Chapter Sixteen

MIA'S POV

The growls kept getting louder and I tightened my fist and took a deep breath as it was getting closer.

I didn't feel a drop in temperature that I normally felt when death was nearby. I blinked then stood straight when I realized that the person making the noise was a frail little boy who had come into view.

“What?", David uttered in disbelief.

I was shocked as I sized him up from head to toe. He stared at us innocently with his big green eyes and I smiled.

“Hi", I said, “My name is Mia. What's yours?"

He blinked and said, “My name is William but my mother and my sisters and my friends call me bubbles."

“Hello Bubbles", I said.

He blushed and then I decided to ask, “Were you the one who was making those scary noises earlier?"

He nodded and replied, “My power is to imitate the growls of monsters and animals."

“That’s cool."

“What's yours?"

My lips curve up slightly, then I say, “It's not as special as yours."

He shakes his head I'm disapproval and says, “Mama says that the moon goddess bestows special gifts on every wolf and that we all are special."

I choked up and his words touched something in me, “Thank you Bubbles."

“What are you doing here anyway?", He asks.

I quickly remember the reason why we are all here. I introduce ourselves to him and tell him everything as briefly as I can and he nods in understanding.

“Okay", he says ,”I'll take you to the chief."

“Why are you out here all alone kid?", Gordon .

“It's my turn to lock the gates. That's why I make those noises to scare anyone who might want to hurt me."

We nod. He walks to the gate and locks it up before gesturing to us to follow him. We walk for a long while before reaching the place where the Omegas stay.

We reach there and the place is neat and there are cute little houses that are lined up on each side of the path and as we walk along the path, we receive a lot of stares from the Omegas that are outside. There are whispers of “who are they?" and “what do they want?"

Bubbles lead us until we stop in front of the hut at the end of the pack.

He turns to us and says, “This is where our chief stays, let me call him."

We nodded and he entered and after some time, he came out with the chief.

David and Gordon begin to speak with the chief and tell him that we are here to offer assistance to help find the missing child but he refuses them politely. They try to convince him but he is hesitant so I decide to step in.

“May the moon goddess keep on giving you strength and favor, may her blessings be abundant upon you all."

The chief turned to look at me as I greeted him with those words that my father always used when addressing the Omegas of our Pack then. I walk to him.

“I understand your fears, Chief. You think we are not going to succeed because we have not been able to find the missing betas children. I understand that is why we need you to help us to help you. Please.”

The chief was quiet, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath which he let out slowly. He returned his gaze back to me and said,

" The child went missing after a game of hide and seek with his best friend. I can lead you to him.”

" Thank you so much.”

He nodded and led us back to a hut where he entered and came out with a young blonde boy.

I smiled at the child before squatting to his level. I ruffled his hair.

" Hi, my name is Mia.”

" Earl is my name. Mama named me after her grandpa.”

" That's beautiful. I want to ask you something Earl.”

" Okay”

" Can you tell me what happened when your friend went missing?”

Earl pursed his lips. People had started gathering us. There were whispers of " what is she doing?”

" He was the seeker and I was the hider.”

I nodded

" We normally count to ten when playing the game but Earl kept on counting and reached ninety nine. I got angry and asked him why he didn't stop at ten but he didn't answer me, that was when I came out of my hiding spot and realized that he was gone.”

I frowned. That was strange.

“Did you hear anything Earl apart from your friend's voice?"

“No, Peter and I were alone. Will he be okay?"

“Yes. He'll be okay. We will find your friend I promise."

He nods and hugs me then whispers in my ears the words " I believe in you”

I smile and hug him back before releasing him and holding his hands.

“Now Earl just point to me in the direction where your friend went missing."

Earl points behind me and I kiss his hands before turning just to see a woman hand me a power bike.

“Please", she pleads, “Bring Peter back home."

*****

David drove the bike on the rough terrain in the direction that Earl pointed out for us. Gordon stayed back at the Omegas place to keep watch.

We came to a stop where we could no longer use the bike and decided to use our legs to walk the remaining distance.

I turned back to look at the distance we had covered only to figure out that I could no longer see the tiny huts of the Omegas which meant that I and David were alone.

I closed my eyes and opened them immediately. I felt David hold my hands. I turned to look at him. He smiled at me.

“We are not alone Mia. We have each other."

I smiled back at him and we both held hands as we walked over the rough terrain, forward.