Ri’s POV
“Babe, wake up!”
I heard mom called me softly as she woke me up.
“Mom, some more minutes.” I turned to my side and covered my face with my pillow.
“Babe,” Mom called out to me again.
I felt her stare at me. I opened my eyes and she looked at me seriously. “Don’t worry about your mate.” I got shocked with what she said. “You’re strong and you know that!” she lightly squeezed my shoulder, kissed my forehead and she went out of my room.
I looked at the door where she went out.
“Am I really strong to make it out of this mess? Am I really strong to see my mate with someone else?” I told myself. I shook my head and got up.
The door opened again and I saw mom’s head . “We have to go to the Alpha’s house in an hour so better hurry.” She smiled and closed the door once again.
Tonight is our flight to the Philippines. We are to talk to the Alpha to inform him of our decision and to say goodbye as well.
I went to the bathroom and took my shower and fixed myself to meet the Alpha and eventually, my mate.
We were on our way to the pack house together with Justin. We decided to let our parents talk to the Alpha and we would just listen.
“Nindot ba ang Cebu, Justin?” I asked him. (Is Cebu nice, Justin?)
{A/N: Cebu is one of the key cities in the Philippines, known as the “Queen City of the South”. It is known not only for its religious festivities but also for its beaches, historical places and beautiful tourist destinations. Its dialect is Cebuano-Visayan but the people can speak Filipino and English.}
“Pwerting nindota. Pili lang ka unsa’y imong gustong buhaton.” He answered.
(Very nice. You will just have to choose what you want to do.)
“Like unsa man?” (Like what?) Rochie asked curiously.
We learned this dialect from our mom even the correct intonation. Funny, she did not forget the dialect to think that it was almost twenty-two years since she left Cebu. We used to visit there and the last time was when I was 10 years old.
“You can go to different beaches, dive sites, falls, or if you like the mountains, resorts and other adventures –zipline, mountain/wall climbing, and even canyoneering.” He said to us smiling.
“What’s canyoneering?” Drew asked, too, suddenly got interested with the activities we can do there.
“It is a sports activity where you trail the path of a waterfall starting from its origin to the lowest part. It involves swimming, jumping, climbing, and others.” He continued on explaining it to us. I saw the excitement on my brothers’ faces as their eyes sparkled in excitement. My parents looked happy seeing us excited, too.
“Wow!” Red exclaimed. “It’s looks exciting.” We then said together.
“We’re here!” Dad announced as he parked our car in front of the pack house.
“Good day, Alpha!” My Dad greeted him and we followed. Alpha Ivan Kane nodded at our Dad and gazed at us seriously before he nodded to us.
“It’s good that you are early. I am supposed to leave in a few hours.” He said leading us to his office.
“So, you are going?” he asked after a while. I noticed him smile that was instantly erased as he portrayed a serious face once again. “When are you going?”
“Tonight or tomorrow, Alpha.” Mom answered in a sweet voice. “We are just waiting for a confirmation from our agent.”
I looked at my parents. We already know we are going tonight but they did not tell the Alpha.
“Mom, why hid it from the alpha?” I asked in our mind link.
“Safety purposes.” was her only reply.
“What country where you from again, Rose?” I heard the alpha asked.
“The Philippines, Alpha.” Mom said softly but in a tone that says “that’s the only thing I’ll say”.
Alpha Ivan glared at my mom for a second. I really don’t know why he seemed to hate us. I always notice him glare at us when we are around him.
“Do you really need to go, though?” he asked turning to my Dad.
“Yes, Alpha. My father-in-law had me promised to be back to their country before my daughter’s 18th birthday.” Dad explained.
“Why?” he asked Dad sternly. Dad flinched but never us, even Justin. I laughed silently as his eyes widened. My father acted as if he didn’t notice it.
“It’s a family tradition, Alpha, since girls are really rare in our family.” Mom was the one who answered, hiding her amusement in a smile.
I stopped myself from laughing but I thought I can’t hold it anymore, I excused myself.
Before I went out, I heard Alpha Ivan asked, “But why do you have to leave the pack? Why not visit there and come back?”
I didn’t hear the answer anymore. It was so obvious the Alpha wanted to know something. Unfortunately for him, we know him well.
I went to the washroom and there, I burst out my laughter like I was crazy.
“Have you just seen his face?” I mind linked my brothers and even Justin, not caring if they were still in the Alpha’s office.
I went out and was shocked to find Justin outside, waiting for me with a grin in his face.
I smiled at him and led him out to the pack garden in front of the pack house.
We found a bench and sat there. We decided to just wait for them there.
We talked and laughed at what has just happened as well as other interesting things about the Philippines.
I suddenly felt my bond’s pull getting stronger as the same alluring smell hit me. I then felt my wolf whimpered inside me restlessly. Cassy felt excited that I scolded her.
“Jus,” I called him. “Naay nagpadulong, ang akong mate. Kalma lang ha?” (Someone’s approaching, my mate. Just calm down, okay?) I told him and I heard my mate’s low growl.
I turned and looked at my mate. “What?” I scowled at him.
He looked at me. “Look, I just want to talk to you, now.” He ordered in his alpha tone. I smirked and then turned to Justin who was also smirking. I smiled at him.
“Wala ba siya kahibaw nga wala nay epekto sa atoa?” (Didn’t he know that it doesn’t have any effect on us?)
“Wala.” (Nope.) I smiled at him again and he smirked. “Balika sa silang Kuya didto.” (Just go back to our Kuyas inside.)
“I will just talk to him for a while and I will follow after.” I added in English for the benefit of our single audience. He stood up, kissed my forehead. Before he went inside, he told me to mind link if I need some help. I nodded and patted his arm.
I heard another growl from my mate. I glared at him and he walked towards me and sat beside me.
“Who is he? Why are you always with him?” he instantly bombarded me with questions. “Who gave him the permission to enter our territory? What language were you using a while ago?”
“First of all, you don’t have any right to ask me those. Second of all, back off.” I pushed him away from me. I stood up and walked away from him. “Now, what do you want so we can go part ways?”
“You are my mate, so you can’t just —”
“If I remember it right, you are not my mate. You rejected me, remember?” I saw pain in his face as I said it. “So, you don’t have any right to boss me around.” I slowly walked towards him. “What. Do. You. Want?” I said it sternly.
He stared at me silently. He did not answer me. There was only silence between us. I waited for his answer.
“You know what? You don’t have to say anything. You don’t even have to worry about me anymore.” I told him.
He was about to answer me when Tiffany arrived. “Hey, babe.”
I turned to look at her. “Well, I guess this is it, then.” I stood up and started on my way. I saw Tiffany sat on his lap. I’m surprised that the pain is tolerable this time, maybe because I am still human.
I was about to continue on my way when Tiffany spoke. “What do you want, bitch? Why are you here?” she said angrily.
I rolled my eyes and looked at her. “None of your business bitch.”
She raised her eyebrow and walked up towards me.
She grabbed my arms in a strong hold. “You better answer me properly or else…”
I smirked. “Or what?” I said lazily. “You are not my alpha female, bitch. Moreover, you aren’t a future one. So don’t be conceited coz you don’t know what I can do. Or better yet, maybe, you forgot what I can do.” I took of her hand off my arm and turned away from her.
“Really? What can you do? You can’t even shift, loser!” she tried to grab me again but she failed so she pushed me instead.
“You can’t even hold my arm.” I chuckled slightly. “I know how to fight, bitch and if you don’t want me to break your nose again, BACK. OFF!” I said in my alpha tone and I saw her flinch at my voice.
I glared at her and smirked. “Ooohh… I see…” I laughed as I understood how my voice affected her.
She growled and pushed me again. But instead of her pushing me, I grabbed her arms and pushed her. She slumped to the floor.
“Don’t you know me freak?” she suddenly said to me. “I am your future Luna, your future Alpha’s girlfriend and soon-to-be wife!” I gave her a smirk.
I looked at Gabriel and glared at him before I turned back to her. “Really?” I said spitefully.
I walked towards her and was about to grab her again when someone held me and pushed me aside. I hit the ground as Tiffany snuggled to Gabriel and cried –more like acting it.
“Stop that now!” He shouted at us but it felt more like it was an order for me. “You’ve gone so far already.”
“You know I didn’t start it. You know I tried to ignore her.” I told him calmly –not even trying to persuade him to side me.
“Still, you just have not answered back.”
“And what? Let her bully me? Let her make myself miserable because of her insecurity? NO WAY!” I glared at him. “You chose her over me and I’m fine with that. But I am not pathetic to let her crush me over and over again. If you can’t stand it, well, deal with it!” I told him in our mind link. “Good luck!”
I finally continued my way towards the door when my parents, brothers, Justin and Alpha Ivan and Luna Hannah came out from the house.
“So,” The Alpha spoke. “This is goodbye then? Or goodbye for now?”
We smiled at him. “Goodbye, Alpha Ivan!” I told him and then bowed so as the rest of my family. “Goodbye, Luna Hannah!” I smiled at her. To my surprised, she hugged me and I hugged her too.
“Goodbye, mate!” I whispered in the air looking at him.
We went back to the car and went home.
Early that night, we left America.