Chapter 4 The Lurking

While he waited on her, one of the wolves he had sent out previously came back on his own without the Alpha wolf's order. "Is it time to take her back, Lord Ramon?'' Asked the guard.

"Probably yes but, give me some seconds?'' Replied Ramon. The wolf guard nodded in concurrence before exiting the scene once again. Ramon quickly turned to speak with Olivia again. Her face has been facing downwards. Perhaps, she could be thinking about how she will spend her last breath of life, in the hands of the wolves before they waste her on a sacrificial day to come. Even though Ramon is beginning to fall for the human girl Olivia, he still has to live with the ultimate reality that, his sudden infatuation with Olivia is far from being normal in the world of the werewolves. He attempted to leave, but not without calling the guards to take her away. Nevertheless, that will never happen as Olivia quickly reacted just as the Alpha was walking out.

"Stop! Can I ask you a question please?'' He turned around to face her again. This time he found a troubling look on her face. 'This must be related to the sacrifice of a thing,' Ramon assumed.

"Yes. What can it be? I promise to attend to your questions. Anyone one of them.''

"Is it right to offer humans as sacrifices to your moon goddess in the name of acquiring more powers? What powers are you thinking of again when you are already endowed with relative immortality? Is it right wolf? Think again! Is it right to be spilling the blood of innocent humans once every ten years, on the altar of your so-called moon goddess? Is your craving for extra powers worth that Alpha?''

"You seem to know pretty much about the nature of this sacrifice. How did you know about them, human girl?'' He was shocked, not only did she know the exact purpose of the sacrifice but also, the years it would take to perform one. 'Has someone fed Olivia some vital information or she is just making up this story?' He asked himself silently.

"You promised to answer my question, now is the time to fulfill that promise,'' she reminded him.

"Well, Olivia I thought you were bent on asking me for something more significant?''

"This is significant too. I want to confirm from you the reason why I'm getting killed," her low voice appeared to back up her question.

Here, Alpha Ramon found himself doing the unthinkable. Talking to an inferior human girl destined for sacrifice to their goddess. The very girl when killed will unlock the powers he longed for. The worst part of the whole thing is the fact that right now, he is being moved by compassion. He doesn't know if it's love, infatuation, or loss for Olivia. He has found himself in an unfavorable condition to answer her difficult questions. He never imagined for a second if, his Luna may come back and stand behind him and Olivia in concealment and listen to every word they said to each other that night. "Fine, I will tell you, Olivia,'' he began, "I was not the first Alpha who started this tradition of sacrificing a girl to our moon goddess every ten years. It was a tradition that I inherited and it must not end with me. A special power will be given to me to preside over all other wolf clans after the sacrifice. Ruana will also, become my official mate after the ritual in the presence of our moon goddess. You see, it means a lot to me but right now, I will not deny the fact that I'm beginning to have some cracks about this whole thing.''

Surprised by his words, she was moved with the courage to proceed deeper. "And what are the cracks you are talking about?"

"All I'm saying is that....,'' he cut short the original words he intended to say. He switched over to a different sentence. "All I'm saying is that I wish I could do something about this, Olivia." While he talked, Olivia noticed a humanoid figure standing behind one of the large trees not far from where the Alpha stood. There was no way Ramon could see it because his back was turned against the strange figure. She was horrified at the sight of what she was seeing but, Ramon paid little or no attention to where her eyes focused at the moment.

The strange-looking figure approached them carefully as Olivia watched. Soon, the figure was close enough for Olivia to make a distinction. It was no other but Allan. Olivia felt excited but, quickly remembered she was still with the Alpha and was under the wolf's custody otherwise, she would have called Allan. On the other hand, Allan knew the security situation around his childhood friend. He was aware it could get worse if he was ever discovered, it could even cost his life. Therefore, he quickly motioned to Olivia by crossing a finger across his lips; a signal to keep quiet. She understood and pretended like she had seen nothing. The Alpha's back was turned against Allan the whole time, there was no way he could detect what was going on except of course if Allan made a foolish noise.

"May I ask you for a favor? I know that death is my final destination and I also know that there is no escape from here but, I have one thing to beg of you earnestly. Consider it, a dying-orphan wish," Olivia tried to control her tears as she was speaking.

The Alpha was also moved. He was going to allow her to get on with anything she asked at the moment except if, she crossed his red line. And that is if she demanded from him to set her free; a request he was not simply ready to pass. "Okay Olivia, what is it that you want?" He spoke with a calm voice. "I'm pressed and I need a moment of privacy with the vegetation, would you mind?" "Oh, sure! You can. You are free to go but, don't think of doing something stupid. I will not be responsible for anything that comes with it." The Alpha warned. "Remember, you are surrounded. I will be waiting here till you return."