The Last Rose of Winter

Stunned

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," that was all I could think as I ran from my car. The door was still open and the keys were still in the ignition, the motor still running but that was the least of my worries. 

I was late.

Not a little bit late, not even fashionably late, I was really late for what was considered the most important meeting to have ever taken place in my pack. I had so far managed to keep myself from being classed as an Omega but if the Alpha and his family saw me slip into the room late then I'd lose my rank. I knew I would.

The ruling family of the Wood River Pack were fair, honest and a little strict but they had given me many chances to prove myself worthy of a rank after my parents untimely deaths. Being an unfortunate only child meant that I was all alone in the world after my mother and father left it almost eight years ago.

A fast acting and extremely aggressive virus ran through the packs surrounding Wood River and many lives were lost. I still don't know how I managed to survive. But I had and it seemed to spread some kind of fear or apprehension through the pack.

I think the only reason I kept my rank was out of fear. A lot of pack members, older pack members thought I'd been kissed by the Moon Goddess herself but I didn't believe in such things. If she were real then why would she take my parents from me when I was still so young? I had so many things to learn about the real world and no one to guide me. I had to learn on my own.

Running towards the meeting hall I couldn't help but note the amount of vehicles crammed into the parking lot. Not only that but the security presence was tight. As soon as I was seen running towards the building I was confronted with security.

"Where do you think you're going?" One of them asked. The men that stood in my way were dressed in black suits and wore black sunglasses so polarised that I could see my reflection. It was good they cared about their eye health but it wasn't the time to get in my way.

"To the meeting. I'm late and if Alpha Albertine notices that I'm not there then I'm in deep shit so kindly step to the side and let me in cause I don't want to be an Omega."

For whatever reason both men took it upon themselves to move closer together and block me further.

"An Omega hmm? So you're pretty much a worthless pack member anyway?" One of the men asked smugly.

I couldn't help but scoff and shake my head, "I'm not an Omega yet so don't go getting any ideas. Please get out of the way." I tried to plead bit the smirks on their brutish faces left no doubt on my mind that they would make this extremely difficult on me.

"And what if we don't?" The other man responded with so much humour in his voice he may as well have been standing on a stage doing a comedy skit.

"Okay this is getting really old, really fast. Get the hell out of my way and I won't report you to my Alpha." My threat didn't seem to be enough as both men chuckled.

"Do as the lady says!" A stern voice sounded behind the men that made them stiffen immediately. Why is it that my threats weren't taken seriously but a bit of a stern voice did?

Both the men's smiles faded faster than a Western sunset and they turned quickly on the tips of their toes. "Apologies Varden." They both responded in unison.

"Let her pass. She says she is part of Wood River and you still deny her entry." The tone of the man's voice even made me quiver slightly in my shoes. It sounded like a voice you would never want to disobey or disappoint.

"We just wanted to make sure she wasn't fibbing. That's all." One of the guys lied.

"Sounds like you were taking advantage of her situation more like it." Another voice sounded as I tried to peak over the tops of their heads. The second voice belonged to a woman and she sounded as stern and  as uncompromising as the man.