4

Alpha Luca’s POV

I quickly make my way downstairs and head out the door, not bothering to tell anyone that I'm going out before shifting and running into the forest.

God, it feels good to go for a run. I've been so busy with Alpha duties that I haven't been out for a run in a while. Come to think of it, I haven't done anything for myself in a while. Maybe tonight I'll have to do something about that.

I run for a couple of minutes before finding the guys, who are standing in a tiny clearing talking to each other. I make my way out into the clearing still in my wolf form and walk over to them.

I can see the wolf out of the corner of my eye, causing me to shiver slightly but I ignore it and turn my attention to the guys.

"I don't get it. Every single rogue we've ever come across has tried to fight us back, kill us even" Daniel , my Gamma wolf says, confusion laced into his words.

"I know right. Or at the very least, they try to stand their ground" Dave adds, frowning.

"Maybe she's never been trained? Doesn't know how to defend herself' Richard says

I ponder their conversation for a moment. What Richard said makes sense, I mean if that's what he thinks is the case, then it's probably correct. He would know, he is my chief warrior after all. I listen to their conversation for another moment before heading behind a tree to shift.

I quickly change back to my human form and chuck on some of the conveniently stashed clothes we have hidden in the trees throughout our territory before heading

back over to the guys.

"Is that her?" I ask, not bothering to look at her. Dave nods and I think for a moment. I smell the air and instantly know she isn't a bad rogue.

In fact, she smells heavenly. Something in me flutters and Dante whines, catching me off guard but I choose to ignore that for the moment too.

"How'd she get here?" I ask, bringing my attention back to Dave .

"I don't know" he starts. "I was on patrol and then all of a sudden I saw her running through our territory so I started to follow her. She slowed down for a moment but she must've seen me so she started running again and I tackled her because she trespassed, you know, just the following protocol. But something felt off about her. She just whimpered and didn't struggle or fight back or anything which is really weird. So I got off her and mind-linked you".

I nod and take in the information, trying to piece together why this wolf is acting the way she is.

"All three of us then watched her as she got up and proceeded to back herself up against the tree in fear causing her to lose her balance and fall over and she hasn't gotten back up since"Richard adds, a frown appearing on his lips too.

Interesting.

From what I can smell, I know she's not a bad rogue so that's a good sign. I turn and look at her and instantly my wolf takes over. Warmth rushes through my body, causing me to shiver as I stare at her.

Oh god.

"Mate," Dante, my inner wolf, says aloud happily.

Shit. Just my luck. My mate is a rogue.

I hear the boys chuckle and I turn back to glare at them, instantly causing them to stop.

Turning my attention back to the wolf, I start to walk toward her when suddenly she howls and starts to shake in fear.

I stop and hold my hands in surrender and watch as she tries to move further backwards. I turn and look at the guys, a little annoyed.

"Why is she scared of me? She's my mate" I say, starting to get pissed off.

What the hell? Why is she scared of me? This is not how the whole mate thing is meant to go. I turn back and look at her and see she is still shaking.

"Why are you scared of me?" Dante asks her, still in full control of my voice, causing my Alpha power to come through. I wait for an answer.

Nothing.

"Why are you ignoring me?" he booms, pissed off at this point. I begin to walk towards her again and she seems to zone out.

I continue to walk towards her until I am right in front of her, causing her to snap out of it. She jumps and lets out a wolf cry. Startled, I watch as she continues to shake really bad and shift back into her human form out of fear, screaming in the process of her bones snapping back into place.

Suddenly, the most beautiful woman is lying in front of me, completely naked. She instinctively tries to cover herself and I quickly take off my shirt to cover her up and keep her warm. She flinches as I lay it over her and a pang of hurt shoots through me.

I cast my eyes over her and instantly notice that she is covered in cuts, bruises, and scars tattooing her forearms and shins. She is also deathly skinny and frail looking.

What the fuck happened to her?

My heart breaks a little and I go to touch her but she shuffles back.

I give her a sad look and she returns it with a confused one. She looks down at her body and zones out again.

Some of the cuts and bruises are really bad but she's a wolf, shouldn't they have healed by now? I go touch her face and she snaps out of it and screams, tears pouring from her eyes.

Heat surges through me but I instantly drop my hand and watch as she starts to shake really bad again and hyperventilate.

Fuck, she's having a panic attack.

She starts to sway intensely and I give her a worried look. What the hell is happening?

Suddenly, she passes out and I catch her head before it hits the ground. I scoop her up and walk back to the guys and give them a concerned look.