The Huntress Omega

INGRID.

Night fell, and Ashenfall lit up with warm lanterns. The smell of roasting meat and baked goods filled the air as I entered the kitchen.

"Oh, there she is!" Rosita greeted me, handing me a golden plate piled with food. "The Alpha is here! Take this to the table outside."

I wore a brown apron and quickly took one whole rotisserie chicken served in a golden plate. The outside skin is perfectly cooked, golden brown and the smell was to dig for.

I frowned. "Uh, Rosita?"

"Yes, honey?" she answered as she kept dicing some vegetables.

"The Alpha and the rest of the werewolves will be joining this feast tonight, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

I nodded and took another raw whole chicken on the table and placed it on a golden plate. Without hesitation I grabbed both of them, each hand contained the cooked and uncooked chicken and got out of the tavern.

As I placed the plates of cooked and raw chicken on the table, the once noisy place became unsettling silent. No one said a word. Their eyes were glued to the food I just served, their expressions frozen in shock.

I felt a lump in my throat as I broke the silence. "W-What's wrong?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

No one answered. The tension was suffocating, Their wide eyes darted between the dishes and me, frozen in disbelief.

I swallowed hard, the weight of their stares pressing down on me.

Asval kept glancing back and forth between me and the food I laid on the table. The look on his face said it all: 'What the hell did this human just serve us? A whole fucking raw chicken?'

"I—I don't know what your preference is, since you know, you're. . . you're werewolves? You have your I don't know uh. . . wolf-like nature?" I stutter, half embarrassed. "S—So, I figured I would serve both cooked and r-raw meat."

Instead of an answer, laughter and giggle was served on the table that made me frown.

Asval turned to Rage while laughing and tapped his shoulder. "Why don't we let our Alpha answer that?"

A few people let out small cheers, while others encouraged the Alpha and clapped their hands. With their applause and cheers, a subtle smirk painted on his pink lips. When he cleared his throat, they all immediately went silent, anticipated and curious with what the Alpha would say.

"Hm. . ." Rage let out an amused and low growl. "We eat meat. . . cooked meat, not just humans, darling."

"Ah man! When was the last time I laughed this hard?" Asval cracked while holding his stomach as he wiped his watery eyes. "Don't worry, Ingrid. When we are in our human form, we eat cooked food, and a good coffee. While when we are on our wolf form we eat raw meat. . .of animals."

I smiled in relief while fidgeting my finger behind my back.

"So! What are we waiting for? Let's dig in and let the party start!" Asval shouted in delight as his eyes were beaming in excitement. The rest others ultimately agreed and shouted in union, all eager to get drunk and party.

I can't help but to let out a smile, a genuine smile. They all looked so happy. Some are playing wooden instruments, strumming guitar, flutes and some are sitting on one block drum, putting the place in beat while singing. Children and some women are happily playing and dancing by the fireplace and so do the men.

Asval and Vesper were reaching for the rotisserie chicken, their hands quick and greedy. Asval, holding a chicken thigh with one hand, shot Vesper a warning glance. Both are already drunk.

"Don't even think about it," Asval growled, pulling the chicken closer to himself.

Vesper smirked, his fingers just inches from another piece. "You think you can stop me?" he challenged, his tone playful but sharp.

Asval's grip tightened. "Try me."

"Let go. It's mine."

"No. You let go." Asval further challenged. "I'm your Prime Sentinel and I command you to let go."

The air between them crackled with tension as both of them fought to claim the last piece, neither willing to back down.

I shook my head. These two never fail, not a day goes by without them arguing. But I couldn't let my guard down. I glanced at Vesarius Rage. He hadn't touched his food. His red eyes locked onto me, unblinking. My chest tightened.

He's not touching his food. I gulped once more and my feet started moving on their own. I was walking in his direction and when he saw me walking, he grabbed his fork and firmly held it in his hand.

"Would you like me to make you a cup of hot coffee, Alpha Vesarius—"

"Rage." He cut me off, his gaze up ahead. "Just call me Rage."

My eyebrow rose with the sudden formality."W—Would you like a cup of hot coffee, R—Rage?" I stutter, saying his name until now sounds so bitter.

"Yes, please."

I nodded. I can still feel his eyes linger in me as I make my way to one of the tavern. Once I was in the back kitchen. While heating the water, I quickly hid myself, making sure no one could see me on what I am about to do.

I quickly removed my hair scarf and as I was unfolding it, bullets of sweat began to form on my forehead. I can't stop my heart from pounding off my chest.

The moment I knew about Rage's weakness I didn't waste anymore time. Before the night of the feast, I passed a note to a bat sent by Zagreus, my only connection to the outside. Under the cover of darkness, every night, I left my window slightly open. Quietly, the bat would fly in, landing on my sill. It left a small pouch, containing the wolfsbane, for me to use to execute my plan.

To poison Vesarius Rage.

And this feast was just the perfect opportunity to make it happen. "This will be the night Vesarius Rage will fall."

I carefully put the wolfsbane in the boiling water, letting the purple petal soak completely in the hot water. Second, after stairing it, some of its pigment is incorporated in the water, once that is done. I got myself a cup and poured the liquid together with a spoonful of coffee and some sweetener. It's done.

I stared at the bright full moon outside the window and without hesitation. I got out of the tavern and made my way to where Rage was with the cup in my hand. He's still there, but this time he was playing with kids.

"My turn! My turn!" One of the kids shouted while jumping in front of him.

He was carrying Hiroshi up his broad shoulder, his hands stretched up, holding onto Hiroshi's tiny ones.

I stood awkwardly beside them, and didn't know how to disturb and approach him. But when he saw me within his field of vision he immediately put Hiroshi down and faced me completely.

"I'll just have my drink, is that okay?" He asked the kids. "I was exhausted carrying Hiroshi, you've gotten heavy."

"Aw, no more rides?" The other kids said in dismay. "It's okay! There's still tomorrow! You will carry me from morning to night! Promise?"

Rage chuckled and immediately agreed. "Whatever you want, Evan. Promise."

The two kids run on the opposite side, giggling their faces.

"I supposed that's for me?"

Now he's in front of me standing. His tall height made me look tiny, him towering over me made me all timid and stuck in my place.

"A-Ah, yes. Please, enjoy." I said, handling the coffee in his hand and avoided his gaze. He took the coffee without leaving his eyes on me. "I—I'll take my leave now."

What is he staring at me for? It's impossible for him to know something, right? That I put something in his drink?

I walked back into the tavern and distracted myself in the kitchen. Now that my plan was in motion, all I had to do was wait for it to unfold.

Hours passed, and I decided to sit at one of the tables. Without realizing it, I dozed off while waiting. The next thing I knew was the sound of chaos outside jolted me awake.

I shot up when the door suddenly swung open with a bang. Asval burst through, breathless and drenched in sweat.

"Asval, what's going on? Did something happen?"

He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath. "The Alpha. Have you seen him? It's been an hour, and we can't find him! Damn it!"

His voice was laced with panic. Without a second thought, we bolted outside, and as I expected, chaos reigned. People were running here and there, some carrying torches, searching through the darkness of the forest, shouting his name. We roamed in the dark forest. Some wolves said they are picking up his scent inside but it's faint and weak.

Then, a voice emerged in the midst of chaos. "Prime Asval! The Alpha! He is here!"

Asval rushed through the crowd, and I followed close behind. He pushed people aside with urgency, his worried face quickly turning into a look of relief.

In the center of the gathering, surrounded by people, lay none other than their Alpha—Vesarius Rage. He was unconscious, lying pale, bullets of sweat were forming in his forehead, he's trembling as if he were barely hanging on. His white long sleeve is almost transparent with his soaked sweat.

How did he manage to get into this deep forest alone? Don't tell me, he went here himself when the wolfsbane was already consuming his body. So that no one would suspect a thing that would ruin the feast?

He chose to carry the pain on his own and suffer alone as he didn't want his people to worry? But why? Why would he endure all of this by himself?

I was about to move closer when suddenly, someone shoved a sack over my head. I fought back, struggling to rip it off, but a sharp blow to the back of my neck sent everything spiraling into blackness.

No! Ingrid! You can't! You can't pass out now! Damn it! I could feel my plan slipping away, everything hanging by a thread.

But despite all that persistence, darkness was still the one consumed me.

༻♱༺

I woke up to blinding light, the sharp sting of it hitting me right in the face. I had no idea how I ended up here, but the aching in my head told me everything—I had been knocked out.

And then, I saw him. A man, seething with rage, his eyes locked onto me with such fury it felt like they were burning through me.

I took in my surroundings. We were inside a castle—cold, dark stone walls, the kind that made you feel trapped, like you couldn't escape no matter how hard you tried. It was the heart of Rage's territory.

I was standing with four others, their faces just as confused and scared as mine. But the moment I looked closer, I realized—these weren't ordinary humans.

Vampires. Their eyes gleamed in the light, and their hands were shackled just like mine, preventing any chance of escape.

My heart pounded in my chest as the questions flooded my mind. How did they get inside the Enigma?

"Looks like these four bloodsuckers have gotten ahead of themselves by pretending to be humans among our villagers, waiting for the right time to attack." Vesper started, cockiness was evident in his voice.

They did managed to blend in? Inside the Ashenfall? Since when? Fuck. Now is not the right time to think about that, but I knew I had to find a way out, but right now, I was trapped. And I had no idea just how deep I was in this game of survival.

"One of you tried to poison our Alpha by mixing wolfsbane in his drink." Vesper started. "You are all aware of the consequences of messing with him, right?"

"I—I don't understand. . ." I mumbled, my mind swirling. I don't understand why he is still alive after drinking that cup?! I saw him drink it!

"W—What do I have to do with this? Do you think I'm the one who did it? Besides, I can't afford to harm the Alpha who saved my life!" I tried to clear out my name.

"Silence!" Vesper's voice echoed inside the place that made me flinch. "The Alpha will now have his words."

"There's a traitor inside this room. Bold of you to assume you can kill me just like that." Rage's face is calm but we can all feel the ominous carnage and anger inside him. "Too predictable and above all, pathetic."

He paced back and forth in front of us. The only thing that can be heard in the room is his shoes clacking on the glossy floor, adding more and more anxiety to all of us.

Later on, the massive door burst open. I swallowed hard when the door opened wide, five people entered the room, each holding thick chains but those chains are not for us. Each is tied to big wolves who are salivating and growling upon the sight of us, their blue electric eyes are intensely locked, already preying on us.

"No one's going to talk? I'm giving you a chance to live. So, speak." Rage spoke with so much authority. "Who among you is the traitor?"

"None?"Seconds had passed and no one spoke, that silence made his brow rise as he intensely looked at each of us. "Fine. The moment I flick my fingers, let those rebel wolves off of their chains and whoever is left standing tonight, is the traitor."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Is he seriously gonna let those crazy looking wolves out their chains?! They look terrifying, their one eye is closed, scar can be seen on it, sharp snarling teeth and almost balding fur. I feel like once they had a taste of blood and flesh on their mouth they would only crave more and more and would stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger.

"Kneel."

I snapped out when I heard his voice, what he said didn't register to me as my mind was minding something else but when I looked around me, the other four were already kneeling on the floor, they didn't waste anymore second as their life is at stake. Their eyes wide open trying to not miss any of his command.

They are all afraid of death—of him.

I bit my lower lip and slowly kneel on the hard floor. Every move I make is clean and calculated. How did he know someone was doing something nasty behind his back? I always thought he was just that naive to notice. I fucking thought he was just an easy target but I was wrong. So fucking wrong.

Then it was heard.

The click of his fingers ringed in my ear like a time bomb. I gasped and shut my eyes. It's the least I can do to stop my heart from bursting off my chest. I bit my lips even more to surpass my knees from giving out and to bear the warm liquid streaming down my face. Just by the smell of it, I know it's blood, fresh warm blood.

With a trembling breath I slowly opened my eyes and there I was greeted by a pool of blood together with four decapitated bodies. The smell and the sight was too much to bear. I could puke my stomach out.

Those ravages continued eating the remaining bodies of the four vampires they decapitated earlier. They are uncontrollable, untamed, and wild wolves but still, they know who to follow and who to fear.

As I looked up, my eyes met cold intimidating ones and in that exact moment, I knew I had nowhere more to run. A mouse caught in a trap.

My secret was out.

He cocked his head and a sinister smile spread across his face. "Found you."