Cora, A Sidelines Story from Clayton

Mates vs Rogues

The Characters of Clayton, Rya, Kennedy, Dallas, and the Valentines belong to Rachelle. The character of Cora is expanded on with Permission from Rachelle, and is written for the pleasure of the International Wildflower Pack, the WhiskeyQueenn fandom. #WildflowersUnited #iwp

:: Thank you Rachelle Whiskeyqueenn for sharing your lovely narrative with us.::

Mates vs Rogues

I stood in the ruins of the 17th Street Food Kitchen, unfallen tears moistened my eyes as I shook with rage. I will not cry, I will not break down in front of these terrified wolves and humans who need my strength. Apple clung helplessly to Winston's arm, his face half covered in bruises. Mariselle and two human females, were trying to salvage cookware from the rubble but it was futile. The building had been vandalized and half-burnt to the ground, everything smashed into bits. The building itself was a total loss, with a dozen of others damaged on the blocks around the 17th Street Bridge. The police said it was a turf war between rival gangs, but the packless wolves and I knew better. It was rogues, the criminal element of wolf society. It was a bold attack in the middle of a city, and that made it all the more dangerous. It was group looking to take themselves a territory from land that should have been claimed and protected by a pack long ago. I may be on the outs with the Urban pack right now, but this was their city and it was their job to deal with rogues.

Wilson told me the Alphas were all at the pack offices, so I headed to the heart of the downtown district, to their towers in the sky. Winston and Jorge followed me to the pack offices, each representing one of the packless neighborhoods. As the glass elevator on the outside of the building rose, they both shifted nervously. They knew they had no status here, but I carried rank from two different and powerful packs. Normally it was not a card I would play, but I had flown home into a war zone. Grandmama stood on my left, she shifted beside me unimpressed, flicking the last of her cigarette on the elevator floor.

"So he lives here?"

"No, he lives in that building over there, on the second to highest floor with his parent's on the floor above." I pointed out the glass and marble tower, glittering white in the mid-morning light only two blocks away.

"I thought I taught you better than to date boys who lived in their parent's basements," she said drolly, lighting another cigarette.

Jorge burst out laughing, it sounded like something his abuela would say. Winston just stared at her like she had no sense. She didn't care. It broke the tension and I couldn't help but smile.

The receptionist at the desk stopped us, in a hushed tone she apologized, "I am sorry Gamma Cora, but you can't see the Alphas today, there has been an incident with the non-packed wolves vandalizing several pack businesses." Her name is Miranda? No, Moira. She was Wilson's mate and had served as their loyal receptionist for over two decades, as he had worked as their doorman, and yet neither were considered part of the Urban Pack. It was a shame, so many wolves who worked so hard for a pack they didn't even belong to. Urban was more a corporation than pack. I hated it.

"It wasn't the Unpacked who did this. It was Rogues. We have witnesses. The two unpacked neighborhoods were attacked last night as well, I need to see the Alphas," I said firmly. 

Eyes wide, Moira picked up the phone and in moments, Luna Elizabeth and Jamison appeared.

"So you come crawling back to me from your hiding place when you want something?" he snarled. His wolf challenging mine.