Blood Moon

Chapter [4] - Always the Outsider

"You dare harm a member of my pack, my sister." His voice was cold.

In my stunned state, Jess took control for a second and growled menacingly at him. It was a defence to her fear, but it was certainly the wrong thing to do.

His eyebrows raised, a coldness coming over his features. Those eyes seemed to darken menacingly. The wolf ripped out of him, Jess stumbling back instinctively. His wolf was much larger than any I'd seen, his blond coat almost white. If I wasn't terrified I'd have taken in his beauty.

His wolf stepped forward, a growl emitting from him. Teeth bared, he continued until he was right in front of me. The breath dusted over Jess, her legs shaking.

Another growl came, this one with more power. The intensity of it smothered us, the heaviness on my skin achingly painful. Jess lowered her head an inch and that pain eased, only slightly. A roar so loud had Jess whining. I couldn't communicate with her, she was completely shut off from me.

The pain was excruciating. Jess lowered to the ground, easing the pressure. He towered above us, the atmosphere agonisingly tense. At that moment, I knew he was asserting his power, his status. He was doing it with an audience, letting everyone know he was the Alpha, and he wouldn't be disrespected.

When he stepped back, the pressure, the pain, it was gone. Jess stood and stared at him. I could feel her anger and embarrassment.

'Let's get out of here human.'

'Lead the way.' I linked back.

We ran back to the pack house. Taking my skin back at the door, I ran to my room. Pulling on my clothes, I sat under the window hugging my knees tightly to my chest.

Within half an hour he burst into my room, his presence known immediately. I slowly looked up into those intense green eyes.

"Explain yourself."

I laughed, not because it was funny, but simply because he said it like he wanted to know.

"You say that like you care. No matter what I say here, no matter what I do or if I'm right or wrong, it will never matter. I'll always be seen as the person in the wrong because I'm a rogue." He didn't falter.

"I want to know why my sister has ended up in the pack hospital getting her leg treated?" His anger was rising.

"Some stuff was said, some juice poured over me, I reacted. Your sister can't fight, she has no defensive strategy whatsoever and putting her down was easy. And honestly, I really can't be dealing with any of this. It's pathetic and petty and if you tell your pack to stay clear of me, I'll stay clear of them." I didn't take my eyes from him.

" Women don't fight. We protect them." He answered like that was completely normal, honesty I didn't know if that was, this was all new.

"Well, they should, because you men won't always be there to save us. A woman's biggest power is herself. One day you'll regret you didn't train everyone equally, that I can guarantee." I promised.

"My father ran this pack the same way I have for years, and I will do the same."

"Well, let's hope I'm wrong then." I shrugged.

He seemed to have calmed down. I didn't know why, and I didn't want to ask. I was tired and frustrated. I just wanted him to leave.

"Your wolf is larger and stronger than I thought it would be." He admitted, standing at the foot of my bed.

"Yours is exactly how I imagined it."

"And how's that?" He pushed.

"It's best I don't answer that. If there's nothing else, I'm going to get a shower."

He didn't say anything in return, he stared at me for a couple of seconds before turning and leaving. Walking into the bathroom, I looked at the small mirror. My hair was stuck to my head and neck, it looked disgusting.

I put the shower on hoping to wash the last few hours into oblivion.

***

I had been sitting on my bed for hours. My nails had been bitten until they were painful, and my brain wouldn't give me a break. Jess had been quiet inside of me, still sulking that she had to bow down to the Alpha, so I just left her to it.

"Ugh, I'll probably regret this."

Someone had chapped on my door earlier but when I opened it there was just my converse on the floor. At least I had shoes again. Pulling them on, I hovered at my door, my little room of safety.

"Let's do this."

I pulled the door open so fast; it was as if I had imagined I was going to be attacked as soon as I opened it. I couldn't be more wrong; the house was dead.

I knew where I was going, but I didn't actually know where it was. Using my hearing, I navigated the walk until I stood in front of the pack hospital. Thankfully, there was nobody around, so I slipped inside. The place wasn't what I thought it would be. A narrow white corridor lined with several doors greeted me. I could hear a nurse in the distance.

...well, your brother said you've to stay here overnight to make sure you're fine."

"My brother's just overprotective Agnes, you know I'm fine," Sarah begged.

"Maybe so, but it's Alpha's orders."

The old woman left the room, and I froze. If she knew I was there she didn't let on, she just continued into the next room. I walked up and entered Sarah's room quickly before she appeared again.

Sarah's eyes widened when she saw me. If I read her correctly, a slight fear washed over her. She was sitting up on the bed, the white sheet over her legs. Her hands gripped the sheet tightly.

"Come to finish me off?" She didn't seem so sure of herself when she was alone.

She had the same eyes as her brother, but her hair wasn't his blond, it was the darkest brown. I walked in and sat on the chair against the wall trying to ease the tension.

"I came to apologise."

"You...apologise." She managed in her shock.

"Listen, I'm not this monster you seem to think I am and honestly, I don't really care what opinion you have of me, but I am sorry. I should have known better than to react and, as much as you won't believe it, I don't like hurting people. I fight in defence and while I'm on that route you really need to learn how to defend yourself." I stopped when I realised I was rambling, more out of nerves than anything else.

"I've tried, my brother doesn't train the woman." She almost looked hurt.

"Try harder, you need to be able to defend yourself. A man won't always be there to save the day. I better go."

Opening the door, he was there. Anderson stood shocked; he had probably just heard the conversation but I had nothing to hide. I wasn't looking for an apology back or any recognition, I was apologising because it was the right thing to do.

"While you've popped in-" Agnes stood behind him and I instantly knew she had told him I was here, he'd probably run over expecting the worst, "- I need my stuff. It's by the lake closest to the Northern pack. Nine trees from the river, hanging at the top on a branch."

"You can't get your stuff. You'll be killed if you leave. You're still a rogue."

"That I'm aware of, it's not like anyone here would let me forget. Can you send someone for it? I need the bag for school and shoes that fit, these are starting to hurt." I could feel the blisters forming on the back of my feet.

I didn't wait for a response, nor did I hang around. I left for the safety of my little room. I was always going to be the outsider here and I had accepted that, but I wanted to have my identity back, a small part of that I could have with my own things. I didn't know if he'd get them, but a girl had to try.