CHAPTER THIRTEEN: NORMALCY.

        NORMALCY

I grab the fluffy pillows on the couch, sinking into their comfiness, feeling a wave of nausea rise up my chest.

My fingers uncurled reaching for the tv remote, my mind wandering about.

“Emily!” Noirse shouts running towards me.

The remote tumbles off my hand in slow motion, my eyes widen, my throat constricting with fear.

Were the rogues back?

Was Damien back?

“What’s the matter, Noirse?” I grab the shoulder of the bright-eyed girl, trying hard not to project my fear unto her.

“Uh - uh-” she panted heavily.

What the heck? Were we besought by rogues again? Powerful rogues, only Damien could control?

“Where is grandpa, Noirse?”

Her bright eyes drop in confusion, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen the Alpha today.” she bends her head in slight reverence at the mention of Alpha.

What? Why the heck was he absent again?

It made no sense as to how he was always perfectly absent on days he needed to act as an Alpha. 

Or was this one of their tricks to kill me? 

God knows if this was how my brother died. 

They remove the protective cover so that you can be easily attacked. I mean, if your roof is leaking, then you will be beaten by rain.

My grandparents have been nothing but kind though but one couldn’t be too trusting especially if my brother’s death was caused by them.

I fist my hand tightly feeling my claws come out and retract. It was a familiar feeling, but it also reminded me that the wolf I had thought didn’t exist was now awake.

My wolf is awake now. That’s my reason to live.

I crouch down to Noirse level, “You should stay here. I will go out instead.”

“Why?”

“Because of what is outside.” I reply.

“But I ran here to meet you. I can run back safely.”

“There is no question here.” I state, looking into her eyes firmly. There was no way, I would let a child go out in the chaos of the pack troubles.

Speaking of which, there was no noise outside, like the previous time.

Has the pack being taken over?

My heart skippped a beat and I grabbed Noirse hand in mine, dragging her up the stairs to my room. I change my fluffy slippers to a pair of boots and grab a taser.

“Stay here.” I instruct Noirse, ignoring her hand pats. 

“A kid needs to stay safe. That is my principle. If you hear anything. Get in the closet, okay?”

On a second thought, I grab my keys from the top of the dresser, as they could also cause significant damage when used correctly.

I was terrible at fighting as most of my physical bullying stemmed under the cover of ‘training classes for juvenile werewolves’, so I told my father that I didn’t like to fight and chose to study poetry instead.

Lying to my father sucked but poetry sucked even more.

My poetry teacher was nice to me though. It was her kindness that made me stay and learn it for years.

I shake my head to stop reminiscing and bring myself back to the present.

I shut the door firmly behind me, skipping down the stairs and bracing myself for whatever might await me outside.

----------

I opened the entryway door with the dramatic flair of Teen wolf Edward, that I didn’t feel, ready to face the rogues with my wolf. ]

My boots thudded against the marble floor, my keys pressing hard into my stomach, a reminder that I didn’t know how to wear even makeshift weapons. 

I burst to the open, only for a soft morning breeze to slap me across my face instead.

Instead of smoke, howling of wolves, Alpha cries or the metallic stench of blood hanging in the air, I was greeted by bird chirping flying on their way to perform their day to day activities.

Packaging crates sat in a corner where the youngsters gathered to gossip at night. Someone’s laundry fluttered in the breeze on a rope. A pack mom chased her toddler who wore nothing but underwear and still had chocolate smeared all over his cheek. One person in his wolf form trotted past me, head bopping up and down to acknowledge me in form of nodding, before heading towards the bank.

I blinked.

Where were the rogues?

Was the war postponed?

“Emily.” a voice called out to me.

I turned and found Mrs.Hern holding a sickle on her hand, looking at me like she was constipated.

“Good morning?” 

She squinted her eyes at me, taking in the taser dangling from my left hand, “ Are you ---- going somewhere?”

I stiffened, looking down at myself. I looked like a beserker preparing for a sudden apocalypse. I was dressed in large sweatpants, a mismatched t-shirt, hair flowing unruly in the morning breeze with various strands framing my face like a crazy thief, a taser dangling dangerously in my hand.

Let’s not forget that my face was scrunched up because of the constant poking of the keys into my stomach.

“I ---- thought we were under attack.” my eyes focused on non-existent patterns on the ground as my voice croaked in shame.

Mrs. Hern blinked, taking a cursory look at me, her face switching to confusion, “Attack? By who? Elves?” she chuckled at her own joke.

I opened my mouth. 

Nothing came out.

“This pack is one of the safest in the world. No-one would dare approach us for a fight anyhow. We’ve got the numbers, young lady.”

“And weapons too.” a warrior trainee winked at Mrs. Hern as he walked by, unaware that I’d mentally prepared to die for him, twenty minutes ago.

I muttered a good morning in response to his grin and looked away. A small crowd was beginning to form.

Another woman waved cheerfully at me, “Good morning Emily, are you going to a costume party?”

I blanched, like someone hit me with a rock.

Because at that same moment, a gust of wind fluttered my cape - yes, I’d put on a cape, don’t judge me - and made it flap drammatically behind me, only for me to be standing in front of werewolves who looked like they were concerned about my mental state.

Then someone had the audacity to clap.

I turned to find Daniel, one of the warriors who had joined the small crowd that had formed.

“Nice outfit. Are you taking defense classes?” he nodded at my taser.

“No.” I muttered quietly, “ I thought there was --- a war. You know, rogue infestation.”

He stared at me long, “ The only war we are fighting now is against the tax council.” he said drawing chuckles from the small crowd.

Daniel patted me on the shoulder, shoving me slightly, “Will you go back to the Alpha’s

house now?”

I steel myself asking the question that bothered me most, “What about the rogue battles that occurred last week?