CHAPTER 2: THE STRANGER

CHAPTER 2

LUCAS'S POV

People usually think that strength comes with power, but they are wrong.

Real strength comes from control-mostly when you're holding yourself together when everything in you wants to break.

That is a lesson I learned early in life. I learned that you don't have to be the future Alpha of Moonfang pack by being soft.

Softness is weakness itself. Soft gets people killed and that's why I trained and fought harder.

Aria is the one thing I've never been able to control, not even when we were kids even up till now.

*

The moment the warning growl reached the training ground, my instincts hit me like a punch. I knew this won't end well.

The Warriors were running Helter Skelter, and the villagers were screaming nonstop. Everyone was running for their own survival.

I drew my sword out of my pants and aimed for the training ground, fearlessly.

My wolf claws beneath my skin, wanting to come out.

"Let me out! Let me protect the pack!'' My wolf screamed but I ignored it. I need to bring whoever this was on my own without any help.

"Protect her, Lucas" My instincts screamed at me again but I pushed that instincts to down. "Focus, Lucas. The pack comes first " I said to myself.

But even as I ran, I felt Aria's eyes on my back and I hate myself for wanting to go back to her.

I reached the training ground at once and I saw two of the pack's soldiers on the ground, their heads were bowed to the ground and between them was a stranger. He was tall and muscular and he was wearing a mask, only his silver eyes were visible. He doesn't has the smell of wolf, he was just natural.

"Who are you?" I demanded, raising the sword to his face and he smirked.

"I came to deliver a message, Lucas " He said with a grin, an unsettling smile that smell of danger.

"Start talking before I pull this blade on your neck" I said and before I could blink he disappeared and reappeared at my back.

He pulled out a sword and almost hit me with it but I was fast enough to shield myself with my blade.

"You move like a king" He murmured. "How interesting" He smiled.

"I'm not a king yet but I'll kill you if you dare touch my pack. Know this and know peace " I said, my eyes piercing deep into his eyes.

"That's even a more interesting. You're not a king yet" He chuckled.

Every hair on my body stood as the words hit deep. I'm not a king yet, not ever an Alpha.

"I came for the blood moon girl" He tilted his head as he talked.

My eyes widened at once.

Aria?

He wants Aria? Why? My chest tightened immediately.

"You better don't try anything that you'll regret in the future. Stay away from her" I said, pressing the blade against his throat tighter.

"I cannot. It's already too late. Fate already picked her. She's not your business neither is no one so stop acting like you own her" He said and the blade fell from my hand.

"You can try protecting her, my dear friend but you should know that blood moon children are never born by accident. It's her destiny" He said.

"Shut up " I yelled, every hair in my skin stood.

"Accept the truth that__"

"One more word from you and I'll slice your neck into pieces and feed it to the rogues" I said with sharp eyes.

"No need for violence, Lucas "

"I'm not an Alpha "

"But you're an Alpha of her fate, you know?" He said and I froze.

How come he knows so much about me that I know. He walked closer to reach me and dropped a small object on the ground and I shifted backward.

It was a small black crescent and it was moon marking, carved like a small stone and it's glowing faintly.

Every legend about Blood Moon children flashed in my head.

"What does this mean?" I asked.

"It means she's awakening and you know what does that mean?" He whispered. "It's either you choose her " he added.

The moment he said those words he disappeared like a wind.

The two warriors stood up and the soldiers came to my front and they all looked at me.

"No one leaves the bother till further notice. Understood!" I yelled and they all bowed. Even if I'm not the Alpha yet they all obeys me.

I retreated backward to the spot I left Aria and she was still there standing innocently close to the fence. The small wind moved her hair to one side and the crescent moon on her neck came to view as it shone brighter.

She hasn't seen me yet. Her hands were tucked into her hoodie pocket. It seemed like she sensed my presence already because the moment I made to take another step she turned to look at me.

My heart sank immediately as something hit me. She didn't feel my presence with her mind but her body did and it means only one thing.

She isn't my mate and the ceremony hasn't begin yet and the moon goddess hasn't revealed that she's my mate.

"Lucas" She called with a short smile as she approached me.

"You're still here? I thought you already left"

"What happened at the northern gate?" She asked.

"You're supposed to be inside"

"There you go again.... You're ignoring my question" She frowned.

"There was someone at the gate" I spoke.

"Who? A hunter?"

"No"

"Then what is it?" She asked with curiosity in her eyes.

"An unknown person. He was putting on a mask. I don't even know him " I said, trying to hide the fears in my

"You're scared "Aria said and I cracked a small laugh.

"Why would I be? Alphas don't get scared" I waved my hand in the air.

"Yes they do but they don't show it" She flaunts her hair backward and the crescent moon came to view again and I swallowed hard.

She isn't aware of her mark yet. I'm sure of that. Her smell of wild jasmine mixed with the night wind cloud my head and the hair my neck stood abruptly.

"Touch her. She's yours" My wolf screamed inside me but I forced my hand to stay put.

"I don't want you to near the border again " I said and she sneered.

"Is that an order?"

"Yes " I replied.

"For the pack or..."

"For your sake. Just listen to me this time around Aria " I cut her off.

"Why are you pushing me away, Lucas?" She asked and I blinked rapidly.

"It's for your own protection" I whispered to myself. "Because staying close to me will only ruin you and anytime I'm with you I am weak"

She tapped my arm and I jerked back to earth.

"Because getting close to me… will destroy you." I only said.

I wanted to tell her the truth that a stranger came to find her and her powers are forming but she's not aware. How would I tell her that? Telling her the truth would worsen things.

"Go home, Aria" I said coldly, returning to my normal self.

She take one step closer to me with fears in her eyes. "You're making me scared, Lucas. Tell me what's wrong" She sniffed.

I can't disclose anything to her. Her heart is still fragile and I can't say anything yet else she might take it wrongly.

It's best I keep it a secret that her wolf is awakening and strange people are coming for her.