Chapter 2
I am truly sorry for everything I have done. You guys have been the best parents a child could ever dream of. I'm sorry for disrespecting the pack and having to leave under these circumstances. I am not angry at you dad for making me leave. I wanted to tell you that before I leave forever. Mom. Dad, I love you and please never forget that.
Love, Natalie
I pressed my lips to the note, imprinting it with a final kiss before setting it on the kitchen counter. My tears had blotted the ink, but the sentiment remained clear. This was the most difficult thing I'd ever done. The words captured emotions I seldom expressed, as I often kept my feelings barricaded behind walls. To ensure complete privacy, I severed my mind link, blocking any chance of my thoughts being overheard.
Exiting the house, I found a secluded spot behind a tree to transform. My parents were nowhere in sight, presumably because my father had ushered my mother away. I envisioned my wolf form, and within moments, my body contorted, bones shifting until my grey wolf emerged. Gripping my pack gently in my jaws, I bolted, not caring about the direction—anywhere was better than here, so long as it was away from the life I once cherished.
My pace was swift, a blur through the trees as the distance between me and my former pack lengthened. The place I had called home would forever hold a piece of my heart, no matter where my path led. Approaching the border, the familiar connections of the pack's mind link began to dissipate; the overlapping thoughts faded into silence. I crossed the threshold, and the scents of my old world gave way to unfamiliar ones—the domain of no pack. And there it was, the start of an unwritten chapter: A Rogue's Life.
~2 years later~
"James, when do we attack?" In the three months after leaving my pack, I was close to death. Alone and struggling, it was a group of ten rogues who saved me. They became more than just a band of outcasts; they were family. James, our leader, had taken on the role of a protective brother. He claimed I was too adorable for my own good and needed guarding at all costs, which I thought was utter nonsense.
Our target was the Blood Moon Pack, one of the strongest in the U.S., embroiled in rumors of war with a pack I knew all too well—my old pack, the Imperial Pack. Despite the passage of time, I still missed my former life, but now I had a new family that provided love and safety.
In these two years, I transformed from a party-loving teenager into a formidable rogue—without rules to follow or curfews to meet. Sure, I still enjoyed the clubs, but without the constraints of before.
My appearance had changed as well. My dark brown hair, naturally curly, cascaded nearly to my waist, and I had slimmed down significantly since my departure. My blue eyes stood out, accentuated by smoky makeup—a look I adopted to fit the rogue image.
"Shift, everyone!" James's command snapped me back to the present. We shifted and followed his lead, my heart pounding with anticipation. This was my first real skirmish. Previously, James felt I lacked experience, but I'd been training tirelessly for this moment.
As we ran through the Blood Moon territory, we brushed against trees, marking our passage with our scent. No wolves had yet confronted us, which suited me fine for my first combat—I wasn't exactly eager to engage. The recent scents suggested they weren't far off, stirring memories of my old life, of security and camaraderie...
But those thoughts scattered as a branch snapped. James halted, and the rest of us followed suit. Growls filled the air, and soon we found ourselves encircled by pack wolves—over thirty strong warriors. We crouched, ready, though it was clear we were outnumbered.
Then two clothed men stepped forward, reeking of authority, likely the Beta and third in command. Their imposing figures demanded attention, and despite the tension, I couldn't help but be struck by their allure. Muscles rippled under their skin, hinting at the power behind their rank—and I couldn't deny that they were easy on the eyes.
"You rogues are trespassing on Blood Moon Pack territory. Why are you here?" The Beta inquired, his voice edged with authority. Our wolves growled in response, taking offense at his tone. It was a pointless question; he knew exactly why we were there. I imagined if I were human, I'd have let out a laugh. Meanwhile, James emerged from the trees clad only in basketball shorts—nudity among werewolves was natural post-shift, but I still found myself admiring his chiseled abs and broad shoulders. A weakness of mine, no doubt.
"No kidding," James retorted with a smirk that the pack's warriors clearly didn't appreciate. Hostile growls directed at him went ignored; he remained unfazed.
"Disrespect will get you nowhere, Rogue. You're all aware of the consequences for this transgression. There's no reason you should be treated any differently," said the Beta, a challenging grin spreading across his face. My mind raced, trying to figure out an escape from this predicament. Left alone, I might have surrendered immediately, but with my group, I felt emboldened. If death was what awaited me, so be it, though I preferred not to dwell on that possibility.
"We're well aware of the penalty, but would you truly execute all these 'innocent' individuals?" James gestured to us, laying ironic stress on 'innocent', an adjective none of us qualified for.
"Don't even dare link the word innocent with rogues," snapped the third in command, speaking up for the first time.
"Everyone, shift back," James commanded quietly, just loud enough for us. We complied, donning our pre-tied clothes. Once shifted, the lustful stares from the pack members unnerved me, but James quickly moved in front of me, protective as ever. "So you're going to tell me that this one isn't innocent?" He wrapped an arm around me and planted a kiss atop my head, a gesture that left me confused by his intentions.