New Pack
1670 Words
Isa’s feet dragged as she walked through the quiet city streets, the moon casting long shadows on the pavement. The clock had just passed midnight when she finally reached the city center, the air crisp with the early hours of the morning. She would have preferred to run and reach the location much faster, but being in wolf form was out of the question. She hadn't shifted in years, and it would be too risky—too many eyes and scents around. Isa didn’t trust herself enough to go back to her wolf form, not just yet.
As she approached the park bench by the fountain, she noticed a flash of red hair. The girl sitting there looked up at her, and recognition hit her like a wave.
“Claire, is that you?” Isa asked, cautiously stepping closer.
Claire’s eyes lit up with recognition, and before Isa could say another word, she was enveloped in a tight, warm hug. Isa stiffened at first, unsure of how to react, but then she just let herself stand there, taking the embrace in silence.
“I guess Seven put your mind back together?” Claire asked after pulling away.
Isa gave a small, dry smile. “Not fully. I made him stop before he made a mess of things.”
Claire tilted her head, curiosity clouding her expression. “What do you mean he stopped?”
“I’m not going back, Claire,” Isa said firmly, her tone darkening. “I know he’s got Jace watching me.”
“That wasn’t his intention,” Claire explained. “We want you back in full form, but not to go back to Robert. Listen, I’m working for a queen in the Fourth Division now. We don’t have much time, Jace will know you’re missing soon.”
Isa felt her heart tighten at the mention of Jace. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get involved in the Fourth Division’s politics again, but she didn’t have much of a choice now. Escape from Charles was all she’d been aiming for.
“The pack she’s sending you to is the Northward Pack,” Claire continued, her voice serious.
Isa blinked, confused. “Wait, she’s sending me into another pack? Do they not realize they’re sending a vampire into wolf territory?”
“I thought you knew the terms of the mission?” Claire’s frown deepened as Isa shook her head.
Isa hadn’t cared to ask for details before—she’d just wanted out. Escape had been the only thing that mattered, not the specifics of what she was getting herself into. Now, standing here with Claire, reality was beginning to set in.
Claire sighed, her expression softening. “There’s a lot you don’t understand about this world. You need to figure out how to use your wolf more. Please. Give yourself a name, but don’t tell me. The less I know, the better. It’ll help keep you hidden.”
Isa’s mind raced, but she didn’t have time to process it all. Claire handed her a train ticket. “Here’s your ticket. One of their runners, Bonnie Price, will meet you at the train station. Get going. Time’s running out.”
Without another word, Isa accepted the ticket and, not bothering to waste time, hurried toward the train station. She didn’t wait for Claire’s attempt at another hug. The fewer connections she had, the better.
The train ride was long and uncomfortable, but Isa made do, closing the blinds on her cart and settling in for what would hopefully be a quiet journey. She thought about sleeping, but the unease from everything that had transpired kept her awake. Eventually, she opened the blinds, staring at the passing scenery. She wasn’t sure what lay ahead, but she would face it head-on, as always.
By the time the train reached her destination, it was just past eight in the morning. Isa disembarked, tired but determined, and found a seat on a bench in the quiet station. She didn’t know what Bonnie looked like, but she was on alert. She had to stay sharp.
It wasn’t until past midday that she saw a flash of color—bright blue hair stepped onto the platform. The girl was dressed simply, but there was something about her that screamed confidence.
Bonnie Price was here.
"Are you the new wolf James said was coming?" Bonnie asked as she walked up to Isa, her sharp eyes scanning her form.
Isa looked up, not sure who this girl was but feeling an instant connection to her wolf scent. "That depends," Isa replied coolly. "Are you Bonnie Price?"
Bonnie smiled and held out her hand, a gesture of both greeting and curiosity. Isa eyed the hand warily for a moment before standing and handing Bonnie her bag. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but Bonnie’s warm demeanor was a far cry from the cold expectations Isa had assumed were tied to this mission.
"Come on," Bonnie said, her tone casual as she led Isa toward a waiting truck.
“What’s your name?” Bonnie asked as Isa climbed into the truck.
“Rachael,” Isa replied flatly, unsure of what else to say.
“How much do you know about me?” Bonnie continued, glancing at Isa as she started the engine.
“Only what’s in my file.” Isa didn’t elaborate, her voice carrying the weight of someone who didn’t like talking about herself.
Bonnie nodded. “Is it true that you’re the last one left from your pack?”
Isa’s chest tightened, the memories of her family and her old pack flooding back. “I don’t like talking about it,” she muttered, her voice strained.
Bonnie didn’t push, but Isa could tell she understood. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, though—it was filled with the understanding that they both carried heavy burdens in their own right.
As they drove through the countryside, the air smelled of fresh pine and grass, and Isa realized they were close to her house. The proximity to her old home was unsettling. Her scent was so close to where she’d come from, yet so far from it at the same time. Being surrounded by wolves might help her stay hidden for a while, but it would also make things complicated. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep herself hidden from Jace’s sharp senses.
When they finally arrived at the Northward Pack’s territory, the atmosphere shifted. The wind carried a heavy weight of magic, the air buzzing with the pack’s power. The pack was waiting, standing at attention, and Isa felt all eyes on her as she stepped out of the truck.
“This is Rachael, the new runner you requested,” Bonnie introduced, but there was a tension in the air as the alpha’s presence loomed.
“Who sent you?” A voice cut through the quiet, and Isa’s eyes narrowed at the man standing in the doorway of the house—James, she assumed.
Isa raised an eyebrow at him, her tone sharp. “What on earth are you talking about? I was told a pack needed a new runner. An alpha wolf shouldn’t be a runner, but after everything I’ve been through, the runner position is fine.”
James stepped forward, visibly bristling with suspicion. “Who sent you?” he repeated, trying to assert dominance.
Bonnie stepped in, her voice more calming. “James, calm down. Let the girl breathe.”
The tension in the air was palpable, but Isa wasn’t intimidated. “I know you’re not the true alpha,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “You were told your things, and I was told mine before I came out here. Now, where is the alpha? I want to speak with her.”
A low growl rumbled from behind Isa, sending a chill through the group. It wasn’t James who had spoken, but another woman—strong, confident, and carrying an authority that demanded attention. She stepped out from behind James, revealing herself as the true alpha.
Isa’s breath caught in recognition. “Lissa Green, as I live and breathe. I’ve always wondered where you ended up.”
Lissa’s green eyes narrowed as she approached. “How do you know who I am?”
Isa smirked. “I’m Rachael Owens, Queen Phia Ling’s cousin. I believe you helped me one day in the halls of the academy.”
Lissa’s gaze softened slightly but not enough to mask her suspicion. “Well, well, well, the elusive Rachael Owens. I was told only a vampire would be sent to us. I didn’t expect a hybrid.”
Isa could feel the weight of Lissa’s gaze on her, but she didn’t flinch. She had a history with this woman—a past that could either work in her favor or come back to haunt her.
“What happened to you after school?” Lissa asked, her voice quieter now, almost contemplative.
“I went home to my pack,” Isa said, her tone flat. “But on the day of my ceremony, we were attacked by rogues. My dad hid me, and when I came out... they were all gone. I went to the Fourth Division hoping they’d help me find another pack.”
Lissa’s expression softened, just a little, as she looked Isa up and down. “Why so soon after their death?”
“I’m a pack wolf,” Isa said with a shrug. “We don’t like being out of a pack for long. I was hoping they would have something like mine, but it looks like it’s just you.”
Lissa sighed and turned away, heading back into the house. “She’ll do for now,” she called back over her shoulder, signaling to the pack that Isa was now under their protection.
As the pack relaxed, Isa let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The future was uncertain, but for now, she was safe.
- Writer
