Chapter 3

I want meat today. Kayla whined softly, but we both knew that we couldn’t leave the cabin while mother was away, if she returned and we were nowhere to be found, she would scold us for the rest of our lives.

When she returns we will ask for a hunt, maybe a dear or a few rabbits. But today, we have fruit pie. I laughed softly, placing the pie into the place beneath the fire to cook.

Kayla agreed, though it was with some reluctance as I made a fresh pot of coffee and moved to sit by the window, my feet on the table as I watched the leaves gently fall from the trees. It would be winter not long after my eighteenth birthday and that is when mother would bring the ingredients for what she called a Christmas pudding and we would cut down a tree and put it in the cabin after decorating it with chestnuts and acorns.

Winter was my favourite time of the year, I loved the snow, it was always so perfect and made the clearing look flawless, as though a white blanket had fallen from the heavens.

Something caught my eyes from the tree line, not something, someone. Multiple wolves of all shapes and sizes were approaching the cabin, their noses raised as they sniffed the air. I tensed, either they were rogues or a pack had left the safety of their own territory in search of food. Whichever they were, it was bad news for me.

I jumped from my seat, accidentally knocking my now empty cup from the table, the loud thump as it hit the floor startling not only myself but the other wolves as they all tended, heads snapping in my direction. I didn’t know what to do, their was only one way in and one way out of the cabin, a design flaw that I hadn’t noticed until this moment as the wolves drew closer, spreading out in a semicircle around the door while at a safe distance to allow me to show myself.

Mother always said run. So that’s what we’ll do. Kayla growled, coaxing me to leave fast and swift.

But one thing bothered me, whoever they were, their were eleven, and while I was fast, I didn’t know what gift of essence each of them had and that left me at a disadvantage. One that could get me killed. They also knew where I lived, where mother and I had hidden for all these years under the noses of several packs. I had to play this carefully, the way they moved to surround me told me all I needed to know, they weren’t rogues at all, they were pack wolves, and at the front was a large black beast that would tower over me even in wolf form. He, was the alpha. The beta was a slightly smaller silver wolf that watched both the door and window with caution. They knew I was here, hiding behind the wooden walls and they were prepared to wait me out.

I pressed my back against the wall beside the window, breathing heavily as I weighed all my options carefully, would they kill me on sight for not being a packed wolf? Had they already found my mother? Had they killed her?

What if I explained that we weren’t hostile, that we only wished to live peacefully and alone, would they leave us alone? I doubted it very much, but I had to try, I didn’t know where we would go if we had to leave, and I didn’t know where the human city was to search for mother.

A voice broke the silence, it was deep and radiated power. “We know you are in there rogue, come out and we will speak like civilised people.”

I tensed, that was the alpha’s voice, the strength that was held behind his words sent shivers of fear down my spine, but I had no choice if I stayed in here they would attack, the grows of his men informing me that at least five had remained in wolf form.

Mustering up all my courage, I spoke, surprising myself with how strong and steady my own voice sounded. “How do I know that you will not kill me as soon as I open the door?”

I heard a chuckle, though I wasn’t sure who it belonged to as I peaked through the window, I spotted the alpha first, a long scar stretching from his ear to his jaw. He was clean shaven with short brown hair that was neatly pushed back, his eyes the same shade as his wolf. He tall and muscular, his chest bare as he only wore a pair of green shorts, scars lacing his stomach, arms and legs. Whoever he was, he had seen his fair share of battles, I didn’t stand a chance against him let the alone the ten others he had with him. As I suspected, five smaller warriors remained in wolf form, their eyes locked on the door. The one who I knew instantly to be the beta was similar to the Alpha, with scars and muscles that littered his body, though he had short Sandy blonde hair with green eyes.

The others littered around were much of the same, men of all shapes and sizes, each one different from the last. I had never seen a man before, the only person I had ever known was my mother, and she was far from as muscular or large as those who stood waiting for me to show myself, perhaps so they could kill me. Pack wolves were not known to be merciful towards rogues, not even rogues were merciful to she-wolfs that didn’t belong to a pack, they saw us as vulnerable and easy targets for the taking. Or so mother told me.

I watched as the beta spoke, realising that it was him who laughed, his voice was softer than the scarred alpha, but no less intimidating. “You have my word you will be able to plead your case, our alpha is curious as to why a woman is out here alone.”

At his words a sinister smirk played across the Alpha’s lips and I immediately tensed, their was something about him that urged me forward, whilst the logical side of me screamed to stay away. Warning me that he was dangerous. I decided that I had no other choice as I slowly made my way towards the door and removed the three deadbolts, I knew that I could either face them by choice or they would break down the door and kill me before I could even blink.

I took one last look at the safe haven that was my home, wondering briefly if I would ever see it again, or if I would die before I saw my mother once more. I wanted her to be ok, I prayed to the moon goddess that she was but as I pulled open the door I tensed and my heart rate increased, I could smell blood, her blood. I soon realised that the howls I had heard last night were the wolves before me and dread pooled in the bottom of my stomach, my mother was dead, their was no way she could have outrun these trained wolves, or fought them back. If she had, she would have come home.

I nervously played with the sleeves of my dress as I closed the door behind me, all eyes turning towards me whilst I hid behind my hair, concealing the shade of my own eyes from their judging faces. Some looked at me in disgust, while others simply tilted their heads. It was then that a scent hit me, it reminded me of freshly cut grass and burning wood. It was enchanting.

It was then that the alpha lifted his head into the air, sniffing before he growled possessively. “Mate.”

Oh no!