CHAPTER 7- THE RULES

SERENA'S POV

 The night silence enveloped me like a blanket and the evening air was cool. But I was alone

I wanted to fall asleep but hunger scratched my stomach and sometimes I felt so scared like someone was watching me, like those guards would come back.

I sighed and buried my face in my palms as I burst into tears and my heart squeezed.

I remembered Eliot, the rejection, the betrayal, the way he had treated me like trash and my hand went to my stomach .

My little child, the only thing I had left.

The door opened and a young woman, possibly a man, walked in holding a tray.

Her demeanor was more kind than hostile. She didn't know how to approach me. 

“Thank you.” I said  in a hoarse voice.

 She gave me a nod 

It seemed like she understood that despite my best efforts to blend in,  I was not really one of them but she said nothing. She started to walk away but I interrupted her .

“ Wait.” I said ,my voice soft  in my throat. 

“Do you know the man who brought me here last night?”

For a moment she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Something briefly appeared in her eyes—perhaps fear—but it vanished too fast for me to notice. 

“I don't know .” She said softly and quickly left the room leaving me alone with my food and my thoughts.

 I exhaled and turned to face the food. There wasn't much—just a few slices of cold meat, cheese and bread—but my stomach rumbled in disapproval. I had hardly eaten since the night that everything went wrong. My thoughts drifted back to that night,.leaving Elliot, the rogues, the moment I thought death was near and then. . . the man. 

My mind whirled with confusion and curiosity but I was powerless to stop it. 

After lying to the guards, he left, promising to be back.but now hours later I haven't seen him and I didn't know his name either . 

 I bit into the meat, my mind still racing. I didn't taste much of the food but it was good. My desire for answers grew as I thought about that man more and more and I was about to lose my patience when I heard a gentle knock on the door. 

It was obvious to me who it was without even looking. The man from that night entered as the door creaked open. 

He looked more handsome than before and his green eyes locked tired and his hair silently went like he had had a shower before coming here.

He didn't say anything at first but I saw a smile spread across his lips.

He initially stood there and watched me without saying anything. I couldn't pinpoint the feelings that were fluttering in his eyes. 

“How are you feeling now?” He asked and took a seat across from me.

I nodded and muttered ‘ thank you.’

 “My name is Derrick. You're Serena aren't you?”

 He knew my name which surprised me and I swallowed hard. 

“Yes.” I said softly, feeling suddenly self-conscious in his presence. “My name is Serena. “

“I saw it on your locket .” He said pointing at my neck .

Then he cleared his throat 

“Why were you alone out there last night ?”

I was reluctant to tell him. The reasons I had been out there running for my life and the unpleasant memories I didn't want to share. He asked in a way that suggested he wasn't only interested in the story even though I knew he was asking out of curiosity.

 “ You won't just understand if I tell you.” I said in a small cracked voice. “ Maybe you might hate me.” I looked up at him.

“ You can trust me,the woods are not safe for someone like you and those rogues are not kind , they can tear you apart or steal from you .”

I exhaled, he doesn't know and I'm sure that he won't understand.

There was no need to tell him anything.

“ I can't tell you.” I said finally.

 “Okay, if you don't want to.Everybody has secrets.”

A chill went through my body but I was grateful for it.

 But before I could reply Derrick handed me a folded piece of paper that he had taken out of his coat pocket. .

“ These are the rules.” He said with that low menacing growl still in his voice. “In case you haven't seen them yet. Whether you like it or not you must abide by certain rules.”

My stomach knotted as I gazed at the paper in my hands. I had never given the terms packs and rules any thought until now. 

It all seemed so overwhelming and weird. I read the cold harsh words as I unfolded the paper, my hands trembling a little. 

With every line my heart pounded faster.

 1. Loyalty is key .Disloyalty will result in consequences. 

2. The leaders of the pack are your superiors. 3. Secrets are a weapon. Have no faith in anyone. 

4. Don't ever betray the pack. 

5. Never escape. You will be hunted down if you run. 

My mouth was dry and my eyes were wide as I looked up. 

“This… this is what I'm supposed to follow now?”

“Yes.” Derrick said. This is your life right now Serena. And you will learn to abide by these guidelines unless you wish to be a liability.”

Panic tightened a knot in my throat threatening to strangle me. But I was powerless. I had no idea where to go or what else to do. 

My heart was beating and at the same time , I was swimming in confusion 

“But this is not my pack.”

He gave a small nod.

“ I don't know why you left your pack but it might be because you are in danger.” He said. “ That,” he said. “ Are the rules governing The Ninth Pack?”

“I don't understand.” I said blinking in confusion.

“You would understand soon enough but get ready tonight we are leaving this place.”