LUNA ROXANA HOOK
Year 2006
(Winter, The Howling Five Kingdom)
Ten days. Still no sign of Ray Hook. Not even a hint of smell.
Everyone's starting to believe that Ray did run off to seek pleasures of the human world. That he had abandoned the family, and that stupid mutt Mozzo didn't lie.
This makes Rox furious. She can't be wrong. She's never wrong.
A sigh snaps her back into the main hall of their castle.
The King is staring aside, his thoughts muttering aloud under his breath, "Fuck, at this rate, we'll have to cross some oceans."
The questions are starting to get on his nerves. If he wasn't the King, he'd ask them all to fuck off. Ray is his son, not theirs!
Other packs of the Howling Five blamed him for setting a bad example. His own pack blamed Ray for being the bad example. Everyone offered to search for the prince, including his own wife, which is driving him crazy. But that brat just can't be found.
"He's left the U.R.T.?!" The Queen looks ready to hire a jet or a speedboat.
"Where else can he be?" The King tightened his grip on her hand, mentally finding a way to strap down his mate.
Rex gives her the signal and she adds, her voice void of emotions, "Uncle Ambrose hasn't seen him all. He's still looking," reports Rox after Rex gave her the eye signal to do so."
One of the older ones blurts out wearily, "If you ask me, I think he doesn't want to be found."
And immediately, everyone flashes the Queen's dagger look to warn him, but Rox, in her usual crossed arms stance, shrugs matter of factly. "He's not wrong. Has there been a place we haven't tried? No. So maybe that cocky Mozzo was right: Ray did leave here for good—."
Slap!
Rox blinks rapidly at the floor, her cheek ringing with heat. The pain quickly subsides, but the memory of it remains vividly humiliating.
The Queen quickly grabs her in for an apologetic hug, squeezing her tightly while apologising profusely.
But Rox has enough. She pushes herself away.
"He's not a fucking baby." Her snarl widens those maternal eyes. Rox is surprised too. She's never revealed her embitterment to anyone. But she can't help it. "Can't you see what you're doing to him? To us? Ever since he's born, he's all you cared about!"
"Enough, Rox!" Rex grabs her arm and yanks her away. "Can't you tell she's just worried about Ray?"
"What about us?!" Rox yells back in distress, tears squeezing out from the corner of her eyes. "We're missing school, missing our life, all because of that wimp! All we ever do is take care of Ray, make sure he's safe. What about us?" She turns to her parents. "We may be older, but we're still your kids!"
The eldest daughter wraps her arms around Rox and hushes, "Alright, Rox. We hear you. But let's not call our brother a wimp."
Before Rox insists on it, Reynold, the second oldest, suggests, "We'll take turns then. We'll go in pairs to look for him—."
"No need." The King laces his fingers through the Queen's and announces, "Rox is right. You all have done enough for your little brother. It's time we take over. We'll find him." Before everyone catches on and starts to protest, he turns to Rex and adds, "You're in charge now, buddy. Alpha Elis will be arriving to assist you."
Rex straightens, a firm look on his face that understands the command, and Rox is frantic all of a sudden and snaps at her parents, "But where will you go?" She's feeling bad but is trying not to sound so. "We've looked everywhere! What part of that do you not understand?"
Knowingly, the Queen gives a peck on where she has hurt her daughter then flashes a smile of remorse. "I'm sorry too, my sweetie pie. And if you were ever lost, I'd never stop looking for you too."
The motherly tenderness pops Rox like a bubble, and the waterworks burst. The stress that's been building over the past week is finally released.
As everyone sends the King and Queen off, Rox really hoped that they'd find Ray.
Roxana Hook is never wrong.
******
ALPHA RAY
Year 2006
(Winter, The U.R.T, Furnace Mount Buddhist Monastery)
"Wee!" Bright laughter rings in the cold air.
Ray tries to keep up, half-hopping, half-leaping after the human heiress rolling down the white slope like a loose barrel. Wait up! He pants heavily. I don't know my way back! Hey!
Kate lifted her face off the snow like a cobra and beamed at him. "I'll count to ten!"
Again?! Ray cried, his body midair. But I don't know this place! And what if you can't find me? I'll be lost, and the cold will get to me, and—. The second his feet land on the soft snow, he bounces off to his left and dashes off.
In between her giggles, she chimes loudly. "One… two… three…."
He pants heavily. His racing heartbeat in his ears. He needs to hide well so she'd be satisfied when she found him. But he can't hide too well or she wouldn't be able to find him and feel bad for leaving him out in the cold.
"Six…hide well, don't let your tail show!"
Good. He can still hear her.
Ray halts and scans the area for a good hiding spot. Behind that tree? Or that pile of snow? That pile of snow it is. It's as white as the wolf's fur, she'll sure miss it. Then, he'll jump out, and they'll have a good laugh—.
The young prince turns to his left and sees the gate. The way back home.
Suddenly, he's lost.
Mother's probably crying… it's been twelve days since I've gone home. I have to go back and tell her that I'm doing well. Then, I'll get permission from Father, and then I'll come back.
"Snowy!" Kate's voice breezes past like her fingers ruffling through his fur. "Where might you be?" She sings.
Ray swings around to that tiny figure beyond the trees. She's ploughing through the snow towards him, her face rosy with excitement. But there's a slight knit of worry in her brows.
If Kate can't find me, she'll be upset. She'll cry so I can't leave her just like this.
He takes a step towards Kate, then halts. He looks over his shoulder at the gate, and the unnerving weight sinks deeper inside.
There's something about the vortex between the trees that's warning him: if he doesn't go home now, his family will be in danger.
Ray knows that they aren't in danger. But he can't ignore the pressing feeling.
I know! I'll get Rex or anyone to tell Mother! It won't take long—.
His shoulders fall.
The gate's unpredictable. What if it leaves before I return? I'll be transported somewhere and I'll never find Kate again….
Ray closes his eyes and turns away back to Kate. She looks anxious now, panic in her voice. "Snowy, I think I need a hint!"
A chuckle slips out and the young prince steps towards the sunlight—and then stops again.
But Mother's crying…Father will be pissed… and I can't let the others keep searching….
The Alpha turns back to the gate. His left feet move forward—.
—and he flies off to the left. He rolls fiercely like a snowball, swirling with hands, legs and lots of giggles, for a few circumferences before he stops and finds himself atop his angel, wrapped tightly between her arms.
"Found you!" Kate chirps, her voice ringing like a sweet chime.
She lifts him so their faces would meet, then beams like the morning sun that grips Ray's heart. "I'm sorry, Snowy. You must've waited long, didn't you? That's why you came out from your hiding, right? You were worried that I'd give up looking for you. I won't leave you, silly pup."
The tip of her nose cheekily rubs his, and that beautiful scent of the freshest snow on roasted wood envelops him, soaking every cell of his body. Ray sniffs her right cheek then licks the warm rosy skin there, and then her brows, her lashes, her eyelids…until she starts giggling again.
I won't leave you too, Ray thought. Mother would understand. They would all understand. You need me, and I won't go anywhere. I promise.
"That tickles!" She cries, hugging him like he'd evaporate into the cold air and she'd never see him again.