C H A P T E R - [ 5 ]

   [  Clarissa Grey  ]

I retired to my house after the eventful day ended.I could feel my heart being thrown under bulldozer whenever the image of my mate with another woman flashed through my mind.Mia howls in agony so to give her some peace of mind,I decided to go for a run in the nearby forest area once the night rolls on.

I hate the urban life,its not our natural habitate to live with ordinary humans but being a rogue,we aren't welcomed warmly by any other pack,most of them see us as a threat for themselves.I,myself escaped death many times when I and my mother wandered through the forests to find shelter,so having no other choice left to survive,we decided to settle down in the city of New York.

I called my mom in my way out of the city to inform her that I won't be coming for dinner so she should have her meal and rest,for our luck,my step father Willie also had a night shift which means-a peaceful sleep for my Mom.

I always crave for the love of family and protective members of pack who look after you in your vulnerable days but my fate seems to turn its back on me.I have come with the terms of living with my loneliness but since I met Trevor,the constant nagging in the bottom of my heart becomes unbearable.Every single minute,I want to be close to him,sniff his musky scent and melt in his mascular arms,feel his warmth but I know its going to remain a dream for me.

I ventured in the forests,my paws splashing on the muddy damp soil due to continuous rain pour but I never stopped.The fresh smell of rain on trees and woods soothed my restless soul.

I enjoyed the brush of cold chilly wind on my dark grey fur.I was completely wet,my muscles aching due to running for hours but I don't want to go back inside the four lifeless walls.I love to spend my time in natural landscape.

I closed my eyes,inhaling the cold and crisp air,enjoying the solitude when my ears perked up listening to the sound of bushes rustling.Someone or some wild animal is near me,I can hear the steady footsteps approaching in my direction.

Its around midnight and the warning for me to return,its not safe for a rogue to wander lonely what if I accidentally enter in a pack's territory.I turned on my hind legs and begin to run in order to leave the dense clusters of trees when another wolf's scent hit my nostrils.

Its worse than encountering a jaguar or leopard.Werewolves are the deadliest species unknown to humans who still believe that we are myths.

The scent is getting stronger so my fear to get caught and killed in cold blooded manner.My mother's face dance in front of my eyes.Perhaps,I would never get a chance to see her again because whoever is around me,if it's a wolf precisely a male wolf,then my death is certain as I am an average size wolf with no hard training to attack or save myself,all I know on the name of protecting myself is to run as fast as I can.

"Run fast Clar its coming nearer."Mia shouted in panic.

"I am running girl."I snorted at her remark.My legs begin to give up by the continuous running on the uneven muddy ground.

Suddenly a dark brown wolf appeared in front of me causing me to pause in my tracks,its amber colored eyes gleamed in blanket of darkness.Its not a big wolf but not small either.I watched it's movements closely as it took slow steps in my direction.I can't run because he or she is just a meter away from me and it would take it to rip my body into pieces if I try a wrong move so I silently prayed to Goddess Moon for my life.

I lowered my upper body into an attack mode though it was an effort to shield my neck from its canines.It let out a low growl,not one of anger or warning and by its strong smell I realised two things:Its a female wolf and belongs to a pack unlike me,a rogue on someone's mercy.I lowered my ears flat on my head and lowered on ground as a sign of submission.Its a wise choice to avoid fatal wounds.

She hides behind a tree and next I hear bone cracking means she is shifting to her human form so I decide to face her in my human form,its a civil way to interact because she has no intentions to attack on me,if she had,she would have killed me by now.

She appeared out dressed in a tank top and shorts.She threw a white shirt in my direction which I quickly grabbed.Its not uncommon among werewolves to see one another naked but I am not too comfortable to show my feminine parts.

"Thanks.."I mumble in gratitude and for the first time observe her features.

She is a tall and thin girl with flawless skin and honey blonde hairs reaching to her waist.Her grey eyes are the most enchanting feature of her beautiful face.

"Are you a rogue?"She asked me but by the expressions on her face I sense she already knows my identity.

Nevertheless,I nodded my head in affirmation.

"Then you shouldn't be strolling here at this hour.This is the area around the border of Lackside pack and I warn you that they are the cold blooded killers if they find a rogue on their terrotary.Their Alpha is the worst Alpha in the werewolf world.I hope you're a fool to repeat the same mistake again."She said to me in a firm yet calmer voice.

"I really didn't know that this forest belongs to a pack otherwise I'd never set a foot here but thanks for informing me.I promise you that this is the last time I entered here."I reply with a sad heart.

The only thing which helps me to keep myself sane and focused,running in the wilderness,is snatched from me now.I turned my back on her and made my way out of the forest.

"Wait Clarissa!"She yelled my name from behind which paused me in my tracks.

I am shocked!

How does she know my name?

I swiftly turned back to face her.Fear started to creep its way to my heart.

"I know who you are Clarissa Grey."She said softly,her eyes shows pity but for what?

"I am Thea,your boss Jason Elliot's mate and princess of the Lackside pack."She introduced herself.

What the hell!

Jason Elliot is a werewolf!

I gasp in shock.My boss is like me,a werewolf but why did he not reveal himself or try to harm me knowing well by now that I do not belong from any pack.

"Don't worry Clarissa,he is never going to hurt you.My Jason isn't a heartless man as my brother so its good if you do not ever come across him by any chance.He is the Alpha of our pack and Jason is his beta."She tells me and my heart started spinning by all the new revelations.

"I should get going now,good bye."I compose my frightening figure and hurried my steps to get out of her sight.

We aren't safe here any longer when the most powerful pack of this region smelled our presence around their borders and cherry on the top,the beta is my human boss.

Nice play my dear destiny.

"We can be friends Clarissa.I promise you,none of us is going to harm you or your family except for my brother that's why I am warning you beforehand but please for a second listen to me."Thea matches my pace.

"No Thea we can't be friends,no personal issues,you seemed to be a very nice person and I would have befriend with you but we can't ignore the reality Thea.You are the princess of Lackside pack and I am a fatherless rogue."I state the facts,"And rogues are either pitied or loathed,I hate both the reactions coming on us."Bitterness slips from my tongue for those packs,who gets shelter and pamper unlike us,left to survive on our own fate's mercy.

Not all of us are fortunate to live our lives to our last day of old days.

"But for once listen to me Clar-"I show my palm to her as a sign to silence her in mid sentence because none of her words are going to change my narrative of packs.They abandom us in our most vulnerable phase.

"Good bye Thea its really nice meeting you but don't tell anyone about it,not even your mate.I want to keep my professional status as it is,pretending to be an ordinary human.Thats it."I said with finalty before jumping on the road in my human form.

"Okay I won't bother you again if that's what you want Clarissa.I respect your wish but at least let me drop you off at your place and please don't refuse.Its not safe for a woman to venture alone on deserted road,both human or wolf,most men wouldn't see you in trouble but-"She paused knowing well that I get her idea.

I would be a fool if I turn down her humble offer in the middle of nowhere so I,without further reluctance take the ride back in the city in her car.

"So are you coming to the party tomorrow?"She asks me,I can't miss the excitement in her tone,but why?

"Yes my boss invited me so there is no reason for me to miss a party."I reply with a tight smile.

"You are coming great!"She exclaimed like a little girl.

Her behavior around me was weird!