"Where has she run off to again this morning?" Nikoley asked his wife as he carefully arranged the plates and cutleries on the table.
"Where ever her feet could carry her" his wife Milana replied as she stepped out of the kitchen with an apron tied to her waist and holding a bowl of bread in one hand and another of soup in the other. Nikoley collected one bowl from her and dropped it at the center of the table.
"She should be back anytime soon. you know she never misses a meal" She added as she dropped the other bowl.
Ever since Inessa could walk, she loves going out to play very early in the morning. She only returns home when it's time to eat breakfast. Nikoley had cautioned her several times to not wander too far away from home, but she never listens.
He went outside their house and into the balcony to see if he could catch her scent nearby, but he smelled nothing so he went back inside.
" You always worry yourself. She is not a kid anymore, she can take care of herself now" Milana said as she draw out a chair for him to sit on. She then draws out the chair close to his and sat down.
"Come on, let's eat. We need to get ready for today's meeting" she told him
He closed the door and was about to walk to the table when he heard footsteps on the balcony. He quickly turned and opened the door. She stood there with her hand going for the door handle when he looked at her. He was surprised because he didn't catch her scent earlier so he didn't expect to hear her footsteps suddenly.
"Did something drop you from the sky?" he asked her
"Seriously father. What could drop me from the sky? Inessa asked him as she walked past him and enters the house.
"Well I didn't catch your scent," he said as he closed the door and walked back to sit down.
" You are getting old, father," she said smiling as she draws a chair facing her mother and sat down.
"Good Morning, mother" she greeted Milana
" I think someone is getting old" She whispered to her mother.
"The older, the better dear. And you know that it is not possible. No matter how old we get, we never lose our scent." She said as she looks at her husband
"It's odd though. So where did you run off to this morning" he asked Inessa as he was sitting down
"Let's see…I started from the backyard and headed to the market. I decided to run to the river and back before breakfast" she began as she took a loaf of bread from the bowl and added some soup to the bowl in her front.
" Oh and I raced with the twins and won," she said smiling as she took a bite.
"That's a new one. I would have loved to see the look on their faces." Her father said smiling
" Both of you have a habit of talking while eating," Milana said softly as she began to eat as well
"The food will settle better if you keep quiet" she added
"Talking won't stop the food from settling down properly dear," Nikoley said as he took a bite from the loaf in his hand. Inessa chuckles hearing what he just said. Milana threw a steen look at her, and she suddenly stopped chuckling.
Nikoley looked at Inessa as they both kept quiet immediately. Milana had always been the strict one between them so they both know when to listen to her.
Shortly after, she walked her parents to the door as they head out. As soon as they left, she went back inside the house to clean up and do her chores. She had just begun clearing the dishes when she heard footsteps. By the scent, she know who had stepped foot into their yard. It was the twins, she groaned. She went out to the balcony and saw them waiting for her in the yard.
"I want to keep my promise as agreed" Katya yelled from where she stood
"I told you before. Keep it. I did it for fun. Besides my father will never let me attend" Inessa replied her
"Well, that is sad. The truth is I came to find out how was it you outran us. You are not strong enough" Katya said as she walked toward the house.
"What is there to know? It's simple, we raced and I won. Just because I look weak does not mean I am weak" Inessa replied as she stepped down the balcony and went to face Katya.
"If you say so. But I will be watching you" Katya said and turned to leave
"You won't find anything," Inessa said then looked over to where kaya is standing
"Both of you" she added then turn and walked back into the house.
She was not surprised they wanted to know how she managed to beat them. No one among their peers could. They all knew the Alpha family was one of the fastest in the whole world, so it had made Katya question how a yet to transform werewolf could outrun them in a blink of an eye. Inessa knew they would not stop snooping so she had to be careful as Mikhail had suggested.
Their home was located at the far end of the community as most of the houses were scattered around. They have no problem living far apart from each other as they all needed their space and also coming together is not a problem as the distance is not an issue since they can run at any time to cover the distance.
Nikoley and his wife had left home early to Aleksandra's yard to meet up with him as always. They are the closest to the Alpha as the two most powerful betas on the pack. They had barely reached the end of the road when they saw the Alpha and his first son Antonio approaching.
"You couldn't wait for us to meet you at your place? Nikoley asked
" I decided to step out early today. Besides, I know you are happy you didn't have to wait for me as always" Aleksandra, the Alpha replied
"Nikoley, Milana" Antonio greeted the betas
" Oh my..You always grow taller as each day passed" Nikoley said as he looked at Antonio.
Antonio had been given the role of Gamma by the Alpha which made him the head of the pack's head guard. And one of his main duties is to always protect and accompany the Alpha.
" Lets move. The others will be waiting" Milana said.
They all started running and each of them immediately transformed into a wolf tearing their clothes into shreds. They began sprinting at a superhuman speed that even the naked eye could not perceive. The Alpha was leading them as they all formed a triangle behind him. They could hear the sounds of other wolves as they began to join them one after another. They soon formed a large pack consisting of more than five hundred wolves.
To the south of the town, lies the Priobs plateau. It is a large elevated landform that the blood shadow pack uses for most gatherings. As the pack approaches the plateau, the ground began to shake like an earthquake was about to begin. Within seconds, all the wolves have assembled. The Alpha positioned himself in the middle with his two betas Nikoley and Milana behind him. Antonio and the guards had already formed a circle surrounding the members as they held the meeting.