Chapter 18
1285 Words
With a throaty chuckle he steered us in a different direction, but this time my hands did the work while he led the action.
I heaved heavily, unable to let go of what just happened.
My very life had just flashed before my eyes, “Crazy. You're crazy.”
“Less talking, more learning,” he replied.
Looking around I realized that we were alone, “the others?”
“Waiting for us at park borders, you don't expect them to head to their death with you do you?”
I scoffed, “if you had just ridden, that wouldn't have happened.”
“I'm not the one who asked to ride up front.”
“Doesn't mean I have a death wish”
“Whatever you say princess.”
Ignoring him I tried to steady my raging breath, I could barely feel my legs at this point.
Soon I saw the familiar silhouette of the other bikes, a massive gate stood in between two towering mountains, a spot so hidden that it could be easily missed.
Looking over the terrain I finally understood why the feral rogues clubhouse couldn't be found no matter how hard they tried.
Even if someone managed to cross the bridge, finding here wouldn't be so easy.
The gate split open, we rode in followed by the others, he stopped us at an intersection, “remember the way your blood boiled, when you thought you'd fall off a cliff just now, the rush that flowed through you, remember it and survive kitten. Prove that you're not the little defect they think you are.” With that he dropped me and zoomed off.
My legs wobbled, my knees were weak, “What the hell is with everyone grabbing and dropping me like a piece of cloth,” I grumbled, a hand held me steady.
“You're too lightweight, like a feather” Mika responded.
“Thanks a lot, I didn't know.” I snickered.
“You're welcome, can you walk?”
I didn't know if she couldn't hear the sarcasm or she just decided to ignore me, either ways I still replied
“I think so,”
“Good, off we go then”
My jaw almost dropped at the sight before me, I had been too engrossed by Cain to notice my surroundings, “This is the club house?”
“Yes”
“It's literally a Pack”
“You can say that,” she shrugged, walking ahead.
The scene before me was nothing short of beautiful, houses lined up neatly in rows, wolves walked around, laughter rang in the air, even the streets were neat and quiet without a hint of chaos.
A fountain stood at the center, the setting was a sharp contrast to the ancient environment beyond the walls.
“Keep that up and you'd end up swallowing a fly”
I shut my lips sheepishly, “My bad, just that this isn't what I was expecting, everything is so,—”
“Civilised.” She cut me off, “Well, living away from the rest of the world doesn't mean we should live like apes, the world has evolved. So should we.” She kept walking leisurely.
“I thought it'd be like an actual riding club house, you know, a building and all that. Not an actual pack.”
“Hey Mika” someone greeted, she nodded in response
“Mika” another waved, more greetings rolled in as we walked, they all cast curious stares but none asked who I was.
“That was what we were once upon a time, but the more we expanded the more we got non riding members, of course everyone learns to ride later on, but that's beside the point.
“So Cain is some kind of saviour then?”
“See it as a business, we offer shelter to those abandoned, betrayed and have no where else to go, they offer their services to the betterment of the pack.”
She stopped in front of a tall building, a massive one actually, I felt my world view take a dive.
“we're here.”
“Where's here?”
“Clubhouse. Come in, I'll take you to your room.” She opened the door and we stepped in,
“Mikaaa” someone rushed jumping on her, I half expected her to shove the body away but to my surprise her hands curled around it.
“Hey kid” she ruffled her hair, a rare but warm smile settled on her face.
“I'm not a kid,” the girl replied.
“Whatever you say mia,” on hearing her name I finally looked closer, they did bear some resemblance, well that would explain a lot.
“You were gone for long” Mia whined pouting.
“Sorry kid, but on the bright side I brought goodies” her vioce carried a hint of indulgence, I nearly pinched myself to ensure I wasn’t seeing or hearing things
“You want to bribe me?”
She shrugged, “At least it works”
“True, where's it,”. Mia stretched her hands.
Mika flicked her forehead “When we get home.”
“Ow” she grumbled.
Yup, definitely sisters.
Watching the exchange not only did words dry up in my mouth I felt a pang of sadness remembering I once had a big sister like Mia.
Mia finally noticed me, “Who’s she?” she peered at me curiously
“Prez’s Blood bound.”
Her eyes widened, “Huh?
“Yup, This is Aria, and Aria meet my little sister Mia.”
As if lost, Mia's gaze remained fixed on me, not budging even after being nudged by Mika.
“She's just surprised, come on, she'll meet up when she gets herself."
My lips curled, there goes the Mika I know.
As we left Mia I couldn't help the clawing at the back of my head, the aching at being referred to as a blood bound instead of his mate.
We chanced upon what seemed like a large living room with a movie playing,
“Yo Mika, who's the chick?” a voice asked.
“Piss off Adrian, she's off limit”
“Aren't they all?” A different voice chirped in, “just an introduction won't hurt.”
I looked around, different figures sat on different parts of the room, most eyes were on me, interested in who I was, the rest either didn't care or couldn't be bothered to care.
“She's Aria, Alpha's blood bound.” She finally responded.
The room fell silent instantly, the type where if a pin dropped all would hear.
“She looks fragile,” a voice whispers.
“Weak too,” another added.
“Did Alpha make a mistake?”
The comments rolled in, none bothered that I could hear, their eyes held contempt, pity, questions, disapproval.”
Looking at them Mika's words from earlier flashed through my head, I finally understood what she said.
Like the rest of them, I had to bleed whether blood or sweat, one would come off in earning their respect and welcome, I had to stand strong.
“Talk about bad luck, to think I'm running into this here.” I heard Stanley's familiar snicker, he strolled in casually, slumping into a sofa, his eyes could barely contain the disgust in them.
Looking at all their faces, how I had been treated by all of them, manhandled and disrespected all my life, something snapped in me, short and hot.
I stood before a curious Stanley and then my lips moved before I could think twice,
“I challenge you to a duel.”
- Writer
