Twenty Eight

Twenty Eight
Amber

She asked if I wanted a run but I sincerely didn't want that, but it seemed I didn't have a choice. She pulled me through different corners of the pack and I met different kinds of faces. I silently wondered why they all held kind faces and applauded me with praises. Carmen was such a betrayer, she just stood there with her arms folded and watched me being pulled around by some chirpy girls as they all wanted to talk to me.

But in all those I was in silent thought, was this what Brenda meant when she said I should enjoy it while it lasted? I never imagined that my escape would land me in a place such as good as this, it was just too much to handle and too good to be true.

I wasn't just led here to be patted and treated like a royal blood, though I was but not in this territory.. No matter how much I wanted to blend in I couldn't help but feel so tiny and small, most especially when I didn't know why I was here in the first place. But whatever it was I would flow with the moment and whatever happens would surely happen, I have been rejected once it won't be news for another.

"Back to the earth Amber." Carmen snapped her fingers right on my face, her breath still tagged due to the run we had. "You scared the shit outta me, staring at the tree like it held something you were enchanted to."

I rolled my eyes at her exaggeration and plopped myself down on a tree trunk. "Care to explain we are out here?" I gestured around me, she had successfully led me to a forest, right in the middle of nowhere. It was a hella journey. 

She sat down beside me as well, taking in calming breaths. "To show you the highlight of our visit today's visit." Her grin creeped me, I shifted slightly away from her and my eyes held questions in them. Was this the plan all along? Have Carmen murder me in cold blood and bury me so no one would know, who cares anyways, I was better off an orphan than someone who had a father. I tried to make my insecurities far from my expressions but it seemed not to work, her gaze told me so.

A frown etched her face. "Amber?I won't hurt you. Never. And no one would." 

"No! Hell Carmen, I wasn't thinking about that." I lied smoothly, I wasn't just going to be scared with my thoughts that she was a murderer. "I was thinking of what he would do if he found us out of his territory."

"Who says we are out of the pack? In fact this is the middle of our pack, a secret other packs aren't aware of." She paused, giving me a serious look. "I trust you Amber, despite the fact that I don't know who you are or what pack you are from I am certain you would never betray us. Consider yourself as one of us." She flashed a smile and for a minute I let my guards down and basked in the moment, my fears gone, just I and Carmen having a little time together." 

I followed her lead after giving her my assurance that I won't leak what I have gathered to anyone. Sadly, I didn't have anyone to do that with, just myself. We walked through the middle of the forest, the wind was at a normal temperature. She took a swift turn leading us to an opening, a vast plane valley with men training. Swords clattered and rhythmic chants could be held.

"Here we are, the secret training ground of our pack." She gestured proudly at the vast amount of shoulders that spread through the valley. "No woman is allowed here though."

I scoffed. "And then here we are?"

She blushed. "My mate is one of the pack's strong men and a reliable head of the army." 

"Still not enough reason." I pressed on.

"Whatever, he could need me you know…" she smirked. 

I grimaced. "Yuck Carmen, you should keep that to yourself." 

We both laughed and watched in content as they practised. 

"To what do we owe such a prestigious visit?" A hunk I recognised as Ezra walked towards us, sweat added a soft glitter to his muscled and toned body. He was well built and the clothes obviously did a bad job in telling those cheeky girls how he was underneath. 

"You're staring, he won't like that." Carmen whispered harshly and I snapped my gaze immediately from his body to his face and cleared my throat nervously.

"Um hi." I greeted meekly, swiftly turning back to the training men in fake interest.

"Oh hey Ezra, we just came for a visit, you know, to feed our eyes with some pheromones today." She said without grimace, her face straight like she was passing a very meaningful explanation. "Right Amber?"

A cough spiralled its way through my throat. "I don't know what you are talking about." Sorry Carmen but I have to deny you here.

She frowned playfully, bumping my shoulders lightly to the amazement of Ezra. "You snitch." She turned her gaze back to Ezra. "I see you are rather in intense training, what's the deal, any disturbing events?"

"Nothing much." He said simply, joining us where we stood up the small hill. "Alpha gave others to strengthen the defence. He says he does not want any disturbance during this period. I think he has his mind on something else." He concluded his explanation by flashing me a smirk while emphasising 'something else.'

"True. He seemed overly on the top now to ensure everything's okay, but I hope that wouldn't give those rebellious packs a wrong signal. Alpha won't be merciful to their sorry necks."

"Why is he doing all this?" I finally asked, a part of me suggested he was doing them as a precaution in case she turned out to be a spy, but Carmen's honest answer and Ezra's curt nod confused me.

"For you of course."