The rumors

I ate breakfast in my truck in the school parking lot, watching as people slowly arrived. A new buzz filled the air as everyone rushed to talked to their friends. I tried to ignore it all, I only had one more week till this strange party the Alpha was planning and from the sounds of it some of the outside packs were getting here early already. I hoped out of my truck praying that maybe the whole pack didn’t know but knowing that most of Charlotte’s friends would know by now. I was shocked when I overheard two omegas whispering to each other, “so the Alpha invited them for her?? Not for Charlotte?” “Yup, supposedly he’s hoping one of them will let her go to their pack so he doesn’t have to make her a rouge after all these years. Heck Luna named her Rouge and now he’s doing this. I doubt it will work though.” I tried ignoring them but as I was walking towards first period I overheard many of the same conversations, all about me and the packs that were coming. Some were kind, some were not. The good news was no one stopped me in the halls, it wasn’t like when the Elders confirmed I wasn’t a heir. When that happened no one would stop talking about it and I constantly had people ask me about it. This was going to make for a rough week though. I was just hoping maybe it wouldn’t get to bad.

“Rouge!” Scarlet called across the court yard, I looked up to see her practically running towards me. A smile spreads across my lips, I knew no matter what I would always have a friend in Scarlet. I used to joke if I ever became a Luna I’d make her my Beta, we both knew it would probably never happen but it was fun to joke about just between the two of us. “Rouge, is it true other packs are coming??” She squealed as she skidded to a stop in front of me. “Yup, James told me last night and from what I can tell one pack is already here. Did you see the piece of meat on Charlotte’s arm?? Totally her style.” I smirked nodded my head slightly behind me in the direction I last saw Charlotte. “That’s strange for another pack member to be coming to the school.” I heard concern in Scarlet’s voice as a puzzled looked quickly took over the happy smile. “I’m not worried about it but I am worried about what this means for me. James said there is going to be multiple packs and he seems like he might let me stay till graduation if one of them is willing to take me in.” I could hear the sadness in my voice. I knew I wasn’t truly wanted, I knew for whatever reason James felt he owed my mom making sure I grew to maturity but I always hoped maybe there was more to it then just that. That maybe along the way he would choose to keep me in the pack. This was the only home I knew of and the thought of leaving scared the ever living day lights out of me.

Lost in thought I felt Scarlet wrap me into her arms. “Rouge, no matter what you’ll be my bestie. I promise.” I smiled at her but knew the reality was that if Alpha James ordered her to abandon me, she would not be able to ignore the command even if she hadn't pledged herself into the pack yet, she was still forced to obey the alpha because she was born into the pack. I hoped maybe I'd get lucky and she'd be able to follow me where I went but I also didn't want my best friend to end up a servent to another pack just because she was loyal to me. I loved Scarlet and maybe if my life had been different, if I hadn't been born a rouge she would be my beta and I would be in training to be a luna but that wasn't the reality. The reality is this week, staying at her house would probaly be the best part of my future. The reality is I couldn't risk shifting till I left pack lands, the truth was, no one outside of Scarlet at the dark woods pack could ever know about the alpha blood in my vains. 

"What if they already know?" a voice whispered in my mind. I shook off the feeling of unease and refused to acknowledge

the question, grabbing Scarlet by the hand I rushed to class. It was going be rough enough getting to eighteen without questioning if anyone in the pack knew of my alpha blood, after all Alpha James had taken over from his father before him and it's not like my mother was his sister or something. I am sure I would have heard about that if that was the case even if Alpha James asked them not to talk about it and Alpha Jame's family had lead the pack for genertations before. I am sure it was on my father's side so I would wait. I would hope which ever pack took me on wouldn't kill me when they found out. I just needed to make it to my eighteenth birthday then graduaction before shifting. The was just a month, I could manage just one more month; I already had managed for years what would one month hurt. 

"Rouge, what if you find out your mate is here?" Scarlet suddenly came to a dead stop hurting my shoulder some at the sudden stop. "I can't worry about my mate Scar you know that, I just got to hope I can get into one of these packs. That one of them will want what seems like a none shifter." I replied smiling at her a little. "I also would be happy if I could maybe get into a pack as something other then a servant." I chuckled. "I am sure you will, they will smell your wolf and if they have any brain cells they will realize your more then what meets the eyes." Scarlet replied with a smirk. "I'm also kinda hoping I don't end up in Thomas's pack with they way he's letting Charlotte hang all over him. If he finds that okay I am scared to see how his pack is ran, I've never seen such behavior displayed towards a alpha's child. I know Charlotte isn't innocent but hinting they are mates when it's clear he's problay eighteen, he would know even if she's not yet eighteen if that's his mate or not." I rolled my eyes at the thought of the behavior I had witnessed. He looking at me like he was even with Charlotte hanging all over him. I wouldn't want my mate to ever behave that way to a younger wolf. I hoped if I ever met my mate that he would be kind honestly and that we wouldn't be forced to relive the story my parents lived but at the same time I accepted years ago I might never be able to meet my mate due to the life I was born into.

"Hey Rouge, you hoping to be turned into a pleasure slave by one of these visiting packs?!" a voice rang out over the hall chatter. Silience followed as one of the male students I remembered seeing hanging around Liam moved towards me. He was in warrior training with him and was already said to be assaigned to one of the alpha's elliet teams as soon as he graduated. He was a senior like myself and helped with training the other younger students espically those the alpha favored like his son. "What the hell did you say Duke?!" Scarlet growled at him. "What no answer Rouge? That means it's true right??" He chuckled. He was now standing in front of me and Scarlet and had a good foot and a half on us both in height. "Oh you wish Duke, I knew you always had a thing for me but to think you'd come visit if that was the case is charming but you could have just asked me on a date instead of hoping I'd become a pleasure slave, it would have given you a better chance of me taking a instrest." I replied fighting the rage that was burning inside. "Yeah right, I wouldn't touch a rouge girl like you." he smirked but I saw a weird glint in his eyes. "Oh no Duke, did I hurt your feelings. I hope you understand even if I was a pleasure slave, I would rather be punished then EVER be with you." I snarled. "We all know the alpha's little rouge will be gone soon one way or another." Duke mumbled before walking off. It took a few minutes for the others in the hall to stop staring and move on to class. "Scarlet. You don't think that Alpha James would let that happen do you?" I whispered trying not to let the fear escape. "I'm not sure Rouge but I know that no matter what happens we will find a way to make sure that your never in that postion. I rather you go rouge then let someone take advantage of you." Scarelt replied pulling me into math class. I could hear the whispering around me about what happened in the hallway, everyone coming up with their own theories on what would happen to me when I left. Some people believed I'd still go rouge, others believed I'd end up a slave and a few rare people whispered that maybe Alpha James would change his mind and let me stay. The sound of the bell didn't stop the whispers and I knew offically this would be the longest week of my life if these rumors were just going to get worse. "Class enough!" Mrs. Valentine yelled finally getting the class to shut up. I hated math but I was thankful today that Mrs. Valentine hated disruptions in her class room. The next hour was spent doing alegrbra in silience as each time someone began to whispers Mrs. Valentine would smack their desk with her ruller which was effective enough with werewolf hearing to stop people from wanting to talk. 

"Rouge Silverflame to the office please." The intercome rang out between the next class periods. I sighed hoping nothing to major was about to happen and went off towards the offive. The halls now buzzing with much harsher rumors then first arriaving to school. I spotted Charlotte smiling and talking to her friends at her locker, still hanging on Thomas's arm. Luckily she didn't notice me or at least she didn't acknologle me being in the hallway. I did notice her friend giving me the stink eye but attempeted to ignore the drama, I had enough of that already. I hoped whatever reason I was being called to the office wasn't going keep me to long as I had science next and I needed to ask for some help on a few of my homework questions and my teacher ablsoulety hated when people were late for class as it was. I couldn't think of a reason to be being called to the office though. 

I walked in to see the princiable and vice princiable waiting for me. "Rouge, please step into my office." Mr. Desmond said montioning into his office. I stepped inside my nervous spiking as it had been years since I had been in the princiable's office. "Rouge, we've been told you attacked a student in the hallway before first period." Mr. Desmond told me looking concerened. "The student said that he was walking past you and you over heard him talking about a paper he wrote about pleasure slaves and that you attacked him thinking he called you such a thing. He now has a black eye." He contiued. "No sir. I didn't attack anyone. I was insulted in the hallway before math by Duke but it was verbal only and he walked off after our argument perfectly fine. I was with Scarlet and many more students viewed the interaction." I replied trying not to show that I was upset. "Rouge, we've been told about next week and we understand you might be lashing out but physical violence is never the answer yet alone allowing your wolf out." He countiued. "Sir, I haven't shifted yet." I blurted out interupting whatever he was about to say next. I saw him sniff the air and cock his head to the side, clearly confused. "Your almost eighteen but I can tell that your not lying. We will look into it more but Rouge understand if you get into a fight with another student that you could get kicked out. Even this close to graduation." He montioned for me to leave before turning his attention to the vice princiable. "Get Duke for me please." 

I left and hurried to science sliding into my seat next to Scarlet wondering why Duke would have lied and how he had a black eye when I never touched him. One month, one month and I would graduate this stupid school and hopefully never have to deal with such drama again.