CHAPTER THREE
1913 Words
Where was I? It was dark, there was no light and I could tell there was no building nearby either.
Fear overwhelmed me when I heard the ominous hooting of an owl, then there was a croaking.
“Where am I?” I murmured to no one in particular.
Suddenly there was the rustling of leaves, I whipped my head in that direction and saw that a shrub on my right was moving.
Terror had me rooted to the spot, I whimpered, wondering if I had made the right choice by running away.
It was too late to dwell on whatever I had done or if it was right or wrong. I stationed my eyes on the short, thick tree.
Appearing from the shadows was a wolf. I heard the growl before I saw the outline of fangs.
A short scream emanated from me as I quickly searched for something… anything.
My hand closed over a sturdy, broken branch and brandished it before the wolf.
I couldn’t tell if it was just a wolf or a werewolf.
“S-stay back.” It continued to approach me.
I turned to run but there was a big stone behind and I fell, desperate to stand, my dress got caught in something, I couldn’t exactly tell what it was since it was dark.
Another growl.
My eyes widened when I saw they were two now.
“P-please spare my l-life.” I hoped they were werewolves and merciful.
But they weren’t.
Rather they closed in on me. I threw the stick at them but missed.
They howled, it sounded like they were laughing at my clumsy aim.
Tears filled my eyes. I never thought my end would be this gory and bad.
“P-please.” I tried again.
At once, they lunged and a loud, terrified wail left my lips.
******
My eyes struggled to be open. My eyes were hit by blinding lights from the ceiling. I closed them back and a throbbing came on.
My throat was parched. I tried to move but felt as though I’d been pummeled by a thousand werewolves.
Werewolves!
I suddenly remembered my encounter with those…rogues? Wolves? Werewolves? What exactly were they?
Who had saved me? I made an attempt to sit up.
“You’re awake.” A deep voice spoke from beside me.
I turned my head to meet a pair of forest green eyes studying me attentively.
“W-who are you?” My voice was hoarse from all the crying and screaming I’d done.
“You sound tired. I should get the pack doctor.” He rose and left the room.
I watched him walk away. He was tall and imposing. From his back, I could tell he was fit and muscled. His hair was a bit long, black too.
He disappeared through the doorway. I heaved an exhausted sigh and allowed my eyes roam every corner of the room.
Where was this place?
I struggled to sit up, it was a painful, tiring chore but I managed.
I even had to hold my head as it ached so bad I felt it might fall off my shoulders.
When I could, I raised my head to take a proper look. This looked like a hospital. A big one.
I studied my feet and saw they were blistered. My hands too. My dress was no longer on my body, I had on a different dress.
He stepped In again and this time, there was a middle aged man beside him.
“How are you feeling?” This man whom I presumed to be the pack doctor asked. His tone was both professional and friendly.
“Like I’d been attacked by two hefty boulders.” I told him, swallowing my spit to wet my dry throat that felt like a desert.
The man chuckled and examined me. “You’ll be fine, your pregnancy is safe too.” He concluded when he was done checking me. “Two days bed rest, good food and water should do it. As for your bruises, they'll heal. I’ll give you some ointment to apply on them.”
Wait, what? “Pregnant?!” The Alpha and I chorused.
“Yes.” He simply replied. “You’re not aware?”
I shook my head. Pregnant? Oh goodness! And I thought my life couldn’t get any more complicated.
“You’ll need a lot of rest.” The pack doctor encouraged.
I nodded. “Water, please.” That was important for now.
“I’ll be right back.” The pack doctor left to probably go get me the water.
“What’s your name?” This man with green eyes and black, wild hair asked. He folded his arms, observing me with cool, assertive eyes.
A guy walked in before I could utter a reply, and bowed. “Alpha.”
“Yes. Have they been found yet?” He asked the guy.
“Not yet, Alpha. Their family is distraught.”
I saw sympathy cloud his eyes. “There’s nothing we can do tonight. Tell them to go home, tomorrow, we’ll continue the search.”
“Yes, Alpha.” And he was gone.
He turned his attention to me.
“My name is Flower.” I answered.
“Your real name.” He quirked a brow.
“That’s my real name.” My name was not common and it sounded ridiculous at times to strangers.
“What pack are you from?” He interrogated further.
“I…” I wanted to tell him but I stopped myself. I was never going back to Silver Moon.
Why claim a pack that didn’t want me?
“Yes, Flower?” He probed.
“I have no pack.” I answered, lowered my face.
“What do you mean you have no pack? Every werewolf belongs to a pack.” He uttered in disbelief.
“I… I’m a rogue.” My tone shook a little as I said those words.
“A what?” His tone had gone from curious to something that sounded like anger.
“A rogue.” I looked up at him.
His face contorted as his eyes went red, that was the color of his wolf. He was an Alpha, I realized with a surprise.
“Get up and get out!” He commanded.
The authority in his voice had me jolting in both fear and shock. My brows knitted. “B-but why?”
The pack doctor walked in, he was followed by a young looking maid who carried water on a tray.
“Take that back!” He ordered the girl.
She was startled by his tone and wordlessly turned around, walking out of the room.
“What’s wrong, Alpha? She needs water.” The pack doctor was as surprised as I was.
“Not in my pack would she be given hospitality.” He gritted, eyeing me with disdain.
What was my crime? Because I told him I was a rogue? Maybe he had something against them.
“But why?” The doctor asked the same question I’d asked.
“She’s a rogue!” He all but spat.
“Oh.” The pack doctor sighed helplessly. He didn’t say any other word.
“I can not believe I just saved a rogue from two other rogues! Mother of the Moon, what a fool I was!” He exclaimed angrily.
“W-what? I…”
“Shut up and leave my pack this minute before I order my guards to roughly drag you to the end of the border!” His voice deepened. “Who knows? This might even be your plan with those rogues! Sadly, they aren’t alive to tell the tale. Just get up and get out! Haven’t your kind done enough already?!”
While he ranted and raged, I wondered what had made him so incensed.
“What’s your plan this time? To kill me?! Take my pack?! They sent you to come seduce me?! Get out!”
I jerked to attention and quickly climbed down the bed that was beginning to be so comfortable. I headed for the door, confused and at the point of tears.
Where would I go to? Where would I sleep? Everywhere was dark. How long had I been unconscious for?
Was it morning or still night?
My steps were lagged and my movement slow, result of a battered, weak body and fear of the outside world, especially with my pregnancy.
Those were rogues that had attacked me. Who knew what worse fate awaited me outside.
I turned to plead but his eyes told me it would be no use. So I left the place and walked towards the border, even though I had no idea where it was.
“The border is that way. Leave and never return. If I ever see your kind on my territory, I’ll have their head, including yours.” The Alpha warned in a grave tone.
Wow, he must really hate rogues.
It was a long time, following his direction, before I got to the border and walked deep into the forest, roaming about.
Then I heard the crying of children. A bit scared as I was not used to being out this late, I was about to run.
But then I heard a small voice. “I’m tired. I wish we can find home. I’m cold and hungry.”
Sympathy filled me then I remembered that guy who had come to the Alpha to talk about missing people.
So they were children.
I walked towards the direction of their voice and soon made out the outline of children but I couldn’t tell how many they were.
“Hey.” I softly greeted, approaching them carefully so as not to spook them.
“S-stay away from u-us.” One was trying to act brave.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” I assured them. “Are you lost?”
“Y-yes.” The boy who’d tried to act brave, broke down.
I reached out and comforted them. I realized they were five of them.
“Let’s find a place to sleep for the night. Tomorrow, I’ll take you back home.”
“Promise?” A little girl stepped forward.
I could not see her properly but I nodded. “I promise.”
At the first light, I could see their faces properly now. There was two boys and three girls. The boys would be no older than eight while the girls were about four to five year of age.
Together, we started the journey back to their pack. It was a long walk but we saw a search party as soon as we stepped into the pack's border.
The people came rushing towards us and two families hugged their children.
“Where did you find them?” A teary eyed mother asked.
“In the forest. They were wandering.”
“Thank you so much.” A father stepped forward to take me hand in gratitude.
“It’s okay. I’m glad they are fine.” I turned to leave.
Their Alpha didn’t want me in his pack.
“Let’s take you to our Alpha. He’ll want to express gratitude as well.”
“No, I’m not sure he’ll want to…”
“Who found them?” I heard his voice before I saw the face.
My heart skipped, remembering how harsh he’d been to me last night.
“It’s this lady, Alpha.”
They gave way and he spotted me. “You!”
- Writer
