Chapter 10

SCARLETT

I woke up the next day, my nerves buzzing with anxiety. It felt like time was dragging its feet. Today, we were heading south for our first visit as future alphas.

If I was already nervous about becoming luna of our pack, the thought of being luna of the south was downright terrifying.

Christopher’s hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Sweetheart, don’t stress. It’s just a trip,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead before we climbed into the car.

Normally, his words would soothe me, but today was different. Today, my nerves were on edge, as if something big was about to happen.

The journey to the south wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity. The moment we crossed the border, the difference was stark. The landscape was dotted with simple, humble homes.

As we drove toward the center, the pack seemed deserted. But the biggest shock came when we reached the pack’s house. What should have been the administrative center of the pack looked abandoned.

From a distance, I could even see broken glass.

It was like a ghost town.

The streets were littered with trash, and the surrounding houses were empty.

“Christopher, what’s happening?” I asked, but he was just as stunned, his jaw slack as he took in the sight.

“I don’t know,” he admitted as we parked the car and our guards approached.

Stepping out of the car, the situation seemed even grimmer. The streets were deserted.

“Alpha,” one of the guards addressed Christopher, interrupting my thoughts.

“Where is everyone?” Christopher asked, confusion etching his face.

“They’ve all moved closer to our border, where resources are available,” one of the guards explained, pointing in the direction we had come from.

“Joshua abandoned everything here months before the challenge. He focused only on the mines and didn’t provide for the people. The only jobs available were in the guard or the mines, so everyone moved to the border,” another guard added.

A wave of indignation washed over me. I wasn’t sure if it was mine, Christopher’s, or a mix of both.

Joshua had abandoned his people, forsaking them for money.

“That explains why the mines were so advanced. He used all the resources there and left everything else to rot,” Christopher said through gritted teeth.

I could feel his anger and compassion—anger at Joshua and compassion for the people.

“There’s nothing left for us to see here. Let’s head to the mines,” Christopher decided, taking my hand and leading me back to the car.

He was fuming, his breaths coming in quick, angry bursts. I could feel the storm of emotions brewing within him. But I knew he would channel it all into strength to rectify this situation.

It was one of the many reasons I loved him.

As we drove toward the mines, the houses became more populated. People were visible on the streets, but they scattered and whispered amongst themselves as our car approached. Despite the increased population, the houses were still modest.

When we finally arrived, two massive buildings loomed before us. Christopher began explaining even before we got out of the car.

“Joshua built these. One is his house, and the other is the new guard headquarters,” he told me.

His anger flared as he spoke.

“He took the people’s money and invested it all here,” I said, my eyes darting between the two buildings. The south was becoming a stark representation of inequality.

It was a heartbreaking sight. The houses were clustered around the mine, each with a vegetable garden. Some even had chicken coops and pigsties.

They were forced to produce their own food, not out of choice, but necessity. It was a sad sight.

We got out of the car, and people retreated into their homes.

“I can’t stand to look at this anymore. Let’s go inside,” Christopher said, taking my hand and leading me into the mine.

Once we crossed the threshold, I understood what Christopher meant when he called me yesterday. It was an underground city, complete with lighting, signage, stairs, tunnels, doors, and extraction stations.

Some of our guards were there too, and several stations were abandoned mid-operation, with extraction still ongoing.

My eyes darted around, unsure of where to look first. Christopher guided me to a cafeteria, and next to it, an infirmary.

But it wasn’t just an infirmary. It was equipped with medical supplies and equipment for minor surgeries. It was practically a mini hospital.

“They said they treated those injured in the mines here, so they could return to work as quickly as possible,” Christopher explained, causing my heart to drop.

“Christopher, this is all…inhumane,” I managed to say, my throat tightening.

“I still can’t believe it,” he admitted as we turned to leave.

Despite being a mine, it was so vast that it felt airy. But the relief of seeing sunlight again was short-lived. The sight of the houses and the people hiding from us was suffocating.

“Sweetheart, they look…scared,” I said, and Christopher furrowed his brows, looking around.

Before I could say anything else, he projected his voice.

“You have no reason to fear. We come in peace, to help you. Soon, our packs will unite, and you will have your rights, opportunities, and a dignified life,” he declared, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin.

“What about the rules?” a man shouted from the crowd.

Christopher looked at me, confused.

“Rules?” he asked loudly.

One of our guards answered.

“Joshua said that in our pack, there are ridiculous rules about tax collection, forced labor, and even torture as punishment,” he explained.

With each word, Christopher’s indignation grew.

“This is absurd, just like the way you’re living. We were once a single pack, and we will be again. The day of our union will mark the day you regain your dignity. You were abandoned, but from now on, you will be rescued,” Christopher declared.

With each word, more people emerged from their homes. The fear in their eyes was replaced with admiration, and some even smiled.

I heard cheers and howls of joy in the background. But then, the only voice I heard was hers.

The Goddess, whispering in my ear: ~Look to the right, Scarlett~.

Everything seemed to slow down, and apart from her voice, it felt like something was pulling me to the right, like a magnet.

I found myself meandering, drawn to a quaint wooden cottage with a flourishing vegetable patch out front. An elderly couple, likely in their twilight years of their seventies, were stationed near the entrance. But my world came to a standstill when I spotted her.

A little girl, no more than five, was standing before them. She was adorned in a dress sprinkled with floral patterns, her curly red hair bouncing with each movement, and her eyes were the color of a clear summer sky.

She was a living portrait, radiating an ethereal beauty.

A thought fluttered through my mind, but it was too far-fetched, too implausible.

~There’s no way.~

Her scent wafted toward me, nearly bringing me to my knees right there on the spot.

~Could it be?~ I questioned myself.

But scents don’t deceive.