Welcome to the pack.

Karina

“Hey, Katherine, you’re needed here.”

“Coming,” I replied in turn, preparing the order.

Katherine was the name that I went by in this city, close enough for me to get familiar with it yet farther from my real name. I tried not to think much about the reason why I changed my name, pushing away all thoughts of the idea that Connor was actually looking at me.

He was likely in his pack by now, living his life and probably doing what he was born for. It had been almost a year after all.

I moved past other people, excusing them as my large baby bump grazed them whilst carrying the ordered food.

Discovering that I was pregnant came as a big shock. Only a few weeks after I had travelled I found myself sick. It all clicked together when I used a pregnancy test, confirming my suspicions.

My brain had a hard time wrapping around the thought, but in the end, I made the decision to keep it and treat my child with the same unconditional love my parents gave me.

So for the first time, I had made a decision to finally be stable.

Unfortunately, that meant that the money I raised every time for travelling couldn’t be enough for a stable home and to raise a child. I had nine months to get enough to support myself.

Thus, I found myself working more day end jobs, stretching myself to the limit but still trying to take care of myself.

One of the places being this café.

The place was overall the best pay I got compared to my other jobs and the owner, Lola, was incredibly relaxed, hiring me on the spot and even offering to pay me for the rest of my pregnancy. I refused, opting to work until the period of my due date.

That was my number one principle, I always repaid my favours one way or the other.

As I moved to the customer holding, holding the order in my hands, I smiled courteously.

“Sorry for the wait,” I muttered.

“Wait." The command made me stop. When I saw his face, my heart fell.

I had seen it too late. He was a werewolf.

But at the same time, I scrunched my brows as I gained a whiff of his scent. He smelled like a pack, yet I could also sense that he seemed like a rogue.

It was a juxtaposition of two things that shouldn’t mix. Why was his scent like that?

“My name's Gino.” He said, looking slightly surprised.

I instantly moved to defensive mode.

“Leave me alone,” I snapped aggressively, ready to turn away.

“Please." His words made me stop in place, a brief moment of doubt and hesitation filling me.

“You can leave after but I want to talk to you." He said. “You can have a seat.” He offered. I hesitated before I sat down.

He spouted words I couldn't understand at first. It came to my surprise when I found out that there wasn't just one pack but two within the city, making my hackles rise. Confusion took over once he began explaining a pack filled with rogues and how they somehow knew of my presence here. I couldn't believe it until he invited me to his 'pack.'

“You can call this number, anytime you change your mind.” He said, passing this number in a napkin.

“And if I don’t?” I looked up cautiously.

To my surprise, he shrugged. “Then you can keep on living your life here. No pack will disturb you.”

An entire month passed whilst I held his number, continuously contemplating whether to use it or not. In the end, I pushed it all away in favour of what I believed was more important; my work.

Until a week later, I suddenly went into labour.

My eyes brimmed with tears the moment I saw the baby in my arms. 'Levi' was the name I settled for, happy to hold him in my arms.

A week after my discharge, I finally decided to make the call.

“Hello?” To my surprise, it wasn't the man's voice but a woman’s voice.

“I need help.”

By the next day, I found a car in front of my apartment building, with an unfamiliar man who introduced himself as Felix.

I had packed all of my things, waiting uncomfortably as he took them all into the car. Immediately after, we drove.

I was curious to see what such a pack was actually like. One with more freedom and without the stigma I was used to. Anticipation filled me to the brim.

It was bigger than I had ever known. My former pack was merely the size of a little village compared to the expanse of area I saw.

When a figure approached, I had to restrain my curiosity.

It was a young woman who looked just about my age. Her hair was bright as the clouds and she held a gentle smile. She didn't look any younger than me and despite myself, I felt at ease the closer I came to her.

Once she looked at me, she smiled, putting me at ease.

“My name is Isabella. I’m the… Well, sort of Luna in the pack. What’s yours?” She spoke. It took an edge off me.

“Katherine,” I said in reflex. My eyes widened as I realized that I had told her my false name, yet my lips remained sealed.

“Well, Katherine, you look incredibly beautiful. The baby glow really suits you.” She said sincerely.

I looked away, slightly flushing from her words. I hadn’t received any compliments from anyone aside from my parents, and when I ran away, I had managed to remain invisible. There was only one other person who had complimented me.

“Thank you," I muttered, before looking around.

“So, where will I be staying?” I spoke tentatively, wondering how long I had to take shelter here.

“Wherever you wish to. For as long as you wish, you are now a member of this pack,” Isabella replied.

My eyes almost bugged out of my head from the shock her words gave.

“Just like that?” I asked dumbfounded.

I would have thought that there was some kind of indoctrination ceremony. Anything.

Smiling, the woman shook her head and shrugged.

“We do need to figure out where you'd prefer to stay, but that’s for you to decide. There are plenty of empty spaces for you to lodge in.” She said, gesturing to the multitude of buildings.

“But… but what about…”

A kinder, more gentle smile rested on her face.

“We were all members of a pack once and yet so. It's not just a pack. This is a safe haven for all who lost theirs.” She smiled.

The way she made it sound made something churn in me as an unfamiliar emotion curled in my belly.

Hope.

She smiled at me. “Welcome to the Rogue pack, Katherine.”