Ximena

                Six years later.

Walking out of the pack house, I smiled softly as I made my way to the house. I was now one of the most respected female warriors and I owed it to grandmother.

She had groomed me so well, it felt like I had killed my old self just to bring out this new person. The good in me had saved the Alpha eventually because I couldn’t stand seeing Xena in pain. He should forever be grateful for that.

Although I still regretted not killing him.

I wouldn’t be a monster like him and cause pain to Xena. Walking down the isolated path, I scented a different blood.

It was fresh, vibrant and completely different from the dark ones that lurked around in the pack and I stopped.

I turned around slowly, trying to figure out who was following me but I saw nothing and I turned around again. I took a few steps and concluded that something or someone was following me.

“Who are you— Show yourself before I kill you!” I barked harshly and to my shock, a little boy walked out of the bush, smiling softly with his gap teeth visible.

I staggered back with shock as I felt a current trickle up my chest. He looked too lively to be from this pack and I was convinced that he was lost.

“Who are you and what do you want?” I asked and he walked up to me with a bright smile, it was almost blinding.

“I followed you— I was fascinated with how you looked so I decided to follow you.” I was taken aback. 

“Are you cr—“ I stopped myself from saying something harsh before this child and I sighed heavily, moving closer.

“Do you know how dangerous this place is? Are you ready to die? Do you know the kind of terrible creatures moving around?” I asked, concern evident in my voice.

“I have my dad to always protect me.” He replied and I almost scoffed. “Well where’s your dad now? If you get attacked, what’s the probability that he’ll save you?” I demanded and he fondled his fingers before raising his head up.

His bright blue eyes reminded me of the past but the past was gone and I would rather chop off my head than spend a minute trying to recall it.

“He’s not coming because I have you to save me.” He replied and I almost scoffed. This kid was audacious and too confident, it makes me wonder who his parents are.

“I’m Juan, my father and I are visiting and we are staying at the pack house.” I looked in the direction of the Pack house and at him twice.

He had to be kidding, not just anybody can come into the pack and moreover why would a parent endanger the life of their son by bringing him to such a dangerous place without adequate protection.

“So your dad let you roam around and stalk strangers?” I asked and he shook his head.

“He was busy in a meeting—“

“Oh, so he’s the busy type who doesn’t have time for you?” I frowned heavily, disliking his father without seeing him.

“I don’t have any friends, would you like to be my friend?” He asked, his eyes swelling with anticipation and for the first time in six years, I saw the soul of another person.

He was lonely and I was drawn in, I was curious about this child. I wanted to know what kind of awful parents were training such a great kid and why he had no friends.

These emotions were too much for a cold warrior like me. “I’ll take you back to the pack house.” I replied, trying my best not to expose my emotions and his eyes dimmed with disappointment.

“You should never run after strangers, no matter how nice they look.”

“My instincts are never wrong. I knew you’d be a good person.” He replied and I wished there was a more appropriate way to explain to this kid that life wasn’t a bed of roses. One minute there could be great promises and the next everything turns out to be a big, fucking lie.

“Follow me.” I whispered and to my shock, he slipped his hand into mine as we walked side by side, heading to the pack house.

I was confused, this kid looked very familiar, probably I knew his parents years ago. My heart had never trembled or skipped beats ever since I got rejected but for this tiny kid, I was anxious, nervous and amused.

A part of me wanted to keep him close for amusement. “Daddy is just too busy with work, I didn’t want to bother him.”

“Well next time, if you don’t want to bother him, don’t follow strangers. He must be worried sick if he’s a good father but if he’s not, he won’t notice you’re gone.

We entered the pack house with lots of guards bowing down to greet me and he was amazed. “What are you? You’ve got so many people respecting you and you’re not the Alpha.” He pointed out and I smiled.

“I’m a strong, merciless warrior who will kill you the next time you follow me.” I replied and he chuckled, he didn’t look fazed at all and I sighed, a sweet sensation of longing settling inside of me.

“Who is your father?” I finally asked as we got to the entrance and he smiled, I could see a hint of pride in his eyes at the mention of his father.

“He’s—“ 

“Oh my, where have you been? I was worried sick. Come with me. We’re leaving now.” He wasn’t allowed to talk before his nanny dragged him away. 

It felt awkward and odd to be left standing alone, he wasn’t my friend but he should’ve been allowed to say goodbye before being dragged.

“Get your act together, he’s nothing but one of those rich brats, focus on something better.” Xena suggested and I nodded, shaking off the leftover of whatever crazy feeling was inside of me.

With my job done, I turned around, ready to start heading to the house when I heard heavy footsteps and a few guards walked past me, trying to get everybody out of the way.

“Step aside, the Alpha is coming.” They announced and I took two steps back, eagerly waiting for the Alpha to leave.

The air changed all of a sudden and I knew the Alpha was close, the aura was so powerful that I almost bared my neck but as a well trained warrior I could withstand the pressure.

Glancing at the guards who left in ones and twos, I patiently anticipated the arrival of the ballsy Alpha with enough gall to come to this pack.

My pulse increased instantly, the wild thump of my heartbeat pounding against my chest soon filled my ears as I waited but before I could glance at him, I felt a tap on my shoulder and instinctively I turned, a dull stinging sensation hitting me immediately a resounding slap landed on my cheek.