Chapter 5: Cliff

[Ocean]

“We should go back inside and see if they’re done cooking.”

I honestly want to get back inside, but I’m afraid that I would go frenzy again.

“I think I still need some fresh air.” I sighed and perched myself on the ground’s protruding roots.

“I know you’re still upset about your memories, but don’t be too hard on yourself.” I craned my neck to look at his features. His playful expression has faded, and he is now staring me down in the eyes.

I was the one who broke eye contact and raised my gaze to the bright afternoon sky.

“I promise I won’t.” I said it confidently, but I wasn’t sure if it was addressed to him or to myself.

“Come on, don’t give me that sad face. We should really go back inside. I’m starving.” He yanked me out of my trance, bending down and taking my arms, gently tugging me before dragging me back to the pack house.

A laugh squeezed out from me as my feet struggled to follow his long strides. We were almost to the door when a man emerged from it, and my heart sank.

We both came to a halt, and I went straight into Arzhel’s back to hide. I could feel him tense in his presence.

His words rang in my head the last time we met, that if he sees me, he’ll kill me on sight.

“Good day, Alpha Quillan,” Arzhel said in a monotone voice, and one of his hands found mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Beta Arzhel, tell that little runt hiding at your back to see where she is going. The next time she bumps into me, I will cut off her arms. Understood?” My heart pounded loudly, and my blood ran cold when he spoke. I had no idea it was him I had bumped into earlier. My senses were dulled at that moment, and I wasn’t aware of my surroundings. That explains the sudden sparks earlier.

I didn’t even realize I was clutching Arzhel’s hand so tightly.

“I apologize, Alpha. I will make certain that something like that does not happen again.” Arzhel bowed his head.

He should not have done that. It was not his fault. I should be the one to apologize, not him.

I tried to take a step forward and face the terrifying man, but Arzhel stopped me, keeping me hidden behind him.

Quillan didn’t say anything, I just heard his footfalls descend. Arzhel sighed and let go of my clammy hand.

“I’m sorry, Arzhel.” I mumbled and lowered my head. This is the second time he has defended me, and I feel bad about it.

Every time we cross paths with that rogue man, it always ends up like this. Nothing good happened.

“Is that why you’re running earlier?” I shook my head in response to his query.

“I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m okay now.” I admitted, but left out the fact that it was because of a blasted fish.

“Don’t worry. Try not to get in his way the next time.” I only gave him a nod.

I felt him place his palm flat on my back and lead me inside.

Another scent wafted through the air, but it was different. It was something like burning. My nose led me to the source of the smell, which was in the kitchen. There’s a plume of smoke coming from there.

Is the house on fire?

My eyes widened, and panic gripped me.

“Arzhel! The house is on fire!” I screamed and yanked his hand, but he stopped me.

I stare at him, terrified and bewildered. Isn’t he going to call for help with the fire?

“Ocean, the house isn’t on fire. Seraphina was just roasting. Couldn’t you tell by the smell?”

What is roasting?

That question must have been written on my face, because he led me directly to the kitchen. My nose crinkled as we entered the kitchen and my eyes watered from the smoke.

The room is clouded, but I didn’t see any fire engulfing the walls. Rather, the smoke came from the coals laid out in a rectangular metal box. Above it is a piece of steel with crisscrossed patterns, with a piece of fish meat on top. Seraphina is standing over it, fanning the embers, a piece of fabric covering her mouth and nose.

“See, Seraphina was just roasting the salmon you cleaned earlier.” Just as he said that, Seraphina turned her head in our direction. She took a plate, placed the cooked fish on it, and passed it to me.

“Put that on the table, dear. I’ll just finish this one, and we’ll eat.”

I accepted it and vacated the kitchen with Arzhel on my tail. The smell that lingers on the fish isn’t as strong as it used to be. It sure does smell appetizing, but not to the extent that it gnaws on my stomach.

“That smells delicious!” A cheerful voice exclaimed from the dining area’s entrance.

“You’re right on time, Aria,” Arzhel said to her.

Samantha came out of the kitchen, as if on cue, with a tray of mashed potatoes and vegetable stew.

“I’m famished.” Aria groaned, plopping herself on the chair, making us laugh at her actions.

We sat down as soon as Seraphina served the last piece of roasted salmon and then blessed the food.

I just noticed something. I have never seen Quillan dine with us.

Is it because of me?

The clattering of the utensils and Arzhel and Aria’s playful banter kept the meal lively, but I’m still bothered by the thought of someone hating me so much without knowing what wrong I’ve done.

The meal ended uneventfully. I was helping Seraphina and Sam in cleaning the table and washing the dishes when Aria popped up behind me. I also asked Seraphina about why Quillan hadn’t joined dining with us and is it because of me, but she only said that her son hadn’t joined them in a long time even before I came.

“Ocean, will you come with me?” I slid the last plate into the cupboard, wiping my hands on my apron, and turned to face her.

“Where are we going?” I asked the girl, who was beaming from ear to ear. She looked around first to see if there was anyone else except the two of us.

Now, she’s up to something.

“To the cliff.” She spoke in hushed tones, her hand cupped to her mouth.

“The cliff? What are we going to do there?” I whispered back to her.

“It’s where the Adriatic irises and bluebells grow. They’re in bloom this time of year, and I’d like to pick some for the vases.” She squealed and bounced up and down.

“Let’s go!” Before I could say anything, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.

I just hoped we wouldn’t get into any trouble because of this.

We walked through the dense woods before entering the clearing. A gust of sea breeze greets us as we come to a stop on the edge of a very high cliff with jagged edges.

Beautiful violet flowers bloom alongside the dangerous rocky edge.

“Aria, I don’t think we should take that flower. It’s a long drop down there with only one false move.” I warned her, but all she did was roll her eyes.

“Come on, Ocean, the flowers aren’t far from the safe zone.” She insisted.

“What if Sam and Seraphina come looking for us?”

“We won’t take that long, I promise.”

I sighed and followed her down the steep slope. We carefully trek across the rocky surface, making sure to step on solid ground until we reach the flowers.

Aria knelt and began picking them up while I held them up for her.

“Aria, why does your Uncle Quillan hate me that much?” I asked the girl out of the blue, and my mind flashed back to when he threatened to cut off my arms.

Aria’s back stiffened briefly before she resumed her work.

“He basically hates all humans.” Her response causes my brows to arc in confusion.

“Humans? Aren’t you humans?”

She paused for a moment, debating whether to answer my question.

“Um, not particularly.”

That’s where I’m getting lost at the moment. What exactly is she talking about? She definitely looks human to me.

“I think that’s enough.” She said, brushing the topic aside and standing up.

We return to the top of the cliff, away from the edge. We were panting and grateful for the cool breeze.

I set the flowers down and turned to face her.

“Aria, could you please enlighten me? What are you talking about?” She looked at me carefully at first and sighed. What is it that they’re hiding?

“You see, we’re not entirely human. We –”

“My, my! What lovely ladies we have here.” Aria was interrupted by a scruffy-looking man, snapping our attention to him.

If I thought Quillan was a rogue looking man, this man in front of us was a lot worse.

He has a huge belly, grime on his skin, and a thick beard on his face, but I can still see a row of rotten teeth in his mouth. He was topless and only wearing heavily soiled pants, his eyes were bloodshot, and his arms were about the size of my thighs.

“Moons! Rogues!” Aria screamed in terror. She quickly grabs my arms and pulls me away from the man, helplessly hiding me behind her. Which is pointless because I’m still taller than she is. I don’t know what she means by that, but her expression told me that this man is dangerous.

“How did you get across the border?” Aria sneered angrily at him.

I have never seen Aria in this state. She is always the cheery and soft one, never the aggressive one.

“I had no idea Seriphos’ Pack now fostered a human.” The man snickered, ignoring her question and set his focus on me.

“Aria, do you know who this man is?” I asked her, but she didn’t respond.

I look down at her face, and my mouth falls open at the sight of her. A growl is coming from her throat, and she’s baring her teeth, which now have two sharp canines.

“What a cute little pup.” The man’s snide remarks. Another growl rang out, but this time it wasn’t from Aria.

Three large wolves emerge from the cliff’s boulders. Their dull-colored fur is matted with what seems to be dried blood and mixed dirt, they have hair patches missing from their scalded skin, and their eyes are bloodshot.

Aria begins to cower in their presence, and my heart begins to pound in fear, but she still keeps me behind her. She quickly turns and pushes me almost to the edge of the cliff before leaping back.

My bottom landed hard on the rocky ground, and a hiss of pain escaped me.

I was about to call her, but I didn’t expect what I was about to see. My mouth dropped open, and my eyes bulged as the cheerful girl I knew transformed into a golden-brown wolf. Her clothes were torn away from her body and strewn across the ground.

But her wolf is much smaller than the three of them.

What kind of people are these?