Taming the Wicked Rogue

A Pack

Wolves and shifters were howling in the background. I struggled to get on my feet. Rhys's arm wound around my waist, anchoring me to him. The warmth of his body chased away the coldness left by the force. His eyes remained a bright gold and in the darkening clearing, it glowed like two pair of moons. I avoided his gaze that seemed to pierce at my very core and looked around.

On the clearing, the injured men moved and chatted about as if the fight did not happen. Perhaps, Glenn was in the most terrible state of all. His upper body was bathed in his own blood and although he could move, his pained expression spoke volumes of the seriousness of his injury.

The crowd had long looked to our direction, specifically to Rhys as if waiting for his word. A soft squeeze on my waist brought back my attention to him. I could feel heat creeping to my cheeks as our gaze clashed once again.

"Scared?" He asked in a low voice.

I thought back on the wildness the shifters displayed, the danger their nature could easily inflict to a vulnerable being. It was clear I do not belong. But I knew the child within me will have a place here and at the moment, it was all that matters.

"No" I had put on my brave face yet I felt that he knew I was lying. His eyes narrowed but he didn't say more.

He turned to face the gathering crowd, his arms tightening around my waist as if preventing me to move. I could hardly keep my cool standing so close to him and being at the center of attention. Pressing down my uneasiness, I stared back into the crowd. There were no glares, no scornful expression on the faces of the people who surrounded us. Tension dissipated from my shoulders. This was Verde Creek and as of present, the people here didn't have a reason to scorn me.

They have no reason to hate you back then too, remember? But they came to hate you anyway, A mocking voice resounded in my head.

Desperate to escape the voice, my attention latched on to the distraction brought by Rhys voice as he started to speak. His tone was clear and steady, unfazed by the attention.

"Everyone in Verde Creek is part of the pack. No one is to move alone. The selection of warriors and key positions will be done tonight. The wandering is over. Welcome home."

His words were concise and cold yet cheers and howls erupted. The lively atmosphere was infectious that I had to stifle my smile. I still didn't know the importance of a pack or an Alpha to werewolves but it was clear that what happened tonight is a turning point in their lives.

I briefly wondered if it will affect mine too but pushed it to the back of my mind. It probably will not make any waves to my already chaotic life.

Rhys turned to me then, the gold in his eyes finally fading to specks of light.

"Welcome home."

My mind blanked. Words eluded me. Home was both a familiar and unfamiliar word. It had never existed for me. Probably never will. What was I supposed to say? Before I could fumble on a reply, Rhys strode to Olah's group leaving me there to gawked at his retreating form. What did he mean by those words? Was it possible he was talking to the baby and not to me?

"Lily let's go?" Jamie asked softly.

My thoughts sobered up immediately. Jamie and I were both humans and we don't belong in this place. To give a different meaning to Rhys words was a mistake. This was all temporary, I had realized that just last night.

"Where's Hammer and Jiro?" I asked, surprised that the two men who never let me out of their sight was nowhere to be found. They should already be dragging me back to the safety of the diner.

"They joined the others and told me to take you back. They said a lot of things have to be done tonight."

I frowned and looked around once more. The crowd had dispersed and shifters formed small groups. Only Jamie and I were by the edge of the clearing, seemingly isolated from all the cheer by an invisible barrier.

"You don't have to worry. Everything is good now. " Doctor Matt was suddenly beside me with his gentle eyes and smile. I didn't even notice his approach. "You wont have to be guarded so heavily with everyone under Rhys's command. As long as you're within Verde Creek the baby will be safe."

I couldn't explain the complicated feelings that washed over me at his words. I should be happy my movement will not be as restricted as before, yet with it the distance between us ostensibly widens.

"Thank you. We'll go and rest now." I nodded politely and left the clearing with Jamie. On the way both of us were silent mired deep in our own thoughts.

"Do you think we could stay here forever?" Jamie's question as we finally get inside caught me off guard. Forever, like Home was a word that never existed in my vocabulary.

Seeing my reaction, Jamie grimaced. "Forget it. I was just -"

"The day we can't, we will find another home." I found myself saying, numbed to the feeling of disappointment and loneliness that rose from within.

"You have a baby with Alpha Rhys, you could stay here with him. And I could stay with you" Jamie pointed out, almost sounding hopeful.

"Don't worry." That was all I managed to say before I headed straight to the second floor. I closed the door tightly, Rhys's words was like a broken record, playing in my ears, "Welcome home".

Staying at Verde Creek had been alright until I realized I had nurtured hope for a family with Rhys. Any other person could hope and dream, but for me it will always be a luxury. One day everything will change. I just hope such day will not come soon.