Chapter 17

"A lot of things has changed, Clara. It's a whole new life here." Rose said, walking along with me. We were in the garden at the back of her house and the garden overlooked the town and hills. It was a beautiful sight, reminding me of the time I used to come here to see my own family.

"That's amazing to hear." I walked barefoot and the grass brushed against my toes and my heels. It was cold but I wanted to enjoy before the sun left and it would get dark.

From a distance, I could hear voices, a dozen of them, people talking and giggling, some of them arguing and children jumping around. It was a whole new life, just as Rose said.

"There were a lot of changes made over the year. We couldn't have been any more happier with how we live now. Mom's the happiest, she gets to have me all evening since we all were apparently fired from the packhouse." Rose tucked her hands inside her jacket and her cheeks turned red as she smiled. Something glimmered in her eyes, happiness. "I pick up a few shifts at a restaurant and that's enough to cover any extra costs. Asides from that, we do our diligence in the pack and help whenever it's needed." She continued to explain to me.

I couldn't help but smile at how different it was now, just as I always wanted—peace and equality.

Lowering my eyes, I stared the little insect roaming over my feet, finding it's way around the cold.

When I raised my head, a small ray of sunshine fell over us and over the hills. Finally, the sun peeked through the clouds but it only lasted for a minute.

"What about everything else?" I asked her. "The other omegas? What happened to the packhouse? And what happened to him—the Alpha?"

"The few omegas that worked alongside with your Mom and Uncle were banished. We hadn't heard from them since a year. The packhouse was destroyed. Have you seen the Alpha's new house?" She turned her head around and waited for a response.

I was living in it.

I tried to act surprised. "No, not yet." I shook my head and lied. I was still good at lying and I didn't want anyone around here to know that I was with Wayne, being kept as a captive in his house.

That was for later.

"It's beautiful..." She trailed off. "And as for the Alpha, there isn't much I'm aware about. We all like to keep to ourselves. Only sometimes, we have a few events where we get to see him and the rest of the pack."

I was anticipated to know what everyone thought about Wayne but there wasn't much anyone knew. Nora held most of the knowledge and she had spilled enough to me.

I suppose there was nothing more or was there?

"Did—did he get a—girlfriend or something?" I hesitated while asking that. My brain was clearly buzzed to even bring up that question with someone I had just met after a whole year.

Fuck.

Rose was quiet, stunned a little, her eyes gave it a lot. I quickly took back my question and began pacing faster than her. "Oh, nothing, just forget I asked." I said bluntly, not making another eye-contact with her.

She came up behind me, walking with me, "No, no, it's fine. I was just a little surprised. I thought since you two were mates—you would know that? Wouldn't you?" She was stuttering, confused, just as I was.

"Yes, just leave it." I blinked hard and fast while collecting my breaths. My heart hammered against my chest. I shouldn't have asked that. It was clear that Wayne hadn't been with anyone with the way he was reacting toward me.

Clear as the summer sky.

"I don't really know, Clara but I don't believe we have heard any rumors about the Alpha being with another woman since you left." She quickly replied, giving me the answer I wanted.

I sighed out of relief, "Oh, that's all I wanted to know!" I laughed softly while shaking my head.

"We should probably go inside before it gets dark," Rose said, taking a turn around. "Mom should be done with warming the soup. I hope she isn't making a whole buffet for you. It's not quite often that we have guests at the house." She pressed her hand over her mouth to suppress a laughter.

"Really?"

"Yes, but we enjoy our alone time. It's something we both always wanted to have." Rose blew out a heavy breath and then led me inside the house.

It had been quite hard for the omegas and I understood it why. Rose was more than grateful to be freed from all the terrors she had been going through as an omega. I understood the love she and her Mom shared with each other after being apart for many years.

While walking inside, something crossed my head, something I read in the newspaper earlier.

"Oh, do you know anything about the charity gala that's happening at the end of the month?" I asked her while nearly bumping against the glass window.

She opened up the window and let me step inside before coming in herself and closing it so any warmth from the house couldn't escape.

"I heard about it. It isn't the first one to happen here." She replied. "The Alpha hosted a couple of charity galas over the past few months. From what I heard, it's either for strengthening connections with other packs surrounding or severing them." She gave me a shrug before finishing.

I remained near the window, taking in her words. A smile crept onto my face as I realized what Wayne wanted.

He didn't want me.

He wanted my help.

That little piece of Alpha.

Minute by minute it was getting clear that either Wayne and this pack was getting in trouble or they were making trouble for another pack. He kidnapped and dragged me here for a reason and it wasn't to rekindle our relationship.

It was something else.

"Do you know anything else about these galas?" I asked Rose quietly, hoping her Mom wouldn't hear us from the kitchen as I wanted this conversation to be as private as possible. "Have you been to one?"

"I've worked in one. Unfortunately, most of these galas are for the superior so us—omegas aren't really allowed there."

I frowned at her words. Guess everything was not changed. "Why do you think the superior's only go there? Does something happen?"

"A lot of auctions and private meetings. It's quite fun, even while I was working. I hope the agency recruits me again this time!" She exclaimed, excitement in her eyes. "The last gala was amazing. It's a dream for any unmated female wolf but it did getting boring toward the end when all the men were locked up inside a meeting room, talking and all that boring stuff." She sighed and shook her head.

I got my hands warmed up by hovering them over the fireplace while listening to Rose at the same time. Clearly, the so-called charity galas were a front for Wayne.

What were it for then?

Wayne didn't not like meddling with other packs and their business and he clearly didn't like when other pack wolves stepped into his territory.

Mhm, what did he want from them after all?

I stopped asking random questions from Rose when her Mom appeared with the dinner. She had cooked more than I had imagined. While eating with them, I lost track of time and for a minute, I had forgotten everything.

It was the perfect duo of Mother and Daughter. They shared happy memories of their childhood. Mrs. Dakota spoke about her late husband that died with an illness a few years after Rose was born.

I bought up a few happy moments when Rose and I worked together at the pack house. She wasn't a close friend of mine, barely even a friend. I knew her from a distance when I used to work at the packhouse. She managed the kitchen durning the evenings while most of my work was at the morning so we only collided with each other a couple of times.

While having my dessert, I found my phone ringing, not once, not twice but more than four times. It was Wayne, calling me as if he were on his deathbed.

I cut his call, again and again, wanting to finish my dinner peacefully without hearing his screeching voice.

As soon as the calls finished, he began messaging me.

Where are you?

Reply to me.

Call me.

I told you to be home and you're not here yet, kitten.

I rolled my eyes at his message and placed the spoon down before typing a message of my own to him.

'I'm literally in the middle of something. Can you bother me at another time? And I told you, I'll come back when I wish to. Stop bugging me and get a life.' As soon as I sent the message, he read it and began calling me again.

I put my phone on silent and turned it upside down before finishing my dessert and giving my goodbyes to Mrs. Dakota and Rose.

"Thank you. I hope I can repay for this all one day." I said to her.

"Oh, you don't have to." Rose laughed, shaking her head while walking me toward my car as it was dark now. There were only a few street lights around the area and the rest was pitch black.

"I do and I will." I gave her my word.

She had done a lot for me today, something my own blood wouldn't do and she no idea what I had been through but yet she welcomed me into her home and let me stay for a couple hours.

I was grateful.

I had seen something normal for once and it was amazing.

"Goodbye, Clara. See you around!" She waved her hand at me while I got in my car and switched it on.

"Take care!" I waved my hand back and took a sharp u-turn before getting back into the town roads.

I took a glance at the time and it was ten in the night. Barely late. I stopped the car near a cafe and hopped out to grab a coffee for myself as I was needing it.

The entire time I waited for the barista to make the coffee, Wayne continued with messaging me, questioning me and threatening me.

'Be home before I have to leave and find you. It's not going to be a pretty scene when I drag you again.' He threatened me once more.

I blew out a breath and didn't care much. It wasn't the first time after all.

'All you can do is blabber. It's a new hobby you picked up, right?' I taunted him and enjoyed every minute of torturing him.

He had bought me here without my will. I was going to do whatever I wished to do and no one could stop me, especially not my mate.

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