THE ISLAND WOLF - EPISODE 64

Avril looked left and right the spaces between each building. The houses were built close to each other so the spaces were not too wide. She couldn’t hear any voices, and it seemed like they were the only ones outside.
“Is the palace always this empty?” she asked her maidens.

“Well, it’s not empty. Just that no one is walking around this vicinity yet. People only walk when they have to go somewhere, right?” Aida asked.
“Yeah. Uhm, can we go towards the prince’s castle?” she asked in a low voice. Aida and Gia exchanged puzzled glances.
“We can’t?” Avril asked.

“We can. Only if we are called by him or sent by the Alpha. Only Ñiraka has that liberty to go in and out of his house,” Gia explained.
“Which means we can’t. Eish!”

They walked in silence, looking at the trees and other buildings. Avril saw the dried leaves being blown about and she remembered. It was her birthday soon, and the time of the year she got separated from Dakar two years ago. So, it was going to be three years already?
“So soon?” she asked aloud and shut her eyes in thought.
“Anything wrong? Fiorella?” Gia asked.

She opened her eyes and bit her lower lip.
“I’m fine,” she muttered after a few seconds of staring into space. They continued to walk silently, with Avril reminiscing old memories.
“Oh, look. This is Verona, she used to be a rogue but Prince Dakar saw her during one of his trips and he brought her to the pack. She’s been his concubine ever since,” Aida whispered.

She was looking at the direction of a very beautiful woman. She was tall like Avril, but had short ginger-red hair which was straight and in a bob. She was not wearing the normal girlish clothes, but was wearing gothic style. She wore black makeup, a gold chain, a black crop top and black ripped jeans. Only her boots were red.

“That is a concubine?” Avril asked in disbelief. What would Dakar want with a girl so evil looking? She looked like a college bad girl.
“Yes. One of his favorites. By that, I mean she goes to his castle often,” Aida whispered back. The girl was standing before a house, in front of the big oak door. She was chewing gum and scrolling on her phone.

“How often?” Avril asked and narrowed her eyes at the Verona. She felt an awkward tingle in her heart. So, this lady was one of Dakar’s favorites? That hurt!

“About three times in a month,” Gia replied. Aida looked at her in surprise.
“What?”
“I never knew you wanted to gossip too,” Aida teased.
Gia scoffed and looked away while Aida chuckled. Avril was still looking at Verona.
“Can’t she hear us?” she asked because she remembered werewolves could hear very well.
“We are not that close. Plus, we’re whispering. She can only hear our whispers if she was at least, a metre close,” Aida explained. Avril nodded and gulped down. She wanted to tell the maidens to turn a different direction when Verona looked up and met eyes with her. Avril gasped because those eyes looked cold and stiff.
“She is definitely a mean girl,” Avril thought.
Verona smirked evilly and began to walk towards them.
“Oops! Let’s go, I’m scared of her,” Aida tugged on Avril’s arm.

“Fiorella,” Verona drawled.
“How did she get here so fast?” Avril asked herself. She heaved a deep sigh and looked Verona in the eye. Time for tough Avril.
“Hello,” she said.
Verona clicked on her pink gum and blew a bubble. She bursted it and chewed on while wearing a smug smirk on her face.
“You’re prettier than when I saw you last night. I must say, you don’t look as pitiable as I thought,” she said in a cool voice, like a girl who raps in a band.

“Thank you,” Avril said.
“How’s the pain?” Verona asked and swept off stray strands of hair from her left eye with her black fingers.
“Not bad,” Avril answered.
“I didn’t introduce myself, my bad.” She moved closer to Avril until there was just two steps between them.
“My name is Verona. I love chicken and I’m very happy when it’s time to fight the Weak End Fight,” she said and drew her face closer.
“Especially if I’m to fight against Ñiraka. I f**king hate that wolf,” she whispered and scoffed.

Avril stood watching Verona with interest. She was blowing a bubble again. Aida and Gia were giggling at the back.
“What is the Weekend Fight?” Avril asked.
“Not Weekend, dear. Weak End. Like, the end of the weak. And, it’s a fighting sport held every Friday between us,” Verona explained.

“Okay. And Ñiraka participates in The Weak End Fight?”
“Yeah. The women’s session. What? Why are you interested in her? Don’t tell me you like her!” Verona spilled with wide eyes, like Avril had said something outrageous.