The next day, Floyd set out to meet Alora as usual, but saw Sebastene waiting instead.
His heart missed a beat as several negative thoughts prowled through his mind.
"Is all well?"
"All is well Alpha Floyd." He walked forward and stood few meters from the river bank, then raised a book in his hand.
Floyd frowned as he stared at the book. Confused, he waded through the water and stood before Sebastene making sure his feet didn't cross the boundary.
He was yet to figure out why his wolf was same after hugging Alora and yet to confirm if a hidden curse had been placed on him.
He stared at the book and his brows scrunched up. He'd seen it before and had read it several times as a teenager.
"You're confusing me."
"I guess you are familiar with this book." Sebastene asked.
"Of course!!"
Sebastene flipped through the pages of the book, then stopped at a page, he turned the book to face Floyd, his finger pointing at an image.
Floyd shook his head as a look of puzzlement crossed his face. "Selene's wolf? The one that appeared decades ago? What about it?"
He knew the story of the legendary wolf which many still believed never existed.
Sebastene closed the book, then fixed his gaze on him.
"It's her wolf." His voice was hushed, only heard by Floyd.
Floyd shrugged his shoulder, his hands up. "Yeah, so the story said, it's Selene's wolf."
Sebastene wagged his head. "Selene's, yes or perhaps but I ain't referring to her, I mean your mate."
Floyd took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He came to see Alora not to listen to things that would exhaust his brain.
"My mate? That's not her wolf, she's brown furred."
How could such wolf be Hera's? Has Sebastene's proper reasoning collapsed? Was it part of the curse?
"My mistake Alpha Floyd. I mean the one your heart is with."
And Floyd scratched his head and sighed helplessly. Obviously, a debilitated brain should be part of the curse.
"Sorry Sebastene, you aren't making sense. The one I love has no wolf."
"Her wolf appeared yesterday, it's exactly as the one in this book."
Floyd chuckled. "Are you alright Sebastene Miles?"
If he said Alora's wolf appeared, he would believe him but saying her wolf looked like Selene's was absolutely unbelievable.
"Yesterday, my pack was attacked by rogues, I ensured Alora was safe but perhaps because we haven't had such attack since she came, curiosity took her out of her room and right in our presence, she shifted into this exact wolf!"
Floyd widened his eyes, shook his head repeatedly.
"I don't believe you." If such a thing happened, he would have gotten the news.
"Floyd, that isn't the main point. She shifted during the day, and fell into a deep sleep after her wolf retreated. When she woke up, she had no impression of what happened."
Floyd rubbed his face, hope he wasn't hallucinating or in a dream. Or was it that Sebastene had indeed lost his mind?
"Can I see..."
"Get back to the pack immediately, we have a strange visitor." Otto's anxious voice through their mind-link interrupted him.
"My beta just asked me to return immediately, seems like something is wrong in the pack. I'll see her tomorrow, my regards to her."
Then he shifted into his wolf and galloped back to the pack.
Sebastene, watched his wolf gallop away before returning to his pack.
HERITH PACK
"How could you hide my mate Denovan? Aren't you afraid of being smithed by the goddess!"
Trevor glared at Denovan who came to see him.
After the last time he challenged him to a duel, Denovan had refused to show his face around the slave quarters.
"I have no idea of your claim Trevor."
Trevor laughed hysterically. "So the goddess cheats? Is that what you mean Denovan?"
He felt his mate in Denovan's pack. She was there, he felt her coming closer to him, perhaps looking for him too, but then she was forcefully pushed away.
Few hours later, the bond was disconnected. It wasn't a rejection but a disconnection. He believed Denovan hid his mate just to punish him.
"I didn't say such a thing about the goddess Trevor!"
Trevor stared intently at him. He was too lazy to talk to Denovan.
"I await the day I'll crush you!" Then he shifted his posture and faced away from him.
"Crush me!! You're quite amusing slave alpha!! Save yourself first before you crush me!!"
Trevor's didn't take another look at him. There was no point talking to a fellow who'd lost his sense of reasoning, but one thing was certain, he would destroy Denovan soon.
"An alpha in a cage who can't save his pack!! Look at how they toil in my pack!! Your women are wonderful sexual tools!!"
His words provoked Trevor. He clenched his fist tightly, willed his anger not to explode. No matter what Denovan said he wouldn't waste his energy on him.
"How miserable your father and grandfather would be in their world! How teary their eyes would be to see their wonderful child in my hands as a slave!!!"
Trevor didn't flinch, despite how deep his words pierced him.
Seeing the man he was mocking didn't respond or react, fear crawled over his body. It was unlike Trevor not to respond.
His eyes darted and saw many slaves giving him death stares.
"I'll crush you!!"
Trevor's words resounded in his head and he shuddered.
He turned to the guards positioned around the caged cell. "Hope this cell is secured?"
Trevor's lips curled into a mocking smile. What a pup alpha Denovan was!
BROLN PACK
Kylo galloped non stop until he got to the the pack. It headed to the royal house, and saw Otto waiting for him.
"He's in the court." Otto mind-linked him, then Kylo flickered its tail and trotted into the alpha's chamber.
Back to Floyd, he changed into a comfortable clothe, then hurried to the court.
"Alpha Floyd of Broln pack. Pleased to meet you finally."
The man whose head was covered with grey hair and his face wrinkled rose to his feet the moment Floyd stepped in.
Floyd looked at him closely, he was not familiar. "Pleased to meet you elderly one, you're welcomed to my pack."
He strode forward, glanced at the man who was still standing.
"Please have a seat elderly one."
Though he had no knowledge of his identity, He wouldn't allow an old man stand in his court.
Once the, man was seated, Floyd strode to his royal chair and sat majestically on it.
"My pack is blessed to have such an elder in our midst. May I know your mission Sir."
His respect and good manners intrigued the old man whose lips curled into a broad smile.
"Selene is always right." He mumbled, but Floyd heard him and his eyes narrowed.
"She has appeared and I want to meet her."
Floyd stared at him intently, sizing him up carefully. He noticed the odd bracelets on his arms made from carved images of different wolves, and the neck piece hung around his neck, with the image of a full moon as its pendant, then realization hit him!
Only a seer would wear such odd jewelries and not just any seer, a high ranked seer.
"Wise one!!" He called out, rose from his seat and bowed to him.
The old man smiled. "Selene was right about your IQ. May I meet her?"
"Who if I may ask, wise one."
"The solution for the cursed, the savior for the impending doom, the luna of all provinces, Broln pack is her abode, she appeared yesterday."
Perhaps he was dreaming as everything that had been happening that day were strange.
From Sebastene claiming unbelievable things and a man he was yet to know his identity spouting vague statements.
"Did any female wolf emerge in our pack yesterday?" He mind-linked his beta and got a negative response.
"Several wolves emerged but all are males."
"Thank you." He shut him out.
"Wise one, no female wolf emerged in my pack yesterday. Perhaps, if you explain further, I can grab the clue."
The man shook his head, his wrinkled face became more wrinkled as he drew a frown.
"Selene can't be wrong, I felt her, I heard her growl, I smelt her blood, she's in Broln pack and is your mate. I saw your heir growing in her!"
Floyd gaped in horror. His mate, his child growing in her, it can only be Alora!! His astonished eyes pierced through the man.
"A giant wolf, one of its kind appeared many years ago as a lone wolf."
Floyd's breathing hitched. He recalled his conversation with Sebastene earlier that day. Alora's wolf emerged and was similar to the one in the book!!
From the old man's description, it should be the same wolf. It's Alora!! His eyes widened in astonishment and at the same time, an unconscious smile sparkled on his face.
"I was informed a while ago of the emergence you speak of but I didn't believe it because it wasn't in my pack."
"I'm Muwal, the great seer of the provinces. Take me to her." Then he rose.
"She's with the cursed now, wise one." His voice became gloomy.
The man shot him a fierce glare. "You didn't protect her well, you hurt her many times, fortunately, you retreated your steps early enough."
"I'm sorry great one, having two mates was a factor." His expression became bleak as he recalled his past actions towards her.
Muwal laughed hysterically. "Two mates? Are you sure you have two mates? Take me to the savior!!"
And he left the court while Floyd followed behind.
They met Otto outside and Muwal halted, then shifted his gaze on him.
"Your loop holes he covered, else fate would have been rewritten. Your choice of beta was accurate." Then he stormed forward.
Floyd and Otto gazed at each other. "It's all well?"
"Come with us." And they hastened to meet Muwal who was already ahead of them.
"How can such an old man walk faster than the youngsters?" Otto asked.
"Selene knows the answer."
And in silence, they jogged behind Muwal whose one step was greater than a wolf's three trots. So strange.
They headed to the wood following behind Muwal who was leading the way. Soon they were standing before the boundary river.
Muwal stopped and stared momentarily at the the other side of the river where Riverville pack was located.
"Thank you Selene."
Then he stepped into the river while Floyd and Otto stood at a spot not moving.
Muwal stopped, shifted his gaze on them.
"Don't you want to unite with your mates?"
He turned and continued wading through the water.
"Mates?" Otto muttered.
"What mates?" He was aware of one mate which was Alora, which other mate?
"Remain here Otto, I'll go with him?"
"I'm going with you, what exactly is going on?"
Floyd stepped into the water. "If you say so."
By the time they got out of the water and stepped into the cursed land, Muwal was no longer in sight.
"What a man!!"
And they ran hastily, until they saw his rigid back at the distance.
"Are his legs rollers?"
They kept running till they were closely behind him.
"A loyal friend." Muwal mumbled.
"Alpha, we have visitors!!" The scout panted between his words.
"Alpha Floyd, his beta and an unfamiliar man." The scout reported.
Sebastene hurried out. "I'll see them immediately."
"No need alpha, they're here."
Sebastene shifted his gaze to the entrance and saw the three men walking towards his court.
Surprise stole the air from his lungs. Aren't they scared of being cursed.
"Alpha Floyd!!" He hurried to them.
"Elderly one!!" He greeted the old man who gave him a momentarily deep stare which gave him chills.
"Sebastene, alpha of the South pack!!"
Sebastene gaped in befuddlement. South pack was where Herith pack was located.
Floyd and Otto stared at Muwal in total confusion. How can Sebastene be the alpha of South pack, what about Denovan?
"Sorry elderly one, I'm the alpha of this humble pack."
"Selene doesn't make mistakes. In a moon, grasp what belongs you, the South pack is yours, its people are yours."
"But eld..."
"Take me to her!" Muwal cut him off.
"Take us to Alora." Floyd patted Sebastene on his back and he flinched.
"Don't stain your identity!!" He whispered, but Floyd smiled.
"Selene isn't a fool." As long the great seer was with them, he had no reason to panic.
Together, they headed to the lobby where Alora and Cecelia were seated knitting.
The moment Alora saw them, she rose abruptly and walked hastily to Floyd.
"Why?" She whispered, but he pulled her into his embrace. "How are you?"
"Very fine, you shouldn't have come."
"Finally, my eyes has behold her!! What a beauty!!" Muwal squealed in excitement as his eyes scanned Alora.
The voice pulled Alora off Floyd's embrace and for the first time, she noticed the old man whose wrinkled face was full of smiles and his bright eyes trailing round her body.
"Let her return with you, I'll be waiting in your court." And Muwal left their presence and headed back to Broln pack.