The next my eyes opened was when I was jolted up in the air. I strained my eyes to adjust to the surrounding. It was fairly dim around but it wasn’t just dim the room was moving! I sprung up from where I was sleeping. The sleep I had last night was one of the most peaceful ones and I hated to admit it. However, where in the hell was I?

“Good morning,” I heard Fang’s husky voice. A delightful tone that was complemented by his charming smile. 

I furrowed my brows as my mouth opened but processing was a bit slow in my brain. “Where…” I looked around when I understood we were in a carriage. My eyes went wide with realisation, “what are you… where are you taking me?” I raged at Fang, ready to throw my fist at him. If he was planning to kidnap me, I would fight with my life on the line.

Fang leaned back in his seat, “Just some sightseeing. Don’t worry, I won’t take you to my den yet.” 

Den? This was one obnoxious wolf I had as my soulmate. “I don’t want to go anywhere right now. I need to find Zelda and Hailey.”

Fang sighed before opening the curtains on his side of the carriage. It was an oddly large window for a carriage. That was the beauty of it, though. You would be blessed with an amazing view for the cost of showing everything inside the carriage. I was left awestruck by what I saw outside. We were going uphill somewhere and there on the other side, a scene obstructed by thick foliage emerged. 

“Is that?” 

“The sea,” Fang completed my sentence. I gulped as I inched closer to the window, not bothered by the distance I was closing with Fang. My mind was more focused on deciphering the view but every time I tried to complete the image, another tree or bush came into my sight. I clicked my tongue twice, as I could only see blue on the other side. Suddenly Fang flicked my forehead, “It is all water idiot.” 

“Ow,” I rubbed my forehead as I backed into my seat, “Is there a land beyond it? Maps usually have lands.” 

Fang let out a hearty chuckle, “There is, but did you forget our planet is a sphere.” 

I looked at him for a second before realising how stupid I must have been in his eyes. Of course, even if it was straight, I doubted the distance would allow seeing the land beyond. “Are we headed there?” I asked curiously, “Isn’t it punishable by death?” 

“Does it look like we are headed there, little one?” Fang raised his eyebrows. 

I shook my head and he simply smiled, letting me know the answer to my own question. He was too sarcastic and it was one of the things that really made me want to punch a hole in his chest. I took a deep breath before opening the curtains on my side. My breath caught itself in my throat when I saw what was on the other side. A valley. Swiftly, I closed the curtains. When I turned, Fang had twisted his mouth with a smile he held back in his cheek. 

I squinted, “Sure you brought a lot of your girls to impress here.” 

“Nope,” Fang smiled, “It was just Channing and me. We used to come here to study. Usually, he would be completing assignments for both of us and I would be there.” He opened the curtains on my side and pointed to what looked like a waterfall from this far. 

“That looks beautiful,” I said while not taking my eyes away. 

His words reminded me of how Channing had described their studies together during high school. I had almost forgotten about Channing till now. I kept on looking at the waterfall while our carriage headed there. Things had come a long way for me in Winterwells, especially with how Channing had been. “Can I ask you something about Channing?” I asked Fang and he hummed with undivided attention to me. I took a sharp breath but then I closed my eyes before asking, “What is his wolf’s colour?” 

Fang chuckled as he tilted his head. When our eyes met, I realised he already knew what I was going to ask. However, he rubbed his chin and answered, “hmm, it is this black wolf that looks like a dog.”

“Is that some metaphor?” I asked, knowing how Fang did not hold Channing in the same light after he kissed me. 

“Haha no, not an intended one at least,” there was an evident hurt in his eyes backed by his fury. He clenched his jaw as his smile fell slack. “His wolf is this black with white sock fur around his paws and typical T in white on his face,” Fang described him robotically. 

It was the shock and hurt of Channing turning on him, plausibly stabbing him. 

It only reminded me more about how Channing changed all his principles and the person shifted in personality after the elders’. No, it was after Zelda’s re-entry in his life. “Do you think Zelda’s coming back was triggering for Channing?” I asked, resting my head on the backrest, “How can he act like that to me?” 

Fang shook his head, “Channing did not change at all.”

“Do you mean he gave up my side on his free will? That is not who he was,” I turned to Fang with a warning face. I did not want any answer, which was selfish of Fang now. 

Fang took a deep breath before sighing, “You know, Selene, how they say at the beginning of time there were only humans. Do you think Gods sent a leader to them?” He did not do any effort to meet my eyes while I was trying to understand what he meant. “There must have been a leader, though, to unit them all, change the tide of time to become the superior species. What do you think was the first king, a tyrant?” 

I did not think twice before answering, “That would mean he was a terrible king and people wouldn’t tolerate his rule to rise.” 

Fang hummed, “Exactly, he must have been a leader, an Alpha. Even animals have Alphas and they are leaders. At one given time, no matter how many people exist with experience and backing, there is only one leader people look for and unconsciously seek the opinion of – Justice.” 

“I don’t get it. How is this related to Channing?” I asked. 

Fang finally looked at me, “He never wanted to look after the village. One thing that Channing always used to say was one day he come to this very place and dive into the ocean. Swim to the other side, a free life. Being alpha doesn’t need you to always be in the ruling position. It means to be strong enough to protect your own and when needed, lead an army for it.” 

“What changed?” 

“Life does not give you choices, at least not to people with great potential,” Fang answered, “Channing solely rules on the basis of theoretical knowledge. He doesn’t want to be involved. Never directly. The more flawless his rule in the eyes of the elders sooner he retires.” 

There were so many things that made sense now. Channing never mentioned this side of his. 

Nevertheless, he wasn’t like this before, “I don’t understand why Channing’s personality disappoints me now. At first, I thought he was right about a lot of things.” He did not hesitate to stand for me or on my side. Though remembering about the duel for Beta selection did make me question my statement. Back then Sam was gravely injured by Hailey but Channing choose rules over proper judgement. The more I thought about it more answers were revealed to me. 

Channing somehow never changed. Just he was hospitable to me in the beginning when I was desperate to explore outside the castle. The person I trusted and a kind soul.

“Maybe the elders weren’t involved back then,” Fang stole my thoughts as if it was pestering him.

I rolled my eyes, “No, I am getting my answers. It is not about them.” 

Fang hummed, “Well, you don’t know until you search every way, little one. It was probably because of them or-” 

  The carriage came to a halt with a sudden jerk. My eyes went wide as I almost slammed my head against the front walls. Fang held securely but did not let his touch linger. He was rather eager to get down as he himself opened the carriage door, reaching his hand outside to unlatch the lock system. 

I, on the other hand, was stuck in his previous words, “Or what?” 

Fang stretched himself, straining his arms downwards. He took a deep breath of the fresh air. I was about to pester him about it when he turned to me with a twisted smile, “Or maybe your wolf was still young back then. Little pup.” 

“Stop being ridiculous,” I grunted from inside the carriage, “your wolf is always as old and as wise as you are.” How can he always ruin every heavy moment? 

Fang snickered as he opened his palm in front of me to take. I looked at it and slapped it away before getting down on my own. Fang chuckled yet again, “and see, you are still stuck in that little angsty teen phase. Your wolf never got the chance to develop because you never got the chance to explore yourself.” He stretched his arms wide, showing around the windy open field, “I will teach you how to let it all out today.. You help your wolf grow up.”