Chapter 5

Esmeralda POV

Life at the rogue pack was clearly so different from the normal pack lifestyle I was used to. The only thing there was they were in a pack, but their ways are really very different. They are brute and heartless.

I’ve only been here for a few minutes and it’s safe to say that I’ve been told everything about them and how they operate by Lily already. My eyes darted around as I searched around for the guy who had called me a spy earlier.

“So, I was saying that you’ll be under surveillance and probation for a while. We don’t fully trust you yet, we’re just taking you in because we think you need us.” Lily said, finalizing her speech.

I nodded rapidly, still looking around as though I was waiting for someone to just jump out of somewhere or something.

“Don’t worry, no one is going to hurt you or anything. But be ready to face hostility from certain members of this pack.”

Maybe that’s why the guy from earlier was very hostile towards me and just concluded that I was a spy. They don’t trust anyone.

She drilled me on how they operate there, power isn’t just earned through position or something, loyalty is also not given, it’s earned.

I never thought I’d be out here today, getting accepted into a rogue pack. If anyone had told me this yesterday, I might have argued so hard with them.

When we got to their shed, I was quite shocked at how big the house was. No one would have thought a house like this existed in the middle of the woods.

“Our Alpha built it. You know, he brought everyone living here together. He’s a very good leader and also very strict.” Lily said as she took me in.

“Oh, do I have to meet him formally?” I asked.

“You already did, and he’s in support of you joining us.”

“Wait, don’t tell me it’s that same guy who-“ she cut me off with a widening of eyes and her hand clasping against my mouth as she shut me up.

“Don’t talk about him like that or you might get yourself beheaded. Do you wish to die or what?” She whispered into my ears. Her hand on my mouth was so hard that it was almost like she was scared that I’d say something worse if she left me alone.

Is he like some god or something? I agree that the guy looks a bit scary, but she talked as though he’s to be worshipped.

I nodded against her hand before she finally let me go.

“Don’t talk about him like that again, you never even know if he’s behind you or something.” She was still whispering to me.

I wonder what kind of person the said alpha is for her to talk about him this way.

After that, she showed me a pretty portable room and told me that it was mine. I didn't even expect that I’d be given a room so soon. Maybe things won’t be that bad here.

~~~

“You know he doesn’t really get angry, but when he does, it’s chaotic.” A voice said. I was just taking a walk in the house and I heard loud voices coming from a room, I was instantly drawn to it.

“Why’s he angry though? Did something happen again?” Another voice asked.

“He saw that rogue that had been disturbing us for a while yesterday. And apparently, the rogue was trying to kill the new intake. He was bitten before he could take down the rogue, and it looks like he was infected.”

Wait? What? They’re definitely talking about the alpha. The same person who saved me yesterday. He was injured and infected? And it’s all because of me too. Guilt hit me like a truckload of bricks.

“Hey! What are you doing there? How did you even get there?” I jolted upright at the sharp voice. I didn’t know someone was behind me at all, I was too engrossed in listening to that conversation.

Lily had told me that moving stealthily around here is very rampant, I just started seeing that very well. My mouth went dry as I tried to come up with something, an excuse or anything.

“Uhm, I… I was just passing by.” I stuttered, my hands shaking with so much nervousness.

“You were? Were you walking on the door or what?” The guy asked me, looking so angry.

I didn’t say anything, I didn’t even know what to say at all. I was on the verge of tears and I didn’t even know why. I’ve been trying so hard to not get in anyone’s bad books but it seemed trouble just had a way of finding me.

Lily came to save me though, she stepped in and lied on my behalf that she was the one who called me here. The guy let me go but he gave me a very hard glare, one that conveyed a very clear message to me - stay out of my way. I don’t even know him!

Lily dragged me back to my room, she was clearly really angry.

“I thought I told you to just stay low for the time being? Why are you going around eavesdropping on people?” She asked me directly.

“I didn’t mean to, I heard them talking about me and I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry.” I mumbled.

“You shouldn’t do that again, Mason is as dangerous as the alpha. There’s a reason he’s the second in command. He might have sent you out of the pack because of that.”

Oh, nice. Both the alpha and his second in command think I’m a spy. How do I even cope here?

Lily stayed back for a while, just gisting with me and before we both knew it, it was night already. We had dinner early because it was hunting night for the rest of the members, but since I was new, I wasn’t allowed to follow them.

I slept off after rolling on the bed for a while. And just like always, I had a dream. I wouldn’t even call it a dream, it was more of a nightmare.

I ran so fast in the woods, everywhere was dark but I was able to see my path clearly. The ground was almost shaking because of the wolf that was chasing me.

I ran with so much fervor, fear pulsing through me. I was so scared of what would happen to me if I was caught by the wolf.

He let out a very loud roar as I tripped over a fallen log. My back made contact with the ground. I dragged my buttocks on the ground, moving back as the wolf came closer to me.

His fangs were bared at me, so bloody and eager to tear into my skin. Adrenaline rushed through me as he moved closer to me, he stared at me as though he wanted to just eat me raw.

My heart raced wildly in my chest as he opened up his mouth, spittle dripping from his mouth. He salivated with so much excitement, licking his lips.

Just as he was about to descend upon me, another wolf came out from nowhere and stopped him from attacking me. The wolf who came to defend me forced the other one to shift.

They both shifted and I was able to see their faces clearly. Thorne was the one who wanted to attack me at first, and the person who came to save me was the rogue Alpha.

I jolted back to reality, drenched in sweat. My heart raced wildly in my chest as I tried to accustom my eyes to the dark room. That nightmare felt so real. What if Thorne is really after me? What if he sends people after me and they trace me to this place?

I stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. Being in that room was choking. The empty house made me even more scared. I literally ran out of the house, going to stand on the porch.

I’d rather stay here till everyone returns than to be in that room alone. My mind slowly drifted back to that dream, making me feel even more scared.

The Alpha had saved me the first day he saw me and I know so well that he already sees me as trouble. Wouldn’t he think worse of me when he sees that I have a history with the werewolf king and he might be after me?

I really don’t want to cause more trouble for anyone. The thought of leaving here so as not to cause more trouble made me shudder.

I was thrown out of thoughts as I felt someone staring at me. I thought I was the only one at home, who could be staring at me?

“You know, I really feel like your presence here would cause a lot of trouble.” I jumped up in shock as I heard the chilling voice, the voice was so deep that I felt it vibrate through my body.

The alpha stepped out of the shadows, his eyes sweeping me over.