Cara’s POV
I swallowed, unsure of where this conversation was heading. The atmosphere between us grew awkward with Alpha Alexander’s intense gaze fixed on me. His presence was heavy, his eyes piercing into me like he was trying to unravel something deep within.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” I said, my voice a little shaky. “I’m just trying to survive.”
He studied me for a long moment before speaking, his tone carrying an undeniable weight. “I believe you. But you need to understand something, Cara, the world outside this pack is dangerous. You’ve already seen that firsthand. If you plan on leaving, you’ll need to be prepared.”
There it was, the real reason for this tour. He wasn’t just showing me around; he was warning me. The world outside the Silverware Pack was harsh, brutal even. If I wasn’t careful, it would chew me up and spit me out like it had so many others before me.
I nodded slowly. “I understand.”
His gaze softened slightly, though it did little to ease the tension that had settled between us. He turned his attention back toward the pack, the small community bustling in the distance. “Good. Because whether you stay or leave, you’ll always have a place here. Remember that.”
His words threw me off. A place here? But he had made it clear I couldn’t stay forever. After three days, I was supposed to find my way. Why was he suddenly offering me a place now?
We continued walking in silence, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the dense forest. The pack seemed even smaller as the evening wore on, just a handful of wolves, barely twenty members. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
Alpha Alexander broke the silence first. “About that map of Ellorin you asked for… we don’t have one detailed enough to help you find your family. Our information network is limited to our hunting grounds and pack territory.”
I blinked, pulled from my thoughts. “Oh,” I muttered, feeling a flicker of disappointment.
He glanced at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but there was something dark behind his eyes. “But I’ll tell you what I do know. Ellorin is vast, divided into the East and the West, each as large as a continent.”
My ears perked up. This was the first time anyone had given me such information about Ellorin, and I couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
“The East and West are separated by the Great Woods,” he continued, his voice low and deliberate. “Bigger than both regions combined.”
I furrowed my brow, curiosity getting the better of me. “But if the Great Woods are that massive, why are packs constantly fighting over territory?”
He chuckled softly, but it was humorless. “That’s the nature of alphas. We’re wired to protect what’s ours, even if there’s more than enough land. It’s a primal instinct, one not easily controlled. Every pack has its territory, but the East… it’s ruled by an alliance of packs known as the Alpha Council.”
His tone darkened, and the temperature around us seemed to drop. His expression turned cold, his jaw tightening as he mentioned the council. It was as if the very thought of it ignited something dangerous within him.
I took a cautious step back, startled by the sudden shift in his demeanor. But just as quickly as it appeared, the darkness in his eyes vanished, replaced by the familiar stoic look he usually wore.
“Sorry about that,” he muttered, his voice returning to its usual calm.
I nodded, though I remained wary, unsure of how to respond. “It’s fine.”
He looked at me for a moment, his eyes searching mine, then motioned toward a nearby building. “We’ve reached the training center.”
We stepped inside, and the overwhelming scent of sweat and effort filled the air, nearly choking me. The training arena was packed with young werewolves, some barely teenagers, engaged in all forms of combat and physical training. From afar, I spotted Emma and Emily sparring, their movements fluid and precise, far from the playful girls I’d met earlier.
The sight of Emma, so small and young, wielding a sword made my stomach lurch. She couldn’t have been older than ten, and yet she moved like a seasoned warrior.
“You look surprised,” Alpha Alexander said, noticing my expression.
I nodded, unable to hide my disbelief. “They’re just kids. Shouldn’t they be in school?”
He shrugged, his expression indifferent. “School is important, sure. But here, strength rules. They go to school, but it doesn’t prevent them from training.”
As we moved through the room, all the pack members stopped what they were doing to acknowledge Alpha Alexander, bowing their heads in respect before continuing with their exercises. Emma waved at me with a grin, but I could only manage a nod, still processing what I was seeing.
“Are you preparing for war?” I asked, my voice low but laced with concern. “Or is something else coming?”
Alpha Alexander’s expression softened, but there was a glint in his eyes. “No war, not yet. This is just our way of life.”
“But why train like this?” I asked, my voice growing sharper. “They’re children. This is… this is abuse!!.”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them. My eyes widened in shock as I realized what I’d just done. I’d raised my voice to an alpha. An alpha.
But to my surprise, Alexander chuckled. “Don’t worry, Cara. I’m not one to shy away from correction. I admire your spirit.”
I gawked at him, speechless. His reaction was not at all what I had expected.
“You see, Cara,” he continued as we left the building, “in Ellorin, the strong survive, and the weak are trampled underfoot. That’s the unwritten rule of our world.”
I knew that all too well. I’d lived through it in Bluecreek, where being an omega meant being a slave, abused and tormented while everyone turned a blind eye, if you do something bad and you have connection then you are free to go, but if poor retched wolf does the same, either he is banished or killed.. But if there was a council supposedly meant to protect the weak, why were so many suffering?
“The council,” I started, my voice shaking, “why does it turn a blind eye to the rogue attacks and all the suffering?”
Alpha Alexander’s eyes gleamed with something unrecognizable, an emotion I couldn’t place. “That’s why I tell you, Cara, we don’t rely on others to protect us. We take care of our own.”
His words hung in the air, filled with meaning I couldn’t quite grasp.
He stopped abruptly and turned to face me, his expression intense. “Let me ask you something, Cara, what do you believe in?”
His question caught me off guard. I stared at him, unable to form an answer. What *did* I believe in? I had spent so long just trying to survive that I hadn’t even considered what I truly believed in.
Before I could respond, he waved a hand dismissively, his mood shifting once again. “Never mind. Come to the bonfire tomorrow night. The pack will be there, it’ll give you a chance to see more of us.”
I nodded, still reeling from the conversation. As he turned to leave, his voice dropped to a near whisper, just loud enough for me to hear.
“And Cara… don’t forget, some of us here aren’t bound by council rules. We’ve walked different paths and have separated from the council. You’ll see soon enough.”
I froze, his words sending a chill down my spine. Separated form the council? What does he mean?, unless…
“Rogues.”
I breathed heavily, The Silverware Pack was made up of rogues. They are a rogue pack.