Chapter 2: The Test
He looked deep into her deep green eyes, lightly touching her hair with his calloused fingers.
“I love you,” he breathed, bending down. I gasped, knowing his intentions.
“Juliette!”
Juliette lifted her head from her book, her mothers demanding voice startling her.
Her mother usually knows not to disturb her while she’s reading.
Setting down the thick love novel Juliette had been so wrapped up in on her desk, she fixed her clothes, and walked out of her bedroom.
Her house is a blanket of warmth she noticed, as she walked down the stairs of her small house.
Being a rouge isn’t glamorous; they are treated like dirt, and hated among the pack community.
Juliette walked down the hallway, stopping at the lounge room for which she knew her mother would be in.
She was apprehensive at first, worried that she was in the wrong because she does tend to find trouble easily.
She walked into the cozy lounge, a foreign person sitting on the couch, sipping tea from one of mothers posh cups.
She seemed around early 50’s, with light grey hair and wrinkled cheeks.
She had a bright smile, and blue eyes that were barely viewable behind her thick glasses.
She wore a pristine white coat, and polished black shoes
One of her shriveled hands was holding a small metal cart, that had what looked like a safe upon it.
She looked straight up like a nurse, leaving Juliette wanting to trace her steps back up to her bedroom, where her favorite book and bed was.
The old lady and Juliette’s mother Karen stood, Karen looking like she just won the lottery.
“Juliette Kerson, my name is Linda and I’m here to inform you about what will happen in the next two months.”
Linda’s voice was strangely deep for a woman, but calming all the same, as she stuck her pale hand out.
Confused, and equally nervous, Juliette shook her delicate hand.
“I’m sorry, but can you please explain,” Juliette asked, glancing at Karen, who was beaming widely, her cheeks bright pink and red.
“Congratulations, you have been chosen for the 30 day pack trial!” she yelped like it was the best thing in the world, while Juliette’s heart sank, and her stomach turned over.
“I-i don’t understand,” she stuttered, looking at her mother then back at Linda.
Juliette doesn’t want to be in the 30 day trail, let alone in the nightmare pack.
Every year 100 juvenile Wolves are chosen to do the 30 day trail, and only 50 of those Wolves make it into the Nightmare pack.
At the same time all Wolves over 50 years old in the nightmare pack are kicked out to be rouges like over half the Werewolf population.
Everyone but an Alpha is born a rouge, if you wish to be a pack member, you must work for it.
The nightmare pack is known worldwide for their courage, strength and high number of pack warriors.
“But i didn’t sign up,” Juliette told her sternly, shaking her head frantically at her absurd idea.
“Oh darling, the rules have changed this year! You no longer sign up, you are nominated!” she cheered, making Juliette turn her gaze to Karen’s guilty face.
Karen has always insisted Juliette sign up for the 30 day trial, but she refused, saying she wasn’t interested.
Juliette is quite content living as a rouge, with more freedom.
“I’m sorry darling, but i thought it was best,” Karen defended herself, putting her hands up to show she was sorry.
“I don’t want to go, can i pull out?” Juliette turned to Linda, who shook her head grimly, seemingly confused as to why Juliette wouldn’t want to be I’m the nightmare pack.
“No, we have had to many potential She Wolves pull out last year, so the Alpha King has set up a new rule; you must attend.”
Linda’s stern words made Juliette frown, but mainly want to let the earth swallow up.
She had a sibling it would be fine, her mother would never have forced her to do something she didn’t want to.
Linda didn’t wait for her reply, but turned to the safe, unlocking it with the key that hung around her neck.
Juliette watched nervously, her hands sweaty and her heart racing steadily against her ribs.
Juliette yelped as she pulled out a small needle, and a paper looking thing.
“What is that?” Juliette asked hoarsely, swallowing a large lump in her throat.
“Before you go to the 30 day trial, two tests must be done, and the one i do is the blood test.”
Juliette shivered at the word blood; the word she hated most in the whole world.
Linda grabbed Juliette’s thin wrist, which she tried to snatch away, but Linda wouldn’t let go, her nails digging into her skin.
“Don’t struggle or it sill hurt,” she growled, her calm stature gone.
Juliette couldn’t help the whimper that left her mouth as Linda dabbed her wrist with some chemical that burned slightly, and grabbed the needle between her fingers.
“Now, this test to make sure there is no diseases in your blood that could be passed into the pack,” she sang, her cheery voice coming back, as she pricked Juliette’s pure wrist.
The pain wasn’t as harsh as expected, only leaving a small sting that lasted around five seconds.
“What happens if I’m diseased?” Juliette asked through gritted teeth, looking as her blood spread around the silver needle.
“Someone else who was nominated will take your place,” she said simply, placing the little pad over the wound, then lifting it.
She popped it into a little bag, with Juliette’s last name Kerson written on it.
A glimmer of hope showed beneath her words, Juliette hoping she somehow had some disease to get her out of it.
Putting a plaster on, Linda left the house with Juliette’s blood in a safe.