Captured

~

JeonJa

~

I watched as our wagon pulled through the forest path, creaking, bumping over every mound and bulge it passed; I knew the frame was slightly loose on its hinges, considering how cheap it was to rent.

Jackson had specifically wanted the local one since he didn't seek attention this time. It would be dangerous if people knew he was leaving town or was travelling without the full pack. Other packs could easily destroy him, plus, his pack back home wasn't safe if the secret got exposed.

So here we were travelling cheap, each of us wearing full robes with hoods, a standard 'I look creepy but I am not suspicious' set of clothing choice.

The forest wasn't thick, given I had traveled around since the age of eight and visited many ancient places, compared to them it was nothing, but it was dense enough to stop the sun's glare from directly illuminating us. The light did pass along, but was filtered and more flimsy.

The trees were huge, but not broad in girth, hinting the forest was still young.

I shifted to make myself comfortable for the long ride, it was already exhausting. And above else, we were all stuffed into a single wagon, all squeezing each other and waiting for the next turn to come so we can lean over and make more space for ourselves, subtly.

The day was still bright and warm, but treading through the woods was always dangerous for anyone. And despite being bright and light, it could always house the next set of wolf pack looking for a good loot.

Jinyo was driving the vehicle and the rest of us were inside, enjoying each other's faces.

Well I was lucky enough to have the seat next to the doorway, so it was easy for me to distract myself and get lost in thoughts. It would have been the case if not for being stared at by six other people constantly who just didn't know when to stop pestering.

Maybe giving them a good beat a second time will teach them the lesson every kid knew without even getting proper schooling.

Staring was bad.

"You people mind giving me some space?" I murmured to myself, but I knew they would hear me, they were wolf hybrids for a reason.

I heard Jackson snort, "We will if you talk more about yourself."

I sighed, shifting to take a look at him, knowing he was serious about his curiosity. Well curiosity killed the cat.

"I don't have much of a history."

"Everyone has them, don't joke around. And seriously, you know more about us than we know about you."

I seriously doubted that.

I thought about just muting him out, letting him speak to himself, but something told me that sharing things wasn't a bad idea, and I had not much to hide, my history could do me no harm, not anymore than being born an omega could.

I still stared at the moving forest outside, not interested in having eye contact with any of them. "To be brief, I had a family of four. A mother, father, brother and me. I don't remember having any relatives, it was just me and them. They were farmers, and worked in a large field spanning across acres of land. They were hard working, used to have the winter and summer harvest. They would sell it, trade it for other goods and export it to the other villages for a mediocre sum. I didn't really bother with them, always playing around with my brother. He and I were joined at the hips, where he would always tease me for being naive, weak and clumsy."

I heard someone snicker, but moved on, "I didn't know until much later that my brother used to threaten others and protect me since everybody knew I was an omega. Well, the interesting thing was, that he was an alpha."

I paused again, reminiscing about the past. And Yuga took that as an excuse to speak, "He was really an alpha?"

I turned to look at him, and took note of how keenly they were all listening to me, as if... I was their own. Which bothered me greatly, weren't they just this morning seething at me? Talk about changing track. But I think it was because of Jackson and Mak that they were even trying to interact with me. Assh*les or not, the two were still the leader and beta duo of the pack.

"Yes."

"But it is very peculiar, don't you think?"

I nodded, "I know, which is why I have stopped dwelling on the subject. Anyway, one day a pack came along, with 20-40 alphas, I still remember them, their domination and filth."

"Woah, slow down," Babam barged in, his disbelief was similar to that of the other's, "a pack doesn't have so many alphas, you sure they were a pack, because-"

"I know, it could be that they weren't a pack but the case is they were there and totally destroyed my happy family, and with it my life. As you can see, I am not naive or weak anymore," I continued softly, sarcastically. A sadness ached my heart but I ignored it and looked away from the pack members, I didn't want their pity, if or if not they pitied me. "They were about to kill me too, but then this giant silver wolf came out of nowhere, sporting a set of blue glowing eyes and infinite strength I have yet to see in any... I think it was an alpha wolf and I am so eager to see the challengers of the fest."

"So that you could find that wolf?" Yuga asked me, knowing he was right.

"That is one of the tasks I would like to accomplish, if I ever find that wolf that is, then I would like to punch it in the face."

There was a silence that followed me and Jackson started laughing.

"Why the hell would you do that?" Jae asked, his voice very curious.

"Because after living the way I have been living my life, I don't feel any gratitude towards him, but I won't cry about it, I am surviving and have a goal... that is what matters."

"True, that way you can meet that pink hair of yours."

I frowned as Jackson smirked, the rest of his pack getting confused, except you couldn't tell what JAY and Mak were thinking, they looked serious enough.

"I have already met him, his name is Michi."

As soon as it was out, Jackson started to laugh hysterically, followed by Babam. "What kind of a fake name is that... Michi."

I glared at them both, a strange protectiveness flowing through me. And they stopped with their antics, when they heard a growl slip past my lips, I think it was more like snarling.

"Relax fake omega, why so serious?" Jackson mocked, but I saw his smile slip into something serious, as if he really noticed the sudden change in me. Yet Babam didn't, he was still holding back his mockery.

I didn't notice the rest of the group, as Jackson and Babam sat directly opposite to me, so I couldn't say what they were thinking.

And since yesterday even I have been confused, thinking about him, wondering why Michi meant so much to me, all of a sudden.

Strange, when I didn't even know him and I was very sure his name was a fake. And every book out there could conclude how absurd it sounded. Still, whenever I thought about him, or saw him, my heart rate just flipped and my mind just slipped.

With no scent of his I couldn't possibly tell what he was, and that was just inconvenient.

I was yet to conclude my thoughts when there was a sudden, abrupt stop of our wagon, alerting us all of possible trouble.

Mak, who sitting directly behind the driver's seat, whispered something to Jinyo. And to my worry I couldn't hear a reply, neither could Mak and that had all of us running on instinct, preparing for any combat in the near future.

I looked out the wagon and into the barks of the trees, nothing looked out of the ordinary but a very sweet smell did hit our noses. And that was what I instantly recognized as Weira, a sleep inducing flowering plant.

Oh no...

We were all too late now, because even a small sniff of that stuff did its job effectively. And soon all of us blacked out.

--

When I opened my eyes again, my head felt heavy and a deep pain in my abdomen assaulted my senses. Something was very wrong, I couldn't even see anything.

At first I shifted around on some cold stony floor and my eyes saw nothing but black. I panicked for a while, thinking I had somehow turned blind, but then I realized, wherever I was, was very dark, and even with my strong sense of sight, I could see nothing around.

Was the placed covered with some dark panel? Could be.

I tried to reach it, sitting up on the cold dark floor, which I was sure was just some random textured stone. But mid way, my limbs were pulled back and feeling the restraint I was under, I could tell I was tied up by something tight... how hadn't I noticed it before?

I started to move around frantically, trying to get out of my restraint, but I couldn't.

Although, despite the loss of strength and sight, I could clearly hear the drip-drip of the water droplet, and it echoed along the walls.

Was this some kind of a cave...?

I even tried my voice, but my vocal cords won't respond to me. Like they were clogged by something.

My body felt sour for some reason, stiff and paining. Like I was dragged around in a sack.

I was saved from further negative thinking, when I heard someone's voice. It sounded unfamiliar to me, so I just concentrated on what it was saying.

"...be there with the delivery, yes, I will personally train them... leather? No, buy a spiked one, they won't listen to plain insults."

I couldn't hear much of the conversation, because the other one was very throaty and had a very low pitched voice, only this guy had high enough pitch to be heard somewhat. All else was rubbish.

And unfortunately, I knew just where I was. This prisoner like state, the restraint, the black box, sore body and the voiceless cord, meant only one thing... I was captured by the Slavors. The illegal omega traffickers.

Great.