Chapter 2

I stood before the judge, my eyes blinking repeatedly mixed with my thoughts and feelings but the Pack doesn't care about how I feel. To them, I'm a killer. The courtroom was silent as the Judge flipped through a big book in front of her to read out my judgement. My heart was in my mouth and my gaze fell on the floor; I wished I could undo all that had happened, especially with Eric.

"After all said by the Pack and its members......" The Judge adjusted his glasses and continued. "Here is my judgement; that you Raya Sean is hereby banished from Growl Blue Pack, never to return and this shall take effect in five days time."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. This is my hometown and now, I'm being chased out of it like an outcast.

"Failure to leave could lead to death. I rise!" He said and exited the courtroom.

Everyone left the courtroom one after the other till I was the only one, murmuring and had my fate in their mouth. I fell to the ground, sobbing hard until I heard a step.

It was dark and nobody could have come this close when they knew I was still here. The scent was of a male, it was strong and pleasant to my nose. I quickly had to control myself as the young man emerged.

"Are you okay?" His deep soft voice asked as he stretched out his hand to help.

"Stay away from me." I yelled and held my legs close to my chest.

The man refused to leave but stood at the corner and kept staring at me. I wanted to scream at him, drive him out, pour all my frustration on him but his scent weakened me and it became my strength.

"Who are you?" I finally asked after about an hour of the staring competition.

"Hi, I'm Leo." He said and began to approach me.

"Stay away!" I yelled. "I only asked who you are."

"Okay!" He raised his hands in surrender.

"I didn't mean to frighten you. I heard your sobs and decided to come help you......."

"Answer the question before I lose it!" My wolf growled as she was running out of patience.

"I'm Leo, an Alpha from the neighboring Pack. I came here for a business deal."

"So you're not from here?" I mumble with trembling lips.

No wonder he was able to come close to me. I got up.

"You have to leave now." I said in a firm voice, though I was still sniffing.

"Why? You're hurt, you need help."

"I don't need your help!" I screamed and he stared at me like I was losing my mind.

Of course, I was. I had lost about four mates to death in the last two years. You don't expect me to behave as a sane wolf, do you?

"I don't know what is going on with you but you have to calm down, woman. I really want to help you." He said with pleading eyes that glistened my heart.

I lost control and began to cry and fell to the ground. He bent over and slowly pulled me in for a hug.

"It's going to be fine." He said, patting my back.

"Do you live close by? I can give you a ride home."

"There's no need for that. My house is just a throw stone away" 

He helped me up and in the process, I got a handful of his scent which enticed me a lot. He walked me home but I made sure nobody saw him.

"Have a seat, please." I offered him in a kind gesture.

He responded with a bright smile and sat down; he reminds me greatly of my dear Eric but I would never be able to experience that.

I went to the kitchen and got him a glass of chilled water.

"Thanks for your gesture." He said minutes after.

"You should get going now, it's getting late." I said, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Why?" He asked and I responded with a sharp glare.

"Well, I know it's getting late and I should be on my way but you're yet to tell me why you were in there, crying all by yourself."

"Do I need someone to cry with me?" I teased in a harsh way.

"Of course! Someone like me." He teased with a smile.

I was almost mesmerized by his smile but looked away.

"There's no point in telling you. My fate is decided already. You need to leave now, I don't want to be seen with you."

"I don't quite remember that being seen with a stranger here is a crime. Why are you so hard on yourself?"

"Because life had been hard on me!" I snapped from my subconscious state.

"I'm sorry, please." I pleaded for my rudeness and my eyes were fixated on the floor.

"If life had been hard on you, then you need to be softer. You can't handle the yow, especially the one coming from you." He said and stood up.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your troubled peace." He continued. "I'll take my leave now." He said and made to leave.

Seeing him leave broke my heart in a way I failed to comprehend. I could not be able to smell his scent; I consoled myself with this but I knew it was a lie. It was something o could not explain.

"Wait!" I called out and he looked back at me with a brow raised.

"You can stay for the night....... If you want to" I stuttered and he gave me his best smile.

"I'll stay if you tell me what happened to you" He insisted.

At least, I needed someone to talk to in a time like this but what if he gets scared of me? What if he turns out to be as stubborn as Eric and decided to love me? He would end up dead as well. That would be too bad to start with with my new home.