Chapter 8

Once again, Jessica's wolf growled and this time, she could only make it a near-silent one as it escaped her throat, "I didn't ask for any of this. I understand I am weaker for an Omega in this pack, but the Moon Goddess has deemed—"

Before Jessica knew it, Kamilla had her pinned on the floor, causing Jessica to hiss in pain; the bruise on her back had made contact with it. Kamilla growled threateningly, her eyes filled with more animosity than she had just first met her, "Here's a little warning for you, so you don't have someone with real power here tearing your throat out for saying something as stupid as that."

"As...as what?" Jessica swallowed, starting to feel unease under her skin.

"The so-called 'Moon Goddess' that every pack claims to be convinced exists," Kamilla's eyes never left hers.

W-what? What did she say?

"What do you mean? Of course, she exists," Jessica asked, "Saying she doesn't is like how humans say we don't."

"But humans have seen us. They just don't believe their eyes, nor do they give a fuck to hunt us out anymore. Not like their stupid offspring are still raised in the older ways," Kamilla spoke of them bitterly.

"They're not stu—"

"You listen to the bullshit lies of past generations, of other packs," She interrupted Jessica, "It's asinine. To worship a single moon, who supposedly only gives us real power during the Full Moon? What about the other moons in the universe? It is a rock that sits there in space. There is no 'Moon Goddess'."

"Then who made us?" Jessica challenged, but regretted her tone as she said it and changed to a more humble one, "...How can you be so sure?"

Kamilla's gaze did not change, "The nine Alpha Deities made us."

"...What? Deities? That's not true," She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Delaney pack was crazy.

"It is. What governs our powers isn't the moon. It's the phases. There is a deity for all nine phases, eclipse included. They're not limited to a mere moon of Earth like the 'Moon Goddess' is," Kamilla practically spat out, "Now, you may continue to believe in your false god, but don't mention it here. None of the others would tolerate it like I have."

She slowly got up off of Jessica and backed up, letting her get up on her own.

"One more thing," She then grabbed her shirt tightly in a bundle, making her warning loud and clear to Jessica, "Don't ever growl at me again. I'll just kill you next time."

As she let go, she turned to the door, "Now come, I'll show you the rest of the Omega quarters and the compound."

~~*

The drive back up to Jackson was in heavy silence. Jessica, Kamilla, and Katalin had no reason to speak to each other; the twins knew the way and Jessica didn't want to talk to them.

She realized how much she didn't like it in the Delaney pack. She was sure that they didn't like her either. Last night, she was shown the compound. Though it was spacious, even though she was introduced properly, their hostile gazes hadn't changed from when she first entered, very much like Kamilla's hadn't. When it was just Katalin, Kamilla, and herself, females would look at her, their eyes practically demanding her to submit to them, which she did without question. She managed to avoid the males, but even so, the wolves she currently wanted to avoid were in the car with her.

She didn't believe a word Kamilla had said to her last night. She didn't want to. Jessica looked out the window, not seeing much past the new snow and wilderness; not that she was actually looking at it. How dare she talk about the Moon Goddess like that? She has done nothing but protect the wolves for many millennia, yet Kamilla talks ill about her, that she...doesn't exist? Jessica held back a sigh. All other packs believed in her, yet the Delaney pack chose to be polytheistic.

"Just another reason to leave," Jessica thought as she continued to look out the window.

~~*

"Jessica!" Kathy practically bowled Jessica over as she entered the café; Jessica did her best not to even flinch when she touched her back, "Are you alright, hon? Are you hurt? What—"

She stopped, seeing Katalin sitting in the car and Kamilla watching them as she leaned against the car hood.

"They're with me," Jessica told her quickly, catching her mistrustful gaze.

Kathy's face didn't change intensity, "...Come with me to the back so we can talk in private." She grabbed Jessica's hand before she could make an effort not to and pulled her into the back room.

"What happened?" Kathy asked the moment they were out of earshot to anyone, "You were so restless last night, and when you left, those guys went after you out like you were a criminal."

Jessica looked at her sadly, "...I can't really tell you, Kathy."

"Why? Are you a criminal?" Kathy asked, concern coated over her face.

"No."

"Wanted by a criminal?"

"No."

"On the run?"

"No. Not—"

"Then why?" Kathy asked her.

Jessica closed her eyes and took in a silent yet deep breath before opening them again, "I quit, Kathy."

Kathy stared at her as if she grew a second head before blinking and shook her head, narrowing inquiring eyes at her, "...Are they making you?"

"Kath—" Jessica started.

"Those ladies have the same look in their eyes that those guys last night had, and frankly, I don't like it," Anger started to mix in with the worry that Kathy had.

"Kathy—"

Kathy held her hand up, "No. I refuse to allow anyone to hurt you. Do you know anyone who is a part of protective services, I know some people from the sheriff's department who can help us—"

"Kat—"

"You are going to stay with me tonight, you hear me? It will be safe there," Kathy's emotions were up in the air as she held her hands tightly.

"Kathy!" Jessica didn't want to yell, but it got her attention. She let out a sigh and returned her voice to a whisper once again, "I have to quit Kathy. I know what you saw last night seemed a lot like what you thought you saw, but it wasn't...I'm safe. I'm safe now."

Kathy grabbed her shoulders lightly, searching her eyes for anything different. After a while, she relented, her lips trembling as she hugged her, "...Alright..."

She backed away to look her in the eye, "But if you ever need anything, want your job back, or just someone to talk to, I'm here. In fact," She took her pen and paper and scribbled something down before handing it to her, "Call me. There's my number and my address." She then folded the paper in Jessica's hand, giving her a weak smile, "Don't be a stranger, hon."

Returning the same smile, Jessica nodded, "I'll try."

"Oh. Here. Before I forget," Kathy left again and returned with a check, "It's not that much since you've only been here for a week..."

As she handed it to her, Jessica's sunken heart sunk deeper, "...Thank you."

With one last hug, she turned and left. She was happy she wore her scarf that day. If she hadn't, she doubted Kathy would have let her leave.

~~*

"Wait," Jessica told them before they drove off too far.

Katalin looked at her through the rearview mirror, "What now?"

"...I need to go to Motel 6 to check out," Jessica told them.

After a few moments, Kamilla gave an agitated huff and drove to the motel, "Make it quick."

Jessica nodded and headed for her rented room.