Falling Rogue

Chapter Two

I remember the first time I saw Jace Haymend, the heir of the Crescent wolf pack, my mother took me to see the Alpha I do not even remember the reason why anymore. But I remember him, I remember Jace standing next to his dad. Watching his dad as I watched him learning from his dad like I was trying to learn about him in those few seconds, the minute his attention was direct to me I was lost looking in to his emerald green eyes, a pair of eyes that seemed to make the world stop for me, a deep contrast to his ink back hair that was a mess on top of his head in a way that might have been styled to look like that. He looks older than me but not by much no more than three years, so he would have to be around fifteen years of age. He frowned the first time he saw me like I was a puzzle he was trying to work out. I hated the why that he looked at me, I was always a problem to everyone a problem that everyone wanted to fix, did he want to fix me to. I had not even talked to him yet, and I felt his eyes looking for a way into my mind, a mind that belonged to only me. My mother was the one that introduced him, stating "Honey, this is Jace the young Alpha. I am sure you guys will get along really well." I just nodded my head still staring at the kid that was standing in front of me, the kid that was staring at me, in his styled to be messy look. "Remember to play nice Cassie…" My mother laughed like it was not possible for me to be nice, I was not big enough to be mean what choice did I have.

I avoided Jace after that whenever I could in the pack, always darting away when I saw him, not turning up to events that I knew he would be at. Trying to remain invisible where I could, I don’t know what it was but something about that kid got under my skin, not in a bad way but in a way that felt it did not belong to me to decide. What I knew was I did not like that feeling. I was getting surprisingly good at hiding as well until he pinned me outside of school on the way home. He spear tackled me into the ground, pinning me beneath him, though it was normal for other kids to attack the children of the pack, in a way to train themselves I was never included, and I never tried to be included knowing how weak I was and that I could not  match any of the other children’s strength why would I even try to compete against them. I could feel Jace pin me down his arms binding mine above my head, him sitting just above my waist. Now if I was anyone else, I would easily be able to throw him off, rising my hips in the air to give me room to throw him off, but I did not have the strength to do that, I was too weak for this. I looked up into his eyes, a smirk painted across his face making him look excited for the expected fight, any other wolf would have fought but me. I feel the tears start to build up in my eyes, I try to keep it in, so I would not have to face the embarrassment of crying in front of the alphas son, but nothing would have stopped those tears from falling down my face to land on the ground below. His expression quickly changes from excitement to horror within seconds and he jumps off me without a moment’s hesitation. “Wow Cassie, I only wanted to see your fighting skills, I did not mean to hurt you” he muttered clearly not expecting this change of circumstance. I slowly start to stand dusting all the dirt of my clothes and pulling the leaves from my hair, being put on the ground was never fun. Without saying anything I turn around and start walking home, “Hey! I am sorry, you don’t need to ignore me” Jace yells as he quickly runs after me. “I am not ignoring you, there is just nothing to say” I mutter as I continue my way trying not to look back. “I thought the other kids where lying when they said that you don’t fight is all, it’s weird that you don’t fight” Jace states almost like telling himself a fact, “Well I don’t and now you know’ I snap annoyed that this conversations was continuing further then I wanted. Why will he not just leave, “If you can’t fight then you need someone to help you fend of the other kids, they can get mean you know.” Jace states like I did not already know that. “Yes, I know that. I was the one pinned before.” I huff. “Well one would say that I owe you now, since I pushed you to the ground and all, why not I protect you” He states almost sheepishly. I stop walking and turn to face him, his hand is pushing his hair out of the way as he looks at me with a slight blush on his face. “Why would you do that?” I ask, I scan his face for an answer on why he would want to help me, I was weak, he clearly knows that now so why go out of his way to help the weak chain in his pack. He stares at me a minute before he answers, he eyes scanning my face almost like he was trying to work out the answer himself before he lets out a long sigh. “Honestly, because I want to. It makes me mad when the other kids talk about you and the name calling, they won’t do that if you are friends with me.” He states with a shrug of his shoulders. “What if I don’t want your help?” I state placing my hands on my hips on a way of appearing strong, on the inside though all I really wanted to do was run, this was not good with people taking notice of me I wanted to remain invisible. A laugh escapes his lips and escapes into the air around us, “You really think you have a choice; you know who I am right? I always get what I want.” He continues. “So, what do you want?” I counter staring at him right in eyes, he looks aware for a second before meeting my eyes again, “Honestly, I don’t really know what I want but I know that I want you safe, and I don’t like people picking on you.” He sighed almost seeming to give in to what ever idea that was floating around his head. Why would he take notice of me and why would it bother him if I were not liked by the other kids in the pack. “So, what now?” I mutter averting my gaze from his and looking at the ground. “Well… I guess I start be walking you home.” He states almost as if he was not sure himself. I nod my head and the turn back to the road ready for the walk home, I wonder how long this will last.

Jace talked the whole way home, I sometimes added a head nod to the conversation, as we walked back. I honestly think Jace rambled on about everything as to not make the walk any more awkward then it already was. As we walked I slowly started to notice that feeling that had been lingering around me since the first time that I met him start to make its way into my mind I felt a need to be everything he wanted to be his strength and be there for him. Though I could not put words to it, he made me feel safer than I had felt since I had left my old pack, it was the best feeling in the world. In that single awkward walk home, I felt like I could breath again after a long time and it was because of Jace beside me.

#

After that day we were inseparable. Being my most trusted friend, I told him everything, how I felt about being weak. How much of a disappoint I was to my family that my mother left to protect me because I could not protect my people like I was born to do. It was the first time I felt like I could cry to anyone, and I did, I bawled my eyes to him leaving me open and free from all judgment that I felt would have been directed at me. He held me that day as I cried comforting me as I needed it and wiping my tears away. A moment outside of time it felt like to a someone twelve and fifteen. To be that open and honest with each other. Jace told me all the pressures about being the new alpha, how he feared letting down his people and his parents how everything in the world seemed to be spinning by so fast and he could not keep up. It was a day that I thought I would hold to my heart for the rest of my life.

When I got home that night, I had a smile on my face like no other, and when I tried to stop, I would smile more. It was a curse that I had been given for the blessing of a fantastic day. The minute I opened the door my eyes found my mother in the kitchen cooking a blush already creeping across my shoulders knowing full well that my mother would see right through me to the happiness I was carrying around with me, my mother had already seen my smile and had a smile of her own on. "Ohhhh. I see someone was with Jace again today." She laughed resting her hands on her hip as she does hinting all too much there may have been a crush behind my smile. Something she has been hinting at a lot and though I deny it every time she knows that I am lying. "He is a friend mother that is all," I laugh full well knowing that she would not be fooled but I was not willing to admit it yet. She holds her hands up in the air in mock defeat, shaking her head like she had given up, but the smile on her face implicated a different story very much telling me that what she was presenting was only an act like mine. She knew the truth as much as I did, I really liked this kid. I blush as the confession seizes my mind like a small schoolgirl on the playground, my mother looks over a smile warms her faces and then turns her head away only making me blush harder. Making me prove to her all too well that she was right in regard to assuming my feelings for Jace. I quickly rush to my room, in my escape to avoid further embarrassment to myself. I rush through my door and close it behind me swiftly in a stupid attempt that it might protect any secrecy that I might have, I launch myself on to my mattress, look up to the roof of this house and smile to myself. Ever since we have been a part of this pack life has been nearly perfect, the members accepted my mother, and I like old friends making us a part of this pack and never asked any questions about why. They were even so kind as to give us a place to live on our own a small cottage, just a little bit away from the alphas own house. When they first gave it to us, I thought it might have been so they could keep an eye on my mother and me, but this has seemed not the be the case. They have sent me to the nearby school with the rest of the younger wolves here, I have not made any special friends there, but everyone always makes me feel welcomed now that Jace has been so open about being my friend. It was better being able to go with Jace, enjoying the bus ride together, since I have come here he has yet to really have left my side. Whenever he can, he always comes over to play, invites me to every event. With everything that we have gained with moving here, he would be the best.

Being so lost in my thoughts I almost did not hear my phone go off, I quickly pick it up and have a look at the message. Looking at who sent the message my face breaks out into a smile, it was from Jace. He was not one to message a lot despite how much we like to talk to each other he prefers face to face, he thinks it to be more real. I quickly read the message; you want to sneak out tonight? I smile to myself, I have sneaked out of the house a few times to see Jace, we go on a late night walk that my mother would never let me go on, but it helps Jace it's his release from the role of a to be Alpha. Not wanting him to be alone when he likes to go on his midnight walks, I have been going with him. 'Sure' I message back, his response being that of a smiley face. I could not help but smile again, like a small schoolgirl I was hopelessly in love with this kid.

I did not realize that it was dinner time until my stomach growled at me, surprisingly after you change your stomach does nothing but demand food. Giving in to it with a sigh, I head towards the kitchen.

"What do you want me to tell her, it's not something that is so easy to lie about Katherine." Someone harshly whispered, I scoot behind the wall not wanting to break into the conversation but not wanting to miss it either, I know my mother has many secrets, many she does not tell me, "Well I don't know Markus, maybe rogue wolves or something. Just make sure the job is done, and she is looked after." My mother snaps back clearly the alpha has pushed my mothers' buttons with something. Being the former Luna of our last pack, she does not back down, if it was a matter of safety for the people that are worth protecting. A growl escapes the alphas lips aimed at my mothers' harsh tone that was being directed at the leader of this pack. "I don't want to do this Katherine! We can find another way," He growled again at my mother. "We don't have the time for another way Markus, I can feel them pushing already." she snapped a long sigh breaks the silence that was surrounding them. I waited for a response but was not expecting the sound of a door closing, Markus must have left the house, I stepped out from behind the wall walking in the kitchen trying to attempt the act of innocents that I must portray after ears dropping on their conversation. My mother’s head was in her hands looking as if she was in despair, a look that I have not seen on her face since we had changed packs. "Are you ok mother?" I ask worriedly about what the alpha might have been talking about if it made my mother upset. She immediately perked up, "oh honey I didn't hear you come in, I was just thinking about some of the stuff that we have to replace here, some parts of the room are quite old." she laughed. Why did she not hear me come in wolves have excellent hearing, though in the moment of being flustered my mother has seemed to forget this. Thinking about it know she lacked a lot of qualities this week that shows you are a wolf I wonder why. "So why are you here love and not messaging that lover boy of yours?" My mum giggles wiggling her eyes brows as she does, I groan in frustration "Mother!" I whine, "it's not like that."

"Sure, it's not." She continues wiggling her eyebrows at me laughing at the mortification on my face as she does.

"Mum can we not do this now I am so hungry," I laugh in an attempt to sway her from the conversation. As soon as the words escape my lips through her eyes go as big as dinner bowls and her mouth starts moving like a fish... having seen this face before I let a sigh of despair... "You forgot about dinner again." I cry I look over to where she was cooking when I came home and sure enough on the stove everything was burnt to a crisp, this happens often my mother will start cooking and then forget she is cooking. Crippled in pain at the thought of having to wait any longer for food. Mother laughs, "I am sure you can wait a little bit longer; you can help with dinner tonight make it go that bit faster." "Fine, only because it will make it go faster." I huff, not liking the idea of me having to cook.

Dinner was awful, I fall on to my bed in despair. I have no idea why mother suggested that I help in the kitchen everything was damaged beyond repair though we did try. This happens every time, why does she even try. I shake my head, my mother, has many skills and cooking was not one of them, honestly if it was not for my lack of skills being a wolf we would just hunt every night but mother had to get a daughter like me that was not capable of that. A knock on my door takes my attention away from my current dilemma. Mother pokes her head in then walks into my room, her hands twisting around one another, like a knot trying to tie its self-up but never seems strong enough to hold. "I just came in here to make sure you are ok," She whispered standing in my room like she was a stranger. "Of course, I am ok, why would I not be?" I ask, confused where this was all coming from. My mother nods then turn to leave, opens the door but then closes it again, before she has even taken a step out the door. She turns on the spot and walks over and takes a seat on the bed. "You know I love you right," She whispers as her lips find themselves to my forehead in the lightest of kisses like a butterfly fluttering past. "I know, I love you to mother," I whisper back. Her hands find the sides on my face and she looks straight into my eyes her green eyes glistering with unshed tears. "Always believe in yourself, know that everything I have done is because I love you, you are stronger then you could ever imagine and more special to me then you could ever know." She smiles the tears threating to spill over, and just like that she stands and rushes out of my room. A rare sentinel moment between mother and daughter that we share. I lay down in bed, my mind going over every word she just said trying to remember them forever. A rare moment that I do not want to forget I close my eyes, thinking of this moment while I wait for the phone to ring later on through the night reminding me of my midnight stroll with Jace.