Chapter 2

I woke up to the sun seeping in through the window. I didn't want to get up. Despite sleeping all night, my body was still exhausted. I blamed it on the worry of being away from home.

I finally got up and walked to the sliding door that led to a balcony. The view, which showed the back of the hotel, was the beautiful forest that covered most of the area.

I thought about what my parents would be doing right now. I had brought shame to my family and to my pack. I had no idea whether Alpha Nicolas already knew that I ran away.

I was worried about the repercussions my family would have to face, but I was convincing myself that this was the right decision.

After asking Marie for directions to the best place to have breakfast in, she led me to the diner I had seen while getting here. 

She offered to make me breakfast, which was complimentary of the hotel, but I wanted some fresh air.

I was sitting alone in one of the booths toward the back. It was around 10 in the morning, but things seemed to be running slow in town.

"Mind if I take a seat with you?" A brown haired guy asked me, as he took a seat in my booth.

"Go ahead," I said, more to myself than him. 

He was already sitting down. It didn't take much to figure out he was a werewolf, and a strong one at that.

He ordered a coffee and some pancakes when the girl came to take his order. I noticed she gave him a lasting look. I understood why. 

He was attractive- with hazel eyes, a nice tan, and strong build.

The girl left soon after and didn't take long to return with his meal. 

All the while, the guy looked at me, but didn't break the silence. I said nothing, only acknowledging his stare but kept reading my book.

"You do know that you are trespassing, right?" He asked me, after taking a bite from his pancakes.

"I wasn't aware that there was a pack here, but either way, I'm passing through," I responded while looking directly at him.

"I'm Jace, Beta of the Midnight Moon Pack," the guy said, out-stretching his hand for me to shake.

"Leila," I answered, shaking his hand.

"You know, you give off an air of power. Yet, you are running around another packs territory, alone," Jace said to me, with a questioning look.

"Like I said, I'm just passing through. I'm not going to disturb the pack and I'll make sure to keep out of the forest," I dryly replied.

"It doesn't make you less of a threat," he cocked an eyebrow, and gave me a look I saw my own dad give rogues who he thought would be trouble.

"So, what would assure that your pack is safe with my presence?" I asked him.

"Most of the rogues who cross our territory, don't leave alive," he said, with a threatening tone.

He was trying to intimidate me, but it wasn't working. His aura gave off him having some power in his pack, but he wasn't the Alpha. 

His tone had no effect on me whatsoever. The fact that I was no longer part of a pack anymore didn't help the intimidation he was aiming for.

"Are you implying I should watch myself from your pack?"

"It depends on your intentions. When do you plan to leave?" Jace continued eating calmly, like if we weren't talking about possibly eliminating me.

"I'll be gone by the end of the week, for sure," I told him, with a steady voice. 

He was a few years older than me. I was sure of that.

"That's plenty of time for an attack, which only leaves one option."

"What option?" My appetite was long gone, and I only continued to drink my soda. 

I ran away from a controlling pack, to now be on the mercy of another one. Rogues had been treated roughly in my pack and it wasn't any different in others.

"You need to plea the Alpha for permission to stay the week," Jace responded, with a smirk on his face.

"I'll be gone tomorrow," I answered quicker than I'd wished. 

I didn't want to confront any Alpha's because I feared that they might know either Nicolas, or the Alpha from my pack.

"Why are you so nervous all of a sudden? Committed a crime you're trying to hide?" Jace looked amused and curious. 

I wasn't sure what would be best. Confide in him and ask that he keeps my presence a secret, or run before he had a chance to take me to his Alpha.

"I'm not nervous, I just don't respond well to authority," I answered, breathing a sigh of relief. 

Jace raised an eye brow and smirked once again.

"What is it with rogues and having a problem with rules? I will never understand that," Jace said, shaking his head.

"It's the reason you all don't last out in the open. There is no pack to back you up."

I didn't say anything to his thoughts about rogues. I had never experienced rogue life before, but what I had seen- it was difficult.

"Sometimes it's easier to just count on yourself," I replied, after silence had fallen between us.

"You look young, are you even 18 yet?" Jace questioned.

"I'm 18. You?" I asked him, now curious about the wolf in front of me.

"I am freshly turned 22," Jace said, looking proud of himself.

"So, what's the verdict? Can I stay for today without your Alpha finding out? I'll make sure to leave early tomorrow morning?" I asked him, trying to sound flirty. 

He was being overly friendly with me, so it was likely he was mate-less.

"If a wolf from the pack can supervise you all day, then I can let your presence slip," he said, leaning closer to me and rubbing his thumb on my hand.

"And who would the wolf be?" He grinned and I considered leaving right after I was out of the diner.

It's not that Jace wasn't good looking, because he was. I just feared his intentions, or what he thought might happen between us.

After he paid, Jace walked me to his grey sleek car, which was parked in front of the diner.

"Where are we off too?" I asked him as he drove off. 

I didn't know this town very well, but I needed to know where I was at. If I made myself vulnerable, anyone might take advantage of that.

"There's about forty miles of free land for running between our pack and the one next to us. No wolf hangs out in the outskirts of the land so it gives us more space," Jace replied.

I was amazed at the beauty of the forest where Jace took me. I shifted into my white wolf behind a tree while Jace shifted some trees away.

I was a pure white wolf, my four paws tainted with black. It was a trait that ran in our family and my father was proud of it.

Jace came out with the clothes he had been wearing, in his mouth. His wolf was a light brown, similar to the color of his hair, and he was significantly bigger than me.

I followed Jace as he led us to a clearing that he claimed would amaze me. I shouldn't trust him so easily. 

After all, he had my life in his hands. Without a thought, and against my better instincts, I went with him to the so called beautiful clearing.

In no time, we made it to our desired location. Jace went behind a big tree and changed. I went the opposite direction and put my clothes back on.

"It's just a few more trees ahead," Jace said when we were both together.

I was frozen in place once I saw it. A huge lake stood next to where the trees cleared out. 

It was breath taking. 

Jace was satisfied with my expression and led me closer to the lake.