Wolf Who Can't Be Moved

Chapter 5

The three women ventured outside to where people were working and slaving away. The sun beat down upon their backs, burning their already tanned skin. Even though Kalista was not apart of this pack, they were still people who needed protection. 

She had wished there was sunscreen to help these people, but she doubted they had any, especially if they didn't have underwear. 

She heard a high-pitched scream from somewhere in the pack area. She and her wolf were on high alert. Looking around, she noticed that nobody stopped doing their work. Another deafening scream resounded, and she saw as a couple of women as they winced and shuddered. They obviously knew what was happening.

Judging by the way they were reacting, she assumed the worst.

Instead of doing anything, the people continued to work and talk, causing an even bigger commotion so the woman's screams were drowned out.

Frantically, she looked around the area, trying to find where it was coming from. Another scream. "Someone help me, please!" She took off as fast as she could towards the scream.

It was an arduous task to locate where the woman was due to all of the dust that was being picked up from the construction and people walking and children playing. She couldn't believe that no one was attempting to help the poor woman.

Just like the night before, she was pushing people out of the way, trying to get to the woman. People were pushing her back, sneering at her. She paid no mind to them, completely wrapped up in trying to fight past them.

Another piercing scream echoed. Then silence. It was if the people knew what had happened. There was no more talking, but they never stopped carrying on with their work. It was a solemn experience and heart-wrenching, to say the least.

She was surrounded by people on all sides of her; she was caught up in the hustle and bustle of their day. It was as if she were the one to annoy them and not the screams of the woman.

She was the one who was the outcast, not the screams. She was the one who was different, not the screams. A tear slid down her eye thinking about it. If a woman screamed like that in her old pack, the Warriors would have done something about it in no time flat.

Here, no one seemed concerned.

A hand gripped on to her bicep, spinning her around in the mass of people. She was met with the hard eyes of Alpha Fang. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" His jaw was clenched and his glare was deadly. When she didn't respond, he gripped tighter and shook her. "Answer me!"

"A woman was being raped and I wanted to save her," she replied.

His glare hardened into disdain. "Didn't you learn anything from last night," he spat at her. She flinched away. "Those who try to be a hero, die."

In a futile attempt, she tugged her arm but was still entrapped in his hold. "That's because they're going about it all wrong!"

He cocked an eyebrow. "Oh? And you are?" His voice was a deep growl, shaking her to her bones. "Running into this mess," he waved his hand around to gesture the swarm of people, "and thinking you can get to the girl in time? This is not a fairytale story, female. This is the real world filled with work and suffering. Get that into your pretty little head of yours."

She glared back into his eyes. The sun beat down upon them angrily as if it was mad these people were living. Sweat beaded its way on her forehead, drops of it sliding down the sides of her face and in between her eyes to the tip of her nose.

"You think this world is filled with suffering because you make it seem so, male."

A low growl passed his lips. He yanked her arm, causing her to stumble into his chest. He gripped her chin with his rough fingers, forcing her to look into his eyes. Her eyes widened in fear. "You think I wanted to be placed here in District D?"

She shook her head weakly.

"You think I enjoy hearing the screams of my pack members fall victim to rape?"

Again, she shook her head.

"Don't assume things that you haven't been a part of, female. You have no idea what suffering is because your entire life was centered around you being protected at all costs. Here, people aren't protected. Rape is as common as flies in shit."

He let go of her jaw. Her eyes shot down to the ground in defeat. She thought back to what Frith said about women being used for sex, work, and slavery. She didn't believe that. Now hearing everything Alpha Fang said, she was more disturbed than ever. "It doesn't have to be," she weakly replied.

"You're right, but it is." He let go of her arm and walked away from her, his back tensed and flexing underneath his shirt. She felt her wolf stir in the back of her mind, pushing her to go after him. She refused.

The pack members continued as if nothing had happened to her. They stepped around her, some of them bumping her shoulder, others sneering at her. Not even being here for a day, she already hated it. She couldn't be a part of something that didn't help others in terrible situations.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she thought about what could have become of the woman who was taken advantage of. Her heart ached with pain. What about her parents? Her siblings? Her friends? Where were they when she needed them most? 

Probably working. It was Alpha Fang's fault for this. He could have prevented it. He could have helped the helpless woman and punished the man who committed the crime. He could have done something to appease the pain. Laws had to be enforced around here just like any other pack. If they weren't enforced, then people would start riots and there would be no guarantee the Alpha could win them back over. 

"Kalista!" She turned around to see two women running through the pack of people. The workers parted and made room for them because they knew who they were. If only they had known who Kalista was, then maybe she could've gotten to the woman in time. 

"Kalista, what were you thinking?" Luan was infuriated with her. "You never run into a crowd like that! Especially when nobody else goes to help!"

"But that's why I went: because nobody else was turning to help!" She threw her arms up in the air in exasperation. First Alpha Fang and now two females.

Luan shook her head. "Kalista, that's not our problem." 

She clenched her jaw. "Look, I don't know why you don't help the helpless, but if you ask me, it sounds like you all are too self-absorbed to care!"

Luan glared at her. "You say we are self-absorbed, but look around you!" She put her hands up and gestured to the people around them. "They are working their asses off trying to build more stable living conditions and the women are sewing clothing for their mates and children so they don't have to run around naked. Oh! And let me remind you that the Alpha fed you before he ate for himself. So let me ask you: are we really the ones who are self-absorbed, or are you the one who is?"

Kalista was shocked. She hadn't thought about it like that. "I'm sorry, I just assumed-"

"Yes, and assuming always gets you everywhere." Luan turned her back, calling out to Frith, "C'mon Frith, before she assumes we actually care about her." Frith followed Luan but sent a pity-ridden smile behind her before walking away with Luan.

Kalista stood there in shock. She didn't know what to think or even how to respond. In just a short amount of time, she caused her mate to turn her back on her and the only two women she knew to respond in the same manner. 

This had never happened to her before, but she needed to make it up somehow. She needed to show the two women that she wasn't who they thought she was. She needed to show them that she was kind, she was loyal, and that she can fix her mistakes.