Nick's POV
I was at the field training a set of the newly recruited members of the pack defense guard when Richard walked in with his friends, or should I say gang.
The once lively field suddenly became very quiet as soon as he walked in. Don't get me wrong, people are not scared of him, but they are terrified of his mother. His mother once beheaded a soldier for daring to scold him as a child.
Everyone around here seems to be scared of him because of the Luna position that his mother occupies. Well, everyone except me.
"So I heard you were not able to capture a female rogue yesterday."
Richard snorted, and his colleagues began giggling in a failed rehearsed routine. His voice made me pause in what I was doing to take a good look at him.
Apart from the fact that he is almost two feet shorter than me, he also looks like he is going to drop dead from his skinny frame any second soon. If he invested his pride and arrogance in his diet, I'm sure he would be way healthier and stronger.
The moon goddess must be sobbing on her mighty throne, knowing that this unfortunate fella will rule us all when the time comes.
"You know, most alphas in waiting usually lead such chases and become the heroes of their stories," I said, moving closer to him, daring him to utter one more word out of place so I could reconstruct his already deformed-looking nose.
"You should put these muscles of yours to work. At least, that's why you are allowed to stay with us at the packhouse. " He said, cowardly retracting his steps further away from me, along with his usual set of lazy, dumb friends.
I snared at him.
Just then, one of the team members on guard, sent a message through the mind link, for our team to come to take over the next shift. I got caught up with what I was doing, and I quickly went to the packhouse to get a light refreshment.
I have been in the field training all day. I usually use the training to keep myself away from staying at the Packhouse.
The Packhouse was empty when I got there. I wondered where all the servants and guards went, so I went to the kitchen to get something to eat. I opened the fridge to check out what was in it but finally decided to make do with the orange juice and crackers I found inside.
As I was about to sit down to eat, I thought I heard footsteps. I stood up to go check on who it was. I saw it was my father's mistress. She looked startled to see me and quickly hid the handmade doll that had little pins all over it.
What is she doing with a doll? Is she missing her childhood or something? I wondered.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, not able to hide the fact that she was stunned to see me at home at that time.
"I came for my lunch," I said, looking around to see if there was any other person with her. But she appears to be all alone. Now that's odd. Where is her entourage of guards and servants, and why the hell is the palace so quiet?
"That's all you are ever good at, eating and lazing around." "Your father wants to see you," she said as she walked toward the stairs. I went back into the kitchen to take a quick bite of my meal, wondering why my father would want to possibly see me now. It's been over six months since I last saw him. He has been sick for the past couple of months and I have not been allowed access to see him.
I went upstairs to see that he was laying down on his bed, looking emaciated from the last time I saw him. He looked very pale and weak. Besides, his mistress is seated beside his bedside, using her eyes to size me up like some piece of trash.
The next person seated by his side is Peter, my father's long-time friend. They both grew up together, and many had thought that he would be my father's Beta. It was a shocker to see that my father bypassed him for someone else, but they remained good friends nevertheless. I see his nose flinch up as soon as I step into the room.
My father said, amid heavy breathing. "I hear you have become too weak to capture rogues that threaten the safety of the pack."
I should feel sorry for him, but I have already exhausted all the sympathetic words and emotions in my dictionary myself.
"Since your favorite son is going to be the alpha, should he not be the one saving the pack?" I asked with a carefree attitude. I know I ought to be more respectful towards my dad, but he already lost that privilege a long time ago.
"You are useless. You can't even help your brother protect the pack." You are a good-for-nothing boy. You are as useless as your mother. I should have killed you when I had the chance. You are not fit to be called my son. Get out! " "He said while coughing and clenching on his bed.
At least I am not the one dying and unable to do things myself.
I left the room and ran out of the pack. That is what I always do when I feel pushed against the wall. I run to keep out the anger, I run to keep out the pain. I navigated through the woods till I got to where I felt I could sit and relax.
Through time, I have decided not to give in to their words no matter how badly they hurt. I promised myself not to be bothered by it. Those who say a father is an integral part of a child's growth have never been with a lousy and weak father.
I wish I had never had a father!
With just a few weeks to my eighteenth birthday, I can't lose sight now. I have to at least wait to find my mate before I leave this shithole.
Hopefully, if the saying is true that my mate is the best of me, then it's fair I get to see and meet this person, whoever that may be.
"Nick, where are you?" Simeon called out through the mind link.
"I'm fine. I hope everything is alright." I asked as there was a bit of tension in his voice.
"The rogue is back, and we are trying to close in on her," Simeon said, and one could tell he was running from his breathing.
"Where are you guys"
"Heading towards the east side,"
I said as I took off my clothes and shifted without much discomfort. I have always been able to do that since I first shifted at the age of thirteen.
I raced off to where the other guards were, and caught up with them within seconds. I could see that they were already circling on her, but I told them to break their formation because I felt that was what the rogue wanted.
So they started breaking out and making more space for the rogue to make a run for it. When the rogue felt they had given her enough space, she ran, and I went after her. She was fast as we kept running around the woods till I finally caught up with her, throwing her against the woods.
She growled while lying on the ground. I quickly shifted back to my two legs and kept the chains around her to prevent her from running away.
The chain is also meant to restrain her powers in case she is a witch or if she has any other supernatural powers, aside from being a werewolf.
All this while, I discovered she was head bent and giggling. I stood right in front of her with both hands crossed on my chest.
"Who sent you?" I barked at her, giving her a cold look. She peeped at me a bit and bent her head again, giggling. Just then, I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I turned to see it was Simeon.
"You are naked Nick" Simeon whispered to me, as I ran out of the scene as fast as my legs could carry me.