Upon reaching outside, Miranda was stopped by the guards at the gate from going any further…
“We’re sorry miss, you can’t go out so late on your own like this. The alpha would kill us if he found out we let you.” They tried to explain.
“It’s OK,” she said. “My mate already knows about this. Give him a call for permission if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
He nodded at her before going into the guard station to make the suggested call, but his comrade had already been given the instruction.
“Let her out,” he told him.
They opened for her, and as Miranda left through the large gates, Leah was already waiting for her outside.
“Good evening ma’am!” She bowed politely.
“Good evening Leah, and thank you for this chance.”
She shook her head, “no ma’am! Thank you! Thank you for agreeing to honor us with your presence this evening.”
She acknowledged with a nod, “shall we begin the journey?”
“Yes ma’am, we may.”
The two began walking past the lands, the wide areas surrounding the pack house. These parts of town were deserted, and the only sounds Miranda could make out even from far distance were the sound of the croaking frogs and the chirping crickets.
Leah kept her company by telling her all about the silver wolves, their history and customs that distinguishes them from the other twelve tribes. This servant girl piqued Miranda’s interest so much, that she wanted to know more about her.
“Tell me about yourself Leah.”
Leah paused from walking then, not sure if she heard her right. Why would such woman of high status care about a nobody like her? She wondered.
“M-me?” She wanted to be sure.
Miranda nodded, “yes Leah… I want to know about you. Or don’t you want to tell me about yourself?”
“No ma’am, it’s just…”
“What?”
“No one has ever asked me that before.”
“Really?”
“Yeah… I guess it’s because… No one really cared enough…”
Understandingly, Miranda felt sorry for her then, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Well I’m asking now…. And I do care.”
She took a deep breath, before she began….
“I was born here, but my parents were never from this pack.”
“Really? Where were they from?”
“They were red moon wolves, but they left the pack shortly after they were mated. They were suckers for adventure, so they wanted to experience life in the other twelve packs by becoming travelers. That time was before the rogue wars when Alpha Damian’s parents, Alpha Cillian and Luna Maria were the ones leading the silver pack, land restrictions were never in place and everywhere was more or less neutral territory as there was so much freedom of movement. My parents came to settle here shortly before their next adventure in another pack, but those times never came. They’d given birth to me here when the rogues attacked. I… lost them when I was so young…”
“Oh…. I’m so sorry dear. I never should have asked…”
“No, no…. Thank you for asking! It feels so good to finally tell someone about myself after so long….”
“It must have been hard; all those years, being all alone…”
“I was alone yes, but part of the reasons I am happy now is because of my distant uncle.”
“You have an uncle?”
Leah nodded, “yes… My mom’s older brother. I was going through some of my parents old stuff I’d kept with me growing up, and that’s when I found out about him recently. I contacted him and told him who I was, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. I’ve been saving enough from this job so I can travel to meet him soon since he can’t come here.”
“That’s so sweet dear… I’m so glad there’s something for you to look forward to.”
“Yes… that feeling of having family. I’ve never felt it before… I think it will be pretty amazing when I do.”
“I’m sure you’ll be happy once you meet him….”
Miranda suddenly hushed when she noticed something strange. This environment…. Looked very familiar. This is the border! This was where she first got captured by the silver guards! She could recognize these trees anywhere…. But why would Leah bring her here?? Why is she leading her out of the terrain??? Didn’t she say she was taking her to the lower town?!
“Leah…”
“Y-y-yes m-ma’am….??” She saw the fear in the girl’s eyes then, and that’s when she knew that something was wrong.
“Why did you bring me here Leah?”
“Ma’am I’m sorry I… I….” Before she did this, Leah never expected that she would come to like Miranda, she never thought that she’d be regretting her actions the way she is now.
Apart from the feeling of danger, Miranda’s wolf sensed the sound of footsteps and whispering close by. Someone was hiding around here, watching them, and it’s not just some-one!
“Run!!!!”
Lily didn’t need to tell her twice; as Miranda quickly shifted to begin the race to escape, but unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough; the tranquilizer dart hit her in the neck instantly. Her legs, followed by her entire body, started getting weaker, her footsteps slowed down instantly. Her vision got so blurry until she could no longer see clearly. She fell to the ground, hearing Leah’s cries before she finally lost consciousness….
One of the hirelings, who happened to be Leah’s uncle; Ronald, then came out of hiding, holding the tranquilizer gun in his hand
“Good job sport! I trusted you would deliver so well.”
Leah was in tears, watching as Miranda’s wolf fell hopelessly to the ground. Ronald handed the gun over to his partner before heading towards the wolf to pick her up so they could get going, but Leah wasn’t going to let them to. This lady had been too kind to her to deserve such treatment… Oh! How she wished she hadn’t done this.
“No uncle!” She quickly ran to stand in the way of Ronald and the unconscious wolf. “Please… You can’t! You can’t take her away! Please…. You just can’t!!!”
Ronald stared at her surprisingly, never expecting this niece of his to be so bold, so audacious, but still, she’s just a little girl, who might not even know what she’s saying…
“Now’s your chance, Leah. Now you can return home with your dear uncle without fear of getting killed.” He held out his hand invitingly, “we’re leaving now, come dear, you don’t have to return to that place… Come with us.”