Back Down

"Oh my goodness, Lord Alden is here." The girls blushed and giggled as they were all fixed looking at the direction from where Alden was approaching.

"Hello, wolf ladies." He said with a playful smirk and his usual squinted eye.

"Hello, Lord Alden." The girls chorused as they continued to blush stupidly.

I rolled my eyes and ignored them as I focused on the book I was reading.

"How about we have a little party tonight, huh wolves?" He said as the wolves gathered around him.

"Yes, that would be so lovely." Sila was the first to oblige. It was evident that she had liked lord Alden for so long and probably wished he were her mate.

"That would be fun!" The rest echoed.

"What do you think, Mira." I could feel his glance on me.

"Whatever you feel is fine, should be fine." I said simply and continued to study my book.

"Reading those ancient books?" I felt his breath on my shoulder giving me a slight tickle.

"Hmm.." I moved uncomfortably…

"So you'll be at the party, right?" He asked and his words irritated me, couple with the fact that he was so close to me as his breath keep reaching my neck and shoulder.

"Lord Alden.., someone's here to see you." A servant suddenly rushed into the library from the castle.

"I will be there!" He replied slightly and stood up straight before turning to leave.

"I want to see you there, Mira. Don't disappoint me.." He said before finally walking off.

I sneered and continued to read my book and that was when the monkey walked into the library.

It glanced at Alden before he left, and Alden did the same before they both turned to walk away.

It climbed up on the table I sat in front of and spoke into my left ear.

"Don't you think we should go to see the hostage now. Because we are actually running out of time." It whispered.

"Hmm, I'll get prepared and we'll go." I whispered back and got off my seat.

Then we headed out of the academy and into the woods we went. The monkey rode on my back while I was in my wolf form and ran as fast as I could to get to the hostage as soon as possible (asap).

We arrived at the cave within fifteen minutes and the whole cave and the hostage was still there paralyzed and the way we have left it.

I had actually feared that the hostage may find a way to escape and that meant that I would never be able to find out what really transpired.

Plus, if I could get evidence that Alden was the one who led the enemy pack into Cridwan to kill the general and the seer, my father, to acquire the title then probably the people of Cridwan would get some sense into their heads finally and we would all work together to find Liam.

I walked up to him satisfied at his state. He was unmovable and i had not taken the rope off his mouth, unless he would have been able to scream for help.

"This is the last time I will ask you and make sure you reply truthful or else…." I walked closer to the hostage with piercing eyes, something I had learnt from Liam.

"I will take out your eyes and feed it to rattle snakes and fed your heart to demons.." I paused and dramatically licked my lips to scare him more.

"Hmm..how delicious.." I added.

"Please..I did nothing. Don't kill me please." The man said as soon as the monkey took off the rope used to tie his mouth.

"And why should I believe that?" I asked with utter irritation.

I was getting fed up of all his pleads and excuses but I couldn't kill this bastard in one go because I need valid information from him.

"I was just walking by and suddenly stumbled on a huge rock and that is why I am injured." He lied…

Obviously…..

I frustratedly slammed my hand on the walls of the cave and it trembled slightly.

"Do you take me to be a fool?" I stared angrily at the hostage and he closed his eyes in fear.

"The cut you have can not be caused by a mere stumble, but by one of the guards in Cridwan and we both know it!" I said with utter frustration. My brain was getting over occupied and I needed to meditate unless I could do something really drastical and dreadful.

"Okay..okay.." His breathing was hard and fast as he stared at me with fear and agony in his eyes, but I didn't care because that was how I needed him to feel so he would speak up.

"I'll speak." He continued and tried to steady his breathing.

"We were sent by Lord Alden, the third alpha of Cridwan pack, and he also told us specifically to kill the General and.." He paused to breath but I didn't care.

"And..?" I said with utter irritation mixed with curiosity for his next reply.

"and…the pack's best seer so he wouldn't find out about his plan.." He finally said which was what exactly I had been waiting to hear.

I knew Alden had sent them to kill my father, and I wasn't going to take it so likely.

I was going to avenge my father's death, and that of Liam if he killed him too.

I knew Alden was capable of it and I just needed more solid proof to be able to expose him, so I decided to go see Karl.

Since he was a guard it would be easier for him to get a solid proof like a recording of the hostage's words with his mind as that was one of the abilities the guards of each pack always have.

"Tie him up back, we'll need to see Karl to get this on a recorder." I said and turned to walk out of the cave.

"Wait, please let me go. I have confessed to you already. Please let me go.." The hostage pleaded his lungs out but I turned a deaf ear as I hadn't achieved my goal yet.

Plus, if Alden should find out that I have one of the men as an hostage, then he wouldn't seize the opportunity to kill me.

So I needed to act fast…

I ride back to Cridwan with the monkey and we were greeted with the isolated atmosphere of the city.

The trees had turned dry and the beautiful birds and butterflies that once flew around were no more.

Moreover, every wolf seemed to be weak and the weather was dreary..

Which meant that all was not well.

I searched for Karl all over the restricted area and realized that a party was being held.

'Must be the party Alden talked about this morning.' I muttered to myself.

"Mira. You are here." Alden walked to me a cunny smile on his face.

"Where's Karl? I demand to see him!" I said with disgust and fury in my eyes to give him a hint of my anger.

"You mean my friend Karl?" He said with a mocking laugh and smiled.

"Hey, get Knight Karl over here for the Lady, will you?" He said to one of his men.

I watched them fearlessly and after two minutes Karl was walking over to me with two guards following behind him.

He's head was to the ground and he didn't seem to want to see me.

Something that was so odd to me..

It didn't feel much like him and I knew something was fishy somewhere.

"Can I talk to you in private?" I said as soon as he was close enough to me.

He glanced over at Alden before replying, "Sure."

We walked over to a corner where Alden and his men could no longer see us and I turned suspiciously to Karl.

"I need your help, Karl." I said firmly.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with your investigations anymore, Lady Mira." He said still trying hard for his glance not to met mine.

"And why is that so?" I asked with my eyes squinted and my ears open.

"He threatened to kill my family and the whole pack, Mira. That's why I can't continue." He's reply was just what I expected.

"So the situation of the pack right now I'd the better choice?" I was typically losing my mind and everything seemed to become so overwhelming every single minute, again and again.

"i have decided to back down.." He sighed.

"And I think you should." He looked into my eyes for the first time since I saw him, then he walked away without waiting for my reply.

I watched him head back to meet with Alden and his men and I couldn't help but feel defeated.

I wanted to give up..but still I couldn't.

For Cridwan, for my father, and..for Liam…

I was never going to back down!