Chapter 30: The Umoja Pack

The jeep swayed left and right on the twisty dirt path as the howls grew louder and nearer while I swaged, side to side when I accidentally fell on Liam's slap. Then oddly, he wrapped his skinny arms around and held me tight as I jerked my head and struggled in his grasp. I glared at him and the dude had the audacity to smile.

"Let go of me." I snapped and kicked my legs.

"No, "He retorted, glared at me and I saw Aneta react at our odd position and she was hurt and angry as her eyes flashed lime green.

"Get off him!" She yelled, her voice doubled as she squeezed the wheel tight, her knuckles turned white. My eyes flashed azure as I squeezed out and scooted to my seat then she smiled, relaxed then blinked, several times. Mates? I thought as I stared at the window.

"Guys, distract them now. Hope you guys will not fall off."She warned as she laughed and the forest blurred as we zoomed in.

"What if I use my powers?"I suggested as Liam and Aneta looked at me as if I had grown two heads. Another swerve then she veered back in the road as our tires hover then plant on the ground again.

"Do anything?" She snapped her eyes to the side mirror. I nodded and twisted myself out of the window as I almost left, then I felt a squeeze as my eyes flashed.

"Don't try to expose yourself. You're unmated, they'll want you."Liam warned, his eyes glazed as he tightened his grip but I opened my mouth to argue but I nodded.

"Ok, let's shift."I said. Damn, the car was moving so fast that I almost fell off and Liam grabbed me as I slowly climbed up the top of the car and panted. Up here I could spot a pack of male wolves snapping their jaws, hissing, teeth bared running faster than the car as they cornered it all in a flurry of colours in a sharp blur.

I was so mad that I couldn't' strip or get a gem. Then in a blink, fur busted off me then Liam stayed sturdy and shifted too in a shred of clothes. He charged and attacked a scrawny brown wolf and a loud sickening crunch as it rolled over then another grey one leaped and bit Liam's muzzle as he winced in pure pain. After twenty or thirty minutes fighting off the wolves as we slowly lost them. With a sigh I crawled back in and shifted and man, I was uncomfortable and she smiled as Liam crawled in butt-naked as I shielded my eyes and tried to cover my bits.

Luckily and oddly she brought another set of clothes as we exchanged looks. Liam crawled into the trunk and changed. He averted his gaze and stared at his intact vans as the road thins and the forest swallows us whole. Surrounded by green, slapping of branches and hitting clusters of leaves as the windshield was occasionally blocked, then slowly we approached a small clearing and the darkness lightened as beams of light engulfed us.

As if we entered another world the tree towered over us and had canopies set up like stairs but shrouded in the darkness were women dressed for the military and hunting armed with weapons as they looked down on us.

"Guys, a giant force field are cast by the witches that hide our base to anyone who's a man or not a supernatural so all you would see it's a thick giants trees and we're protected."She smiled as she opened the door and humped down as Liam closed his mouth and leaned on the seat. Aneta was arguing with one of the warriors that climbed from the tree, submitted and slowly a tunnel cut through the trees.

It was a huge, very huge clearing that resembled a summer camp. Giant pine tree that seemed to poke at the clouds ringed around the summer camp hidden in the woods and as Aneta explained that in human eyes that it is bigger trees in human eyes. The sun scorched my back and everything seemed to distort as sweat beads on my forehead. I sighed as we approached and I gasped and staggered in shock. There were fields and meadows and there were loft cabins and some of them were two stories tall or taller. In the middle was a mess hall as big as a warehouse, at the further side was a cluster of white tents and an herb garden. I gasped as we lurched forward as pups scampered and ran around and some played with water hoses or chased each other as I couldn't stifle a laugh.

"All the girls play a role actually; some hunt in the forests, some work outside or prepare food for the pack. But not the pups, obvious till they grow up, "She paused as Liam waved his hand but she cut him off sharply,"Yes, the kids.Um, just because they're here doesn't mean they can't work or have relationships outside with their mates sponsor them actually and we're a lot."She finished as we nodded. Women in every colour,shape and walks of life did everyday things such as chatting, strolling or just in the comfort of their homes.

"Yes, witches are also accepted here so points for Haima.Um, you just have to be a female."She concluded. Girls paused to gawk as if we're foreign or strange and whisper but mostly stare at Liam as he ducked his head. Then an older woman prowls forward through the forming crowd. She crosses her arms and glares at both of us but mostly Liam. Dark skin, onyx eyes, a bald head with tattoos of snakes on her head, nose and ears littered in piercings then she brought out a gun and pointed it at the skin of Liam's throat as he squeaked and staggered like a baby mouse. She laughed a long, gruff laugh at him. She loomed over both of us and she had a lean build.

She circled him and accessed him from head to toe and lowered her pistol down."Who's this? A man."She scoffed, as she looked at him in disgust and hate ,while more girls formed a bigger crowd who were curious about the guy as if they've never seen a guy before which might be the crazy and children stared wide-eyed as they squeezed through the crowd. We looked like fish out of water as I was dragged away from him.

"Ummm,"I hummed, trying to think of a lie.

Then Aneta blurted, "They're mates."Then the woman pursed her lips and narrowed her striking eyes as Aneta nodded.

Then she stood tall, hands clasped behind her as she looked at Aneta with disbelief and suspicion."I don't believe you that this youngling is this wolf mate. He's a full grown mate and an intruder; we must bring him to the Alpha for interrogation."She spat, clenched her canines, eyes glowing orange like hungry flames that were painful and striking to stare as I diverted my gaze elsewhere. She moved to us in a long confident stride her talons penetrated onto our shirts oozing blood as I winced and Liam groaned in pain."

"Wait, both of them."Aneta choked, looking around crazily.

The woman nodded and glared at him."Yes both of them, "She repeated and stared at Aneta who gulped then to Liam.

"Wait, a female Alpha but aren't alpha's male."Liam muttered quizzly, as the girls paused and gasped. The crowd looked in awe, shock and horror. Whispers flooded everywhere, with a warning of a grown man as we walked into the male loft the children scattered as the woman enjoyed, whispers where heard .The stone fountain seemed to disappear as we entered the protected neighboured, the umbrellas and round glass tables .Omegas where treated equally.

"Foolish, sexist male,"The woman growled, Aneta, the Alpha shall hear of his ignorant claim. "She yelled, hissed and bared her canines at Liam who cursed under his breath. They were happy, carefree, female alphas were rare but not unheard of .Hybrids weren't also rare but are usually rogues, woman here are rouges or escaped pack member from raped, force marriage and downright abuse some packs treated women badly us toys or objects or sex slaves, scary I see why most of them will stay single as a single for life, girl child are also killed because of gender.

We entered the biggest loft cabin it very far but acting us a haven overlooking over the small town, we entered the dark hallway entering the spiral glass stairs, the hallway was long and painted polished grey.As we walked further, the woman stopped and glanced over her shoulder, "The Alpha isn't very nice but hopefully she doesn't kill you on the damn spot. How old is your mate?"She asked then he bowed and answered."Um, she's sixteen, miss." Then she glowered so hard and growled."Don't act petty because I'm female."She snapped as hissed. Liam and I exchanged looks. We took a sharp turn and entered a corridor to a red door.

The pastel red doors as we entered it was a vintage looking office ,old patterned grey walls a old brown desk a crowded bookcase and a white wolf howling at the moon, except it looked bigger and fluffier and full brown eyes over five interesting and green office chair ringed colourful bean bugs.

I peered at her name, 'Alpha Josephine'; I found a male lurking and came with Aneta, your beta. "She spat holding his arm, tight; Liam groaned holding his right arm tight as blood bleed.

"A male? How interesting. I'm surprised he wasn't killed on the spot?"She wondered out loud as we took a seat. She rolled her eyes and spoke so velvety and in control as she studied Liam but she looked to me to be in her twenties or later. She had ivory skin, long blonde hair, dark eyes and a beautiful heart shaped face. She wore a trench coat, white tank top and ripped jeans.

All of a sudden, she jumped on the desk and dropped to a crouch as we staggered then she smiled, her eyes glowing red. She stalked us from the desk and smiled in satisfaction."You,are now put on trail. Any sexist comment or assault. I'll torture you or I'll kill you on the spot, got it ?kaspische."she spat as Liam nodded then sank on his seat.

Then she climbs back into her seat and clasps her fingers together and sighs. To make her point she pointed at her long neck and did the kill you sign then relaxed back in her seat then she cracked her knuckles."In my old pack, when I was just a fourteen-year-old. The Alpha would use me as his personal toy, no all the girls. He loved torturing me for fun and preferred younger girls even though he was as old as my father. We women had no say but everyone was oppressed. One day, I just couldn't take it, I slapped him and ran out but when I told the others still hated me and said it was an honour to be chosen, I looked at them in shock and concern. I returned back to my boring job such as cooking but being abused and called by the Alpha. I hated it. I lost my virginity unwillingly then I shifted into my wolf because I was tired and I started a rebellion. Our pack was way more isolated and barracked so we couldn't escape."She sighed.

Liam and I exchanged looks and sank onto the chair then her eyes fluttered then she continued even though I could see in her face that she wanted to break down but poker face."But I was beaten by the pack and my parents did nothing, they did nothing and just watched. I struggled and tried to escape but was dragged and beaten countless times but one day I did. Where I am from, Lunars aren't equal. The thing I hate men that are sexist because they only see women as Lunars because of their gender but think, what if she has more capabilities of an alpha but then man doesn't. When a woman climbs higher then suddenly all men are scared, or attack her or kill her. I fought, I decided to make my own pack but I was laughed at and bullied for a thought. So I trained on the sidelines and I fought and trained hard with humans then scouted for females and declared myself the Alpha."She concluded as I cheered and smiled.

I was stunned by her life story but she fought hard to earn her spot for eleven years. Liam choked and sniffled but bit up the welling tears. Then she gave a sad smile and shook her head and placed her hand on his shoulder."Don't worry, don't hide your emotions. "Then the door creaked open as we snapped our heads to the door as a familiar blonde-haired girl strides in. Her face softened when she invited Aneta happily,"Ah, Aneta.I see you've finally joined us, "then she turned to us her eyebrows furrowed and a deep frown caressed her harsh face, "What, these wolf are mates.I don't believe it. Wait a damn minute, she's a Lunar, I can feel it. They aren't mates, aren't they?"She gasped in disbelief.

"I am a witch hybrid, my name is Hamia. And this is Liam and he's also a hybrid too."I said and she nodded and looked at Aneta, I and Liam repeated. The warrior glared at us with her mouth unhinged but she turned her backs on us. She was as still as a statue.

"This is quite a rare opportunity."She gasped with her eyes wide , with confusion and awe as we just shrugged.

"Well, I hope I never find my mate, if I do I'll reject him. I'm not losing my alpha position to only become a lunar. Men all over either what to kill me or rape me."She declared .Aneta cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes.

"How long were you guys in the cages and kept in those cells."She asked us, her forefinger on her lip.

"Um, you know about two weeks."I stared, an eyebrow raised as he nodded and stared at our necks as my eyes went wide. Then she cursed under her breath and staggered. After that, we bolted into the woods as Aneta told us about positional chips as she called the witches. There wasn't a coven but they helped perform spells. Aneta tossed both of us the gems so we wouldn't have to strip and waste time. In our wolf forms, they performed chants in different rhythms and intervals as the chips slid off our necks and one older witch destroyed them into flames. If they still wanted to find us they couldn't. We sighed happily, as we trekked back into the pack house as Alpha Josephine observed us.

"OK, you guys have to share a room with each other and don't worry we went shopping for some clothes and underwear for Liam."Aneta said as we walked down the hallway to a white door. We thanked her before we entered for the evening.