Chapter
I wiped the sweat trickling down my forehead and smiled at the sight before me.
The treehouse is now cleaned and furnished but it wasn't done yet. In the middle, I put out a purple rug so I can sit and lay down on the floor since I can't secretly bring a bed or a chair.
Beside it is a stack of books, toys and other things that I love which I brought from my room. I also took pillows and blankets that I could hide in my bag and laid them out on the rug. Last but not the least, I also took a few extra clothes so I won't worry about getting dirty and I would be able to swim at the brook anytime I want.
It took me two weeks to bring all these things here because I couldn't fit everything in my bag and I could only sneak here after classes.
I opened my bag and brought out the last things that I wanted to bring which were snacks. I mostly brought chips and biscuits which I bought using the money I earned in two weeks.
I never told anyone about this secret place, not even Adam. I was afraid that he would forbid me to go here if I told him. I can't also trust Logan and especially Leila because she betrayed my trust last time.
I also never forgot to hide my scent so that the Elite Warriors won't smell that I'm here and no one can trace where I've been.
I looked at my watch and saw that it's only been 10 minutes since I came here. I had always kept track of time everytime I would go here. I can't risk being late because Logan would surely ask me questions and I might accidentally tell him about this place.
I seldomly spend my time inside the treehouse because I love reading while laying down the grass beside the brook.
I inhaled the fresh air and the fragrance of flowers and shifted through pages of what I'm reading. I could also hear the birds humming and the water whispering beside me. I was there, drowned in my world. This is the most wonderful experience I ever had in my life.
A branch snapped from the forest and I instantly stood up and looked where the sound came from.
I sniffed the air trying to search for a familiar scent but instead I smelled something disgusting like a wet street dog.
I thought Logan, Leila, or Adam had found me but instead, a rogue had.
My heart sped up and cold sweat flowed down my spine. My father used to tell me stories about them. He said they were once normal werewolves who rebelled against their pack and lost their minds and humans in the process.
They were greedy and selfish that's why they became rogues.
"I am the daughter of Beta Sebastian Savera, of The Red Moon Pack. So run if you don't wish to die." I shouted with a defiant voice.
"I don't wish to harm you Beta. I was just passing by," the voice replied and he went out and revealed himself to me.
I was expecting to see someone scary that nearly looked like a zombie but instead, the man who came out looked more like a beggar. He has holes in his clothes and his body is covered in dirt, "Please spare me, I'm not like the other rogues. I left my pack because they were mistreating me," he said with his face on the ground.
"Show me your face," I commanded him and he immediately obeyed.
There were a lot of bruises and even dry blood all across his face and body and I can't help but have mercy on him.
How could a pack mistreat one of its members when they are all connected despite of anything bad he could possibly do.
"What have you done to your pack to deserve this?" I asked him. Surely, they won't beat him for no reason.
"I was born out of wedlock. My mom was impregnated by a man who already has a mate. She beat me because of her anger towards my father," He lowered his gaze sadly and I immediately regretted asking him why.
His stomach growled and he lowered his head in embarrassment, "When was the last time you ate?" I asked.
"I hadn't had a proper meal for two days since I left. I only survived by picking fruits from the trees."
I guess that explains why his wounds aren't healing fast, "What's your name?"
"Coby, ma'am."
"Okay Coby, I would bring you to our pack to answer some questions, and if you pass you can join us."
"I-I thought your pack hates rogues."
"We do hate rogues but we don't hate those who need our help."
He bowed again with his face touching the ground, "Thank you ma'am for sparing my life and giving me mercy. I promise I would repay your kindness."
"You don't have to. We had always helped rogues like you. Some of our members were rogues whom we had taken in. By the way stop calling me ma'am and just call me Mira since you are older than me."
We walked through the forest towards our pack. I'm excited to introduce Coby to my dad. I'm sure he will take pity on him because of his situation.
I didn't bother going to school and tell my siblings about Coby. I just went straight to the pack's office where dad works.
Before I could even reach his office the pack warriors had already sensed his presence. A great howl echoed throughout our borders and it was accompanied by the others. In just a few seconds, Coby and I were already surrounded by them.
They were all in their human form since they are strong whether in their wolf form or not. It's also because Coby doesn't possess much of a threat.
"Get away from our beta!" The one in the middle commanded and Coby cowered away from me. His body was bent over because of the heaviness of his command.
I'm actually not their Beta but they call me one since I'm their beta's daughter.
"He's with me. I found him near our border." I defended him.
"And what are you doing near the borders?" Someone shouted.
It was my father and he's making his way towards me. The warriors bowed their heads at him when they saw him coming.
He's frowning and clearly angry at me, "Didn't we told you before to never leave school without your siblings!"
I remained silent and lowered my head guiltily. Maybe, I should just have left that place when I saw it. I shouldn't have gone there and broke his orders multiple times.
"Bring the rogue to the dungeons," dad ordered and they followed him obediently.
"Dad, he's harmless. I was hoping if you'll accept him into the pack."
"You know the protocols. He had to do the interrogation."
"Dad," I paused, "I'm sorry for breaking your trust. I promise I won't leave the school again," I muttered
It's hard for me to leave the place I fell in love with but it's wrong to break his orders and disrespect the alpha.
He was about to say something when the sound of a siren interrupted our conversation.
"One," dad whispered.
"Two," he whispered again after it went off twice.
"Run to the bunkers!" Dad shouted and transformed into his midnight black wolf when the siren went off thrice which means someone is attacking our pack.
I did what he told me and ran with the crowd.
Our pack has its own secret and highly secured bunker for emergency purposes. All of the men, women, and children who don't know how to fight ran towards it while our pack warriors transformed into their wolves and formed their formation around our borders.
It was so sudden that the people were caught off guard. Everyone was pushing, shouting, and running towards the bunker and even caused a stampede.
And then, as soft as the sound of the wind, I heard it. It was thousands of paws running across the forest and it's coming towards us. It was a rogue attack and at that moment I knew that Coby betrayed me.
"Mira!" Coby called my name. The warriors who were supposed to bring him to the dungeons are now gone and had probably went off for the war.
"You signalled them did you? You told them that they are free to go and they can attack our pack," I yelled at him.
I should have known better. I was too naive that I trusted him and even led him towards our pack. He is exactly the rogue that dad warned me about.
"Never! I told you that I wasn't with them. I'm not like the other rogues."
I searched his face trying to look for any hint of lies but he's dead serious.
The rogues had now entered our borders. Their ferocious growl echoed and the war had now begun.
I never saw such horrifying wolves in my entire life. Their wolf is huge and they were standing with their hind legs. Patches of fur had fallen out of their scarred bodies. They are too thin that you can see their bones popping out. They look like they weren't fed for months and would die of hunger any minute. Despite of their thin bodies, they were still strong and could fight our warriors equally. Their strength is three times more than an average werewolf.
There are still a lot of people running towards the bunker and instead of hiding to be safe, I helped the people go in.
"Hurry up! They are inside the territory!" I yelled.
The rogues are attacking the weakest first instead of attacking the warriors and those who can fight.
The other warriors were forced to leave their formation to defend the pack members and because of that the warriors weren't able to use strategy to defeat them.
The war didn't just brought destruction to the pack, it also brought destruction to me. My world turned upside down and I lost everything.