"Joea, come with me. We're leaving here. We could go to Auckland until we find a comfortable place to live.”
Aland's eyes twinkled with hope. He rubbed the top of Jonea's head gently and lovingly.
"You can go back to school there. I can continue my studies and work. Can we live in the suburbs or work as farmers? I have a plot of farmland and ranch that we can manage together."
Aland whispered those sweet words in Jonea's ear after marking the girl as his.
"Right now, we are in a race against time. Blue Sapphire's condition is not good. It was only a matter of time before the rebels might fight back with much greater strength. Constantly hiding in the forest is not the right choice."
Jonea looked back at Aland with a big smile and was satisfied.
"Sounds so cool and so perfect. It's as if everything you mentioned is like a dream to me."
Aland's face suddenly turned sombre.
"I want to!" said Jonea. "Of course, I want to live happily with you, with the people I love. However, leaving the Blue Sapphire was not easy for me."
Jonea looked down.
"What about Miller and my parents? Aland, I can't be selfish and go alone for my safety."
Aland looked disappointed. He swallowed back his words and tried acting calmly in Jonea's presence.
"Perhaps it was so easy for you to leave this country," continued Jonea. "But, of course, they won't let me get away with it. They keep monitoring and detaining humans and lycans to keep them cooped up in this accursed country."
Jonea realized that her destiny was in the land of Blue Sapphires. Forever she will never get out of there. Not as long as the Blue Sapphire country is still controlled by Pack Abraham.
"If that's what you want, I will stay and give my whole life and death for you, Jonea. I will stay here to guard and protect you no matter what.
"Oh, Aland…."
Jonea was completely lulled by their hopes and beautiful dreams.
"Yes, Jonea."
Aland rubbed Jonea's wet lips with his thumb and planted a sweet kiss there. Aland did not want to give up on the girl.
"If abandoning the Blue Sapphire is out of the question for us, then staying would be my path."
"I'm sorry, Aland. I always get into trouble and always involve you in mine."
"I understand, Jonea. Even deep inside, even though we live a life of care and perfection here, you don't want that. Even if you have run away so far, you will never be able to forget your grudge. Because Abraham's family is your goal."
Jonea lifted her face straight up for a moment. She always tried to cover her heart all this time. But Aland could always easily read them. Jonea's life goals have completely changed after meeting Mrs Abraham. Her life was adrift and consumed to avenge every bad treatment of Abraham's family.
"Right?" whispered Aland.
 
***
 
Mrs Abraham notices Hunter is missing. She also went to look for her son, accompanied by the secretaris. Someone contacted her and said Hunter was at the bar with two of his bodyguards.
Mrs Abraham returned to the office and summoned all her trusted people.
"We don't have any more time! Raise all your troops to put down this never-ending uprising. Hunter and his plans could be more reliable. And also immediately send some of our best hunters and warriors to where the Fallon family is. We need to get to Miller Fallon quickly and eliminate the rest."
"Okay, Alpha!"
Simultaneously all of Mrs Abraham's confidants saluted.
 
***
 
Hunter sits alone in an almost empty bar. Very few visitors there. In the middle of the night, Hunter was drinking alone because he was desperate and didn't know what to do.
On the one hand, Hunter knows where Jonea is. On the other hand, he also knew that his mother was watching over him. If, at this time, Hunter was determined to go see Jonea, he was confident that the people his mother sent would stop him and might hurt Jonea.
"Vodka!"
Hunter slammed down his empty glass and asked the bartender for another drink.
"You are too drunk, sir."
"Just give my drink, you bastard!"
Someone came from behind and tapped Hunter on the shoulder. Hunter looked to the side and saw Elmar sitting beside him.
"Partying alone, Young Master?" he asked. "Very unattractive. Why don't you invite me along? I could bring a number of girls here."
Elmar spoke loudly while glancing around. He did it on purpose.
Only then did Elmar notice that the bar was completely empty? While some of the visitors seemed to be there, all of them were just people sent by Mrs Abraham to keep an eye on Hunter.
"You picked the right bar tonight," Elmar muttered.
He motioned for the bartender to hand him a drink.
"What do you mean, El? My head hurts so much. I can't think right now."
"You know very well. Tomorrow morning your mother will send many combined troops from all existing packs to the forests and borders. They're about to go on a massive hunt. Your mother's goal is only one."
Elmar looked at Hunter seriously.
"Your mother wants to kill the entire existing Lycan clan without a trace. She wants to master the Blue Sapphire and become King Alpha!"
"I know!" Hunter said while rubbing his tired face. He ruffled his hair with both hands. "I know my mother's ambition. I also really hate the lycans. Don't you? We all want to get rid of them. What's wrong with that? Aren't the Lycans really dangerous and have always been our big enemy all this time?"
Elmar was taken aback. He barely recognized Hunter.
"You think of yourself as a grown man? Your mind is truly childlike, Hunter Abraham!"
"What's wrong with that, Elmar? Getting rid of our prey is our duty and obligation as wolves. Do you mean to want to coexist with our prey? You want us to be enslaved?"
"Like we enslave humans?" Elmar hissed. "Think further, Hunter Abraham. It is not only about our enemies and predators. Yes, they are tough and cruel. However, not all Lycans are like that. Many more choose to be alone and not disturb our lives after we get rid of their king. Imagine if your mother sent many troops tomorrow morning into the forests and villages to commit genocide. What will happen to Jonea?"
Hunter failed to take a sip of his vodka. He turned the chair to face Elmar. "Jonea? My mother would not kill humans. Humans are easier to enslave and more useful to werewolves. They may be a bit threatening occasionally, but they will never be pushed aside by my mother's power."
Elmar groaned. He really couldn't wait to face Hunter, who was getting crazier. Elmar glanced around and noticed several of Mrs Abraham's men watching him warily.
Elmar relaxed as much as possible and lowered his voice. Then with great care, he said to Hunter.
"Jonea might be in danger right now. Edison told me Jonea probably has lycan blood in her body."
"WHAT?!" Hunter frowned. He thought Elmar was just making a joke.
"I'm sure sooner or later your mother will realize that. Right now, your mother is hunting for Miller. She thinks Miller has a secret formula to turn humans into werewolves. Actually, the research conducted by Miller only used his own blood. You've certainly heard the rumour that a certain lycan blood has powers. If that blood is injected into human blood, it will change the DNA and transform humans into werewolves."
Crang!
Hunter was so surprised that he dropped his glass of drink.
All of Mrs Abraham's men, pretending to be bar patrons, stared at Hunter in unison.
"Wow, Young Master, you're really drunk." Elmar helps Hunter cover up his nervousness.
Elmar apologized to the bartender and paid for the damages.
Hunter got up quickly. Elmar immediately supported Hunter, who was standing unsteadily.
"You see?" whispered Elmar. "They are all your mother's people. There isn't a single visitor here beside us. Beware!"