CHAPTER 4

ANNA

ONE THING THEY don't tell you about when you go rogue is the loneliness that comes with it. For the first time ever, I felt totally alone. No bonds of the pack, no mind link, no nothing. Just my battered self, my growing baby, and my wolf. She talked to me to help me maintain my sanity, but apart from that, the only living things I've seen were squirrels and rabbits. And I came across a slithering snake once. 

It has been 2 days since I left Rick and my sister, but their betrayal still burns in my chest anytime I think of it. 

"Take a deep breath, Anna," My wolf said. 

I obeyed. Anytime my mind wandered to the betrayal, I usually go into a mini panic attack. I plucked some fruits as I continued walking through the forest. I had been living on fruits and nuts for the past 2 days and drinking water from a stream that meanders through the forest. 

I stopped at the streambank to wash my face and arms before I continued my journey. I looked at my reflection and could barely recognize who I was staring at. My hair was disheveled, there were leaves and thorns sticking out in them. My face had red blotches and my eyes were red and sunken. I sighed and started to wash my face when I heard the snap of twigs from behind me. I turned sharply and saw 3 men, werewolves by the smell of it, approaching me.

I took a step backward tentatively, but the fast-flowing stream was gushing behind me. "Who are you and what do you want?" I asked in what I hoped was a strong voice. 

The men smiled, showing yellow teeth and pink gums as they approached. "What is a poor darling like you doing out here alone, all by yourself?" One of them asked. 

"We just want to take care of you, " another one said. 

"I can take care of myself," I replied, my eyes scanning for a route of escape. There was none. 

"That's not true, darling," The man replied. "You scratch our back, we scratch yours. Fair deal," he looked at his friends who hollered with laughter. 

I swung my fist to punch the man closest to me but my pregnancy and malnutrition for the past days made me weak and slow. The man caught my attack and tossed me aside. 

"Oh I love it when they fight," the third man said. "I am going to enjoy this."

They were planning to rape and kill me. I could see it in their eyes. I got to my feet and tried to make a run for it but I was caught and held down. I felt someone hit my head so hard that I temporarily lost my sense of vision and everywhere went black. 

Suddenly, I heard a growl and grunt as the man on top of me was lifted and flung aside. Were they fighting on who would first take his turn on me? I perceived the coppery smell of blood. There was a yelp of surprise and pain. I was still struggling to come awake and see what was happening around me. 

Finally, everywhere went quiet except for the harsh breathing of one person, and I allowed the darkness to envelop me. I blacked out. 

*************

I GROANED awake to the sound of dripping water and a cold towel being placed on my forehead. I squirmed away and opened my eyes to stare into the greenest eyes I had ever met. The lady smiled at me and said, "Oh good you are awake. The alpha king would be pleased."

Alpha? What Alpha?

Where am I? What happened?

I opened my mouth to ask some questions but she shushed me, saying, "You are still weak. Here, drink this." She placed a bowl at my mouth and poured a warm, honey-sweet liquid into my mouth. Soon after, I drifted off again into sleep. 

I woke up again by the suffocating aura of someone. It was a man in the room. His hard voice snarled and cut through my subconscious. 

"I thought you said she was awake," He said in a low growl.

"Yes, she is, alpha," the woman replied. "But she just slept off again after taking some drugs."

The alpha scoffed, but he did not leave the room. I could still feel his aura fill the room, and I could feel his burning gaze on my skin. My eyelids fluttered open but I could not turn my head. 

"She's awake again," My nurse said. 

"I can see that," The Alpha scoffed. He stood up and came into my line of vision. He was so sinfully handsome. He had long hair which he kept in an untidy ponytail. His jawline had an angle so sharp, that it could cut through diamond, and his eyes were icy blue. His shoulder and Chest spread and filled with muscles which rippled as he bent over me. "Who are you?!" He barked. "And what were you doing on my territory?"

I opened my mouth to speak but my throat was parched. The nurse immediately gave me some water before I could speak again. "I am Anna Kylin. Who are you?" I asked back foolishly.

The alpha smirked, but his eyes remained icy cold. "I am the Alpha-King Mitch Chester,"

Mitch Chester. I know that name. I had heard it during some pack meetings. 

"Where am I?" I managed to ask, hoping I was in a dream.

"You are with the mountain wolves," Alpha Mitch said, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He looked at me as if he enjoyed my discomfort and fear, and maybe he did.

If what I know about the mountain wolves is true, then I am better off dead. I struggled to sit up and get up from the bed, the nurse started to assist me but Alpha Mitch held her back. He watched as I tried to stand, knowing fully well that my legs were still weak and I collapsed at his feet. 

He smirked. "I know your family, Anna Kylin!" He spat out my surname like he was hot potatoes. "And you have a lot of guts coming here." He turned away and spoke to two men whom I had not noticed. "Take her to the dungeons. I will extract whatever information I can from her and dump her body back in the river where she will be sent to her family. It should be a lesson to them never to send a spy to my pack."