Chapter Twenty: A leader

ANNA'S POV

There was a permanent smile on my face as I followed after Jonas, as we moved back to the rogues' camp.

"Why don't we morph into our wolf form? Wouldn't it be faster that way?" I asked, with a frown. I was confused as to why we had to travel on foot. The camp was still a long way ahead and I felt really energetic.

"No, we can't, Miss. We are all tired as we have been traveling for days. We never realized that you would have gone so far. Morphing into our wolf form in our tired state will have a backlash." Jonas replied and I frowned.

I never realized I had gone that far. I just wanted to get away from the rogues while Kyra was clamoring to go back to them.

"I never knew I went that far. Did I trouble you all too much?" I asked, with a concerned look. I observed the rogues intently. Though they looked tired, they looked hopeful as well.

"Well, we don't speak of our troubles, do we? You were almost at the borders of the next Pack, anyways." I heard him say and my eyes widened in shock.

"Do you mean that?" I asked, wondering if I'd have successfully passed through the Pack borders. Maybe I would have become part of the new Pack by now.

I saw Jonas nod his head, and then I went on to ask, "What are the odds? You know you wouldn't have been able to find me if I had crossed the borders. How would you deal with the King then?" My question was a bit bizarre as Jonas turned to look at me, with raised brows.

"It's either you'd be cooling off in the dungeon, killed or you would have been made a slave. However, you could also be accepted in the Pack with no qualms. It all depends on your performance." I heard him say but then I was a bit intrigued by a certain sentence of his. However, I didn't get to voice out my curiosity before he spoke up.

"And then if we don't find you all because you have crossed the borders, we will resort to fighting head-on with the King. While you'd probably let go of your grudge with the Prince." His words shocked me but then that was the most likely outcome.

"I do not think I could let go of my grudge with the Prince." I let out as I didn't want to readily accept Jonas' words.

"Did he do a very bizarre and unjust thing to you?" Jonas asked and I went quiet. My lips quivered as I tried to speak up but then I couldn't. I thought deeply about the whole thing and I realized that I wouldn't have been humiliated if I didn't become a substitute bride.

Becoming a substitute bride was all because of my stepmother's greediness. She couldn't let go of all the goodies a marriage to the Prince would bring. However, it was a sure thing that I would be punished severely if I hadn't escaped. I could even be killed.

My hatred was interwoven between my stepmother and stepsister and the Prince. I couldn't let go of the grudge, and I would take my revenge.

"You don't have an answer to my question?" I heard Jonas ask and I looked up at him, with a serious expression.

"His actions have pushed me to what I am today." I answered simply and Jonas was a bit surprised. He opened his mouth to say something but then he couldn't.

Slowly, he turned around and started to walk again. While I followed, beside him, I tried to push down the thoughts of the Prince and my family.

I was still intrigued by what he had said a while ago and I asked, "What do you mean I'd have become a slave? Does slavery still go on in this day and age?" My curiosity was evident and I couldn't fathom the thought of a person keeping slaves.

"Yes, people still keep slaves. If the King could do such things to us, can you imagine how many slaves he has and what he does to them?" I heard Jonas say and I was shocked.

I knew the workers definitely weren't slaves but then it was a bizarre thing to know.

"Why isn't anyone standing against him? Who keeps selling slaves to him?" I asked, a bit intrigued and Jonas let out a low chuckle.

"He is the King! No one can stand up against him and who wouldn't keep selling slaves? There are a lot of bad guys out there and as long as they want some gold, they do whatever they have to." Jonas replied and I let out a sigh.

I realized there was more to the King than I expected.

"Miss..." I heard Jonas call out to me as I was lost in thoughts. All other rogues had halted their steps and I looked around, in wonder.

Why did they have to stop?

"Why are you looking at me with such a serious face?" I asked in a shaky tone as I looked all around but not straight at Jonas. I could see why he was chosen as the leader of the rogues. He had that intimidating vibe and I could feel my wolf whining and purring within me. But then we both knew it was a shame as he was with Aria now. My wolf, Kyra, was ever-ready to make him hers. She needed a mate and she was unlike me who could stay without one.

"You need to know that you are not going to use your strength alone." Jonas spoke up suddenly and I was sent into confusion.

"What?" I asked not knowing what he was saying anymore. All along, he had told me only my strength would be needed and now he was saying something else.

"You are going to become our leader! I would have to step back for you." Jonas dropped the bombshell and I was greatly shocked.

A leader?