Chapter 3: The stranger in the woods

ROSE

The party was tomorrow night and I was still unsure as to whether or not I wanted to attend. I never left my pack... ever. And why would I? Without me I'm sure there'd be chaos. Only I could control this pack properly. Only me.

I sighed, looking at myself in the mirror as I tied my curly, dark copper hair back. I had turquoise coloured eyes just like my mother and apparently, I was as beautiful as her as our facial features were quite similar. But I never saw it. I was an alpha, I wasn't supposed to be beautiful, I was supposed to be feared. The question that Deamian had asked before, however, was still on my mind. I hadn’t found my mate… I had no boyfriend. He seemed to be the only person not satisfied with my current relationship status. Then again, he wouldn’t be, not when he still thought he knew me. He was unfortunately in for a rude awakening.

I then decided to go over my notes on the various reports to get my mind off the invitation and Deamian. Everything seemed in order. Only, repairs were needed for our battle simulation equipment and a few fatalities had occurred in hand to hand combat.

 Win some, lose some, that was my motto. This pack wasn't for the weak and fatalities were a norm here. I trained warriors fit to protect themselves against anything. Those who did not survived showed their inability to do just that. Besides, joining pack security was voluntary, those who joined knew of the risks.

The academic results were also quite good in the pre-school, primary school and tertiary education facility and exchange students from allied packs seemed to be fitting in and only a few were required to go back to their own pack.

I also looked through the reports of werewolves who had left the pack to join others or go off on their own, either to join the humans in their mundane lives, or start their own lives. It was always so surprising that, although I was ruthless on my pack members, so few left on a monthly basis. Could it be fear, I always wondered.

Once I was satisfied with all the reports I decided to go and send them back myself because I needed to check up on security. The Moon Goddess always brought the threat of hostile attackers along with her and I needed to ensure my pack’s safety.

"Alpha!" Henry said as he saw me approaching and immediately straightened and placed his hands behind his back. Henry was in charge of training my werewolves who secured the borders. He and I were what you would call “friends”. Well, he was one of the few people to whom I behaved civil with.

I nodded and he relaxed slightly.

"Report's good but stop including information on the omegas. I told you, I don't care about their progress. Make sure warriors are ready tonight for night shift. And please, only the best warriors, you know the enemies we have." He nodded and then seemed to sadden.

"What is it?" I asked.

He kept silent.

"Spit it out!" I said firmly, annoyance creeping in.

"The families of the deceased?" He questioned.

I shrugged, "What about them?"

"Shouldn't they be visited by you, alpha. Shouldn't you pay your respects to them?"

I felt my hands clench into fists and my eyes narrowed at him into a glare. He was yet another person I was beginning to lose patience with.

"Do I look like I have time to go and cry with families who produce wolves not even strong enough to survive a simple training session. I have more important things to get done. The safety of the pack is in my hands and not yours, I don't need you giving your opinion. Do your job and stop telling me how I should do mine. Do I make myself clear, Henry?" I asked glaring at him.

Henry gulped and sighed, "Y-yes Alpha!"

"Good."

I walked away from him, shaking my head. I sighed, stopping the slight remorse which was rising in my stomach. I had no time for this. I had no time nor space for emotions.

Once I'd finished handing the reports in, I went out for a run to blow off some steam. I transformed into the wolf side of myself, my bones cracking and twisting as my arms and legs turned to those of a wolf and my nails painfully elongated into claws. A loud howl ripped from my chest and I snarled as I fell to the ground. It had been a while since I changed. My wolf was half white and half black. I earned my black fur when I became an alpha. A gift from the Moon goddess. Although, I could never really explain the white half. The Moon Goddess refused to tell me why it was so white and eventually, I gave up asking.

I felt the soft sand under my paws and allowed my inner animal to control me, shutting away the part of me which resembled a human. I ran through the wood surrounding my pack grounds. I passed a few wolves- guards and they bowed their heads in respect as they saw me. I practically flew past them I was so fast, just enjoying being who I truly was.

I was eventually so wrapped up in my own world which involved the birds, dirt, trees, and scent of the outdoors, that I lost track of time. It wasn't until I felt my Beta in my head, that I realised I'd wasted most of the day.

Alpha, where are you?

Beta?

Yes, Alpha, you need to come quick... there's been a few rogue sightings.

Don't we have guards for that.

Okay I might have over exaggerated a few. We need you, alpha. There's something strange going on.

It was then that I heard a snapping sound and my head whipped around towards the sound. I was now on high alert, my ears up, eyes wide and stance in a protective position.

I growled lowly, trying to scare whoever it was off. The sound seemed to come from a nearby bush.

I neared it, sniffing the air. There was another werewolf here. I smelled it.

I came closer and closer to the bush, and as the smell grew, I began to realise how strangely familiar it was.

Unable to identify what the scent reminded me of, I pounced on the bush, revealing a large, grey wolf. A rogue... And an alpha at that.

He growled lowly, staring at me. As though I wasn't any match for him. He degraded me just by looking at me the way he did. Almost amused. There was also something that was familiar about him… I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It was as though I had seen him before. But the memory of him seemed to be locked away, hidden in a dark place.

I growled back at him, baring my teeth and made the first move. I jumped towards him, claws out. He moved away from me, with a sort of amusement. Idiot actually thought I was aiming for him, internally I smiled at his stupidity as a huge cracking sound was heard making the alpha look at me confused. Seconds later he was in the air, hanging by a thick, large rope which tightened around his hind legs. Animal trap, courtesy of the very clever Alpha Rose.

I looked at him, the animal part in me wanting to rip him to shreds. I was actually seconds away from it when I began smelling something... interesting. I inhaled sharply, savouring the odd, addicting smell which invaded my nose. What was it? Whatever it was, I needed to find it...now.

I turned, following the smell through the wood, completely forgetting about the rogue alpha who was now seconds away from breaking free. My brain was unable to comprehend and understand what was going on. Eventually I arrived at the source of the smell... It seemed to be emitting from a small, weak looking werewolf. He was a pure white colour with grey markings here and there. He was a pitiful sight. He was so underfed and malnourished that his ribs stuck out from under his fur. But I couldn't see his face... He seemed to be looking for something as well.

I moved closer, wanting to see what he held in his possession which smelled so... amazing. His head snapped up as he heard me and immediately my brain decided to fail me and shut down. His deep, luminous blue eyes, probably the only thing which stood out about him, froze me in place. What black magic was he using on me? I was so confused.

He slowly neared me, and I swear I could feel our skin emitting sparks. Was he burning me? Is that how this weak, useless omega intended to kill me?

He was soon just inches from me. We stared at each other. Even though he looked so skinny and weak, his wolf structure still was larger than mine. Nothing I wasn't used to.

He growled slowly and I had the urge to do the same, but I was paralysed by this extremely intriguing being. Despite him looking so weak, I found him mesmerising.

He then shifted into his human form, bones cracking, but he uttered no sound. Almost as if he didn't feel the pain. Once he was human, he fell to the ground, slightly weak from his transformation preventing me from really seeing his human form. He then slowly looked up through his caramel hair and uttered the one word I never thought I'd ever had been said to me.

"Mate?"