We walked along the pathway that led to the island. I sensed wolves near. It was like they were expecting us.
As we walked, a tall thin man stood by a tree. He wasn't as muscular as every other guy I've seen. He was different. Different like those wolves.
"Esra Argent, it's a pleasure to meet you. Alpha Frederic is waiting for you." The guy said. "I'm Jonathan. Johnathan Marino. The Alpha's son." He held his hand out but quickly pulled it back and smiled shyly. "Forgive me. I didn't know you were mated."
I swore in my head. Every male that came in contact with me will fear to at least lay a finger on me because they'll sense I'm mated to a powerful Alpha.
"Hi there." He waved at Maristela who hid behind me. "Is this your daughter?" He asked.
"Not exactly but I consider her as my own." I said.
"Oh okay. I won't keep you standing here for long. Follow me." I didn't reply. I just followed him.
After a few minutes of walking he stopped. He waved his hands around and a pathway shimmered. He turned to me and smiled. "Protection spell."
"Oh, right." I nodded and walked through with him. He waved his hands around again and the shimmers faded.
"Right this way."
We entered what I assumed was the pack house. Since it was a large mansion. There were a lot of wave pictures on it. It actually looked beautiful and the design went well with the mansion.
We entered the pack house and an unfamiliar scent hit my nose. It must have been the Alpha. A tall muscular man walked through. He was nothing like Jonathan.
"Esra Argent, it's so lovely to finally meet you." He said. He looked like he was in his late thirties or early forties.
"Like wise." I said. He didn't shake my hand. This pack really had respect. Well at least Jonathan and Frederic.
"I'm sure you're aware of who I am." He smiled.
"Yes, Frederic... Marino?" I wasn't sure of the last part.
"Correct. Please take a seat. There's a lot I would like to discuss with you." He looked at Maristela and smiled. "Hello, how are you?"
"I'm good and you?"
"I'm very good. What's you're name?"
"Maristela." She said shyly.
"That's a beautiful name." His smile grew wider. "Is she your daughter?"
I shook my head. "No, but I consider her as one." I took a seat on the double couch. Maristela sat next to me. Frederic sat on the single couch diagonally on my left. Jonathan sat on another single couch next to him.
"Anything to drink?" Frederic asked.
"No, I'm good." I said.
"I'm good, thanks." Maristela said after me.
Frederic nodded. "So where should we begin?" He looked at his son.
"Who are you guys?" I asked.
"We're sea wolves. And this is our pack. The Ocean Howl Pack."
"How come I've never heard of it?"
"We like to keep this pack a secret. The other packs like the Wind Winder Pack or the Fire Moon Pack like to target us a lot." Frederic explained.
"And the Crystal Moon Pack." Jonathan added.
"And the Crystal Moon Pack." The Alpha sighed.
"Why?" I asked.
"We're not as strong as the other wolves. We're considered hybrids. Not exactly descended from a pure blood. I mean the only true pure bloods are the grey wolves and the dire wolves."
"Is that why you have a protection spell?" Maristela asked.
"Yes. The other packs are really mean to us." Frederic said.
"They killed my parents." Maristela said. "And my siblings."
Both their faces fell. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. It wasn't Azrael was it?" Frederic turned to me with a worried face.
I nodded. "They took down the Silver Star Pack."
Frederic gasped. "The Centaurus heir. She's the last himalayan wolf."
"We knew your father. He was a good man. He helped us with the protection spell." Jonathan interjected.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes. I knew him way back. Before you or your siblings were born. Your father just met your mother that time." Frederic smiled.
"Wait, you said those three packs tried to kill your pack?" I asked.
"Yes. Those packs are bad. Especially Alpha Zephyrus." He scoffed. "He means the opposite of his words and he's working with the Grey's."
"Wait what?" My heart pounded. He's working with Azrael? Did the Grey family lie to us?
"Oh no. You didn't go there did you?" Frederic asked.
"We did. He said he didn't know Azrael and the Grey family lied to us." I gasped. "We're such fools to believe them."
"We were fooled once too. And my mate was stuck in the middle of everything." He sighed. "I wish it didn't happen."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's fine." He nodded. I could see the hurt in his eyes and how he tried to fight the pain. I felt sorry for him.
"What about the Crystal Moon Pack? Zade and I visited them too."
"They may have helped you but they don't like us. They helped Azrael once but didn't bother about him after. They're selfish and if they do something for you then they expect something in return."
"They told us to put mountain ash around our border so that other werewolves couldn't pass through." I said.
"Mountain ash decays after a few days. It doesn't last forever." Jonathan stated.
"What?"
"Yeah. But don't let that panic you or get you all paranoid. Just apply it every week."
I nodded. "I haven't visited the Fire Moon Pack."
"The wolves from Fire Moon Pack are cunning. Red wolves. They're small but conniving. They can easily beat a dire wolf if they play their cards right." Frederic scoffed.
"Oh, I see."
"Esra, you're the last tundra wolf. You're brother is a demon wolf. Maristela is the last himalayan wolf. They're trying to get rid of everyone."
"What do you mean Maristela and I are the last?" My heart beat grew rapidly.
"They killed everyone else in the two packs. Both packs turned against them. Azrael took over the Silver Moon Pack and has his grey wolves there. The Silver Star pack was taken by Richard Kunstler, a dire wolf. And the Alpha of the Darkwood Pack is also a dire wolf." Frederic explained.
"They're all pure bloods." I gasped.
"They're trying to get rid of all the wolves. They want it to be just grey wolves and dire wolves again." He said.
"That's outrageous."
"I know. But I suppose you don't know who the Darkwood Alpha is personally."
"No... I just know that his name is Donovan Manchow."
Frederic and Jonathan exchanged glances. "It's best your mate tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"It's not our place to tell you." Jonathan said.
"No, you know what. I'm tired with this shit Zade is pulling." I sighed. "Just tell me, please."
"Your mate and you are not on good terms right now?"
"No. I will prefer not talking about it."
"As you wish." He breathed a sigh. "Donovan is Zade's brother."
"What?" I felt a stab in the back. More lies.
But how did I not know about him all those years ago?
"That's impossible." I said, yet I knew it was definitely possible. No wonder why Zade didn't go visit the Alpha himself.
No wonder why the Alpha of the Wind Winder Pack was shocked to see me and was pushy.
And no wonder why the Alpha and Luna of the Crystal Moon Pack were wary of us.
Lies.
Lies.
Lies.
I didn't even know who to believe anymore.
I sighed. "I'll speak to him. I just have one more question."
"Ask."
"Why were you bringing rogues from the human world here?"
"Because I need more pack members. And the hunters there are hunting them down. It hurts to see our kind be treated like monsters."
I nodded. "Thank you, Alpha Frederic." I stood up and took Maristela's hand. "I appreciate all the information."
Maristela stood up beside me. She held onto my hand tight.
"Pleasure is all mine."
I turned to exit and leave until something occurred to me.
How did they know about the hunters? Why would the packs want to kill innocent wolves? Why did they need a protection spell when...
I gasped and turned quickly. Frederic had a dagger in his hand and stabbed me.
Maristela screamed and backed away. "Come here, you." Jonathan called.
"Maristela, run." I coughed out blood and fell to the ground. The light faded and all that was left was darkness.