53

"I'm Dante. Dante Harrison." the one driving introduced. .
"And I'm called Zyair Leoson." the other pack warrior added.
Phoenix nodded and said: "Nice to meet you two. And I'm happy to join you guys for this trip."
"Mr. Phoenix and Lavana... Did you know you guys missed a spectacular thing that occurred in the pack last night?" Dante asked.
"Um, what happened?" a curious Lavana asked.
"We were making preparations for the trip today last night and you know it was the full moon."
"Yeah. but we no longer need to howl at the moon any longer." Phoenix spoke invited.
"I didn't say that's what we did, Mr Phoenix." Dante said in a displeased tone. "Learn to listen before replying." he scolded, while Phoenix shook his head with a smile.
"I was right."
"Right about what?" Dante asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"You have resentment toward me." Phoenix pointed out.
"Ha! It's not just me, the entire pack wasn't happy with what you did yesterday, alright. But I know you took good care of your mate, seeing how she's glowing."
"Yeah, that's my responsibility. If my mate doesn't glow and leave other people's mates in the dust, then I have woefully failed."
Lavana facepalmed at hearing these words. This mate of hers really know how to make people maddened and want to beat him up. The frustrating thing to the two men is that none of them can beat him.
"Sullivan, please stop talking." she telepathed to him.
"Just a minute, mate." he replied in mind link and then continued. "So that matter aside, what spectacular thing happened last night?"
None of the unhappy men replied to him and Lavana decided to cool the tense situation.

"Haha. Don't mind him. He doesn't know how to talk. I'm still curious, but it's okay if you don't want to tell."
"Hmph! I wonder why the moon goddess paired you two together, Lavana. You deserve better. He's your first chance, mate, right? He's not even handsome to begin with." Dante complained.
"I'm right here. Repeat what you said and I'll turn your mate into a widow. I bet she will only cry for a few minutes and go in search of a second-chance mate. I reckon that man will be a 100 times better than you." Phoenix spat.
"It's true. Lavana deserves better. You're just an ugly man who deserves to be with a pig." Dante countered.
"Great! Stop this vehicle. Let's have a fight." Phoenix suggested.
"Sullivan..." Lavana whispered in a low, distressed tone.
"Lavana, don't try to stop me. This Dante is seeking a beating. How dare he say that?"
"Calm down, Mr Phoenix. This is not the best time to settle scores." said Zyair.
"I will make your wife reject you if you speak out of line again." Phoenix spat. The atmosphere turned tense.
"You? *scoff* Stop trying to make me laugh." Dante said with amusement.
"Do it again if you dare. I'll... hmph!" Lavana covered his mouth with her hand.
"For the last time, Phoenix. Stop talking. If you speak again, I will castrate you." her face looked like she was ready to kill.
"Geez! Remove your hand. I've gotten the message." he mind linked.
"Promise you won't speak again until we arrive at the destination."
"Um... Fine. Can I speak to you then?" he asked in mind link.
"Phoenix, take out your phone and do whatever you want with it. So long as you stop talking." she replied.
"Nah. I'm not fond of phones. Have ever seen me with one since you met me?"
"Phoenix, can you at least not say words that make people angry? And you have to filter your words."
"Tell that to Dante, too. His little head would have been ripped off his body if you weren't here."

Lavana sighed. "I might as well castrate you now."
"I know you don't have the courage." Phoenix smiled.
"Zyair, Dante, please stop the vehicle!" Lavana requested loudly.
"Why?" Zyair asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Phoenix here wants to get down. He'll meet us over there." Lavana replied after dropping her hand.
"What? You want to abandon me?" Phoenix asked in shock.
"Not abandon. You just have to find your way to the venue." she snapped.
Dante stopped the car and Lavana got out first. Then she walked to the other side to open the door for Phoenix.
"What's the meaning of this, mate?"
"You can't open your mouth without making people angry."
"You know that's clearly not true. My words can make you blush and make a tomato's redness pale in comparison."
"This is no time to say such a thing, Phoenix."
"When can I say it then? On the wedding day?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Dear mate, you're just tagging along. We'll make it without you, alright. So get off. If you don't want to come alone, you can just go back."

"Lavana, has anyone told you that you look cute when angry?"
"Phoenix, I'm not joking."
Her mate simply folded his arms and crossed his legs. "I'm not getting out."
"Good!" Lavana nodded. Her mate suddenly had a bad feeling. Before he knew it, she'd dragged him out of the jeep by his pants. She did that with her left hand. This shocked the other two guys. They'd always doubted why Rolandro and Mel chose to bring this Omega who hadn't acknowledge herself publicly as a pack member yet, along for this vital trip. According to the information from Mel yesterday while they were searching for Lavana and Beatrix, this Phoenix was a Beta wolf. Now they see an Omega easily pull out a Beta wolf. Maybe he just allowed her since she's his mate?

But his expression clearly showed he didn't expect it. He was as shocked as them. But they were shocked for different reasons. Phoenix didn't expect that Lavana would really pull him out. That goes to show how pissed she was. And her strength- it was no joke! Even though she didn't use all her might, the strength was the equivalent of an Alpha's. Yes, he knew she was stronger than 10 Alpha kings combined, but he thought it was only when in her majestic form.
If he were not an Alpha but a lower ranked wolf, he would have been flung away. This made him distressed. They were going to compete. He had no much issue controlling his strength but his mate... However, that could be talked about later when they arrive.
"Lavana, seriously!" he whined.
"You guys keep going. I'll catch up with you guys." Lavana said to the warriors.
"Nah. I can't do that." Dante shook his head and alighted from the vehicle.
Zair also did the same. He walked to the couple and suggested. "Lavana, how about this? We all switch seats."
"I don't agree." Phoenix immediately objected.

"If that will get him to behave, then it's fine." Lavana headed to the front passenger seat and sat.
Zyair sat in the driver's seat quickly. Now it was the back seat left that remained to be occupied. Dante sat in the back seat in the spot where Phoenix once sat and gestured for Phoenix to walk around and enter through the other door.
Phoenix had an angry look while Lavana stuck out her tongue at him.
"Sullivan, if you want to follow, you must behave. Don't cause a ruckus every time you speak."
"Girl, I'm unhappy." he mindlinked.
"Well, I'm happy." she made funny faces at him.

He sighed, shook his head and walked around to enter the jeep. Now he was seated with Dante, who was doing his best at holding back his laughter. "Serves you right, talkative." he muttered.
"Dante, don't you be joyous yet." Phoenix said with a sulky face while fastening his seat belt.
"Um... Lavana, please fasten your seatbelt." Zyair advised.
"Can you help me with that? Phoenix was the one who helped me do it last time." Lavana pleaded.
"With all pleasure." Zyair replied and was about to help her out.
"Hey, I'm here..." Phoenix spoke with a face full of jealousy.
"Shh!" Lavana cut him short. "He is not going to do a bad thing. It's just helping me fasten the seat belt."
"But..."
"Phoenix, stop talking already." Dante chipped in.
"I wasn't talking to you." Phoenix snapped.
"*scoff* Earlier, no one asked you to chip in uninvited. You started this mess and look where it got you. You and your mate are separated in the same vehicle." Dante derided. Phoenix folded his arms and looked away as Zyair ignited the engine.

"Rolandro's gonna scold us for sure." Lavana said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, babe. I'll take all the blame. He can't beat me, anyway." Phoenix said with a smug look.
None of them replied to him and they continued the ride in peace. They soon caught up with the other jeep that had been waiting for them ahead.
"Geez! I thought they'd gone far. Turns out they were waiting for us." Lavana exclaimed.
"We are toast!" Dante muttered as Zyair parked in front of the other jeep that carried Rolandro and co.
Mel got down from the jeep and walked to their vehicle.
"What the hell happened? Why weren't you following?" Mel berated after Zyair wind down his side of the car window.
"Um... It was...." Lavana couldn't find the words to speak.

"It was because of me. As you can see, we've switched seats. So unless there's an emergency, there'll be no stopping. This I can guarantee." Phoenix said after he wind down his side of the car window.
"You... Do you know how much time we've lost because of you?" Mel scolded.
"I know. I know. And I'm sorry." Phoenix said in a leisure manner.
"You don't look remorseful." Mel spat.
"I am. My face is only capable of being humanlike when with my mate and, of course, if I meet a worthy rival. You know your place. You can't beat me."
Lavana suddenly opened the door after unfastening the seatbelt. This got their attention.
"Lavana. What are you doing?" Phoenix asked with a furrowed eyebrow.
"Nothing much. I think it's best if I'm with Rolandro. I can even acknowledge myself as their clanswoman too and have peace. Kill two birds with one stone."
Her mate widened his eyes. "Eh? You mean you have no peace with me around?"
"I mean, you and trouble are besties. Until you two cut off the connection, I must take some measures. And this is one of them. Bye, dear." she blew him a kiss. "I love you."
"Hey," Phoenix was about to get off, but Mel shook his head.
"Nah, you have to listen to her. She means well, Phoenix."
"Don't put your nose in my business, Mel." Phoenix snapped in ire.
"Stay here. Rolandro and I will take good care of your mate for a few hours. Don't worry, we'll deliver her to you in one piece. So I want you to do one thing for me."
"What?" Phoenix asked with a frown.
"Take care." Mel stuck out his tongue at Phoenix, who was gritting his teeth. Dante was laughing so hard that tears slid down his eyes while clutching his belly.
"What's funny?" Phoenix looked ready to kill but Dante ignored his look.
"Bro, you shot yourself in the foot again. Hahaha!"
"Do you believe I can make you unable to speak again?"
"Nah, you don't dare."
"You..." Phoenix clenched his hands into fists and looked away.
"So the annoying Mr Phoenix has his day? How touching!" Dante spoke after wiping his tears.
"Hmph. You'll have your day too. Very soon!" Phoenix spoke in a brooding manner.
"I'm not afraid. By the way, I have a question for you. You aren't a lone wolf, are you?" Dante suddenly became serious.
"Why the question? Tired of mocking me?" Phoenix asked coldly.

"Oh, come on, man. Don't take it so seriously. I promise not to laugh again."
"For Lavana's sake, I'll let you off this one time. But there should be no next time."
"Um... I can't promise you that."
"Are you a man at all?" Phoenix looked at Dante unhappily.
"You think I'm a cross-dresser?" the latter replied with a raised eyebrow, his arms folded.
"I didn't say you were one."
"Then why ask me that sort of question? Everything about me clearly shows that I'm a male. You, however... Forget it. I don't want to say."
"Why don't you say?" Phoenix asked.
"I don't wanna get crippled before the competition. The competition will be broadcast live to all packs. I need to look good so my mate can cheer for me." Dante ruffled through his hair.

"Well, you're indeed right. If I belonged to a pack, I wouldn't accept for Lavana to become one of you guys. And not just that, I would take her away. But I intend on joining you guys when we arrive."
"Oh, that's great. I promise not to laugh out loud when you're in a miserable state."
"Whatever. I'm going to sleep. Wake me when we have arrived."
Dante nodded and watched as Phoenix closed his eyes. In a minute, he was already snoring.

"Gosh! I shouldn't have let him sleep." Dante grunted in frustration.
"Well, you have to deal with it." Zyair had worn headphones.
Dante felt miserable and covered his ears.
After 30 minutes of driving, Zyair told him to check his bag. Dante found another pair of headphones.
"You... You had these all along?"
"So? Did you ask me if I had a spare? I took pity on you here, bro. If you don't want..."
"I want them, okay?" Dante quickly wore them and sighed in relief. This Phoenix was so wicked. He'd seen many who snored but Phoenix's was one of a kind. It should win an award as the best snorer in the history of history!
Heavens know he preferred to fight a vampire than to bear with that snoring noise for another half hour!

These were noise cancellation headphones, but he could still hear, though the snoring sound was much lesser by a lot. It was much more tolerable now.
"Lavana, you deserve better. Not only is he not handsome, he snores like this. This is terrifying." he shuddered at the thought of having a mate like that. Thankfully, the moon goddess was so kind to him. She gave him a mate that was so beautiful with those huge melons and she doesn't even snore- just like him. She was one word- Perfect!
...

50 minutes later.
Phoenix suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Dante with glowing red eyes. Dante was busy reading a funny family comic on the net. He didn't notice that Phoenix was emanating a strong killing intent.
Zyair felt it and looked behind quickly. He saw Phoenix was asleep. Only this time, he wasn't snoring. He looked ahead again and took off his headphones.
Dante was still engrossed in the comic and Zyair just shook his head. This Phoenix must be the one who let out the killing intent. It wasn't at them, though. Probably he had a nightmare.
*****

In the other jeep, Lavana sat between Mel and Rolandro. She had already acknowledged herself as one of the Blood star members and received a branding on her right arm. It was the crest of the pack, which was a bright red star with dark red markings around it. This hurt, but compared to the pain she suffered on that island, this was a tickle.
Mel gave her a pill, which she swallowed. In 3 minutes, the pain was gone.

"You are good at enduring pain. Honestly, the pain of this branding sent me and my buddy to our knees. We even wanted to puke. That's the reason I didn't want you to be branded in the car but you insisted. Phoenix even let out a killing intent because of it. I'm pretty sure he's gonna look for excuses to beat us up." said Rolandro.
"Are you afraid?" she asked.
"Nope." the latter shook his head.
"You're lying, Rolandro."
"Alright, you got me. You know, the killing aura he released the first time we met was terrifying. If you didn't say he was a Beta wolf, I wouldn't believe that such an aura belonged to a Beta wolf."

Lavana felt guilty. She'd lied to them about Phoenix being a Beta when he wasn't. How were they going to react if they find out?
"Well, just the way I'm a rare case, he's also a rare case, too. He's stronger than the normal Beta wolf. I can't beat him, anyway. I'm an Omega after all."
"You two haven't battled. And I know you'll take down a Beta with your strength alone. It's alright if you can't beat an Alpha. I just want you to at least experience the competition."
"Don't worry. I won't let Blood star disband." Lavana swore.