TRANSCENDED 2

The words of Muwal reverberated through the air and hit the eardrums of every werewolf. A new era has come, new authority enthroned and new life for all werewolves.

New rules would be made, new punishment would be established. Many were excited as the new monarchs were officially installed.

Numerous packs with their Alphas and Lunas, many provinces, all would be ruled by one Alpha and one Luna. The entire kingdom had become one.

To many, it was a privilege to behold the legendary wolf, the one who had become the queen of the kingdom. But to some, it was depressing and frustrating to know the legendary wolf, Sierra chose to abode in a low-class Alora.

In the far end of the kingdom, the part not trod by werewolves, not because it was forbidden but that no one knew of its existence.

That part laid close to the ocean, another boundary between the werewolf kingdom and the full breed human city.

On this part of the kingdom were numerous erected structures, made from strong forest materials, shelters and home for a group of people who weren't full breed human and weren't werewolves either.

In a room located in one of those structures, an old man laid on the bed, his face was intensely wrinkled and he looked too feeble. Beside him was a young man whose expression was solemn.

"She has come to stay with her people." The old man began to speak in a voice broken and almost inaudible.

"Their provinces have been merged into one and a new monarch has risen," he began to cough and the young man quickly took the cup of water on the table, raised the old man's head carefully, brought the cup closer to his mouth and made him take a sip.

"Thank you," he mumbled as the young man wiped off the water that smeared his dry, thin lips with a towel.

"She was kind enough to allow us into her kingdom, hid our home from her people, but today, I heard that howl and I know she's back to take what belongs to her," he paused and took a deep breath.

"It's time to leave this place Cordlin, let your father gather our people, let's leave now that we can before his greed and dangerous ambition put us all in trouble," he slowly turned his head to gaze at the young man who was his grandson.

"Her name is Sierra, I'm weak to protect our kind and the one to take over is bittered for reasons unknown to me. I rely on you, son to do the right thing."

The young man shook his head. Some of his grandfather assertions weren't making sense to him.

"Grandfather," he quietly called out.

"Why would she send us away when she gave here to us? We haven't offended her."

The old man revealed a bitter smile. "She must have foreseen the atrocities your father plan to commit in the nearest future."

"My father?" he queried.

"Yes, he's full of greed, he wants more than we are given, you know, don't you?" The old man gazed at Cordlin who had a deep frown on his face.

Cordlin sighed sadly. He would be a liar if he said he had no knowledge of his father's greed. "I do grandfather."

Cordlin furrowed his brows as he went into a deep thought. As a child, he was told the story of the wolf goddess and the legendary wolf, but he thought it was a fairy tale. After a brief period of thought, he covered his grandfather with a blanket, then exited the room.

At the rear of one of the houses stood a man, he was staring at the ocean and his eyes were deep like the ocean before him.

He'd been standing there since Sierra's howl was heard. His face was contorted in rage, his hands fisted.

Cordlin stood afar staring at him, he sighed deeply, scratched his head in annoyance, then proceeded to him.

"Father, some things are better left the way they are." He couldn't tell the reason behind his father's ugly mood, but suspected it might be as a result of the howl they heard that day.

"Mother is worried." But the man didn't flinch. Cordlin gave him a momentarily stare, then walked over and stood beside him.

"You're too bitter father! Such a bad attribute for a leader!!" And his father fired a murderous glare at him.

"Did you call me a bad leader!!" he roared, gave his son a hard push which sent him staggering.

"How dare you!! Everyday my brain stresses because of you and the clan!! But you stand there and called me a bad leader!!

Cordlin who had steadied his footing ignored his father's action. "You're hardly happy father!! Is happiness a taboo for you?"

Ever since he was a teenager, he realized his father never smiled. He was mean and always wore bleak expression.

The man stared deeply at his son, then shifted his gaze to the ocean. "Did you hear anything today?"

Cordlin wagged his head in disappointment. Truly, his father's mood was caused by the howl. His grandfather didn't lie.

"The howl? The words? So?" Cordlin shrugged.

"She's back Cordlin!!" his voice was hushed but filled with his rage, and his forehead crinkled.

Cordlin, sighed helplessly. "It's her kingdom, it's her people."

"No!" he roared, then shot his fury filled gaze on him. "It's also my kingdom!! our kingdom!!" His muscles tensed and his eyes narrowed into slits.

"We're migrants father, we're visitors, so grandfather said. She has been too kind to allow us into her kingdom."

Rigrit wagged his head. "I want to take over! I want to rule them! we can longer be nonentities!" His entire body expanded with rage.

Cordlin drew a deeper frown, then locked eyes with his father. "Aren't we okay the way we are?"

"No! Cordlin! We aren't!!" he hurled angrily at his son who seemed un-bothered by his outburst.

"We've always been okay father."

"Until she decided to merge the provinces! Cordlin!! you know, she wouldn't have merged them, that selfish goddess will force us to leave!!"

Cordlin pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead. He was fed up speaking to his father about the issue.

"You worry for nothing father."

Rigrit laughed bitterly. "You know nothing about that wolf whose voice shrieked today. You don't know how merciless it can be, how sharp minded it is. Son, she will definitely locate us, then ask us to leave her kingdom."

He had heard tales of the wolf from his grandfather who heard from his own grandfather. It was a hidden secret for their kind.

It was said that a prophecy was made in the past. A giant wolf would appear, whose voice would be heard by all, she would rule the kingdom for years, cleanse her kingdom and send away those who weren't part of her. It"s been hundreds of years, yet no sign of such wolf.

And when Sierra claimed her title in a voice which thundered through the kingdom, he realized the tale was true.

Cordlin shrugged nonchalantly. "Then we leave."

"To where!!" the man thundered, his eyes bulged and shot lasers.

"Do you lack understanding Cordlin?" he glared furiously at his son who gazed at him in annoyance.

He couldn't understand his father's thoughts. How could he desire another's kingdom? If the one who accommodated them asked them to leave, shouldn't they leave?

"Grandfather said you should gather our people, we will leave soon." Then he turned and walked away.

"Shut up!!" Rigrit hastily pulled him back.

" I wonder why you would listen to a man whose brain is old!!" He gripped Cordlin by the arm and shoved him backward.

He gave the young man a push into the shallow part of the ocean, he staggered and fell down. Quickly, Rigrit hovered over his son and gripped his neck.

Cordlin's heart gave a lurch as he beheld his father's murderous expression. His face grew dramatically stricken as fear crawled through him.

"Who are you?" Rigrit roared, sending his son into the depth of horror.

With quivering lips, he stuttered. "Y......ou....r son."

"What creature are you dumb Cordlin!!" He hit his face hard.

"Owl!" Cordlin responded Immediately and his father's grip on his neck loosened.

Cordlin held his neck, his breathing heavy as he tried to recover from the shock.

"Better! You're a half-owl, just as they are half wolf, but we're wiser and smarter than them. I don't care if a new king and queen has risen!! They can't rule us son!"

Cordlin who had gotten off the ocean and had staggered far away from his father shook his head in great disappointment. His father's greed had eaten too deep into him that he almost killed him few minutes ago.

Truly, his father's dangerous ambition would put them in trouble if they didn't leave soon just as he grandfather said.

"We are wiser father, but they're more powerful, they will destroy us if you do anything stupid, leave our kind the way we are!!"

"You're very stupid and I doubt if you're my son!!" Rigrit took several steps towards him while he took quick steps away from him.

"In this matter, I prefer to be stupid!!"

Cordlin dusted his shirt and chuckled. "There are many virgin lands to take over, if you need such power father, then leave!!" Then he walked away.

His father stared intently at him, his eyes burning with rage. "Foolish people."

THE HEADQUARTERS

BROLN PACK

"The former beta wishes to see you alpha." The royal messenger stood respectfully before Floyd who was slouched in the sofa, his palm over his forehead.

Floyd glanced at the messenger. "I thought they left hours ago," he muttered then sighed helplessly.

It was the third time that day the former beta had requested to see him and he had declined his request the first two times. Not that he was unwilling to see him but already knew the purpose of the visit.

"They returned alpha."

Floyd let out a deep breath then sat upright. "Call the Luna, then let them in."

And with a bow, the messenger left the court. Not quite long, the former beta and his mate walked into the court.

"May the goddess keep blessing you," the elders bowed before him.

Floyd beckoned on them to sit. "Thank you."

He stared fixedly at the couple, then rubbed his eyes . "I know the purpose of your visit and honestly wish I can help."

If only Alora would listen to him. But he understood her grievances and wouldn't compel her.

"Let's see her please," the man spoke in a low solemn voice.

Floyd nodded. "She'll be here soon."

Just then, the door was pushed opened and Alora walked in. The moment she sighted the visitors, her countenance darkened and immediately, she turned to leave, but Floyd who had anticipated such action from her was fast enough to hold her back.

"Don't leave please," he whispered, pulled her into his embrace and kissed the nook of her neck.

"I can't stay," she muttered, her face buried in his chest.

He stroked her hair gently. "How long will you avoid them? Please Lora."

And his soft pleading voice pricked the soft part of her heart, her eyes saturated and her vision blurred.

Those were her parents, her blood, the ones who brought her into the world, showered her with care until she turned sixteen, when they withheld the care.

Floyd felt the wetness on his cloth where her face was buried and knew she was sobbing silently. He felt pain in his heart and wished he could travel back to time to correct all errors.

After a moment, she repressed her emotions, slowly pulled out of his embrace, wiped her eyes and walked over to them.

"Are you good?" Floyd gently grabbed her arm and asked worriedly.

Slowly, she turned and gazed into his face. His heart ached to see the traces of unshed tears in her eyes and the pain hanging on her face.

She revealed a small smile which he knew was forced. "I'm fine," she shifted her gaze on the elders then returned it on Floyd.

"Love, can you leave us for a moment?" her voice was hushed.

Giving her a gentle squeeze on the hand, he bobbed his head, glanced at the elders then left the court.

Once he was out of the court, she turned and walked over to those who were her parents.

"You wish to see me."

"Alora my daughter," her mother whose face bore visible sadness, quietly called out, but her words infuriated Alora.

"Did you just call me your daughter? For more than four years you told who cared to listen how much you regretted birthing me! You would have ended my life if you had the opportunity!"

She looked daggers at her mother, but then noticed she seemed to have aged. She had also lost weight and looked unhealthy. Was she sick?

"We're sorry daughter, we were wrong," her father rose from the sofa and just like her mother, had aged.

Seeing their current physical appearances, she began to simmer down, but recalling what she went through in their hands, her anger spiked again.

"What if I've died? What if I became disabled?" How easy it was for them to apologize after all they made her pass through!!

"But you didn't die Aly!" Hurriedly, her mother held her hand but she flinched.

"Don't call me that!!"

The name Aly disappeared four years ago. A name that once gave her joy and a sense of belonging. A name meant just for her, coined by her parents, but the name was wiped off by same people who coined it, then replaced with wolf-less!!

Then the new name brought intense misery to her, made her an object of ridicule and torture.

"Alora, why can't you forgive us? Didn't you forgive Floyd?" her father said brokenly, but his words not only infuriated her more, but pushed her aggressively towards him.

"Did you just call him Floyd? Is that the proper way to address your alpha and king?" she glared furiously at him, her hands clenched and her jaw clenched.

He quickly stepped back as panic surged through him. He hadn't forgotten what her wolf did to him the other time.

"How dare you compare yourselves to him!! Yes!! He hurt me, but have we all forgotten how it started?"

Her father's lips quivered as he made an effort to speak.

With a deep scowl on her face, she shifted her gaze on her mother. "Why did Alpha Floyd come to the house to take me away? Have you forgotten?"

Her mother lowered her face, her shoulders hunched as she felt great sadness invade her.

"Mother, do you recall that day?" her voice thickened out with tears as she recalled everything.

Her parents were silent, their eyes downcast.

"You've forgotten? Or you wish not to speak about it?"

Her father sighed deeply, his face revealed intense sadness and regret rolled in him. Who would have thought that the one he rejected, would be one the queen of the kingdom.

Alora smiled bitterly. "Since you've forgotten, I'll remind you."

Slowly, she walked over to her royal seat and sat elegantly, then crossed her legs.

After staring at the door for a brief moment, she shifted her gaze on them.

"Father, do you recall sending a message to alpha Floyd to come over and take me away?"

"Alora, please," he muttered. Guilt was eating him up. He messed up, he deserved the attitude she was giving him.

"Do you remember the number of times he declined, but you pestered him, threatened to stop my existence if he didn't come?"

After she was battered by her parents, her father sent another message to Floyd threatening to kill her if he didn't come to take her away. Once he got the message, he came that evening.

"Father, the maltreatment started from the both of you! The alpha was never in the picture until you forced him to take me away because you couldn't bear to see your wolf-less daughter!"

As the memories of that day flooded her head, her face contorted as if she was trying not to cry. fist to hold back her tears.

"I remember how I cried and pleaded with you to take me in but you shut the door and abandoned me to my fate."

How miserable she was that day, rolled on the ground, her face swollen from her incessant cry as she begged her parents to save her.

Then Floyd stood for a while, unwilling to take her away, perhaps hoping her father would have a change of heart, but the one who was her father turned his back on her.

Floyd took her away in anger and subjected her to all forms of maltreatment. All wouldn't have happened if her parents protected her.

Her heart was painful like thousands spears were pierced into it. But Floyd would have protected her, but he didn't.

Floyd had the power to stop the maltreatment from those omegas, but he was silent and watched in excitement.

And she suddenly realized that her father's words minutes ago were right. If she could forgive Floyd, then her parents deserved same.

The past was hurting deeply and she hoped to forget. The goddess sent Sierra to her and elevated her status in the kingdom.

Perhaps she saw the torture she went through and decided to bless her. If that was so, who was she to dwell in the past filled with pains? Who was she convict who Selene hadn't judged?

It was time to forget the past, live well and love. It was time to forgive and give everyone another chance.

She rose from her seat and stared fixedly at them. "You can leave, I forgive you."

And they lifted their heads, their eyes widened in disbelief. "You........." her father's words stuck in his throat.

"You're my biological parents and that can never be changed. Return home, send my regards to my siblings."

Not willing to linger anymore as her tears were about to flow, she hurried out of the court to her chamber.

The moment she opened the door, she was pulled into those familiar broad arms and the tears she had held streamed down her face.

"It's alright love, it's in the past." Floyd wiped her tears with his palm giving her pecks all over her face.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"It's all in the past." It was a new dawn, a new life, new responsibility. The past would remain in the past and shouldn't be brought into the present.