CHAPTER 7

*ADRIENNE*

I lay on my bed for a while, trying to go to sleep, but my mind was worried. I still didn't know what I was doing here in Scotland, and my scar kept on tingling. 

After a few minutes, I gave up trying to sleep and instead, I went to the bathroom to wash away the dirt and grime from the travel. I hoped the warm showers would calm my nerves and make it easier for me to sleep. 

When I got out of the shower, there was a folded pile of clothes on my bed. I picked one up hesitantly and looked at it. It was a large hoodie. Certainly bigger than my size, but just how I liked it. I put it on and slipped on a pair of jogger trousers that were exactly my size. 

"Who had brought these in?" I wondered as I packed them and tucked them in the built-in wardrobe. Just as I was done, a small knock sounded on the door and Alpha Ezra came in. 

I immediately bowed, surprised that he did not summon me to his office, instead, he had come here by himself. 

"I'm glad you are making yourself at home, Adrienne," he said. 

I nodded meekly, still looking at my feet. "Yes, alpha. Thank you for the clothes."

"That is my wife's doing. You should thank her instead," He waved my gratitude aside. "When you are well rested, we will have Bonnie take you shopping for clothes that fit you."

"These ones are just fine, sir," I said. 

"Perhaps," He mused. "But you still have to go shopping. It eases socializing, you will get to meet other female wolves of your age at the mall."

I was about to tell him that I don't have a wolf, but Bonnie's warning rang in my ears and I swallowed the lie.

"Sit down," He said. "We need to have a talk," 

I obeyed and sat down at the edge of my bed. I clasped my hand tightly between my knees and waited. His next words took me by surprise.

"That mark on your neck," He said. "What happened to you there?"

"It was an accident that happened when I was little, sir," I replied. "My pack was attacked and I was bitten."

He looked away. "I might have heard something of the sort." He stroked his beard before continuing. "You might be wondering what I have brought you here for..."

I nodded. 

"In all honesty, when I accepted to take you in, I had no idea why. All I saw was a broken, bruised wolf that needed a pack," He said. 

"Not broken, sir," I muttered. 

"What?"

"I said not broken sir," I repeated. "I am not broken."

He chuckled. "I see. You have a strong spirit, child." He stood up and walked to the window. "Everyone in this pack has a duty. You're done with high school, yes?"

I nodded. 

"Good. Your next step will determine the rest of your future. You might choose to become a healer. We have schools for that here -- both traditional and medical -- You can choose to be the pack's architect, you will be involved in drafting our buildings and territory." He paused. "You can focus on diplomatic relations. You will learn how to negotiate with rival packs."

"Like what you did with Jake," I said. Ignoring that I did not bother to put the 'Alpha' title before his name. 

Alpha Ezra nodded. "Yes, something like that. It was not entirely a negotiation. He held my son, and you were part of an apology gift for the mistreatment of my son." He turned to look at me. 

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ears. "I want to be a warrior. I want to learn military strategies and combat."

"I'm afraid I can't allow that," He said. 

"What? why?"

"You are strong already as you are," he replied. "I saw what you did to your previous Alpha's son."

I smiled wickedly at the reminder. 

"I have no doubt that he must have tried using his alpha aura to get what he wanted," Ezra said in low tones. "But for some reason, they did not work on you and you still refused. You even had the willpower to fight him back."

This was getting to the topic I was not ready to talk about. Alpha Ezra walked closer to me. 

"Your previous Alpha told me you were wolfless," He stood in front of me. "But that is not true. My wolf can sense your wolf and she wants to join my pack."

Thea, is that true? I asked in my head. She whined in agreement. 

"So tell me... Why does Jake think you are wolfless?" He asked. There was no forced alpha aura, but I was compelled to tell him the truth. A wolf can not lie to his or her alpha when asked a direct question. 

"I was a late bloomer, sir," I said. "And I shifted only once. It hurt so much I got scared of shifting again, so I never did."

"But that is not enough reason for Jake to treat you the way he did. What happened?"

"He blamed me for the death of my parents," I answered. 

"And are you responsible?" He asked softly. 

I looked away. That was a question I had battled with myself over. Am I responsible? If only I had listened to Finn's warning and stayed indoors during the attack, Dad would have not been killed, and Mum would still be alive. If only the moon goddess had not cursed me to be the blood wolf, all these bad luck would not have befallen my life. 

Alpha Ezra placed an arm on my shoulder. "Do not think about it too much, alright? You are safe here."

"Thank you, sir."

"And do not be scared to shift. You are a werewolf. It is your nature. Do you hear me?" 

I nodded. 

"I am going to induct you into my pack soon. But before that, if you want to take a run, the whole woods surrounding the pack belong to us. Be free." He proceeded to walk out of my room, giving me privacy. 

After the Alpha left my room, I lay on my bed again and reminisced on the meeting. He was not like any powerful man I had ever met. He was gentle and treated me with respect. 

He said his son had been captured by Alpha Jake. Was his son the one in the neighboring cell? I wondered to myself. 

If Alpha Ezra was gentle and kind, that means his son would be alike. I was so used to the rude, brutish boys from my previous pack that the thought of meeting a calmheaded man was like a cool breeze on a hot afternoon.

I could hear Thea prancing about in my head. She was agitated and unrestful. 

"Run. Run. Run," She chanted in my head. 

"I can't," I muttered. "I've never done it before."

"Neither have I," she countered. "Well do it together. Let's go." I pushed off the bed and walked out of the room. It was late evening already so most of the house was asleep and quiet. I tiptoed out the front door.

The moon was rising, it was not a full moon but it was bright. I took in a deep breath. Scottish air was rich and scented like herbs. I walked to the edge of the woods and took off my clothes. I knew the theoretical aspects of shifting. We had been taught in school. I laid my clothes in a neat pile on the floor and went on all fours. I took in controlled breaths and closed my eyes, giving Thea the control for the first time. 

Blinding pain shot through my back as my bones morphed and changed shape. When I opened my eyes, the night was brighter than ever. I looked at my hand... my paw, it was huge and was red-furred. It was beautiful. 

I started with a slow jog into the woods and slowly picked up speed, leaping over fallen logs of wood and feeling the wind wash over my face. It was exhilarating.

My ears picked up every sound in the night forest as I ran, but I didn't notice a huge shadow moving in fast from my side. It barreled into me hard and sent me tumbling across the floor. 

I leaped back up and stared at what it was. It turned out to be the biggest black wolf I had ever seen. His deep, golden yellow eyes accessed me from a distance.

There was something familiar and terrifying about this wolf, even Thea, who was usually stubborn seemed to mellow at his presence. He snarled at me once as if to say; "Don't get in my way again!" Then turned about and disappeared into the night. 

I stood in the middle of the woods and gathered my thoughts. I remember that scent. It reminded me of the night 9 years ago. It was the scent of the leader of the rogues that had attacked us.