KAYLA.

　　“Are you okay Kayla?” Annabel asked, looking at me with worry.

　　There was no doubt that I wasn’t okay. Not after what I witnessed. I knew I had to tell the Pack queen so that she’ll know what to do. With my mind set I looked over at Annabel.

　　“Annabel, I have to go somewhere.” I said, leaving her and turning back to the pathway. Before I left I turned to her

　　“Just stay here okay? I'll be back soon.” I assured her before turning away.

　　So I began my journey to the pack. I ran as fast as I could, not taking any stops or breaks afterwards. It all paid off as I reached the pack house in record time.

　　Sweating and panting heavily after the journey, I went towards the building which served as the chamber for the queen emerald. The guard at the front of the gate stopped my entrance by blocking my path.

　　“What are you doing?” I asked, gritting my teeth at my instant annoyance “I need to see the queen.”

　　The guard did not succumb and maintained his stony fa?ade “only those with prior permission and the family members can enter Queen Emerald’s chambers freely.” He then proceeded to scrutinize me from the bottom to the top openly, making me know that I wasn’t either of those.

　　I felt myself get more riled up at his actions “it’s an urgent situation. I have to report this to the queen immediately.” I urged him

　　Still he did not budge “I’m sorry but you cannot-“

　　“Guard? Who is there?” a rich feminine voice called out from inside. It was the voice of an emerald.

　　I decided to use this as my chance.

　　“Queen Emerald? It’s Kayla. I have urgent news.” I shout past the guard.

　　In a few seconds I see the face of the queen pop out from the entrance. She looks at me before giving a warm smile, much to the guard’s surprise.

　　I slip past him and go forward to meet her, embracing her in a hug before looking at her. Seeing her look so happy broke my heart, especially as I knew that I was the one who came here to give her bad news.

　　“So tell me Kayla, how is everything?” she asked whilst leading me inside her chambers.

　　“Everything is fine, miss.” Except your son. I thought to myself.

　　I could not bring myself to say and instead spoke in my mind. “Are you sure? You look very tired and sweaty. By any chance, did you run here?” she reeled back looking at me in astonishment.

　　I scratched the back of my head lightly and nodded a sheepish smile on my face. “If whatever it is made you run here then it must be very important indeed. Now tell me what it is, you said that you have something to tell me no?” The queen cut to the chase quickly, looking at me curiously.

　　I took a deep breath, preparing for the words I was going to have to say.

　　“Unfortunately queen emerald, the matter which I have to speak with you about is very grave.” I said with a somber tone.

　　Reading the mood Emerald’s face turned serious. I paused before I let out what I knew will be another bomb.

　　“It’s about Alpha Damon.” I say.

　　“Go on.” She tells me, her face looking even graver than before.

　　So then I told her everything I had witnessed. On my way to see Annabelle I encountered a strange feeling in the forest. How I followed the strange feeling and it led me, to my surprise, to see alpha Damon, and how I could smell the deadly poison of the forbidden leaf around him. How I saw him put it in his mouth and he had begun to collapse.

　　Looking at the queen I saw how distraught she looked. Her eyes were brimming with tears and her lips trembled. I looked at town to see her hands tightly scrunching up the fabric of her dress.

　　Quickly I told the rest of the story. How I was about to go in to help when unexpectedly, someone beat me to it. Someone with blue hair and wore a bow and quiver.

　　“She punched the leaf out of his mouth ma’m. She then proceeded to carry him- bridal style somewhere. I was too stunned to move and the moment I did I had already lost track of them.” I finished my retelling, now looking at the queen for her reaction.

　　Suddenly I see the queen sniff again, and give another sniff before I hear a son from her, I hold her to comfort her as she breaks down completely. She cries while I hold her up, acting as her support.

　　“I…I knew that Damon must have been affected by this whole mate business, especially with how the council is pressuring him. But, I never expected him to go this far.” Her voice breaks a little at the last words.

　　“I should have seen it. Damon. My handsome, darling son, tried to commit suicide and I didn’t see it at all. I’m such a horrible mother.” She cried out, now openly sobbing.

　　I comforted her by rubbing her back, “Ma’m, I don’t think anybody could have seen it coming. Please don't blame yourself.” I murmur words of comfort, but to no avail. She remains inconsolable.

　　I keep comforting her whilst she is in tears and minutes pass by. When she is done, the queen’s tears have died down and I look at her wiping them.

　　“We need to find him. We have to find Damon.” She says with a determined look on her face.

　　I turned to face her, agreeing with her words, “I agree. But where could she have taken him? Right now I don’t have an idea of where she could have taken him.”

　　The queen is quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful. She stands up from the seat and begins to pace with her hand on her chin. Suddenly she stopped and her hand lifted from her chin.

　　“That is it. Kayla.” She turned to me, looking like she just had an epiphany.

　　“Yes?” I answer, hope in my heart.

　　“There’s an abandoned house not far from the forest area. It’s the closest location there so that could be a possible place.” She suggested.

　　I nod in understanding. Even if it wasn’t the actual place, it was a start. And suddenly she calls the guard from before. He comes in, looking at me to the queen and focusing on her only. “Yes, Queen emerald?”

　　“Mobilize some guards to escort Kayla to the abandoned house.”

　　He sputtered a bit looking at me back to the queen and to me again “b-but Queen-“

　　“I will not accept any complaints. This matter is of utmost importance. Go and do it now.” she ordered him firmly.

　　The guard conceded, bowing slightly before exiting the chambers. He was true to his words as in only a few minutes he came back with seven soldiers in tow. The queen dismissed him and spoke to the other seven.

　　“You will have to escort Miss Kayla.” She spoke, using a hand to indicate that it was me she was talking about. “Through the forest to the abandoned house for a search. Is that clear?”

　　All the guards nodded in assent and she turned towards me, lightly putting her hands on my shoulder before proceeding to pull me into a hug which I quickly reciprocated.

　　“Be safe, and bring my son home safely.” She said before separating and looking at me. I nodded to her and gave her a reassuring smile.

　　“I will do my best.” She smiled at me gratefully before letting me go. I turned to the guards and they nodded ready to follow me.

　　We leave the pack grounds and begin our journey towards the abandoned shack the next morning. We go as fast as we can, knowing that time is of the essence, especially as it involves the life of the Alpha.

　　We venture the forest path until soon we meet a clearing where a single wooden shack is. I felt my spirits rise as we found the shack. Together, the guards and I move towards the abandoned house when we notice some strange things.

　　There were arrows stuck on the trees, two in the one I was facing. The guards must have sensed the strangeness already. At a corner of the clearing, I could see a bow and a quiver with the arrows, all scattered separately. I could recognize the bow and quiver as that of the girl who punched Damon. I felt anxious as I stepped closer and closer. Suddenly, a noise near the bow brought me to look at the side inside the clearing. I did not expect to see what I did.

　　Jake was there, his hands wrapped around the neck of a girl with blue hair. Choking her with his hands. I could recognize her as the girl and her struggle had weakened.

　　“Stop!” I screamed out. The man didn’t listen however, continuing to strangle the girl.

　　I felt panic rise in me. I had to do something. Before I made a move however, one of the guards that came already moved quicker. I saw him go and separate the two of them before giving Jake a punch to the face.

　　I could see him so stunned by the punch that he let go of her, making her drop to the ground.

　　“You dare punch me?” he asked, sneering at the guard.

　　“By the order of emerald, I will fight you.” The guard responded, immediately going into a fighting pose.

　　“We’ll see how long you last then.” Jake said, his lips curling up into a smirk.

　　With Jake being distracted, I quickly ran past to check on the blue haired girl. Putting one of my fingers under her nose, I breathed a sigh of relief. She was still alive. Unconscious, but alive. I carry her as much as I can and support her against the tree.

　　I look to the field to see that not only that guard, but all seven of them have begun to fight him. Despite him blocking them all with his magic, I could see the slight beads of sweat on his face and the way he exhaled. He was getting exhausted.

　　I heard the door creak and felt my spirits rise as I saw Damon come out. The guards looked equally shocked. Unlike the sight I saw in the forest, Damon looked alive and well, free from any poison of the forbidden leaf. I felt relieved as he looked healthy. I then look at Jake to see his reaction.

　　I looked to Jake to see him recoil at the sight of Damon. It was evident that they didn’t like each other. I could hear the slight growl at Damon when he saw the powerful wizard.

　　“You!” he growled. He then turned to the side to see the unconscious blue haired girl I had placed to lie against the tree bar and his growl became even deeper.

　　Jake, who was stunned by this new development, didn’t look at the soldiers and me all circling him, leaving him with no way out. Once he realized, it was already too late and he was fully surrounded.

　　“Surrender Jake. You are outnumbered. Don’t make this harder on yourself.” I spoke. I could see the way his eyes roamed and guessed he was calculating what he could do.

　　I knew that there were no chances for him, and a few seconds after when he lowered his hands, I could see that he had realized it too.

　　I’ll make you all regret this. Mark my words, this isn’t the last you’ve heard of me!” The wizard threatens slowly before disappearing in a poof of smoke. Despite his exit I knew that this wouldn’t be the last we saw of him.