Staring at the busses and vans sent by Crescent Phoenix as they pull into the parking lot, I watch as my wolves bounce with excitement. We have spent a total of three days here relaxing but also watching over our shoulders with fear in case my father came looking for us.
“Alpha Rune?” A man asks as he steps down from the bus and makes his way towards me.
“Just Rune please, mister?” I answer, stretching my hand out to this wolf. He scoffs at my hand and walks over to Caspian, hugging the man with a wide grin on his face.
“Caspian! Finally joining the pack I see?” The man steps towards Caspian and pulls him into the hug, the two wolves seeming like best friends.
“Yeah. Pine Moon has nothing for me and Lilac is at Crescent Phoenix.” Caspian answers as a few more wolves step from the vans and bus. A total of eight wolves. Another one steps towards me, this one burlier than the others with a silent disposition.
“Don’t mind Ash. He is just protective of a mutual friend we all know.” This man states with a deep voice. He reaches his hand out to me and I shake it. He seems nicer than his companion at least.
“Edison, Second in command of the Warriors. Ash is Second in command of the Hunters.” Edison introduces with a nod to his friend as we watch Ash and Caspian chat happily with one another.
“Who is this mutual friend of ours?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. Edison just stares at me before letting out a scoff as he walks away from me towards Jett who is helping the Crescent Phoenix wolves store our belongings away between the four vehicles. My wolves file on to the bus one by one, their excitement at being free contagious as I feel their link to Pine Moon blink out one by one. They are denouncing their alliance to Pine Moon, marking themselves as Rogues until they can find a new pack and I couldn’t be happier for them. They are weaker Warriors and Omegas, their ranks being ones that Valor would have used as cannon fodder if a war broke out between Pine Moon and Blood Claws. Now they will get a chance to grow stronger.
“You and me are riding in the van.” Caspian calls out as Ash moves to help with organization.
“And why are we taking one of their vans and not sitting on the bus?” I ask, watching a guilty look cross Caspian’s face.
“Because Ash wants to punch your face in for hurting Brynlee.” For a moment I freeze as I think about what Caspian just said. Ash hates me because of Brynlee. For a moment my mouth opens and closes as I try to think about how to respond.
“How the hell do they know Brynlee?” I finally splutter out, looking to the wolves that were sent to grab us. It explains why these wolves give me the cold shoulder when ever they come near me.
“It’s a long story but not mine to tell. Besides, you’re no longer my Alpha.” Shocked by this other piece of news, I search the pack link and curse. It seems while Caspian was laying out this shocking news to me, he had renounced himself as a Pine Moon wolf. Everyone but Jett and I had actually renounced their status.
“I hate you.” Glaring at my friend, I watch as an amused smirk crosses Caspian’s face.
“You just hate the fact you can’t boss me around anymore.” He retorts in a sing song voice, twirling a pair of car keys around his index fingers. With a sigh. I follow him towards the closes van, getting ready to climb into the passenger van when Edison comes into view.
“You’re in the back Rune.” The Warrior states, his voice neither commanding nor friendly. I sigh, resigning to my fate and climb into the back seat of the van. I can feel those in Pine Moon trying to reach out to me through the pack link, feel their confusion at so many of our wolves flicking out and turning Rogue. I close my eyes and take a deep breath as the rage and anger from Valor comes through. I knew he would feel the bond of our pack mates flicking out. Pine Moon will be weaker without all of us but they had their chance.
“Everything fine?” Edison asks. My eyes open to find that he has turned in his seat to look at me. Concern and suspicion fill his gaze and I realize he must be worried about be.
“Yeah. I am the last one connected to Pine Moon and there is a lot of emotions attacking the pack link from everyone left there. Mostly anger but some with sadness.” I explain, closing my eyes once more.
“Well you need to denounce your right as the Heir to Pine Moon and become a Rogue before we can leave.” The Warrior states. I hum in acknowledgement, taking deep breaths as I prepare myself for the pain that will come with denouncing myself to my ancestral pack. With me gone, the pack will grow even weaker.
With a final deep breath, I send a goodbye to the link before I mentally denounce my right to Heir of Pine Moon. A beat of silence passes before I feel the pain – like a sharp knife set aflame slicing through my heart. I grunt as the pain consumes me but realize it is dull compared to the pain I felt when Brynlee finally dealt with the pain of rejection. Nothing will ever be as painful as feeling just a tenth of what my Mate felt that day.
“You okay?” Caspian asks and I open my eyes to find my best friend watching me.
“Yeah. This is nothing compared to what Brynlee went through.” Reassuring my friend, I close my eyes again and focus on breathing. I hear Edison ask Caspian what I meant and Caspian goes to explain about how I felt the residual pain Brynlee went through when she stopped holding everything in. A low whistle sounds from the Crescent Phoenix Warrior before the van roars to life.
The pain slowly dulls as we drive away and I find it easier to breath, the pressure slowly relenting until I can take a deep breath. I am a Rogue now. Packless, Mateless and judging by the cold introduction to Crescent Phoenix, unwanted. But this is nothing.
I will become stronger, become a better person and will find Brynlee. I will show her I regret hurting her. Will prove to her that I will never allow anyone – other than her – to tell me what to do again
Once we are safely at Crescent Phoenix, I will thank the Alpha and Beta there, then set off to find my Brynlee.