A New Start (original version)

Chapter 8

Rowena

As we got closer to the meeting room, the pounding in my chest intensified. Through the doors, I could hear Dante addressing the pack. When Jaylen and I stepped through the doors, the whole room went silent and looked at us, including Dante and Aria. My eyes widened in fear, and I took a couple of steps back, about to dart out of the room. I could hear my blood rushing in my ears, as well as my ears beginning to ring. My heart was beating so much that I thought it was going to beat out of my chest.

As I was about to turn around, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and someone picks me up. My eyes widened more, if that is even possible, and I couldn't help the whimper of fear. "It's okay, Rowena. They're not going to hurt you. I'll be right there with you." I heard Dante say and realized he was the one who had picked up my small body. I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed my head on his shoulder, feeling safe.

Once we were center stage, I raised my head and looked at everyone, feeling the fear show through my eyes. "Alright, everyone. Here she is. Be nice; she's a bit shy and completely terrified as I can feel her shaking even in my arms. Her name is Rowena, and she will be turning 13 on November 30th. I think she might be okay with answering questions." He said before looking down at me, and I nodded. He continued to hold me, which made me feel loads better, especially when Aria stepped over to us and took one of my tiny hands in hers.

One of the members raised their hand, and Dante called on him. He was probably 7 or 8 years old with dirty blonde hair and gray-blue eyes. "What do you like to do for fun?" He asked me. Oh my gosh, he's so adorable. I thought in my mind. "Uhm, I don't know yet. I wasn't allowed to do fun things in my old pack. So, I haven't figured that out." I said quietly. "What is your favorite color?" Another member asked. "Well, my favorite color is pink," I answered just as quietly as the first time. It went on for a few more minutes until someone asked a difficult question that made me stiffen.

A woman in her mid-twenties asked, "What pack did you come from, and why did you leave?" I was silent for a few minutes, looking away from everyone as I felt a lump form in my throat. "I came from the Crimson Hollows pack, and I didn't just leave or run away. I was chased out by my Alpha and some of their fighters. Or soldiers as he referred to them." I answered. "Why did he chase you out?" A man with graying brown hair asked. My throat went dry. "I... I broke his nose, punching him in the face." I said. There were a few gasps of outrage.

"Why did you do that to your Alpha? We are supposed to respect and protect them and the Luna." The man stated. "Wrong. Yes, we are supposed to respect them and the Luna as well as help protect the Luna but not the Alpha. He is supposed to be strong enough to protect himself. He is supposed to guide us and take care of us and treat us like family because that is what a pack is. A family. Or at least that's what I've heard. But in my opinion, respect can't be simply given to you just because of your position in the pack. You have to earn respect."

"My entire family was the Omega family of the Crimson Hollows pack. At age three, I watched my Alpha murder both of my grandparents' right in front of me. I ended up covered in their blood after crawling to their lifeless bodies. Six months later, my Luna started beating me. At age five, I was forced to help my mother cook for over one hudred and fifty wolves while my ten-year-old older brother was sent out to train and fight rogues with our father. We were lashed and beaten if we didn't do as we were told.

"At age six, my parents, brother, and I was having a secret family picnic at our cabin one day, when a rogue wolf started attacking the cabin. My father told my brother to protect me, and so Zane stayed with me and kept me safe while my parents went out and fought not two or three but six rogues. I heard a yelp and escaped my brother's hold and ran for the door. I watched as a rogue killed my mother as she was making sure I was unharmed. My father lost control when he felt the bond sever. My brother shifted into his wolf, grabbed the back of my shirt, and took off for the territory. I saw the last four wolves pounce on my father and kill him. Leaving my nine-year-old brother alone to raise a six-year-old little girl."