Chapter 5 : My Own Room

“Watch where you’re going, rogue,” he spat in a deep, rumbling voice.

My eyebrows raise at his tone. “My apologies,” I muttered, not really meaning it. He should have been able to dodge me. Yes, we were in a rush, but we weren’t running, especially, he had the keen senses of his wolf on his side.

It was almost as if he wanted me to bump right into him.

He tilted his head slightly, looking down at me with danger swimming in his gaze. “I hope you aren’t messing around,” he said. “You haven’t much time left to find a solution to our problem. The clock is ticking.”

“I believe I’ve figured out the problem.” I lifted my chin, hoping to sound much more confident than I felt. “I have reason to believe that there is some kind of blockage along the river. Perhaps it would be best if you sent a team out to investigate. I’d guess by the water level, the blockage is several miles up the river.”

I felt a rush of satisfaction when Jared’s eyebrows rose with surprise. For a short moment, he didn’t speak, but he quickly sneered down at me. “I must warn you to consider whom you’re speaking to before you try playing any tricks.”

What the hell? He wasn’t MY alpha and he damn sure didn’t have the right to speak to me like this for no reason.

My face grew hot with anger, but I kept my tone pleasant and smirked openly, “You’ve given me a task to complete and I’ve come to you with a solution, yet you refuse to accept it. Tell me, Alpha. Why even bother playing the just leader act when you could just kill me since that is your obvious end goal? I doubt your pack would think any less of you, despite your obvious cowardice.”

Avery gasped, the mortification clear in her voice. “Claire!”

I didn't normally lose control of my temper so quickly, but the alpha was doing it yet again. Every time he spoke to me it felt as if he was taking the very tip of a razor blade and slicing it along the thick skin I’d developed. Why was this happening? No one had ever affected me this way.

Jared’s expression darkened considerably, causing me to regret my little outburst. His fists briefly clenched at his sides, but they smoothed out just as quickly and he gave one curt nod.

“Very well, I’ll have a team sent out to investigate,” he practically spat and I let out a sigh of relief. 

However, the next moment, he smirked, the dangerous look still clear in his light brown eyes as he bent down toward me, murmuring in my ear. “You’d best watch yourself, rogue.”

I shivered at the obvious threat.

He straightened then and spoke loud enough for Avery to hear. “You’ve somehow managed to buy yourself more time.” 

Without looking at me, he walked past us, toward the direction of the community. “Avery.”

Avery jumped slightly. “Alpha?”

Jared paused and inclined his head toward the healer. “Find a room for her to stay.”

“Yes, Alpha!” Avery replied at once. “Do you have a particular room in mind?”

He ignored Avery’s questions. I tilted my head in confusion when I saw a tiny, pleased smirk form on the healer’s face.

Jared continued to stride off. “There’s a pack dinner tonight, so you’d better put on something less embarrassing, rogue.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, keeping myself from yelling “Jerkface!” to his disappearing back.

I was still bristling with annoyance when Avery took my hand and tugged me along behind her. I didn’t miss the mischievous look that had spread out across her round face. “Let’s get back. I’ll show you to your room.”

“Are pack dinners a common occurrence?” I asked as we walked.

Avery shook her head. “No, they’re mainly reserved for when Alpha has some important announcement.”

“Hopefully the announcement isn’t that he’s decided to kill me.”

Avery winced. “I know it’s probably difficult to believe given Alpha’s hard exterior, but he truly is a great leader, who cares deeply for his people.”

I grimaced inwardly. It wasn’t just difficult, it was impossible. I just pressed my lips together, unwilling to argue with the only person who actually cared about me.

We arrived at a large building that spanned the width of several single dwellings. A frail-looking old woman greeted us with a quiet nod, but I didn’t miss the curious look she gave me.

We went down a long, dark hallway and I realized that we were in some kind of living compound, which I assumed was probably temporary accommodation for guests or travelers. 

Avery stopped at a dark-wood door at the end of the newly renovated hall. She opened the door and gestured for me to go in first.

I did so and my eyes widened. 

The spacious living space featured a white leather sofa stretched across the room and a beautiful fireplace. At the far end of the room was an open white kitchen with dark granite countertops. 

To the right of the living room was a bedroom. I could see the blue bed with swirls and star patterns embroidered onto the blanket. There was a thick fur rug on the wooden floor, which led to a brightly lit, beautiful full bathroom with a window.

I whirled around to face Avery. “There must be some kind of mistake.”

Avery just grinned, glee swimming in her bright green eyes. “What do you mean?”

I gestured around the room wildly with my arms. “Look at this. It’s a luxury suite! I’m sure Jared didn’t mean for me to end up in such a nice place.”

Avery crossed her arms over her chest. “Nonsense. You deserve to stay in a nice room. You are our guest.”

I actually laughed out loud. “Guest? Were you not there when he was trying to burn a hole through my head with his eyes? He clearly hates me.”

Avery frowned. “I don’t believe he truly hates you,” she said stubbornly, “And don’t worry about the room. Alpha gave me full discretion to pick any room that I deemed appropriate.”

My eyebrows rose. “When did he do that?”

Avery just winked, tilting her head slightly. “I asked him if he had a particular room in mind, remember? He didn’t answer, so I took that as him giving me full discretion to make the decision myself.”

I laughed out loud at that, shocked by Avery’s boldness toward her alpha. She had seemed so meek back in the throne room that I was beginning to wonder if she had the capacity to even question his intentions.

I gave Avery a warm smile. “Thank you so much, Avery. For everything.”

I looked at the young healer in front of me, in awe at just how much kindness she had shown me in such a short time. She really was the perfect person to be a healer. Her presence alone could make people calm and peaceful.

Avery returned the smile with even more warmth, her eyes lighting up. She gestured to the shower. “Why don’t you take a nice, warm shower and I’ll bring you some clothes?” She gave me a brief look up and down. “We’re about the same height, so my clothes should fit you just fine.”

I thanked her profusely once again before she left me alone.

I wandered around the room like a child, opening drawers and exploring each nook and cranny. I could count on one hand the number of times I stayed in a room with actual walls, and that was when Uncle Ben was still with me. 

I sat on the floor of the room, running my fingers over the black fur rug. It had been so long since I was in a pack that I wasn’t sure I knew how to act or feel anymore. I wondered if the members of this pack could sense that about me. How strange it felt now to be among others, even if they didn’t accept me as one of their own.

I shook myself out of those thoughts and made my way into the bathroom. It was tempting to just flop onto the soft-looking bed with the pretty blanket, but a nice, warm shower did sound appealing. When was the last time I was able to wash myself with water that wasn’t ice cold?

I shut my eyes, allowing the warm water to roll off my body. I scrubbed at my dark hair, rubbing the tips of my fingers against my scalp. Everything that happened in the past few hours replayed in my mind. 

As I cleaned myself off, Jared’s light brown eyes emerged in my head. I gritted my teeth as I remembered the way he looked at me. His gaze had been intense, but was it only because he hated me as a rogue?

He clearly didn’t like me. He seemed to think that I was a burden to him and everyone else in the pack, but then why did he allow me to stay? If he really hated all rogues, he could have had me killed with no questions asked.

Unless he had a reason for keeping me alive, an ulterior motive. My stomach twisted as an unsettling thought surfaced.

What if he knew my secret?

If that was the case and he was just playing me, it was possible he wouldn’t hold up his end of the deal, even if I managed to help the pack with the water shortage.

No, there was no way he would know for sure. I must be overreacting. 

Taking a deep breath, I made my decision. I would do whatever it took to stay. Staying with the Moonstone pack gave me the best chance of survival. I would find a way to prove myself worthy in their eyes until I got my wolf back. 

For Uncle Ben, for my parents, and for my entire pack.

I bowed my head, feeling as if every second beneath the spray was rejuvenating my strength, as well as my resolve.

I had just wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out of the shower when I heard the door to my room open. I smiled and poked my head around the corner, ready to greet Avery warmly.

Only to find that it wasn’t her.