of changes and bonds

into a world unknown,

a queen away from her throne

M A D D I E ♛

They put me in a room in a place called 'the pack house.' Apparently that's where the Alpha currently resided, as well as other high ranking wolves and guest wolves.

Kasen had been explaining me so many things about the life in a pack and to say I was disinterested was a mere understatement. Wait--, rather than disinterested, I didn't really care.

I wasn't going to stay here for long anyways.

As he showed me the different areas of the pack, people that we met stared at us. Naturally, I felt threatened and so did my wolf, it was like they were picking a fight.

They stared at me from head to toe as if sizing me up, seeing if they could take me on a fight.

Whenever that happened, I was quick to show my wolf and challenge them to a fight, but Kasen was always to the rescue, explaining that there was no danger or threats. That those pack wolves were just curious.

"Stop staring if you know what's good for you." I say towards a boy, maybe around my age. He looked insulted and was about to come up to me. However, the moment Kasen laid eyes on him, his head bowed in submission and he was forced to forget his anger.

Ever since Kasen kept me company, I wondered. I mean, he was a pack doctor, but it seems that people here still feared him as if he had the same position as Chase or Owen who were the Alpha and Beta.

So I decided to ask him about it when we were walking back towards the pack house.

"Oh, haven't Chase mentioned to you? I'm his brother."

My eyes widened, I should've guessed. They had very similar features, yet, to be fair, they both had their own unique handsomeness.

Kasen laughed at my reaction so I quickly composed myself.

"Now, my turn to ask something. Since you are a rogue, how come you don't have the scent of one?" he asked. He looked like he was genuinely curious and didn't mean any harm from it.

I thought for a while on how to answer his question.

"Hmm... I just never had it. I have neither scent belonging to a pack or a rogue, I'm just me."

Kasen nodded, accepting my answer as valid, but I knew he still had a lot of questions. I mean, I had a lot of questions about me too, but even I didn't have any answers and I wondered if I'm ever going to get answers.

There are a lot of rumours about my ability. In the rogue community, only few people know that not only do I not have the scent of a rogue, but I can remove a rogue's scent off of another rogue and I can also take off their pack banishment marks.

It was unheard of so I always told the rogues around me who I trusted not to tell anyone about it.

My barrier powers were known enough, but they didn't know how strong it was. Only one person has ever destroyed my barrier before and he was one creepy guy.

"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you, Chase told me to inform you that he will take you home tonight because you're going to meet our parents." he said as he opened the pack house's door for me.

I wondered why he did that so I waited for him to get in first. It would be pretty rude if I went in first right?

He gestured his hands towards inside and I just remained standing there. Why isn't he getting in?

Finally, he went in first and I followed.

"Why do I need to meet your parents?" I asked.

Parents, huh.

I always wondered what it would be like to have parents. But I always shrugged useless 'what ifs', there was no point. Those kind of thoughts will only weaken me and hold me back.

Kasen pouted at me. "Wow, you've really lived your whole life as a rogue, haven't you?" he says with a hint of pity, which irritated me. The last thing I would want is the pity of a pack wolf.

"You're stating the obvious." I said, glaring at him.

"Well, to answer your question. It's only natural that my brother would want our parents to know who his mate is."

Why?

"Are mates that important?"

This time, it was his turn to look at me as if I said something stupid. "I will explain to you since it doesn't seem like you understand the importance of mates." he breathed in before launching himself to a lengthy explanation.

We were still walking to who knows where but as we kept walking, Chase's scent became stronger.

"Mates are your soulmates that the moon goddess has picked out for you. No matter how far you are from each other or how different, you will always cross each other's path. Mates have a strong bond since their souls are connected and so when their bond becomes stronger, the wolves become stronger too. Once you meet your mate, you will start wanting more of them and so separation from them will be very hard. If you resist the mate bond, there will be consequences. The consequences are worse if you have a position since anything you do can have a direct consequence on the pack." he explained lengthily.

I merely listened.

I understood that much that he said.

However, a question popped into my head and somehow, something in me knew that it was very wrong and that asking it would feel like words committing treason.

I decided to ask anyways.

"Can you get rid of a mate bond?" I asked, my heart started beating heavily like it was breaking. My wolf whimpered in the back of my head, I felt nauseas by even uttering the betraying words.

I hadn't noticed that we were in front of a door and as it opened, Chase's face greeted us.

Kasen had a stupefied look like he couldn't believe what I had really asked. But I was serious.

I can't have a burden like a mate bond if I was to return to my life as a rogue. From what I understand, once you meet your mate, you're basically dependent upon each other.

Sure, you can become each other's strength, but I also knew that while mates can be each other's greatest strengths, they are also each other's greatest weaknesses. And I just could not afford to have someone like that in my life.

Looking at Chase's displeased face right now, he must've heard my question.

He glared at Kasen before grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him.

Taken aback by the sparks that erupted at his touch, I didn't control myself and ended up crashing onto his chest.

I was quick to move away, but his hold became firm.

"We'll see you tonight Kasen." Chase said and closed the door. His voice was a calm rage, he was controlling himself.

It was now just the two of us inside this... this place.

"Getting rid of a mate bond?" he asked, confronting me. His hazel eyes stared right through me and I couldn't help but look away. I hated how this felt, I feel like I'm always walking on egg shells when he's around.

Instead, I turned away from him and observed the room.

There was a big desk with piles of papers on top. There were couches on the other side with a wide table.

"You don't really expect things to work out between us, do you?" I say nonchalantly.

He was supposed to be an Alpha yet he doesn't seem to be making good rational decisions. How many times do I have to remind him that I'm a rogue?

I was taken aback when I felt Chase putting his arms around my neck, pulling me towards him so my back faced him as he embraced me. I could feel his breath near my ear as he whispered.

"I am actually, I will make this work." he said with determination. He seemed to really believed that I was going to stay and live as a pack wolf, stay here with him.

I scoffed mentally.

But the shock that travelled with his touch was something I couldn't deny. It lowered my guards, it made me feel comfortable around him, but that was something I couldn't allow.

I tried to break free of his embrace, but it was clear that he wasn't letting me.

"Let go, pack wolf." I warned, I made sure to send him the message that I was getting irritated.

"I don't want to." he said and rested his head on my shoulder.

This was too intimate for me, I have to admit.

This is the closest anyone has ever been to me and the longest someone laid their hands on me.

My heart was still racing, but the reason, I couldn't be sure exactly.

"Let go or you won't see the sun rising anymore." I warned again.

He chuckled softly before finally pulling away. I quickly step away so he won't get a hold of me again and it'd be hard for me to get away.

Chase still had a playful smile on his lips. He started walking towards the desk and took a paper.

"By the way, do you know the Alpha or Luna of Panselinos?" he asked.

Pan-- what?

"I don't do business with packs if you haven't already noticed." I answer, sitting on the arm of one of the couches.

He nodded and set down the paper.

"Interesting... Yet they seem to already know that I have met my mate when even our pack doesn't know. Tell me, are you helping them out?" Suddenly, his voice was icy. I couldn't detect any playfulness or banter in his tone.

This time, he sounded dangerous. It was his Alpha side, the part that doted and protected his pack.

I was going to answer truthfully, but then a thought came to mind. Why should I help him?

"And so what if I am? What are you going to do about it? What will you do if I am helping another pack?" A smile graced my lips. It felt sort of nice to have a sort of leverage against this guy.

Chase put the paper down and looked at me again.

"Then I will just have to destroy them."

I pouted automatically at that. Is he not going to kill me if ever that was the case?

This guy really seems to be hang up with this mate thing.

"Anyways, we're set to have a call with them tomorrow. I'll find out if they are in any way affiliated with you. In the mean time, we have to prepare for meeting my parents." he said. Just like that, the seriousness was gone. He was back to his jolly self.

What is wrong with him?

He stood back up and started walking towards the door when he stopped and looked at me from head to toe.

Now, now, I'm used to people sizing me up, but this was different. Chase eyeing my whole body made me feel embarrassed and... shy.

I tried covering my body with my arms while I sent death glares towards my supposed mate.

"Pervert!" I reprimanded.

Chase raised an eyebrow, but then laughed out loud. He came nearer until he stopped a few steps away from me, the same familiar amused smirk playing dangerously on his lips.

"I'm not a pervert, I promise. You don't have to worry about that. I just remembered that you didn't bring any clothes with you."

I kept my arms crossed against my chest.

"So?"

He pursed his lip and pinched my cheek. My eyes widened and I immediately tried to hit him, but it frustrated me that it seemed like he could read my mind because he easily dodged it.

"Ah, what have I done to get such a violent mate? Let's go get you more clothes, shan't we."