Chapter 2 Sightless

CARMINE

(Four years later ...)

It was pitch black outside, and I was cold as I sat at the top of the tree. All I could see was the dark jungle. Marco is also sitting in the opposite tree, putting his head on the branch and shutting his eyes.

I snipped a tiny branch from beside me, grabbed it, and hurled it at him. It hit his head, and he awoke, but he didn't appear to be wounded by what I did. I smirked and motioned for him to pay attention to me.

"Sorry, it appears that you just need something to wake you up."

"You're such a rogue, woman. Damn, so reckless."

"Wake up, sleepyhead; you can't sleep till the assignment is completed."

"I simply want to take a nap," he added and yawned.

I raised my hand and pointed to the bright and round moon, shaking my head.

"You can't because they're about to emerge."

"Is the trap ready for ten minutes before they come looking for food?"

"They've already prepared the sheep."

"Wonderful; perhaps that will aid in aiming the ideal shot."

I didn't say anything, just lifted my right foot while keeping my left down, leaned my seat on the tree trunk, and took a deep breath. Even though I am wearing heavy and long clothing, the cold enters my skin. I'm dressed in a black leather jacket with a black shirt inside, leather leggings that are fit to my thighs, black boots with no high heels, and my hair is pulled back into a high pony tail. This black clothing will let us blend into the dusky background.

"Melissa should join us here, this is gonna be fun."

"She can't, she's sick, she can't do this."

I had my gloves on and was about to take out the rifle from the bag when I was startled by the noise. That I was aware of the movement of trees and plants, as well as the sound of a creature's strong and hefty footsteps.

"It's them..." Marco said under his breathing. I just stared at him and looked about, not saying anything.

"Oh crap, they've arrived earlier than we expected."

I heard several footsteps again, and I was clinging to the tree trunk. I prepared my foot to hear the noise from behind me, and I quietly turned around to see a gray wolf.

It has a dirty gray tone to it, as well as a wound on one side of its foot and what appears to have a clutter of mud on its fur. I signaled him with my two fingers to prepare for the creature's arrival.

I believe I heard it breathe underneath ... this wolf, I'm sure that it can smell the sheep. Come on, you've got this. You must see the sheep and act in order for us to complete the objective.

"What is he," I whispered faintly.

"An omega, it's easy to kill this one."

"Are you sure?"

He seemed brave enough in his words, and I could see he was prepared. He shifted his weight and grasped his rifle fixedly. Trying to imitate my position but changed his mind right away.

I snorted and considered the possibility; since the tree branch was so large and thick that I had no trouble moving, I squatted down and swiftly primed the gun, aiming it at the wolf approaching the sheep.

Marco was staring at me, his eyes widening as he realized my location.

"Carmine! Don't!" The man tried to warn me, but I disregarded him.

I bit the inside of my lower lip, as though anticipating the wolf's cry. He raised his head before running, and I smiled as I observed him return to his position with a sheep that was now making a ruckus.

"Don't you dare shoot him, Carmine. I'll be the first to do it, won't I?!"

"Marco --" He cut me off.

"No, you can't shoot! We need to count, the sound of the gun will make noise, they will all be alert --"

I didn't let him finish what he was going to say. I took a deep breath, my grip on the gun tightened, and without hesitation, I shot it into the wolf's stomach.

"Damn it!" He shouted. He knelt down like me and he shot the wolf into its stomach like what I did.

Dead.

I locked my gaze on the bloodied and laying beast. I was just watching the wolf who is slowly reverting to human form; he is naked and has no any covering on his body. He was unconscious and laying on his back, his stomach bleeding.

Indeed, an omega. His body was little and skinny, as if he were a lady, despite the fact that he was a male. I took a long breath and relaxed my hold on the rifle. My hand began to tremble suddenly.

I swiftly grabbed my chest to feel its rapid and powerful movement. I looked around to see if a new wolf had appeared, but didn't appear to be any. I sighed and rested my head to the three, I could smell the disgusting blood.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine, I just feel shocked at what I did."

He shook his head, he prepared his gun again before adjusting his position.

"I told you, you can't shoot the first arrival. You don't have much control yet."

I took a deep breath and stared at my hand. Fortunately, papa is not here, I do not want him to be disappointed with what I did. I nibbled my lip, I felt like I was suddenly blamed for what I did.

"Do you have your phone?" I nodded at him. "Good, after this, call them. They will take care of the body."

I've been doing this for almost four years, it's just normal not to lose the nervousness I'm feeling, but I feel like there's something weird right now, I feel like there's something coming unexpected. I swallowed hard.

"Marco," I called to him.

"What is it?"

"After this, please tell papa that I'm sorry for breaking the rule."

I bit my lower lip again and averted my look as his brow furrowed slightly. He was going to say something when we heard another noise. The environment is more noisy.

When I spotted three wolves, I turned to the side and parted my lips. They are triplets, with brown hair and dark eyes. They'll walk while smelling the bottom, same like before.

I opened my mouth to welcome the cold air, as they came to a halt, apparently alarmed to discover a man lying prostrate. They approached it, sniffed it, and examined it for signs of life. They took a seat when they noticed a person lying down was no longer breathing.

They took a stand and formed in circle. They constantly gazing around as if they believe they are being watched.

"Beta," Marco said quietly. "Be careful, those three are from one of the powerful packs; just shoot one of them."

I gave him a strong look and nodded, sweat trickling down the side of my face. I clenched my grasp on the rifle once more.

That was directed at the wolf on the right side of the position My eyes widened as it quickly spun away from the others, but the bullet hit the bottom. My lips were open, and I was terrified.

Because of its loud sound, they simultaneously made a boisterous howl, as if giving a warning and calling some comrades.

"Shit, what have I done ..." I whispered nervously.

"Relax, the leaves of this tree are thick, they won't see us right away."

"Marco, that's impossible. Their eyes were clear and bright at night."

He looked at me and he smirked.

"I hope you don't forget that I shift too, Carmine."

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever."

"Come on, shoot again."

I tilted my head.

I knelt down once more, attempting to close my eyes but failing. I aimed the gun at the wolf, who had moved to the left side, and fired swiftly, but my eyes opened as the wolf abruptly left but raised his head.

The wolf howled, suddenly alert in the midst, as if injured by what I did. When I saw him look up and bend slightly as if he was about to run, I held my breath.

"Marco --"

"Shh ..."

He stopped me from speaking.

No, I'm not up to that. They will undoubtedly begin once they notice us. Marco can run quickly because he can shift, but I... I know I'm going to die. There should be three of us in this situation. Melissa is not here.

But I'm not sure how I'll feel now that we're just the two of us. I took a deep breath and tried to relax by listening to the noises they produced.

"Carmine, don't make any noise."

He cautioned me.

I slid my revolver inside my bag and searched for my phone, my hands shaking.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't answer him, we need help. We need back up. We can't do this, especially since our opponents are beta right now. I kept looking for the phone until I touched it, I opened it and immediately searched for a number.

"Carmine, don't!"

When he shouted, I was caught off guard and accidentally let go of my phone. My eyes widened as it made a noise, attracting the attention of the three wolves on the now cracked phone, which was already below.

"Don't be alarmed ..."

Their yells grew louder as I got closer. They were strong, enormous, and there were three of them, so I startled as I felt them scratching the trunk of the tree where I was positioned.

This tree is trembling because of what they're doing. While I was clinging to the limb, a bag fell and the bullets scattered below. There's still a lot, shit. We can't lose those.

"Marco, help."

"Bullshit!"

He did nothing but fire a gun, but he did not hit anyone there. I was even more nervous to feel as if this tree was about to be destroyed.

"Joshua, we need back up, now!" I saw him holding his phone as it was pressed to his ear.

I took a deep breath.

I took the gun and pointed it at a wolf, hit one of his legs, he roared loudly, I saw the birds suddenly strip from the other trees..

"I'll come back, don't make any noise, don't move, and don't shoot. Do you understand? Once they feel that there is no noise or presence they will leave. Stay still, Carmine. I will be back."

I just nodded and bit my bottom lip because I couldn't think of anything else to say. I strengthened my grip on the branches, but I sensed that they were becoming stronger over time. This is going to be so bad.

The moon had become more round and brighter, loud howls made my whole body tremble, the tree's trembling ceased, and I peered down to see that the wolves had vanished.

However, I heard loud and fast footsteps on my side. When I saw a gray wolf staring at me, my lips parted.

It was only then that I noticed he had already started jogging and was about to leap. When it abruptly jumped, I moved in my seat, and he gutted half the branch where I was kneeling. I pointed the gun at his head, fired it, and the creature's blood splashed all over my face.

He fell, but the branch where I was standing was breaking at the same moment, and I was clinging to the top as my seat shifted.

A second wail may be heard next to me.

I just can't fall down. They'll be able to catch me if I fall here. Or worse, they might even eat me.

"Come on, Marco. Come back, I need back up."

My two hands were trembling, and because my seat had been destroyed, the bag containing my gun had also fallen. All I can do now is grab the branch and keep myself from falling. I could not fight, I should not run, there's a lot of them at the moment.

However, I quickly feel like I've lost my hearing. My feet were numb, and it felt as if my hand was suddenly aching, and I could smell a familiar stench that gave me a terrible chest agony.

I was completely unaware of my tightness and unexpected release from the branch. I could feel the chilly wind and my body dropping, but it was as if I didn't realize I was falling because of how I felt.

Not until my entire body, particularly my back, touched the cold filthy earth. I was hard pinched, the back of my head slapped the ground, and my butt and back ached at the same time.

I was clutching my head and feeling a hot, sticky substance.

Blood.

My lips parted, and I could hear a creature's footsteps behind me, but I couldn't move.

That wolf got so close to me that its fur was almost adhering to my right cheek. I keep wishing he wouldn't hurt me, wouldn't bite me, wouldn't torture me in the most gruesome way possible.

My heart can sense it. When I first saw him, when our eyes first connected, this is how my heart felt too back then.

I could see what it looked like even though my eyes were dimming; its soft and its furs were black, its bright electric cerulean eyes seemed extremely familiar to me.

He locked his gaze on mine.

And to this day, I still could not see our future in his eyes.

Alpha, Blake Granger.