Chapter 123: Camping in the Desert.

Words spread in desert about the Alpha's infatuation with Rieka. Reika and Kael had a feeling it will bring a trouble to the pack. But it seemed Darius was slowly getting over his feeling for her, but Reika knew she was far from having seen the last of him. Zara, the alpha's wife, worked at restoring peace within the village, but rumours will always spread quicker. Kael was very watchful and he grew restive. Always thinking there was danger lurking, and the pack village was too small to hide their secrets for long. By morning, a boy no bigger than ten years appeared before Reika as she was working in the fields with the other women. He looked flushed from the heat and fidgeted about on his feet. "Miss Reika," he stuttered, "the alpha wants to see you and Kael. Right away." Reika's hands stilled mid-air as she turned her eyes on Kael, who had been helping to repair a fence nearby. Kael stepped forward, his face guarded. "Did the alpha say what it was about?" The boy shook his head. "No, sir. Just said it's important." Reika's stomach twisted but she nodded. "We're coming" As they followed the boy to the alpha's tent, Reika felt Kael's hand brush against hers. Darius sat in the great tent with a hardwood table and his fingers steepled as he stared at a map spread before him. Zara stood beside him, calm and firm as always. "You called for us?" Kael asked upon entering. Darius looked up, his face impassive. "Yes. Sit." Reika and Kael exchanged another glance before lowering themselves to the cushions across from him. Darius leaned back in his chair, his eyes darting between them. "We have a situation," he started. Kael's muscles tensed. "What kind of situation? Zara stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Scouts have reported a presence of elves close to the northern ridge. It is not clear if they are hostile, but such closeness to our territory is disturbing." Reika frowned. "Elves? Could this rebels?" "Could be," Darius replied, "but we cannot afford to take any chances. If they mean to cause any trouble, then we must prepare." Kael's jaw clenched. "How does it affect us?" Darius hesitated, then exhaled. "You both have proved worth much to this village. Kael, no one handles the battlefield quite like you. Reika, among the women your work fortifies our community standards. We're going to need every strong body if things get worse. " Reika could feel her very heartbeat thumping hard. "You want us to fight?" "Not yet," Zara cut in. "We are not seeking war. But, when the time would come to that, we would want a few people who could stand with us."     Kael's eyes turned serious. "We will defend this village if we must, but we are not your soldiers, Darius, we're not a part of your pack." Darius nodded in his own good time. "Fine. Understand, though-the elves are here; they will no doubt notice some outsiders like yourselves. Your presence could bring them in." "For now, remain alert," Zara said. "If you sense anything out of sorts, immediately report it." The next day, scouts arrived back with grim faces and a tale that set a ripple of terror in the settlement. The elves are camped near the oasis," one of the scouts related during a village meeting. "They have erected watchtowers and seem to be waiting for something. or someone." Reika's breath caught in her throat. Them? Looking for her and Kael? Kael hunched a little closer toward her, whispering, "We need to stay low. This could be about us. Darius stood among them, his hand upraised as murmurs broke out. "We don't act unless they make the first move. Another scouting party goes out tonight for more information." Zara's keen eyes swept the crowd. "In the meantime, no one leaves the village without permission. We can't afford to be caught off guard." As night began to fall, Reika and Kael sat outside their tent in the cool desert air, a welcome relief from the day's heat. The village was quiet, but an unstated tension hung in the air. "We can't stay here much longer," Kael finally said. Reika nodded; her gaze went to the stars. "I know, but where would we go? Kael's jaw clenched. 'Anywhere but here. If the elves are looking for us, we're putting the entire village at risk." Reika's heart ached at the thought of leaving the light pack. Despite the challenges, she'd grown fond of the community and the people who had taken them in. "I don't want to be a burden upon them," she whispered. "But I don't know that I can go just quite yet. Not with." She set a hand on her stomach, the words trailing away. Kael's expression gentled, and he took her hand within his. "We'll figure it out. But we need to be prepared for anything." All unbeknownst to them, a keen pair of eyes watched them from the shadows. A young boy who now had followed Reika and Kael for a couple of weeks. Kieran disappeared in the night, his thoughts churning. He had a feeling that this new people had a connection with the elves. In the Morning, Keiran went to Darius tent, his voice was low and urgent. "Alpha, can I speak with you. It about Reika and Kael." Days became weeks, and the elves were now camping around the desert, it was a threat to the village. Suspicion was whispered about, tensions mounted on the pack. Reika and Kael could feel the walls closing in on them. They knew it would only be a matter of time before their past finally caught up with them. But even as it enveloped her, almost choking her, like the noose in the neck, Reika simply would not quit in despair. Reika clung to the thought that somehow, in some impossible way, they could let this life growing inside her womb make to see reproach. The moonlight tickled on Kael's blade across its length while his mind settled with counter-plans. Something was coming and they had to find a way to resolve it before it goes out of hand.