Alisha's POV
Seeing the seriousness etched across Louie's face, I couldn't help but feel a nervous knot form in my stomach. "What's the matter?" I asked, trying to steady my voice despite the growing anxiety.
Louie stared at me intently, his gaze unwavering. "Therasa, I caught a... a very dangerous smell from you. Please tell me what happened to you and who you've recently met."
My brow furrowed in confusion, and I hesitated for a moment before recounting the events of the disastrous interview. "I... I went for the interview, but the music director is a wreck. He humiliated me because of my past conflict with Erma, and he tried to force me to apologize, but I refused. Then I met a kind stranger who offered to give me a lift after hearing about my terrible experience," I explained, my voice trembling slightly. "But... what do you mean by 'the smell'?"
Louie listened carefully to my words, concern deepening in his eyes. "A werewolf," he replied solemnly.
My heart skipped a beat, and I turned stunned. "A werewolf? Maybe you're sensing the smell from my pack members. I stayed... stayed at home yesterday," I murmured, trying to dismiss the unsettling revelation. Although I had shared my poor marriage story with Louie, I wasn't ready to reveal my true identity as a member of the Golden Crest pack to Louie.
Louie shook his head, insisting, "No, Therasa. A werewolf's smell doesn't change easily, except for some special occasions."
Embarrassment flushed my cheeks. I had no knowledge of how a werewolf's scent could vary, as I had no experience as a normal werewolf, and nobody had taught me about such matters. "I'm sorry, Louie. You know I don't have a wolf, so I'm not familiar with these things," I said, feeling apologetic.
Louie quickly reassured me, "Theresa, no need to apologize. It's not your fault. I just want to say that since the first day I met you, your scent has always been the same, but today, I sensed a change."
"The special occasions you mentioned, what do they refer to?" I asked, puzzled, while reaching for a cup of coffee to ease my nerves.
Louie fixed his gaze on me, his tone meaningful, "The first and most common situation is having sex with another werewolf."
Hearing Louie's unexpected words, I suddenly choked on my coffee, spitting it out involuntarily, my face flushing crimson with embarrassment.
Louie hurriedly handed me a napkin, his brows furrowing with concern as he gently patted my back. "Are you okay?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.
I wiped my mouth, trying to regain composure, and reassured him, "I'm fine, don't worry. I just... I didn't sleep with anyone! How could I..."
Louie's warm smile attempted to soothe my nerves, and he interrupted my anxious rambling. "Calm down, Therasa. I didn't mean that. The scent change can happen for various reasons. One common cause is when a werewolf has a one-night stand; their scent can temporarily mix with others, leading to subtle alterations in their odor."
"Temporarily?" I inquired, seeking further clarification.
"Yes," Louie affirmed, "the scent from such encounters won't linger for long, unless, of course, there's a 'Mark' involved."
I nodded, understanding what he meant. The 'Mark' was a profound and significant ritual among werewolves, symbolizing a permanent bond between two individuals. My heart ached at the memory of Archie refusing to mark me, as he had been hesitant to establish a stable connection between us.
Louie noticed my frustration and concern, prompting him to ask with a gentle tone, "Theresa?"
"I'm sorry," I said, taking a deep breath to steady my thoughts. "Please continue."
With a reassuring nod, Louie resumed, "Apart from this, other factors like special Gifts, blood relations, or even herbs can temporarily alter a werewolf's scent. For example, some parents leave their scent on their babies for protection or to deter potential threats."
Considering his words, I shook my head, dismissing the possibility of blood connection. I haven't seen grandma recently. "M Gift doesn't have such an effect, and I haven't been near any herbs lately." After the incident at the pub, Archie had forbidden me from consuming any herbs or drinking, so I had refrained from both.
Louie's expression turned more serious as he continued, "In a pack, when a member's scent changes without any of these reasons, it raises suspicions..."
"Suspicions about what?" I asked, my anxiety rising.
"Whether they have turned into a rogue," Louie replied solemnly.
My eyes widened in shock at the revelation. "A rogue? How is that even possible?"
"In the unfortunate event of a werewolf being exiled by their Alpha or the pack, their scent would gradually change over time. They would no longer be accepted, and other pack members might even perceive them as a threat from the scent," Louie explained.
"So, you mean, I turn into a … a rogue?" I asked in trembling voice.
My mind raced, wondering if this was Archie's way of punishing me for our past conflicts, but Louie quickly intervened, "No, Theresa, don't jump to conclusions. You are still a normal werewolf; I can sense it. Allow me to finish. A rogue's scent is very obvious to us, but I don't know how to describe it. When you encounter it, it instills a sense of disgust, dread, and fury. And this particular scent has the power to contaminate other normal werewolves' scents."
I squinted, the reality of the situation sinking in, and I asked in disbelief, "So, you detected a rogue's scent from me?"
Louie nodded gravely, "Yes, though it's faint, I couldn't ignore it. But what perplexes me even more is that there seems to be another scent intertwined with it, one that is potent and dangerous."
My heart pounded in my chest as I absorbed this alarming revelation, the uncertainty of my own scent filling me with dread. The smell from a rogue or a dangerous werewolf? Moon Goodness, could you please tell me, what the hell happen to me?