We packed our things right away. Walang nag-iimikan sa'min at kanya-kanyang kilos sa loob ng bahay. I ran to the room where I stayed and looked for a bag. Nang makahanap ay agad kong kinuha ang mga ibinigay sa'kin ni Solene na gamit ni Ina. These are the most important things to me now. Solene kept these things for me to take good care when the right time comes, and that time is now.

Walang masyadong laman ang aking bag. Karamihan ng aking gamit ay nasa tinuluyan namin ni Theron noon. But I can't risk going to the house. Kung pupunta si Marcus dito ngayon, ang bahay na iyon ang siguradong una niyang tutunguhin. I glanced at the wall clock and saw that five minutes had already passed. Agad kong binitbit ang aking bag at dumiretso sa baba.

Naabutan ko doon si Gesa na tahimik na nagtitipa sa kanyang cellphone. Kung paano napunta iyon sa kanya ay hindi ko alam. Siguro'y bitbit niya ito noong nagpunta kami sa bastille. Napalingon ito sa'kin nang makita ang paglapit ko.

"Let's leave now.", aniya. Tumango ako at bumaling kina Karleen na ngayon ay pababa mula sa hagdan kasama sina Vil at Lara. Naunang umalis si Gesa sa sala. I can feel that she's tensed now. Alam kong inaalala niya ngayon ang kanyang Ama. I have these strong feeling that Marcus will search for Uncle Rayman, and who knows what's in his mind. Huwag lang siyang magkakamaling saktan ito. I can't promise myself to be good at this moment, lalong-lalo na sa mga taong traydor.

"Nasa labas na sina Bryan. You go now.", ani Vil. Ibinigay ko kay Gesa ang aking bag at isinabit niya ito sa kanyang balikat.

"How about you? And Duke. where is he?", tanong ko. Nakita kong wala itong bitbit na anumang bagahe. Ang hawak nina Karleen at Lata ay ibinigay din nila kay Gesa.

"We'll stay in the woods. Don't worry too much. Teritoryo na'tin ang papasukin nila, mas alam namin ang lugar.", sagot niya sa'kin. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil doon.

"Ako ang pakay nila. I should stay, too!", dahilan ko. Kahit pa teritoryo nila ang lugar ay hindi ako mapapakali. I want us to leave this place as one. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pwedeng gawin ni Marcus sa mga oras na'to.

"You're their target. That's why you need to be out of here.", pagsagot nito sa'kin. Patuloy ako sa pag-iling. I can't leave Duke! I can't leave him in this kind of situation!

Dali-dali akong lumabas upang tignan sina Gesa. I saw five familiar wolves standing in the road, nasa likod ng dalawa sa lobo sina Gesa at Theron.

"Come on, Gabriel!", pagtawag ni Gesa sa'kin. My feet remained unmoving. Napakunot ang noo nito sa'kin. Nagsimula ang paghikbi ni Gesa dahil sa hindi ko pagtugon sa kanyang hiling.

"You leave now, Gesa. I'll stay in here. I can't leave Duke.", ani ko sa kanya. Her sobs became louder. She covered her face while shaking her head. Umiwas ako ng paningin sa kanya at bumaling kay Theron. Lumapit ako sa lobong kinalalagyan nito. The wolf slightly lowered his head for me to have a nearer contact with him.

"Kung may mangyaring masama---"

"Nothing bad will happen to you.", he interrupted me from speaking. Napahinga ako ng malalim dahil doon.

"Ikaw na ang bahala kay Gesa, Theron.", I commanded him. His face remained dark. Tila ayaw nito sa naging hamon ko.

I don't know what the future may bring. Hindi ko hawak ang pwedeng mangyari. No one knows when will be our time, or if our time is already near. Hindi ko rin alam kung makakaligtas kami ngayon. It's better to tell them earlier. It's better this way.

"Gesa is your obligation now. So answer me a yes.", mariin kong sinabi sa kanya. His jaw clenched and looked away. Umatras ako ng ilang hakbang. He didn't answer.

I'll take that as a yes, Theron. Prove me wrong.

Dumating sina Lara at Karleen sa labas. I saw how their eyes pleaded for me to join them but I remained stoic. Nagkatinginan ang dalawa bago nabaling ang paningin sa'kin. They remained silent but their expressions changed. That second, I know they've put their trust on me.

Lumayo ang dalawa sa'kin. In a span of seconds, they shifted to their werewolf form and growled in unison. Pumunta ang dalawa sa harapan ng limang lobo at pumwesto doon. Suddenly, two wolves appeared from behind. By the color of their furs, I know it was Solene and Fabian. The white wolf went in front of Lara and Karleen while the black one stayed beside me. Tila nangungusap ang mga mata nito sa'kin. Even with no words, I felt like I can understand him. Tumango ako dito upang sumang-ayon.

We may not know what will happen next or when will our breathing stop, but we need to fight for it. That's life from the very beginning. Life is a battle and we need to fight or else, we'll be defeated. Maybe sooner or later, we will, but that won't matter.

As long as we tried to fight and make every second worth-remembering, there will be no regret at the end.

And this is how I make each time a worthy story to tell. To fight for what I love.

The field is quiet and empty. Tanging makapal na damo lamang ang bumabalot sa lupa. The sun began to hide at the back of the clouds, making the place dim. The wind blew colder than it is, waving the branches of the trees that surrounds the place.

Tahimik akong nakatayo sa gitna ng damuhan habang nagmamatyag sa paligid. Pagkaalis nina Fabian kanina ay siyang pagdating ni Duke. He said he talked to his pack, and I know, I can sense their body heat from where I stand. Nasa paligid lang sila at nakamatyag sa anumang pwedeng mangyari.

The plan is, we'll make Marcus' group enter the territory. They will think, it will be their first move. Besides, they didn't know we are informed by their arrival. It will be a great advantage for us. The place is surrounded by tall trees where Duke and his pack can hide at the branches. Mula sa pwestong iyon ay makikita nila ang pagdating ng kalabang grupo mula sa bukana ng gubat. Even though hunters are good at jumping from tree-to-tree, hindi nila maaabot ang pinakamataas na sanga kung saan nakapwesto ang grupo nina Duke. They are still humans, they have weaknesses.

I let out a breath and inhaled the fresh scent of the cold wind. I closed my eyes and concentrated at the surroundings with the use of my senses. Ngayong alam kong isa akong kalahating lobo ay mas magagamit ko ito ng mabuti.

The air brushed against my skin. Napadilat ako nang maramdaman ang pag-iba ng direksyon noon. I remained calm and directed my eyes to a certain point. The footsteps, the smell of a pill and the scent of suits enveloped my senses. They used the pill to cover their smell. Too bad, I can recognize it. Hindi nagtagal ay nakita ko ang paggalaw sa mga damo ilang metro ang layo mula sa'kin.

The familiar black hunting suit appeared in front of me. There's a battalion of them, more than I expected. I patiently waited for them to get near on my spot. My fingers tickled as the group walk towards my point. Limang metro mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay tumigil ang mga ito.

I immediately saw Marcus in front of them. My jaw clenched as I saw him smirking like an idiot.

"Gabriel! It's nice to see you again.", aniya at tumawa ng pakantyaw habang pumapalakpak. His voiced echoed until at the side of the mountains. I didn't reacted on his remark. Natigil siya nang mapagtantong hindi ko ito binigyan ng pansin. Dinirekta nito ang paningin sa'kin.

"Come here, Gabriel.", his voice is strong and furious.

"You don't command your assassin, Marcus.", I answered. Saglit na namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Unti-unti ay napatawa ito ng malakas. His laugh resounded at the open field. Nanunuya iyon ngunit pinili kong hindi kumilos. Patience, as Duke said.

"You can't command me, woman. Hindi ka na assassin ngayon! I am the official assassin of your own clan!", aniya sa mas matigas na boses. Napangisi ako dahil doon.

"Talaga?", I could almost feel the coldness of my voice as I spoke.

"I won't follow orders from a moron, then.", I added mockingly. Napangisi ako nang dumantay sa kanyang mata ang inis at galit. Nagpupuyos ang mga mata nito habang nakadirekta sa'kin. Burn up, Marcus. Burn yourself up.

Tila napigtas ang pasensya nito at kusang lumapit sa'kin. Nakita ko ang paglabas nito ng baril mula sa kanyang likod. He immediately pointed the gun towards my direction and pulled the trigger.

My system quickly reacted. I swiftly slanted my body to the left side, avoiding the bullet. Nang makabalik sa dating pwesto ay saka ko lamang napansin iyon. Maging si Marcus ay napatigil sa bilis ng aking paggalaw. He stopped midpoint between our distance. Tila hindi maproseso sa utak ko kung ano ang nangyari.

That wasn't my usual move. Ngunit tila hindi ko makontrol ang aking sarili. That move... it's too fast.

What is happening?

My thoughts flew when I sense the movements from the woods. Pinigilan ko ang pagtingin doon. Marcus' eyes are still fixed in me, tila hindi nito naramdaman ang mga paggalaw sa paligid.

"You...", aniya at itinuro ako. Shock and fear were written on his face. Hindi nito matuloy ang gustong sabihin. Ngunit alam kong napagtanto na niya ito.

"You're a wolf!", he shouted. I saw his hands trembled in fear. Napangisi ako dahil sa inasta nito. He didn't expect that one. Sa ngayon pa lang ay dapat alam na niyang nahihigitan ko siya.

He pointed the gun again at my direction. Sa puntong ito ay napahawak na ako sa kutsilyong nasa aking likod. I heard him pulled the trigger for the second time. I instantly grabbed the knife from my back and threw it to his hands. Narinig ko ang pagtama ng kutsilyo sa balang lumabas sa kanyang baril, and then he began screaming.

Hindi magkanda-ugaga ang mga nasa kanayng likod. No one ever dared to move even though Marcus is shouting in pain. I saw the blood dripping from the wound on his hand. Bumaon sa likod ng kanyang kamay ang kutsilyong ibinato ko.

"Get her!", he commanded the hunters. Nag-aalangan ang mga itong napatingin sa'kin bago nagkusang maglabas ng kanilang mga sandata.

Some of them brought knives, some are guns, and the rest has spears on their hands. Pumwesto ang mga ito sa pag-atake.

And then the loud sound of steps resounded around the place. Unti-unti'y gumalaw ang mga puno sa paligid. Nawala ang atensyon ng mga hunters sa'kin at bumaling sa iba't ibang direksyon.

Hundreds of wolves appeared from the forest. They slowly yet precisely walk towards our point, encircling me and the hunters. This is the first time I saw a great number of wolves. All of them are growling with a gritted teeth and furious eyes. Handa ang mga ito sa anumang paggalaw ng kalabang panig. Now, this is Duke's pack. This is our pack.

A black shining wolf caught my attention. Diretso itong naglakad palapit sa'kin. From the high-pitched black eyes, I know it was Duke. Naging tahimik ang paligid hanggang sa makarating ito sa aking tabi. The huge wolf towered over me. I grinned when I saw its canines appeared, making the hunters quiver in fear. I caressed the wolf and felt its soft and thick fur on my hands. It responded with a heavy breath and then turned its head to Marcus.

"You leave or you die. Choose Marcus. I command you.", I slowly instructed him. Dumaan ang pagka-inis sa mga mata nito. I saw his jaw clenched by the way I said my orders to him. But he has no choice left.

"Hindi pa tayo tapos, Gabriel.", he answered back. I smirk at him.

"I am ready, Marcus. My pack will always be ready to kill you."