Chapter One

Four years later

Kyra-

How much longer must this go on for? I'll be eighteen in a couple of weeks and yet I have once again just evaded a rogue trying to kill me. At this rate, I'm starting to believe that there will no longer be any rogues left if they keep attacking me this way. 

I am tired, hungry and even with our unique healing abilities, it's getting harder to heal. My wolf and I are barely speaking because for the past two years I've been fending off attacks almost on a daily. Not to mention we are using more energy just fighting off the elements and trying to keep our strength up from barely eating. 

At this rate, we didn't know if maybe we were just unlucky, or my father was just really good at taking care of us. No matter how long or how fast I ran, I was constantly running into trouble. 

I haven't heard from my wolf in nearly three months. I could still feel her, so there was comfort in that. I can feel that she is still weak from the group of rogues we faced, and it was getting harder to keep fighting. I've not been able to shift for months, so I've been fighting off wolves in my human form.

I all but crawled to a small clearing in the middle of the woods. I clutched my left side that had a deep gash that went from my ribcage down to my hip. I was losing too much blood. If I didn't try to get the bleeding to stop soon, I was going to pass out. Grabbing my bag, I looked for my knife. 

Finding it, I tried to start a fire so I could burn the flesh to stop the bleeding. My head was starting to spin, and I felt like I was starting to lose consciousness. Finally, I had a fire going and heated up the metal. I put the strap of my bag in my mouth to bite down on before I pressed the hot metal to the top of my gash.

The pain was unbearable. I let out a scream as I felt my flesh being scorched. Instantly regretting it, because just before passing out, I heard a howl of a nearby wolf. My thoughts quickly shifted to my wolf.

"I've failed you, Alexia..."

Hunter-

Caleb, my beta, and I were chasing a group of rogues that tried to enter my territory. I couldn't stand rogues. They were disgusting creatures, and they had no care for anything. They are what killed my brother eight years ago.

Right before we caught up to them, one of them let out a howl and changed directions. Without missing a beat, we kept chasing them. I wondered where they were going when they suddenly stopped. Caleb and I both were caught off guard and ran past them. When we turned back around they were circling something. 

I didn't even care, they were distracted, and it was my chance. I was just about to launch onto them when suddenly my wolf dug his claws into the ground and refused to move. 

"Ace stop it! This is our chance!" I yelled at my wolf, getting irritated with him. Even Caleb's wolf stood his ground. What the hell was going on? My wolf didn't pay attention to me.

"Hunter. It's the girl. My wolf is worried that if we attack, the girl will get hurt." My Beta mind linked me.

Not paying attention to what the rogues were distracted by, I hadn't even noticed. Turning my attention towards her, wondering why she would be here and why both our wolves would take that much caution towards her.

I couldn't see much, but I did smell fresh blood and she appeared to be unmoving. I couldn't tell if she was a rogue or not, it was hard to pick out her scent over the scent of rogues. I tried to force my wolf to advance on the rogues.

"NO!" 

My wolf snarled at me, keeping his ground. Just then more of the pack arrived and I was relieved. They would take the rogues out. Or so I thought. All seven pack members stopped dead in their tracks. 

What the hell is going on? I could hear my pack members getting confused and asking what was going on through the mind link, but I was clueless. I just stood there watching the rogues feeling my rage build. 

Only when one of the rogues lunged at the girl, did everyone move. It was like our wolves took over completely. They all went after the one rogue that lunged at the girl, paying no mind to the other two. Hell, I was simply happy that we were attacking. 

As soon as we ripped the rogue apart from limb to limb, the other rogues took off. Everyone went after the two rogues except for myself and Caleb. My wolf was determined to stay. Apparently so was Caleb's. We both shifted into our human forms.

"What the hell is going on man?"

Caleb asked me as we both just looked at her. She looked malnourished but she didn't look frail. If anything, she looked strong and capable. I could see the gash she had on her side that she apparently tried burning. 

It's probably what caused her to pass out. I heard a slight heartbeat, but it was weak. I couldn't see her face, it was covered in dirt and blood, though I imagine she was probably beautiful. 

"I don't know. Everyone had the same reaction to her, but nobody knew what was going on. Ace isn't telling me anything. What did your wolf say?" I answered my Beta but didn't look up at him, I was still trying to figure out what to do with the girl. My wolf wasn't telling me what was going on and I was a bit pissed off at him anyway. 

"He just says to protect. It's weird. I have this urge to protect her, but I don't know why. She doesn't smell like a rogue, but she doesn't smell like she belongs to a pack. She doesn't smell right. I can sense her wolf, but she isn't a member of the pack. There is something about her that makes me want to run the opposite direction."

As an Alpha, my duty was to my pack first and foremost. This girl was an unknown and could be a danger to the pack. I couldn't risk it. I knew we had to leave her there. 

"Let's leave her. She is as good as dead anyway." As I spoke the words, I felt my wolf emerge as anger that wasn't my own filled me. Searing pain shot through my head and I was brought to my knees.

"You will not leave. You will protect. If she dies, I'll kill you myself." 

Never in my life did I think it was possible for a wolf to cause his human counterpart pain and cause them to yield to an Alpha. Granted as an Alpha I didn't have to obey the command my wolf gave me, but it still gave me pause. 

"You've no power over me. What the hell Ace? What is so important about this girl?" I asked as I stood up. 

"You aren't paying attention and you're being a damn fool. Now get her to the pack hospital now!" 

My wolf was known for his anger, but never once has it ever affected me. Until now, we had been close but now he is just giving me commands and cutting me off without explanation. 

Well, standing here is going to accomplish nothing. I crouched down next to the girl and was just about to touch her when my Beta growled at me. Glaring at Caleb he took a step back as if shocked at what he did. 

Shaking my head, I reached out to carefully lift the girl. The moment my skin came into contact with hers, I felt immense pleasure course through me.  Like small static currents flooding my senses. I knew instantly what that meant.

"Mate!" I growled out the word as if a primal urge took over me.

Understanding what my wolf meant. I hadn't been paying attention, I was so focused on being mad at my wolf that I didn't try to connect with her wolf. I relied on my Beta's words and never thought to check myself. I didn't try to check her smell. Now I smelled as if I was being surrounded by fresh spring water and lavender.

Without trying to delay anymore, I carefully lifted her into my arms. As I lifted her, she groaned slightly but remained unconscious. Thankfully, we weren't far from the west entrance of the pack territory where the packhouse and the pack doctor were.  

Caleb picked up the stuff that was near her on the ground and we made our way as quickly towards the packhouse. I just pray we make it in time. I can't lose her now. I felt stupid for not being able to notice sooner. 

Could my delay cause her death? I hope not. Though if she dies, I'll gladly let my wolf kill me as he threatened. Mates were sacred and to find a true mate was not common. Most just accepted a chosen mate and they were content.  

In fact, I was just about to accept a chosen mate for the sake of the pack. No pack is truly strong without their Luna. I had waited five years for a chance to find my fated mate, but I gave up hope and chose one. The ceremony had been set. 

Running into the packhouse, I made my way towards the hospital wing of the house. I didn't even care as I passed by pack members, that I was still fully naked. As a werewolf, modesty just wasn't something we cared about. 

"Alpha, the Beta warned me that you were on your way, please place her here."

The pack doctor motioned towards a stretcher. Carefully I placed her down and fear filled me. She was deathly pale and barely breathing. It was getting harder to distinguish a heartbeat. 

"I will take care of the future Luna, Alpha, I give you my word." The doctor said as he wheeled her into the surgical room.

Soon a fully clothed Caleb came towards me carrying some clothes and the girl's bag. Quickly I changed, then grabbed the bag. I needed to know more about her. In the bag, I found a couple of changes of clothes, a necklace, a couple of knives, a journal, a letter that looked like it had been read a hundred times or more, and a pill bottle.

Opening the pill bottle, I smelled the contents as soon as I opened the cap, wolfsbane. I didn't know why she had it, but it was lethal to wolves. I pocketed the pill bottle and then picked up the letter. Careful not to tear the fragile paper, I opened it to read the contents.

"Kyra,

     If you are reading this then it means I am no longer able to take care of you. I love you more than words can express, and I wish we had more time. I know you will be fine on your own, I trained you well.

You are brave, beautiful, and strong, just like your mother and I know she would be proud of the daughter you've become. I know I am. Trust in the Moon Goddess, she will guide you.

Always remember that I will always be with you in spirit. Alexia, keep each other safe, she will need you now more than ever. I love you both. Keep running, don't look back. You're special and going to go far in this world. 

                           Love always, 

                                          DAD."

Kyra, that was her name. It was beautiful. Just knowing her name brought a calmness over me. Though the rest of the letter was troubling, what or who is she running from? Obviously, she is a rogue but doesn't smell like one.

Putting the paper back, I thought about reading the journal but decided against it. I wanted her trust and from the letter, it wasn't going to be easy. Instead, I put everything back and started to pace. 

"Are we going to tell everyone she is your fated mate?" Caleb's mind linked me. I thought about it for a moment but decided it probably wasn't a good idea until after she woke up and we learned more.

"No. We keep it to ourselves for now."

Caleb merely nodded his head. He was loyal to a fault and perhaps the most steadfast member. I can always count on him to have my back.