Clad with a formal attire, Hugo walked nonchalantly in the courtyard. He continued to follow Sophie, whom he was assigned to protect from this day until the end of war. It had been arranged. Although, if he were to decide on his own, he would have much preferred fighting in the battlefield than staying in the Kingdom knowing his comrades were fighting for their life.
That being the case, there was no other option but to accept.
“It’s boring in the palace, Hugo.” Sophie looked over her shoulder to glance at him. “Why don’t we go out for a bit to peek at the base?”
The Alpha had already fill him with details. What happened while they were out on a mission. The Western and the Eastern Border’s alliance. The Wesleyeians. The War. Sophie’s pursuit of creating a guild for low ranked healers. Her training with Monique. He pretty much heard everything from the Alpha. Including Sophie’s pregnancy, and August’s treachery.
“Indeed, Luna.” Hugo responded in a formal manner. “But I’d rather not have my position stripped off from me.”
Sophie’s steps halted. She turned around to face Hugo, who was looking at her like some bodyguard who was hired from another Kingdom. He was way too formal. “Come on. You’re closer to us than Rousel.”
“Even so. The Alpha strictly forbids you to leave the Palace, Luna.”
“Luna?” That was twice in a row he called her that.
“You’ve been crowned as the Alpha’s new mate, haven’t you?”
Sophie’s mouth hanged open. Hugo’s remark were reserved. Like how Flora was to her when she was first brought to the Palace. Except they’ve known each other even before the mission, and she knew they were past the formalities.
What happened?
“Fine. But at least drop the formalities.”
Hugo stared at Sophie with restrictions. Though his face was void of any emotion, he could barely stop himself from thinking unspeakable words. Thoughts that the Alpha would definitely consider as an act of betrayal.
Hugo looked away, allowing Sophie to assume that his silence was an indirect yes to cut the conversation. Sophie smiled, and gave him a once-over before turning around again.
Not knowing his new keeper’s behavior was an indirect indication of something.
- - - -
Scattered in the forest near the east boundary of the Western Kingdom, were the Wesleyeian wolves who were training under the supervision of the Alpha. They were amidst the combat test the Alpha of the Western Border had put them in.
An all out combat. In which the six-hundred of them would have to transmute to participate. The rules were simple. They will have to fight against each other, until only ten are remaining. The Alpha intended to determine how many of Efraim’s wolves would have the courage to hurt their own, if it meant getting strong.
He knew it was their weak point, so he went for it.
Surely, it was not what Efraim taught them. Axel had predicted that most of them would not follow, as it was never their nature to bring harm to others, thus, he thought of a perfect countermeasure. One that could kill them if they would choose not to abide.
“How many are in your area, Hansel?” The Alpha spoke to the medium of their transmission. A walkie-talkie.
A device he asked of Edward for this very day.
The Wesleyeians may have been born with weak resolves to fight, but they were gifted with brilliance. Like Efraim, they were clever. They might try to pull stunts to get past in this competition without actually engaging in combat. Thence, he brought his high ranked wolves to scout and meddle with the Wesleyeians.
“Two, Alpha.” Hansel chortled. “A couple, I supposed.”
“Provoke them, Hansel.”
“Words might not work, Alpha.”
“Use all the means possible to trigger their survival instinct.”
“Copy, Alpha.” Hansel responded, before the walkie talkie made a noise.
The Wesleyeians were not used to violence. However, they were still wolves. If a capable wolf were to push them to their edge, they will definitely protect themselves. It had always been their nature.
Axel continued standing on a branch of a tall tree. He was moving from time to time to see how the test was going. However, unlike his men, he was only on the look out to observe.
“I have five wolves in my sight, Alpha.” The transmission vibrated Roger’s voice. “All men.”
“For how long?”
“Just now.”
Jackson had already make his move on the wolves he spotted. So did Jacob, Percy, Samuel, Johnson, Genzen, and Robert. By now, Hansel had already probably transformed to his wolf form, to meddle, as he ordered.
“You’ve been listening this whole time, you know what to do.”
“They just transmuted.”
“Didn’t all of them transform?”
“They were on their human form when I first spoke.”
Axel’s brows creased. He turned to the tree ahead of him, and jumped higher to move forward. He hadn’t spotted a single wolf since he left the open area.
That could be a stunt. Did they run far enough so they could think of something? But if that was the case, they wouldn’t separate themselves. It would be easier to commit a trick altogether, as they could come up with a unanimous decision.
Only that’d be too obvious.
“Alpha?” Jacob spoke on the other line. “The plan didn’t work.”
“Same here.” Jacob responded. “They didn’t fight back.”
Axel stopped on his track. He felt it. A strike inside his chest. A vague indication in his mind. There was something off. But he was sure he thought of a countermeasure.
What were they doing? Why didn’t they fight back? Did that mean their strong sense of protecting their kind was stronger than their will to live?
But the four Wesleyeians he captured way back were different.
“What…” Roger spoke unconsciously over the transmission. “They two ran towards left.”
They separated?
Axel’s brows met, trying to understand the patterns of their behavior. The kicking feeling inside his chest became even stronger. Until it hit him.
“They got us.”
This was the trick. To lure him and his high ranked wolves. The Wesleyeians beat the Alpha to it. They knew he would do something to prevent their ploy. They used it to their advantage. They knew Hansel and the others would meddle somehow, and they manipulated it as a chance to avoid fighting with each other.
Damn Wesleyeians.
Axel drew a deep breathe. “Gather them in the open area.”
Alpha turned off the transmission, to head back. It was a clear order. The combat was revoked, but the Wesleyeians did not violated any rules, so the countermeasure he aforementioned will not be valid.
Axel, who was both amused and displeased by the outcome of the battle, still went on with his idea to break their weak point. Only this time, it wouldn’t be an all out, but a sparring.
“Alpha, we received a transmission from the leader of the Wesleyeians.” Hansel informed Axel. “He mentioned a special ability.”
The last two words Hansel mentioned caught Axel’s attention. It was an indication from Efraim. And unless it was something important, Efraim wouldn’t bother sending a transmission. It was either he found a lead, or he unlocked it.
Axel’s face turned serious. “Let’s stop the sparring. Continue with their basic training until I come back.”
“How about the healers? They’ve been here since this morning. They might not be able to hold out.”
“They will not rest until I return, Hansel.”
Hansel nodded. “Understood, Alpha.”
Axel nodded his head, before he turned around. He fastened his steps to get to where he parked his Limoo. He left the forest, hurrying. Eager to know what mystery Efraim had unlocked.