Whisper

~Who Are You?~

Chapter 11:

The sun was already rising when Willie and I were in my tent. "Why didn't you give me up?" I question. I watch as he sets some blankets and clothes on my small bed. "Why would I?" He questions. "Hmm, I don't know, maybe because people were taking turns punching you!? You were completely humiliated. You don't even know me." I exclaim. He turns around to face me.

"Yeah you're right." He nods. I examine him seriously. "I don't know you. But I'm a man of my word. I told you I would allow you to make your own decision. I knew what the consequences were." He states.

I stand there in silence.

"I knew you'd come back." He confesses. My eyebrows rise in shock. I scoff. "I don't know if I'm that predictable which I am not, but you really put your life on the line. The Alpha was going to murder you in cold blood." I retort.

"That's how a pack works. We're trained to bare pain. We're trained to survive." He explains. "How did you know I was coming back?" I press. "What if I would've came back a little bit later or the next day?" I insist.

Willie smirks. "You were worried?" He questions. I found myself loudly replying, "yes!". "Why? We barely know each other?" He questions as a reminder of what I had just said.

"You stood up for me even in my absence. You were nice to me when I got here. That means something." I answer truthfully.

"You're one of us." He reminds. "That's what a pack is meant to stand for. Unity and hospitality. Trust and strength. Sincerity and honor." He continues. "You're describing yourself Willie, not your pack." I bluntly state. He smiles. "It's a packaged deal. Give us a chance." He proposes. I smile rolling my eyes.

"Why am I so fond of you?" I ask out loud. "I'm asking myself the same the question about you." He smirks. "Who knows." He shrugs. "Maybe we're destined to be bestfriends or something". He suggests. I found myself smiling at that suggestion. Which was weird. I never liked labels.

"Come on, we have a meeting for our newest member." He announces. I follow him out.

~*~

"Rules..." Shawn begins his voice stern and firm like usual. He stood at the center as everyone surrounded him paying close attention. His arms were crossed together emphasizing his well maintained muscles. His white tee complimented the rest of his upper body.

"To every pack there is an Alpha. To become a full wolf you must get marked by one of your own pack. Something always draws you to the woods/wild." He begins to list. As he goes down the list I begin to understand why I was the way I was.

"If anything happens to the Alpha the next in rank takes over. Another alternative is that the others in rank fight for the position. This or an unanimous vote amongst the pack for a new leader. All depends on the circumstances and who has the guts to speak up about being the new Alpha. This will be the least of your worries as of now, seeing that I am not going anywhere and I am more than capable of doing my job as Alpha.

If another pack claims you, the Alphas' must fight each other to keep you or refuse the fight and give you up. Be aware and cautious that we are not the only pack of werewolves. Our species is scattered. It is possible to stumble across another pack. Also keep in mind that not every pack gets along with others. Other packs might not be as friendly and welcoming as we are".

I scoff in my mind after Shawn's last sentence.

"If you are cut, hurt, or bleed your wolf form is triggered. A lycanthrope is a curse. The full moon is our weakness and our transformations are not very pleasant. You get used to the pain. Here we are trained for that. We train to be ready and prepared. To fight against anything or anyone, that being another pack or humans. As a lycanthrope we have special abilities and powers, but we need to learn how to control these abilities and powers.

If you turn you must cut every connection and contact you have with humans. To enter a pack you must do a traditional vow at a ceremony.

Every pack has a family crest. Our crest is a blue feather. The crest is marked somewhere on our bodies. Only permanent on the body of a full wolf, shows itself rare moments on those who haven't taken the necessary steps to become full wolves.

When we turn we specifically appear with white/gray fur and blue eyes. We all look the same. As a pack we stick together. I do not tolerate liars and I most definitely do not tolerate traitors!"

My eyes never leave the Alpha as he speaks these things. He glances at me intensely. Intimidated I look away.

"Those are the essentials. Anything else you want or need to know you can ask Willie who specializes in our history and the rules. Any other doubts feel free to speak with the rank. If there is anything important you would like to discuss with me bring it to the attention of Veronica. If she believes it is worthy enough for a discussion, then we will talk. If not, you should probably not approach me because I get upset very easily." He states. I roll my eyes.

"Now! Any questions? thoughts? doubts?" Shawn questions looking around.

I obviously had a bunch of questions, but I was not going to risk being humiliated in-front of everyone again. I rather ask Willie. Anybody else but Shawn. He clearly did not like me and I truly did not like him.

"You are dismissed!"

~*~

"Well that was a successful meeting." I bring up sarcastically. Willie cackles then shrugs. "But helpful right?" He questions. "I mean yeah." I agree. "It's going to take a while for you to adapt to everything. The rules, our routine, training, the way we do things, the way we speak, the way we handle certain situations." He explains. I nod suppressing a sigh.

Why am I so stressed?

"Is there any way I can isolate myself for a while without the Alpha trying to kill you?" I ask. "I really hope he isn't listening in on our conversation right now, or anyone for that manner." He confesses out loud. "I always forget." I state. "Clearly." He nods.

"You can take a walk or jog around the woods, If anyone comes looking for you I'll just let them know you needed some time to think. This isn't a prison you know." He retorts.

"Great." I reply in relief.

"There's also this lake nearby. It's quite peaceful. The pack usually bathes there and goes for swims occasionally. While you're walking you should check it out, it's not difficult to find. We mostly go at night or in the afternoon, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone. It all depends on the timing. If you want some alone time the middle of the night and early in the morning would be prefect times to go." He explains.

"I'll definitely check it out. Thanks Willie." I smile.

Taking off I sigh a sigh of relief. I was finally going to have some time alone. I could run freely and let go of these burning thoughts inside my head.

Once I was far enough from the site my feet begin to pick up speed. I allow them to take me further and further. My heartbeat accelerates within my chest. I thought I was never going to have some alone time to just run wild. The adrenaline rushes through my veins and I feel more alive every second that passes by. I missed this so much.

After a while of just running my feet halt. This allows me to catch my breath. My eyes wonder to a spot further ahead. Walking towards it, the lake comes into view. I slowly approach the beautiful scenery. There were tall trees and big rocks. The lake looked shiny and warm as the sun began to set. I watch my surroundings in awe.

The sound of splashing catches my attention. My eyes quickly dart towards the water. A figure swims in the water. My feet move me backwards as I try to figure out who exactly was swimming. My body rests behind a tree. After close observation I conclude that it was a male. His clothes were piled up near the shore. My feet take me towards the shore. My brain doesn't understand why. I'm not much of a confronter.

Brown hair. Light skin that shone below the warm sun. Sensing someone was watching him, he stops and slowly turns around. His hazel eyes meet my own hazel ones. He pushes his brown hair back with one hand. Emmett Cullen.

Not surprised he was the one here, alone.

We stay still for a while just starring at each other. Me standing there and him floating in the water.

He swims towards the shoreline breaking eye contact. Rising from the water his abs and strong thighs are exposed. He wore nothing but his underwear. Water dripped down from his muscular body. Bending down he picks up his shirt and proceeds to dry himself. I continue to watch intensely. Next he pulls on his pants and drapes the damp shirt over his shoulder.

He approaches me. I swallow a lump of saliva I was unaware was forming in my throat.

He stops in-front of me and glares at me. I obviously grow uncomfortable. My eyes find a spot on the ground. "The water is all yours." He replies and leaves.

I let out a breath.

I think I might have been starring too hard. I didn't even turn away when he got out of the water or was putting his clothes on. I process all this when it is too late and he has already left.

Scolding myself I wonder why I even approached the lake in the first place knowing someone was swimming in it. He probably thinks I'm a creep or weird.

I sit near the shoreline not recognizing myself. I stare at my reflection in the water. The old Whisper would never get so worked up over thoughts about a guy. She wouldn't display the amount of weakness she displayed to the pack while being confronted by the Alpha. She wouldn't demonstrate her affectionate and friendly side this quickly.

I've opened up to Willie and showed more signs of weakness than I have ever in my entire life!

It took me months to open up to Shelby. While dating Steven I never showed as much affection as I should have. I never vented about my feelings nor lingered too much on a topic that was heavily on my mind.

It has always been me and my thoughts. The way I was acting lately was so foreign to me.

"Who am I?"