Found a Way

Kaya’s pov Scared wasn't the right word to describe how I felt as I watched the reddish-brown fur spurt on my skin. I was certainly anxious. Several times, I had witnessed the pack members transition to their wolves, and I had daydreamed about my first shift. However, getting my wolf at this moment was sort of heavy. Perhaps it was a good thing. In a world where I was all by myself, I would then have someone to talk to. My wolf would sympathise with me. Without my having to explain, she would understand. I sucked a deep breath and closed my eyes. Pain shot through my limbs, prompting me to release a suppressed groan. I knew they were changing form. The first shift was the hardest. It would be easier if I let it happen without fighting against it. I could feel the changes occurring in my body, but I kept my eyes squeezed shut. I didn't want to see the changes my body went through. Pain seared through my spine when it was time for my body to morph, and soon I was on all fours. My eyes shot open as my nose shifted to my wolf's snout. I found it a little strange, but I knew I would soon get used to it. Nonetheless, I squeezed my eyes shut again and waited for it to pass. After what felt like a painful eternity of doom, it all came to a halt. “You let him reject us!” My eyes shot open. That was the first thing she said to me after the shift. No greetings and introductions. “Well, hello to you too. I'm Kaya,” I said, ignoring her outburst. “I know your name, lady, and I am not happy with you, Kaya. You let him reject us before I could surface. You deprived me of meeting my better half!” I kept quiet for a while because she was upset. It was a first for me to hear of a wolf becoming enraged with its human. “My name is Mira, by the way,” she grumbled, breaking the silence. I knew I had to think of a way to curtail her fury. I pursed my lips together. She had a point. She didn’t have the chance to meet her mate. I guess that wasn’t fair. Regardless, I didn’t see why we had to beg a man to accept us into his life. Especially since he was someone who sticks his wick into everything that moves. “Why should we stay with someone who doesn’t want us as his better half? No relationship is one-sided, and I am not wasting my energy on someone as insensitive as him. He wanted s*x with no strings attached. I don’t do that. We don’t do that.” She huffed out a breath in displeasure and grunted out in frustration. I was aware that she was unhappy with the state of our relationship. She was not to blame. That one passionate night meant nothing to him, even though we were meant to be paired for life. I was just another fling. “Look. His words and actions proved he didn’t care about the bond. We don't need him. Now that you're here, we can run away. I am sure we will find a way to survive. We don’t have to put up with them anymore. The one who sheltered me eight years ago is now gone, and I think I don’t want to serve them as an omega anymore.” My wolf sighed. “You're right. I am not an omega, and I don't have to pretend to be one. The truth will come out, eventually. But we are not running away from this pack.” I cringed. My desire to stay in the Black Woods was completely dashed after what had transpired. I just wanted to go somewhere I wouldn't see or smell his stupid scent. “Why aren’t we leaving this hellhole?” “Because it isn’t wise, Kaya. Think about it. We may be alphas, but we will be alone. We eventually will be known as rogues.” I raised a brow. “What's so bad about that?” She rolled her eyes. “We aren’t rogues. You weren’t raised like that. Our instinct is to lead. We will not wander around like aimless beings. We will find a way out. Then we will start our pack, a much stronger one.” A smile curled on my lips. “Sounds like hard work, but I like that. Where do we start?” “We will return to the Pack house and think about it, but first, let’s go for a run.” The run was therapeutic. Feeling the cool wind against her fur elated my sorrow, and by the time I returned to the creek, I was feeling a million times better than before. The transformation back to my human form was a lot less painful and faster. I was about to walk back to the pack house when I realised something wasn’t right. I felt too exposed. A frown wrinkled my forehead when I noticed the torn pieces of fabric lying on the floor. I froze. Of course, my clothes were tattered. I forgot to remove them before the shift. Tearing clothes during the transformation was quite normal, but I wasn't ready to go nude in front of everyone. Though I didn’t expect them to care about the awakening of my wolf, I didn’t want them to know about Mira. Alpha Bryce may have sheltered me, but the pack members weren’t that nice. I was treated like an outcast. After all, I didn't have any relatives in the pack. Slowly, my hesitant eyes found their way to my body. I cringed at the sight. There, standing in the middle of the woods, was I, Kaya Robinson, the heir of Golden Crescent, stark naked. *** I hid behind the bushes until the pack members went back inside. It took forever for them to leave. My stomach was growling in hunger, and Mira kept urging me to just cut the crap and walk inside. The run had made us both hungry, but I waited because I knew I could soon creep into the laundry room or the pantry. The last of the Omegas working in the garden marched inside after some time. Seeing my opportunity, I crept up to the pack house from the back door when the time was right and rushed into the laundry room, which was the closest to where I was hiding. To my disappointment, only men’s clothes were in the basket. But it was better than nothing. I grabbed the first shirt I could find and draped it around me before dashing out of the door. The corridor was deserted to my relief, so I ran towards the Omega’s quarters. On the way, I gagged. The stench from the clothes made me want to barf. Ever since Mira emerged, my sight, hearing, and sense of smell have amplified, and having the nauseating pungency of another wolf was not good for my empty stomach. “What the f**k are you wearing?” I froze on my step when I heard his voice from behind. What was Theo doing down here? Wasn’t he supposed to be in the alpha’s office? Or at the training ground? I turned around. Theo was glaring at me with reddened eyes, the muscles on his shoulders and arms bulging as though he needed to release some air from his body. I raised a brow. What was wrong with him? Was he constipated? Did he need help? Well, one of his bimbos could help. Not me. I glanced at the oversized checkered shirt I had pulled over my body and shrugged my shoulders. “Clothes,” I said. He let out a growl that resounded in the corridor as he lunged forward, pinning me to the wall. “Why the f**k are you wearing my beta’s shirt?” My heart raced. I was wearing his was his beta’s shirt? s**t. He must have thought I had disrespected his second-in-command by doing that. “Uh, I was doing laundry, and my clothes got dirty. I didn't know this belonged to him, sir.” I could feel his judgmental gaze studying my face, but I dared not look into his eyes. Although my wolf was an alpha, Theo was an alpha male and well-trained. I just got Mira, and to train her, I had a long way to go. “Laundry?” The palpitations in my heart relaxed a bit. Theo sounded a bit relaxed. I nodded my head. He stepped back and cleared his throat. “Well, don’t wear his clothes. You can have one of mine,” he said, removing his shirt. I stared at him in disbelief. Was he serious? Wait, so that meant he didn’t think I disrespected him, right? That was a relief, but this alpha was confusing me. I studied his countenance, scepticism clouding my judgement. Unravelling what went through his mind was impossible, yet accepting his offer was the last thing I wanted to do. “I don’t think I should do that, Alpha.” “Hey Theo!” Though I was glad his beta interrupted our awkward conversation, I had to cringe when I saw Ezekiel rush towards Theo from the far end of the corridor. Even though he did not really bother me, I still did not want him to see me wearing his soiled shirt. “Theo, about the new recruits... Whoa, is that my shirt?” Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Theo going stiff. I raised a brow. Theo, being the alpha seldom reacted to trivial issues. But me having his shirt on was definitely bothering him. I knew I should ignore them, regardless. They were the ranked wolves of the pack, after all. “What are you doing in my shirt?” Ezekiel asked me, his tone changing to a more precarious one. “My clothes got ruined, and I had to wear something to go to my room. I didn’t know it was yours, beta. I am sorry. It won’t happen again.” “Hmm, okay. But wash that thoroughly. I like that shirt,” he said. Theo sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing at me. “There’s something different about you. Did your wolf awaken?” I tried not to show any emotion on my face. I didn’t want them to find out, but being wolves, it was only a matter of time. Theo, being the alpha, could sense my wolf sooner than another pack member. “Uh, no. it… it must be the shirt,” I said, hoping he would buy that excuse. He didn’t look convinced. His demeanour exposed little of what he speculated. “Just go. And don’t repeat this mistake.” I scurried away. Leaving was the most sensible thing to do when he said that. As I dashed towards my room, parts of their conversation caught my attention, thanks to the enhanced sense of hearing of my wolf. To participate in a unique apprenticeship run by the Crystal Lake Pack, they were seeking volunteers. These wolves wouldn’t have to settle down in a pack after they completed the training. They would travel together, inspecting all the packs to see if things went well and solve the problems in the wolf community. That included the retribution of tyrants and the locking up of criminals. A grin unfolded on my face. I couldn’t care less about the work. The fact that I wouldn’t have to settle down echoed in my mind. Splendid! It was the perfect opportunity to leave the Black Woods without actually running away. As I sprinted into the barely furnished room and shut the door behind me, my heart was soaring. “Mira?” “Found a way?” Her tone amused me. She was aware of my thoughts, of course, and I could tell she agreed with me based on her response. “Yup. I found a way.”