Chapter 108

Dylan POV

"In that case, we will need to start building your strength up." V much to my surprise actually and looked me in the eye before speaking.

"First things first is you'll need to meet the alpha!" The alpha? The alpha of what? Of where? I'd just escaped the alpha king and now I was being forced to meet with yet another Lycan who thinks he's in charge of things.

"What do you mean the alpha?" It was only then that my mind had started to turn. The Lycan that stood beside V had a thick western accent, which meant she must have been from around here. If the weapons were bought here before going to the actual rebellion then the base mustn't be too far.

Actually come to think about it, I don't think I've ever seen a shifted wolf inside this community, the wolfsbane covering the entrance must make it difficult for the lycans to shift. If that was the case, then they must be going elsewhere... the guns, the trucks, the smuggled items had to have come from somewhere... Not a single simple human could manage the gathering of such items, not without the help of a wolf, and it would have had to be a higher ranking wolf at that.

"It's a pack!" I stated before I could stop the words coming out of my lips. "The base of the rebellion, is a pack!" Everything suddenly began to make sense, I also quickly came to understand why I was bought here in the first place instead of the pack, V was right, after everything maybe my mind wouldn't have coped.

"Every item that was ever smuggled, came from a pack... I'm right aren't I?" I was right, I couldn't understand why I never figured it out sooner.

"There's no way my father would have been able to help start the smuggling trade without the aid of the local pack. It was only the extra milk tokens that came from you." Victorias words shot through me like a brick. How had I not clicked on to the fact that I had been in contact with Carlos, long before we met in the palace dungeons. "Trina will speak to her mate tonight and report back. Hopefully we can transport you safely to the pack tomorrow. Personally however, I think you are much safer here." My head shot to the woman beside V and my mouth opened ever so slightly out of shock.

"I wouldn't have guessed you were a Luna." Ooop, if I’d have said that back in my old district, that would have been a sound lashing, I just knew it.

"Oh yes, I help my mate with everything work related. Although, I think you'll find I do much more fieldwork than Gilliard." She chuckled and instantly I could see the love swimming around within the depth of her brown orbs. This alpha had a very loyal Luna.

"Well then, Luna, I'll make arrangements to visit the pack often, but will remain here for the majority of the time. I can possibly learn under a lycans tutelage, but there's no way in hell after everything that's happened that I would be able to sleep there." There we're multiple nods of agreement and I sighed, finally knowing that the wheels were starting to turn.

It had been a long time coming, and if I was being taught by an actual Lycan I suppose I could guarantee I'll get stronger, and hopefully I will get stronger fast.

"You need not call me Luna, your grace, I am simply Trina to you. In fact it's truly an honor to meet such a strong and courageous young lady." If my head got any bigger than it already had done, then it truly would explode. Everyone really was being far too nice. It just didn't feel like I deserved it. I had done nothing to invoke such loyalty.

I slowly walked away from the scene that had just occurred and took in the scenery around me. Birds chirped musically and the sun rested on my face. It was yet another lovely day, so why did I still feel so weighted?

Maybe it was because I knew I was going to suffer yet again, while I tried to strengthen my body, or Maybe it was the fact that I was turning 18 tomorrow and had none of my family with me.

The last five years haven't been all that great in regards to birthdays, but at least I had still woken up to my mom singing horrendously and Freddie giggling at my moms attempt. I'd wake up to a small stack of pancakes which was originally my dad's tradition, and my mom had saved two small birthday candles from the time before the new world, they were extremely worn down by now, but she still made every effort in trying to make it a good day for us both.

I smiled lightly at my memory, I could feel my eyes once again welling up slightly but knew if I allowed myself to cry again, I wouldn't be able to stop, and so I pushed my sorrow down and sighed as I trudged back to my RV, my temporary home.

However after genuinely getting a good nights sleep, and venting everything I was thinking and feeling to poor Lewis, I think maybe I was finally ready to accept my reality. There was just one more thing I needed to do before I could really force myself to get my head out of the past and move on.

I walked over to one of the draws in my RV and opened it revealing two envelopes. One was the homemade birthday card Freddie had done for me, the other was the now very crinkled letter from my mom.

I'd managed to get it out of the blood stained coat I was wearing when I arrived, and stashed it in this draw, where it had been ever since. I swapped the thick lump forming in my throat and grabbed it before once again leaving the camper van.

I mindlessly began to wander back to the big lake, it's water had a calming effect on me which would really help. I knew though, that I couldn't read anything without having some support with me, I needed someone there next to me so I wouldn't chicken out of reading it.

My first thought was Lewis, he seemed to always be there for me whenever I needed him. He also told me that I could look for him whenever I wanted to, but I didn't want to use him, he was far too good and kind for me to do that.

So instead I let my legs take me to the medical area. Maybe being around someone who knew my mom would get me through it.

I had visited Ryan Clarke twice since arriving, he was doing quite well actually, I do however think he was playing on his injuries a bit, it was no secret that he had a huge crush on his personal nurse. The man always did make me laugh.

By the time I got to his RV door, I was having second thoughts about reading my moms letter. I really would break if it turned out she was disappointed in me. I know no matter what happens now, I will never be able to make things up with her.

The thought of my mother flashed through my mind once more, and with that a wave of sadness took over me. Even still, I gently knocked on the door and walked in only to see the man sat up in bed watching the tv, he turned to me quickly with a large closed mouth smile on his face, his mouth was obviously full of something tasty as his right cheek puffed out.

Before I could say anything at all he turned to his left before once again looking back at me, his hand rose up while holding a large box of chocolates. They were the nice kind, the stuff my dad would buy my mom on Valentine’s Day, or my mom would get some for my dad on their anniversary, and I would steal some, with their permission of course, then we would all laugh and end up finishing the box in one sit in.

“Chocolate?” Clarke spoke with his mouth still completely full, so much so that it was barely understandable. I imagine he had at least three full chocolates in his mouth at once with the way he was struggling to chew as well. I simply chuckled at him before taking one of the caramel ones out and hesitating before popping it in my mouth.

The last time I had chocolate was with Lewis… Thinking back, it might not seem like much now, but… although far and few in between, every good thing that happened at the palace was due to Lewis. He always tried to bring a smile to my face even though he knew how bad things were.

“It’s typical isn’t it?..” I chuckled swallowing the delicious chocolate and playfully rolling my eyes. “I get tortured on live television and get yelled at for it…” I grabbed another chocolate and again in humor scoffed at the sight. “You get mauled by a single wolf and you get fancy chocolates. I mean, Where’s my treat? At this stage I should basically have a parade dedicated to me or something.” He chuckled at my attempt of humor before looking at me smiling, he swallowed his own chocolate then addressed my sentence.

“Honestly, you can joke all you want, but I’d be very surprised if you don’t have one made for you? From what I gather, there are a lot of people who admire the hell out of you. You’re the talk of the town, as the saying goes.” Great, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. I just didn’t understand why people fawned all over me, I was just a victim, forced into a life I didn’t ask for and a life I didn’t want.

“Oh yeah, what games would people play exactly? Pin the silver rod on the forearm? I’m sure that would be a crowed pleaser. Maybe a piñata would be more accurate, that’s what the king ultimately saw me as.” I didn’t mean to bring the tone down so drastically, I was just really confused with everything, and Clarke was not helping in the slightest.

“Stop hiding behind dark humor. Although, I do love a good party game.” I couldn’t help but chuckle again, we always did have banter between us, even if it was mostly at my expense.

“Why is it, every time I see you, you make me out to be this beloved celebrity or something.” His eyebrows raised at me before he put his chocolates down, his facial features screamed nothing but humorous skepticism.

“You kind of are.” I sighed and broke eye contact quickly. We were going off of the subject and veering into an argument. “For someone as well spoken and clever as you, you really are oblivious sometimes. Your words are powerful, you are so sure on your views that you end up influencing everyone every time you open your mouth.”

It didn’t really matter what he said, I’d never look at myself and see anything more than a blight to the world. I might’ve have held some sort of influence over people, but every time I spoke, someone always got hurt, I was done voicing my opinions.

“I’m self-diagnosed with word vomit. Sometimes it just can’t be helped.” I swallowed thickly before reaching into my pocket and pulling out the scrunched up wrinkle stained envelope, ready to change the subject quickly. “Anyway, I’m not here to talk about how shitty my life is…” I held out the white paper and smiled slightly.

“I’m here because, I can’t do this alone."