long time no see, apologies for the crazy long delays, but this time, i think i'm back for good :)))
My hands shake as Dexter's eyes follow me.
"In another lifetime this would've been all I wanted. Safety, a loving mate, a beautiful home, but now it's not enough. None of this can replace my memories, or help me shift and find my werewolf. I know that it's dangerous Dexter but staying in this beautiful prison isn't going to get me anywhere." I wave my arms around for emphasis, "I know it's selfish but I need to know my own heritage and actually live without being confined to rules and spaces." I stand up to grab my snacks, "I'm sorry Dexter this isn't about anyone else, it's about me."
"I know Isabelle." Dexter's voice is so quiet I'm not even sure I heard him correctly. "You need a plan though, you can't go out into the world with a bunch of stolen snacks and no money or experience."
"I don't have time to figure out a plan, I need to leave as soon as I can." I reply turning away from Dexter, what's his end game?
"Isabelle, I'm trying to help you. You've never been in the world unprotected before, it's not as easy as it looks on TV."
I wave my hand dismissively, "Dexter I'm not an idiot. I can do this, I know I can." I say doubt running through my mind, can I do this? Am I really prepared to just leave in the middle of the night? Am I an idiot running away knowing I'm being hunted by different Alphas?
"Let me help you." Dexter replies, his eyes are soft and his tone calm.
I bite my lip, help is exactly what I need, but from Dexter? Dexter who keeps popping up as an unexplained character in this story, Dexter who yelled at me, Dexter who knows Theo and Xavier, am I an idiot to trust him?
"How can I trust you?"
"You can't, but you don't exactly have a lot of other options." Dexter's reply was as cold as the arctic. No ones really on my side.
"Why do you want to help me?" I ask, trying a new angle. Maybe if I can know why, I can see if Dexter's worth trusting.
"Because you're right Isabelle. You can't remain here forever, but you've also never been out in the world without protection and control. The human world isn't all it's cut out to be."
I clench my fists, he's right. My whole life I've lived in a bubble, I know more about the human world than the supernatural world, but only marginally.
"What sort of help are you offering?" I ask, what am I about to sign myself up for?
"I have two conditions before I disclose anything, you have to agree to both if you want my help."
"Okay, what are they?"
"Firstly, you have to listen to everything I say. I don't want any of this fighting back, I know what I'm doing and you're going to have to trust that."
I nod my head, I can deal with that, at least temporarily.
"Secondly, I'm coming with you."
I open my mouth to protest by Dexter raises his hand, "these are my conditions, take it or leave it."
I stare at him, why is this one of his conditions? Can I do this without him? Do I really need his help? I sigh, dropping my gaze, the answer is clear.
"You can come Dexter. But we are equals, I will listen to you because you know what you're doing but I will not be kept in the dark. I'm sick of being a puppet in this, we're equals, we make decisions together." I say triumphantly, these are terms I can work with.
"Agreed." Dexter replies moving towards me and reaching out his hand.
"Agreed." I say shaking Dexter's hand, excitement rushing through my veins, I'm finally getting the opportunity to be free.
~
"Belle, can I speak to you?" I freeze in my tracks, at Xavier's words.
Does he know? How could he know, Dexter and I have been incredibly diligent at keeping this a secret. Turns out a plan to escape does take time, lots of it. Even though this is the most comfortable place I've been trapped in, I'm still trapped and eager to get away.
"What about?" I reply turning to see Xavier watching me, his green eyes glistening.
"Follow me," Xavier replies turning on his heel. Curiosity gets the better of me and I trudge after him nervously.
We enter his office and Xavier shuts the door behind us. "There have been reports of a rogue pack trying to find you."
I cock my head, "how can someone be a rogue werewolf if they're part of a pack. Isn't the whole point that rogues are pack-less." I ask ignoring the fact that the rogues are after me, I'm not really sure who isn't after me at this point.
"It's a new phenomenon, werewolves who have been made rogues due to breaking their own pack rules have come together to form packs of their own. Currently they're just known as rogue packs because they don't submit to the Weresile so they are still rogues in a sense."
"O-o-oh." Is all I can manage, a rogue pack of werewolves that doesn't submit to the Weresile is after me? Great.
"Do you know why they're trying to find me?" I ask dumbly, unsure on what else to say.
"Unfortunately we don't have information on that, but they have already been through Alpha Theodore's pack trying to find you, so there is a chance they know you are here." Xavier continues refusing to look at me. "It is an evolving situation but these rogues are no joke Isabelle."
That's when I hear it, something I've never heard before from Xavier, fear.
"Haven't there always been wolves like that though? The world is never 100% good." I say looking at Xavier, there's something he isn't telling me, surely there have always been people opposing the Weresile.
Xavier looks up, his eyes in a far away place, "I forget you don't know about these things."
"About what things?" Xavier sighs, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
I sit down, "what don't I know Xavier?" I repeat my question, how have I gone sixteen years without learning one useful thing about werewolves?
"Remember what I told you about Alpha bloodlines and how they were eventually all killed off?"
I nod my head.
"Well after that, there was an imbalance of power. A lot of wolves weren't happy that the title of Alpha or Luna was something you had to possess in your blood, however what they didn't realise was that these families kept the werewolf world in line. When they were all killed off, other supernatural beings saw their chance to step in and take advantage of our kind."
I shift in my seat, I'm still not sure what other supernatural beings exist, left in the dark, just like always.
"During this time there was a lot of unrest and even though werewolves had just come out of gruesome war, another one ensued. This war, however, was more than just werewolves fighting for power, it was the entire supernatural world. It got so bad the fighting spilled out into the human world... It took a long time but the Weresile was formed as a result of all the fighting. It's a way to keep the supernatural world in balance and order without any of the Alpha bloodline families."
"So how long ago was that?" I ask, this is all sounding like it happened 100s of years ago.
"Isabelle, the supernatural world isn't as fickle as the human one. When a war wages on for so many years, even once its over, people remember. There have been a few disturbances to the balance since the Weresile was formed, but always from individuals seeking ultimate power or revenge. This is different, this is calculated."
Xavier looks directly at me, pain in his eyes. "The families that carried Alpha bloodlines were wiped out because they were so powerful, no individual wolf could stand against them. It took thousands of wolves, war and betrayal to slaughter them all. Since then, there have been none, no one gifted the abilities of a true leader or born with them, not until you."
"But how does everyone know? I can't even shift Xavier, I don't know what gifts I would have, I'm basically just a human." I say throwing my hands in the air, all this fuss for a girl who can't shift. A girl who doesn't know the first thing about living in the supernatural world or being a werewolf, it doesn't make sense. They must have the wrong person.
"Isabelle, you are the most powerful player in the supernatural world. There are always power hungry wolves, trying to overthrow those who hold power, as is life. But now, because of you, they have a chance. You are the most powerful player in the supernatural order, because the side you're on will be the side that wins." Xavier says looking me dead in the eye.
I bite my lip, this sounds like a book. After all, since when were there even chosen ones in life? Also, how did that become me? I spent the first 15 years of my life in one pack, living as a human, being treated like garbage and now everyone is after me?
"They're going to be so disappointed when they find out I can't shift." Xavier cracks a small smile at my words.
"You will learn to control when you shift and when you do, everything will change." Xavier's words send a shiver down my spine, how can one girl be so pivotal to the balance of supernatural power? How can that one girl be me?