Rogues

Chapter 1

- Nathan -

Today is the first day of senior year, which I'm not thrilled about. Sure, I love spending time with my friends, but the idea of school and homework just ruins the whole thing. Besides, it's the first year rogues will be attending school. Why, you ask? A treaty.

A couple of months ago, the Lazarus Pack arrived and settled right next to our town. That usually means trouble. Lazarus is the biggest and strongest rogue pack in the east, possibly the entire country. Normally, when a rogue pack shows up, they attack, conquer, ravage, and move on. That's what rogues do. We expected the same, but instead, they offered peace.

I don't know why our Alpha—my father—even agreed to the meeting. We're the strongest settled pack around. We have the terrain advantage. But he decided it was best to avoid bloodshed and accept the agreement.

That was two months ago during summer break. Now, three rogues are set to attend school with us as part of the treaty. Everyone in the pack is extremely tense about it, me included.

I walk to school like I always do. It helps me clear my head. Our town is big, and wolves make up over 80% of the population, but we still keep things undercover. Very few humans know about us, and those who do usually married into the pack. Still, I worry the rogues might screw that up. Supposedly, they were warned, but who knows what goes through their heads?

As soon as I step onto campus, I spot my best friend sprinting toward me with a huge grin.

- Nate! Hey man, what's up? - Mason pulls me into a hug. He's a few inches taller than me, so I have to stretch to reach him.

- A bit nervous, to be honest, - I say, scratching the back of my neck.

He nods. - I know. Rogues are driving everyone crazy, and they haven't even shown up yet. - he adds, a bit thrilled and worried at the same time.

The thing about Mason is, no matter what, he tries to stay optimistic. Even when my dad gathered the whole pack to announce the treaty. That was a tense day, but Mason didn't seem fazed.

My pack has never entered into an open war against another pack. We've dealt with rogue raids before, the patrol squad is usually able to fend off the attacks. Rogue packs are commonly between ten to fifteen members at most. Surviving in the wild gets increasingly more difficult with more numbers, that's why rogue packs tend to be smaller. However, it's different for the Lazarus; holdin gover seventy members in it's ranks. How is that even possible is beyond me. The Lazarus pack is widely known as the domestic packs worst nightmare. We expected war. I'll admit, I felt a bit relieved when they offered peace.

The rest of our friends are already in class. Of course, rogues are the topic of conversation.

- What do you think they'll look like? - Kaya asks, rather intrigued.

Her smell, however, is a bit off just like the rest of the pack. It's only three rogues, but they have the entire school on edge. We've never seen a rogue before, only the scouts and patrol security have dealt with them.

- For some reason, I keep picturing them like these huge barbaric figures. Long hair, beards, and fucking terrifying. - Mason says.

- I'll be surprised if they show up with clothes. Don't rogues live naked? - Jake points out bluntly, making the group chuckle.

- Oh, come on. They are still people like us, obviously they wear clothes. - I point out, still laughing a little.

- I'm still not sure. - Jake adds not fully convinced.

- Besides, my father said they talked to them. They know our rules and how we live, I'm sure they'll look just like any of us. - I add.

We continue speculating about what they look like when Mr. Harrison, our teacher (also a werewolf), walks in and tells us to sit. That's when they walk in.