The journey took the rest of the day and half of the next to get to the South Forest pack. They’d stopped to rest at nightfall, where Alessia was careful to avoid everyone, except Mihael and Jake. 

Alessia was already growing fond of the boy. She had even stayed up during his watch to talk to him more. They talked about movies they’d both watched, which was surprisingly hard to find. Alessia had watched movies growing up, but according to Mihael they were all very old. Nevertheless, he talked to her about the one he knew and told her he’d definitely introduce her to better ones. Even though they were likely empty promises, she was grateful for the thought.

When they finally neared the South forests, Jake howled. A message hidden in the frequency, Cliff Haven Pack, requesting entry.  The powerful sound road the winds farther and faster than them. 

Not long after, a howl answered back, Granted.

They surged forward into the pack territory. 

Alessia felt jittery. Her last pack encounter had ended in disaster and her being held captive. She had a pretty good feeling that exposure to this pack would be no better. 

Worse so, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of people the South Forest wolves were to create someone like Ethan; Vengeful, Psychotic, Manipulative. 

The trees cleared up abruptly, giving way to a view of the pack. Unlike Jake’s pack, where the houses and pathways weaved through the trees, this Pack had completely cleared them out. Alessia had an unobstructed view Packs’ houses that were lined perfectly parallel and mirrored the beige one story house next to it. 

The group slowed to a stop and again, Alessia collapsed in a fit of wheezing. Mihael moved next to her. 

Alessia assumed he’d come to remind her to breathe deeply, but he hadn’t shifted back. 

In her struggle to breath, Alessia followed his gaze and saw that they were surrounded.

The wolves around them growled, threateningly. Directly in front of them stood aged woman. 

She looked to be in her early 50s with lines crease lines etched above her eyebrows. Her blond hair was streaked with gray and twisted into a bun at the top of her head. Her brown eyes glared at Jake.

“Why have you brought a rogue onto my territory?”

Jake shifted back into human form, seeming unphased by the surrounding wolves or by the woman.

“Luna Rose,” he greeted her respectfully, “I apologize for the shock you must be in, but this rogue is an ally. She has information about our enemy, Ethan, which apparently is your son.”

The woman didn’t falter, only her eyes narrowed at Jake venomously, “And you trust what she says.”

Alessia stared in awe at the woman before her, and unconsciously said, airily “You and Ethan look so much alike.”

Luna Rose’s eyes flicked to Alessia, who realized that she had spoken without thinking and shrunk back. 

The woman studied Alessia, “How do you know my- Ethan?”

Alessia swallowed and said in a small voice, “Ethan found me in the forests. He told me about you. About how you banished him for his beliefs.”

Her glare subsided into an assessing stare. Then said in a reluctant tone, “Stand down.”

Her wolves backed away from them, hesitantly, whilst throwing skeptical glances at each other. “Take the pack members to the guest hall to rest and stock up. Jake, follow me and bring it with you.”

Alessia felt a stab go through her heart at being addressed as an ‘it’.

“Your eyesight must be failing you in old age, Luna. That’s a ‘her’ not an it.” Jake said, nonchalantly. 

The woman threw a dirty look at Jake, who stood firm. The woman then rolled her eyes, “Bring her with you then, boy, I haven’t got all afternoon to debate pronouns.”

The woman walked away and Jake gestured for Alessia to follow. Alessia hurried next to him, “Thank you.”

Jake shook his head dismissively, “It’s only right.”

“Still, thank you.”

Behind them, two men had split from the group of the woman’s wolves and were closely following behind them. As with Jake’s pack, the people of this Pack stared at her with disbelief as well. As though a mythical creature appeared before their eyes. 

Alessia grew anxious. They could kill her here. She wasn’t really anyone to the Jake’s Pack. If they killed her, it wouldn’t be a big deal to them. 

Alessia’s hands began to wring together, squeezing and pulling with nervous energy. 

Jake’s placed his hand on hers. Alessia was startled into stilling the nervous movement. He spoke, calmly, “It will be okay. I told you I’d keep you safe, right?”

Alessia nodded, taking a calming breath, “Right.”

She dropped her hands to her sides, but felt no less nervous. 

They weren’t in Jake’s territory. If this Pack wanted her dead, Jake wouldn’t be able to stop them or he’d be risking a Pack was over a rogue. 

Alessia was as on her own here as she was in the forests. 

Alessia was so lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that the ground began to rise subtly until they were climbing a hill. Alessia’s legs burned with the effort of climbing it.

Atop the hill stood a white, two-story house with a red roof and red window frames. It was positioned to overlooked the entire pack village. 

Alessia couldn’t help but think about how Jake’s home was subtle and humble, whereas this house seemed to radiate, I am above all of you. 

Alessia was starting to understand some of why Ethan had turned out how he had.

Luna Rose spoke with her back to them, “Wait here while I talk to them inside.”

Alessia couldn’t help staring at the red door and remembering horror movie she had watched with her friend. Behind the red door was always a spirit or demon out to get the soul of the idiotic main character, dumb enough to mess with it. And here Alessia was going through the red door, feeling as though a demon awaited her, ready to steal her soul.

She stepped inside after Jake, staying close to him out of fear. Alessia was a little happy that Jake was big enough so that she could hide most of herself behind him. Maybe, if I stay still enough, they’ll forget I’m here. 

“Stop cowering, Rogue. Come and face me.”, the Luna said.

Alessia winced. So much for that plan. 

Reluctantly, she stepped away from behind Jake and faced her. 

The resemblance between her and Ethan truly was uncanny. Alessia half-expected the person in front of her to match the psychotic glint Ethan had had in his eyes the last time she saw him. 

Alessia had been absorbed in studying Ethan’s mother, not noticing the other woman observing her with narrowed eyes and a sour expression. She spoke with tension in her voice, “You’ve definitely met my son all right.”

Alessia tilted her head, puzzled. This woman had been so adamant to discredit her only moments ago, “What made you change your mind?”

Luna Rose turned towards the window, her eyes distant, “Because you are looking at me as though you expect me to become the devil.”

Alessia apologized, sheepishly, “Sorry, it’s just you two looks very similar.”

Luna Rose turned to Jake, “I suppose you would like to know why I didn’t come forth with this information.”

 Jake replied, matter-of-factly, “You were embarrassed.”

Luna Rose laughed without humor, “Embarrassed. That’s putting it lightly. I was mortified. My son’s ‘beliefs’ as she puts it, was something unnatural. You remember my mate.”

“Alpha Charlie.” Jake responded, a small bit of warmth coating the name.

Luna Rose’s expression grew soft. Alessia was shocked that she was capable of such an expression. “Charles and I tried everything we could to try and fix that boy. In the end, I think it just drove him further into darkness.”

Her expression hardened again as she looked to Jake, “I didn’t mention anything because I don’t know much else besides what was already mentioned at the pack meetings. I knew that Ethan wanted to rule over all the packs, I didn’t think he’d find a way to do it. Charles and I rejected his claims. In the end, that’s what got Charles killed.”

Alessia felt an odd mixture of emotions. Hearing it from Ethan that time and hearing it now from his mother. She needed to know, “Was there a reason? I mean was your mate abusive or something like that?”

Luna Rose raised an eyebrow at her, “My Charles? The poor man could barely find it in him to spank me in the bedroom.”

Alessia’s face heated, embarrassed that she had even brought it up. Of course, not everyone had an excuse for being bad, some people just were. 

“But yes, there was a reason. Ethan travelled a lot. Charles and I took it as a good sign, we thought he had been visiting the packs. Getting to know his allies. It was only until one day I came home from visiting a friend that I saw my son…. Standing over my mate’s body.”

Her eyes were distant with memory and melancholy. Her mouth relaxed into a frown. The memory must have painful, “I didn’t know what else to do but banish him. I couldn’t find it in me to execute him. He’s my son…”

Alessia knew better than anyone how much a mother’s love could mean. She completely understood why Luna Rose acted the way she had.

 The Luna took a deep breath before continuing, “In any case, I hadn’t heard from him until the threat of him was brought to light.”

She fixed her gaze on Jake, “Are you going to tell the packs?”

Alessia awaited Jake’s response, too. 

Finally, he shook his head. Luna Rose let out a small breath of relief, then composed herself. “Thank you, Alpha Jake.”

It was the first time Alessia had heard her refer to him as Alpha. She had begun to think that Luna Rose just didn’t hold any respect for Jake. But that was obviously not the case, Jake was capable of earning respect even from this elder. 

“That is,” Jake said, “If you can give us any other information you have.”

Alessia spoke quietly, “When I was with Ethan, he mentioned getting hold of some kind of ancient power.”

Her eyes flicked from Jake to Alessia. Alessia wondered if she was debating whether she should reply to a rogue or not. In a clipped tone, she said, “He did not. What did he tell you?”

“He believed that an ancient power would allow him to seize control of the packs. I believe he may have tried to use your hus- mate in the process.”

Luna Rose didn’t speak for a while afterward, seeming to be lost in memories of the past, “I don’t like remembering that night.”

Alessia reached out, but quickly withdrew when Luna Rose flinched away. Alessia hung her head down to apologize, “Sorry.”

Luna Rose looked from Alessia’s hand to her eyes and talked as though nothing had happened, “Now that you mention it.  His death did feel unnatural. There was this smell in the air like Sulphur.”

Jake zeroes in on the new information, “Sulphur?”

Luna Rose held a hand to her forehead, her fingers pressing creases, “I don’t know, that night was a blur but I’m sure I heard a growl as well.”

Jake and Alessia exchanged glances. Jake said, gently, “Luna Rose, we are werewolves…”

Luna Rose glared at him and said with irritation, “I know that, boy! But this…”

Luna Rose’s eyes held her haunted past in their irises, “I hear this growl in my nightmares.”

Her fear was tangible, Alessia could feel it.

Jake asked, “Was it not Ethan?” his eyes were trained on Luna Rose. 

Luna Rose turned her head side to side, slowly, distracted by the memory she was reliving. “This was not Ethan. This was a growl of something dark, like Hell itself.”

Alessia reacted before she knew what she was doing. Her hand rested itself on Luna Rose’s shoulder. Luna Rose didn’t react immediately, the fog still clearing up from the swamps of her memory. When she did finally look at Alessia, there was just sadness. She took Alessia’s hand from her shoulder and held it between her hands, like someone praying.  She said, with the most emotion Alessia had seen her use since meting her, “I’m sorry if my son hurt you. I failed has his mother.”

Luna Rose didn’t shed any tears; it was a simple admission of fault. Alessia shook her head and brought her hands to join the other, “Your only crime is loving your son. What Ethan does, what he is doing, you never told him to do. It’s not your fault.”

Luna rose swallowed and dropped her hands. Alessia retreated back to her seat next to the Jake. 

Luna Rose had composed herself, straightening her back and hardening her features. Alessia’s admiration for the woman bloomed, “Well, then Alpha Jake, I’ve given you all the information I can. Are we finished here?”

Jake nodded and rose from his chair, “I’ll keep this within my pack for now. However, if the need comes-”

Luna Rose replied with finality, “Understood.”

Alessia rushed to follow Jake, Luna Rose continued, “You can restock and rest, however she cannot stay here. My pack will be restless.”

Alessia felt a brief rush of excitement. Perhaps, now that they had confirmed that she was telling the truth, Jake would let her go. Alessia looked, expectantly at Jake. 

Jake didn’t return her stare, “It’s alright Luna Rose, we’ll leave tonight.”

Alessia’s heart plummeted.

Jake and Alessia walked out of the house. Alessia clenched nails onto her elbows. The information she’d given had been verified, so Jake should be letting her go now. 

As Jake walked away from the house, Alessia slowed to distance herself from him. She observed his muscular back and the way he walked with unyielding confidence. The way Alpha’s walked powerfully and in control. Never turning back, only moving forward. 

Alessia's gaze drooped to the ground, watching the pebbles that she kicked and wondering if she was as insignificant as the pebbles tumbling down. She’d never had the confidence like Jake, or Luna Rose, or, as horrible as he was, her father. She didn’t even have it in her to run away. Jake should have let her go already, but here she trailing after him. She could almost hear the invisible chains chiming together as Jake, her warden, kept her, the prisoner in line.

“What’s wrong?”

Alessia kept her head down, so sunk in her depressing thoughts, she elected to remain silent. She heard Jake take a few steps towards her, she hadn’t realized she’d drifted so far. 

“I thought you’d be happier to be set free.”

Alessia’s head jerked up to see Jake looking down with a small, soft smile. 

“Once we go back to the pack, and I update the council. You’re free to go.”

Alessia felt her internal wolf wagging its tail. She leaped at Jake, who stumbled back, unprepared for her assault. She used the excitement rushing through her and squeezed him. “Thank you. I was so worried you were lying.”

Alessia felt his hand touch her back lightly. Her eyes snapped open and she jumped backwards, embarrassed, “I’m so sorry. I was just- you know-”

“Excited.”, he finished for her, looking amused. 

Alessia smiled shyly, holding her left elbow in embarrassment.