Chapter 4
When Nicole returned to main room place was now full of Pack members and food was being served. She could feel all eyes on her and heard them talking about her and what she was doing here. Alpha’s in particular had their backs up about her.
Julian spotted her and called her up to the main table and Nicole ignored the others looks as she bowed to the Pack Alpha and Pack Omega. Chrissy and Waverly had stopped gossiping to look at her and Nicole noticed the beautiful woman still looked miffed. Wynonna was on the otherside with two men and an omega woman who were also looking at her with varying levels on curiosity or disgust.
“Join us and eat.” Julian invited and she sat down next to an alpha man wearing a ridiculously large bear skin clock and his hair had been cut into a mohawk.
“What is that doing here?” the omega she didn’t know asked and rolled her eyes when Wynonna told her to shut up. Julian stood up and called for everyone’s attention rather than answering and the room feel silent.
“My Dear Pack members, I know you are all wondering what your Alpha is doing? What is the Rogue doing here? And so on.” He started before he pointed to the redhead. “Nicole Haught is a fierce Warrior who is going to whip our younger pack members into shape and will be in charge of keeping our boarders safe over winter. I know it may seem strange but I assure you I have my reasons. Treat her with the same respect you show each other.”
The hall erupted into a buzz of talking and Nicole recoiled when the man beside her took a deep sniff of her shoulder and snapped his teeth.
“Why do you need this rogue to be in charge of Pack security? I would have been happy to take on the job. What could a Rogue possibly teach them?” He growled at Julian who didn’t bother rising to the challenge in the man’s voice but he made Nicole’s skin crawl. Suddenly Nicole raised her arm to stop the knife he had been holding from making contact with her face as almost everyone at the table yelped. She grabbed the man’s wrist as she got up from her seat as she twisted the man’s arm up behind his back and shoved his face into his plate. He struggled against her but he could not escaped the female’s hold.
The Pack watched on as the Rogue stayed completely calm, in control of her wolf and unable to be moved by the Pack Alpha’s step son in law.
“I was just testing her!” the mohawked man spluttered and growled as he continued to try and wiggle out if her hold.
“You see now why she is here? Those she will be teaching are fortunate, learn all you can before she moves on.” Julian said before nodding at Nicole who stepped away from the man. The Pack Alpha smiled. This woman submitting to him instantly made him look strong. He had to be to control her.
“Why is she a Rogue if she’s so amazing?” Willa spat as she wiped her mate’s face of his dinner.
“That’s none of our bu-“ Julian was cut off by his mate who looked at the stranger coldly.
“No, I think we deserve to know. If she is to live amongst us.” Michelle growled and Nicole bowed her head.
“As you wish, Pack Omega.” She said evenly before looking at the woman straight in the eye. “My pack had suffered a winter of devastating illnesses and lost much of our numbers before we were attacked by an army of Rogues. I was 13. My sire threw me onto the river to save me and when I found my way home my pack were all dead, even the pups. My sire may have saved me but in doing so she condemned me to live as a Rogue.”
The room was dead quiet as she finished and after a tense moment Michelle cleared her throat. She believed the young woman and suddenly felt awful for thinking the worst.
“I am sorry.” The oldest omega said before Willa scoffed.
“and how exactly does that make her a great warrior?” There was no sympathy in her tone.
“I hunt down other rogues who have attacked people and stolen their goods and send them to meet the gods. I leave those who follow the law.” Nicole said matter of factly Before sitting back down and continuing to eat as she ignored the eyes boring into her.
“Um, Nicole?” Chrissy spoke up after a few moments of awkward silence.
“Yes, Omega Nedley?” the Alpha answered politely.
“We are going to the tavern after we are done here. Would you like to join us?’ Chrissy asked before Waverly gave her a look of disbelief.
“Thank you for the invitation but I must be up with the sun to begin my work with Pack Alpha Charles so I have to decline.”
“Just call me Julian and please, Nicole if you wish to join the young folk I will be happy to start tomorrow’s tour at midday.” The Pack Alpha huffed before he winked at her good naturedly but he truly meant it. He thought it had probably been a while since she had been able to relax and spend time with people her own age but she shook her head again but thanked him.
When she finished eating she got up and bowed to the Pack leaders before excusing herself to her bunk. She would deal with any falling critters for tonight and find a solution tomorrow.
When she had walked away Waverly at slapped Chrissy’s are and hissed “What the hell, Chris?”
“What? You heard her, she’s not a bad rogue! I thought it would be nice to invite her.” The slight older omega said, wondering what the big deal was.
“Yes but she did choke out my boyfriend.”
“Oh you mean the idiot who attacked her unprovoked?” Chrissy argued back and Waverly scowled.
“Yes, he’s a hot head but he was trying to protect the Pack!” Waverly knew her argument was weak but Champ had told her that as his future mate, her true mate, she should always defend him against anything said against him. She didn’t know why she had felt a thrill when she had seen the new Alpha lift Champ like he weighed nothing. Surely it had been fear for her Love’s safety. She also knew his pride would be hurting badly and he would be angry.
Chrissy rolled her eyes, for years she had wondered what her friend saw in the stupid brute she had never liked. He treated Waverly like shit and she was devoted to him. The more people seemed to dislike him the more she defended him and got closer to him. “You could find a much better Alpha to mate with literally anywhere else! Perry Croft asked me to say hello to you and you know he’s quite taken with you. You two would be so good together!” Chrissy said. Julian would allow Waverly to choose her own mate when she turned 21 and Chrissy thought such a gesture of love would be wasted if she chose Champ Hardy. They left the long house to go to the tavern.
“Chrissy, Champ and I have been together for so long. I love him and he loves me. We are true mates!” Waverly said but she didn’t exactly sound happy about it.
“Oh, Waves, you can’t possibly believe that?” the taller omega said with an annoyed huff. Her friend usually was more intelligent that she seemed right this moment. Waverly growled and pulled Chrissy to a stop by her elbow.
“Chrissy, you don’t know the ins and outs of my relationship with Champ. I’ve known for years he’s my True Mate so shut up.” The girl barked and Chrissy snorted.
“Sure, Waves. What ever you want.” They walked to the tavern in silence but relaxed when some or their friends spotted them and waved them over to the corner where the males were playing drinking games and the females were gossiping but as Waverly looked around she saw Champ scowling at her before he approached her, grabbed her by the bicep and dragged her into the store room.
“Champ-“ she yelped as he shoved her into a corner and stood over her and he’s growled down at her.
“What the fuck is your sire playing at? Why is that freak Alpha really here?”
Waverly whimpered, her boyfriend was already quite drunk and he had obviously been stewing on his humiliation earlier than day.
“I know as much as you do!” Waverly’s voice shook slightly and she yelped again as he punched the wall beside her head. “I promise, Champ.”
“Why didnt you recommend me to your father if he needed an Alpha? You should always be pushing him to promote me, both before and after I make you my Mate. I’m the one he should be turning to.” The weak Alpha growled at the petite woman. He had a plan and he needed her to play her part. Waverly put a hand on his chest to both placate the man and stop him for pressing his body into hers.
“Of course I do, My Love, but no matter what I say he is not interested.” Waverly said, knowing full well she could have pushed more but she loved her father and didn’t want him to her mad at her. She knew Julian did not like Champ but he kept his promise to stay out of her way in finding her own mate. He could easily decide to arrange a marriage for her. Her mate would be pack Alpha some day. She wanted her father to like Champ but she knew the younger Alpha had to mature.
“Well push harder. I won’t tolerate a Rogue coming in and ordering me around.” He growled before he stomped out of the stockroom leaving Waverly alone and the omega took a deep breath. She always upset him and it made her feel awful. It made her worry that the man would reject her and Champ had been the only one to ever show her any interest. She hadn’t believed they had been true mates at first but over the years she had begun to believe it, especially when he was sweet to her.
She followed him out and saw her older sisters giving her concerned looks before she smiled at them.
“What was that about?” Wynonna growled before Willa glowered at Champ.
“Nothing, I was just making sure he was OK after earlier. You know how Alphas are.” She chuckled awkwardly.
“I have to admit I did enjoy the Rogue knocking him down a few pegs.” Willa snorted before taking Waverly’s hand, ignoring the way her baby sister flinched, and squeezed it. “You should not tolerate any bullshit from him, Waves. He’s not worthy of you and you are the future pack omega.”
Waverly smiled sadly at Willa and found herself relieved that they had long gotten over their differences. Willa had been quite cruel to her when she was a pup, mainly due to jealousy of the little girl and knowing their mother was happy after Ward Earp, she and Wynonna’s sire, was put to death for treason shortly after Julian and Michelle had met and Michelle had had to leave them in the care of their father. She and Wynonna went to live with her mother after the Earp pack was disbanded upon Ward’s death.
Both girls felt as though they were unwanted and while Wynonna acted out by drinking, causing havoc and fighting with Julian and Michelle while doting on her infant sister, Willa had turned her attention to the child in a more sinister way. Pinching her hard to cause Waverly to cry and bruise, ignoring her cries when she watched her. Putting her in unsafe situations and saying cruel things to her as she grew.
It had come to a head when Waverly had almost drowned in the frozen lake when she was six after her older sister threw her toy out onto the ice. Willa had been sent away to live with Gus McCready, Michelle’s sister for a few years.
When she returned she tried desperately to show Waverly she had changed, Waverly forgave her and despite never being fully comfortable around, knowing Willa was not always a nice person to others and had a wicked tongue, her still loved her dearly.
“Just say the word and Julian will have Red kick his ass again.” Wynonna joked. “or I can right now?” she added hopefully but Waverly punched her arm.
“Go get me a drink, Nonna!” Waverly said before they joined the others.