chapter 10

How did a pack work, were the wolves there really free to do as they wished, to come and go whenever they wanted to?

Did that mean I would be able to shift whoever I wanted? Nyx huffed happily within me at the thought, and I looked around at the others who followed Dean and Zane, curious as to why they remained in the form of their wolves rather than shifting into their human skin. Perhaps it was in case I decided to jump from the warm embrace I was entrapped in and make a run for it. Though I had no intentions of doing so, my wolf and I were both exhausted and I didn't think I would be able to shift again without food and sleep.

We had been walking for a long time, the sun now peaking its head over the horizon, and I soon realised that they had come a long way. Why did they venture so far from home? Did they know I had arrived? Did they have an alarm on their territory that told them I had encroached onto their lands? I had so many questions, but I didn't want to bother alpha Dean with it all, he looked tired and I was sure it was already a task to carry me so far. He had me cradled like a child against his chest, his arms around me in a sort of protective way, and I noticed he also placed them in a way that would cover my private areas as I held onto his shoulders, my head rested against his chest. 

I hadn't realised that I had fallen asleep from the way I was being carried until I heard a gentle voice whisper in my ear. "Annalise, we are nearly there." He said.

I peeled my eyes open slowly, slightly annoyed that I had been woken up from the most peaceful sleep I had ever had, no nightmares plaguing my mind whilst I rested. 

"Don't frown like that, I wanted you to see your new home." He chuckled, the action shaking me slightly in his arms. 

I yawned and nodded before turning slightly in his arms, trying to catch a glimpse of what he was talking about; and that's when I saw it. It was a town nestled in a large clearing, roads and people walking around as though they were allowed to move freely and without escort. I noticed a few guards, or what I assumed to be so along the edges and others walking down the streets, but all of them were smiling and waving at people. Or chatting away with someone who had approached them. 
I had never seen anything like this, or heard of it before, they all looked so happy under the rule of their alpha, they didn't look scared or under fed, and as far as I could tell none of them had been locked away with silver and wolfsbane. I was in complete awe with what I was seeing, and I was almost certain that some of the buildings were shops and other places where you could buy things, something which I had never seen before in person. I had only ever caught glimpses of such things on television when master or the guards were watching what they called 'shows' I was never allowed near one. Neither were the other slaves, we were forbidden to use any device in masters home, though we wouldn't know how even if we tried. 

"it's beautiful." I whisper, so distracted that I barley notice Zane and Dean watching me closely. "I've never seen anything like it."

"we could say the same about you." Zane utters lightly, a bright smile lighting up his face. 

I frown not quite understanding what he meant, I was a nobody, someone who didn't matter, someone who was expendable and replaceable. Why would I be something they had never seen before? I wasn't anything or anyone special. If they think I am some sort of savour from legend then they are wrong, I had barley managed to keep myself alive. 

I decided to change the subject, not wanting to know what blue eyes what talking about. "This looks like a town, a large one." 

"it is." Dean said proudly, "we have been building it for centuries and it isn't on any map because it is my families private land. Their are some humans who know about us who live here, but it's mostly wolves who are a part of my pack. Those who have sworn to be loyal to me." 

"Are their really shops? Like the ones on tv?" I ask, my smile faltering slightly when both of the men frowned. "Did I say something wrong?" I added.

"No, not at all." Zane laughed nervously, giving me the impression that he wasn't being truthful. "But it's just... have you never seen a shop before?" 

I shook my head, "never in person, I wasn't allowed to leave masters home, not until the evening of the full moon. Then only on his hand for up to twelve hours." I sighed, glancing around at everyone who looked so happy and content with their lives. "I have always wanted to know what was outside his property but I never had the chance to get away before, not until the collar broke." 

"Collar!?" Alpha Dean growled, his arms tightening around me. "He put a collar on you!?"

"yes, all the slaves wear collars." 

I could see anger bubbling in Dean before he handed me to Zane, his eyes flashing from black to gold as his wolf fought for control. He was loosing a battle because he was so mad, something that Nyx and I knew well, I adjusted myself in Zane's arms, covering as much of my body as I could as I watched Dean turn away from me. 

"take her to the pack house, I'm going for a run." He said, rushing off into the woods as I watched. 

"did I do something wrong?"  I asked Zane, my eyes locked onto the place where the alpha had vanished. 

Blue eyes sighed and turned us back towards the town, walking through the crowds of people as he spoke. "he just needs to cool off, he'll explain everything when he's back."