Five.

Alpha Colt’s POV

Opening the door, I find the bedroom empty, the windows wide open. The curtains blowing in the wind.

“Fucking moron!” I curse myself. I hadn’t handcuffed her again, believing that she was locked safely in the bedroom. It hadn’t occurred to me that the windows might not be locked.

Leaning out of the window, I pick up her citrus scent. She was alone, no one had helped her. Though I was impressed that she had landed without hurting herself. Lilah wasn’t exactly in the healthiest condition and it wasn’t a small drop to the ground either.

I call out to her through mindlink, just as I see a foot disappear into the forest. She doesn’t respond. I was both annoyed and surprised that she was already trying to escape. I thought she would have at least waited until she felt better.

“Stupid fucking girl!” I mutter.

Storming through the packhouse, I bump into Alpha Wyatt. For once, Juniper wasn’t hanging off his arm.

“Is something wrong?”

“Lilah has taken off!”

“Oh! You’re going after her?” He inquires

“Of course I am. She has no idea where she is. She is hardly going to be in safe hands out there is she?!” This idiot was always asking me stupid questions.

“Doesn’t your room back on to the forest?” He inquires.

“Yes, why?” He had allocated the room to me, he should know this.

He clenches his jaw together. He was hiding something. “You better tell me now!”

“We have been having a problem with Rogue Lycans.” He glances away, but I knew there was more. “We have lost a few of the pack to them.”

“Rogue Lycans?” They had to be from years ago when my father was in charge. Rogues were not a thing for me. Banishment was a waste of time. Rogues would just cause more of a problem. Death was straightforward and I would never have to worry about them again.

He nods his head at me. “They have taken up space at the edge of my pack, on the other side of the stream.”

“Why the fuck has no one said anything? I could have dealt with them when I arrived.” This pack was in shambles. The Alpha was a pussy and I couldn’t say much about his wife, other than she was an annoying bitch.

“We didn’t want to be in your debt!”

“You will always be in my debt. Do you understand! I am your King. This is strike one, Wyatt.

Shoving him into the wall, I march out of the house. Racing around the building, I enter the forest where I had seen Lilah disappear. Her scent was strong and she was annoyed. I could feel that much through the link.

Stripping off, I shift into my beast. At almost seven feet tall with broad shoulders and back, you would think you could hear me coming. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Moving carefully, I place my feet where nothing would be disturbed. The soft earth moulding to my feet.

Her scent was easy to follow. There was a point where her scent was stronger. I’m guessing she sat for a moment, trying to catch her breath. 

Every instinct told me to call to her, to order her to come back. But that would make her hate me more. That wasn’t what I needed. Instead I want to follow her. I want to know what her plan is, what she is going to do.

Picking up the sounds of the stream, I panic slightly. Knowing what Wyatt had said. We were close to the Rogues and Lilah was heading straight towards them. 

My foot hits a twig and I feel her annoyance turn into fear. Her scent changes too, becoming mixed with another. She wasn’t alone. Fuck!

Running on all fours, I charge towards the stream just as Lilah lets out a muffled sound.

“Lilah, talk to me.” I linked her, hoping that she would say something because her mind had gone blank. Her feelings had faded away.

Diving across the stream into the nearly black forest, I let out a howl. Rogue or not, if they are putting Lilah in danger, their life is over.

Her scent is almost clouded by the Rogues here. If I hadn’t been mated to her, I probably wouldn’t be able to smell her.

“Lilah!” I call out through the link again. I needed her to fight. Rogues were a different kind of Lycan. They were feral and fed off of people, wolves and other Lycans.

Racing forwards. I see her arms stretched out across the ground, half hidden by a thick bush. Something drags her into the bush. She makes no sound.

Jumping on it, I land on top of a Rogue Lycan. It’s dark yellow eyes glowing at me in the darkness.

“She is mine!” I growl

“I found her” He snaps back.

“Bow, you fucking idiot. I am your King!”

The Rogue glances at me and then to Lilah. He starts laughing. “She is a wolf. What kind of Lycan King is mated to a wolf?”

He takes a swipe at me as I lock my teeth around his leg. His claws sink into my skin , raking through me, splitting my back open. He half laughs, half howls as he thinks he has won. Rising to my feet, I place myself between Lilah and the Rogue. His yellow eyes searched me, like he was looking for a weak spot. He lunges as I force my claws into his stomach.

Clasping his neck with my free hand, I let my claws sink into his throat. My hand squeezes tighter and tighter. His yellow eyes bulge. He lets out some gurgling noises as his neck splits from his shoulders.

Tossing his head to the ground. Turning around to pick up Lilah, I was ready to take her home. But once again I could feel her fear. She was awake and staring at me. Her grey eyes wide.

“You killed him!”