January, 2021.
'Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!'
There was an unexpected knock on the door.
'Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!' The knock came aggressive than earlier.
It came again. Sir Shkodra stepped down, a little worried about who it was. He wasn't expecting anyone and he have had no guest in a long time.
'Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!'
He opened the tall wooded door at the face of two FBI agents. One was a male and the other a female. Both of then were huge and chubby.
"How can I help you?" Sir Shkodra rise his gaze at them. Studying them from head to toe.
"Warrant to search this building!" The man's baritone voice rudely interrupted.
"And where are you from?"
"Let us in, sir." The lady FBI intervened. "Else, we will be forced to invade into this building."
"It's the Wolfsberg castle. You have no right to interrupt my privacy like this." Sir Shkodra explained to the both of them.
He deepened a hand into his pocket and brought out his mobile phone. Scrolling through it, he dialed a contact. It was ringing, but there was no reply.
A frown spread across sir Shkodra's face as he called the number again.
"There's no need inviting the po-" The FBI man stopped at the thud of the car packed close to the doorstep. It was a shiny black, 2021 Nissan Rogue.
Someone opened up the side door for him while he stepped down. Shoes were raven black, so was his suit. He has long wavy black hair, thick brows and a clean, shaved beard. His muscles were transparent from under the black suit and white sleeved shirt on him. The front of the shirt was unbottoned, exposing his built muscled chest. Stepping out, the stranger put on his dark shades, walking towards them. His tan skin was admirable but Sir Shkodra raised his chin, knowing no one has rights over the Wolfsberg castle except the Knights.
He stopped by the door, letting out a breath of fresh air.
"You are Sir Shkodra Svoboda, I guess." he muttered with seriousness in his harsh voice.
Sir Shkodra gave him a weird look before replying. "And you are?"
"Ivar Hunter, Alpha of the Red moon pack and also the CEO of Wolfsburg company, Romania. You're definitely not a wolf-blood." He took off his dark shades with a mysterious smirk. "My squad and I are here to inspect this manor."
He handed Sir Shkodra his ID and the FBI agents pushed him aside.
'What audacity?' Sir Shkodra wondered. He couldn't say no because he was a werewolf leader and coming must have been for a reason. 'Normally, An Alpha is not meant to visit another Alpha's manor except by an invitation. But why would he intrude just like this?'
"And where's your Alpha?" Ivar, raised. Surveying his room with less interest.
"She's sick... I mean, she'll be back, but she's not around now."
"Oh, she's she?" He muttered through a suppressed laugh. "I'm not surprised. I heard she once chased the vampire lord out of Australia. That's brave, but I think I'll have to chat with your Alpha because more vampires are occupying her territory. I can feel them close already. She must be weak to have done nothing."
"Stormie isn't weak." Sir Shkodra defended. "I told you she's sick."
"That's the thing. Powerful leaders can not tolerate weak leaders above them. Sick or not, a true Alpha should have no weakness, let alone showing it." His gaze wandered with crossed arms.
"Thing is, she got sick nearly after her first transformation. She was a child and..." Sir Shkodra muttered in a quick burst. Giving a tightness in his voice. Then he remembered, no one is meant to know. No matter what, he wants to keep Stormie a secret. Telling him about her might think she's actually weaker. He might want to take over the blue moon pack just because of the situation.
"Your room is empty." Ivar stepped out into the hallway. His eyes rolled at the darkness ahead. He could sense something strange. Something different.
Sir Shkodra stopped, darting his eyes so they move downstairs. "Um, come with me." He cut the silence at Ivar's intense stare towards the secret laboratory.
"What's there?"
"Nothing," Sir Shkodra faked a smile at him." That's an old library."
Ivar walked towards the door and pushed it. It stood still, and he looked upwards, then turned to Sir Shkodra with a rigid neck. "Why is it locked? Unlock it."
"Um, that hasn't been used for years." Sir Shkodra leaned in in defense.
"I said unlock it!"
One of the FBI agents pointed a gun at his head and sir Shkodra chewed on his jaw. If not for Ivar's sake, ordinary humans aren't allowed into the Wolfsberg manor. Even as security agents, he would have disappeared and tortured them the way he did earlier, with the knights.
Sir Shkodra swallowed hard in his throat. The veins of his neck were visible as he tried controlling his temper. He deepened his right hand into the pocket of his black jacket and brought out the bunch of keys. Stepping forward towards the door, Sir Shkodra unlocked it and pushed the door open.
Ivar, along with the FBI agents, swam on, gazing at the beauty of the castle. It was mesmerizing but Ivar wasn't concerned. With his chest out, he gave an intense stare, looking around.
"Is there any back room?" He asked, facing the direction of the shelf.
"No... Not at all." Sir Shkodra cut him off.
The officers checked a little, and there was nothing intimidating, just a load of books.
About to step out, Ivar's gaze caught the remote control on the table. Of course, there was no television. His sharp brain alerted, making him pick up the remote.
Sir Shkodra turned back to him in amazement. "How on earth-?"
Before he could say anything, Ivar pressed on the open button and the shelf instantly opened up. Like a door to a secret shrine.
"Ummm... That's another way out." Sir Shkodra lied.
Annoyed, Ivar gave him a devil glance and just walked in.
The officers that followed choked at the heat of the secret laboratory. Unable to breathe properly, they stepped out, standing at the library and watched while Ivar moved around. Checking the transparent beakers, the living yet lifeless creature for experiment. With his hands folded at the back, Ivar gave a closer look.
For some reasons, he wasn't mad at Sir Shkodra, the Wolfsberg manor keeper. Ivar was pissed at his wolf, who kept breaking down the barrier. There was a longing in the air, an enticing feeling that invited him. Drawing him closer.
Closing his eyes, Ivar could feel a life. Then a breath, a whimper similar to his. This made him look in the door's direction.
"What's there?" Ivar raised his voice with anger seeping through.
Sir Shkodra dared not lie this time. It was only the both of them in the laboratory. "Just a dark room."
The other officers were peeping from a distance with curious eyes. The room was too stuffy fir them to breathe in let alone, survey.
"Open it."
"What?"
"You heard me." His voice warned with pride at Sir Shkodra. "Don't let me repeat myself."
Ivar could actually take over the blue moon pack by learning about this secret. About this truth. He wouldn't have to fight for the manor. Facing the knights might be an effortless task, considering the fact that he is an Alpha King.
Listening closely, he could feel the coldness of the capsule they locked her in. Her eyes were closed and her body frozen.
Stepping into the dark room, Ivar felt the flock of giant black ravens above him. The room was wide enough and the sun's reflection wasn't able to generate into the room. Although it was already evening, it gave a fresh chill and frostiness.
Scrutinizing the girl's body looked reserved in the room's low temperature. Ivar took careful steps towards her, as if discovering a chest of treasures.
Frigid, chilled, frost.
Touching the cryogenic capsule, it shattered to the effect of his hand. Sir Shkodra watched from behind, dumbfounded. That was impossible.
His presence sent a strong and addictive scent towards her nostrils.
"I always dreamt of you sleeping. I had no idea." Ivar's voice whispered beneath as his eyes danced at her pale skin. "Mate. Wake up."
"Mate...wake up." His voice echoed in her hearing and in one breath, she breathe back to life.
Stormie gave a whimper and finally looked up. Raising her eyes in one gaze, focused to his. It filled her eyes with unshed tears. It happened so fast, but it felt as if time had stopped for the both of them. Immediately, Ivar's dark black eyes met hers. It broke down the barriers.
Stormie's lip trembled, making her eyes burn as she struggled to keep her tears at bay. His stare made her stiffen. Noticing his beautiful black eyes and built muscles.
She tried to pull up but failed. 'It felt like yesterday.... Why am I so weak?' Stormie cried inside. Her joints trembling in his direction.
"Mate." Ivar called upon her in amazement. "You are my mate."
Before Stormie could process the word, she felt dizzy. The last thing she remembered was that he held onto her. Feeling the tingling feeling of his touch before the darkness of the room completely consumed her.