Rising from the Ashes
Chapter 4

They had questioned her three hours before she was able to leave. Delta James had called her useless among some other not so nice things. Elenora personally couldn’t care less, she has things to do, things like research on a certain rogue Alpha she had heard talk on. For a moment she wonders the risk of going back to the bar, not to ask the patrons on the Rogue Alpha but the Bartender himself. He would’ve heard much on the topic, given his position. Drunks talk, everybody knows that.

She isn’t looking forward to it, not really. She doesn’t like the Bartender. He’s powerful, she could feel that and even she felt a certain allure to the man. Even so, it may be worth the risk for a little information. Elenora stands and grabs her bag and all her knives, it’s not too far. Especially if she borrows a vehicle from Alpha Scott “Just where are you going, milady?” Warrior Thompson appears at her side

“Milady?”

“Suits you.” Elenora almost laughs

“I’m going to a tavern in neutral territory, Warrior Thompson.” Elenora explains, tightening her grip on her bag as she makes an abrupt turn onto a rough shortcut she had found leading to the office. Warrior Thompson stumbles but catches up until he’s walking at her side once again.

“Edward, please Milady. I despise formalities.”

“And yet you call me Milady?”

“I have a feeling about the name, can’t really explain it but it feels right. I’m a feeler.” Elenora looks to the young man with happiness spread across his face from his wide smile to his shining eyes but pain and sadness laced in his every feeling. Elenora shoves the curse away, she does not need to feel the emotions of others, nor does she want to. It feels a lot like an invasion of privacy, one Elenora isn’t a fan of in the least. She hates what Mia calls a gift. She really does. “I am to come with you, Milady.”

“I thought you were only supposed to follow me on pack lands.”

“I am supposed to protect you, new orders as of last night. The Alpha worries about your safety and the several rogues at the border whispering your name hasn’t helped. They have moved on of course but the Alpha fears such things may not last.” Elenora merely nods, stopping in front of the Alpha’s office. She sighs before stepping in. Immediately something runs right into her legs before falling on her butt. For a moment she senses Warrior Thompsons fear. Fear at what a rogue will do to a child who had run into her.

Elenora hadn’t met many children that doesn’t run from her. This one doesn’t. She props herself up on her hands and stares up at Elenora with mild curiosity. Her hair is a wild mess of dark curls, her eyes a bright blue and her smile nothing but playful. “You should be more carful or else you’ll hurt yourself.” Elenora offers her a hand after clearing her throat. There’s something about this little girl that reminds her of her own child. They don’t look anything alike except the curls but there’s definitely something about her.

The little girl accepts her hand and pulls herself up before dusting off her dress. Elenora stares at her bare feet for a moment before meeting the girls blue eyes “Nothing that won’t heal, miss. Sorry for running into you though, I’m running from my brother. It seems he does not appreciate my showing of affection.” Warrior Thompson snorts behind Elenora

“And what’d you do to the poor lad this time?”

The girl smiles proudly “The feather and shaving cream trick, always works with him.” A shout from deeper into the office appears. The little girl mocks a salute before running outside. It is not long before a little boy with dirty blonde hair and icy eyes appears. Shaving cream spread across his face and hand, Elenora can only imagine what affections the little girl had shown her brother over the years. He sniffs the air before bolting out of the room and toward the forest with quite a few outraged cries.

“Those are the Alpha’s kids. Amora and Oliver.” Warrior Thomson Explains. Elenora nods before heading towards the office door and knocking. She doesn’t have to wait long. Alpha Scott greets her with a smile. Warrior Thompson seems to make the decision to wait outside the door as he closes it behind her.

“Elenora!” He clasps his hands together, standing from his chair “A pleasant surprise, tell me how do you like it here? Are you settling well?” Elenora doesn’t really know how to answer that. The truth is she doesn’t much care for the pack life, it feels like a prison though she knows she’s able to leave at any given time. She has to have a tail -not that Warrior Thompson’s presence isn’t unwelcome- and she is no longer able to run freely across the forest. She misses her rogue life though this pack has its many perks.

“It’s fine.” Elenora answers after a moment, the Alpha’s smile flickers

“I heard my warriors had interrogated you about the rogues. I do apologize-”

“I would be worried if they didn’t Alpha Scott. They did the right thing, my name was mentioned and I fear it might be again. It is exactly as I worried previously, my being here seems to have put your pack at risk.” The Alpha gestures for her to sit and she does after a moment. He follows her lead so they’re eye to eye and it’s silent for a moment, him observing her and her observing the Alpha.

“Miss Elenora, yes you being here does put my pack at risk but it is just as at risk as any other time. You can’t imagine the enemies I have made with my decisions, my choice of life and my beliefs. I am not sorry they interrogated you but I am sorry about the inconvenience. I had hoped you would be able to rest for awhile before anybody bothered you.” He flashes her a pitiful smile before dragging a hand down his face “I do have to ask if you’re ready to explain your situation to me, I admit I’m at a loss. Years ago I thought you were human.” Elenora stares at him for a moment before shaking her head.

“Another time Alpha, I came for a car if you’re willing to provide me such. I’m looking for...answers.” He tilts his head at her before nodding and tossing her a set of keys. The tag has G4 on it, Elenora looks for an explanation on what it means.

“It’s a guest car. The rules are you pay for any damage you may cause and you fill up the tank when your done. Elenora nods, seems more than fair if he’s providing her a car for the day. of course she’ll gradually save for her own. She does want her daughter with her but not until she has everything set up. She will not have her girl living on the streets. She needs to write another letter of course, it’s been awhile since she had. With a couple of last words Elenora is on her way out the door.

Warrior Thompson had insisted on being the driver after he realized how inexperienced she is when it comes to driving. Elenora really hadn’t drove a car in a long time and it was only twice with her brothers guidance.

Alpha Thompson and herself had been driving for a couple hours before we pulled up to the dark side of town, passing many creatures that Warrior Thompson couldn’t name. Elenora had met up with a few of them one time or another. “Why so far into the bad side of town?” Warrior Thomson mutters to her. He doesn’t look dressed for the occasion in his nice button down shirt and jeans, of course she’s sure he’ll be fine. From what she had read, he’s a rising star among the warriors.

“Best place for answers, lets go.” With that she climbs out and heads for the bar. It had turned dark not so long ago and her skin crawls at the eyes on her. She had stuck to jeans and a light top, her knives for view, her favorite strapped to her thigh and her others hidden in her boots. She walks to the bar to replace a young girl behind the counter. Her red locks twisted to a complicated updo and her eyes a furious red as she grumbles about a man who must be the cause for her bad mood “Excuse me.” Elenora steps forward, Warrior Thompson following. The girl looks at her and raises her eyebrows “I’m looking for Tiras.”

“Look, it was a one time thing and he’s a one and done type of jackass.” The girl crosses her arm, scowling at the mention of the lust demon. Elenora raises her eyebrows.

“You misunderstand me.” Elenora mutters, eyeing the girl for directions. The girl sniffs before nodding and pointing to the back rooms. Elenora follows that direction, asking Warrior Thompson to stand behind. Judging by the smell of the backrooms, Elenora can only guess what she’s about to walk in on. Her theory proves correct when she opens the door on a moaning girl held in the clutches of a certain Demon. “Tiras, if you would hurry it up I would appreciate it.” With that Elenora walks out, successfully scarred for life but she had suspected she would walk in on the act, she just didn’t care very much.

Still, she cannot help but scrunch her nose up at the images she had been given. Gross, and the girl was a werewolf too! She has a mate doesn’t she? And yet she had allowed herself to sink so low as to bed a demon. Alas the girls choices are her own and Elenora will be better off if she minds her business. It’s not long before the demon walks out of the door himself. He buttons up his pants and pulls on his shirt, leaving that unbuttoned. “Never thought I’d see you again my love.” He smirks, his eyes flashing that beautiful emerald green as he stares her up and down. Shall we?” he offers his arm, she takes it out of curtesy, allowing him to lead her to the bar. He pulls out the chair next to Warrior Thompson who had ordered himself a whiskey straight. He likes his alcohol strong apparently. “To what do I owe the pleasure, miss?” The demon ask.

“I need information.”

The demons eyes flash green and he smiles wide “Surely you know the price of such things.” She feels the pull to him once again, she shakes such things away easily

“I will not engage in any sexual acts with you, Tiras.”

He tilts his head “A dance, I’ll answer all your questions truthfully while we dance.” Elenora’s can’t help but show her surprise. She knows such lust demons don’t often ask a girl to dance, and this one is no exception if she counts the surprise of the other bartender and the patrons listening in. She agrees through a silent nod and lets him pull her to the dance floor. He’s not bad at dancing, and surprisingly he keeps it pleasant. His hands not straying...well maybe his hand had strayed once but she had showed him such things will not go ignored when she pulled her knife out of her sheath and cut his chest in a quick movement as a warning. He had laughed and pulled her close, moving his hands back to her waist.

Elenora waited to ask anything until nobody was listening “Have you ever heard of a rogue Alpha?” The demon raises his eyebrows at her, his eyes back to their dark color as he nods. “Tell me about him, anything you know.”

“He works in favors, my love. Rogues work alone and he is no exception except of course he is. A rogue ask for a favor and in return they give their life to him. He asks and they do it. If they don’t, they die. He works by a moral code you could say. In the underworld, some demons joke about him being the angel of death, the reaper on earth or across the realms.” He smiles a bitter smile “Quite a few of my friends had found themselves dead at his hand, they had defied him and they paid the price. Stupidity doesn’t get you far, do you agree?” Elenora nods, and for some reason she prefers when he doesn’t look so bitter. Almost sad.

“I like the green.” He looks down at her, tilting his head. A frown pulling his lips down as he hums his question “The green eyes.” His eyes flash green and he smiles a breathtaking smile, spinning her outwards and back to him where she slams against his hard chest. She shakes her head at his antics but can’t help but smile herself, she could see the two of them being friends in another life.

“Can I ask questions or is it only you with this pleasure?” Elenora nods “Why do you hide?” She knows what he’s talking about instantly and so she doesn’t pretend or ask what he speaks of, she merely shrugs.

“People are scared of powerful things Tiras. Their fear drives them to take out such power, strip them of their abilities.” Tiras stares at her before spinning her once again and dipping her low, his face inches apart from her own, brushing against hers ever so slightly.

“Has this already happened to you?” Elenora’s hands travel up his chest in attempt to distract the demon from his question before she hooks them around his neck and pulls herself closer. Several years ago she couldn’t imagine she’d ever dance with a demon but she can’t say she hates it.

Tiras shivers at her actions, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her so close there’s no room at all between them. “I believe it’s my question.” She mutters so low she could hardly hear herself. “Tell me how you can tell who is with the Rogue Alpha?” There’s got to be a way.

“He’s organized, so are the men and women who owe him a dept. He likes things neat.” Helpful, any lone rogue working on their own are usually messy in hopes of getting away from any bad situation quick. “His messages are usually fairly clear.” Elenora nods and for a moment it is silent between them. The dance not at all fancy but slow, the two of them pressed against each other. She pulls out a knife as once again his hands strayed to her butt. He chuckles before wrapping it around her waist once again.

She looks up at him, meets his emerald eyes for a moment before playing with the curly dark locks, making her way to the horns. He shivers the second she touches them, his lips parting and his eyes closing. the horns are smoother than she thought they’d be, she follows the curves all the way to the pointy tip, observing him as he leans closer, tilting his head towards her. “These horns?” The question is obvious, he smiles a pleasant smile. His eyes opening, seeming to be the brightest green she had ever seen, his eyes practically glow and for a moment she wonders what it feels like when she touches his horns.

“They’re the most sensitive yet the toughest part of me. It’s quite pleasurable when you caress them in such ways.” she should stop, but she hasn’t the slightest care to. Besides, it’s not like she has a mate to betray, and even if she did, he would never want a rogue such as herself. “The larger the horns, the more powerful the demon.” He smiles a wicked smile “Mine had always been a bit bigger than the average.” And judging by the look in his eyes, he isn’t just talking about the horns. Elenora can’t help but snort and bury her face in his shoulder. She pauses her fiddling with the horns and moves her hands back to his neck

He buries his own nose in her neck “That was two questions.” the demon mutters against her neck “Has anybody ever stripped away your power, attacked you?” Elenora looks up at him, tilts her head before nodding.

“My father” She admits, watching his eyes flash red for a moment

“Who is he?”

“Doesn’t matter, long since taken care of.” He glares at her, she sighs before shaking her head. Against herself she answers his question “Vermont was the name. Like I said, it doesn’t matter. Killed him myself. Injected so much aconite into his blood he lost his wolf, and then I watched him burn.” Elenora can’t help the bitter smile, he stares at her for a moment before spinning her around and dipping her so low she nearly touches the floor. They come to a silent agreement that they’ve asked enough for now and so he spun her one last time before leading her back to the chair. With a kiss on the cheek, he smiles down at her.

“Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to see each other again, friendship only. You have my word.”

“And what is the word of a demon?” She ask him playfully, he smiles his eyes flashing that beautiful green.

“Depends on how we can twist them, my love.” With that he turns to do his job of serving drinks.

Warrior Thompson leads her out of the bar and pulls himself inside the vehicle. For awhile it is silent and Elenora waits patiently, knowing the young warrior has something on his mind he wants to speak about but he doesn’t yet know how to say what he needs to say “You have a mate!” He finally explodes “And yet you danced so close with another man?” There’s no judgement in his voice, nor his feelings he’s just confused as to why she would want to or how she could enjoy such actions when most refuse to do anything intimate with anyone except their mate.

“I’m a rogue, Warrior Thompson. No sane person wants a rogue as a mate”

“Alpha Scott.”

“Exactly, no sane man.” The warrior chuckles before glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

“I could smell the pheromones. He is sooo into you.” He smirks her way “And his weren’t the only I was smelling. You liked him too.”

Elenora rolls her eyes. She had liked him to a degree but she’d rather not have the complications of a relationship with a demon. Besides, wasn’t it just earlier she was thinking about the betrayal between that wolf and her mate. What makes her any different except her having absolutely no chance in having a mate that will accept her as she is. Now that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want him to. Even she has dreams. “I liked dancing with him.”

“And touching his pleasure horns.”

“Shut up!” Elenora tosses the empty bottle of water she had found on the floor his way. It hits him in the head and he laughs hard, against herself she chuckles a bit herself, unable to help the small smile.

It drops a moment later. If he’d been listening then how much had he heard. The rogue Alpha? Her past? Should she ask? No...no she better not.

The drive had went by fast in a whirlwind of music and jokes. It had been quite enjoyable to say the least and she can see the warrior becoming a great friend of hers. She can see herself building a life here. Elenora had lost her smile completely as she sensed something wrong, not only that but she feels emotions. Many of them. The strange part being that there is only two of them and she senses the emotions of at least twelve. They’re outnumbered and she can’t seem to see the threat. “Go faster now.” Elenora whispers though she’s sure the threat can hear. The warrior doesn’t need to be told twice, he pushes this car fast and it doesn’t take long for them to be surrounded. A rogue man matches the speed of the car, running at her side “This will be much easier if you just pull over and speak to us Elenora.”

“Floor it!” And the warrior does exactly that, he makes a sharp turn into the forest.

“Old paths.” Elenora eyes the trees, watching as a blurry figure jumps tree to tree so quickly she hardly catches sight of them at all. She sniffs the air but fails to catch his scent. They drive right into the border, Elenora watches the rogues as they stop just outside, glaring at their vehicle “It seems they don’t want to risk crossing.” Warrior Thompson mutters, glancing at the rear-view window. He pulls out his phone and calls it into Delta James. Elenora sighs and leans back, she’ll have to speak with them one way or another.

Elenora jumps as something bumps into the car. Warrior Thompson slams on his breaks. The rogue flies forward only to hit a tree and fall to the forest ground. Apparently one of them wanted to risk crossing over after all. The result of his decision won’t be pleasant for him. Elenora climbs out of the vehicle, marching towards the rogue before pulling him up by the neck. Hardly coherent the rogue blinks at her. Elenora decides it best to knock him unconscious until the Alpha decides what to do with him and so she slams his head against the tree. Hard enough to kill a human but knock out a trespassing rogue.

With that she drags him to the car and throws him in the back seat. He should be knocked out for awhile but just in case she grabs the wire from her trusty bag and ties his wrist behind his back. Originally speaking the wire is for some of her traps and it is quite a shame she has to use it on him. After she’s done she sits in the front seat once again. “Was that really necessary?” Warrior Thompson asks

“Not really.” She smiles a sweet smile

With that he pulls forward with a shake of his head and an amused smile at her antics. It doesn’t take long at all to replace Delta James who had been pacing in front of the office. He instantly opens the back door and laughs at the sight “Edward you tied and gagged him? I knew you had it in you!”

“Actually it was, Elenora.” The Delta merely narrows his eyes at her, his smile quick to fall.

“Oh.” Elenora merely shrugs and grabs the keys from the ignition. With a nod to the two of them she leaves them with the problem and heads in to hand over the keys to her ride. She smells a little bit like the demon, of that she’s sure so it’s not really a surprise when she walks in and the Alpha sniffs the air before tilting his head in question.

“I thought you were getting information, do I want to know your methods?” Elenora drops the keys on the desk before sitting down.

“It was a dance for answers. Couldn’t say no to that.”

The Alpha nods before dragging a hand down his face. Elenora tilts her her head, somethings wrong with him. “The rogues aren’t looking for trouble, Elenora. They merely wish to speak with you. Now I’m not pushing you but I thought it fair to at least tell you what they want-”

“Who they want.” Elenora corrects, staring at him “What else is bothering you?” Alpha Scott stares at her for a moment.

“It’s not just my borders they’re circling, it’s-”

“Mine too.” Elenora doesn’t turn, she’s just not ready for things such as a meeting with one of the strongest most feared Alpha’s there is. She doesn’t need to see him to know who he is, she just knows. She has a feeling. She watches Alpha Scott bow his head in respect, not looking to see if the other Alpha had paid him the same curtesy.

“Next time knock Nakoa, I was talking to miss Elenora-”

“Elenora? The rogue they’ve been searching for? Well give her up so they’ll go away!” The Alpha growls

“Why don’t you just kill them all?” Elenora can’t help herself, she had remained bitter for a long while towards Alpha Bardrick. Reading about how many had suffered at his hands, all because he can’t control his emotions. Even now, thinking about the friend she had lost by his hands, the heat in her grows, signaling the fire won’t be too far if she doesn’t control herself “I hear you’re good at that.” And finally she turns to face the young Alpha.

He stands tall and strong, with lean shoulders and dark eyes he looks invincible. His hair a dark mess of chaos and his eyes speaking of hatred towards her and her kind. “You know nothing about me, don’t pretend otherwise.” He narrows his eyes in a threatening way, warning her to shut the hell up because he’s obviously pissed and nothing good can come out of pushing an already pissed Alpha.

“I know all I need to know; you’re an ill tempered man who has killed more than he can count.” Elenora shrugs before turning her back on him, knowing it will piss him off more. She smiles as Alpha Bardrick growls “Point proven.” She knows she shouldn’t taunt the man but she just can’t help it. Something in her enjoys pissing him off which is a first because usually she tries to keep the peace with dangerous men if she can. Oddly enough her gut doesn’t feel anything but safe and she had never ignored her gut before. It had never led her astray.

“If I was the murderer you think I am, you’d have already been dead!” He sits in the chair next to her before glaring ahead and naturally ahead means he’s glaring at a very uncomfortable looking Alpha Scott who keeps sniffing the air. Elenora faces forward as well, if only so she doesn’t have to look at him. Though she admits this very reluctantly, the Alpha is quite attractive as far as looks go. Too bad his personality sucks.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I know you to be intelligent as well. No intelligent man would risk breaking an allegiance with a trusted ally. I suspect if I were to step foot on your own lands, you’d have no problem ripping my head off.” Elenora smiles towards the handsome Alpha “Or am I wrong?” Elenora knows she isn’t, he had killed many for the same and judging by his scowl he would. It is then she notices she can’t feel his emotions, she tenses immediately

“I am quite curious in who you danced with Elenora.” Alpha Scott interrupts, in hopes of lightening the atmosphere only for some reason Alpha Bardrick grows more tense then he already was.

“You would dance with someone who isn’t your mate?” Alpha Bardrick scoffs after a moments thought “Of course a rogue such as yourself would. No dignity.” He grumbles to himself

Elenora decides it best to ignore him, it’s not his business who she dances with “A demon.” Elenora smiles “And I had learned a lot of what I wanted to.” Elenora frowns as a thought hits her “It may be connected to the rogues circling the borders” She mutters her thoughts on the matter before sighing “If it is I’ll have to leave sooner than planned, I may have drawn unwanted attention to myself though I haven’t a clue how.”

“Human to Rogue, I have a guess how that could draw attention” Alpha Scott brings up, she merely shakes her head, ignoring such topics with Alpha Bardrick in the room. He doesn’t need to know her business and she won’t tell him.

“I don’t think so, anybody who knew of my past life is long dead with Vermont himself. I do want to do some research before I speak to you on what I’ve learned.” With that she drops the keys on the desk and leaves the two Alpha’s alone. Everybody except her old pack but they’ll keep their mouth shut.

They owe her that much after all they’ve done.