Chapter 10

"Hsweet home," I commented as I got out of the car. I stood in front of the massive steel gates covered with vines and dust, a vivid symbol of how long I've been gone. I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes, feeling the cold breeze brush against my skin, and the familiar scent of the pine woods from the forest filled my nose. I miss this place. The first place I stopped by was the place where my family was buried. One after another, I placed flowers on their graves that surprisingly looked clean. "Whose there?" I shouted in alarm as I stood up and looked around. I couldn't be wrong. I'm pretty sure someone was staring at me. Squinting my eyes, I observed every blow of wind, every movement of grass and trees, and every sound in the surroundings. Shifting, I looked at the bushes not so far from me. "Count! Now!" My eyes widened. "She's just a child..." Ava uttered in shock. The little girl looked at her cluelessly, but her eyes were filled with fear. She kept her distance while fidgeting with her fingers. Cautiously, I crouched down to her level and asked gently, "Hey, pup, who are you?" "M-miss Elena... Is that you? I-is that really you?" Suddenly, a man's trembling voice echoed. My breathing hitched, and I stood up hastily as I turned around. My eyes narrowed as I stared at the man before me. He's a tall and muscular man with messy hair. His sharp, handsome face was covered with dirt, while his glassy eyes had a film of droplets on them. He's wearing working clothes. Was he the one who cleaned my family's graves? "You know me? You looked familiar..." I'm positive I know who he was. It felt like his nwas at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't 1/4 < Chapter 10 make words of it. "I'm so glad you're back, Miss Elena. I'm Jayden. Jayden Lawrence." Lawrence? My eyes widened, and a wide smile curved on my lips. +8 Points > "You're Jayden? Wow, you looked different! Better even!" I praised him, very glad to meet him again. He's the son of my father's Beta, and we grew up together. We used to play with each other until we both became busy with our own training. Unfortunately, his father died as well. Thinking of that, my smile vanished. Glancing at my family's grave, I asked him, "Did you clean their graves?" He nodded. "I did, all of their..." That's when I realized that each member's graves were cleaned. Though the entire pack wasn't properly managed, it's obvious he gave great care to their graves. "Where are the others?" I asked. After the attack, all of those high-ranking members died fighting. The loyal servants with the Swiftridge Pack were to take care of me, while the ordinary werewolves who managed to survive were left in this abandoned pack. "There are only a few of us left here. Others went to another. The ones who stayed are at their work. Like Ashley here, they have to work for another pack to fend for their family. But they all still cback here." I smiled at the little girl who ran into Jayden's arms. So her name is Ashley. "I'm so glad you're back. Are you here for good? Will you take over as the Alpha and bring back the pack to its former glory?" I stared at each of my family's gravestones and counted back to the countless times they brought merit to the kingdom. Though our pack had perished, it couldn't be forgotten how many times our pack's warriors had defeated a swamped of Rogues that brought risk to the kingdom. All their sacrifices and their deaths shall not be in vain. < Chapter 10 Pursing my lips, I took a deep breath and determinedly voiced out, "Yes, I'm back." After meeting Jayden, I first went to my old room to settle my things, and so did all the servants. +8 Points > With Jayden's help, I instructed them to start cleaning up the place to bring it back to life. The kids who were left behind by their parents, who were working, were also so glad and went to join them in cleaning. Finally, alone in the room, sadness engulfed the reality hit me. Now, everything would change. Feeling the sun shine through my window still, I stood up and wandered around the room. Looking through the north side of my wall, where my weapons were displayed, I was flooded with memories. My hands slid through my training gears, remembering my father's proud smiles every tI managed to pass through his blocks and punch him in our combats. And then there are my guns, bows and arrows, spears, and other weapons of every kind and size, which skills I've mastered thanks to my six brothers who happily trained me despite being a woman. However, despite that, I remained knowledgeable in every Luna task because learning those things was my bonding with my mother. This place used to be full of life, now... It's all just memories. "It's okay, we'll make more beautiful memories..." Ava comforted me. A knock on my door then pulled me out of my thoughts. "Miss Elena." "Jayden." He looked athesitantly as he swallowed his nervousness. After taking a deep breath, he looked in the eye and determinedly said, "Please accept your Beta!" His eyes glinted with so much passion and hope that they reflected the vision I had within me. It's as though I almost see a broken self from him who was trying to make up for what's been lost. Seeing that his determination reflected my own, I smiled. "Then, it will be my pleasure." After all, his father was my father's Beta, and he was trained well by him. I have no doubts he'd do well in being my Beta. A smile formed on his lips. "Thank you. I'll make sure not to disappoint you." "I know you won't." +8 Points > "And with that being said," he stared, eyes dimming with firmness and thirst for justice, which brought out the curiosity in me. Gave all pieces. My attention was drawn to him as I listened to his next words, which shook my thoughts to "I think someone framed us, causing our pack to be ruthlessly massacred."