"Sophia, if you want to be the Alpha, you need to have a strong bond between wolf and human," Azalea repeated herself once again when Sophia started to argue.

Sophia snapped, "I get that! What's the point of having a bond between the two if you aren't going to train me in the other form?"

Azalea raised her eyes, "You can always find another trainer if you don't like my methods, Sophia."

"You spent how many years as a wolf: five, six, seven!" She yelled, "Issac has a strong wolf. Dad has trained him all his life."

"When I was a wolf, for that long period of time, it wasn't by choice, Sophia," Azalea hummed, closing her eyes. Even if she couldn't control her actions, she desperately wished for her wolf back — and her mate.

The wind in her fur.

The dirt on her paw pads.

The sound in her ears.

The joy in her eyes.

"I only trained as a wolf, and I paid a heavy price," she sighed. "I lost a number amount of years in my life before I was able to shift back. I didn't know how long it was till I stumbled on a rogue couple."

Sophia snorted, "Yeah, but we have been training in human form — starting two weeks ago!"

"I sense that you're mad about something else, Sophia. It's clear that you haven't picked up any of the training we have done if you can't control your anger."

Sophia sat down on the ground. Her sweat shinning in the sun. "I guess, I haven't really wrapped my head around everything," she answered softly. "Two weeks ago my life was completely different.

"I had no idea what I wanted to be, wanted to do.

"Issac was shoe in to be Alpha.

"I thought my parents were good, didn't let their fear control them or their judgment to be clouded. They're the Alpha and Luna of the pack.

"I didn't know how my grandmother did all those crazy things, how my grandfather exiled an entire pack before he didn't liked what they said.

"My friends think I'm out of line — a female is a Luna and an Alpha is a male.

"I feel so alone and lost."

"Sometimes it's good to be lost, Sophia," Azalea chuckled to herself, reliving a memory. "You get to make a new path. If you don't want to be Alpha, you don't have to. Like any first born, you can step down — don't step down because your scared or you fear something — step down if this truly isn't what you want to do.

"If it is, then stay with it. Don't let others stop you. This is your life."

"Do you regret anything in your life?"

Azalea closed her eyes.

"I regret not challenging my father for the position of Alpha when I got banished. I kept think that they will realize it wasn't me. I'll go home, and I'll fight for what's mine.

The day never came."

Sophia looked into the distance, "Beta Aiden is coming." She stated, and Azalea wondered if she realized that she could still tell which wolf was which — even without the ability to shift.

"What do you want Aiden?" Azalea frowned. "I though we all agreed that you could only interrupt Sophia's training sessions if there is an emergency."

"Scott and Abby are gone. Daniel went to bring them their lunch, and they have escaped," he rushed out. "Connie is already speaking to the Alphas who were traveling to us and our allies."

Sophia started to stand up. "Have you sent anyone to follow?"

"Issac is already leading the hunt," Aiden answered.

Azalea waved them off, "They won't come back till it's time. Up border control, and add a second one a little bit more inside. Training is done today, Sophia. You will not be able to join Issac in the hunt.

"Abby won't hurt him, but she'll hurt you."

Sophia growled, "No, I can't sit back. How can I send my pack members into something that I can't do?"

"You didn't send them," Azalea corrected, "Connie and Issac did. Lead a border control of you want to prove something."

"Fine," Sophia stomped away, "I will!"

Aiden looked between the two. "What was that all about?"

Azalea smirked, "I wanted to see how bad she wanted this. Plus, Issac will be done when the trail ends. Sophia will be stuck there for a while.

"She did mention getting her wolf trained — seemed like a perfect opportunity."

Aiden nodded his head, "Yeah. That makes sense." He gulped, "Connie wanted me to tell you that you should rejoin the pack and allow everyone to meet you."

"I literally go by the Ghost Rogue," Azalea turned the idea down quickly. "Ghost Pack just doesn't have the same feel."

"The pack is worried about you — since you're a rogue," Aiden argued. "You would be able to communicate with everyone in the pack."

Azalea shook her head, "Nope. Don't have a wolf and the mate bond can't connect me."

"You will be recognized as a member of the pack," Aiden pleaded.

"Aiden," Azalea chuckled, "I actually enjoyed living in the wild. I found myself there, and I fear if I left, I would lose who I truly was.

"I'll always been an Alpha, but I'm also a rogue.  I've been one longer than the other."

"But," Aiden countered, "you can't turn your back on your roots."

This time, Azalea laughed chuckling as she threw her head back. "I understand where you are coming from, Aiden, but I have a feeling this request isn't just about me.

"It's about trying to forgive yourselves. Me becoming a member of the pack won't erase everything I've been through. It won't fix the pack. It won't bring back my wolf. It won't make my mate alive again.

"Some things will never be the same."

Aiden bit his lip, "Connie and I had a feeling that you wouldn't accept the request. Your brother wanted to let you know that you are always welcome on the territory."