Chapter One

Nova's POV

“Mate!”

My wolf screamed restlessly in my head as I dashed through the forest grounds, long past the pack's borders.

My skin tingled in delight, my heart pounding with each thud my feet made racing through the forest.

Even as the bitter tint of iron assaulted my nose from all the blood and gore around me, I paid no mind. All I could think of was him. My mate.

I was finally going to meet my mate, and the thought excited me greatly.

I had just decided to take a stroll after work, when I had stumbled upon a bloody scene outside our pack's borders.

Scared, I turned to flee, only caught the faintest scent that lured me in.

The scent of sandalwood and wider hit my nose before I could even move my foot.

It was faint, tinged with blood, that made my heart pound strangely, until my wolf yelled mate.

My mate was here.

The thought sent me in euphoria till I realised he could be dying.

Without hesitation I ran into the forest, pushing down the bile that climbed up my throat at the sight of mangled body parts and gore around me.

Scrapes tore through my work clothes, but I paid them no mind. I continued running, fueled by my wolf's presence.

Despite being an omega, I was fast.

To humans, I might have come off as impressive with my skills, but to werewolves, it was a pitiful attempt on my part.

Being the daughter of a former alpha, and an omega with the lowest ranks in our society, I was scorned, outcast.

Even my mother refused to look me in the face.

Since omegas weren't allowed to rule, I was removed as the heir, and had to watch my cousin take over the position.

Seeing someone else take the position that should have been mine had hurt me.

Being shunned by my very own pack had torn through me and my wolf, and when I clocked eighteen with my mate nowhere in sight, I thought for sure the moon goddess hated me.

It wasn't my fault I was born like this.

Just because I was an omega didn't mean I couldn't lead.

Everyday I secretly trained, working my butt off since I was little just to prove myself to my father, but I guess my efforts never amounted to anything in his eyes.

I blinked the tears that had gathered in my eyes away, running through the woods, and weaving through trees.

I caught a sudden duck when a branch almost hit my face.

My sliver hair fluttered in the wind, the cap on my head flying off causing me to wince.

That was from work, and it was the only pair I had.

If I didn't show up with it tomorrow, my boss was going to be pissed.

I made to stop, but my wolf wouldn't allow it.

The need to keep going was overwhelming, Jada's pitiful howls in my head as she tried wrestling me for control.

“I am coming damn it!” I cussed, leaving a mental note to come back for it.

My heart thumped wildly in my chest, and with every step I took closer, the rich scent of sandalwood and cider attacked my senses.

“Mate! Mate! Mate!”

Jada chanted in my head, her howls more louder than ever as I came close to a clearing.

Stopping a few meters away, I took in the sight before me.

If I had thought all those body parts I had been seeing were anything, then I was wrong.

Before me was a pile of heap with bodies.

Blood spilled over the ground like a painting, tainting the forest air.

Bodies laid bare on the ground, I could see some still in their wolf forms, while a few others in their human forms, their bodies filled with claw marks.

I caught sight of a man, whose throat was ripped out, his bulging eyes filled with fear, frozen. Dead.

I heard Jada's pitiful howls from the sight, the scene making my stomach churn.

I gagged, holding onto a tree for support.

What happened here?

~ Help mate. Mate needs help!

Jada whined, moving restlessly in my head.

I could feel the worry dripping in her words, and that made me scared.

The thought of my mate dying without even meeting me terrified me.

I pushed down the negative thoughts in my head, bravely heading to the clearing in search of my mate.

I passed through several bodies, anxiously sniffing the air for my mate, but his scent was scattered around, making it difficult for us.

“Where is he Jada?” I growled frustratedly at my wolf.

Jada whined in response, annoying me further.

I let out a huff, deciding to continue.

It had been minutes since we started searching, with no sign of my mate in sight.

They were just too many dead people on the ground.

Just as I was about to ask Jada again, I stopped, my senses shutting down as I stared at a naked man in front of me.

He was covered in dirt and blood, his body filled with claw marks.

His body was huge and muscular, black hair clinging to his face making him look fragile despite his body size.

Even as he laid there bare and unconscious, I could feel the power radiating off him.

It made my wolf and I want to submit to him.

“Jada?” I called, suddenly feeling terrified, my heart hammering in my chest

Looking at him, I was so sure.

I could feel it in my bones, that this was him.

My mate, and he was an alpha.

~Help mate! Help mate!

Jada cried, causing me to snap out of whatever trance I was in.

I took a shaky step, slowly inching towards him.

I gently placed a finger above his neck, trying to feel for a pulse, when a zap of electricity shot through me.

Startled, I let out a gasp, falling on my bum.

“What the hell was that?” I breathed, cradling my arm and staring at it in awe.

Is this what it feels like?

This giddy feeling in my chest?

I could even feel Jada pawing at my mind in excitement.

Okay, calm down Nova, it's no big deal. Let's get him out of here first.

I thought, reaching out for him again.

Just as my fingers were about to make contact with his skin again, his hand suddenly shot forward, grabbing mine and startling me.

I screamed, trying to pull my arm, while ignoring the tingles I got, but it was no use.

How can a half dead person be this strong?

His grip on my arm tightened. I held my breath, watching as his eyelids struggled to open halfway.

Through the tiny slit, I saw the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen, stare at me.

My breath got caught in my throat as I locked gazes with his unfocused ones.

“Mate.” He growled, his hold on me tightening as his eyes shut tiredly.

I felt my heart beat pick lightly at the sound of his deep voice.

Goddess, his voice.

Just as I was almost getting lost in thought, I heard a twig snap.

My head whipped to the sound of reflex, Jada going still in my head as we focused to listen.

The forest was quiet.

So quiet, I could hear a pin drop, but that was what scared me because it was never this quiet.

I held my breath, my heart beating loudly in my ears.

A few seconds passed, and nothing seemed to happen until I heard it.

Growls.

Deep, crazed, inhumane and heading this way!

~Run! Take mate and run!

Jada screamed at me, but I didn't need to be told twice.

Rogues were coming. Five of them.

If I couldn't get out of here, my mate and I were finished.