2

Lila’s POV

It's been two years since that soul-piercing and humiliating night.

After I ran into the shadows of Silverwood forest that night, I encountered two rogues who eventually brought me to their leader, Danny Vaxton

One good thing I learned about rogues is that, unlike those packs out there, they don't discriminate because of one's wolf rank.

Now, I'm a well-trained rogue fighter and no longer the weakling of the past.

I've become more mature, and although I'm not shredded like most female rogues in the community, it can be seen that I'm more than feminine curves, I pack a rather hurtful punch despite my petite size.

Rogues train and spar every day with their lives on the line; A puss cannot survive in this harsh environment.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror one more time.

I'm dressed in a black fitted crop top and bum shorts. Today, I had agreed to spar with Liana, one of the best female rogue fighters in the community.

We haven't seen eye to eye since the day her boyfriend dumped her and took to chasing me like I was key to world survival.

All my attempts to make peace with Liana have failed and in this terrain, what can't be solved with words will surely be resolved through brawls.

Like a red stain on a snowy white fabric, the scar on my left shoulder couldn't be ignored.

All this time, I had never gone out of my apartment without my shoulders covered. I felt somewhat ashamed of the scar that was the aftermath of Cassian's rejection.

When it formed on my shoulder, I had spent only two days in this land. I'd been covering it up ever since because it only reminded me that I was abandoned, and unwanted.

However, today, I'd decided to go out like this, to show I'm not letting a man decide my worth.

He rejected me, that's his loss. I've never inquired nor gotten news of the Bloodstone pack; I know the Alpha wouldn't bother to find someone he deemed unworthy of being his Luna.

As I stepped out of the apartment, I ambled towards the general kitchen, wanting to snag a fruit or two from one of the friendly maids there.

However, just before I could make a turn, I came across two persons talking.

I usually wasn't nosy but this time around, something pushed me to eavesdrop.

And that's when I heard Danny telling his third in command that our rogue community was more than strong enough to take down the Bloodstone pack in one fell swoop.

According to Danny, reports from implanted spies were that the pack was just a paper tiger at the moment.

I became curious, wanting to know more. But hearing footsteps, I assumed one of them was coming my way.

I stealthily moved back to my apartment's entrance and pretended to be locking the door.

Then I headed in the same direction, encountering leader Danny. I bowed my head as I muttered my greetings to him.

He gave me a dismissive wave and proceeded to walk on, with his usual powerful strides.

"You've improved," I heard him say without stopping in his tracks, "but your stealth is still lacking.

"Forgive me, Leader," I implored, going on one knee. " I didn't mean to eavesdrop,"

"It's your first time, and you've been a good girl, that's why I'm letting you off easy this time,"

"Thank you, Leader," I uttered, head still inclined.

Only when I was sure he was out of sight and earshot did I sigh in relief.

Back then when they found me, I hadn't told them I belonged to the Bloodstone pack.

They didn't ask me that; all they knew was that I was an outcast from a pack, just like them.

I wondered why Danny said Bloodstone Pack was akin to a paper tiger. That shouldn't be possible; Bloodstone Pack ranks 2nd strongest in the world.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sneak into Bloodstone pack and see for myself if the pack had downgraded to the point of being seen by rogues as impuissant.

I would also do well to avoid being caught by any members of that pack, most especially Him.

With that in mind, I headed directly to the sparring ring where I taught Liana a memorable lesson with my fists.

Two days later, I successfully snuck out of the rogue community.

Following a stolen map, I eventually found myself at night near the borders of Bloodstone pack.

I could see the guards patrolling, security was tighter than before.

But that didn't mean I couldn't enter, otherwise, I had trained all this time for nothing.

I succeeded in getting into the pack and made proper use of my stealth skills getting from one structure to another, avoiding being seen.

Though a youth caught me, I knocked him out quickly before continuing my sneaky adventure.

Quite a lot has changed since I left and I could feel that the atmosphere in the pack was somehow a little depressing.

Still, I didn't mind, I kept moving around for almost half an hour.

I finally reached where my old apartment used to be. Now, in place of it, was a much bigger building.

I didn't know its use but still, I snuck into the building, ascending the stairs and making several turns. And just when I was about to make another turn, I came across two tall and beefed and hooded men having a serious conversation in the dimly lit corner.

Curious, I decided to listen in on to their conversation, adjusting my breath so they wouldn't detect my presence.

Their voices, though hushed, felt loud to me, and I couldn't help but feel one of them was familiar.

“Rogues are planning to attack us. That’s what the spy confessed, Alpha,”

My eyes widened. No wonder I felt familiar with the taller hooded one. Turns out he was Cassian Thorn, the bastard who shattered me two years ago.

“I see,” the Alpha said, “What’s the scale and when do they plan on attacking?”

The other guy whom I’m guessing to be his Beta, Kael Blackwood, responded, “He crushed something in his mouth before we could extract any other information,”

I heard Cassian suspire, “Well, no matter the scale, we’re always ready for them,”

“Alpha, we have to make sure the affected people recover before the rogue's attack,”

“But even our pack’s healer couldn’t create the cure. This spy has been poisoning our people for a long time and so subtly,”

“Come to think of it,” said the Beta, “I have a speculation this spy deliberately let himself get caught,”

I nodded to myself. This spy they were talking about was called a death warrior; they do anything to succeed in their mission and even if they don’t succeed, they commit suicide by cracking the pill in their mouth.

I believe this spy was to die from the beginning despite the success of his mission which should be to weaken the battle prowess of the pack. His dying without much useful information being extracted from him would bring further unease into the pack.

Now I see why Leader Danny said Bloodstone Pack was currently impotent.

Well, not that I cared. This pack treated me badly and made fun of me in my lowest moments. I don’t care if they get ruined, I have no ties to this pack. Just like they said that night, I’m a rogue’s daughter. The rogue community is where I belong.

With this thought in mind, I resolved to get out of here the moment these men were done with their conversation. Perhaps I could also learn something more useful that I could confess to Leader Danny in case he caught on to the fact that I sneaked out of the community without his permission.

Suddenly, I felt something bite me and in that moment of distraction, I knocked over a trash can.

"Shit!" I internally cursed, making a pivot, attempting to flee.

But then, I saw, to my surprise, that one of the men had blocked my escape. He was glaring daggers at me, fangs already out.

"Who are you, and who sent you?"