Chapter 7

The werewolves with red eyes howled in a frenzy, unable to hide their delight as they watched their arch enemy die. If not that times had changed, they'd have been fighting each other just to get a piece of the burning reptile.

"What do we do now?" Bale asked Hendell as they watched the reptile being consumed by fire, the tension in the room heavy in his voice.

"What else do you suggest we do? He didn't budge" the druid shrugged.

"He said there's a legion of them out there"

"And there's an army of you." Hendell countered. "We don't have much of a choice here, kiddo. We either find their queen or we kill them one by one. Either way, this is only going to end in one way. A war" he said then left.

After the show had ended, everyone left; both in groups and in masses until there was no one left in the Druid's Tower (except for the druids of course). Just like everyone, Bale entered his car and hit the highway. He drove at a very frightening speed that it took him a few minutes before he reached the outskirts of Bloomfield Hills.

It was nearing dawn when he finally arrived at his house. A house that he had inherited from his father and his fathers before him (a long line of brave alpha males who had made their mark in history). To him, this was more than just a house. It was his heritage.

Exhausted from all the drama and staying awake all day, Bale fantasized in his head about how he was going to take a warm soothing shower, and then retire to bed to get a well-deserved sleep. But all that changed the moment he saw Jane sitting in his living room.

"What is it?" He sighed in exasperation.

"I've researched for him just like you asked me to, but nothing makes sense. I've tried connecting all the dots but I only come out with one answer every time." Jane rose to her feet to meet him.

"Who?" Bale asked, confused for a second.

"Who else? Topher!" she replied irritably.

"What's going on with him?"

"I think he's evolving"

"Into what?" Bale asked

"A True alpha" she whispered. There was a brief moment of silence after as it took Bale a little longer to process the shocking information.

"W-woah! That's great news! I think we should tell him," he suggested excitedly, delighted that his friend was finally getting the promotion he deserved.

"No, we can't" Jane refused

"Why"

"With great power, comes great responsibilities. And I don't think he's ready for that" she replied

Topher glanced at his watch as he waited for Penelope outside her house. Due to some inconveniences (including the mayor visiting their station), Penelope's mom had tasked him to look out for her daughter till things had settled down a bit in Bloomfield Hills. And in his own definition, it meant driving her to school. His face lit into a charming smile when he finally saw Penelope walking down their porch.

"Took you long enough, mademoiselle" He saluted her.

"I know when you're mocking me" Penelope sneered at him.

"Except I wasn't now" he laughed as he went to open the door for her.

"Anyways, guess what?" She asked him

"What?"

"That's not how to guess." she frowned. "But I'll forgive you because my mom got me a pistol! Isn't that cool?" she screamed excitedly

"Yeah, just don't shoot me" Topher teased her.

"Nah, I'ma go pow-pow on your ass" She imitated the sound of a gunshot.

"Officer please don't shoot!" Topher laughed as he entered the driver's side and then they drove away.

Topher and Penelope alighted from the car when they finally arrived at OCC. And after grabbing their stuff from the trunk, they entered their campus just to find the rest of the other students going haywire.

"What's going on?" Penelope asked one of the students.

"The Police are searching the school. Mr. Shapiro is reportedly missing. His wife said he never returned home last night. And now they're searching the school because this was the last place he was ever seen." she got her answer.

"I guess classes are suspended for today... " Penelope turned to say to Topher before she saw someone approaching them (blue eyes and black hair), and her face contorted into a frown.

"What?" Topher looked behind him to know why she was suddenly pissed.

"How are you still friends with this guy that keeps walking like he's better than everyone" she fumed only to his hearing.

"Well, technically he is. But c'mon Penny, you need to settle your beef with him. You don't even know him that well" Topher defended.

"Oh, I know him enough don't worry," Penelope muttered before Bale finally approached them.

"Christopher" Bale shook hands with Topher and saluted Penelope with a brief nod

"Bale? What are you doing here?" Topher acted surprise.

"Well, I was at your place but I didn't find you. So I figured you'd be here"

"Why are you looking for me?"

"Well, I presume you've forgotten what today is, so I came to remind you. I'm going to hunt and I'd like you to join me" Bale offered.

"Okay, give me one second" Topher excused himself as he took Penelope a few feet away from Bale so they could talk.

"Are you going with him?" Penelope frowned at him.

"I have to. I promised I'd follow him." Topher answered

"So you'd leave me and go with him?"

"Not exactly, Jane would be coming over at your place"

"Topher, why are you doing this? This is so unlike you! Is he forcing you to do this? I mean he's older than you, he could. Oh, wait! Are you gay? And you're cheating on me with him?" Penelope began to overreact (as usual).

"Calm down, Penny. You know I'm straight, and I'd never cheat on you. EVER. Bale is a very nice person, and I have to go with him because I gave him my word. And that's what makes me a man. Living up to my word." Topher mesmerized her with his blazing dark espresso eyes. "I promise I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone" he planted an affectionate kiss on her forehead then left with Bale. It was a very simple gesture, but it meant a lot to Penelope.

"So she's mad at you?" Bale asked as they entered his car

"Big mad"

"She hates me," he said the words like he was very certain.

"No, not really. Hate is a very strong word" Topher tried to defend Penelope.

"You don't need to cover up for her. You should know even from the distance, I could still hear you. Besides, I don't like her too" Bale shrugged as he stepped on the gas pedal. He drove away from the school and into the main road, hitting the highway a few minutes later as he headed towards the outskirts of Bloomfield Hills where forests were lush; and then he parked when he finally reached his destination.

"I almost forgot. My History teacher is missing. Did you guys have anything to do with it?" Topher glanced warily at Bale as they set to enter the woods.

"He was a reptile" Bale replied nonchalantly.

"Woah!" Topher exclaimed. "Oh, okay. That explains a lot of stuff now" he muttered as they continued to go deeper into the heart of the woods.

"Okay, we'll stop here" Bale announced after they've gone a little deeper, and began to undress. "Are you coming?"

"No, thanks. I'm good" Topher declined the invitation politely but earned himself an icy stare from Bale.

"You know you can't do that anymore" Bale frowned at him. "Stop starving yourself. You're putting yourself at risk!" He warned. "Remember your first encounter with the reptiles? You couldn't even sense they were dangerous until it was too late. And this is just the least side effect." he suddenly paused to keep his emotions in check. "Topher I'm telling you a reptile was executed yesterday. And if you don't know what this means, it means that we've just declared war on them, and there are legions of them out there! How would you defend yourself if you're weak?"

"I'd find a way. I don't have to kill. Violence isn't always the answer" Topher stood his ground.

"Look, Topher, I really like you. Maybe because you're hard-headed, I don't know. I just like you, and I wouldn't want to see you get hurt. Killing doesn't necessarily mean you're bad. It's the motive that defines you. If you kill to feed, for self-defense, or to protect the ones you love" Bale advised him. "Now tell me, if you were alpha and your pack was in danger would you not kill to defend them? Or if Penelope was in danger, would you not kill to defend her?" he tested him.

"Leave Penelope out of this," Topher growled, unable to even bear the imagination of Penelope getting hurt. "And If I was to ever be in a situation as that, I'd let fate decide the path I would follow!"

"You're so stubborn! True it may save you sometimes, but it'd most likely, kill you" Bale warned. "So this has been about her? You're willing to risk your safety for her?"

"Yes, it's about her. I've never wanted to be more human than I am ever since I met her. I swear I would've never accepted to be all this if I had met her first." Topher confessed.

"So this is what you call love? This suffering you're subjecting yourself to?"

"If you've ever been in love, you'd know it's worth every single pain"

"I don't believe in love, Topher." Bale shook his head. "It isn't real. But you know what's real? Sparks and epic sensations"

"Then I guess it's high time you go find your lonely self a mate" Topher blasted his alpha.

In a normal scenario, any other alpha would've punished Topher for disrespecting them, but it wasn't Bale. He liked Topher a lot. There was a fondness between him and the recalcitrant boy; an avuncular love that made him care for Topher like he was his own blood.