I walked next to that Rogue. She was pretty. Pretty annoying.

"Why are you a rogue?" I asked. For a second I thought I saw pain in her eyes, but then she grinned. Her eyes were a beautiful warm brown, nearly amber with golden spots in them.

"'Cause I hate getting ordered around by stupid Alphas." She said, "and packs are pathetic." I heard her grumble under her breath.

"That's a stupid reason." I said, acting as if I didn't hear the last part.

"That's your opinion. Everyone can have one. No matter how dumb they are." She mocked me and threw her head back. For a moment I couldn't help but admire her hair. It was a warm black. Under the sun it nearly looked dark brown but in the shadows it was a warm black. I had never seen such a hair colour before.

"Why are you really here? Are you a spy?" I asked. Was she really that stupid to think I would believe her story of needing to buy salt?

"For shopping. Ever ate food without salt? It's not that good." She explained in a voice as if she was talking to a little child, annoying me further.

"Listen, rogue." I growled. She was getting under my skin.

"Gladys." She interrupted me.

"I won't bother to learn the name of something like you."

She shrugged.

"Just proves how pathetic and narrow minded pack members are."

"I am not..." I began but she laughed. Her laughter sounded beautiful. I wanted to hear it more often. I shook my head. What was I thinking? She was a rogue! Probably here to spy on us! Buying salt my ass!

While we were walking down into town she kept humming a few notes and then stopped. I recognized the song immediately. It was Africa from Toto. Annoyed, I glanced at her but she just looked at me innocently.

We still hadn't talked again when we walked past the first house. She started laughing. It took me a minute to realise why she was laughing. I had subconsciously started humming the same song.

"Gotcha." She grinned.

"You!" I yelled. She did that on purpose! Her eyes were sparkling mischievously.

"The best thing is you will have that song in your head for the rest of the week!" She taunted me. I growled. She was so annoying! Worst of all, she was right. This song was a nightmare! I would be having an earworm from that for the rest of the week!

We soon reached the store and I followed her in. It felt weird, shopping with her. I rarely went to stores as I was living in the pack house and the adults mostly took care of the supplies and the cooking. The last time I went to buy groceries was like four years ago with my mom! Ever since I turned sixteen I moved into the pack house and in two weeks I would turn eighteen and hopefully meet my mate!

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I followed her as she bought salt, pepper and different spices. Then she looked between the chips, popcorn and chocolate. I could see her frown and bite her lip.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

She shrugged.

"What do you prefer? Chips, chocolate or popcorn? I can only afford one of these."

"Why?" I asked.

She looked at me annoyed. "'cause I don't have more money?"

I hesitated for a moment.

"I can buy them for you. My treat."

"Okay, thanks!" She smiled at me brightly. I was surprised. I had expected her to decline my offer.

She saw my face and chuckled.

"Dad always says fake politeness brings you nowhere."

"You have a Dad?" I asked, confused. I always thought rogues were lone wolves that were at the brink of insanity.

"No, I'm just kidding. I hatched from an egg." She said, her voice was laced with sarcasm.

"Well if you invite me I take one of each unless you want to pay for more, then I take more."

In the end I bought her two bars of chocolate, some popcorn and three bags of chips. She smiled so happily, as if she won the lottery. It was completely worth it.

"How do you usually make money?" I asked while she was stuffing everything in her bag.

"I work."

"As?"

"Whatever. Behind the bar, as a waitress, I sort shelves, I clean." She shrugged.

"At our school the library is looking for help." I muttered. Somehow I didn't want her to leave yet.

"If you are interested we could go to the pack house and ask the Alpha if you can stay and work here for a little."

She thought about it for a moment then she nodded. I didn't know why I held my breath until she agreed or why I felt so relieved, but I did. I didn't want to think about what it meant.

Alice, the housekeeper of my parents, walked past us just before we entered the land where our pack lived on.

I could hear her sniff before she stopped.

"I changed my mind. I don't want to work yet." She said and started walking towards the forest. My heart clenched. I didn't want her to go.

"Why?" I asked. Why did I even care? She was just a random rogue!

"I am a woman I can randomly change my mind." She huffed and started walking faster.

"But why?" I asked again.

"Packs make me uncomfortable, okay? Now stop asking." She snapped at me.

I was shocked. Why would packs make her uncomfortable? I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out. In the end I walked her to the border and she left.

The last words she said to me were "Bye and thanks for the treat."

It made me sad and happy at the same time.

I went home, not to the pack house but to my parents. Mum had just made dinner and invited me to eat with them. The atmosphere felt slightly off. I noticed Mum's eyes were slightly red.

"Mum did you cry?" I asked.

"No dear, why?" She said and smiled at me.

"Your eyes..." I mumbled and suddenly felt very stupid.

"Oh, it's from cutting the onions." She said and ruffled my hair. I frowned at her cause she knows I hate it when others touch my hair.