I sit down and observe the clear waters plunge into a pool below it. Then, I close my eyes and listen to the water cascading down the rocky surface.

Silence. It was the source of my strength.

The one thing I loved being a rogue was the ability it gave me to appreciate nature's beauty. Nature is a pleasure in everyone's life that many fail to enjoy.

I stare at my face as I looked down on the waters, my reflection showing. In it was my light brown hair that went down to my waistline in a tangled mess.

"Fuck!" I blurt out, realizing I forgot to bring—or steal a hair tie. Whatever floats your boat.

I breath out a sigh of disappointment. My hair right now was so not the move.

Once again, I look at my reflection, resisting the urge to pull out a stupid peace sign.

I groan, bored out of my mind. I really wished I could shift on command. I wanted to run and talk to my wolf like other wolves could.

The only way I could shift to my wolf form—who is quite uncontrollable, if I may add—is by getting really really enraged.

And I was more happy to have Giovanni as my tool for that.

Without warning, someone tugged on my mind, requesting permission to mind link. Since I was a pack member, Theo and the others could easily mindlink me. However, only they could request and start to mindlink.

I let the unidentified person break into my mind.

"Emergency pack meeting, money lover," I hear Emilio's voice call out.

I cut off the mind link and run back to the pack house.

___

I barge the doors open and instantaneously, heads turn to me. I had gotten lost, not knowing where the meeting was held and I was too prideful to ask help from anyone.

On instinct, I pull on my hood and lead myself to an empty seat.

"Late again, Catalina?" Scarlett's voice booms across the room.

I grin. "It's the only thing I'm good at it."

She rolls her eyes and transfers her gaze to Theo, who sported the most devilish lopsided smile on his face.

Oh my, what a handsome devil he truly is.

His head snaps to me. He tilts his head and stares at me with eyes filled with so much anticipation. It was as if it was directed to me. It almost felt like he was about to pull a prank that I didn't know about.

I gulp visibly, a little frightened. Something happened and it obviously included me.

One of the million things I hate is not knowing or not having an idea of what's about to happen.

Why can't I have the superpower to see the future or read people's minds?

I break eye contact with Theo and look down, fidgeting on the hem of my cloak. My heart hammered in my chest and I release a deep breath out in an attempt to calm down the beating.

The room, I barely notice, was in complete silence. Other than me, everyone was looking directly at Theo, waiting for his command.

C'mon dude. Say something. Let's get over this fast, you're making me more nervous than I should be.

Everyone waits, their backs straight, and their lips unmoving. It was completely soundless. Their faces and bodies were still as stone.

I resist the urge to cough when something tickled the back of my throat.

Finally, after a painstaking minute, Theo begins to speak, his husky voice echoing from the soundless walls of the room. "Everyone, relax."

Immediately, there was a harmonious sound of exhales.

Theo continues to speak, "Today, two interesting events occurred. The first occurrence was that a rogue pack have invaded our territory for the first time since 5 years ago. At about 2 PM, exactly 4 hours ago, for your information, there was an attack west of our borders. The disturbance was instigated by 3 rogues: Two adult men and a woman. They are currently in the cellars and will be punished as I wish. The other interesting thing that took place, however, actually concerns a pack member."

Theo pauses. Footsteps reached my ears from across the room, implying that Theo has left his place and have began walking around the vast room.

I remain looking down, braiding and unbraiding the ends of my hair.

I hated pack meetings. I hated them back when I had a pack. I hated them when anyone talked about them. And I hate them now that I got into a new pack.

They were usually boring and tedious.

And for the first time, I was wishing that it was and not nerve wracking.

I had a gut feeling that what he was about to say concerned me.

And it wasn't good.

"As most of you know—if not all—my father as a youngling established a law prohibiting harmful research on wolves. These were experiments that were performed for a reason we don't know yet. No pack or rogue dared to rebel and so, they abided by his rules. Although, 6 years ago, we had come across that a rogue pack had broken this rule. These very same rogues," Theo continues. His footsteps were slow and steady. "Left me a very very special message today."

I clear my throat awkwardly. The atmosphere was now tense and uncomfortable.

Please don't let it be about me. Please don't let it be about me.

I proceed with listening to his footsteps when suddenly, the sound faltered.

I whip my head around to search for him. When I looked up, I see Theo's mischievous grey orbs looking into mine.

Shit.

I whip my head back around and start fidgeting on the hem of my cloak once again, waiting for Theo to move to another person.

He never did.

His voice was louder now that he was right behind me, still as a stone.

"The message was clear and to the point: bring our test subject," he says using his fingers to represent quotation marks. "And no harm will be done."

Chatter erupted throughout the vast space.

"Now now, fighting this rogue group will not be a big deal. Rest assured. We've had even worse fights ," he places a hand on my shoulder.

I nod my head along with the others, feeling fiddly.

Theo leans down to meet my stature. I shiver as I felt his warm breath on my neck.

His lips move just by my ear, making a shiver travel down my spine once again. "The question is," he questions with his deep, smooth voice. "Why do they want this person so bad they dare set their own paws on my territory? And who among us do they want?"

People broke into chitter-chatters, unable to contain themself.

I release a nervous laugh and tried to mute them by coughing, only to choke on air.

Great going, Alex!

My heart beats erratically, unable to slow down its own beating. I groan at myself mentally as I thought that Theo could probably tell how nervous I was right now.

Still, I remain silent and bring a hand on the back of my neck, suddenly feeling the need to scratch it.

In a flash, Theo's hand wraps around my wrist as softly as he could. I shrug off the sparks that erupted on the surface of my skin, the nervousness getting to me.

I was glad that the people were so immersed in their conversations, they did not pay attention to Theo and I.

Theo bites my ear playfully.

I release a breath I didn't know I've been holding in this whole time.

I look at him only to see a smirk on his face.

"I win," he declares with twinkling eyes.

"Fucking hell."