Chapter Two - IN DEEP TROUBLE

Allona's POV:

"COME OUT!"

I know somebody is here. I surveyed the area sharply. Somebody was definitely here but he is quick to hide his presence huh. My wolf feels jittery but clammed up but since I don't sense any malice, I leave it be.

"Was he watching me the whole time?" I trembled with anger. I forced myself to calm down and focus on the matter at hand not forgetting to take this into account for later to investigate.

For now, I need to hurry home or else, "all hell breaks loose" with my Mom's wrath.

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I said a quick goodbye to my little fox. I wanted to bring him with me but he is much safer here in his natural home than with me surrounded by ferocious, hungry werewolves. I sighed and gave him one last cuddle, promising him I'll be back soon. He whimpered and sadly walked away to the pile of clothing I'm leaving behind so he can snuggle into it. Next time, I'll just have to bring him with me I guess. I hate leaving him alone.

Feeling energized and invigorated, I started running to head home. I am unable to shift yet unlike my peers who were able to shift at the age of seven but I love running, and my parents realized early on I am incredibly fast, faster than the pack's elite warrior wolves in their wolf's form.

My phone kept ringing, it must have been my Mom. I decided to take a break once I arrived at Area 91. After I arrived at the place, I sat on the deserted sidewalk to check my phone if the signal was good.

"Oh, 65 missed calls from Mom. 10 missed calls from Dad, 5 missed calls from Brent. Wow, this smells like trouble." I bit my lips and tried calling my mother back.

"Where are you, Al?" My mother's tone is sharp as always for moments such as these.

"Don't worry, Mom. I just went to the neighboring town and on the way home already. Love you!' As I blew her a kiss through the phone.

"Do you know that the pack is looking for you the whole afternoon! You shut off the mind-link, Al. I told you to never do that, that's irresponsible of you, Allona!

"I know, Mom. I'm sorry— uh, uh, Mom? Mom, the line is breaking up. Sorry, Mom, if you can hear me, don't worry I'm on the way home. Love you, I got to go!"

I can still hear my Mom's angry voice in the background with an occasional comforting voice from my Dad as I turned the phone off.

"I'm sorry, Mom for getting you worried again." I put the phone back to my pocket as I readied myself for another sprint. Suddenly, I felt the same comforting but dangerous presence I felt earlier at the waterfall, then it's gone again.

"That's weird." I decided to ignore it and continue my mad dash to the pack, doing four rounds of running around without destination to shake off my stalker. Even if I don't sense any malice, it's good to be cautious. I never want to take it for granted or be complacent if it's my family and pack's safety.

Finally, I arrived at the hidden place at the edge of the wood, behind the thick foliage, is a decrepit wall covered with wisteria. As I stood on a specific spot, I knelt down to press a hidden mechanism underneath. I sat cross-legged and I felt the familiar queasy feeling as I am being lowered underground. I was engulfed with darkness as I heard the "click" sound as another platform automatically replaced the one I'm sitting on right now.

The ride went on for almost 20 minutes until I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. As I got nearer, I saw my two best pals wreathed in relieved smiles.

"Finally, you're back!" George is all smiles but looks jittery. Ronnie, or my not-so-little-Ronnie-boy anymore, as I looked at his towering form, held my hand and helped me off the platform while checking me head to toe if I was all right.

"Wait, wait, hold up bros! I'm fine, what's up?"

"Al, you're screwed. Luna is looking for you frantically." warned George.

"I know. I'll take care of it."

They looked at me worriedly while we climbed up a set of narrow stairs and arrived at our pack's location. A team of warrior werewolves are guarding the perimeters who fall into relieved smiles when they see me with Ronnie and George. They greeted us and we greeted them back.

"What took you so long? We've been guarding here for hours waiting for you, the pack are all out searching for your whereabouts earlier."

"I apologized, I'm ashamed." as I looked apologetically to George who is starting to nag because of worry and to the ever-silent and composed Ronnie.

"You better calm Luna first. She was frantic when you informed her earlier that you were in the neighboring town. And the neighboring town's alpha is a friend of our Alpha, so when they called earlier to check, they knew that you did not go there." advised George.

"Okay, thank you. See you later guys."

"Wait!" As Ronnie held my hand tightly. "You want me to go with you."

"Nah, I'm good but thanks bro."

"Are you serious, bro? The alpha will skin us alive this time, he warned us already last time." warned George.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter." Ronnie kept looking at me with an intense expression. I am kind of used to it already as I sometimes catch him looking at me with a dazed, intense look then shies away red-faced.

Though no shying away from him this time, huh?

"Wait, wait, what's going on? What happened last time? I queried.

"Uh, it's nothing, nothing. Okay, let's all go together." George diverted the topic while Ronnie looked calm and steady.

"You guys are hiding something from me. You will have to tell me about that later, or no roasted chicken for both of you," I threatened.

"Hey, Al! That's not fair!"complained George loudly.

"You cannot do that to us." he complained further.

I smirked.

Ronnie is still grasping my hand. I took his hand away and told him I've got to get going.

"I'll be fine, Ronnie boy, don't worry." Then he turned red-faced when I called him that. That's my favorite nickname to him when we were kids.

I chuckled when I saw that. He's still my sweet red-faced old buddy.

"Okay, I got to go."

I dash to the back of the main house while Ronnie and George just stood there watching me go with worried looks on their faces. I looked back as I told them to go ahead. They somehow understood what I was planning to do, waved at me and grinned before going ahead.

'I climbed nimbly to the tall old tree facing my bedroom which is a silent witness to all my escapades in my 17 years of life.' I chuckled. After finding my favorite sturdy branch, I jumped to the 2nd storey balcony of my room, fiddled on my window lock located at the sides, opened it and slipped inside.

With a triumphant laugh, I dash to the bathroom like crazy and in no time at all, I was done with my shower and donning a flowery yellow dress that reached up above the knee. The silky yellow dress seems to accommodate all my curves and it's comfy as hell, as I nod with satisfaction. As an afterthought, I wonder if I seem like a walking fireball?

My long, red hair cascades behind me seductively. I looked at the mirror quickly. I saw a she-wolf with incredibly large green eyes with incredibly long, and thick dark-red eyelashes. My cherry lips glisten in a silent, wild invitation and my high cheekbones powdered a rosy blush.

'What the heck?!' I looked like someone who just came from a steamy rendezvous. I thought bitterly. Hell, I don't even have a boyfriend. Well, let them think what they like as I thought of the pack's nasty bitches. The "fake trio" was what I called them. I scrutinized myself further, I was called a bewitching, young beauty but this face just seems ordinary to me. I like it more if people will appreciate not my looks but my strength. Never mind that, I don't need any appreciation as long as I appreciate myself and my wolf, I smirked.

"CRASH...!!!"

A loud sound was heard and I ran to my window facing my balcony. I saw a hanging broken branch from my old tree, the same branch I perched on earlier to jump over and leaves scattered around on the ground but I don't seem to see anyone at all.

With a crying face, I thought sadly if I needed to cut on carbs. "Am I that heavy now?"

--End of Chapter Two---