02 : Where Destiny Finds You
1798 Words
Standing on the roof of the tree house five kilometres away from the pack border were two men.
The one in lead had broad shoulders and long legs. He leaned over the wooden balcony to watch the line of people entering the territory.
Next to him was a man shorter by two inches. In his hand was a list.
"Alpha, these are the ones who need to be removed." He handed the list after double checking it.
The Alpha, famously known to be ruthless, took the list without taking his eyes off the gates. His thick eyebrows raised when a small commotion errupted in the line.
A certain someone caught his eye. When Alpha Eiran chuckled in amusement, his beta couldn't help but stare too.
"Her information will be on your desk in an hour." He reported.
The Alpha waved his hand dismissively. The arm covered in tattoos was thick and strong.
"There is no need for that. Focus on the overall management." He adviced sternly.
The beta stepped back. The treehouse was situated over a tall banyan tree. Although far, it gave a clear view of the border while still maintaining a certain level of camouflage for the looker.
Alpha Eiran kept his eyes on the girl in black. She pulled her hood up upon passing the gates. She paused and looked around. When the next one arrived behind her, she stepped aside and looked in the direction of the banyan tree.
His heart skipped a beat. Strange, because people always say he doesn't have a heart.
He leaned down completely, folding his arms over the wooden railing. Interest danced into his brown eyes.
"She's interesting." He commented.
"In what way, Alpha?" The beta asked.
"She's a bit too aware." He answered vaguely. "Let's go back. There is nothing left to see."
Alpha Eiran stepped down the banyan tree, followed closely by his beta. The guards stationed at the bottom dispersed when they arrived.
The Alpha shifted into his pure black wolf. The guards knelt within the one kilometre radius, paying respect to the Alpha. The beta shifted as well, his dark grey wolf stalking closely behind his Alpha.
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Alyna was taken to a hall adjacent to the gates where all the newcomers before her were gathered. With wood flooring and high walls, it appeared bigger than it was.
A line of guards were helping the newcomers plan their future in the Ember Claw pack.
Alyna didn't have specific 'plans' when she decided to come here. She just wanted to settle down, earn enough money to support herself and the grandma and live in peace until possible.
So when the guard asked her what her plans were, she in turn asked him what she could do.
The guard seem to be used to such a problem. He handed her a list and a form. The form was given to everyone else, the list to some.
"Take a seat and think carefully. Choose something you are good at and fill the form accordingly." The guard kindly pointed at the chairs lined up on the side.
Alyna glanced at the name stitched in his shirt. A low rank soldier named Derek. Nodding, she went to the side to decide her future.
Grabbing a chair at random, Alyna settled down with one leg crossed over the other. One hand supporting her chin, she took a brief glance at the list.
It was a list of professions one could chose based on what they are good at. Alyna graduated from a good university with excellent grades. Ignoring all the career lines going to the army, she chose to be a teacher.
She filled the form with all of her education listed. When she was halfway done, a shadow appeared above her.
Alyna looked up without expression. It was the girl who's bag was stolen earlier. She was holding a form as well. She didn't have a list.
"What's your name?" The girl possessed a childish voice.
"Alyna." She answered, leaning back in the chair.
The girl glanced around the hall. After a brief thought, she plopped next to Alyna and handed over her form.
"Can you help me?"
"Sure. What do you -" Alyna's question came to a halt when she looked at the words in the form. Only one column was filled.
"School?" Alyna chuckled.
Holding the form, she wondered what else a fifteen year old could do. She didn't guess it wrong either. She was indeed fifteen years old.
"I want to go to school. Can you help me?" She asked.
The girl was asking for help but there was not a hint of desperation on her face. Her eyes were calm, so was her tone.
Alyna waved the form and asked, "How do you want me to help?"
The girl took her form and tapped a certain column. "Fill your name here. Once you do that, I'll be able to go to school."
It was the guardian column.
Alyna suppressed a smile. Does this girl take her for a fool? Going to school wasn't the only thing that would happen if she agreed to become her guardian.
Alyna didn't want to become a young mother to a fifteen year old.
"Where are your parents?" Alyna asked a heartless question.
The girl wasn't affected at all. She calmly answered her. "They were killed by rogues."
Alyna stared at the girl for a long time. Holding her cheek, she observed her features and found her to be quite pretty. She had long straight black hair and smooth, cute features.
If not raised properly, she might be taken advantage of in a big pack like this.
After a long time, Alyna straightened up and wrote her name in the guardian column.
"I'll help you fill the form. What's your name?"
"Destiny." The girl said.
Alyna chuckled at the irony. People work hard to find their destiny and Alyna was found by Destiny herself.
"Destiny Westwood. That's your name from now on. Don't forget it."
The girl shook her legs and guides Alyna in filling the form. After filling the forms, Alyna submitted then to the Derek, the one on guard duty.
"Teacher?" He looked up at her, squinting. "You are more suitable to be a soldier, ma'am."
Alyna chuckled, "How can you tell?"
"I am a soldier myself. We can tell by appearance. You are here guardian?"
"Yes. She'll be boarding with me."
They checked off the accomodating box for the next three months. It should be enough time for Alyna to move out on her own with Destiny.
"Alright. For the teachers job you either need the qualification certificates. Do you have anything?"
"No." Alyna answered calmly.
Without certificates, she could only get a job at a pack run school and get just enough salary to afford basic living necessities.
"Alright, you can go ahead from here. Board the bus and it will take you to your destination."
He gave Alyna and Destiny a slip each. It looked like a bus ticket.
Destination : Boris Bright Public School.
"Hold my hand. Don't get lost." Alyna grabbed Destiny's hand and they left the hall together.
A large bus was waiting for the newcomers. They grabbed two seats next to each other.
"We can leave once the bus is full." A boy at the front turned back and informed them.
"Thanks," Alyna nodded in appreciation.
Alyna didn't like talking to strangers much but for some reasons strangers always saw her as approachable. The old grandma to destiny and now this boy.
The boy knelt on the seat to face them. His eyes lingered on Destiny a few times. Alyna noticed it and frowned.
"What's up?" She used a warning tone.
The boy blushed and lowered himself behind the seat. Only his dark, black eyes were visible to them.
"Mom," Destiny called out.
"Where?" Alyna asked.
"Mom." Destiny pointed at Alyna and repeated, "Mom."
The address struck Alyna.
"No! Not mom. Call me sis! Or Alyna!"
She didn't want to become a young mother of a fifteen year old!
"You're her mother?" The boy at the front was shocked.
"No! She's not my kid!" Alyna defended herself.
"Mom," Destiny sighed like an adult.
"What?!"
The few people in the bus looked over when she exclaimed out in frustration.
The boy at the front said, "And you say she's not your kid."
Alyna slumped on the seat, not in the mood to answer anymore. Regret set deep into her heart. Why did she pity this kid?
The boy was no older than ten and was accompanied by his mother. When the lady came in, she handed him a bottle of water and greeted Alyna and Destiny.
"Mom, she's her daughter!" The boy pointed at the two in the back.
Alyna's jaw twitched. "I said I'm not!"
The woman laughed and pressed her son down on his seat. She apologized on his behalf. To show her sincerity, she gave Alyna and Destiny some cookies from a pack she brought.
"Where did you get them?" Alyna asked. She took a bite and found them to be good.
"They are giving them away at the kiosk. One pack per person."
Alyna didn't waste any time to get down and get two packs. She handed one to Destiny and kept the other one securely in her bag.
"Eat properly." Alyna wiped Destiny's face with a napkin.
The woman at the front saw their interaction and smiled.
"I'm really not her mother."
"I get it. What did you apply for?" She asked. "I applied for a teacher. Boris Bright."
"Oh? Same for me."
Despite not being much of a talker, Alyna talked a lot with the woman. She introduced herself as Sofia. She was a single mother with her ten year old Fred.
Alyna thought it was a good idea to built a relationship with Sofia as they both had kids to take care of and helping each other with the job will also be nice.
The bus started moving an hour later. The large windows of the bus gave a complete view of the pack.
It was a rich pack to say the least. There were large stretches of forest for festivals, independent houses with their own lawns and even buildings.
Ember claw was an old school pack which emphasized the importance of their innate nature. The pack system was deeply rooted in their day to day life, is what Alyna heard.
For an Alpha to keep more than 6000 members in check was already commendable. Doing so while making sure their hearts were unbelievably loyal to him and him only was unimaginable.
It strengthen her believe that the decision to come here was right. All she had to do was stay out of Alpha Eiran's sight.
- Writer
