"This won't end well, I'm going to report this to Dad and the treaty board!" Nyxon shouted, then motioned for his warriors to return to the pack.
"You better, kid!" said Alpha Krugan playfully.
"Ha! Coward," Kaiden muttered, trying to rise from his position but I stopped him immediately as he groaned from his broken ribs.
"Why would your father do that to you?" I asked Kaiden in an irritated tone.
Kaiden didn't have a chance to answer when a hand reached out toward me. Helping me up. I took the hand and stood face to face with that burly man, towering like a grizzly bear, complete with a thick beard.
Beneath the face hidden by a tangle of hair, I could still see ash-colored eyes, just like Kaiden's.
"Allow me to introduce myself, beautiful miss, I, Alpha Krugan of the Stormsurge pack. A pleasure to welcome you to our humble pack." greeted Alpha Krugan warmly.
"Thank you, Alpha Krugan. I'm Mina Everyn, this is an honor for me, an omega—"
"Sssh... Tsk tsk tsk," Alpha Krugan cut me off, disapproving of what I said about my status.
"You're anything but omega," he said then, an awkward smile spreading on his lips.
I looked at him in confusion.
'Could this man know something about my origin? He also mentioned the prophecy earlier...' I asked Thora.
'Probably... But I sense something off, I don't feel comfortable around him, Mina,' Thora replied, curling her tail between her legs and shifting uneasily.
This was the first time Thora ever felt both uncomfortable and afraid of someone. I needed to be cautious around this Alpha of Stormsurge, even if he was my mate's father.
'I guess it's true, there's no place like home—yeah, our definition of "home" really is just about the place,' I concluded silently.
"Do you know who I am?" I asked then, my gaze probing for the slightest clue that he might be lying.
"Mmm... Just some rumors, the basic stuff. But to 'know you' as in know where you came from, not quite," he answered, still smiling from behind that beard.
"You must be tired, come on, we'll get you a comfortable place to rest," he then ended the conversation.
Though my brain protested, my tired body was grateful for that.
At least tonight we have a shelter to regain some strength.
Kaiden was carried by his pack warriors into a truck and taken away. I followed behind in Kaiden's Wrangler, now driven by Alpha Krugan.
"Have you eaten? You look awfully thin for a girl your age, though your body's nice, they 'grew' in the right places," he commented, his eyes scanning me inappropriately.
I flinched in my seat, folding my body slightly to hide myself.
'Weird... Cringe and nuts at the same time,' Thora quipped.
I could feel Thora's lip twitch halfway as she said it. And for once, I didn't argue with her.
'Oh Thora, are we just out of the frying pan into the fire?' I asked worriedly.
'Let's hope not...' Thora replied uncertainly.
"What do you know about the prophecy, and why do you think I'm related to it?" I asked.
'While he's still talking about it, better to find out before the topic fades,' I thought.
"Good question! And it looks like you're curious, that's good. I've got a better idea—how about we talk about it later, somewhere cozy over a glass of wine..." he said, his eyes twinkling with delight.
Not only was I disappointed, but I also felt nauseous hearing that suggestion.
"Mmm... I'm not even 17 yet," I replied, trying to decline politely.
Alpha Krugan's wolf—Eldrin—was massive, matching his human form, and I wasn't in the mood to pick a fight or end up in a place that made him an enemy.
"Oh... Rules like that don't apply in Stormsurge. The young ones here start early, and they grow up to be strong, bold, and fearless," Alpha Krugan said with a proud expression.
'Another reason why maybe Wavecrest isn't all that bad... Oh crap, does this mean I'll have to part ways with wave point?'
I only realized it now, just when I'd already walked too far away. Thanks to my impulsive behavior.
"What if I'm not the girl the prophecy speaks of?" I asked, still trying to push an answer out of him.
"I doubt I'm wrong, and I don't like being wrong," he replied, seeming slightly annoyed.
I knew well enough when to shut up and let him take me to my place to rest.
***
The car passed through the roads of Stormsurge. The streetlights were dim, the whole vibe gloomy. The young people looked unfriendly, not a single smile on their faces.
Their skin was pale, and they all seemed to dress in dark clothes.
I thought it was just coincidence that the Stormsurge kids who went to school at Wave Avenue had the same expression. Same as Kaiden. But apparently, they all wore the same face.
Another thing I noticed: the infrastructure wasn't as developed as in Wavecrest, which explained why their youths preferred to study in Wave Avenue, whose curriculum was nationally recognized.
'This place is giving me an even worse feeling...' I told Thora.
'Yup, this place is creeeepy... Oh wait, it gets creepier,' Thora replied.
I realized what she meant once we arrived at Alpha Krugan's residence. His house looked like a fortress and was located atop a hill, the highest compared to any other pack members' homes or public facilities.
Cold and rigid was my first impression of it.
'What kind of normal person calls a fortress "home"?' I asked Thora, bewildered.
'I just hope his bed stays "warm", ahem,' Thora joked, to which I rolled my eyes.
"Come, I'll show you your room. Emery must've told the house staff to prepare it for you," Alpha Krugan said.
I got out of the car and followed his lead.
The gate was made of massive black wood, requiring two warriors to pull it open.
The fortress was built of stone, not concrete.
What shocked me most was the inside. I expected it to be cold and barren, just like the impression from the outside.
Turned out, it was filled with furniture, and Alpha Krugan apparently loved collecting animal heads. His collection hung all over the living room walls, which was nearly the size of half a soccer field.
I followed Alpha Krugan down a long corridor lined with many closed doors on both sides. Then we went upstairs, climbing a narrow and steep staircase.
We reached the end of the hallway on the second floor. He then showed me my room.
"Hope you have a pleasant night, Miss—" Krugan paused, he seems forgot my name.
"Mina," I cut in.
"Beautiful name, suits the one who carries it," Alpha Krugan smiled, glancing into my room, as if waiting for an invitation to come in.
'No way...' I thought.
"Good night, Alpha. Thank you for letting me enter your territory and even allowing me to stay in your home," I said, then closed the door.
I pressed my ear to the wooden door, trying to listen where his footsteps went.
Soon, I heard a door close right across from mine.
'Wait, don't tell me he's sleeping right across from our room!' I exclaimed in shock.
'Creeeepy....' Thora chimed in, entirely unhelpful.
I quickly locked the door and bolted it, not that I'm sure it could withstand Alpha Krugan's strength if he decided to break it down.
'How are we supposed to sleep soundly like this?' I muttered with a cringe in my face.
'Oh Mina, what kind of situation you have put yourself into!' I thought annoyingly.