The ride to the office was quiet. Alfa did expect this rejection, and he could feel Arya's tension.
She knew it would be hard to explain why she was suddenly resigning. It was obvious that her team would be of no help since they also don't know much about what is going on.
What would she tell about Rebecca and her team? How will she explain that she didn't see her? Will they even believe her?
Lying will be better than telling them the truth.
Ronald parked in the employee parking of the office since the security guard already knew Arya. Alfa and Ronald were not allowed inside since it was a private lab office.
Walking into the elevator, Arya knew she would miss this life; all of it. She was going to crush her childhood dreams with her own hands.
How excited was she when the opportunity to discover the Sabre toothed cat came... now, she couldn't do anything. A new species of wolf was running around, and she was one of them, but she couldn't say anything.
"Arya, we've been waiting for you," Damion greeted her as she stepped out of the elevator, and walked with him to his office.
She saw everyone waiting for her, the entire team. "Arya, sit," Damion said.
She sat quietly. "Now, Arya, tell me what happened back in Moonsglow? I want to know every detail!"
"We were researching, but didn't find out much... then we saw a huge brown wolf in the cabin we stayed in, which I later found out was a man in a costume..." "And how 'bout your kidnapping?" Damion asked, concerned.
"That wasn't kidnapping, just... I found a lady who told me that she knows things and she can tell me... I went with her..." "Arya, you realize you were gone for almost two weeks, right?" Amelia said. "We were forced to vacate the cabin in the middle of the night and moved to Alfa's other house, with no explanation, and you were missing. We thought you had died or gone missing, like Rebecca!"
At the mention of Rebecca's name, Arya felt her heart skip a beat. She had to do something to save her friend, and she desperately hoped that one of the wolfs would turn out to be her mate, so she'd get her life back... but will the pack accept a human? Or will she be cast out with her mate, just like her aunt and uncle?
"About that, any news on Rebecca and her team?" Damion's questions cut through her chain of thoughts.
Arya just shook her head.
"Look, Arya, I want you to start work from tomorrow. The dire wolf project was a dead end, so I want to start the cat project as soon as possible," Damion said, and Arya's heart ached. This was supposed to be her project. Now it will go to someone else. "Arya? Are you with me?" Damion asked when Arya didn't show any excitement.
"Damion, I've met someone in that village. I'm getting married..." Everyone gasped. "And I can't travel back and forth for work. Hence, I'm resigning."
"You're getting married?" Alex asked.
"With a guy you just met?" Maryann added.
"I know him from childhood. We just lost contact after I came here!" Arya said.
"Childhood? You've been there before?" Damion asked. He was shocked that Arya never mentioned it to him, even when he decided to send her there.
"Look, guys, it's complicated. All I can say is it's personal," Arya said.
"But Arya... " Before the old man could say anything, there was a knock on the door. "Yes?" Damion asked, annoyed.
The door opened, and in came the smell of another wolf, but something was not right. 'He's a rogue.' Bella said, getting alert.
"What is it?" Damion called out when the door stopped halfway.
'He can smell us, and he is afraid.' Bella said.
"Mr Westfield," a young man came in, eyeing Arya cautiously. "I needed you to sign some papers. I have to lodge it today," he said, his heart beating fast.
"Michael, can't this wait... I'm in an important meeting right now."
"Ok, sir," the young man said and turned around.
'Arya, he is a rogue. He can easily take us to Moonstone pack... or what's left of it.' Bella said excitedly.
'Yes!' Arya replied in her mind.
"I need a bathroom break," Arya said, as she ran out, following the scent of the rogue.
She saw him walking into an office, and she followed in behind him.
"Look, I don't want any trouble, please leave me alone," he said, moving back.
"No, you misunderstand. I'm here to ask for your help!" Arya said, standing at the doorway.
"Help?" Michael scoffed. "From me? Wolves like you kill us, not ask for help!" He said ironically.
"Look, Michael, hear me out. Please."
"Fine, what do you want from me?"
"I need to go to the Moonstone pack territory; or what was the Moonstone pack. I heard it's now run by rogues. You are a rogue, so you can help me," Arya said, hoping he would agree.
"I won't help you kill them, if that's what you're asking."
"No, no, no. I don't want to kill any of them, I just want to visit that place..."
"Why." Michael was looking at Arya like she was insane.
"I'm Aria Moonstone. My father was the Alfa of that pack many years ago. I just want to know my history."
"How do I believe you?"
"Look, Michael, I can't prove anything yet, I had a Moonstone necklace, but I don't know where it is now... but I really need this, please," Arya begged.
"Is that why you have Alfa Flowerew's scent all over you?"
Arya was stunned. "I do?"
Michael raised an eyebrow, "You don't know how the werewolf world works, do you?"
"Honestly, I'm still a pup. Just found my wolf around three weeks ago."
"Talk about late blooming," Michael said, under his breath.
"And that's why I need to go to the Moonstone territory. Maybe, I'd find something related to my bloodline," Arya continued, ignoring his comment.
"Yes, I am a rogue, but I can't just waltz into another rogues' territory, but I'll try to contact the alfa of the rogue pack...."
"Alfa of the rogue pack?" Wow, I didn't know the rogues have an alfa," Arya said, surprised.
"We're not mindless beasts like many think. We're just not social. We challenge our alfa for fun, and others see us die and cheer. That's why many of us rogues keep to ourselves," Michael said.
"Ok. When you do contact him, let me know."
"How exactly do I let you know?"
Arya took out a card from her purse. She stared at it for some time...
ARYA HUNTER. it said.
"Just call this number," she said, after explaining to Michael the name.