The Rogue Omega

Chapter 16

I spent the rest of the afternoon alone in my room, walking back and forth while making plans.

I kept trying to figure out how long I could safely remain in Shadow Crest before I became too involved with these shifters.

I also wondered if it was possible to transfer to another city.

If I could at least leave Shadow Crest, I might finally have enough space to breathe.

That evening during dinner, I brought up the idea.

Kael immediately shook his head.

“We're not enemies with the other cities,” he explained, “but transferring between cities is a serious matter. You're officially a member of Shadow Crest now. After yesterday's trial, you were added to our records. Your identification and paperwork should arrive within the next few days.”

My disappointment must have been obvious because Sierra leaned forward and gently patted my hand.

“You're not a prisoner,” she said kindly. “You can absolutely travel outside our city whenever you want, but you need to inform the council about the three W's. Why you're leaving, where you're going, and when you'll return. They keep track of every shifter, but it's done for everyone's safety.”

Right...

I had lived alone since I was very young and had never depended on a pack before.

Now I was expected to accept their rules and protection to stay safe.

The conversation soon moved on to other subjects.

I stayed quiet while eating slices of the homemade meat pizza Richard had prepared.

He really was an incredible chef.

I knew I would miss his cooking after I left.

When dinner was over, everyone invited me to stay and watch movies with them.

I didn't think I would be very good company, so I blamed my tiredness and headed upstairs to bed.

In my room, I took a shower and changed into a soft mauve pair of pajamas.

But even after getting ready for bed, I couldn't relax.

I wandered over to the large double windows and opened the blinds and shutters to let the cool night air inside.

A faint smell of a bonfire drifted on the breeze as I looked out over Ravencrest Pack's beautifully maintained backyard.

It wasn't enormous, but there was enough space between the neighboring houses to create a feeling of privacy.

The swimming pool behind the patio sparkled beneath the nearby lantern lights, making the backyard feel almost like a luxury resort.

I had never learned how to swim.

Even before Mom found her pack, teaching me wasn't something she cared about.

Still, I had always found water peaceful.

I hoped I would get the chance to learn before the weather became too cold.

For nearly an hour I stood there looking outside, listening to nearby packs calling their children inside for the night.

Just as I was about to close the shutters, I noticed movement in the far corner of the yard.

I froze.

Squinting into the darkness, I watched as the shadows shifted, revealing a huge black wolf.

At first I could only make out his muzzle and two sharp, glowing eyes.

My fingers gripped the windowsill so tightly that they started to hurt while I studied him.

He was enormous.

Even standing on four legs, he looked almost as tall as I was.

I was about to call out for Kael when I suddenly felt a familiar pull deep inside me.

Mate.

My wolf immediately confirmed what I had suspected the moment I noticed movement.

I hadn't wanted to admit it.

The black wolf belonged to my pack.

I just didn't know which one.

I knew it wasn't Orion.

Judging by his massive size and black fur, I guessed it was probably Ryker.

Still, until I met the others, I couldn't be completely certain.

I narrowed my eyes at him and waved both hands in a very clear go away gesture.

This strange habit they had of secretly watching me definitely wasn't working.

I could have sworn the wolf actually smiled.

His lip lifted, revealing dangerous fangs, almost like he found my reaction amusing.

He completely ignored my request to leave.

With an annoyed sigh, I closed both the shutters and the blinds.

Hopefully, I wouldn't wake up tomorrow to find another alpha standing inside my bedroom.

There had to be some way to stop them from entering this house.

Surely a shifter as powerful as Kael would notice another alpha sneaking into his territory.

Which meant...

He was allowing it.

Maybe the threat Ryker had made inside the council chamber wasn't only about staying away from me.

Maybe he and Kael had reached some kind of agreement that allowed Ryker onto this property so he could keep watch over what he considered his own.

The thought that Kael and the others might have agreed to something like that sent a wave of uneasiness through me.

I had been careful not to trust them from the beginning for exactly this reason.

I still didn't know what their real intentions were.

It was too late at night to ask questions.

Instead, I checked every lock on the doors and windows one more time before climbing into the bed, which thankfully still carried only my own scent.

No other shifter had entered my room since I had left earlier.

That small detail gave me a little comfort.

Wake me if anyone comes into the room, I quietly told my wolf.

She grumbled sleepily in agreement.

Although, if the person sneaking inside happened to be one of our pack...

I wasn't sure I could trust her to warn me.

Traitor.