Into the Wild Borders

I didn't stop walking until the sun started to peak over the trees. My legs were heavy and my feet were sore, but I kept moving. I kept looking back, half-expecting to see a patrol or hear the sound of a familiar howl, but there was nothing. Just the wind.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ronan’s face from the ceremony, the way he looked right at me before he grabbed Isolde’s hand and held it up for the whole pack to see. I pushed the images away. I knew that if I stopped to rest, the reality of what I had lost would finally catch up to me.

By noon, I was starving. I had a small piece of bread in my bag, but my stomach felt like it was tied in a knot. Being pregnant was a constant weight in the back of my mind. I had no plan and no place to go, but I knew I couldn't go back to a place that saw me as a second choice.

I found a small stream and knelt down to drink. The water was freezing, but it helped clear my head. Just as I was about to stand up, a low growl came from the bushes behind me.

I pulled my knife out and stood my ground. "Who’s there?" I demanded.

A gray wolf stepped out into the clearing. He had several old scars across his chest. He shifted into a man right there, his bones popping as he stood up. He was tall, with messy hair but damn he looked hot. Liora focus!! I brought myself back to reality that I might be in danger.

"You’re in my territory," he said. His voice was deep and gravelly.

"I’m just passing through," I told him, keeping the knife steady. "I don't want any trouble."

He sniffed the air and squinted at me. "You smell like the Voss pack. You’re pretty far from home, aren't you?"

"I don't have a home anymore," I snapped.

He looked me up and down. "A runaway, huh? You won't last long out here on your own. My name’s Renn. I was kicked out of the River pack a long time ago."

I hesitated, then dropped the knife a little. I didn't trust him, but I was exhausted and I didn't have anything to loose by anyway. "Liora," I announced. "I left Voss's pack last night.”

"You're not still going to be able to last long out here on your own.” He said walking away slowly. “Come on, I got a camping spot. The food's not plentiful, but it's better than starving or being alone.”

I hesitated, but my body was failing me. "Fine. Lead the way."

The camp was just a small fire and a rough shelter made of branches. A woman was sitting by the fire, cleaning a blade. She looked tough, with a dark bruise on her cheek and a sharp look in her eyes.

"This is Kira," Renn said. "Kira, this is Liora, she’s a runaway."

Kira didn't look happy to see me. "We don't need more mouths to feed, Renn."

"She can pull her own weight," Renn argued.

Kira stood up and grabbed a wooden training staff from the ground. She tossed another one to me. "Let’s see it then. If you can't fight, you don't stay."

We circled the fire. She swung first, aiming for my head. I blocked it and stepped to the side, trying to trip her. She was fast, but I was desperate and I have done this dozens of times, thanks to Ronan's training, Damn it Ronan!

I was brought back to reality as I was a few seconds from being hit, I ducked under her next swing and landed a hard punch to her ribs. She groaned and stepped back, dropping her staff.

"Not bad," she said, putting the stick down. "At least you have potential.” She paused, after staring at me again, she continued, "You can stay. I’m Kira. I left my pack because my mate was a monster. I killed him before I left, and I’m not interested in ever going back."

"I’m not going back either," I said.

Over the next few weeks, I became part of their small group. I learned how to set traps for rabbits and which plants were safe to eat. More rogues started to join us, siblings who had lost their parents, and an old man named Gage who had been kicked out of his pack for getting too old, I bet that's not the whole story.

We also had a healer named Lena, she was soft spoken and was kind. Thank goodness she joined us. As wolves, we heal faster than humans no doubt but there are some severe injuries or conditions which needed proper treatment and as rogues we lacked that so Lena joining us is like an extra bonus.

Another young wolf joined us when we went hunting. His name is Marcus, he saved Lena from a scout on patrol. Lena was inexperienced, a new rogue who left her pack because she was being forced to marry the old beta of her pack. He lost his wife and mate when giving birth and also lost his humanity that day. He wanted Lena because of her healing and caring nature so she could tend to him. Lena ran out because of his aggressive nature. And that was how she found us.

Being a healer, she had barely any idea about combat or hunting so the day we went hunting with her, she got spotted by a scout on patrol but was able to lose him because of Marcus's help. That was how Marcus joined our little group.

Marcus was strong and was a quiet type, he got along with everybody quite well.

I took charge of the schedules. I helped in arranging and strategizing when to hunt and when to stand guard. They listened to me because I was organized and I thought ahead, thanks to many years of being neglected so I had to… survive at least.

But the morning sickness was getting harder to hide. Every day, I went into the woods to throw up.

One morning, I turned around to find Kira watching me.

"You’ve been sick every day this week," she said, her arms crossed.

"It's just the stress," I lied.

"Stop lying, Liora. You're pregnant."

I went quiet. My secret was out. "How did you know?"

"I can smell it. Your scent is sweeter, and you move like you're carrying glass. How far along are you?"

"About seven weeks," I whispered. "I found out the night I left. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think I was a burden."

Renn walked over, looking shocked. "Pregnant? And you’ve been doing all this work?"

"I can still work," I insisted. "I can't be an extra weight and I won't let this child grow up in the Voss pack. I won't let them be a 'mistake' while Ronan lives his perfect life with Isolde."

Kira’s expression softened. "You’re not a burden. But you have to be honest with us hence forth. We protect ourselves out here, we got only ourselves."

Lena made me lie down on the grass. She put her hands on my stomach, her palms were warm against my skin. She closed her eyes for a moment.

"The heartbeat is strong," she said. "But you're too thin. Starting tomorrow, you eat double."

I looked at the two of them. For the first time since I left, the panic in my chest eased a little bit. "Thank you."

"Don't thank us," Renn said with a small grin. "Just make sure that kid doesn't cry too much when it gets here. We have to keep quiet out here."

I smiled for the first time in weeks. I was still a rogue, and the future was still dangerous, but at least I wasn't alone anymore.