaroons. May maliit din na vacuum flask at isang tasa. It's really a picnic just for herself.

"Please yourself Mister Wolf," wika niya at nag-abot ng container na may lamang cupcake.

I shook my head. "I already ate."

She frowned. "Aw, Aurora made this. She makes good cupcakes by the way."

"How about you?" tanong ko. "What are you good at?"

"Killling," sagot niya. "I can kill you and your whole pack in case you mess with us."

"Then we will not," sagot ko. "I mean other than killing, are you a good cook? Do you sew? Or paint? Anything?"

There was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Aside from studying medicine, there's nothing I can do more. Oh, I make good coffees." Nakangiting nagsalin siya sa tasa at ibinigay iyon sa akin. "Try it, Mister Wolf."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niyang nag-aabot sa akin ng kape. She noticed my hesitation and it made her almost glare at me. "This isn't poisoned Mister Wolf," sabi niya. "I already told you I only come for a swim."

I wonder if she's telling the truth or not. "With your ax?" Sinulyapan ko ang malaking palakol na nasa gilid niya. Touching its blade could be fatal. Who knows she coated it with the witch's toxins?

"That's in case of emergency Mister Wolf."

Tinitigan ko lamang siya at ang tasa na hawak niya. Cattaleya has short-tempered, I know it. She gritted her teeth as she looked at me.

"Kung ayaw mong maniwala, here, I'll drink first." In a blink of an eye, she sipped from the cup before extending it back to me. "See? It's not poisoned! Now be a good dog and taste it!" sabi niya sa malakas at iritable na boses.

I smiled to myself before leaning closer and kissed her lips. She was stunned as my lips touched hers, my tongue grazing on her lower lip, slipping it inside. I tasted the coffee in her mouth and she just sat frozen. I gently bite her lower lip before pulling away, removing the cup from her totally frozen hand.

"It really tastes good," wika ko.

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