.25. You're not Camilla.

After getting home, Camilla called Aiden. She couldn't use mind-link anymore, being the chosen outcast. The young woman bit onto her lip, waiting for the male to pick up the phone. Usually, it didn't take too much time for him to answer, but oddly this time, he didn't. Even after her second and third attempts, he didn't, making Camilla worried. She paced around her living room, staring at the screen of the phone as if she was trying to set it on fire. Hours passed, and there weren't any messages from Aiden. She couldn't sleep or eat anymore- all thoughts lost somewhere, where her closest person might be. Camilla feared that Zane might have something to do with this, but hoped that it wasn't the truth. He did reject her; he didn't need her in his life, so why would he even dare to put a hand on Aiden.

*"Calm down; there's always a possibility that he's asleep or doing something about patrol things. Just sit down, breathe, and relax. You're pissing me off right now."* Eden spoke up for the first time in ages. Camilla's wolf was angry at her for the decisions she made. The wolf didn't want to leave the pack, but deep down, she understood why Camilla decided to move in the first place. Losing the last relative shook her more than her human. Meeting her mate and coming eye to eye with her abuser was another thing that sent the wolf into overdrive. Eden's mate was the one who took control over their body and slapped Camilla. She couldn't forgive the betrayal despite knowing that they had no idea they're mates yet.

"I'm trying, Eden, God knows how much I'm trying. At this point, my head is my own Hell; I can't get rid of those thoughts. What if something happened to him while we spoke to Zane? What if he decided to leave our side for good? Or even worse- someone locked Aiden up to keep away from us. Let's be real- we aren't quite loved around here, and as soon as Zane will start talking about him rejecting us, it will become even worse. I don't want to be around while that happens."* Inner arguments weren't a thing Camilla loved. Most of the time, she avoided getting into too heated conversations with her wolf. Both of them were way too different to come up with a solution or thought, which seemed right for both. Eden was more dominant by her nature, meaning that Camilla lost her part of the discussion most of the time. Sometimes she kept quiet and let her wolf rant out. Sooner or later, Eden would shut her out and disappear for days, weeks, or even months.

*"Somebody told me that there are two sides to this life, and I'm not sure which one you are choosing right now. Are you choosing the darkness over light? If you do not stop acting as if everyone's against you. Yeah, our life is shit, but it doesn't mean that there won't be better days to come. You just have to pray and make sure you won't be sent off to the voicemail. I don't want to talk about Aiden; I get it- he's sweet, and you like him. But it doesn't mean that I necessarily need to love him as well."* Eden nearly growled, sounding like the most hateful person as soon as the topic went to Aiden. She didn't mind his presence most of the time. Especially since he was next to her for so long during their time in the hospital.
But now, after meeting their mate, Eden was much easier to piss off. She was angry at Camilla for letting others think that she's weak. Eden was mad at her mate for abusing her human. And most importantly- she was mad at herself for pushing him away without letting him explain a thing. But then again, the wolf could come up with anything believable, and she would give in. Camilla doesn't feel the mate bond as strong as her wolf does, maybe that's for the best.

*"I never asked you to like Aiden, and I wouldn't do such a thing. I understand- you have your mate, you want him and everything, but mine rejected me. Don't you remember that there are two people in one when we think of a shifter? A human and the beast. You two want each other while I knew from the beginning that Zane doesn't want me. What else do you want me to tell you? I am so fucking sorry for being the person nobody wants and sorry for you being stuck with me? I would let go of you if only I could. And not because I don't want you, it's only because I love you enough to let you go. Your happiness matters, and if you don't want to see Aiden anymore, I'll talk to him for the last time and stop it. There is no happiness for me anymore, but there is a chance for you."* Camilla nearly broke down in tears thinking about things she had just said to her wolf. As sad as it sounded- she was more than ready to give up on anything to see Eden happy. Even if it took her humanity from her- Camilla would step back and let the wolf live. She would give up on herself enough to live in their wolf form until she fades. It was a thing rogues did- sooner or later, the animal took complete control, their human side dying after a while. Camilla would die for her wolf.

*"Shut it; your phone is ringing. Please pick it up; we will continue this conversation another day. Don't make any promises to yourself or me- think and give yourself some time. Things will get better in time; just don't jump into conclusions and don't make any decisions in a rush. I love you, Cally,"* Eden faded back into the depths of Camilla's name. The young woman felt how her lip trembled- the wolf hadn't used her nickname since their parents died.

Camilla took a deep breath and picked up the phone without looking at the caller id. She didn't want to hear anyone anymore, but if the caller was Aiden, she had to know if he was okay.

"Hello?" Camilla breathed out, wondering what was happening to her life. She couldn't understand, at which point it went down so drastically. There always were some tiny issues for everyone, but for Camilla, everything went crashing down in a matter of seconds.

"Finally. Beta sent me off to replace someone who got injured during an attack, and my phone ran out of battery before I could call you back. Where are you? Is everything okay? And is he... Is he your mate, Camilla?" Aiden's voice was frantic. She knew that he feared the day when Camilla would find her mate. They have spent so much time together. For a while, she felt like Aiden had fallen in love with her. She did too, at least for a while. Until she came eye to eye with Zane, which decided to get rid of her.

"I'm home," she breathed out and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to stop the tears from escaping. She didn't want to think about Zane, but since Aiden brought up the topic- she had. Camilla bit onto her lip before sighing and speaking again: " Everything's fine, trust me. It's not like I didn't know what would happen if the Moon Goddess would be cruel enough to pair me with that asshole. He is, I mean he was- he rejected me. But that's for the best, isn't it?" She tried to sound as positive as she could, but it was nearly impossible. The young woman wanted to cry, scream, and destroy whatever came in her way. She wanted to let the hurt and anger out. Maybe it would be better to shift into her wolf and let Eden take the control?

"Fucking asshole. I'm on my way, don't move, stay there! Give me five to ten minutes, and I'll be at your doorstep. Just don't think of going anywhere and don't leave the house, for fuck's sake! The whole pack is surrounded by the damn rogues; everyone's under danger. Beta, let us run around the territory and protect our loved ones- I have you. Nobody else, but you. Please, whatever you do, just don't leave that damn house, I can't lose you, Camilla." With that being said, Aiden ended the call.

Camilla felt how her heartbeat fastened. It wasn't fear; it was excitement and adrenaline flooding in her veins. Eden jumped up and down in the back of Camilla's mind. She didn't need Aiden to protect her; she needed to get out and go off like a madwoman.

*"Cally?"* Eden popped up in her mind again.

*"Yes?"* Camilla raised an eyebrow, sure that she knew what her wolf was up to this time. The rage building inside of her had to be let go before anything worse happens. Eden was an unpredictable wolf- aggressive by nature. Once she bit out her parent's cat's throat because the fluffy thing was sitting on her bed. Since then, Camilla's parents kept reminding that Eden should be held under strict control. Despite their parents being omegas, both of them were strong-willed people with even stronger spirits. There was nothing least to be expected from their child.

*"Are you going to let me out, or do I have to force it on you? You know that I will get out with or without your approval. So what's it going to be? Up to you- we can make it painless or a little pain if that's what you're into. Kinky bitch."* Eden laughed. In moments as such, she sounded like the evilest wolf on the face of the Earth. She didn't appear often; most of the time, she built up the hatred towards everyone who hurt Camilla, waiting for the right moment to get out. Now, they were just rejected, so Eden had more than plenty of reasons to break free.

*"Do you really need it? You're craving something?"* Camilla felt how her palms started sweating. The wolf was nudging on their mental barrier, showing off the strength. Even if Camilla would try to hold her back- she couldn't. The beast will break free, and everything will go by the sick scenarios which came in her mind. Camilla hoped that if Eden breaks free, there wouldn't be anyone around her- the pack members shouldn't see her like that.

Most of the pack members thought that she was weak, an easy target. But there were way too many things they forgot or simply didn't know about. Camilla's parents were from the pack; for ages, everyone in their bloodline was mated to ones from the same pack, which means that her family carried one of the cleanest Blood Warrior bloodlines. Unlike other families, which were mixed with mates from outside packs. Omega or not- her wolf was one of the worst beasts within their lines- one to avoid.

*"I've always loved to play with fire, Cally. I'm craving blood and revenge; I'm craving for my rightful place. I'll show them how fucking weak you are; I'll show them who they bullied and hurt. If you think that I'll keep those secrets forever- you're fucking wrong. Even more- I love the smell of gasoline, why don't we give them a bit of pleasure?"* Eden chuckled, drawing parallels of her plans and waiting for Camilla to get the hint. She will turn this pack into ashes of blood for the things her human had to go through. They say- don't challenge Alpha, but the real person to avoid was Eden. The hidden psycho wolf, planning the destruction of once so mighty pack.

*"Pleasure?"* Camilla nearly choked on thin air. The more Eden spoke, the more scared she became. As long as the wolf could form decent sentences, Camilla felt safe, but when she started talking in riddles, the real trouble started. Even the ones they cared about wouldn't be safe from the raging beast. Camilla screamed out in pain soon after the sound of a violent crack echoed against the walls. Her wolf forced the shift on her, and when it started- there was no way to get back.

*"My pleasure is their pain. I want to watch those castles burn. Even if those are imaginary castles, I want to kill some intruders; we will leave this shit pack with our head held high. We won't be the weak piece of shit they think we are. They'll see what you are capable of and regret letting you go. I'll give them a little demonstration of what will happen to bitches who decide to hurt you. Rogues will be my puppets. Now move the barrier before I hurt you, even more, there's no way I'll change my mind!"* Eden growled, giving out the last warning. Camilla could hear the smirk on her lips as soon as she gave in, giving the beast complete control over their shift.

*"Let me show you the unstoppable legendary animal. They'll know what's Hell."* The beast howled, enjoying the little moment of being in their human form.

Eden rushed to the door, kicked it open, and screamed out from the bottom of her lungs. The scream was nowhere close one Camilla just let go. The human was in pain, but the beast purposely let the rogues know where she was. Eden was setting out bait.
She grabbed a piece of broken glass from the door and cut a line over her chest, screaming out again. The rogues would follow the scent of fresh blood, followed by female screams.
Within a few minutes, she caught a glimpse of the rotten scent they carried, looking down at her feet and smirking like a maniac. Low growls surrounded her, making Eden chuckle.
She was too caught up in her show that at first, she didn't notice how Aiden tried to call out for Camilla from afar.
Aiden was about to lunge at the rogues, but Eden shook her head, stopping the male who wanted to protect her human. When their eyes met, Aiden gasped. "You're not Camilla," he mouthed.

The beast smirked. She stretched her body, laughed at the moon, and yelled: "Ladies and gentlemen, the show must go on!"