Chapter Three: Runaway

She wants to be free, like a runaway, ay ay ay

Trying to believe, gonna find a way, ay ay ay ay

We got just one life, tonight we're running all the lights

Trying to break free, like a runaway ay ay ay ay ay ~ Runaway – Mat Kearney

Jessie’s POV

I groaned as I felt a sharp pain in my head.

“She’s waking up!” someone whispered.

“Why did you push her so hard?” someone else whispered.

“I didn’t! She should have sensed me! It’s not like she’s a baby werewolf who hasn’t shifted!”

“She should have healed by now!”

“What if she’s not a werewolf? The scent could be of her mate!”

“You’re right. We didn’t think of that” A female whispered.

I opened my eyes. I tried, anyway.

“I… haven’t.” I mumbled as another sharp pain went up my head and I winced.

“Sh. You haven’t what, sweetie?” A soothing female voice said. I tried to move my head to look at her but couldn’t as my head was hurting bad.

“It’s okay. Don’t move.” She said and I stopped, relieved that I didn’t have to struggle.

“I haven’t shifted.” I whispered, trying to sound stronger.

“You haven’t? How’s that possible?” someone else said.

“I… I don’t know.” I seriously hated whispering. It reminded me of my older pack where I was forced to whisper while talking.

Someone gasped. I heard someone say a soft “What?” it was just a bit far.

“She could be a… a…”

Then came another gasp.

“It… it could be!” the voice became a little louder as if the person had come closer to me.

“A- Are you the princess?” I would have laughed if it weren’t for the pain in my head.

“What? No.” I tried to speak a little louder than a silly whisper.

“Then how’s it possible?” The voice became soft again. That’s all I heard before everything blacked out again.

This time when I woke up, there were no whispers and not much pain either.

I opened my eyes slowly and they watered because of the bright light coming from the window. I tried to sit up. It was just a bit painful. Nothing I couldn’t handle. I’ve had much more pain when I was pushed around the hallways. Especially by the high rankers’ kids. They thought that they were all that so they should show more of their strength. And when Noah and Jaden pushed, ugh!

“Sleeping Beauty’s finally awake.” I heard a male voice say behind me. I jumped and turned around to find a dark haired boy smirking at me. He was kinda handsome.

“What?” My voice came out croaky so I cleared my throat and repeated.

“You were out for about six hours.” He replied coming closer.

“Really? I wonder why?” I said with sarcasm. I don’t know who pushed me but I’m guessing it was him because of the guilt written in his eyes.

“Alright. I didn’t know you hadn’t shifted.” he was embarrassed now. “I uh.. um I’m sor-ry.” It was obviously hard for him to apologize.

“It’s fine.” I shrugged, a smug smile making its way on my lips.

“She’s awake! TROY, LILY, SAMMY, KATIE! SHE’S AWAKE!” A girl about my age who came walking down the stairs squealed before she rushed to hug me.

“Whoa! Okay!” I said as she was squeezing me.

“You won’t believe how happy I am to finally get a girl in this house! I mean Katie and Lily are there but they’re always with their mates. It’s so annoying because I haven’t found my mate yet. Can’t they get a little girl time? And whenever they’re together, which is all the time, they won’t even pay attention to anyone but themselves! It’s like I’m talking and talking but all they do is creepily stare at each other! It’s just so ugh!” She just wouldn’t stop talking but I must say, it felt good to have someone talk to you with so much eagerness and happiness. I felt wanted.

“Okay, then. Ashley! Stop hugging the poor girl and let her breathe! You’re gonna kill her!” a guy with blonde hair and blue eyes said. He had an arm around a really pretty girl with blonde hair and green eyes. She waved enthusiastically and said “Hey! I’m Katie!”

I smiled at her and said “I’m Jessica Moon but you call me Jessie or Jess.”

The girl named Ashley who had now stopped hugging me said “I’m Ashley!”

I grinned at her. She sounded so much fun! She had light brown hair and brown eyes.

The guy who’s name, I’m guessing, is Sammy came running towards me and picked me up and twirled me around. Really, I’m surprised his mate didn’t kill me. In fact, she was laughing along with the others at my expression, which was hilarious. I was glad that she wasn’t the jealous type.

“Okay, this is officially the strangest pack I have ever met.” I said laughing with the others. I looked at the guy who pushed me.

“What?” he asked and I rolled my eyes.

“I can’t keep calling you the guy who pushed me, you know?” the others laughed while he sent a playful glare with a smile my way.

I had no idea what was wrong with me. How could I be so friendly and… open with these strangers?

“I didn’t know you had not shifted! I was testing you!” I nodded my head “Uh huh.”

“My name’s Grey.” He grumbled.

“Gotta remember that!” I said with a grin and extended my hand towards him.

He took it and shook it.

My stomach grumbled and I asked “Where’s my bag?”

“Don’t worry, it’s right there.” Katie said pointing towards the table and I saw my clothes out of it! I’m sure my expression was horrified.

“We had to check to make sure you weren’t a threat.” Lily explained.

“We did find some good stuff in it too.” Grey said with a stupid smirk. I gave him a death glare while I went to get out the chips I had kept in it.

I heard the ringtone of my phone and searched through my bag for it.

I accepted the call without seeing the ID. I should really make a habit of seeing it.

“Hello? Hello? Jessica! Are you okay?” That’s definitely Evan.

“I’m alright. What happened?” I was aware that everyone in both the houses was listening to the conversation.

“What happened? You ran away, that’s what happened!”

“You need to calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Where on Earth are you?” He huffed.

“I’ve found a new pack and I was about to ask them if I cou-“

“YES!” The three girls screamed together. The boys laughed while I stared. “You’ll just take me in? Just like that?” They all shrugged and Katie mouthed “We’ll explain later.” I nodded.

“You…you’re shifting packs?” I heard gasps from the other line. Then there was some shuffling and a new voice that sent chills down my spine spoke.

“Jessica, you are coming back to this pack now!” That’s Noah.

“No.” I said with finality in my voice. I didn’t know I had this confidence.

“That’s not a request, it’s an order.” He said in his Alpha tone. Since he was not the Alpha yet, it wasn’t that strong but strong enough to make a person flinch. For some reason, I didn’t even realize he had used it on me. When I did, I was mad. I was mad at the Alpha. Okay, this is weird.

“You are not my Alpha and I will not listen to you! Not anymore! I have found a better pack now and I will not be returning anytime soon!” That’s all I said before throwing the phone on the couch.

“Wow… you didn’t even flinch with his Alpha tone!” Grey said impressed. He should know, he was the Alpha of this pack. It was kinda obvious with the power radiating from him.

I realized what happened and what I did “H- how?” I stuttered. This was so not me.

“Are you sure you’re not a royal?” Lily asked.

“Yeah. I mean my parents were definitely not royals.”

“Then the only other reason can be that… oh. My. God! You’re a White Wolf! Eeep!” Ashley squealed.

A White Wolf….. it’s a late bloomer…..oh, my God!

“We have a White Wolf in our pack!” The girls were squealing with each other while the boys looked impressed and deep in thought.

“We will have to train you.” Grey said “Train me? Why?” I asked, confused.

“You’re in our pack now, right?” he asked me. I nodded. “And you’re a White Wolf?”

I hesitated before nodding slowly. Where is he going with this?

“Can you be our Pack Warrior?” I gasped. Pack Warrior? Something happened inside me. I don’t know what it was but it felt good. Like a huge wave- a tsunami- of confidence burst through me and I became a completely different person. I could feel it. I don’t know how or why I said yes but I just had a feeling that I could not refuse it no matter what. So I said yes.

I could feel that I was no longer that girl who followed orders. I would fight back from now. That girl is gone. Jessie is here.

Grey grinned “You begin training with us from tomorrow.” *Cue energetic music* Just kidding! That would be cool, though….

“Wait, why did you take me in?”

They all sat down on the couches. Ashley pulled me beside her.

“As you might have noticed, we are not like a normal pack.”

“Yes, you are way different.” I muttered and Ashley snickered while I grinned.

“We are a pack consisting of seven members including you. You might be wondering why. Why are we such a small pack?”

“Uh huh.”

Sam continued “It’s because we have been selected by the King and Queen to be the Fighters of the Werewolves.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Fighters? King and Queen? What’s going on here?”

“What Sammy’s saying is that you are now a fighter. We are the strongest pack… well, in the world. We help other packs that are in need of training. That’s the reason we were made. And they had warned us about a rougue that would come seeking help. if we feel... normal with the rougue, she is to be immediately taken in and helped. We weren't told anything else. Now what about you? Why did you run away?” Grey asked.

“How did you know I ran away?” I asked him suspiciously.

“The phone call.” He shrugged.

I sighed as I began my story.

Third Person’s POV

Evan listened as a male voice asked Jessie to be the Pack Warrior. Jessie had forgotten to disconnect the phone so he could faintly hear what they were talking about. That was good as he maybe could find out which pack she had shifted to but he couldn’t make out the words as they were too faint. He could hear laughter. He was about to hang up when he heard her say something loud.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Fighters? King and Queen? What’s going on here?”

King and Queen? What is she talking about?

He gave up and hoped for the best for his sister. She’s happy there. She was laughing, wasn’t she? It is best for her to stay there if she had made friends already. They were probably really nice.

“Is she okay?” Mama Ebony asked Evan. “She seems to be.” He replied, deep in thought.

“She is? How do you know?” he could see that she was really worried about her. “I heard her laugh with her new pack.”

Mama Ebony’s lips curled up into a soft smile “She has a beautiful laugh.” Evan nodded with a smile. Her laugh was contagious.

“It’s best if she stays there, Evan. She’ll be happy there.” Her eyes were getting glassy. Evan hugged her with his own eyes tearing up a bit. They were sad but mostly happy for Jessie. She finally got what she deserved.