Chapter 109 109

Chapter 109 109
Tristian

I didn't for how long but I didn't stop running the day I left Leah behind. It was only when I crashed from exhaustion long past moon high that was I able to stop. Had it been hours? More than one day even? I had no idea but when I woke up, I was surrounded by unfamiliar trees and strange scents.

It finally hit me right then and there: I was a rogue. No longer did I have the protection and comfort of a pack. I was completely alone and had to survive while being at the mercy of everyone living in this uncharted territory. At least Moonlight Pack's old territory belonged to the Alpha King otherwise it too would become just another piece of land for the rogues to take over.

After this, I wandered for a long time constantly moving in fear of encountering a powerful wolf. I didn't recognize any scents and always wondered what happened to my former pack member. Were they wandering like me? Did another pack accept them? I knew I surely wasn't welcome in any pack. 

Rogues were everywhere. New and old scents were all around me and yet I never saw another wolf. Not until the day I ran into 'her' anyway. 

It's just another day. I found and caught a rabbit for food, and, as I ate I had no idea she was watching me. It wasn't until she spoke up that I even knew someone was there.

"Well, well, well." I freeze and shoot my head up. "Look how the mighty has fallen!" I look up sharply and spot a woman in a tree. With dirty blonde hair and wild green eyes, I know instantly she's a rogue but there's more to it. I know her well. "When I heard what happened, I couldn't help but laugh at your ignorance."

I growl lowly and step back as she lands on her feet with a graceful. 'Of course you would. That's the kind of wolf you are, Penelope.' I stay cautious and bear my teeth at her. Ever since I ran away, I haven't changed out of my wolf form even if it drains my humanity doing so. 

"Oh please, Trisy, darling! I've told you my greatest enemies get to call me Penny." The rogue purrs and looks me over. "The mighty Alpha can't even take care of himself! What happened to your precious Dahlia?" I flinch at the mention of her name making Penny grin gleefully. "What's wrong? Did your epic love story end up as fake as her? Oh, I wonder who was the first to tell you about that fact..." 

As Penny scratches under her chin, I can't help but grimace. She had told me long ago when she was a member of my pack. The first thing I did when I became Alpha was exile her after all... something I regretted every day afterward.

Penelope had been a childhood friend of mine, a wolf closer to my age in comparison to Daisy and Dahlia. Only a month apart, we grew up together and I considered making her my Beta when the time came to name one. However... like everything else that happened with my life, I listened to Dahlia instead of...

"You better run little wolf." Penny suddenly coos making me tense and focus on her again. My old friend was gone forever. I burned that bridge years ago. "This is my territory... call me the rogue queen if you will... and when I catch you..."

Penny's crazed laughter mixed in with those wild eyes sends shivers down my spine. I spin around and take off that laughter echoing through the trees. As I run I feel her hot breath on the back of my legs. 

Just another sin I've committed but one I did without being charmed by a literal demon spawn. I ruined Penelope's life and lost a good friend as well. She has every right to punish me... but I don't wish to die so I run as fast as I can... yet this is the last thing I remember before my memory blacks out. 



Age 11

Being an Alpha's son is truly awesome! I want nothing more than to make my father proud and to be the best future Alpha I can be so I'm taking everything he says to heart in my Alpha lessons.

"Remember, pup, every wolf has a purpose in the pack," Father told me many times. "No one is below you in any way. Omegas are not to be mistreated as without them we wouldn't have good meals made."

While I'm not sure why father always repeats this to me, I just nod every time and hope I remember it well. "You're such a meathead, Trisy!" Penny always teases. "How do you forget so many things? Looks like I have to be the brains between us!" 

I can't help that I don't have book smarts! I'd rather be out training to fight more than cramming random knowledge in my brain! I'm meant to lead and fight for my pack and nothing more! This is why Penny is father's suggestion for my future Beta instead of his Beta's daughter. Something about Penny having common sense while Dahlia is just a 'cute face'. Why would she even have a cute face? Girls are weird and icky and Dahlia is just... noisy.

"Why can't I go to the meeting?!" Dahlia squeaks making my head and ears hurt. She stomps her small foot and looks up at her father with tears in her eyes. "It isn't fair! I'm big enough! I don't wanna wait for five more years!" 

While Beta Philip comforts her, Penny giggles next to me. "She's such a brat." She whispers to me. "She's only seven and complaining so much. How can anyone stand her tantrums for more than two seconds? Dad would whip her straight in a second!" 

I frown and just watch as Dahlia continues to cry to try and get her way. She is very spoiled indeed but that isn't her fault. "I think we were that way five years ago," I whisper back. "You just barely made the cut." She turned ten only two months ago.

Penny shoots me a dirty look and jabs me in the side with her elbow. "I'm stuck to you like glue! Who knows what kind of trouble you'll get into without me?" She grins cheerfully. "Besides, you can't fool me! You'll need me because you're so nervous."

I rub my side and sigh softly. She's right about that! I don't want to mess up or make a fool of myself. What if I make Moonlight Pack look back? What if father gets disappointed in me? I will never live that down if I do!

"Come on, Trisy!" Penny puts her arm over my shoulders and winks. "You'll do fine! Your Beta will have your back!" I smile at her knowing it to be true. I trust her with all my secrets, ranging from little to embarrassing. When father calls for us to leave, we both look up quickly. "That's us! Race you to the front!" With that she takes off.

"No fair!" I call after her and race after her but not before looking back. It's then that I see Dahlia glaring with tears in her eyes but it isn't me that she's glaring at... it's Penny. Did she hear what she said? Being the current Beta's daughter, many expected her to be first in line for the position.

When Dahlia meets my eyes, her blue ones narrow and she spins around storming off. I shudder but focus back on chasing Penny. She's just a spoiled child... what could she do to Penny? Yet that look in her eyes... why do I have a bad feeling about it?