Blood Moon

Chapter [5] - A Worry Settling In

I woke up startled, it took a minute to realise where I was. Sitting up, I dragged my hands through my hair, trying to relax. I don't know why I felt so on edge.

Looking up with a frown at the booming laugh that came from somewhere in the house, I instinctively gripped the cover closer. The noise didn't hold my attention for long when I saw my bag sitting like a little prize at the bottom of my bed.

'He cares.' Jess mumbled in my mind.

'He cares about his pack Jess, I'm not that.'

She didn't say anything in response because she knew I was right. As protective and loyal as Jess was to me, there was something I was beginning to notice about my wolf - she had a soft spot for the Alpha.

Gripping the rucksack, I hugged it close before pulling out my phone and charger. They were both in a sealed bag to make sure they wouldn't be damaged. I put it on charge. The only reason I had it was when my foster parents needed me back, they had a way to contact in order to get me home straight away. It was usually when I had a social worker coming not that I had to worry about that now, that life was behind me.

Everything was there, not that I had many possessions, but with the familiar smells, I had instantly settled. I could be myself, I could wear my own stuff. That meant more to me than I thought.

"Run in ten," Anderson shouted.

"Ugh, stupid pack run when I'm not even pack. What's the point?"

Another booming laugh echoed into my ears, it wasn't Anderson but someone else and I was instinctively curious. Pulling on shorts, a T-shirt and my trainers, I headed down. I wasn't getting all dressed to strip again. I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen to see Anderson and another man. They were both shirtless with just a pair of shorts on, no shoes. I deliberately made sure I looked at them from the neck up. The man was eating cereal. Anderson didn't even look at me.

"The moaning rogue arrives. You would think you'd be happier this morning since our Alpha sent me out at 5am to get your bag. That's a lot of precious sleep I lost." He started pushing the cereal and a bowl in my direction.

"You'd have to sleep to lose it." Anderson whispered, as if I wasn't supposed to hear.

I was starving, in that moment it hit me. Anderson turned round with a frown when I just stared at the food.

"Eat." He demanded.

"Aww bless her, she's used to stealing food, not being given it. Turn around so she can take it and feel more at home."

"I actually bought food with the money I earned from the job I worked."

I worked part time at the cinema, taking overtime when I got it. Sometimes I'd stay in low budget hotels, usually so I could wash, but I couldn't afford it all the time. I had to camp out as Jess a lot.

"A rogue with morals, there's a first." He fake gasped, eating his corn flakes like a man starved.

I ignored him eating my cereal. Maybe it was because I hadn't really eaten much, but it was the best thing I had tasted in a long time. The man's dark eyes were mocking me as he watched me eat. Anderson again had his back to us.

"So, what's your name rogue?"

"Call me rogue, you seem to be using it well." I snapped, getting irritated by his cheeky smile.

"Her name is Caitlin."

It was the first time I had heard him say it. As he turned, our eyes met, that intense green stare making time stop for a second. My spoonful of cereal was suspended mid air. I snapped back to reality when the milk that slipped off my spoon sent droplets of milk all over my top.

"Damn it." I snapped, rubbing the droplets.

"Someone's going to be sour later," Michael mocked.

"Let's go Michael. Meet us outside when you're done." He didn't look at me as he spoke.

Michael looked between us as Anderson walked past. A chuckle escaped his lips as he placed the bowl down on the worktop.

"I don't know how this is going to play out but it's going to be a fun ride watching it." He quipped.

"Michael move."

"I'm coming." He chuckled, following him out the main door.

I let out the breath I didn't realise I was holding. Between his body and his stare, I didn't know how I was going to ignore him. I had to be strong willed. I was strong willed, well before I met him I was.

I had to get myself together.

The group outside was huge. Instantly, stares were on me but I ignored them as best I could. Everyone started stripping like it was completely normal. Maybe for them it was, but this was still new to me, nudity felt unnatural in front of others. I hid at the back, pulling my clothes off and quickly changing.

'We can run.' Jess practically shouted in my mind.

'Yes, we can run.' Her excitement was infectious.

I followed the crowd as they ran into the trees, the wind on my fur felt good. I'd never get over the freedom that Jess gave me. Having a wolf was a gift. We began to run and I felt weightless.

'Something is wrong.' She stopped, the others all had to.

'What is it?' I asked in confusion, looking around until I saw what had everyone on edge.

'Rogues.'

The women were all departing, running back to the houses. All the men stood in line waiting, watching. Anderson's wolf snapped back at me. I think he was telling me to leave but I wasn't going to.

The rogues were in human form, standing in the distance. There must have been about ten of them. It was like a stand-off. After a few seconds, they turned to wolves and ran. Anderson looked at the others and went to leap forward.

I turned to my human skin.

"Stop." I shouted desperately. "They are trying to goad you to follow them. It'll be a trap."

I don't know how I knew, but something deep in my gut told me I was right. Rogues didn't work together.

Anderson turned. Completely n***d, he stood in front of me and in that moment I realised I was also n***d. My cheeks heated at the thought. I willed myself not to look past his face.

"How do you know?"

"Because she's one of them." One of the others shouted. I rolled my eyes.

"Rogues don't work in groups. If there are two together, it's because they are mates. What just happened isn't normal and I don't know why it happened, but following them isn't worth potentially running into a trap that could kill your people."

"Michael, get patrols in place. She's right, something isn't right here."

He left. I tried to call after him but he ignored me. As I turned back, the others were all staring at me like I had called the rogues there. Honestly, dealing with rogues was worse than the insults and stares I got here, but their judgment wouldn't change by saying that.

As I walked back to the house, hiding my body as best I could, it was as if nothing had happened. Other than the people left behind on patrol, everyone was going about their day. There were people getting into cars and as I looked I got excited. They were going into the local town to work. Maybe I could get a job and some money.

"Get to school." Anderson barked as I entered the house. I didn't even see him, he was already upstairs and had slammed his door.

I didn't wait about,. Honestly, I couldn't deal with his attitude. I pulled my clothes on and left. His presence was heavy and made me uneasy. I'd rather be at school and that was saying something.

When I entered, the building was buzzing with chat. Everybody was talking about what had happened. I walked down the corridor and my ears zoned in on the conversations to try and see what was happening.

"...the Alpha is speaking to the other packs. It's happened to them too. Well, most of them. Two are dead from the moonlight pack. They are going to have to call an emergency meeting, the packs will need to discuss strategy."

Instantly my heart fell out of my chest. I stopped letting everyone bustle by me. I had come here to hide and live my life and now, Adrian was going to be talking to the other packs. I couldn't afford to be found here. God knows what my father would do to me if he found out.

I had to stay hidden.