HIDDEN

Sometimes, the purest of hearts bears excruciating pain; pains of the past. Sometimes the hardest of hearts bear the most disheartening memories.

Iliana Dimitri, a young, vibrant lady with a good name in the town her pack is found, Shadow, and charm of a bride. She lives as an orphan, yet under the care and warmth of the town’s people and members of the pack.

She is well known for her stoicism and charisma. She serves well in the town and I’m her pack as a spy. She has been deemed pure in spirit as no one holds a grudge against her and she hold no grudge, or so it seems.

One question in the minds of all in the town and in her pack concerning her with regards to her stoicism is: Will she ever love?

There have been no records of alphas or even beta males or just ordinary human that share a romantic or potentially romantic past with Iliana. All who tried, were rejected. She also tries to put an effort but it all comes to naught.

It was a full moon’s midnight and a meeting in the Shadow forest was called upon by the alpha of the Shadow pack, Damian Duke, a fine young man who has tried once with Iliana and other elders.

It was a meeting about the conflict between a very distant pack. A pack that was buried but now, resurrected. A pack that always gave the Shadow pack difficulties. There were murmurs all over the meeting grounds.

“I beg for your attention.” Damien called. There was silence everywhere. “We received word from one of our own who operates far in the Silver Creek town. The Silver Creek pack has been revived.”

Noise grew. Indistinct chatters.

“I know what the did to us in the past is unforgettable and unjust but we do not know what they are planning or even how the pack was revived. Our man, Felix, has given us very little information but from what he sent to us, the pack was resurrected two years ago.”

“2 years?” “What?!” “how can it be?” “what is going on?”

“It moves me to know that a rival pack we buried has been revived and we had no idea about it.” Damian

“What now?” A random person asked.

“We—”

“We…” An elder interrupted. The Eldest of the pack, Johan Claude. “We…will send out two of our best spies.”

“Sir.” Damian lowered him head in reverence. It was surprising to the pack why Johan was in the meeting. he is normally away in the hospital but he is present today. However, with people assisting his walk.

“The existence of that pack is our very downfall. It will be the best to attack but it will be very unwise. We do not know their aim or their objectives, and that is why we will send two of our best spies to spend three months under a pretense.”

“Iliana Dimitri, Stuart Thompson, please step forward.” Damian called. Iliana and another middle aged man stepped out, clear to everyone. They both stood firm, facing Johan and Damian.

“You two will go to Silver Creek town and join the pack under false identities. Whatever identity you choose should be made known before the end of the week. You will both be gone by the end of the week.” Damian commanded.

“Now I know you two think this is going to be an easy mission but I assure you it’s not. There’s very strange power there. I have tasted of it once and—” Johan coughed harshly. Everyone seemed to be on edge when it’s Jonah. Jonah took a deep breath before continuing. “I…have lived for more than 8 decades and yet, the hidden powers of that pack terrifies me. It is a miracle we had them buried.” The cough continued. Iliana looked at this old man as he struggled with his chest. Jonah was taken out and the meeting was disbanded.

Iliana under the full moon, walked gently, heading to her house in the Shadow town.

“Iliana.” Damian called from behind, stopping Iliana on her tracks.

“Yes, Damian?”

“Umm, can we walk together?” Damien proposed.

“I don’t mind that.” Iliana accepted as they both, side by side, walked to the town.

“The moon’s beautiful tonight, don’t you think?” Damian observed.

“I, for one, think the moon is always beautiful. From the thinnest crescent to the thickest full blood moon.”

Damian let out a soft giggle “A beautiful answer from a beautiful lady.”

“Thank you. I appreciate how you see me.” Iliana’s expression wasn’t changed.

“Wait…” Johan softly held her hand making her stop walking. She looked at him in the eyes and wondered what he wanted. Johan looked her in her eyes and smiled gently. “Why did you reject me?”

The question had Iliana speechless at first and then concerned. “Damian, why do you ask?”

Damian’s eyes lit up. “It’s just that…I was thinking what was wrong with me or if there was something I did that made you reject me.”

“Damian, there is nothing. You are strong and capable, the carrier of the pack but still, there is nothing. You are not for me, I am not for you.” Iliana said as she let her hands out of Damian’s and continued her walk home

Damian had no words in his mind. It felt like a second rejection but different. He felt a whiff of heartbreak and strong concerns as to why Iliana thinks the way she does but he couldn’t bring himself to loathe or treat Iliana differently for it. Although he wondered what she meant by ‘there is nothing’. It sounded like a message with hidden meaning but he could think of what it could be so he let it off his mind and led himself home.

The morning came and Iliana went to the home of the elderly to see how Johan was after yesterday. It always felt cold in there. Iliana always walked in with the expectation of a death news; she could swear she always feels the presence of death itself whenever she’s there. She reached Johan’s room which was the only room in the passage.

She knocked on the door before walking in. Johan was laid on his bed with a blanket over him. He was awake but weak. Standing in the room was Frida, who was a caretaker and also Johan’s daughter and Damian.

“Iliana…” Damian noticed her.

“How is he?” Iliana asked Frida.

“He’s alright…for now.” Frida rubbed her hands on Johan’s head while looking at him.

“I’m glad. Then, I’ll leave.”

“Child…” The voice of the old man called. “Come, child.”

Iliana obeyed. She walked to the side of be bed and looked at the old man.

“Be careful on your mission and I hope you find good things.”

“Thank you.” Iliana said as she turned to leave but she was stopped by Damian standing in front of her, locking eyes with her. “Excuse me.”

Damian moved aside letting Iliana walk past him. He still had too many questions to ask Iliana but he did not see any reason to do so after all.

“Iliana, wait…” Damian followed after her. “Iliana.”

Iliana waited fro Damian outside the building.

“Iliana.”

“You want something?” Iliana asked

“Not exactly. I just want to know what you meant by ‘there is nothing’.”

“Well isn’t it obvious? There is nothing.”

“Is it about me?” Damian wondered

“I can’t tell.”

“What do you mean you can’t tell?”

“I don’t know if it’s about me or about you.”

“Then what did you mean by ‘there is nothing’? Damian’s countenance was filled with so much confusion and an untold emotion.

“Damian, I do not feel anything for you or for anyone. I reject you because you will never be happy with someone like me. It is for you own good.”

“But at least you could try…”

“I have tried and failed one too many times. I am not going to keep wasting my time.”

“That’s how you feel?” Damian asked in low tone

“That is how I have always felt.

Damian felt his heart drop upon hearing those words. It’s all clear to him now. He sees.

“Oh. That’s…that’s fine.” Damian hid what he felt deep inside–heartbreak.

“Are you done? I have something planned that I must do.”

“I-I’m done.”

“You’ll be fine. Goodbye.”

Iliana left with nothing more to say. Damien was left, unhappy but at ease.

It was the end of the week. Iliana Dimitri and Stuart Thompson under the names Rachel Hugh and George Hugh, as siblings, have been prepared for their new mission at hand. A mission that would last for only 3months. Iliana isn’t phased by anything but the power Johan mentioned in the meeting. It seems there’s something she has to be very cautious about. She wonders about Stuart. Stuart has always been an emotional type but very persevering and spirited however, sometimes careless.

“Go safe. Keep your devices active at all. Keep your fake IDs safe too.” Damian ordered. “If anything bad happens, do not fail do inform us. Iliana, Stuart…or should I say, Rachel, George, be safe.”

“We will.” George replied.

“The driver will take you to the exact location. We’ve made separate room reservations for both of you. Samuel will be there to guide you two. Your mission will begin there. ”

Rachel and George now embark on their journey to Silver Creek town, 12 hours away from Shadow town. Who will they meet? What will happen? What will be the outcome of the mission? What awaits Stuart? What awaits Iliana?