Chapter 2.

Destinee POV.

Staring up at the woman in front of me, I’m scared out of wits. She was in her mid-40’s; she had blonde hair in a messy bun on top her head. Her eyes were brown. She was a wolf.

“Well? Why are you here? Where is your pack?” she tilted her head and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Tell her Destinee, she won’t harm us.” I sigh, becoming uncomfortable under this woman’s gaze. 

Gulping, I looked up at her and I saw her eyes flash to black, my eyebrows furrowed. I took a shaky breath. “I rejected my pack yesterday.” Her face becomes softer, and I can see sympathy in her eyes. 

“That explains the pack smell on you. I mean you no harm, little Alpha, but we need to leave this area.” Looking at her in confusion, she thrust her hand at me. “Unless you want to become a plaything for the rogues we get passing through here?” gulping, I took her hand as she pulled me to my feet. 

“I’m Destinee.” I told her she smiled at me and gave me a stiff nod.

“Come on, Destinee, we need to get you inside. We can talk inside and by the looks of it, you need food, a bath, and a decent sleep.” I sniffle at the kindness from the stranger. I followed her. We walked through a small clearing and a beautiful log cabin came into view.

“I’m Sadia, this is home sweet home.” She gestured to the cabin.

The landscape was beautiful and inviting. A cosy wrap-around porch encircled the house. The warm glow of a porch light made the cabin appear warm. Warm light emanating from inside made me smile for the first time in a long time.

I followed Sadia up the front steps; I looked around to make sure I couldn’t see any wolves. “Destinee?” I turned my gaze back to her. She gestured me to go in and I did. 

Stepping inside, the warmth from the open fireplace hit my cold flesh, causing goosebumps to erupt along my arms and legs. “Make yourself comfortable. I will make us a drink. You’re safe here, little Alpha.” I watched her leave the living room. Taking a deep breath, I sat down on the sofa, relaxing like I hadn’t before.

“Aura? Are you ok?,” I reached out to my wolf, who was quiet, no doubt sleeping from shifting and the pack rejection. All I could hear from her were her soft snores. Yeah, she was a sleep, and she deserved it, she saved us.

“Here” Sadia handed me a coffee. Oh god how I missed drinking coffee. I moaned as the taste exploded on my tongue. She chuckled and shook her head at me. 

“So, you going to tell me why an Alpha rejected her pack and became rogue?” I looked up at her. I sighed aloud. Where do I start?

“I was stripped of my title 2 years ago by my father. He made me Omega.” she cocked an eyebrow at me. I continued. “They thought I was a defect because my wolf never appeared. For the last 2 years, I was fair game. My father beat and abused me and so did the very pack I was trained to rule over. I had enough and then.” I took a shaky breath. Willing the tears to not fall. “Then my mate came. I thought he was going to reject me. So, I rejected my pack and shifted for the first time. Aura burst through a window, and we ran and crossed the border of the pack and, well, we ended up here.” I took another sip of my coffee. The only noise is the crackling of the fireplace.

I looked up at Sadia, who looked furious. “What a sadistic prick. You are better off being rogue. How could they treat you that way? It’s disgusting.” Sadia stood and came over to me as the tears left my eyes. She pulled me into a hug and the dam broke. She patted my back and let me cry, “don’t worry Destinee, I will help you.” I nodded into her chest. 

She pulled back and wiped my tears. This woman has acted like a mother should and I had only known her for a couple of hours. “You’re in need of work, and I can help you with that. I own a bar in town. You can work there. There is also an apartment out back. You can have it.” I looked at her, shocked.

“Oh no, I couldn’t. You have helped me enough with a bed for the night,” she cut me off with a click of her tongue. She was clearly annoyed.

“It’s not up for negotiation. The town is human, well neutral territory. I need a new manager; you need a job and a place to stay. I will pay you generously. You won’t need to pay rent, it’s part of the deal. So, what do you say?” I looked at her in complete shock that a stranger would be this generous.

“But, why?” I asked her, not understanding.

She chuckled at me. “When I was in your situation, I would have given anything for a little nudge. So, look at it as a gift from the goddess and you can’t refuse or return a gift.” She stood, and I followed her to the kitchen. Placing the mug in the sink. She turned to me and folded her arms over her chest, “so, what will it be Destinee?”

“Take it babe, we can live here. It will be good for us,” Aura piped up. It startled me to hear her voice in my head. I needed to get used to it. “Fine, but Aura, we need to be alert. In case Dad or our mate comes for us.” I told her and she huffed in agreement. 

Sadia raised an eyebrow. She knew I was talking to my wolf. I offered her my hand. “I will accept your offer. Thank you, Sadia.” She smiled at me and shook my hand. 

“I knew you would. Now let’s eat and you can rest. Tomorrow we will go into town and buy you clothes, and I’ll show you the ropes and your new apartment.” 

After dinner, I had a shower and Sadia gave me shorts and a vest top to sleep in. 

The next morning when I woke up, I saw a set of blue jeans, a black t-shirt, new underwear in the packaging, and a pair of boots on the dresser. I got dressed and found a new toothbrush and toothpaste, and I did my morning routine.

Heading downstairs, Sadia was making coffee, and the scent of bacon made my stomach growl. “That growl could wake the dead.” She says with a chuckle, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She handed me a coffee and set a plate in front of me. “Sadia, I know you’re a wolf, but why aren’t you with your pack?” she stopped what she was doing and bit her lower lip. 

“Rogues destroyed my pack and killed my mate. He was a weak Alpha.” My eyebrows must have disappeared into my hairline. She was a Luna.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling guilty for asking her something so personal. She sighs and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. 

“it’s OK. I was banished because I refused to become a chosen mate. Best thing I ever did.” She told me, showing no sign of regret. 

“She is a strong woman; we will learn a lot from her Destinee so pay attention.” Aura told me I couldn’t help but agree with what she said. Sadia was indeed a strong woman, and she would have been an amazing Luna.

We ate in silence and when we were done. She drove us to town in her Ford Raptor truck.

The little town bustled with people, humans, and wolves when we drove in. We pulled up in front of a clothes store. “Right, come on, let’s get you what you need, then I will take you to the bar,” Sadia said, taking the keys from the ignition.

Entering the store, the smell of wolves made Aura stare in my mind. She stood hackles up and growling in my mind. “Aura, what’s wrong?” I asked, looking round the store for the danger. 

Sadia came to my side. “Calm down, Destinee rogues, run this store. Remember, this is neutral territory.” I could feel Aura pacing in my mind. This is going to take some getting used to.

Sadia touched my arm and Aura calmed down. I looked at her and she winked at me. “Here, take it. Get what you need.” She handed me a blank credit card. I go to protest when she holds up a hand, stopping me. “Don’t even think about it. Take it.” Leaving no room for arguments, I took the card.

As I was looking at clothes, the bell chimed above the door and a familiar scent travelled to me. I turned and came face to face with my mother. Shit. Just great.