“A General, eh?”
“Are you out of your mind? You could’ve got it back, why did you let the Alpha do that?”
“I thought you’re a tough aggressive kind?”
I sighed. “I don’t either understand why I did that. My emotions took over me rather than my head.” My chin rested on my hands resting aboard a wooden rail in the mansion’s balcony. Still dumbfounded at what had happened a while ago. I already said the word and the Alpha considered my proposal. He had given me control of all remaining three legions in the garrison and the anterior force on the borders.
“I guess it is better that way,” I added and turned back to look at Camilla and Amalia sitting on the couch. “How about the two of you? What are you planning to do?”
Amalia shrugged and took a sip on her cup of tea, “Nothing much. We have no idea about running battalions and brigades, perhaps we could only help the people and keep them safe until this war ends.”
“Yeah, right. We’ll just be in handy in combat if it was that necessary, advisors mayhaps,” Camilla appended. “And oh, that Miranda has given me something she said you would want to read.” Out from her pocket was a coffee-colored envelope of plain design and sealed with the crest of raging waters and a cluster of winds.
“That’s the emblem of Sinandaya, isn’t it?”
I just nodded. A letter from Sinandaya, and certainly they’ve already known the situation. From the first attack that Pinansey-angan led, a battalion from Sinandaya was included. And that is the last news I’ve heard of them.
“Wouldn’t you open that?” Amalia asked which I only shook my head and placed it aside.
“Maybe later.”
Camilla scoffed as she slammed the glass chalice on the table, “Why would she? If she’ll open that, her perspective might change.” She flung a mocking glare at me and opened her mouth, “Adira is the general of Sinandaya, which is introduced as the ally of Pinansey-angan. And today, she is the general of Abberant. I wonder how she’ll decide who to run.”
“Exactly.” My shoulders shrugged and snap up the glass filled half with raw blood. I was about to take a quick gobble when the large doors suddenly opened and it was Cedric who bursts in. His eyes roamed around each of the ladies sitting on the couch including Edith, then stopped the second he meandered the wooden railings.
“Another mandate?” I started.
Cedric flagged his usual serious face at me, “The Alpha commands you to meet him.”
“Where’s he at?” My lips drooped and deviated my gaze away from him to the arrays of high trees.
“Headquarters. Regarding the situation on the battlefield, he wants to talk about the submitted plan.”
I simply nodded. I couldn’t avoid feeling a pinch of pain straightforward, he took it seriously. He accepted and let me step back. He sees me now only as the commandant of Abberant’s army. I stood up and put the red liquor down the table.
Without any words slipping out of my tongue, I held my head raised enough to keep my remaining pride still intact. And maybe I should bring back my old self, that Adira who had never been stupid and coward just because of a man.
“We’ve annihilated a total of more than a hundred and eighty cadets for committing treason against the Alpha. The first and second line of defenses broke down, causing the remaining soldiers to withdraw to the third forming the Anterior Force,” I reported directly with no other things missed, maintaining pausing and intonation formally.
But the Alpha just stared at me, nothing to conclude from that kind of reaction plastered on his face. I simply canted my head on the side, equaling his level of rudeness. There was no one inside this huge meeting room and even Cedric didn’t enter after he had just opened the door.
Out of his permission, I frankly reached the chair opposite him with a great distance of the long table between us. “What else do you want to know?” I asked, breaking the silence of the place.
“About the thing a while ago,” he finally opened his mouth.
Both my brows raised and intertwined my fingers before placing my arms on top of the table like an interested merchant ready to buy lies. “Nothing useful to be exact, Edith and I just spend the whole night on the battlefield then the sun rose and we headed back.”
“Adira,” Diego muttered with a significant kind of emphasis as he noted my name.
I bluntly smiled and directed my gaze towards those ocean eyes of his. “It’s General Adira, Alpha.” With my shoulders moving up and down, I inclined afore. “And about the master plan you needed, I would likely want to write it in a decree and discuss further after—”
“Stop acting,” he cut in making me chuckle for seconds before replying back.
“Oh, alright. In which part would you want to open?”
“About Miranda.” He affixed his gaze on me that I quickly avoided. I don’t know why but there’s a force inside me not wanting to talk about that woman. Since I promised myself not to be the coward dimwit Adira before I entered this room, perhaps I should be more selfish this time.
“You don’t have to, Alpha. I understand.” Even if it’s all question marks surrounding my head. “Edith had clarified me enough. I am taking the position with great responsibility and your personal affairs with the,” it throbs pain. “—new Luna is not for me to meddle with.” And maybe getting out of this room would be a great idea.
“If there is nothing else we can talk about regarding the battle and the artillery, then I am taking my leave, Alpha.” I stood up and moved the chair back. My eyes shut tightly that it wishes for my legs to run but my pride yells for it to walk normally. The door was just a few meters away but it feels like a mile.
The minute my hands held the knob, the pain twinged, even more, when there is no word that came out of his mouth. For if he really wants to explain, if he really wants me to understand him, he would stop me. Because even if he whispers for me to stay, I would instantly turn back and lower my pride just to listen for his explanation… But he didn’t.
My hand deliberately creeps down my belly as I let out a deep sigh. About this child’s existence, it should remain a secret. To my situation with Diego right now, I’m afraid he will deny this and kick us out of here with the work still not done.
“I heard you became a general,” shows up the woman in a ball gown.
I stared blankly at her and brushed my shoulders past hers.
“Such a disrespect!” she squealed that I didn’t bother to stop for. But she seems to be courting trouble as Miranda took big steps chasing me and briskly pulled my hair out of nothing. “Get down on your knees! You’re just a mere general, Bitch! How dare you treat me with rudeness!”
My eyes narrowed at her as my hands instinctively grabbed her arm tangling with my hair and forcibly tossed Miranda over. Her irritating shriek echoed across the walls of the corridor along with the loud slapping of her body on the flat floor.
“Only I carry a title between the two of us, Miranda. The formal inauguration still hasn’t confirmed you are the Luna of this pack therefore, you should be the one paying respect to me,” I glared before turning my back on her.
She keeps on wailing and screaming annoyingly that it grew louder and ear-piercing as I depart a distance away from her. If I was her, I would shift to my wolf and fight back rather than wasting my voice pleading for sympathy. Pathetic.
~caaww~caww~
I lifted my head and looked up at the clear skies, hovering across the air was a bronze Lawin. Flaunting its widespread wings that daunt anyone who would take a glimpse of it. And there is only one person I know who has this kind of forest raptor. And it was Felipe.
“Adira!” Someone exclaimed, diverting my attention that I have to turn back. It was Amalia standing on the balcony. “You have to see something,” she added with her face unease.
My forehead creased and hastily walked back to the corridor where I left Miranda. Still, she was there lying, assisted, and comforted by several maids. I simply smiled victoriously and flung a careless look at her.