“I don’t care, I want her found and back in this house!” Hunter Garrick screamed at Zack, who had just given him information about his daughter’s whereabouts.

It turned out that Amelia, who was sent as bait under the Alpha’s lair had found a way to inform Lucian that Freya was playing family with the wolves, leaving the part of her betrayal out of the lies she told.

“Master, it won’t be easy to get her back here. She lives under the Alpha’s roof. She’s quite untouchable at the moment.”

Hunter Garrick hit the last dummy he had targeted on the shoulder, with the fifteenth arrow, after he had hitted the other dummies with the previous fourteen arrows. He retreated the bow, holding it down, forehead gleaming with slight sweat. Then he faced Zach.

“I don’t care how you do it. I stripped her off her mission before she walked away on me. She didn’t get into the Twilight’s territory on her own. She needs to be saved.”

Zach looked already exhausted as he thought about the risks came with going into the Alpha’s territory to save Freya. It was like having a death wish.

“We’ll go.” A third voice suddenly interfered, walking into the clearing with a pistol in his hand. Lucian.

Garrick didn’t turn. “What’s your plan?” Lucian came properly into surface and faced Hunter Garrick and Zach.

“I’m just about to tender it.” A proud smile slowly formed on his face.

*

Lucian and Zach arrived Alpha Torin’s estate in a bus, wearing tattered clothes, their hairs messy, boots dirty. They made sure to look the lost and starving type.

“I don’t think this is a good idea” Zach said, gray eyes falling to slits as he stared up at the tower of the pack’s building.

“Most good results started with a bad idea. Aside that, Freya is in there, she needs our help.” Lucian, who was also scanning the opulent buildings replied.

Zach’s gaze darted the him. “You sound like you are still interested in her.” Lucian gave him an unbelievable look, as if he just spatted nonsense.

“She’s my betrothed. I’ve always been interested in her.”

Zach raised a brow. “I thought you and Amelia, who happened to be her bestfriend are seeing, what…”

“Amelia had always have the hots for me. And you know Freya…well, is Freya. Never really was available for me in the romantic way so I used Amelia as a distractio…” Lucian’s words causing in his throat as the massive gate of the building opened.

“Get your acts on,” Lucian muttered to Zach without looking at him.

“You won’t need to tell me twice.” Zach replied, already clutching his stomach as he bent forward, face squeezed like he was experiencing serious hunger. Lucian adopted a lazy eyes, faltering his body like he could fall flat on the floor anytime soon.

The car that just came out of the building stopped before them. Two giant looking men—wolves, hopped off the car, already walking closer to them.

“Who the hell are they?” The one with the braided hair asked no one in particular, but his question seemed to be directed at his friend.

The friend pinned Lucian and. Zach with his gaze, eyeing them like they were unwanted rats who had signed a death deal.

“P…please, help us. We are lost. We need food.” Lucian spoke first, his voice representing an extremely tired person’s.

“And we need…shelter. Please…help us.” Zach added, staggering for effect, as he tried to touch one of the wolves. The wolf stepped back before Zach’s hand could reach him, giving him a disdainful look.

The other with the braided hair was observing, his fingers massaging his long black beards. “There is no way any human would get lost and find his way here, unless you’ve heard of this territory before. So tell me, who is your informant who told you about the wealthiest pack of wolves to ever exist in a decade?”

Zach swallowed as he feared there was a caught but still kept on his miserable expression. Lucian on the other hand didn’t look faze a bit. If he was feeling any sort of fear, he didn’t show it.

“That’s true, our pack is the most hideous. Kept away from cheap and wandering eyes. No one can discover here unless you are a friend of someone who belonged to the oack.” The second wolf said, to back up the other wolf’s point.

“You are right,” Lucian breathed heavily. “We’ve heard of the Great Alpha of the Twilight Essence Pack, who houses humans like us and provide them…food and shelter. Not only did we hear about him, we’ve walked miles to search for his territory until we got here.” Lucian paused to look around the buildings again.

“We have no doubt we are at where we’ve…” He coughed out a dry cough. All out of pretense.

“We’ve been looking for.” Zach nodded along, looking like he was barely standing.

One of the two wolves faced the other and bursted into laughter. Lucian froze. Did they realize they were lying? But just then, the wolf’s hoarse voice bailed him out as he faced the other one.

“They said food and shelter.” The other also giggled, but his was low. “Humans slaves are never enough, we will surely needed them to fill in.”

“Is…is that an acceptance ? Lucian asked and he was eyed with disdain. Then, the one with the braided here spoke. “You two should follow me.”

“Thank you. Thank you, my lord”

“Thank you kind beings” Lucian and Zach thanked respectively, boosting the wolves ego, just like they wanted.

It wasn’t long before they were made to follow through series of paths and buildings, before they got to their destination. They were introduced to the human slaves’ guard before the wolf that led them here turned back and left them in care of the guard.

Lucian and Zach exchanged coded glances but neither spoke.

Soon, food was brought to them. Two wooden bowls of thick stew. “You’ll be moved in with the others later. For now, stay here.”

Neither of them reached for the bowl.

“Thanks,” Zach said, barely above a whisper. The guards didn’t answer. They walked out and exited through the door behind them

Lucian dropped the weakling act, then turned toward the food, eyed it once, then looked away. His fists clenched at his sides as if he was making an impromptu decision. “I’m going now.”

Zach lifted his head. “Going where?”

“To find Freya.”

Zach stood abruptly, the stool scratching against the floor. “Are you insane?”

Lucian stared at him. “No. I’m not sitting here eating soup while she’s…”

“Lucian,” Zach snapped, grabbing his arm, “we are not even sure if she’s in the alpha’s quarters. And even if she is, there’s no way in without drawing attention. You’ll get yourself killed. Or worse…her.”

Lucian shook him off. Zach’s attempt to hold him back just made him more willing to go. “What if they’ve already hurt her? What if…” His breath hitched with hanging fury.. “You stay here if you want. I’m not wasting another second.”

Zach tried again, gentler this time. “We need a plan. Rushing in…”

But Lucian had already turned, shouldering the weak wooden door open before Zach could finish.