
Zach and Bian arrive in the woods in the town of Rotternville. Many are already lying weakly on the ground. Bian helped heal their wounds. Kei came to Zach who was walking in limp.
"You okay, Zach?" ask Kei. "Don't change yourself first. Werewolves heal faster if they are still in the form of wolves."
Zach complied and lay on the ground. Kei checked his wound.
"Looks bad." muttered Kei.
'So what now?' ask Zach in his mind.
"We must prepare and strengthen ourselves. After what we did to his packk, I'm sure alpha Roger won't stay put. He's going to get his revenge. Therefore we must prepare for that and strengthen ourselves. Getting into that pack is like getting into a war, Zach. Roger's alpha pack is very powerful. Although the size of the territory is almost the same as Lykort but they are strong and cruel."
'So.. L'm... Start a war with them?'
"To be honest, no Zach. They attack Roykolt's pack at the same time Aaron leaves. They've been planning something, I'm sure of it. And it looks like we've been in his trap."
'Traps?'
"Yes, trap. This is my guess, Zach. They deliberately brought Aaron back, they wanted to see if you saved him. Because Aaron didn't die when you bit him, which means Aaron got into your flock."
'What does that mean they know Aaron was my bet before?'
"That's... I don't know for sure. But obviously you saved Aaron from your bite and that means Aaron is precious to you. And you're also willing to get into Roger's alpha pack to save Aaron. So all this looks like we started a war with them."
'But... I'm just...'
"I know Zach, you saved your life. If I were you, I would do the same. It's okay."
'So... Must how? What if they attack?'
"Then we must unite. Orychants. So you better stay with me and practice."
'What about my school, my mom and... And... My pals?'
"You can take them if you want, no problem. Including mate. Bring him in."
'You're crazy apparently. Is he living alone in this world? He has parents! It's highly unlikely that I'll take her away.'
"All right, all right." Kei laughing. "We think about that later. Now take care of your wounds. Does it still hurt?"
'Lumayan. Is it still long to heal?'
"Depends." this time Bian answered. Bian carried a small bowl and a small bottle filled with black liquid. "You were bitten by a fellow alpha. I guess if the alpha bites longer heals."
"That's right." Kei agrees.
"Therefore I brought this potion for you to recover quickly." Bian placed a bowl and a small bottle on the ground. "I saw your wound."
Bian observed Zach's wounds. Zach grimacing.
'Aaakkhh... Be ill. Can't you slow down?!'
"Sorry-sorry, I didn't mean it. You're so fierce."
Bian mixed the liquid in the bottle into the bowl.
'What the hell is that?'
"This bottle?" Bian raised the bottle he was holding. "It's jinx. It is common for us witches to be injured to treat wounds with jinx potions. Then the one in this bowl..." Bian pointed to the small bowl in front of him. "... These are called nine sacred herbs. Nine medicinal plants that will heal all wounds caused by supernatural beings."
"Nine sacred herbs?" ask Kei. Bian. Bian opened his mouth to explain, but Ian had already replied.
"Mugwort, plantain, watercress, chamomile, nettle, apple crab, chervil, Fenel. Nine sacred herbs, right?"
"Waaahh you're great Ian." Bian patted Ian on the shoulder.
"How do you know that?" ask Kei.
"My father taught me."
"Your father, Cavril?"
"of course. How many fathers do I have? The more you get the more stupid you are."
"Hey, hey... I'm the king." protested Kei.
"Well! Always use the king as an excuse."
"I am the king!" Kei snorted in annoyance. "I, Kei Lyros Laros, King of Lycanthrope. Ordered you Ian Roy-aaaarrgghhh.... It hurts!!!"
Bian pulled Kei's ear.
"You're! Just use your name and title!"
"Aakkh... But... But..."
"But what?!" Bian still pulled Kei's ear.
"I am king! Aakhh.. hurts...!!"
"It doesn't apply to me." replied Bian cuek. "Even if you're king, you can't use your name and title at will."
"Aarrgghhhh....!! Alright, alright.... I'm sorry. Now release! It hurts!!!" said Kei. Bian let go of his hand. Kei directly rubbed his reddened ears. Ian laughed amusedly.
"Why pull my ears?! It hurts!!"
"I know it hurts, but I don't care." replied Bian cuek.
"What?!" pekik Kei's.
"What... What?!" pekik Bian no less loud.
'Hey, hey... Why are you fighting. How's me?'
"Aahhh I'm sorry Zach.. Because of Kei tuh, wolves suck!!" said Bian.
"You crazy witch! Wasn't... Genie's crazy!!"
"What did you say?!"
'Aarrgghh... I've been in pain and I don't need to hear you guys fighting!'
"I'm sorry Zach." Bian is still eating Kei's piss. Bian took the small bowl. "I'm sorry, but this is gonna hurt.".
Bian smeared the potion and sure enough. Zach immediately groaned in pain.
'It hurts so much..!!!'
"Yes I know Zach. I'm sorry, but after this you'll get well soon. So hang on." said Bian.
Zach is still groaning.
"But..." Ian is back. "... You guys are talking, can Bian hear Zach?"
"Aahh right! I just realized it too!!" added Kei.
"Yes, that's what I'm confused about." Bian still gave the potion to Zach's entire wound. "I can hear Zach's voice. This is so weird... I can't even hear Kei's voice, but why can I hear Zach?"
"It usually happens if...." Ian did not continue his words.
"If what? Why not continue?"
"Hmmm... But it feels impossible" Kei said.
"What? You're confusing me." protested Bian. Bian shook his head then treated Zach again. "Hey, hey... Can't you just shut up? I can't smear his wound."
'That's a fucking pain!! Don't you know?!'
"Are you crazy? Of course I know!"
Zach still can't keep quiet because of the pain. While Bian keeps nagging. Kei and Ian looked at each other.
'That's... It can't be, right?'
'Sure, doesn't alpha Zach already have mate?'
'So... Is it because he was chosen?'
'If that's the case he should be able to hear you or me too, Kei. But he can't.'
'Then... Does Zach have two mate? That's not possible. No werewolf has two mate.'
'I know Kei, therefore I'm confused.'
'I will read the werewolf book when I visit Lykort later.'
'You're going?'
'We're going to go. It's good you told me to go alone. You betaku.'
'Yes, yes, I know. So chatty.'
Kei looked at Ian annoyed while Bian observed the two of them with his eyebrows raised next door.
"Have you finished talking to your mindlink? I need help" Bian said.
"What help?" ask Kei. Bian handed over the bowl he was carrying.
"Here, help me treat them. I have to accept the nagging first." said Bian then pointed behind Kei and Ian with his chin. Ian and Kei turn around and find Damian and some of the Elders there.
"Aahh okay. Are you gonna be okay?" kei asked while receiving the bowl Bian gave him.
"Maybe I'll be locked up" Bian said.
"Cages?" Ian and Kei said simultaneously.
"Yes, brackets. Not in a room. But the basement or the bunker" Bian said as he passed. Ian and Kei looked at each other and left.
****
...The Pack Moon Bykort...
Brak!!
"Dammit!!!" said alpha Roger. He's so angry.
"Let the alpha calm down, the most important thing is that they've got into our trap. We'll easily attack them whenever we want" said beta Bruce.
"But how did that damn Aaron go beta? Beta pure descent? Then their Orychant is complete. Even though we're strong, we'll have a hard time dealing with them."
"Look down alpha, we can ask others for help."
"Are they going to help?"
"of course. If we tell them that we were attacked just because we tortured traitors, it will make them help us. Especially the witches. The chosen one helps the purebred alpha to attack us alpha and it makes it easier for us to persuade the witches, especially the blacks who want the chosen death to awaken Darkness."
"So you're saying we're gonna help the blacks raise Darkness? Nope, no. You know Darkness is so powerful. No one can match him. Even according to the supernatural book, the chosen seven cannot kill him, what if only one is chosen? Especially if elected to die... I can't imagine it."
"Of course not alpha, we won't kill the chosen one until we find a way to kill Darkness. We're just gonna help hurt her."
"Yes, hurt him. So that he will bend his knees to me and become my follower or even my luna. It would be very easy to destroy Orychant if the chosen one was on our side."
"That's right. But it's very hard to get him on our side alpha."
"Then we have to find a way to separate the Orychants. Call immediately the people we can work with. Witches, vampires everything we can get."
"Good alpha."
Bruce got up from his seat and left the room leaving alpha Roger with his thoughts.
****
...Rotternville...
"Zach!!" call Daryl.
Zach who was walking towards the classroom turned his head.
"Oh hi Daryl, Rod."
"You... Be okay? I heard you were badly injured yesterday?" daryl asked while turning Zach's body to check on him.
"I'm fine Daryl." Zach stops Daryl and brings his mouth closer to Daryl's ear. "I'm a werewolf, remember? After all, the witch potion is really powerful." whispered Zach.
"Ahh you're right."
"What's? Why suddenly?"
"I'm going to move house and school. I talked to my mom about this this morning. I'll also move, to the Roykolt pack area, where Kei goes to school."
"That king?"
"Yes, we can't be separated now."
"Because of Orychant?" guess Rodney. Zach nodded.
"Yes, because of that. So then... Do you want to come?"
"We were invited too?"
"Surely Daryl, you're part of my pack."
"really?"
"certain. Daryl is my brain and Rodney is my knowledge. You guys should come along. Shouldn't the pack always be together?"
"Oh dude...." Daryl hugged Zach suddenly. Zach surprised. "I love you, buddy. I'll tell my parents soon."
Daryl left and went to class first. Zach shook his head.
"What about Karen? Isn't he your mate? Mate is part of Zach's werewolf self. Losing Mate, means you're losing half of yourself."
"I don't know Rod, I mean... Does she have to be my mate? I meani... We hardly ever meet and talk and even I don't know him very well."
Rodney poked his left hand against Zach's shoulder and pulled him into class.
"Patience Zach. You just need time" Rodney said.
"Well yeah... Mabe. Then... How's things going?"
"You can see it for yourself" Rodney said, referring to Karen with his chin. Zach saw Karen. For some reason every time she saw Karen, her heart was beating faster than usual. She's my mate but... Do I really like it?
****
Karen went to school to be picked up by her father. Karen's father's car stopped in front of the house. Karen got out of the car.
"Karen.." call Zach who's been waiting for him right now across from Karen's house. Karen looked.
"Zach's? What are you doing here?" ask Karen.
"I... Wanna talk to you. Good afternoon Mr. Wheeler." said Zach.
"Good afternoon." said Karen's father. "You are....."
"Zach sir, Zachary Payne" said Zach, extending his hand. Karen's father welcomes Zach's hand.
"Zach. Okay. You're... Donna's son, right?"
"Yes, sir." replied Zach. Karen's father nodded.
"Uhmm Dad come in first, you guys talk. Do you want to go in Zach?"
"No, sir. Thank you." said Zach.
"All right."
Karen's father goes inside the house, leaving Zach and Karen outside.
"Would you like to come here?" said Karen.
"Seeing your situation. Are you all right?"
"It depends." answered Karen. "If my health is good, if my heart and my mind... Pretty well. I can at least accept everything."
"Good, that's good" Zach said.
"Are you worried about me?" ask Karen. Zach nodded.
"certain."
"It shouldn't be necessary. I can take care of myself."
"I know it's Karen. And you're very good at it."
"Then stop worrying about me and leave me alone. All your fans will think I'm your lover and it won't be good for me" Karen said. If I could, 0maybe from the beginning I don't care.
"Uhmm I want to ask. What's... Do you want to come with me?" ask Zach. At first he did not want to ask that absurd thing but he ended up changing his mind at the last moment.
"You mean?"
"I'm going to move. Me and my mom."
"Is it because Cho's mom moved to teach?"
"It can be said that way. So then... Would you like to move in with me?" ask Zach. Karen gawked in disbelief.
"Are you crazy?! What am I moving in with you for?!" karen then finally realized her voice was too loud. "That can't be Zach" he said in a quieter voice.
"Yes, I know. I'm just asking" Zach said. Karen nodded.
"What are you asking that for? Why should I come with you?" karen asked confused.
"Because... Because you're my mate."
"Mate? Whatisit? What do you mean soulmate? Zach, we're not lovers."
"I knew. L'm... Forgetit. Let's just say I never said it" Zach said and walked up to his bike. Karen looked confused. Zach's on his bike.
"I'll go home first."
Zach put on his helmet and drove straight for his bike. Stupid question. His heart is in his heart.
Karen was still staring at him until Zach disappeared from her sight.
'What's wrong with him? Mate? Weird...'
"Karens... Do you still want to stay out?" ask her father from the entrance. Karen went straight into the house.
****
Everyone gathered in the forest the next day. Kei's flock, Dustin's alpha, and the newly rescued herd from Moon Bykort's pack. Zach comes along with Aaron who still looks weak.
"Aaron.." said Kei.
"Your highness..." Aaron lowered his body to pay his respects.
"How are you doing?" ask Kei.
"It's better, your honor. Thank you." replied Aaron. Kei stood up from his seat and gently patted Aaron's arm.
"That's great Aaron." praise Kei. Kei turned to look at all the werewolves there. Everyone stood up and looked at Kei.
"So... What are you guys gonna do?" ask Kei. "Are you going back to your old territory?"
"We're free to come back. We don't have alpha or beta. We also believe that our territory no longer exists. We have nothing left" said one of them.
"I'm sorry about that. Alpha Roger is unforgivable." said Zach's father.
"Then what are you going to do? Are you going to merge into one?" ask Kei again.
"We think that way, your majesty. We who used to come from three packs, will become one flock."
"And you're gonna find the alpha and the pack that's gonna take you? Pack my dad and alpha Sebastian will gladly accept you if you want. You fought so bravely back then" Kei said.
"My pack will also gladly accept you" Zach's father said as well.
"Thank you, alpha. But we've agreed." Anthony looked at the whole new pack. All the members agreed. "We pledge and swear to be obedient and faithful to arrive at our new alpha."
"Have you made a choice?"
"It's your honor."
"Oh yeah? Who?"
Anthony and all the new packs were standing tall.
"We... Swear... Will always be obedient and faithful to death to the alpha Zach" said Anthony then prostrated by bending one leg, his right hand clenched to the chest and his head bowed. All the pack members followed him.
Zach surprised. He stared in disbelief. Aaron walked in front of Zach and bowed before him. Roland, Adrian, Brad and Austin also bowed.
"Hey, why are you kowtowing too?" ask the confused Zach.
"Good boy, you have a pack and they're your flock from now on" Zach's father said, patting Zach's still dumb shoulders.
"Congratulations Zach, you're great." praise Kei.
"Good alpha." Ian came too.
"Hmm wait a minute, wait a minute. What if I refuse? I haven't agreed to anything."
"Zach, even if you refuse, they will remain obedient and loyal to you. Werewolves are only obedient and loyal to the person they have sworn to be loyal to. In other words, if a werewolf has sworn allegiance and obedience to one alpha, then they will continue to be obedient and loyal, until that alpha dies or they die."
"So Zach has to accept them?"
"Better like that. You better have a herd, let someone take care of you."
"Then why did my gamma come prostrating and swearing?"
"I took them off Zach. They fit you better." Zach's father chuckled.
"But dad..." Zach breathed a rough sigh.
"Hmmm... Zach?" call Kei. Zach. "You better tell them to stand up. Otherwise, they'll be prostrating all day."
"Do I have to order them? Can they not rise on their own? Or maybe you can ask them to get up?"
"Can't be alpha. They just obey you. If you don't tell them to get up, they won't get up. Because they've sworn obedience and loyalty." Ian explained. Zach rubbed his face rough.
"All right..." Zacn took his breath. "Ehem... Uhmm... Can stand now... And please... Don't bow like that anymore. It makes me so... It's uncomfortable. Wake up..."
All members of Zach's pack stand up.
"Aakkh... My feet... Why so long." Brad complained.
"Brad.." scolds Roland.
"Sorry..."
"So... We'll be leaving for the Moon Roykolt pack soon. Waiting for alpha Zach. At least until things calm down again" Kei said.
All silent in silence. Everyone knows, soon war will break out and everyone is nervous about it.
"Y......!!!!!"
I heard someone shouting his name in anger. Everyone looked surprised.
"Ta-Tania?!" Kei.
Tania ran towards Kei and beat him up. Kei grimaced in pain. Everyone looked confused.
"You... What's... I mean..."
"Actually you want to say what sweet sister is?"
"Bi-Bians... Wait, what's going on?"
"I'm here to hold you accountable." Tania said, looking at Kei with annoyance. Tania folded her hands in front of her chest.
"Wisdom answered?" reset Kei.
"Kei what have you done?!" peekik Ian's.
"I... I wasn't..."
Everyone stared in surprise at Kei. What's with Kei?
****
tadariaz