บท 5: FIRST STRIDE

Elder Zaya laughed as I picked up the cup of tea and handed it to her. She sipped it and smiled. "This is an excellent cup of tea."

"You flatter me, Elder Zoya."

"Why was Alpha Lobo here?" She raised her eyebrow.

"You saw him?" I responded with a question

"No. I can smell his aura, " She said in displeasure.

"He has been after the company shares for the past nine years. Today he was sure that he had gotten a breakthrough, but Zeeb Elijah was ready for him," I laughed.

"Stay away from him. I have always suspected the case concerning Conri had his name written all over. I just did not have enough evidence when he was accused off and exiled."

"My wolf will never submit to him," I assured her.

"Why would a Freki wolf submit to a low-born Alpha?"

I stared at her and affirmed, "What keeps me at bay is the oath I made to Pa."

"How do you plan to get him off that damn mountain?" Elder Zaya asked in frustration.

"Offer him a job. I already checked the pack rules. No rule states he can't be a worker as long as he stays within the mountain boundaries. The Freki land is vast. I want to build a resort," I winked at her.

"You are a filial child, Lucian, and times have changed. My old bones can sense the wind of change coming and you are it," she affirmed.

"I am not sure about myself since I am always reckless and stubborn."

She placed the cup of tea on the table and stood up. "Time will tell. I need to leave, as I have taken much of your time."

"Thank you for coming to me, Elder Zaya. Now I feel the comfort of having you by his side. I know I ruffled a few feathers after my actions during the pack dinner. No wonder Alpha Lobo had to rush here today, but I am determined to face Conri." I pointed out.

"He is a stubborn child, but there I have never met an honorable man like him. He carried wounds deep in his heart and deserves some little sunshine. I hope you succeed." She winked, making me laugh.

Bidding her farewell, I walked her out of the office. I mulled over every word she said as I got down to business with the rush of clearing everything before the weekend.

Two days later, I left the mansion for the mountains late afternoon. The sun was high up. Armed with camping and trekking gear, I used the back of the mansion forest to access Mount Chugach. Zeeb was not too happy about it, but he remained behind in the Mansion to cover up for my absence.

"Lucian, must you do this?" Zeeb demanded.

"I must," I insisted. "Something in my gut is telling me I must do this."

"I sense trouble coming and you know it," Zeeb commented in frustration.

"Hold the fort. I promise that I will be back tomorrow," I advised him as walked away from the mansion, grinning like a fool.

The sun was out, and it was such fit weather for a trek. Two hours later, I had arrived at the point on the map that Zeeb had prepared to be the entrance to the woods where Conri's cabin hid in the forest trees.

Thorns and bushes surrounded the entrance, yet I could smell and hear water running. My ears followed the sound until I reached the river bank of the water that flowed from the mountain. The sun was still up as the snow melted by the heat, giving the landscape a beautiful view.

I walked around for half an hour before realizing that I was going around in circles. I made my way back to the bank and sat down in exhaustion. Looking at the woods in longing, I vowed to venture further until I found him. The river bank offered some kind of solace as the sunlight glistened on the rocks by the riverbed. I relaxed blissfully passing time along the river banks, while my eyes took in the beauty of the surroundings. It was then I noted the small opening filled with thorns at the end of the waterfall.

"Conri, you devil." My eyes widened in happiness as I rushed over, lowering my body, pushing the hedge my way in, ignoring the fact that the thorns prickled my gloves. There was a small path that led up the hill and I kept at it, noticing how cold it got as the wind picked up. Half an hour later, I beamed in happiness as the Cabin came into view. There was a small stream just a short walk from the cabin, gurgling happily through the woods. The cabin stood strong, made of logs of oak as its natural beauty radiated in the sun.

My feet approached the cabin, and I felt the hairs on the back of my head rise. My feet halted as I realized that there was something in the woods watching me.

"Tizheruk" Freki stirred and growled through our mind link.

"What? Where? I thought the Mystical Dragon serpent was a myth," I responded through our mind link.

"By the wood watching us," Freki paced up and down.

"So Conri kept people off the woods by befriending a dragon serpent?" I gasped out loud.

"Grrr," Freki growled and my chest vibrated from it.

Walking backward, I approached the cabin and reached for the door, hoping not to be attacked. Time stood still as my eyes remained glued to the woods. Suddenly Freki calmed down and I no longer felt his anxiety.

"Why are you suddenly calm, Freki?" I demanded through our mind link.

"We have reached a mutual understanding with Tizheruk. It will not attack or petrify us," Freki announced.

"Petrify? That explains why the enforcers whom Alpha Lobo used to sneak into the woods came back looking shocked."

I turned the doorknob of the cabin, and luckily it opened. I entered the cabin and to my surprise, the inside of the cabin was cozy with a fireplace radiating warmth and coziness. Closing the door, and walked in to look around.

One side of the cabin had a wall with a shelf full of books and then an enormous TV screen, leather sofas, and even a vase with flowers. The place had no pictures on the wall but remained empty. I chuckled at how homely the place looked and ran my hands on the leather chair as I put my bag down and took off the warm jacket.

"How the fuck did you get in?" Conri's deep, sexy voice echoed in the room.