Dillon’s voice rang out in Jake’s head early the next morning, Jake, we need to talk.

Jake didn’t have to think to know he wanted to talk about Alessia. 

Getting up, not without effort, he made his way to the lounge. 

Dillon had already let himself in. Over the past year, the courtesy of knocking no longer applied to them. 

With the time they’d spent in each other’s company, Jake could safely say Dillon was the most loyal person he’d ever met. Not just loyal to Jake, but to the Deloria family and the Pack. 

That was why seeing him standing at the center of Jake’s home with his arms crossed, tense, and scowling at a sofa was not in the least bit surprising. When he saw me, he turned his scornful expression on me. 

“Tell me, Dillon, do you ever get tired of scowling or do you like it?” Jake says in an attempt to lighten the mood. He heads straight for the kettle intent on coffee before the politics. 

“I wouldn’t be scowling now if you hadn’t brought it here. How, in the name of Lupa, can you sleep under the same roof as that monster?”

Jake took out a cup and placed it on the counter, “Last time I checked, monsters aren’t skinny, defenseless girls in torn clothing. Would you like some coffee or tea?” 

Dillon scoffed, “Don’t be deceived just because she looks pathetic. They are the most manipulative and cunning.”

Jake turned to face him, leaning against the counter. “So, you think she fooled me?”

“I think there could be a chance she’s trying to trick you.” He said, as though he couldn’t fathom why Jake would think any different. 

Jake shook my head, and said matter-of-factly, “No, I saw her. She’s afraid of Ethan.”

“Maybe she’s afraid that if she doesn’t come back with something useful, he’ll kill her but that’s not our problem.”

“It’s not that kind of fear. She wants to get away from him.  If I were to guess, they were probably involved somehow and she managed to get away. She doesn’t want him to find her. He does seem the obsessive sort.”

Jake wondered what he could have done to make her afraid like that. Worse so, he wondered what Jake would do to his pack if he could torment one of his own kind. 

“That’s her own business! Really, Jake, how could you trust her after what happened with-”

Jake’s eyes sparked and Dillon knew better than to continue. 

He spoke with a dangerously sharp edge, “I know what happened.”

Dillon withdrew, pausing his argument in favor of keeping the peace. Dillon turned away and scowled at another sofa. 

Jake finished making his coffee and then went to Dillon. He placed a reassuring hand on his Beta’s shoulder. “I don’t trust her completely, Dillon, but I know she’s not lying to us. I trust my judgment, do you?”

Dillon exhaled, “I do trust it, Jake.”

Jake nodded and moved to sit down, “In any case, we’re going to verify her information today. You’ll need to look after the pack while I’m gone.”

Dillon narrowed his eyes, “Not alone?”

Jake sighed at his overly protective Beta. Days like this Dillon reminded him of Jake’s mother, “Of course not, I’m taking a squad with us to the South Forest pack. With the rogue threat becoming a problem, it wouldn’t be safe either way.”

Dillon seemed satisfied with that response. It was a while before he started, “If her information is false…”

“It won’t be.” Jake finished. 

A door creaking and light footstep alerted Jake to his guest waking up.

Alessia emerged from the hallway, jumping slightly when his eyes met Dillon’s form. 

“Sorry,” she said, “I’ll just...”

Dillon stalked to her and she shrunk back as much as she could without stepping back. He towered over her, not just in height, in his intimidating aura. It was almost like watching a lion standing over a gazelle. Dillon spoke in a low voice, “Don’t try anything on this trip, rogue. I’ll end you myself.”

The truth of his promise hung in the air even after he left, slamming the door behind him.

Alessia only relaxed once Dillon had gotten a good few meters from the house. Her eyebrows furrowed in a small amount of frustration, “What exactly does he think I can try?”

“He’s just concerned. He’s the Beta, it’s his job to be concerned.”

Jake only realized he’d been gripping the sofa hand rest when he’d let go at that moment. Jake knew Dillon wouldn’t have attacked her. Dillon was just trying to scare her as a safety measure. And yet, something about the exchange had made Jake tense. Curious.

“In any case, you should go get ready. We’ll leave soon. You can use the clothes in the cupboard.”

Alessia asked, curiously, “Who’s clothes, are they?”

“Not important.” Jake replied shortly. 

A small pout formed on her lips, “What’s wrong with the clothes I’m wearing?”

“We’re going into another pack territory. And while I personally don’t care what you wear, first impressions do tend to make an impact. If you don’t dress like a rogue, they’re less likely to kill you on sight.”

Alessia blinked at him once and then again. 

“Delightful.” She said, stupefied, before leaving to get ready. 

***

Alessia wasn’t sure what to make of Jake’s comment earlier. How was one supposed to respond to an insult and a helpful tip rolled into one?

Oddly enough, Jake had spoken so neutrally that she wasn’t sure she meant it as an insult, only as a simple fact.

She shook it off. It didn’t matter anyway. 

Alessia got ready quickly and found Jake waiting for her in the living room when she was done.  There was an agreement of silence between the two as they walked to the edge of the pack territory. 

They arrived at a meet-up point. A group of people, about 7 or 8, were milling around, packing things into huge black backpacks, or chatting amongst themselves. Alessia assumed the backpacks were specially made to fit onto a wolf’s back for preparing for journeys like this. They had straps like a harness that fits over the person’s waist and shoulders but when one of them transformed she noticed that it stretched. Elastic. Alessia wished her own worn-out backpack was as comfortable. 

All of them turned when Jake arrived and nodded in his direction as a sign of respect. He nodded back and asked, “Is everyone ready to depart?”

A simultaneous, “Yes, Alpha.”  was called back.

Alessia was momentarily impressed by the discipline.  

“Good, Reena and Lora, scout ahead. Ensure the path is clear. Meet us at the checkpoint.” 

The wolf that had transformed and another woman nodded their understanding, before holstering their respective backpacks and disappearing into the forest.

Alessia had been too nervous to notice yesterday, but this pack had many women in positions of power. There were women on the Council and apparently warriors. In Alessia’s pack, only men held any positions in the pack. 

“Peter and Levy in the back. Mihael flank left and Sasha flank right. Bria and Reedus ahead of me.”

The men and women followed their packing diligently and moved to follow their orders. Alessia noticed a few stray glances at her. Half curious and half accusatory, as though they were wondering why and/ or what she was doing with them. 

Alessia just shuffled and waited. She asked Jake in a hushed tone, “Is it necessary to take so many people?”

He was picking up a backpack himself and lifting it onto his shoulders. “There have been more frequent rogue attacks. Yes, it’s necessary.”

Alessia nodded, trying not to feel uncomfortable. Wanting something to do, she asked Jake, “Do you need me to carry something?”

Jake seemed mildly surprised at the offer and Alessia pouted in annoyance, “I had a mother who taught me manners, Jake, you don’t have to look so surprised.”

A hand grabbed Alessia’s arm roughly from behind and yanked backward, making her stumble, “Don’t say the Alpha’s name with your disgusting mouth rogue.” 

It was one of the men, Alessia couldn’t remember what Jake had called him. Alessia just reacted. Her claws grew and she scratched out at his wrist leaving shallow bloody stripes on his skin. 

The wound was so small that it already started to heal, but the man’s pupils widened inhumanly. Black with anger. His grip tightened, squeezing her small wrist so hard, that Alessia was afraid he’d break it.

 “That’s enough! Peter, let go of her now!” Jake shouted, his voice commanding.

Peter seemed confused and offended, “Alpha, she-“

“Is not part of our pack. And therefore, has no obligation to address me as Alpha. Personally, I don’t care so I haven’t the faintest idea why you do.” He said, irritation lacing his words. 

Peter stuttered out words, “A-Alpha, she should be showing you respect.”

Jake turned to Alessia so suddenly that she took a step back. “Were you trying to be disrespectful?”

Alessia was so startled, that she just shook her head in response. 

He turned back to Peter, “That settles it. You may put your concerns to rest now and make your way to your position.” He glared at where Peter still held Alessia’s arm, “And let go of her before you break her arm.”

Peter looked just as flabbergasted as Alessia felt, but he let go of her arm.

Jake spoke, loudly for the entire procession to hear, “I’m aware of how unconventional it is to have a rogue among us, but she isn’t our enemy, for the time being, she is an ally. Treat her as such.”

There were a few uneasy looks, but no one contradicted their Alpha. 

Alessia struggled to find words, “I- um- Thank you.”

Jake studied the fading handprint Peter had left on her skin intently as though it spoke to him. His eyes flicked up to her abruptly, “Stay close to me. We’ll be running at the center. You don’t need to carry anything. It will be hard enough for you to keep up with us.”

With that comment, Alessia was starting to understand it now. As insulting as Jake sounded, he was actually just being straightforward. 

Alessia chose to ignore his comment and shifted. She took her place next to Jake and a chocolatey brown colored wolf.

The journey began.

 At first, everything was fine. 

Alessia had run long distances before. The first night she’d spent as a rogue, she’d run so long she’d lost her bearings.

But the group ran at a faster pace than she was used to. While she struggled to keep up on her 4 legs, they sprinted through the forests like majestic beasts.

At a point, Alessia noticed the group slow down and wondered if Jake had mind-linked them to cut the speed. 

Around midday, they stopped for a break. 

Alessia collapsed on the ground, her trembling limbs wouldn’t have carried her another step. She shifted back, gasping for breath. 

Jake shifted as well and knelt by her. He asked, with concern, “Are you okay?”

Alessia couldn’t speak as she was struggling to get air in her lungs, but waved him off.

The brown-haired wolf she’d run alongside trotted over to her and shifted. He placed a hand on her back and instructed softly, “Go into a fetal position and take in deeper breaths.” 

Alessia drew her knees close to her body and attempted to swap her wheezing pants into deep breaths.

Jake watched silently, while the boy rubbed her back soothingly. 

When Alessia could finally take a normal breath, she turned to the boy, meeting weirdly familiar brown eyes. She asked him, “Why did you help me?”

His smile was friendly and open, “Because you couldn’t breathe.” 

Alessia was taken aback. 

Jake explained, “This is Mihael. He’s Valentina’s son.”

“Valentina is…?”

“The Pack Doctor.” Mihael finished. 

“Oh,” Alessia said with realization. 

She could see it now; the same skin and the same eyes, even the same hair. Only Mihael’s chocolate curls were contained at the top of his head and didn’t invade past his ears.

She offered him a grateful smile, “Thank you for your help.”

His smile widened and he offered her his hand, “Can you help me unpack the table, please?”

Alessia hesitated, more from the shock that he had asked, and offered his hand.

“Didn’t you say your mother taught you to help out?” 

Alessia was a little unnerved by how naturally he interacted with her, but truthfully, she didn’t want to just sit around, “Sure. I’ll help.”

She took his hand and let him hoist her up. 

Alessia looked back at Jake to see if he disapproved in any way. But he had a strange smile on his face, similar to the one he’d had when she asked him about the bloody handprints on the Council Building.

Alessia was puzzled and resigned to keeping her guard up.  

She turned back to Mihael who was lifting one side of his backpack and looking at her expectantly. 

Alessia rushed to lift the other side. He pointed to a small grove of trees, “Move it in that shady spot over there.”

He walked backward, glancing at the ground to make sure he doesn’t trip over anything. Alessia noticed he was wearing thin black eyeliner, it looked very good on him.

“Here is fine.” He said. 

They put the bag on the shadowed grass. Mihael unzipped it and began to pull out pieces of a table, “So how old are you?”

Seventeen was on the tip of her tongue before she realized. She asked, “What day is it[SN1] ?”

“March, 8th.” He answered, looking up quizzically. 

“18.” Alessia answered, a bit of sadness slipping into her voice.  She’d missed her 18th birthday. She wondered at what point. When she was with Ethan? Before then? How badly she had lost track of time.

“I turned 21 a few days ago.” 

Alessia smiled, politely, “Happy Belated then, I guess.”

Alessia felt a little disconcerted. She hadn’t had to make small talk with anyone in more than a year. 

As she leaned down to help him assemble the pieces of the table, she looked at Mihael in puzzlement “Why are you being so nice?”

“Is it wrong for me to be nice?” he asked, jokingly.

She bit her lip, “If this is some kind of prank, color me unimpressed.”

His smile didn’t falter once. He crossed his legs and leaned his head on his hand, “Are you one of the girls who like it when guys act mean?”

Alessia rolled her eyes and pushed off the ground, “So that’s what this is. Trying to hit up the rogue so on top of labeling me as wild and unruly. You can label me a slut as well. Is that it?”

She turned to walk away, when he said, flatly, “I’m gay.”

Alessia asked in puzzlement, “You’re happy?”

Only now did Alessia see a small nervous strain to his smile, “No, I’m homosexual.” 

Alessia was no less confused, “What does that mean?”

Mihael was taken aback, “You don’t know what being gay means?”

Alessia scowled, “If you’re trying to make me feel dumb for being a rogue-”

Mihael cut her off, “It means I like men.” 

Alessia took her turn to be a little shocked. She sat on the grass opposite him and asked, perplexed, “How does that work? I mean how do you like men?”

Mihael shrugged, nervously, “You know, the same way you like men. Okay well, not the same, I suppose. Maybe a little different.”

Alessia had never heard of such a thing before. Naturally, she was curious about it, “But how does that… work?”

“Well…” He seemed slightly uncomfortable now, his hands moving as he talked, “I’m not really sure about the brain stuff about that- “

Alessia interrupted him, “No that’s not what I meant. I thought wolves found their mate based on the person they are most likely to… um… reproduce with.” That’s what Ethan had told her.

He laughed, nervously, “Yes, that’s partly true. If we look at mating on a biological level, yes, the aim is to reproduce, but studies have shown that homosexual mating pairs do occur in animals as well. It’s a belief that their societal purpose is to take care of orphaned children. So, I suppose for us wolves, it would be the same.”

Alessia thought about that, before she nodded in understanding, “That makes sense.”

Mihael was flabbergasted. His jaw dropped, “Most people don’t say that.”

Alessia tilted her head, “What do they normally say?”

He lifted the assembled table to place it in position, “Oh you know. There’s a male and a female, and there’s a penis and a vagina and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“So, what does that have to do with anything? If you love someone, you love someone.”

Alessia hadn’t noticed how tense Mihael had been until his limbs sagged with relief, “Well, it’s good to see some people think like you.”

Alessia asked in confusion, “But why do they weigh in though? I mean, it doesn’t really have anything to do with them.”

He raised his hands in a “Beat’s me.” gesture, “Some people just don’t like it. They say it’s unnatural.”

If there was one thing Alessia hated, it was unfair discrimination. 

“Well, some people are idiots.” 

Mihael smiled at her warmly, “I couldn’t agree more.”

The others had begun approaching the table they had set up, including the two girls who had been scouting ahead.  They must have rejoined the group while Alessia was struggling to breathe. A few were carrying items like chairs and plates. 

Alessia couldn’t help but be impressed with how organized this expedition was. 

The thought of sitting among these wolves while they cast judging stares at her made Alessia uncomfortable. A few had already begun their sideways glances.

Something must have shown on her face, because Jake’s next words were, “Mihael, you and Alessia take some food and talk a walk around the perimeter.”

Alessia’s lips parted with mild surprise, before she smiled, gratefully,

Peter said, annoyingly, “Should we really be letting the rogue go away from us? She may escape.”

Jake replied, sharply, “She’s not going to run.”

Mihael grabbed two sandwiches and said with a wink in Alessia’s direction, “I can catch her if she tries.”

Alessia rolled her eyes, not in an unfriendly way. 

As they turned to leave, one of the girls whispered loudly, “Should we trust Mihael to catch her when he doesn’t even like chasing girls?”

Alessia didn’t know much about homosexuality, but she recognized the insult. Anger sizzled under her skin.  Impulsively, she turned to the girl, but Mihael grabbed her arm, “Don’t.”

He was still smiling. 

“If memory serves, Lora,” Alessia saw Jake glaring furiously at the girl who’d made the snide comment, “Mihael is first place at every sprint training. Maybe if you focused your energy on bettering yourself rather than making idiotic comments on other people’s personal lives, you’ll be a halfway decent warrior.”

The girl stared, stupidly stunned, at her Alpha. Everyone else at the table looked uncomfortable. 

Jake faced Mihael and nodded in his direction.  Mihael bowed his head gratefully, his eyes glittering. “Come on.”

Alessia shot Jake an impressed smile, before following Mihael. 

“That was pretty cool. I mean, Jake. I didn’t expect him to be one of the people who went against the common consensus.”

“Who Jake? Jake doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Between him and Milo, they could compete in a ‘I don’t give a fuck’ competition’. He’s always defended me like that.  We may not be close but he’s never treated me any different than any other wolf. Most of the time no one picks on me while he’s around.”

“But they pick on you when he’s not around?”

Mihael shrugged, “They make comments. That’s about it. Words can’t really hurt you.”

Alessia knew them very well can, but she didn’t want to go into that subject. Instead, she asked, “Who’s Milo?”

“She’s my friend. She’s on the Council with Jake. You should meet her before you leave.”

Alessia liked the way Mihael affirmed her leaving. From the time she’d gotten there, leaving had been this indefinite thing. Mihael saying it made her believe she could actually leave. 

Mihael unwrapped the sandwich and Alessia mimicked him. Brown bread with sliced ham and grated cheese. Alessia gazed down at the simple meal wistfully, “You know I’ve been in the wild for so long. It’s hard not to jump at all these pieces of civilization.”

This morning, when Alessia had showered, she’d moaned at how good hot water felt running down her skin. She’d also been appalled to find how much dirt flowed down with it. 

“What’s it like living in the wild?” He asked with the sandwich stuffed halfway through his mouth. 

“Would be worse if I wasn’t a wolf. But as someone who was raised with more comforts than necessary, it was hard to make the transition.”

He asked, quietly, “Then why make it?”

He spoke hesitantly, as though he was afraid the question would offend her. 

She wasn’t offended though. Mihael treated her like a normal human being. He asked her this to understand, she suspected, not to judge. 

Despite that, Alessia didn’t feel comfortable sharing everything just yet. She merely answered, “I just needed to leave.” 

Mihael didn’t press the subject. 

Alessia was saved from having to scrounge for something to say to clear the awkwardness of Jake appearing from the trees.

 He said to Mihael, “Go tell everyone to start packing everything. We’ll be leaving soon.”

Alessia exhaled, “I’m going to die.”

Mihael gave her a sympathetic smile before leaving. 

Jake apologized, “I’m sorry to make you overexert yourself like this, but we need to travel as far as we can before nightfall.”

Alessia slumped against the tree, “Yeah, I get it. It’s just hard.”

“I wanted to tell you to be careful. Try to stay close to Mihael or me. Peter isn’t the only one who wants to hurt you.”

Alessia stared gloomily at a twig on the ground. Hugging her arms around herself, she said, “I wish I hadn’t listened to you then. I hate being trapped.”

Jake said, sounding genuinely contrite, “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll do whatever I can to make sure that no one hurts you.”

Alessia nodded without looking up. Jake had turned to leave when Alessia spoke again.

 “I don’t trust you.” She said firmly, “but seeing you defend Mihael earlier made me realize you’re capable of doing the right thing. I may be a bit gullible, but I’m choosing to believe you’ll really let me go.”

Her words were a request. She wanted him to affirm that he would free her. 

Jake sighed, “Alessia, I’m not going to keep you here any longer than I have to. Once we prove this information is right, they can’t say that you’re untrustworthy. You can go free.”

She nodded, processing his affirmation, “We should get back, right?”

Alessia walked next to Jake. Feeling a little more comfortable around him, she decided to ask, “I’ve been meaning to ask. Since you’re an Alpha, how come you don’t have an overall ruling against everything? I mean, isn’t that what it’s meant to be Alpha, whatever you say goes?”

“I prefer not to run my pack as a dictatorship. The overall decision is mine, but I prefer to take advice from the council because they are senior to me.”

Alessia asked, gently, “It must have been hard losing your father so young.”

“What?” Jake asked, astounded. 

“Well, I just mean to inherit being Alpha-”

“My father is still alive. In fact, he was the one sitting next to me on the council. Alpha isn’t hereditary in this Pack.”

Alessia was dumbfounded, her eyebrows knit together in confusion, “Then how do you pick an Alpha?”

Jake explained, “We prefer to let the Moon Goddess choose our Alpha.”

Alessia asked in puzzlement, “The Moon Goddess?”

Jake’s eyes widened, “You don’t know the Moon Goddess, Lupa?”

She rubbed a hand up her elbow and said, defensively, “No, is she important?”

“Well, the legend goes that werewolves came from the Moon Goddess. She fell in love with a mortal on earth and she gifted him with the power to transform into a wolf. And his children inherited it.” Jake told her. 

Alessia laughed, “Oh, it’s like a fairytale.”

Jake shook his head, “The Moon Goddess is real. I find it a little hard to believe your Pack never told you about her.”

“My Pack wasn’t big on big on bedtime stories.”

“She’s not just a story. She’s real.” Jake persisted, “She’s our origins.”

She huffed, “That’s ridiculous. I mean if we had a God, why wouldn’t she have stopped-”

She cut herself off. That was much too personal information to be sharing with her captor. 

They’d made it to the others. Everything was already packed when she’d gotten there.

Alessia mumbled, “I’m sure it made for a good story.” before she moved to join Mihael. All the while feeling Jake’s piercing gaze at her back.

 
 [SN1]Watch the date. Revise later