Chapter 7: 6

Chapter 6

Five years later.

Woodridge Academy.

The institution used to only cater grade-school pupils in the last two decades, but that changed not too long ago—thanks to the modifications made by the Central Palace for all educational institutions throughout the Akkad nation.

Now, Woodridge Academy has been officially qualified to accept adolescents and young adults into the organization.

Akkad schools can be found either within a pack, or an unclaimed territory.

And Woodridge Academy is situated in the center of the unclaimed territory, separating River Severn and the old West Crescent.

All Palace-accredited schools are required to welcome students, coming from different packs.

In other words, it's a matter of preference for both the students and parents on which institution they wish to enter—as long as they have completed the necessary paperwork.

Learning institutions in the country of Akkad share one solid rule.

As long as the person is qualified, they can't deny him entry—even if he's from a pack cities away.

Thankfully, Woodridge Academy isn't located at a specific pack. Therefore, the distribution of their students is diversified, that's why competition is very stiff as well.

Since it's the nearest school from River Severn, it becomes the go-to choice of the pack members for their kids to attend.

Hence, a third of Woodridge Academy's population are wolves of the notorious 'Alpha Severus'.

Eventually, that became the other packs' motivation to go to Woodridge Academy, too. They wanted to learn more about River Severn Pack, and being exposed to their practices and ways should give them an idea on how to get stronger in a short span of time.

It's politics for the higher-ups, as well as a dirty… and shameless technique, but it's treated like an open secret.

No one's expressing their disapproval, so its observance continues.

Besides, the Alpha of River Severn Pack didn't condemn the practice. It was as if he wasn't bothered at all to say the least. And according to one report, he said that those who would try to observe his pack members couldn't possibly benefit fully from it.

That it would be too much work if they were to take each of his pack member's competence into consideration—not to mention, there were also grades that had to be maintained.

All Alpha Severus could say to those ambitious people was a bland… 'good luck'.

Now, it goes without saying that the Capital is keeping an eye on Woodridge Academy for any developments. Some of the students have already begun their official training for the dream of entering the Werewolf King's division of warriors.

The Akkad have been keeping a low profile in the recent years after longstanding war campaigns against small neighboring countries in its desire to expand its territorial lands.

It was also heard that the forces sent in Yalova had been vanquished.

And conflicts in there remained unresolved to date.

For the time being, it could be said that Akkad was slowly enjoying the comfort brought by temporary peace across all borders. Pack warriors were ordered to return to their families to make up for the lost time together.

But still, the problem with rogues is something that will persist for a long period of time, that's why, packs are asked to avoid indulging in complacency, and instead, take this opportunity to strengthen their very own stronghold and manpower.

Also…

Little Amber is no longer… little.

She turned eleven this year, and grew up to be a softhearted child. She's also taking special classes in preparation for her first shift which can happen anytime soon.

Werewolves are extremely vulnerable during the process, so it's only necessary to have your family by your side as you undergo the transformation. It's a painful process that takes hours before its completion because your bones break, elongate, and change their shapes to accommodate your wolf's size, appearance, and form.

There were a few cases where werewolves died in the process, and most of them were those who had a weak body constitution, or a pre-existing health condition. The community today had been especially watching out for these unfortunate cases because the available data also stated that orphaned pups were more likely to suffer from these events due to being mentally weak, and open to attack since no one was looking after them during the process.

As for River Severn, the reason behind their Alpha's indomitable focus on the issue was so glaring that the pack members were no longer surprised.

Amber Santiago is an orphan.

Rumors about her father not being able to return from the colonial subjugation mission in Yalova were widespread that people couldn't stop themselves from throwing a look of pity her way every time they ran into the child.

The one and only Santiago survivor…

Of course, anyone would go thinking that she'd face troubles in her first shift, being an orphan. Even if the Alpha's family treated her like their own since day one, no one knew if the same could be hold true from Amber's perspective.

In her five years of stay in River Severn Pack, the pack members gradually learned to accept her existence, as well as the special treatment Alpha Severus was giving her.

With time, they were able to tolerate it.

In regard to legal aspects, the Alpha couldn't file an adoption case even if he wanted to make it happen as soon as possible. He feels like he has to wait for the child to be of legal age before he starts bringing up the topic to her.

Cain Santiago never came back in those five years; however, his death wasn't confirmed either.

Perhaps, Alpha Severus is still holding onto that tiny sliver of hope in behalf of a friend's child, thus the uncertainty he was feeling.

The pack members may not like Amber in the beginning… but now, some of them have started warming up to her.

It took them years to realize that the child was faultless.

Envy and pride had clouded their judgment, and some people owned up to their mistakes.

Friday, 3 PM.

Amber sat on one of the cast iron benches at school while waiting for her friends, Salt and Pepper.

Unfortunately, they were assigned to different classes, so the three of them could only see each other during lunchtime. And since they were twins, and shared the same surname, it was already expected that they'd get to be in the same class.

As usual, Pepper expressed her dissatisfaction of the faculty's decision at first for not being able to share classes with her—until she had forgotten all about her anger after some time.

As a friend, Pepper has always been there, looking out for her, and Amber is already more than happy to know that she cares.

She won't ask for more.

She won't be greedy.

Because greed… can never be satisfied.

The three of them shared the same dismissal, so Amber had the idea that she didn't have to wait for long. There was nothing left for her to do since instructors weren't allowed to give homework to be done by the weekend, so Amber just observed the school grounds while waiting.

For some reason, this feeling… this scenario… seemed awfully familiar that her heart clenched at the painful memory.

She was very young then when the incident happened, so why couldn't she seem to forget?

"Hi."

"You're the one, right?"

Amber snapped out of her trance, and looked at the person who suddenly approached her.

No…

The person wasn't alone.

They were a group of four.

"Can I help you?" she asked timidly. Despite being shy, Amber still pushed herself to give them a warm smile.

Her uniform is the same as them, so that means they're in the same grade.

However, she could tell that they weren't from her pack since she couldn't recall having seen their faces in her five years in River Severn.

And somehow, the atmosphere between them isn't so great, Amber can't help but wonder if they're here to pick on her.

After all, it wouldn't be the first time if that were the case.

There was a running gag for the name 'Amber' which started a year ago. The context was about a siren song… which had been adapted into a dramatic play by the higher levels.

The name of the siren was… Amber.

It wasn't altered—it was really the name of the wicked creature in the book, and not an attempt to make fun of her in any way.

Still, that didn't stop the others from trying to connect the dots, given her personal background.

Amber, the siren who lured many men to their ruination.

Amber, the outcast who bewitched the Alpha of one of the formidable packs in Akkad for her own benefit.

No matter what they do, it bears some semblance.

And that's how she became popular for all the wrong reasons.

Of course, such issues wouldn't end without Pepper, getting mad in her behalf. Her friend even tried to convince her to let Alpha Severus know of the situation, so no one would dare cross her again.

As much as possible, Amber limits herself when it comes to refusing to Pepper's offers, and saying no to her suggestions because she doesn't want to hurt her feelings.

But…

That time, Amber was too calm for a ten-year-old girl.

Typically, girls her age already have their own crushes. It's a phase that everyone goes through, and it's normal to feel an attraction toward the opposite sex, especially when one has never met his mate yet.

However, Amber isn't anything like that.

She used to play a lot with her friends years ago, but she also quickly got over that childhood phase in a blink of an eye.

There was also a time when the Alpha tried to persuade her to join fun competitions for kids around three years ago, but in the end, a simple headshake was all that he got.

Well, that wasn't the Alpha's final attempt though.

There were also instances that Amber was cajoled into attending fairs, and doing marathons—which, in the first place, didn't require a lot of convincing since competitive play had always been the little girl's cup of tea.

That's why, after learning that people were poking fun at her name by associating it with that siren song, Amber didn't know how to react.

She wasn't sad nor hurt.

She didn't even get angry.

Perhaps, the closest word that could describe what she felt that time was… disappointment.

Her Papa once said that… to lose patience was to lose the battle.

Her understanding of that saying before hadn't been cultivated yet, and it was only after meeting a lot of pompous kids in their region that she finally got to reflect on her father's words previously. Amber wasn't bothered with the actual nasty jokes and offensive remarks per se, but what made her snap was… the incessant ringing in her ears.

Their words didn't affect her in the slightest bit, but her heightened hearing was fed up, and the next thing she knew… her fist moved of its own accord.

Her quick left jab gave her classmate dreadful nosebleeds—which left her no room for dialogue.

And that was the only time Alpha Severus caught wind of the ongoing issue behind her name.

The school had no choice, but to summon the guardians of both parties to discuss the behavior of the kids.

The matter was wrapped up quickly, and Amber had no idea how it happened.

She got sanctioned for her actions, but it wasn't as heavy as she thought. She remembered apologizing to the Alpha non-stop, and even claiming she was willing to train with the tenured pack warriors to officially become one since the school was going to expel her.

Amber read the student handbook, but that moment—she wasn't able to think straight, and just kept rambling on.

Thankfully, she didn't have to face expulsion.

Just… a three-day suspension.

And Amber thought it was the Alpha Severus' doing.

The man didn't have to say anything. He's an Alpha, and his mere presence can bring anyone to their knees.

Amber thought Woodridge Academy showed leniency because her name was linked to the highest official in River Severn Pack. Her classmate's parents also bowed their heads several times to Alpha Severus.

And during the guardians' meeting, Amber didn't take her eyes off her classmate's face even for a second.

Her Papa was right.

To lose patience is to lose the battle.

Her classmate didn't even say sorry.

Which was the most important thing to her.

She might have punched her in the face… but in the end, she still wasn't able to get what she wanted.

An apology.

She lost her patience, but failed to get down to the main point of the whole thing.

Therefore…

She lost the battle.

"You're that person, correct? That… Amber?" the girl with the Birkin bangs asked—she sounded unsure herself, which gave Amber the idea that the group approached her without fully knowing what she looked like.

Still, they got the right person, so that meant they must have observed her from a distance, or maybe, it could be that someone from this crowd might've given them a tip that she was the person they were looking for.

"That Amber? I wonder what that means?" Amber responded, tilting her to the side.

Actually, she already knows what they're talking about.

Being the subject of gossip for years just because of that unsupported news drew her to the spotlight she never asked for. Although, those intended whispers don't affect her daily life activities to the point of isolation, that doesn't mean Amber isn't wishing for a more… peaceful academic life.

She wants to make friends without having to see the person's hesitation written all over their face.

One of her friends a few years back, Pauline, had to attend a different school.

The twins are the only persons who've stuck by her side, despite her not-so-great reputation at school. Well, technically, it's just Pepper. It just happened that she and Salt were inseparable, she couldn't help but address them collectively.

There are only a few pair of twins at Woodridge Academy, so they're kind of distinguishable for that matter as well.

Also, they're treated like an icon for their undeniable knack for fencing.

And Amber was thankful that they never tried to abandon her.

The group of girls before her looked at each other, hesitant.

'I wonder what they want from me?'

She'd be delighted if they said they wanted to make friends because getting spoken to for that reason was very… rare. Only her classmates would talk to her without ulterior motives, and trying to pick a fight—well, some of them. The others were still wary of her until now, but it couldn't be helped.

She had a history of hitting a classmate in a fit of rage after all.

So, it was kind of expected that a lot of them were… put off by her 'fickle' personality.

On the outside, Amber is docile and gentle.

She's shorter than average, and she speaks with grace that most teachers are fascinated, and adore her.

She was on the right track to becoming a model student—until the siren song and skirmish incident happened.

The school's opinion of her was divided. Half of them, which were mostly boys, unexpectedly came to like her guts. Her confidence was one of the things they admired, considering how her physical appearance was the exact opposite of her spunk.

Who wouldn't be mad about her?

Even the seniors knew her name.

However, things weren't always positive for her.

There were also some who steered clear of her because of the… issues.

To most girls at school, she's considered a bad influence.

Amber looked glum about the quick accusation, but didn't try to dwell on the feeling for much longer. Instead of agonizing over things she had no control over, she just focused more on good people around her.

That way, her mind would be free from negative thoughts.

Amber clutched her bag to her chest while watching the silent interaction between the girls before her.

Some passersby were starting to stare at them—probably because a brewing altercation was to be expected at the sight of them.

One small girl… getting surrounded by four.

There's going to be a fight no matter which angle they try to view it.

"Amber Santiago…" the girl trailed off, "is that your full name?"

"Yes." Amber smiled at them warmly. "Is there… a problem?"

"No… no… that isn't that."

"Are we of the same age?"

Her forehead knotted in confusion. "I wouldn't know…" It did seem like it, but Amber just used their uniforms as a basis. There's still the possibility that they're a year older or younger. "How old are you?" she asked sincerely.

Amber's heart was palpitating wildly.

It's the first time in a while that she's talking to students from other classes—without them showing blatant hostility toward her.

She hopes she won't mess up this conversation.

And what could possibly go wrong?

They were just talking about 'age' anyway…

"Uh, I'm eleven."

"Me, too."

"Twelve years old here."

"I'll turn eleven next month."

Oh…

Amber giggled softly. "I guess that makes us the same age then. I'm eleven, too."

"Ah, alright? That's nice…"

"Well, do you mind if we ask you a question?"

"We promise we won't take much of your time though."

"I-It's just… we're curious about something."

"Right, girls?"

"Yeah…"

"That's correct."

'I suppose I can answer as long as it's a harmless question…' Amber thought inwardly.

"Sure." She shrugged her shoulders with a friendly grin. "What is it about?"

"Your sports… it's kickboxing, right?"

Wow.

They know about that, too?

She nodded quietly, bewildered. "Yes, I do kickboxing. What about it?"

"You see…" they hesitated.

"We know that you won the regional competitions for that sport…"

"And we were also able to watch you compete…"

"I know it's too sudden to ask of you, but…"

"Could you give us some tips, and show us some moves? Anything that might help us win? We're trying to apply to your club, and hoping to get into the Team B to be able to compete in provincials… but if that's too much, then maybe we can qualify for the Team C? We'll show you our moves, and we can spar against each other as well, if that will help you assess our skills…? What do you think?"

Huh?

Isn't that like coaching them?

"Me?" Amber blinked at them in awe. She wasn't expecting this kind of talk at all. "I don't think I'm qualified enough to be making assessments though…"

"That's not true…!"

"We've seen how amazing you are…!"

"Moves don't lie, you know!?"

"The Amber Santiago underestimating herself? Aren't you too humble…"

"Besides, you won the regionals. It's the 'regionals'! Do you even know what that means!?"

"For a prodigy, you're pretty much clueless…"

Amber didn't know what to say.

Just now… those were all compliments, right?

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There hadn't been a tiniest bit of insult in their words… right?

Her cheeks reddened, she was overwhelmed. She couldn't believe that these girls sought her out to get a piece of advice from her with kickboxing.

The Alpha and Luna had always praised her for her tremendous talent in the said sport, and she always felt honored by the recognition she was getting from the leaders of River Severn Pack.

But this time, it was different.

The remarks came from people she didn't personally know.

Amber couldn't stop herself from… smiling.

Her chest feels warm.

"You do have special moves, yes?"

"Can you show them to us as well?"

"We'll try to imitate your specialty to amp up our chances of making it to the official teams…"

"That's only if it's okay with you though…"

"No pressure."

"It's kind of rewarding enough to be able to talk to the Amber Santiago. We'll accept whatever your decision is."

"We heard that River Severn is particularly strict about weekend workouts for trainees after all…"

"Yeah, all pack members are to become pack warriors there. They're on a different level of pressure."

"So, feel free to speak your mind with us."

"You don't have to worry. As your admirers, we can't possibly get mad at you…"

Admirers?

Amber bit her lower lip. "I really want to be of help, but I'm still young… I have yet to learn many techniques and styles to improve myself." Then, she looked them in the eye. "And I personally think that with your drive… you'll achieve great things in kickboxing. Please do not limit yourselves to my capabilities. You might even perform better than me…" she affirmed, her voice filled with regret.

Amber was humbled by their words, but she shouldn't let them get to her head, and agree to their request recklessly. It's way too early for her to call herself 'professional', and that would be too insulting to those who treat kickboxing as their daily bread.

Besides, Amber was conscious of her limits both as an athlete, and a martial arts enthusiast.

As for the girls in front of her, seeking the right trainer would be the best choice.

"For someone our age, you sure talk like an adult…"

"Right!? I thought I was the only one who noticed that…"

"But the way you said it…"

"It's a no, right?"

Amber lowered her head, contrite. "I am really sorry. I appreciate everything that you've said, but a real coach can help you achieve your goals. I'm no… coach." She looked up to give them an encouraging smile afterward. "I wish all of you success though. Should I also say… see you at the club soon?"

"T-thank you…"

"That's so sweet of you, Amber."

"It was nice talking to you…"

"We're also grateful for the words of encouragement."

"We'll practice hard, so that we can join you in the game, too."

"See you around."

"Bye, Amber."

Amber waved her hand goodbye, a fond look casting over her angelic features.

That was certainly one of the healthiest conversations she had with her schoolmates in a while. She also didn't know she had admirers for something that she was doing only as a hobby.

Kickboxing was the sport that her Papa introduced to her when she was three years old, and that's also when her training… began.

And it's all thanks to her father that she's nimble, and athletic, despite her size.

Amber never viewed her height as a hindrance even once.

Though she noticed that she was always the smallest girl in class, she just shrugged it off. Amber consoled herself by thinking it shouldn't last until she hit puberty. She always eats healthy food, that's why she also rarely gets sick.

Werewolves can tolerate the cold, and contracting the flu is highly uncommon for their kind.

Usually, the main cause for them to fall ill is wound infection. These wounds are acquired from rigorous drills. And as for the adults, and full-fledged pack warriors, they get sick due to the accumulation of stress, awful duty schedules, or injuries they obtain from stumbling upon rogues.

Amber had been exposed to many elements since she was little.

And her father made sure to reinforce her immune system at such a tender age through… training exercises that were developed by the Santiago clan. It was the reason why her heightened senses as a werewolf had always been remarkable—even if she wasn't of Alpha blood.

It was also the reason why she wasn't afraid to get injured.

Her Papa told her to wear her injuries like a badge of honor. It was proof to her struggles that would lead her to victory, so… why would there be a need to shed a tear from something that was respectable in the first place?

"Papa…" she cried out, her cheeks puffy, "a splinter…!"

Her father crouched down, and kissed her forehead. "What are you holding in your other hand?"

Little Amber's lips quivered, trying to contain her sniffles. "The Easter egg…"

"Oh, you've found it already?"

"It's strawberry-scented," she muttered quietly. "It felt like I was tracking Mama down…"

Cain brought her into the forest on an unclaimed territory to arrange a special training for her sense of smell, and he made her pup cooperate under the guise of playing the Easter egg hunt.

Although, his daughter never complains—he prefers to get her fired up with determination.

And to be able to do that, he needed to incorporate concepts derived from classic outdoor games for kids.

As luck would have it, Little Amber was very eager to listen to her Papa, so long as it involved playing games.

"And where did you get this splinter?" Cain questioned calmly. He shouldn't comfort her too much, or else she'd burst into tears.

When it came to his precious daughter, he just knew he couldn't overdo it.

The more you pat a kid's back, the more they tend to cry.

"While picking up rocks, and digging soil…" Little Amber pushed her bottom lip out as if she was about to cry. "Papa…" She was showing him her splintered finger.

Cain collected the Easter egg from her. "So, you got injured while looking for this?"

She nodded several times. "I… I didn't cry. Please help me remove it, Papa…?"

"If you ever get injured on your mission in the future, then it isn't a simple injury. You have to wear it like a badge of honor, hmm?" He hoisted her up into his arms, carrying her toward the nearest lake. "I'll let your mother remove it. Papa's not very careful with handling… wounds."

Little Amber hugged his neck tightly, eyeing the splinter from time to time to check if it was still there, or it already disappeared. She was hoping for the latter, but… she would panic if it were to vanish without her knowing.

Her Papa said something about wearing the splinter like a badge of honor.

What was that supposed to mean?

Was it his way of telling it would be better to not get it removed?

The thought made her shudder uncomfortably.

Her Papa was saying weird things again…

And that was just a memory from the past that, strangely, Amber was still able to recall.

Training with her father was never boring. Getting hurt in the process was normal—and there was always that look on her father's face that was stopping her from crying every time she got herself injured.

Perhaps, deep inside, she didn't want to see him disappointed.

Whenever she was on the verge of tears, her father would stare at her face intently—as if he was waiting whether or not she'd bawl her eyes out.

'I didn't know what exactly he was doing, but it was rather… effective,' Amber thought.

She couldn't help but wonder if she'd be able to show her Papa her kickboxing skills now.

Amber doesn't have a coach.

Instead, she trains alone to perform some drills that he taught her before.

After watching a lot of kickboxing sparring matches here in River Severn, she's able to regard little, yet modified changes with what she usually does for the basics—compared to how the others utilize their arm and leg movements.

And it astounds her… how such faint differences in moves can affect the impact of the blow.

That's why…

Even if she wanted to help those girls from earlier, there were secrets to the sport that she'd rather keep to herself.

Amber yelped in surprise when she felt something hanging around her shoulder.

"What's up?" Lukas' brow was raised as he grinned at her. "Did they need something?"

He must've read the questioning expression she gave him for him to motion his lips to the spot where the girls were standing at, just several minutes ago. "Did they pick on you?" he suddenly asked, his voice deeper and more serious. "Words, please. You always give me that wonderstruck look every time I talk to you. I'm no mind reader, Amber."

Her furrowed brows didn't relax at all. "Your arm…"

Lukas laughed, and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "How mean of you to let the twins hug you whenever they feel like it, yet I'm getting a scolding just for putting my arm over your shoulder?"

Amber fell quiet.

She looked at him with a bored expression before she brought her hand to flick his forehead. "Hands off, Lukas. You're giving our schoolmates the wrong idea."

"What 'wrong idea'? Aren't we close?"

She shook her head firmly. "You know we aren't."

"Stop lying," Lukas said with a small smile playing on his lips. "Those girls… were they classmates?" This time, he removed his arm from her to open his string bag to get something.

A few seconds later, he was grasping a strawberry-flavored drink.

Lukas handed it to her.

To which she accepted wholeheartedly.

"This is bribery," Amber pondered for a second before taking a sip of her drink through the straw. "And they were schoolmates."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No…"

"Insult you?"

"It wasn't like that."

"You aren't planning to tell me a thing about it, are you?"

Amber blinked at him, twice. "Wow, you're getting good at this."

Lukas groaned in protest, but stopped insisting afterward. He sat beside her, leaning his back against the bench while wiping off his sweat with the towel she gave him for his birthday last year.

Amber wasn't expecting him to use it regularly, but it looked kind of shabby now since he always used it right away after getting laundered.

She shrugged nonchalantly.

Buying it was… practical.

Lukas sweats a lot because he's involved in many physical activities, so he needs a towel every day.

Moreover, it wasn't like she had the money to spend on something… costly.

Alpha Severus is actually quite generous when it comes to giving her allowance.

Amber, on the other hand, isn't comfortable with the idea of spending somebody else's hard-earned money, so she normally sets it aside, and comes back for it for school expenses.

The towel that Lukas is using right now comes from his parents' money anyway—so, there's no need to feel bothered seeing him use it each and every time.

Amber murmured her thanks for the drink, but Lukas didn't seem to catch that because he was too occupied.

She even debated with herself whether or not to say 'thank you' again, and this time, with a louder voice.

But the righteous side of her was defeated in the end.

If Lukas tries to rebuke her for being ungrateful, she'll say she did thank him… deep inside her heart.

"There they are…"

Salt and Pepper arrived, hand in hand.

That was one thing that never changed between them.

Though it was more attributed to Salt's part since his twin sister was a klutz, and always got her knees scraped.

Pepper isn't Pepper without a gauze taped on her knee.

Amber stood up from the bench, and welcomed her friend into a warm embrace. Salt gingerly let go of Pepper's hand, and stood awkwardly beside them. He acknowledged Lukas' presence by nodding at him, but other than that—he was basically placid.

Lukas immediately placed his stuff inside his string bag when he realized that they were waiting for him.

The pack house will throw a barbecue party at 5 PM, and there will be guests from different packs. The Luna urged them to attend the event if they could since a Werewolf King's representative was also coming.

Amber doesn't remember what the party is for, because originally, she was planning to spend her time by the riverbanks.

Lately, she's been smelling a foul odor from the waters, but the surface was… crystal clear.

She's perplexed to the point of not being able to get enough sleep because of the smell its emitting.

It really bothers her.

Sentries are now more concentrated on territorial borders, so the river is practically neglected at this point. And since the riverbank is a spot that nobody visits regularly, Amber is more than happy to make the surrounding area her training grounds.

It's located at River Severn's inner land, so she doesn't have to worry about encountering rogues or other wild animals.

Since a party has been organized for today, Amber is left with no choice, but to go.

Perhaps, she'll hear more of Pepper's entertaining stories for now, so her plan being cancelled isn't that bad.

Amber and Pepper linked their arms as they walked together happily.

"Do you think we'll have deer for dinner?" Pepper asked with a small pout. "I'm craving that meat…"

Amber shook her head, a faint smile threatening to appear from her lips. "I think we'll have pork barbecue."

"Don't get smart with me…!"

She chuckled lightly. "Are you staying the night at the pack house?"

"To be with you? Yes! It's Friday anyway…!"

"Salt will have to stay as well then?"

"We're twins. He's a boy, and he's got an obligation. You know the rest…"

For some reason, the Gamma Chief wouldn't allow his daughter to be alone. That's why, he assigned Salt to look after his twin sister 24/7, and that during outdoor walks… he must hold Pepper's hand no matter where they go. It was as if he was too afraid that his daughter would stray too far, and one day, Pepper would go home, covered in blood.

She's clumsy after all, so his concerns aren't too far-fetched.

"Don't talk about me. I'm right here," Salt cut in.

"Huh? You weren't even the main topic…" Pepper mumbled under her breath.

"I don't care."

Her friend huffed in annoyance. "Me, too."

Five years have passed, yet the two of them still fight like cats and dogs.

With a far-away look on Amber's face, her mind began to wander.

Five years have passed, yet she hasn't heard a single word from her Papa.

Five years have passed, yet she's still by herself when she visits her Mama's grave in her death anniversary.

Five years have passed, yet she's never received a letter from her father, asking how she's doing.

Five years have passed, yet she finds herself waiting for his return that isn't guaranteed.

And…

Five years have passed, yet her hopes of getting reunited with her Papa remain strong.

'Did the Alpha lie about Papa's return?'

It was a question that never left her mind ever since.

Perhaps, it was the only way Alpha Severus could think of, so she'd stop crying and wanting to go back to her old pack.

Woodridge Academy is about five miles away from River Severn. It's going to be a long walk, but with their current stamina, they should be able to hold out until they reach the borders.

However, Gamma Brandon doesn't like the idea of them getting into an accident on their way home, so he insists on picking them up—even if it's going to put a strain on his personal schedule.

Going home was only a forty-minute drive.

"See you later…" Amber smiled at them before running to her room upstairs.

One hour is good enough.

No matter how long it is, naps… are naps.

And naps are glorious.

Taking off her school shoes, Amber plopped down on the bed with a huff. She couldn't sleep well lately, so having an afternoon nap was a huge opportunity she couldn't refuse.

With her uniform still on, Amber dozed off—her face contorting into one of distress.

Even before taking a nap, her mind managed to travel elsewhere.

The foul smell by the river… she should tell the Alpha about it.

Even if that means giving up on her rights on the place as her training grounds.

When Amber woke up, the skies outside were already dark.

5:45, the clock says.

She shot right up, then there was a sudden wave of dizziness…

She closed her eyes for a second before she bolted toward the bathroom, and took a quick shower.

It was strange.

She was still able to hear both the sprinkling of water, and the voices coming from downstairs. Her hearing has always been sensitive, but lately—it comes to the point that she's even able to hear things from very distant places.

Amber thought it was just the work of her imagination at first.

First and foremost, she hasn't shifted yet.

Her senses aren't supposed to be that good already.

Does that mean this feeling will get more intense after her transformation?

The very thought made her feel uneasy.

Amber was ready to go out of the shower, when she suddenly heard a word that made her stop in her tracks.

Had she not been holding onto the counter for support, she would've slipped, and hurt herself.

Amber touched the side her head as the word rang louder and louder in her ears.

Voices…

Whose voices are those?

And why do they keep uttering the same word?

A whimper escaped her lips when the ringing intensified.

These voices…

Amber could only hear one word from the sentences, the rest were unclear.

And that is…

"Cain."

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