Bonus 3
Bonus Chapter 3:
The Beginning of a Legend:
Ezra’s P.O.V
400 years ago…
“Beta, we are ready for battle.”
I looked at the soldiers who had lined up outside my tent; all muscular men who wore the stripes of blue paint on their cheeks to show loyalty to their pack. Their wolves were young, not even close to the age where they have to find their mate and yet, they looked at me unsurely.
A beta? A woman?
Their thoughts were so clear it felt like I could hear them as if they had spoken out loud. But that didn’t deter me from my path. It wasn’t the first time I had seen suspicion and doubt in their eyes and it certainly would not be the last time either.
“Listen clearly and listen well.” I announced to the young wolves. “We go into battle with the Lindersay battle today and do not make the mistake of thinking that the new Alpha is inexperienced just because of his age.”
Malachi, that was who the new Alpha of Lindersay was. He was only three decades old and yet, he had been made Alpha of the Lindersay pack even though there were several other experienced soldiers in their pack. That fact alone spoke of his power.
There were also rumors floating around that the man was an angel in disguise. Since the rumors came from unmated maidens of our pack who had seen him but once by accident, I didn’t pay heed to those rumors. A warrior was a warrior. I cared not for what face he wore. The only thing I cared about was the weapon in his hand and the strength in his bones.
“Never underestimate your enemy.” I told my troops now. “No matter what face they wear or what weapons they carry. Remember, as long as they are on the opposite side, they can never be harmless.”
“Yes, Beta.”
The men bowed and I dismissed them to take their positions before heading out to battle. I could see our enemy on the other side of the grassland. They were bigger in strength, no doubt, but I was not going to admit defeat before I was truly defeated. That was what my father had always taught me and it was what I would believe in till the day I die. I was a Huntress, a worshipper of Goddess Artemis, the Goddess of beasts and the Goddess of the hunt. I did not bow down to threats.
“There you are.” Acacius spoke as he came to stand beside me. “Don’t scare off the boys just yet.”
“Alpha,” I bowed to the man who had been a father figure to me ever since my own father died in battle.
Acacius was over seven hundred years old and his grey hair was tied back into a long braid down his back. He wasn’t as fast as he used to be once and it was almost time for him to retire. Since the new threat of the Lindersay pack, it had been his fear that if we didn’t establish our supremacy, they might take us down first. But Acacius was getting too old for battle. So even though he was still the Alpha, I would lead the pack.
“Take care of my pack, child.” He turned to me with hopeful eyes. “My time is limited, but yours has just begun.”
“I will make you proud, Alpha.” I bowed to him, avoiding any topic about his age. Yes, he was old, but he was the only family I had left now. Losing him will be akin to losing a limb.
I picked up my quiver and slung it over my shoulder, making sure I had sufficient arrows laced with poison. Then I picked up my bow. The poison was not lethal. I didn’t intend to kill any wolf, be it of the enemy pack. But the poison will put them to sleep temporarily, long enough for us to win the battle.
*
*
At noon, when the sun was highest in the sky, I stood at the front of the battle field in front of an army of over two hundred wolves. My army reached just past a hundred, but I had two other hunters in my pack, and we stayed in our human form, while the rest were wolves.
I spotted their Alpha Malachi on the opposite side. There was no way one would miss a wolf so white, so beautiful.
His fur shore pure white under the light of the sun and it would be a pity to see that coat covered in blood, but it was the only option. I would be taking on their Alpha at all costs.
Taking out an arrow from my quiver, I pointed it at the Alpha and called out to my wolves. “Charge!”
The wolves from both sides rushed towards each other as the battle was set in motion.
I shot two arrows at the enemy wolves, taking them down immediately. But I also saw one of our soldiers fall prey to the enemy.
No! We were already lesser in number! We couldn’t lose any more of our soldiers!
Letting out a cry, I pulled out another arrow and pointed it at their Alpha…and shot.
Hands grabbed the arrow just before it could hit the target. A flash of light and gone was the white wolf; in its place now stood a man, proud and tall and I felt myself draw in a shocked breath.
The man was breathtakingly beautiful. His hair was pure white, almost silver and unlike Acacius, it wasn’t from old age. No, he was too beautiful to be old. His face was sculptured like a God and his eyes…I had never witnessed such eyes before. They were a blue so beautiful that it would be impossible to find anywhere on Earth.
This was the Alpha of the Lindersay pack…Malachi. This was the enemy…
And then he smiled at me.
It was done. I had done the unthinkable. I thought to myself as my heart beat rapidly inside my chest.
I had just fallen in love with the enemy.
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N.B: Sorry, I completely forgot that I had this one-shot saved on a different file. But here we go; a sneak peek into Malachi and Ezra’s first meeting and their love-at-first-sight moment. I hope you enjoyed it! And if you want another Duology to dig into, head over to The Wolf’s Fate, Vampire’s Fate, Against All Odds Duology for a Vampire and Werewolf mix-up drama in a post-apocalyptic world where the supernatural rule supreme and a vampire is trying her best to save one little human boy.
