Chapter One

Prologue

I stood with my head down, glaring at the soil beneath my feet. " Clover Doharty, you are aware of what you did"" of course I know what I did, I killed for justice" I snapped at the man.

" No! you fought selfishly and broke the law!"" I wasn't selfish I did this for everyone!" I yelled, the wolves growled at me. 

" Clover ca-"" Don't tell me to calm down!" I snapped at my brother who stood some feet away from me. I turned back to face the elder, " you all don't know what it feels like to watch  the people you love die in front of you!"" You're not the only one who lost someone, brat!" A woman yelled. 

" Shut-"" enough!" Another elder yelled. I kept quiet but my glare never faltered, " you have broken a law, you disobeyed your father's law, you went against the rules and killed now you have to face to punishment" he pauses. 

" Clover Doharty, you are hereby exiled from this rogue pack" he announced, " no!" My brother yelled and moved to come closer to me but the warriors stopped him. I growled, " you are not to be seen anywhere close to this area if not you will be killed, please pack whatever you have and leave instantly" the elder told me.

" Of course... ungrateful wolves" I sneered and went to pack my things.

" Clover no! Please let her stay!" Danny yelled as I walked away from them. " Clover, clover!" I wiped the tears that had fallen and ignored his cries... 

***************************************

Years later...

Phoenix

Knock. Knock. " Come in" I said to the wolf at the other side of the door. The door opened and my beta, Tobias popped his head into the office, " alpha the car is ready" he announced. I nodded and signalled for him to leave, he bowed his head and disappeared from the door way. 

I let out a fustrated sigh. I despised going to meetings with other Alphas. All they ever do is argue over stupid matters that don't involve pack work and poke their nose into others businesses. But I have to go since I'm an alpha, and it would be 'disrespectful' as I'm one of the youngest. So annoying. 

After putting away all the paperwork, I left my office and headed down the stairs. The pack members around bowed their heads in respect as I went by them. 

I left the pack house and towards the black car parked in front of the building. My beta and gamma stood side by side by the car. They both stood upright as I approached them.

Tobias has his usual pokerface on while Landon grinned like the idiot he was. I rolled my eyes at him, " Doesn't your face hurt?" his face broke into a larger grin. Large enough to look like the grinch's. 

I opened the door and mounted the car, " Report to me immediately if anything goes wrong and you know what to do with the rogues" I said " Yes alpha" they chorused, I scowled at them. I hate when people do that, it's kinda creepy. I closed the door and the driver started the car. 

As we got to the borders of the pack, I felt this unnatural pull at my chest. I rubbed the skin above my heart to ease the sudden discomfort. I guess my wolf felt it too because he started to get restless. But as soon as we passed the borders it stopped. I was curious but I didn't dwell on it for long.

***

Clover

I could still hear their paws pounding on the earth as they chased me through the forest floor. It felt thrilling. I guess it's because I've not been chased like this in a while. My wolf stuck her tongue out as she ran across the forest. 

'We're getting closer to the borders'

'Ugh! just when I was having fun!'

I rolled my eyes at her whining. 

Soon we burst out through the borders and stopped. The pack warriors stood at the borders snarling and snapping their jaws at me. My wolf turned back and continued going through the no man's land. I sniffed the air to make sure I was alone before shifting to my human form to dress up.

I opened the bag, which I had been carrying in my mouth, and brought out some clothes and underwear. I quickly dressed up and swung the back pack over my shoulders. 

'Time to start walking again', I mumbled to my wolf who just shrugged in my head. As I walked, I could hear the sounds of the tyre of a car passing by on a road, not too far from where I was with the help of my wolf hearing.

All of a sudden, I felt a faint pull at my chest and my wolf grew slightly unease, but it disappeared as fast as it came. 

'What was that?' I asked my wolf.

'I don't know, but it felt disturbing.' Was all she said.

I let it go since it didn't come back.

After two and a half hours of walking, I smelt another pack like a mile away. 

'Great more running for us!'

'Um-- I don't think we should go through...' she said.

'Why?'

'I have a bad feeling about this pack...'

'Ugh! Not this again...you say the same thing for every pack we've encountered but look at us...we are fine.'

'No seriously... I can sense their strength...please human let's go around this one.'

'No way, we are going through and we will get through...besides from the smell and size of their border I can tell it's a big pack, they might barely notice us and we might be able to steal enough.'

I blocked her out before she could oppose. I've been doing this all my life and I've survived, so I'm not backing out.

When I first became a lone rogue or as other wolves call rogues like me 'strays', I did get captured by a pack, but that's a story I barely remember. I managed to escape though. 

Since then, I mastered the act of stealing and getting away from pack guards...it's illegal...but I never ever got caught again. I didn't do it just because it was thrilling, but also to steal clothes and food...if not I would be one of the naked ones.

I didn't know why my wolf suddenly wanted to chicken out, she could if she wanted too, but I was not going to back out without trying.

I got closer to the borders, but not too close so I wouldn't be noticed or sensed. There were about seven guards at the borders. My wolf was right, they looked strong and reaked of strength, but they didn't look smart.

"This is going to be easy" I whispered to myself. I decided to wait until dusk to execute my plan, because by then they would have to switch with new guards and that gives me a chance to make a run through the pack. 

I climbed up a large tree to rest until it was time. 

'I don't think we should be doing this..'

'Oh stop being a scaredy cat... we're going to make it...and I feel like a motherfucking spy so don't spoil it for me...'

She fell silent and I closed my eyes to rest. This was going to be fun.

*****

" Hey guys! It's time for our lunch break" one of the warriors suddenly announced to the other six. " Ugh! Finally, I'm starving" slowly they disappearing from their post one by one. 

'Hmm unusual for warriors to take breaks.'

'Oh stop it, every pack is different.'

'I know but still, be careful something seems fishy...'

'Yes mom.'

I quickly climbed down the tree and counted to three before running towards the border. As I got closer I grew more confident. I ran into the pack and didn't stop. I heightened my wolf senses to help me navigate my way around the warriors.

Eventually they spotted me and chased after me in wolf form. I didn't shift because it would be easier for them to track me and catch me. Their paws pounded the earth with so much strength and I was amazed by their speed, but I didn't let it get to me. I pushed my wolf to use more speed and soon they were far behind.

I weaved through trees and managed to dodge low branches. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something moving fast towards me from the side, a wolf.

I crouched low and the wolf ran into a tree.

Another wolf attacked me and I was able to dodge it. My wolf was starting to get a little worried because of the surprise attacks and it was affecting me as well, but I still pushed forward. I wasn't going to let them get me at all.

I ran out into a clearing but was suddenly stopped by a warrior dropping from a tree in front. I tried to run the other way but I was already surrounded. 

What the hell?! No no no!

I told you not to do this.

They slowly closed in on me, but I wasn't giving up yet. My eyes scanned through the warriors and stopped on the youngest. He looked like this was his first time, and I was ready to use the opportunity to take him down.

I lunged at him but before I could throw a punch, I was tackled to the ground. Struggling, I tried to throw the weight on me away but something sharp was stabbed into my neck. I still struggled but it felt like my body was stiffening on it's own...slowly I lost consciousness.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

" You made the wrong decision by running into this pack, rogue" a deep voice rang in my ears, then I lost consciousness completely.

****

" Clover, clover honey wake up" her soft sweet voice echoed in my ears. I slowly but begrudgingly did as she said. " Mom" I said, she had a frown on her face. " Wake up!"" Wha-?"" Wake up brat!" She yelled. " Mom what are?" She suddenly grabbed my arms roughly.

My eyes snapped open and I met a pair of unfamiliar angry blue eyes. I became fully alert and tried to attack the man in front of me, but my wrists stung as I raised them. I looked down and realized that I had chains around my wrists and ankles, sliver chains. The pain slipped in and I felt weak immediately.

" Glad you could join us" the guy spat out, he had black hair and was tall, maybe 6'0. I smirked, " The pleasures all mine" I replied just to annoy him. He growled a bit, I could feel the strong aura rolling off of him, may be he's the beta or gamma. I wouldn't say he is the alpha because an alpha's aura is much more powerful than other ranks. 

" I'm going to ask you questions and you must answered them if not..." He looked towards a female warrior...I-hadn't-noticed until-then... She had an unfriendly glint in her eyes as she stepped forward. 

I smiled, " Hi! Sorry I didn't notice you sooner, you seemed totally invisible over there " I say, she growls at me but I didn't flinch, my smile only grew bigger. 

The beta-gamma-guy grabbed my chin, digging his fingers into my face, " listen here rogue you have no right to speak freely, you are to only answer questions thrown at you, got it?"" Whatever broody" I answered and he let go of my face. 

" What is your name?" He asked, " Clover" I chirped " clover who?" He asked again, " I don't have any other name it's just clover" I lied.

He narrowed his eyes at me, " Dakota" he says and the warrior stepped forward with a long whip wrapped around her her hand. " That's a large whip" I smiled, " and it will be used on you if you don't talk" he spat. 

"I don't have any other name and even if I did would it matter? you would still kill me anyway " I said again. He jerked his head at me, Dakota raised the whip and brought it down to my thighs, whipping me over and over again until the rip in my jeans goes around and meets at a point, dividing the whole leg into two. I groaned a bit but didn't give them the pleasure of hearing me cry out in pain. 

I smiled at them, " that was powerful" I say, " your name is Clover Doharty, correct?" He asked. I frowned, "wha-""technology has improved" he simply said. " If you already knew, then why?" I ask, he smirked " it's fun watching rogues suffer" he said " wow! That's not sadistic" I muttered with an eye roll. 

He tilted his head, a sly grin slowly making it's way to his undeniably pretty face. I glared at him, " what?"" You look Irish, which pack do you come from?" He asked. I looked away, " I don't have a pack, I was born a rogue" another lie. I prayed silently that he would believe. 

He seemed to sniff the air a bit then his face went blank. I gulped and prayed in my head that he would let it go. Slowly he nods, " okay, next question-" the cell door opens and a blonde guy walks in, a sheepish smile on his face. 

" Welcome your highness, thank you for making me do your job" the sadistic one says. Blondie smirked, " oh don't be like that Toby boo, you know I had some things to take care of"" first of all don't ever call me that and secondly we both know 'some things' mean getting a blo-""  I cut him off with a cough. 

Their attention was turned to me,  " who is this?" Blondie asked  " she's the rogue we just caught dumbass" sadist answered irritatedly. Blondie's eyes widened " the rogue is a 'she'?"" Yes fool! I told you through the mind link" sadist said fustratedly.

" I'm guessing you're the beta" I said to Blondie. Sadist scoffed, " that's so inaccurate, I'm the beta and he's the gamma...Landon I'm going to take care of other stuff back at the pack house...do your job" sadist said and walked out of the cell.

My attention turned to the gamma, " I'm guessing you're going to be nicer than him" I said and he smiled " Don't judge a book by it's cover" he replied " I wasn't" I answered back. He nodded and cleared his throat, his expression turned serious, " you have broken a law, two laws actually, one entering a pack without permission and two almost attacking a warrior. According to the Werewolf committee, any rogue caught will be severely punished by the pack blah blah blah...you get the gist..." He said in a monotonous voice.

I knew what was coming next, " moving on to the questioning part, your name?"" Clover... Doharty" I answered bitterly, he gave me a weird look, " pack?"" don't have one" I answered. He nodded, " hmmm a stray, you don't look like one but looks can be deceiving" he said. 

I shrugged, " former pack"" didn't have one"" pure rogue" he said in amazement, " this makes my job even easier... what do you want from this pack?"" Nothing" I answered. He narrowed his eyes at me, " then why did you come here?" He asked " I was just passing through"" why?"" None of your business" I snapped. 

I can't tell him that I was going to the human side because if I did it would make matters worse. Why? After something that happened years ago between humans and werewolves, no werewolf is allowed to be seen going there except for school. Only alphas are allowed to go without permission...so unfair though.

And if a werewolf is caught there (there are undercover werewolves staying there...specially assigned to be there by the werewolf committee), the werewolf would be sentenced to death.

I know I'm taking a huge risk but hey! It's my life. He smirked, " Dakota"...