CHAPTER 10

North Pack

The hours that she was left alone Ashera came up with a plan. She had to form some sort of friendship with someone. 

Ashera figured if she made friends she would know the pack better. She knew she needed to know that pack in and out before she could manoeuvre her way out of the pack. The problem though was that she did not have time to waste. It did not feel like she could last another day in the hell hole. 

Maya came up with a plan to make friends in the pack to help her escape. She decided to immerse herself in the pack, attend their events and join whatever group there was to join. She could also join the warriors in training. She could use the training. She needed to be able to protect herself. 

"He would never allow that"

Dylan was a not a stupid man. Ashera knew Dylan would never in a million years allow her join the warriors in training. Joining them would be there is a higher chance of fighting for herself and a man like Dylan will not let that happen. Ashera hoped to build meaningful connections and find allies who could support her in her quest for freedom. 

"Will anyone risk being on Dylan's bad side?" Ashera thought again but in all honesty she was confident that at least one of the pack members will be on her side. How she would find the person she did not know.

One thing she knew though was that she had to approach each interaction with genuine warmth and openness, eager to connect with people from all societal status. She will listen intently to their stories, share some of her own experiences, and offer a helping hand whenever possible. Slowly but surely, Ashera trusted that she will begin to form friendships. She also knows that for her plan to work she had to befriend an older person.

 "I will approach her with genuine interest and a warm smile" Ashera concluded personally.

 To make Mrs Janet her friend, Ashera came up with a thoughtful plan. She will start by finding common interests and shared experiences. What shared experience an old woman would have with her Ashera did not know. She could lie about that. Anything so befriend Janet.

Ashera hoped the woman at least loved art. She would use that opportunity to make a connection with somebody before becoming rogue. She had yet to put the possibility into consideration. She would not last a day being a rogue wolf. All Ashera wanted was to be free first. She will find a way out. She had no idea why she trusted herself that much.

"Somebody has to trust you" A voice in her head said and Ashera couldn't agree more.

"As we spend more time together, I will make sure to listen attentively for a clue on history on the pack. Stories about her experiences will enlighten me. My plan is bad but I have to pretend to make a genuine connection that will make her tell me more than she is supposed to. This will build a sort of understanding between us" Ashera felt mad as she heard her own voice return to her ear as she said her plan out loud. Seeing what she has been reduced to hurt her.

Meeting for coffee, going on walks in the park and sharing meals will grow care and help foster a deep bond between them but Ashera wondered if there would be time for all of that. She couldn't be truthful upfront though; What if the news of her plan got to Dylan because of her carelessness.

Your plan is stupid.

"I'm such a fool" Ashera cried out. Who was she deceiving? She did not have the balls to lie to care for someone or even possibly vex two alphas. 

She burst into tears ago. She was supposed to be resting before Dylan and Flora came back but realising her own foolishness has made her open up old wounds. Ashera felt too open even to herself. She felt like she was peeling off layers of a bandaged wound. Her chest felt like the exposed cut. Why did her life have to be this way? Maybe this is why she had yet to get over her experiences.

Maybe what she needed was to visit her life and make peace with her journey. Maybe only then will she begin her healing process. Ashera needed to confront and painful and emotions but she was not ready. Remembering made her feel too bad.

"And why are you yelling?" The interruption scared her at first but she soon became irritated when it registered in her head that it was Flora speaking. She cleaned her eyes and turned to the door.

"That is none of your concern" Ashera responded rudely. She had thought she would feel pity for Flora but the woman did not seem like a woman that needed to be pitied. On the verge of passing out Ashera had heard Flora's cries as Dylan raped her.

Ashera thought Flora would be broken but instead she looked fine. That was probably what Dylan took her out for; to apologise.

Which woman will stay with a rapist? Ash was angry that Flora was not as angry as she was. Did she not feel violated and angry? Ashera wondered.

"Aren't you angry?" Ashera could not help herself. She had to ask Flora that question that laid at the tip of her tongue. 

"Angry about what?" Flora suspected that she heard what Dylan did to her. Her question has confirmed that much but she did not want to talk about it.

"So you are going to play dumb? He raped you and you still allow him use you!" Ashera was screaming without realising it.

"A man shouldn't have sex with his girlfriend?" Both lady's eyes went wide in shock.

"Answer me you two" Dylan's voice was calm and this scared the women. Ashera knew she would not say anything. She will let the worst happen. It had happened and she was somehow still here.

"Baby ignore her. She's a jealous slut" Flora's hands were on Dylan's chest. An obvious attempt to pacify Dylan or at least make him shift his wrath to Ashera.