(Back to the pack run in chapter 23 for reference...)Nala whined, she didn't like how packed we were and needed the freedom. As soon as she saw the chance to deviate from the route alpha was leading, she slowed down, almost getting knocked over multiple times. She picked herself up and diverted to the left lane, away from all that tension.Once we were in the comfort of the woods away from residence, I shifted, glad to take control of my body once more.I knew better than to go any further as warriors heavily patrolled around the borders. I sighed, and drifted away in thoughts of my old pack and everything that I missed in it. "Coming here as your hideout, kitty?" I flinched out of my thoughts only to find Shadow standing behind me with her hands crossed across her chest. "What the fuck do you want Shadow? Did you seriously follow me all the way here just to tell me that?""Why did you leave pack run?" She asked me."It's none of your business, leave me alone!" I snapped at her, rol

Once we were away from the pack, I pulled her into a tight hug, not letting go. She was hesitant but she took my hug. "I can't believe this, what happened to you? How did you get here?""It's a long story." She sighed. "I knew I was not being delusional when I said I could smell you." I thought back to tonight and the invaders, I had picked her scent before the attack."I need your help, I lost my way and I have to take someone back to the pack but I can't do it on my own." She said in rushed tones. "How long have you been out here?" I wondering, noting how she looked like she had gone from going days without a proper meal.We continued to walk further away. I tried to keep track of my direction at the back of my head but it was proving impossible because I was distracted by the thoughts of what I had heard."How did you lose your way to begin with?" I asked her, giving her all my attention.Alpha would protect me no matter what but she had no one so I was going to be there for her.

Talie"You know I really didn't believe these people when they said you were part of another pack, I just did as they asked so they would release my mate," Shayla broke the growing silence between us. We had been sitting still, neither of us saying a thing."Your mate?" I looked at the tied up man thar had been unconscious the whole time, "but what about Ash?"She sighed, "I don't know yet, I was thinking of rejecting him," she glanced over at him and heaved another sigh, "but I really don't think I can bring myself to do it, I just can't.""This is definitely not how I planned a reunion between us to be," I told her. I'd thought I'd make a request from alpha to let me go see them, and help them out."Tell me about it, I should have just sat my ass back in the pack, be with my family, my lover and not have to deal with any of this, especially if I would have known you were fine and left on your own, gosh, I still can't believe you left without saying goodbye." The resentment in her voi

By the time alpha and I returned, Riggs was done setting the tent up and Shayla had regained consciousness."What did they want from you?" Riggs shook his head, looking at the state I was in."Alpha?" I looked up at him, "can I talk to you for a second?""Sure."He led me away from them until we were away from hearing distance, "okay alpha, this might sound really strange but I killed someone." I swallowed.He raised his eyebrows at me."One of the attackers, I don't know, it was hard to control myself, not hard, I couldn't control myself at all, it was like she was completely in charge.""She?""The red wolf.""Oh.""This time I was fully conscious and I didn't lose the memory," I thought a little, "well not yet.""This time?" Alpha breached the distance between us."I killed Shadow," I sighed. "I didn't mean to, it's like she's a different person entirely." I figured out I might as well tell him. I needed help and I couldn't keep something this huge to myself. He didn't look shocked

I was still in shock from what had happened. I stared at my captor. He had long brown hair and really dark eyes. If anything, he looked exhausted and desperate. I pushed his hand away from my mouth."Who are you?" I whispered."My name's Asher. I'm going to need you to relax." He didn't take his eyes of me as he spoke.I thought about what he'd said. "You say you're a red wolf, but I heard red wolves have been extinct for a while.""It's not what you think," he grabbed my wrist, "come with me, let's go somewhere we can talk."I pulled away from his grip, "I'm not going with you, I don't even know who you are."He caused me to gasp when he grabbed my shoulders out of nowhere. "You need to listen to me, if you don't want to hurt the ones you love."I hesitated but his words were getting to me."Fuck, this is something I wish I knew before I ruined the lives of everyone in my life," he paused, "I just want to help another red wolf."Closing my eyes and heaving a sigh of defeat, I nodded a