Chapter Eight

　　SETH 　　"I will dispatch the entire wolves and search for her, Alpha!" He bellows. "That human disrespects you as the Supreme Alpha of Twilight Hound City! We will conduct a public execution as a reminder to her kind!" 　　"You can't, Finrel." 　　Startled, he asks, "Why, Alpha? That woman dared to strike you when you were under the influence of the Red Moon." 　　I shrug as my jaw tightens. "Apparently she's my fated mate." 　　"What?!" Today, Finrel is acting less than his usual calm, somber demeanor that his voice is octave higher than before. 　　"That can't be, Master Greymound. That woman is human! N-no Alpha has ever marked or accepted a human as their mate before." 　　"Besides, do you know what she did to the guard outside? She left him half-naked and lying unconscious on the floor." 　　"She–what?!" My eyes widen. "That means that human changed clothes to avoid locating her scent." 　　She is smart, I give her credit for that. 　　"Are you sure she is your fated mate, sir? If you don't mind me asking." 　　I clench my fists as I try to recollect the early events of the Red Moon ceremony. 　　I wasn't fazed at the influence of the Red Moon but after meeting her for the first time, my wolf was jumping with joy. 　　Yet, I, too, am skeptical of having a human as a mate. My pack won't tolerate this especially because we consider humans more inferior than omegas and the bottom of the food chain. 　　But our encounter was the genuine proof that she is the real deal: she is my fated mate. 　　My wolf reacts positively with my thoughts and for the first time, I wish it interrupts me during my carnal lust towards that female human. 　　"Search Audrey Hepburn everywhere in the human border. But tell the pack not to harm her," I warn Finrel. 　　"Yes, sir." 　　Audrey Hepburn…you won't get away that easily, now that my long search has finally come to an end. 　　==================== 　　"No one knows where she is?" I look at the trembling guard in disbelief. 　　"Y-yes, A-Alpha. T-the humans h-have never heard of A-Audrey H-Hepburn." 　　"How the fuck is it hard to find a mere human in a confinements of the border?!" I slam the table and the wolf jolts as he shrieks. 　　"F-forgive me, Alpha! We tried everything! Bribery, searching every place from the decent neighborhood till the slums, nothing!" 　　"Shit." Gritting my teeth, I turn to face the window. "Continue searching for her. There is no way she could have left the city." 　　"Right away, sir!" The relief of his face shows the moment he is allowed to leave my office. 　　As the door closes behind, my wolf reaches to me again. 　　"I don't understand you. Is she truly the mate you're looking for? A Wolfless creature like her?" 　　It replies happily yet I slump down on my chair as I sigh. 　　It is impossible for a human to leave the city without getting his signature and crossing the path swarming with wolves. No human would risk their lives knowing the wolves' power. 　　But with her scent lost and along with the suit she has stolen before, it is no brainer for me that she has already burned those clothes right before we could locate her. 　　It seems this human is so used to being chased around that she knows how to remove the traces of what is left behind of her. 　　I am glad that Marie is out attending a business trip right after the Red Moon Ceremony or else I have to deal with her unnecessary woes. 　　The door slams open. 　　"Seth, my boy!" 　　Oh, I spoke too soon. 　　I almost attempt to roll my eyes. Of course, he has to show up when his daughter is away. 　　Richard Bates is a former Alpha of Marie's pack: Zion Moon Pack. After his only daughter and I got married, our packs merged and now, he is enjoying his life leisurely for the rest of his retirement. 　　"Hello, Richard." 　　Even if he is my father-in-law, I still continue to address him with his given name. Before this marriage, we used to be enemies and we fought till death until the verdict decided that we will make peace by sealing it with marriage in mind. 　　He grins as he lays down on the sofa. He pulls out a vape as he inhales and exhales and the cherry bomb-scented air spreads across the room. 　　"Heard you were looking frantically for a human." He starts laughing. "Was she a good fuck that you have to go lengths on finding her?" 　　Richard Bates is also known to encourage polygamous relationships. Even if I have already married his only daughter, he doesn't mind if I get a second wife. 　　For him, an Alpha is a supreme being and should consider his mates inferior. 　　And that irks me the most. 　　"I still couldn't find her." Then I turn to him. "Since you've been hanging around the human border, how big is the place if no one recognizes her?" 　　"My boy, I have only been to the bars, the hotels and shops you wouldn't imagine going." He laughs again as I roll my eyes. 　　"So if she isn't around the good neighborhood, have your men search the slums or even the garbage dumps?" 　　"Ubiquitously so." 　　"Then she might not exist for all we know!" Apparently, my own father-in-law finds humor in my demise. 　　"That's impossible. I am not the only one who has seen her. Others saw her that night." 　　I massage my forehead as I sigh. 　　"It's like Audrey Hepburn disappears out of thin air." 　　"Wait. Come again?" His smile disappears as he lifts himself up and now sitting on the sofa. "Did you say her name was…Audrey Hepburn?" 　　"Yes, I've already mentioned that to all the wolves—what's so funny?" Richard burst out laughing in the middle of my response and I glare at him. 　　"Seth, my boy! No wonder you couldn't find her! But then again, this generation has never heard of Audrey Hepburn!" 　　"What are you spouting?" 　　"What I am saying is that the "real" Audrey Hepburn has long passed away since 1993 when I was a wee lad." 　　I look baffled by his words. 　　"Audrey Hepburn is a Golden Era actress. An iconic actress the majority of humans knew during the Human Era." 　　"And that the girl you're looking for uses a fake name." 　　I've become furious as I slam the table so hard that it cracks in half. 　　Richard stands up, playfully raises his hands. "Woah, calm down, Seth." 　　"That human!" How could I be deceived by such a cheap trick? 　　Of course, I couldn't find her if the name didn't exist at the time. 　　Then my lips curve into a grin. 　　'My mate is such a tease. If she continues challenging me this way, it makes me want to yearn for it more.' I say to my wolf as it only gives a gleeful sneer. 　　Just then, there is a knock and I am damn glad there are still decent wolves who have the decency to knock before entering. 　　Finrel enters as he says, "Alpha, it isn't involved with Audrey Hepburn but there are two humans claiming that a human girl escaped from the border that evening." 　　"When?" 　　"Before the Red Moon Ceremony." 　　I smile. 　　What are the odds that luck comes to my side in the most impeccable timing? 　　Perhaps the Moon Goddess has finally showered me with her kindness for once.