Leslie POV:
"No!" Elsie's voice roared through my mind, stronger and more resolute than I had ever felt her. Her aura pulsed with a fierce, protective energy, brimming with determination. "I will protect us. No one is going to hurt us anymore."
I knew exactly what she was planning. Elsie had always been a quiet, supportive presence, but now her resolve was unshakeable. The truth was, Elsie and I had always hidden our true nature. We could shift, and when we did, Elsie transformed into a large, majestic white wolf—a rarity, as my mother had explained. White wolves were unheard of in our pack, where the norm was shades of gray, brown, and black. My mother had advised me to keep this a secret to avoid unwanted attention and possible complications.
I had only shifted during the full moon, in a locked room where no one could see. While the pack participated in their full moon runs and hunts—activities designed to foster unity and strength—I remained hidden, safe within those walls. My mother was the only one who knew about this hidden part of my life. She had made me sworn never to tell anyone, not even my father. Her promise was the only thing that had kept me grounded during those solitary shifts.
But now, with Elsie's unwavering resolve, I understood that things were about to change. Her protective instinct was strong, and she was determined to reveal herself to the pack to protect us, even if it meant breaking the promise I had sworn to uphold after my mother's death.
The decision weighed heavily on me. Revealing Elsie's true form was a significant risk, one that could expose us to the pack's judgment and possibly even to greater danger. Yet, with the impending execution looming over us and the betrayal that had shattered any semblance of safety, Elsie's choice felt like a necessary act of defiance.
As I stood there, reasoning with Elsie not to shift, the door was knocked down. Two warriors emerged, their expressions cruel. "Pretty little thing," one sneered. "Shame you're going back to your maker." They dragged me out of the place where my virginity had been ruthlessly taken from me. The one who was supposed to love and cherish me, the one who was to protect me, ended up being the one who violated me. Leaving that room, I left a piece of me there—the piece that craved love, protection, and cherishment.
Elsie's voice still rang in my mind. "We are not going to die. I will protect us." I let them drag me out until I was in the open where everyone had gathered. They took me up on the podium where the Alpha, the Luna, and their son stood. The Alpha quieted the murmurs that had begun and said, "Not only will we make my son the Alpha today, but we will also celebrate his joining with his mate, Florence."
At that moment, I peeked my eyes to look at them. The Alpha didn't bother to hide his disgust, the Luna sneered at me, while Jaden just looked at me and smirked. At the far side, Florence giggled like a child about to be awarded a trophy. "I've decided to execute this traitor, whom my son captured last night. She is declared guilty of conspiring with our enemy pack by giving out information."
I couldn't help the disgust that erupted from me. Last night! The so-called heir to the Alpha was busy molesting me so he could obtain his ultimate power! Capturing me, my foot! They all knew this but behaved otherwise. And Florence was his supposed mate? Wow, things couldn't get more ridiculous. They did suit each other; it was a wonder why the Moon Goddess didn't pair them up.
The Alpha then called out for the executioner to come and do his work so they could go and celebrate. That's when I felt my body tingling, and I knew Elsie had surfaced, revealing her golden eyes. Before the executioner could do anything, power surged through me, and he bowed down, whimpering and showing his neck as a sign of submission. Everyone was perplexed.
Just then, I felt the transformation beginning. Elsie's white fur began to shimmer as she shifted, her powerful form taking shape. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. The promise I had held so dearly was about to be broken, but in its place was a chance for us to reclaim some control over our fate.
Elsie, in all her majestic white glory, was about to make her presence known to the pack. The risk was immense, but so was the hope that this act of bravery could change the course of our lives. The moment of truth was upon us, and with it, the chance to confront our enemies and reclaim our dignity.
To my shock, everyone was compelled to bow. Even the so-called Alpha couldn't resist the power and bent to one knee, his eyes filled first with shock, then realization, and finally, fury. I would have loved to know what he realized, but even Elsie was taken aback by the events and didn't know what was happening. Our only thought was survival, to get away, to escape.
As we prepared to run, I noticed my father also on his knees. I wanted to see his face one last time—the only relative I had in this world. I shouldn't have looked, for it left me with more questions than relief. He muttered, "So he's the bastard that fathered her." The words echoed in my mind, twisting the knife of betrayal deeper. Elsie, sensing the urgency, bolted, understanding that as soon as whatever power compelled them to bow wore off, the hunt would begin, with me as the prey.
As we fled, one word kept ringing in my mind: "Survive." We tore through the forest, Elsie's powerful form moving with incredible speed and agility. The realization that our secret was out and that the entire pack would soon be after us fueled our desperation. The forest blurred around us, and I clung to the hope that we could find a way to escape this nightmare.
With each stride, the weight of my father's words pressed down on me. Who was he referring to? What truth had been hidden from me all these years? The questions swirled in my mind, but there was no time to dwell on them. Survival was all that mattered now. Elsie's determination surged through me, and I knew that as long as we were together, we had a chance.
I kept running without any sense of direction. My only purpose was to get as far away as possible. The adrenaline that had fueled my escape began to fade, and exhaustion settled in. I was sure we had long passed the pack borders, and whether we had entered another territory, I didn't know. I just knew we were free from the oppressive surroundings.
It was then that I realized I had never been out in my wolf form—never run, never walked outside the confines of our territory. The feeling was exhilarating. The forest was vast and wild, a tapestry of scents and sounds that I had never experienced. Elsie was just as excited, yelping with joy as she took in the freedom of the open woods.
The crisp air filled our lungs, and the forest floor felt soft and welcoming under our paws. Elsie reveled in the experience, her exuberance infectious. For a moment, we were not escapees but explorers, discovering a new world for the first time. The trees whispered ancient secrets, and the rustling leaves seemed to cheer us on. It was a fleeting moment of pure joy amidst the chaos of our flight.
Elsie and I ran until our muscles burned and our breath came in ragged gasps. But the exhilaration of freedom kept us going. We leaped over fallen logs, splashed through clear streams, and weaved between towering trees. For the first time in what felt like forever, we felt alive.
As we finally slowed to a trot, the realization of our new reality set in. We were alone, but we were free. The forest had become our sanctuary, and for now, that was enough. The oppressive weight of the pack's cruelty began to lift, replaced by a cautious hope. With each step further into the unknown, we left behind the pain and betrayal, embracing the uncertainty of our future.
"So this was the so-called life of a rogue. Hmm, not bad," I mused to myself. The realization of my newfound freedom brought a brief smile to my face, but then the reality of my situation hit me like a cold splash of water.
I was out in the wild, alone. I couldn't shift back to my human form because I would be naked, vulnerable to the elements and anyone who might happen upon me. I had no money, no food, no plan. The thought was daunting, but then I reminded myself: this was still better than the pack, right?
Elsie was still reveling in the freedom, but I could feel her concern for our survival seeping in. We needed a plan. We needed to find shelter, water, and eventually food. The forest, beautiful and wild, now felt vast and indifferent. I had to think quickly. I had to survive.
"Elsie, we need to find a place to rest and think," I communicated internally. She agreed, and we began to search for a suitable spot, somewhere safe where we could gather our thoughts and strategize our next move. The forest seemed to stretch endlessly, but I knew it had to hold the resources we needed.
As we moved through the trees, I realized that despite the challenges, the freedom was exhilarating. The oppressive weight of the pack's cruelty was lifting with each step we took. Yes, we were alone and uncertain of what lay ahead, but we were free. And that freedom, no matter how daunting, was something worth fighting for.
The night was approaching, and the air grew cooler. I found a small, secluded clearing, surrounded by dense foliage that provided a natural barrier. It would serve as a temporary haven, a place to rest and plan our next move. Curling up on the soft earth, I felt the exhaustion in every muscle, but there was also a strange sense of peace.
"This is better," I whispered to myself. "We will survive. We will find a way." And with that resolve, I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the forest lull me into a restless sleep, ready to face whatever the next day would bring.
Life was supposed to be simple after I ran away, but it wasn't. Being a rogue brought its own brand of torment. I had to constantly be wary of other rogues and avoid stepping into another pack's territory. If I did, I faced immediate death or capture and brutal treatment. And then there were the hunters—humans who hunted wolves and vampires, whatever those creatures were.
I had been so sheltered within the pack—or, more accurately, outcasted—that I knew nothing beyond my miserable pack life. Apparently, the topics of humans, vampires, wolves, and other creatures were covered in shifting classes, which I was never allowed to attend because they assumed I couldn't shift. I learned about hunters the hard way.
During my first days as a rogue, I stumbled upon a shabby, abandoned hut to take refuge in for the night. I shifted into my wolf form to fend off the cold. That's when I heard a voice calling out to his friend, "Hey Luke, come see what we've hunted!" I opened my eyes to see two men aiming guns at me. At first, I thought they were joking. They didn't smell like wolves, so they must have been human. Did they really think a gun could kill a werewolf?
It turned out I was the naive one. These were hunters, and they knew that silver could hurt or even kill us if it struck the heart. My ignorance was glaring. I had always believed wolves were superior to humans, so the idea of being hunted by them seemed absurd.
Elsie, however, reacted quickly. She dodged the bullet aimed at my heart, but they managed to shoot my arm. The pain was immediate and sharp, a clear sign of danger. I bolted, fleeing as fast as I could despite the injury.
The pain from the gunshot was excruciating. Every step I took seemed to send jolts of agony through my arm, intensifying with each movement. To my shock, the wound wasn't healing as it should. Instead, it grew increasingly red and swollen, and I could feel the infection spreading. My initial hope that it would heal naturally was fading fast.
Elsie, sensing my mounting distress, finally spoke up. "It's a silver bullet," she said, her voice heavy with concern. "Silver is deadly to us. It has to be removed, or it will keep poisoning you."
Without the ability to shift back to my human form, I was stuck limping through the wilderness, struggling with the relentless pain and the growing infection. Days passed in a haze of suffering until I stumbled upon another rogue—an elusive girl who seemed to have her own story of survival. I learned her name was Leah.
Leah noticed my plight immediately and offered her assistance. With a mix of compassion and efficiency, she helped me remove the silver bullet from my arm. The process was painful, but Leah's presence was a relief. She provided me with some makeshift clothes to replace my tattered garments and shared crucial information about a place where I could find medicine.
"Find this address," she instructed, handing me a crumpled piece of paper. "They'll have what you need. The infection won't get better on its own."
After we parted ways, I made my way to the address Leah had given me. My arm was still throbbing, and the infection continued to fester despite the bullet being removed. The road ahead was uncertain, but Leah's help had given me a glimmer of hope. I was determined to get the medicine and find a way to heal, no matter how arduous the journey.