All Novel XO
Chapter 11
Chapter 11: New Encounters
Mikalya’s PO.
“Mikalya?”
Do you sense that? Ruksaar’s mental voice rang loud and clear in my mind
Yes. I told her. It’s definitely a wolf and a strong one. I’m guessing a Luna.
But why would a Luna be here in the middle of nowhere? Ruksaar asked. Are you sure there’s no longer any pack living here?
If there were, then the falcons wouldn't be the only pack trying to confront us. I told her. This is another rogue. But with a child? That's surprising for a Luna to be out and about with the future heir just hanging off her arm.
But I don’t sense another wolf, Ruksaar said. How could you sense the child? Are they the thieves that just stole from the kitchen?
I think so, I told her. But I can't be sure. The child’s aura is very mild but I can sense it. I think it's a submissive. There weren't any wolves in town before today; I think they arrived just now. Let's go check.
I got up from the chair along with Ruksaar...and halted.
Abhay was staring at us curiously and despite my resolve, I felt a tiny glimmer of guilt at having to leave him here. He’s been nothing but nice even when I had acted rude to him without reason, that much I had to give to him. He seemed like a genuinely nice man and I was definitely feeling the mating bond strengthen with each moment that passed between us. But I wasn’t ready for such a big commitment and he was human, someone who had no clue about the existence of shifters. I was weary of dragging him into this bloody world.
‘I'm afraid there’s been a little emergency,” I told him. “We'll have to leave right now.”
“What about lunch?” he asked with his eyebrows raised.
“Another time.” I told him.
“You promise? I'll see you again, right?” There was a strange urgency in his voice that I could relate to
See him again, though? Will I be able to do that without getting him involved? Without getting involved with him? “Yes.” The answer came involuntarily. “Tomorrow night, at the market.”
“Alright.” A slow, sincere smile lit up his handsome face. “I'll wait for you.”
With that, I turned and left the restaurant and joined Ruksaar who was waiting for me at the exit. “What was that all about?” She asked curiously as she looked back at Abhay one last time to wave him goodbye.
‘lll explain later.” I told her and we both went after the scent of the Luna that was coming fram somewhere behind the restaurant.
We followed the scent into an alley beside the restaurant and walked down the alley till we came to a dead end. There were dumpsters everywhere and the stench was masking the Luna’s scent but it was present none the less. Moreover, the scents of food being cooked inside the kitchen mingled with the heavy afternoon air, making it incredibly hard to distinguish the scents.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“It's stronger here.” Ruksaar commented as she spun around in a circle. “But there's no one here! Is she hiding in the dumpster?
“She's a Luna.” I told her firmly. “And she has too much pride to be hiding I-lookout!
I pushed Ruksaar to the side just in time to avoid the knife that came at us from above. I backed up a couple of steps to la@k at the woman who had just landed on the spot! had. been standing on a few seconds > ago. She was wearing a flowy black robeand her face was covered I with a cloth resembling a hijab. She held aanife in one hand securely while her other hand went behind her back where she supported a sling like bag that was tied to her chest in the front. I suspected it was her baby. Only her dark brown eyes were visible and they were filled with age old anger.
~
“You have the scent of a Luna.” I told her calmly as she turned to me with her knife ready to strike. “What are you doing here all alone? That too with a baby.”
“Who are you?” She hissed out instead. “Did your Alpha send you here? Why is he hiding?’ “There's no Alpha here, girli.” Ruksaar spoke to the woman, her voice calm. “Just the two of us loners.” “Rogues!” She held the knife closer to her body, ready to defend the baby at any cost.
“Such an insulting term,” Ruksaar tsked as she shook her head. “We're lone wolves. Loners! We just mind our own business and roam from place to place. Is that a crime now too?”
“Stay away from us!” She moved back further until her back was to the wall. "I don’t associate with rogues! And don’t even think about attacking! I'ma Luna!”
“And yet, here you are, in the middle of nowhere, running away from your pack while you have a baby with> you.” ttold her calmly. “Looks to me like you are no better than aogue yourself.” .to
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“Shut up!” She snapped. “I'm not a rogue! I’m a Luna! “Really,” Ruksaar asked with her hands on her hip. “Of which pack? And why are you alone here without the Alpha?”
“I...” she didn’t have any answer and it led me to believe that maybe, she was running away from the Alpha.
“We are not here to hurt you,” I held up my hands palms first to show her that we meant no hard. “You smell of blood. We can help you. if you want us to help.”
“How can you help me?” She asked almost desperately. “You're not alone! I can scent an Alpha!”
“There is no Alpha!” I told her firmly. “It's just us. Use your senses; count how many of us you can scent.”
“Impossible!” She spat. "I can scent an Alpha! He has to be nearby!
“Oh!” Ruksaar gave a small laugh. “That's not an Alpha you're sensing, that’s just her. She has the scent of an Alpha.”
“A female Alpha..." The woman looked momentarily stunned as she sniffed the air again. “It is you...but...how?”
“We can worry about the why's and how's later,” I extended my hand towards her. “Let us help you. You are injured.”
“How can I trust you?” She asked. “There are supposed to be no wolves here! Who are you two? And why are you offering to help me?”
“It's because we're wolves.” I told her. “And we wolves stick together and care for each other, no matter which pack, state or country you belong to.
She hesitated™out only for a few seconds before she lowered her knife and:stépped forwardand => placed ht her hand in mine. Her hand was trembling and even in this blistering heat, it felt cold tot the towéh. _ S 4
“Let's get you to safety.”