Chapter 8 VIII

Cautiously, Elodie watched the wolf approach. He growled, and that was enough to make her cringe in fear. His aura exuded authority.

"So are you planning to flee the village, Miss Lunt?" I hear a voice in the back of my head.

That's when the wind brought its scent and I recognize the wolf.

It was the Alpha, Felix, I lower my she-wolf's head until my muzzle touches the ground.

"I asked you a question, Miss Lunt." He speaks again in my head.

It must be a mental connection, I had heard my father and the others talk about it. I raised my head to look at him.

"Is it your plan to leave the village, Miss Lunt?"

"Hm... Yes, sir. But how do you...?" I start to say, but he interrupts me, speaking once more into my mind.

"In wolf form, we are able to hear the thoughts of any wolf in the pack we belong to. You are no exception."

I choked on the sudden revelation. Sure, they could read each other's minds, but only if they were close. How long had he been here listening to me, then? I would have to be more careful.

"So, Miss Lunt. Did you plan to leave the village because I don't want to accept you?" He steps closer, and begins to circle me.

"Since you rejected me, sir, I have no reason to be in this village." I look at the ground.

After all, I had no partner and no living family in the village. My parents are dead and I have no siblings.

Freya raised me and took care of me, but I am nothing more than her late husband's daughter. She had no choice but to look after me until I could fend for myself.

But, now, I was legally an adult. I could leave and take care of myself.

"Did you know that to leave this pack, you need a license that only the alpha can grant? Otherwise, you will be branded a renegade." His blue eyes stared deeply into mine.

"And guess what? I don't feel like giving you that license. So unless you want to be branded a renegade and wander around without the protection of a pack, you'll never leave this place." Elodie listens stunned.

"Ex-excuse me, sir?" I'm still trying to digest his words.

"You are forbidden to leave this village, Miss Lunt. If you do, I will brand you a renegade. Is that clear?" He turns his back to her and starts to walk away.

"Why?!" I scream in my mind, stopping him from going any further. "Why are you doing this to me? You've already rejected me, condemning me to be alone, without a partner, for the rest of my life. Why are you forbidding me to leave?"

I tried to stand my ground, not to be intimidated by his aura.

"Did I reject you? When did I do that?" Felix asks, turning to face me.

"At my house, when you said I was... useless..." At the last part, I duck my head, embarrassed.

"I said you were useless to me, Miss Lunt..." Felix turns back to where I was. "But I never had the chance to properly reject you."

We stood in silence, facing each other. He was right. He never really said the words, I knew what was coming next, the alpha wouldn't hesitate this time. Still with my head down, I closed my eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling, and waited.

"However, I'm not going to reject you just yet."

I lift my head and look at him, perplexed.

"What?" Shock is stamped on my face.

"I'm not going to reject you yet, Miss Lunt. I have other plans for you, but you will not tell anyone in the village that we are partners. As I said before, if you do, I will disown you. And I will brand you and anyone you tell as renegades."

With that, he turned his back on me once more.

"Go back home. It's too late for a simple omega she-wolf like you to be here alone." And disappears into the bushes, leaving me there, stunned and hurt.

What did he want with me?

~~

Elodie was sitting in that beautiful clearing she found last night.

She was in human form, the place was quiet and serene, it was daytime, and the sun was shining over the lake. The wild grass that grew around the water swayed with the summer breeze.

Suddenly, a dark cloud covered the sky, and the place became gloomy, the lake looked more and more gloomy as the restless waves disturbed its once peaceful waters and the sweet summer breeze turned into a strong, hissing wind. The green grass faded and dried up, leaving a hideous trail of dry, cracked soil all around. Then the sound of dry leaves rustling and fallen branches breaking caught my attention, putting me on alert.

I looked around in fear and tried to call my she-wolf, but got no response. Out of the few bushes whose dry leaves were still intact came a huge black wolf with glowing blue eyes. Its fangs were bared and it growled at me.

The wolf came closer and closer, until it finally advanced on me, digging its sharp fangs into my neck.

I awoke to Freya poking me gently.

I was panting and sweating as I looked at my stepmother, confused and afraid. It was just a bad dream.

"What? I know I promised to go running with you, but isn't it a little too soon?"

I sit up in bed, looking at the alarm clock on the bedside table, but when I turn to Freya, I notice her grim expression. Immediately, I knew something was wrong.

"What happened?"

"You... You have a visitor, dear." Freya speaks, and I sense the fear and sadness in her voice.

"Who's...?" I start to say, but she interrupts me.

"Hurry up and come down presentable, my love." She stands up, leaving me totally confused.

Was it the alpha again, wanting to torment me?

As it turned out, I was right. The person waiting for me, sitting in our living room, was the leader's chief maid. She was chatting happily with my stepmother, who had a somber expression. What did I do now?

"Mistress Tessa?" They both turn to me.

The elderly woman gives me a beaming smile.

"Elodie! It's always good to see you, dear." She comes up to me and hugs me tightly.... "Have you packed your things?"

"Pack my things? What for?"

"To come away with me, dear! Didn't your stepmother tell you?"

I look at Freya, whose face was getting darker and darker.

"Go away? What do you mean by going away? Where to?" I ask, feeling frustrated.

"To the leader's house, dear. The alpha has ordered you to move in immediately as one of the maids."

Mistress Tessa announced this as if it were the best news in the world.

"What?!" Screaming, I wriggle out of the older woman's grip and run to Freya.

"What is she talking about?" Tears streamed down Freya's face.

Even in her forties, being a she-wolf, she still had a youthful appearance. Her brown eyes, which had a few wrinkles here and there, were now crying for real, and she hugs me tightly.

"Ah, Elodie. I didn't understand anything either, but it's a direct order from the alpha. We have no choice but to obey, or we both might be punished." She strokes my head as she spoke.

"But I don't want to live there. This is my home!"

"It is your home, and always will be, dear. I'm sure you'll be able to come and visit me from time to time, but at the moment we have no other option. The alpha gave the order."

"That's not fair!"

"I'm sorry, Elodie, but it's like your stepmother said. That's a direct order from the alpha, you are to come with me immediately. We can arrange visits for your stepmother on weekends once you've settled in." Tessa says, trying to persuade me.

I turn to look at the only familiar figure I had left.

"I don't want to leave you alone." I tell her. And it was true.

Although Freya and I didn't always agree, she was the one who raised me and took care of me after my father died.

"I'll be fine, dear. I'm sure the alpha will allow us to meet."

I doubted that very much.

"I'm sorry, dear. But we must hurry." Mrs. Tessa interrupts us. I ignore her and keep looking at Freya.

"It's going to be okay, Elodie." Feya speaks. "Go ahead and pack your things, we don't want to make the alpha angry."

I thought about it. Make that man angry. What difference would it make? He was always angry.

Still, I shook my head and went upstairs to my room to pack my things, collecting everything I would need, before leaving the place I always called home.

As soon as I finished packing my things, I go downstairs and catch part of the conversation between Lady Tessa and Freya.

"... He accused her of theft yesterday! Why does he want you there as a servant?" My stepmother inquires.

"I really don't know, Lady Lunt. I wondered the same thing when the request came this morning, but the alpha's order is final. We just have to obey it, as bizarre as it sounds." Mistress Tessa replies in annoyance.

I clear my throat loudly and the women turn their attention to me.

"I'm ready..."

"Perfect. We have no time to waste. Let's get going." Tessa stands up, and heads for the door.

I walk after her, but stop, and turn to face my stepmother one last time.

"It'll be all right, Elodie. Remember, this will always be your home." She speaks, trying to sound encouraging.

I run over and hug her as tightly as I can, and she hugs me back just as tightly.

"I'm going to miss picking on you." I say to Freya. Tears run uncontrollably down my face, wetting her shoulders.

She gives a light laugh.

"I'll miss trying to wake you up in the morning." Freya tries to hide her emotion. "Take care, sweetheart."

We part and I follow the head of the maids.

But not before I take one last look at my house.