CHAPTER TWO

“I can’t believe you’re leaving.” Ivy whined. She squeezed her hands around the luggage. “And Zelda gave you a go ahead to leave?”

Gwen drew herself and her luggage to the door. “So I see. He must have found my reason good enough.”

“And what reason did you give?”

“Something about my parents. I think Zelda has a soft spot for them considering they died while trying to protect his ass.” Gwen shrugged.

“I personally believe its because you’re that stoked about Zack and Fiona. You just can’t bear living in the same town as them.”

Gwen crossed a look at her friend. “How many times do I have to tell you I have no problem with those two? I’m choosing to leave now because I think it’s the best thing for me. I’ve spent my entire life in this forest. I need to go and experience the world.”

“That’s a lot of words. And that’s what guilty people do. Spill empty words.” Ivy smacked her lips. 

Gwen shook her head at her friend. Her friend could always sense when she was lying or trying to avoid a question and she was always right except in this situation. She wasn’t lying but she wasn’t telling the entire truth either. It’s been three months since Zack’s unexpected announcement and although she had felt a little relieved by his choice, she had wondered why. Why would he betray her like that? But she was cool with it and was determined to move on with her life, find a new mate and settle down until she learnt of the news of her Pregnancy. 

She had been struck with fear, shame, guilt and anger at her foolishness all at once. She couldn’t think of any affair which could have brought such an outcome except the one which would be considered an abomination. Her rebellious act since three months ago which was now a part of her everyday thoughts. How could she tell her friend that she was pregnant? And for a human of all people? and one she didn’t know at that?

The news would shatter Ivy and Zelda. She could imagine his steely gaze boring into her soul. He would have her head or send her away from the pack in respect of her parents and the short relationship she had had with his son. Zack would be disappointed, his perfectly shaped lips would have sneered at her and he would vow to take her life wherever he saw her. 

No, she couldn’t tell anyone of this child and she would not get rid of it. 

It was the Factor which now sent her flying out of the only place she had known as a home for the past twenty one years. As she got into the car, she could hear Ivy’s wolf whine and as the car sped away, she could see Ivy struggling to control her wolf from bursting out. 

Gwen sighed and touched her stomach lightly. The evidence was beginning to come out into the light and hiding it was no longer an option. She would leave, as a coward. That was the only way to save her life and the extra life she was creating. 

*

Her new apartment was small considering the luxury she had enjoyed back in the town. But it was far enough from her pack and every other werewolf packs she knew of. The house was a one-storey with four bedrooms and a beautiful view of the ocean. It sat deep inside the woods but a well tarred road led to a small town where majority of the folks lived. 

She thought back to home. Ivy would be trying her number but it would not go through because she had changed lines. It would never go through. Zelda would be calling the pack leader of the pack house she was supposed to be staying at, but they’ll tell him that they never received anyone with his description. And Zack. She couldn’t think of a thing that Zack would do. 

He would not worry and go on to live his life like she was never a part of it. A lot had changed for them after that two seconds of announcement. Their relationship had gone from lovers to strangers instantly and all the good memories of their past had expired somewhere between the winding crowds of werewolves. He would not think of her and she would not think of him. 

No one would hear from her in a long time and probably Zelda or Ivy would launch a search for her. Zelda surely would. The life, health and wellbeing of a pack member was highly valuable as long as they still had connections to the pack. It was one of the perks of being part of a pack. If she were to have been exiled from the pack, then she would have had to fight for her dignity and a room to return to the pack while been stripped of most of her rights as a pack member or leave without fighting and run the risk of becoming a lone wolf. 

Becoming a lone wolf was one of the things Gwen feared. A lone wolf was at risk of being targeted by any pack and because of not belonging to a pack themselves, they have no support. They’re left to fight on their own and carry their own burdens by themselves. A wolf’s burden was shared by other members of a pack and so was his joy but a lone wolf enjoyed none of that. And at full moon, when the werewolf’s power is believed to be at it’s peak, the lone wolf has no family to call to. 

She had feared that, she had dreaded it. But now she was to become it the thing she had loathed the most. She was to become a lone wolf. An omega.