Chapter 21: for the kill

ANNA'S POV

"You are here!" I heard Aria's happy voice as I saw her rushing toward me with a big smile on her face.

Immediately, I let out a smile as I was still grateful for how she had saved me. However, I still wasn't sure if it was all planned or not.

"Welcome!" She said to me and then hugged me, tightly. My eyes crinkled in genuine happiness at the thought that someone was really happy to see me. I was always an object of sorrow or disappointment to my father and my family. Also, it had really been a long time, since I last got a hug.

"Thank you, Aria." I said as we pulled away from the hug.

"Come, the others are waiting!" I heard her say and I became really nervous. What Jonas had said to me was still ringing in my head. How could I become their leader? I wasn't even sure if I had any leadership skills.

"Wait!" I called out to Aria who was already dragging me into the rogues' square. Jonas and the others who were behind me looked at me, with a frown on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Aria asked and she passed a fleeting look across to Jonas.

"Uhm, do you think the rogues are in support of this? Don't you think this will bring a rift between you all?" I asked, in a worried tone.

As soon as I finished my words, there was confusion evident on her face. She cast another fleeting but questionable look toward Jonas and then looked at me.

"Has he not explained anything to you?" She asked, and I shook my head.

"He has but then I just need to hear from you. I can't take his words for it." I said, and my words implied that I trusted Aria more. I could feel an angry aura from behind which was obviously from Jonas but then I didn't care. However, deep down I couldn't just say I trusted Aria. I could just say I could read her expressions better than Jonas'.

"Ohh, that!" She replied, with a sweet smile on her face.

"You don't have to worry. Everyone is in accordance with our plans. There is no rift as everything has been settled." She explained fluidly with an enthusiastic expression. Her hands never left mine for a minute. And as she looked straight into my eyes, I knew she was being sincere.

"Alright, let's go." I said and immediately, without wasting more time, she dragged me toward the rogues' square. It was the same square where I was trapped and I never knew things would progress this fast. Also, I was curious to know how they managed to disperse wolfsbane into the air.

On the side, I couldn't stop thinking of Aria didn't care about Jonas whom she hadn't seen in a long while. Weren't they lovers? Were they having their small lover's quarrel?

As soon as we walked into the square, the air felt clean, devoid of any poisonous substance. I was a bit surprised but then I decided to keep my curiosity in check.

The rogues were standing at attention and as I walked in, they visibly tensed up. Their eyes were on me and they were obviously alert. Any wrong move from me would definitely make them attack me.

"You all don't have to be so uptight." I heard Jonas say and it took a few seconds to make them feel at ease.

"Well, has she agreed to be our leader?" One of the rogues asked and my eyes widened in shock. At this point, I finally confirmed that they were in on it too.

Jonas was about to speak up but then I was quick to cut him off.

"Oh no! I think it's too sudden. I cannot be your leader, just yet. I'm just going to be part of you all for now." I said out loud as I wasn't ready to accept such responsibility. On the other hand, Aria looked quite uncomfortable and displeased but then I didn't care.

"Well, we wouldn't want to follow you blindly as well." The rogue replied with a mocking smirk and I was a bit hurt by his words. However, I couldn't deny that his words were true.

I didn't expect that they would follow me blindly when I was just joining them.

"Well, that's all for now. Introduce yourself, Miss. No one here knows who you are." I heard Jonas say and I was a bit stumped. All along, I realized he had been addressing me as "Miss" and it was really polite.

"I am Anna Marie Jones." I said, with a straight face. I didn't know what else to say as I was just me. I didn't belong to a Pack or family anymore.

"And I am a rogue!" I declared and the look of shock appeared on their faces.

"Welcome, Anna Marie! With you here, we don't need to worry about anything." Jonas said with a proud smile and he bowed, respectfully. I was a bit overwhelmed by his actions and before long, Aria burst into a loud round of applause.

Before I knew what was happening, the others followed and there were cheers all around. The rogues looked genuinely happy to have me in their midst and I couldn't be more happier. For the first time in my life, I got the feeling of being accepted wholeheartedly.

It was an overwhelming feeling and my heart felt full.

"You all are going to pay for this!" I suddenly heard a shout from behind and immediately, my head snapped to see an angry-looking man a few feet away from me.

"What's going on?" I asked, in confusion. Other than his angry expression, he had a bow and arrow in hand and he looked like he was going for the kill.

"No! You can't do this, Kai!" I heard Jonas say and from the corner of my eye, he looked ready to attack. Swiftly, the man named Kai turned the arrow to him, ready to shoot.

"You caused all this! She is not welcomed here and she will never be!" I heard him say and I was a bit hurt. No matter what happens, I realized there were still people who would oppose one's happiness.

However, as I was in my thoughts, Kai suddenly shot his arrow and it came flying. For the kill!