FROM ROGUE TO LUNA

NEW PACK

NATALIE

Days pass as I still live with my newly found family and my wounds heal, leaving some scars all over my body. There's one in particular which is huge and ugly on my face straddling my nose and stretching all the way to my chin which has refused to go away. We have tried all kind of herbs on it so as to disappear to no avail, and I have decided to keep it as a reminder to what I went through that night.

I've already embraced my new life of being a rogue, living far away from other Pack members together with my new family, in a small house in the woods. At least, it's better than living in a huge house, near an Alpha who doesn't want anything to do with me. I'm experiencing a lot of peace and that's what really matters for now! I learn that this family left their pack when Joseph's mate was attacked by rogues many years ago and killed. Unable to cope with the trauma, Joseph took to the forest with his small children and that's how they grew up as rogues. Anne and Peter are students though, at a school in a pack not far away from their cabin, the Evergreen pack. We instantly become good friends and I become like a member of the family.

Through so much persuading, Anne manages to convince me to join their school and we start attending school together. Joseph their father undertakes to pay for my tuition, such an angel. In the same school I find another girl, Janet, a friend from Two Hills pack, we're in the same class. She's no longer a member of the Two Hills pack anymore, because they already moved to the Evergreen pack. We continue with our friendship though she doesn't ask me why I moved and neither do I. She keeps on telling everyone who cares to listen that her mate is the Alpha of the pack. Honestly I care less, I only want to concentrate on my studies.

A few years pass and one day after school, Joseph informs us that there's a decree made by the Pack's Alpha for every student to join the Pack and become a member in order to continue learning.

This Evergreen pack, he tells us, is led by Alpha James Martins. Accordingly we all enroll ourselves with this Pack but we refuse to live with the other Pack members' living quarters, claiming that we're comfortable with our life in the jungle, something that the Pack elders embrace. It's like a welcome relief for them, because everyone still regards us as rogues, who have to be avoided by all means necessary.

Joseph later tells us that the registration is for the purposes of a purge on rogues that is on the way and anyone who doesn't belong to any pack will be in trouble in the coming days.

It's on a Friday afternoon and I'm already from school when Anne informs me that there is a party at the Pack House hosted by Alpha James himself in search of his mate. Everyone is invited and she is asking me to accompany her to the fete. The issue of the unmated Alpha puzzles me because of what Janet has been saying about being the Alpha's mate, but do I care?

Since it's not a must for everyone to attend, I decline softly, informing Anne that I won't be able to attend. I feign a nonexistent illness, to an extend of drinking some concoction of herbs so as not to attend. She sympathises with me and leaves me lying on bed after wishing me a quick recovery.

Well, I know it's because I once had a mate who rejected me in the cruelest manner ever, causing me a whole lot of pain and even making me to run away from those that I loved. Those years that have elapsed haven't made me forget the ordeal and the pain may take very long to heal. After Anne leaves I walk to the living room and switch on the television to watch movies.

Later that night they come from the party and I pretend to be sound asleep since I don't want anyone to tell me how the party went on because I am not interested.

Early in the morning, since it's a Saturday and I'm not attending school, I wake up to prepare

breakfast, Peter informs me that Alpha James didn't meet his mate the previous night at the party and he still has a feeling that his mate is within the Pack.

What's more is that he is convinced that she's among those who didn't attend the party! Oops! So it means he'll hold another party? But what happened? I thought Janet was the Alpha's mate after all the bragging she does in school, or maybe she too didn't attend the party?

The puzzle deepens.

I have heard many things about Alpha James, especially how handsome he is. If it was before my heartbreak I would have considered looking at him to gauge his looks but now I'm not interested in mates, love,mate bonds and such stuff. I only want to complete my studies and move on.

“What are you thinking about?" Anne asks, startling me from my day dream. She has just come in, a mug of steaming coffee in her hands. Anne has become more of my confidante, or it's me who is her confidante because she tells me many of her secrets and today she looks as if she has something to share.

“Nothing. I was wondering what excuse to give once they call for another meeting. I don't think you will buy the sickness excuse again" I say.

“You will have to, if you want to continue being a member of this pack." She says. “What are you afraid of? If he finds out that you are not his mate you will just walk away. Also, if by any chance he finds that you are his mate, then you will be the luckiest girl under heaven. James is a good man and I envy the girl who is destined to become his mate." She says, pausing in between to take some sips from her cup. I remain silent and listen to her sober advice.

“Think about it my sister, this may become your turning point." She adds on her way out.

Maybe I should give it a try,, I think, if only to spite Janet.