"I'll be back in just a little bit." Blake grinned down at his mate, who we learned was named Kendall Hanes. Ever since Kendall showed her obvious attraction to Blake, he was holding onto her and smiling down at her. Literally, smiling down as he was about six foot tall, yet Kendall was only just above five foot tall.

"Okay. I'll probably be in the kitchen," Kendall replied, speaking as if she was uninterested yet staring back up at Blake as if looking away would kill her.

"Got it," Blake chuckled, leaning down and leaving a small kiss on Kendall's forehead. She blushed like crazy, her short, blondish brown hair not doing anything to hide her face.

Rolling my eyes, I turned and headed for the kitchen myself. I hadn't eaten for hours and I was absolutely starving. However, before I could make it into the delightful room, Chase was blocking my way.

"I've just gotta go talk to Blake in my office. When I'm done we can go for a run," Chase offered, smiling softly at me and trying to 'subtly' step closer.

I stepped back before he could get to comfortable. "I'm not a wolf. I won't be able to keep up," I reminded him. Chase frowned before smiling once again.

"Then we can just go for a walk. I know were a small waterfall is that no one really knows about. It's out in the mountains," Chase offered. He had a hopeful glint in his eye and such a dazzling smile that I felt my breathe catch in my throat. Whenever I didn't reply and he reached out, lightly touching my arm with his fingertips, I swear I melted.

"Macey?" His questioning, amused voice snapped me out of my almost trance and I stepped away, nodding quickly.

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

Get control over this stupid thing, Jacks! He is still a beast.

Without saying anything else, I stepped past the now frowning alpha and speed walked into the kitchen. Kendall soon followed after me, a small grin still on her lips.

"I thought you didn't want to be a 'Beta female'," I quoted, almost rolling my eyes at how love struck she could be when just before Blake shifted and they locked eyes she was practically rejecting him.

Rejecting him.

Rejecting.

You can reject your mate?

The thought flashed through my mind and I was stunned. Is there a way to reject your mate without him just locking you up again? Is there any possible way to break a mate bond? If there was, I needed to find it soon. I couldn't risk staying here much longer, especially not with Kane probably going crazy looking for me.

Kendall shrugged, smiling to herself as she jumped onto a bar stool. "I don't want to be Beta female. However, having a mate can't be all bad. My mom and dad had an amazing life together as mates and so has every mate couple I've met. I kind of want that for myself, you know?"

"No," I denied way too quickly, catching Kendall's attention. "No, I don't know. I never wanted a mate."

"Well, you're a human. This has to be a little overwhelming for you," Kendall reasoned, shrugging again, "but trust me. The minute you accept the fact that you and your mate are forever, you will be so happy. I've just now had the experience and I'm already grinning like a fucking idiot."

I ignored her words, turning my back to her and opening the fridge. "Hey, can you make me some food?"

I whirled around and faced the rogue, wanting to scowl. "Did you just ask me to make you food?"

"Well, I'd make it myself but I can't cook worth my damn life. Food literally attacks me," Kendall explained, looking a little sheepish at asking me for the favor. I fought the urge to give another eye roll and turned back to the fridge.

"So..." I grabbed the milk from the fridge and a box of cereal out of a cupboard, glad I had been lucky enough to find some on the first door I opened. "Would you really have rejected Blake?" The question rolled off my tongue nonchalantly as I searched for a bowl and spoon.

"Probably not. The idea of a mate is a little scary, but I've always wanted one," Kendall answered, frowning when I handed her the necessary items to pour her own cereal. "Can't you make like actual food? I'm starved."

"You were running from him though. Didn't you know he was your mate?" I kept up my interrogation, ignoring Kendall's plead for something other than cereal and making myself a bowl.

"My wolf was trying to tell me who he was, but I wasn't really listening. She's a annoying little fucker so I tend to ignore her anyways." Kendall let out a short laugh. "Plus the chase was kind of fun. Once I saw the look on Blake's face it really hurt and I kind of regretted running from him, but I thought he was going to rip me to shreds for being on this packs territory."

"Like I've been saying," I muttered, turning my back to grab a second spoon that I had forgotten, "wolve's are monsters."

"Awe, c'mon," Kendall whined, "we aren't all so bad."

"They would have killed you just for stepping on their 'territory'," I snapped, shaking my head and shoving an angry spoonfull of cheerios into my mouth.

"Me coming onto their territory could have been a threat. Most packs give rogue's a chance to explain themselves, unless the rogue acts volatile and violent. It's just to protect their own families," Kendall told me. She cocked her head to the side and smirked. "You seem to know a lot about werewolves for a human."

"I'm a hunter," I told her, "Was a hunter." No one needed to know I still planned to kill any wolf who seemed a threat.

"Oh." Kendall gulped and stood up straight. She all of a sudden seemed nervous, her eyes growing wide and cautious.

"Why do you look so scared? I'm not the animal here!" I took offense to her acting as if I was the bad guy. Sure, I killed wolves, but wolves killed us. The innocent people needed people like me to protect them. Especially in small towns like the one I had lived in before I was brought here.

Kendall growled a little, the fear still slightly obvious yet a defiant side coming out. "You kill us. You hunt wolves when all we do is survive the best we can. We live just like you humans, except we are far more loyal to our kin than you are. We die for our family and friends everyday and we stand up for our pack. What do you do that makes you the better, more innocent species? Just because we are stronger, it makes us the bad ones?"

"Kendall, that is enough," Blake grunted, walking briskly into the kitchen with a fuming Chase by his side. "That is your Luna you are speaking to."

"It won't hurt her to hear the truth, Blake. She's not going to realize how wrong she is if she doesn't." Kendall's words had me getting hot headed.

We were the bad ones? We were the guilty species?

"We are just humans. We don't turn into oversized killing machines!" I argued, my hands gripping the counter to the point my knuckles were white.

Need a knife. Need my gun.

Where's my fucking pistol at when I need her.

"Macey, calm down," Chase urged, stepping up to me.

"Exactly," Kendall snarled. "We can turn into 'oversized killing machines.' Half of this pack could wipe out the nearest town in minutes. We could kill half the population before any human could even attempt to fight back, yet we don't. We stay in the trees. We hide ourselves and we live in as much peace as we can! Our only problem is hunters, like you."

"My mate is not a hunter!" Chase snarled, practically jumping across the counter in my defense. Blake immediately pulled Kendall behind him, or tried to. She fought her way back up in my line of sight.

"I've seen wolves kill innocent people. I have not killed many wolves, but all that I have killed have murdered helpless humans. Don't tell me that we are the guilty species." My voice had become earily calm. Chase reached out for me but I yanked away, barely sparing him a glare.

"And there are serial killers out there, murdering and raping other humans right now. It is far less heard of for a wolf to go insane and do those things because we are loyal to one another. If you are not the guilty species, then no one is. Us wolves are just as worthy to live peacefully as you humans. It is the hunters like you that lessen the peace between us." Kendall's words struck me hard, but my pride refused to let me back down. I knew she had made a point.

My face hardened and I backed away from the counter and Chase. My dad's words were ringing in my mind but they seemed strange.

Wolve's are beasts. Wolve's kill. They are not humans, they just transform to hide among us.

It's not true.

It's very true.

They are still dangerous.

"Macey, I need you to calm down. You are overthinking again," Chase spoke soothingly, making my eyes snap to his.

"You don't know that," I denied, sure that the panic in my voice that made me wince was a dead give away that I was surely overthinking all of this.

"Yes, I do," Chase corrected me. I shook my head stepping back, making my butt hit against the counter.

Trapped.

"How? What, are you a fucking mind reader along with the whole wolf thing?" My voice was getting higher and I clenched my eyes, quickly rethinking that and snapping my eyes back open. Chase had a panicked, nervous look on his face that turned into a calming one when I looked into his eyes.

"Mate's intuition," Chase answered, smiling softly.

"Mate's intuition, my ass," I refused, shaking my head.

"Everything Kendall said was true, Macey," Blake spoke up. Chase growled in his direction before putting his eyes back to me.

"Macey-"

"No, Chase," I interrupted. "I-I...Can I see Leo?"

"What? No!" Chase immediately denied the question and stepped closer, practically pressing me up against the counter. I leaned back as far as I could, an uncomfortable sound coming out of my throat.

"Blake," I called out. I didn't like the close proximity right now and the way Chase's eyes were darkening had me in a panic.

Another growl escaped Chase's chest and I went into the fight mode before my flight mode. Snarling back at my oh-so-loving mate, I grabbed his fresh shirt by the collar and held tight. It took Chase by surprise, giving me the opportunity to bring my knee straight up into his crotch.

"Fuck!" Chase let out an angry curse and doubled over, letting me push him out of the way and stomp out of the kitchen as fast as I possibly could. Blake tried to stop me, but I glared at him and Kendall held his arm back. She nodded respectfully at me, letting me leave the kitchen without anymore interference.

I didn't want to stay in Chase's room tonight and I didn't want to risk anymore chance of running into him later during the day. It was just a few hours past lunchtime though and I was still hungry.

"Penelope!" I let my shout ring out across the pack house. Strangely, I saw and passed more people walking around this time then I had been. Recalling something I had been told, I remembered that Chase had ordered everyone out of the pack house until I was more comfortable with the wolves.

I'm still not even close to comfortable.

"Penelope!" I shouted out again, ignoring the look an elderly woman gave me and kept running up the set of stairs to the second floor.

"Pen-" I cut across a corner, running straight into a hard chest and falling to the floor. Keeping my eyes up, I saw Mark standing above me with his arms crossed. "Ouch," I snapped at him, rubbing my nose and quickly standing up.

"You shouldn't run in the pack house," Mark chastised me, making me scowl.

"I'm the Luna. I can do what I want."

Mark snarled, shaking his head and glaring at me. "You cannot refuse to act like a Luna then use that title to get what you want."

"Watch me," I scoffed, getting angrier just because he was right and I was wrong. But who was I to have morals for the werewolf life? "Where's Penelope?"

"She's with some guy," Mark answered. A new scowl started to tug at his lips but he fought it as his eyes darkened.

"Ooh, someone's a little jealous, huh?" I smirked. This was my leverage against Mark.

"I'm not jealous." Mark denied. "He's not even her mate and she's out having the time of her life with him. It's disgusting."

"What, so she can't date other guys just because she has a mate?" I really didn't like these werwolf standards.

"She doesn't have her mate yet. She's only seventeen so she isn't old enough to find him," Mark muttered.

"Then why can't she go out with this guy and be happy?" I questioned further. I wasn't buying this facade that Mark had up.

"She can be happy! Just not with him!" Mark's anger snapped a little and he stepped closer to me, growling down at me with practically bared teeth. He was seething.

"She's your mate isn't she?"

Mark tensed and growled again, making me have to fight down the urge I had to attack.

"I don't know how I know. I shouldn't because she isn't of age yet but I've known ever since I became eighteen months ago," Mark whispered. His voice was so low that I barely heard it and had to take a second to think over what he said.

"That's possible?" This was crazy. Here I was not knowing anything about mates, but the one thing I thought I knew had been overridden by Mark.

"No. I don't know!" Mark looked up from me and checked around the hallway. "Listen, you do not tell a single
soul about this. Not even your Alpha, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed. "You know, she cares about you too."

"I'm serious, Macey." Whoa he said my name without hate in the word!

"I promise, Mark." I was in no place to be telling people about this. It wasn't my secret to tell and Mark seemed really worked up over this.

"I'll mind link Penelope and tell her you are looking for her. While you wait, I'll take you to her room." Mark turned abruptly and started walking. It took me a moment to realize that I was supposed to be following him and I quickly jogged to catch up.

"Thanks for telling me," I spoke up after an uncomfortable silence. Mark never walked slow, yet he had softened his pace in order for me to more easily keep up. I was even more thankful for that.

Mark didn't reply but I was looking at him at the right moment to find a saddened look on his face. "Mark, you can talk to me about it."

We came to a halt outside a plain white door that Mark pushed open for me. "What would you know about mates? You may have one, but it is the Alpha who is feeling pain for his mate like I am. You don't have the heart to hurt for your mate and I don't expect you to."

Taking in Mark's words, I nodded and walked into the room, slamming the door closed behind me. It slammed shut from the irritation that I suddenly found sweeping over me, causing me to jump.

"Damn door," I muttered. God, that seems like all I have been doing lately: muttering, shouting, running, and rolling my eyes. Being with all these werewolves when all I want to do is leave is hard.

The thought of Kane popped into my mind. I really needed to see Leo and talk to him. I had to make sure that Kane wasn't tracking my phone to this pack house and certainly wasn't planning an attack against them. I wasn't sure who would win that battle at all. Our close group was only about ten people, but we knew other groups from all around North America. I wouldn't put it past Kane to call in some of them for backup.

You can leave now.

Could I? I didn't know where I was and I didn't know which direction would take me out of this territory the quickest. Border patrol might stop me and then I really wouldn't be able to get another chance to escape. Also-

No. There was no 'also'. I had no connection with this pack and I could outrun them if I really tried. As long as I had a good enough head start then patrolling wolves shouldn't be a problem. With a simple weapon I could fight off a wolf. Hell, I've been trained to battle the beasts with just a rope.

I'm leaving.

Sporting a determined frown, I opened Penelope's bedroom door and hightailed it out of there. I walked quickly, making sure not to look too suspicious, and I smiled at anybody that I passed. Most just gave a tight smile and bowed their heads, but there were an irregular few who only refused eye contact and walked on.

I got to the ground floor and had to make a decision. Front door or back door?

The back door led to the backyard, but it also spread out into really heavy woods. As long as I kept clear of the training grounds, I should have less problems escaping that way. Then if I heard any sign of them coming after me, I could just climb up a tree and threaten to jump again. That seemed to do it last time.

I'll catch you.

The words echoed through my head and I stopped, my hand hovering above the doorknob. Why in hell's name were Chase's words bothering me at this exact time? They caused doubt to run through me. I hesitated.

No hesitating!

Shaking my head, I gripped the handle and yanked the back door open. Too hell with Chase and every sweet, amazing thing he said to me. I was going to be safe again.

I won't hurt you.

God, he's said that too me so many times.

And he's never hurt you.

God, I have got to get these thoughts under control. They keep making me stutter step and I have got to be quick. If I am a second too late them Chase could capture me again.

Threaten her again. I dare you.

The questioning room. That was where I found out about mates and that was the first time Chase almost killed him Beta for threatening me. This was exactly why I had to leave. Blake had been loyal to Chase for I don't even know how long, yet that Alpha was ready to strip him of his title and of his life just for simple things. Although...that did show how protective he was over me...No! They are all beasts and I needed to remember that.

We are connected now.

The memory of his words, once again, repeated in my mind. It made my head hurt and I grabbed onto a tree that I was standing by. I was right inside the tree line. This was my chance and I was taking it.

You are meant to lead this pack, not abandon them.

I stumbled on a tree root, one hand catching myself on a tree and the other hand going up to my head. Pain was washing through my chest. It was a sad, frightened pain that I just didn't understand. All these memories of what Chase had said to me over the past couple of days were confusing. I didn't know why they were there.

I was not abandoning a pack, as I was never meant to be here. This environment was not what I had been trained to live in and I refused to adapt to it. I remembered the way Chase intimidated and threatened Leo when we were in his office  earlier. It wasn't right and just urged me forwards.

Every time you say something like that...it hurts.

Those words had me hurting. God, I may be a hunter but was I such a heartless human being as I had been acting lately. No, I do not belong in a wolf pack. I was not trained to live with beasts. However, even the thought of leaving was beginning to seem irrational to me.

I tried to block out all the thoughts, finding it difficult but they stopped coming whenever I shut them off like a brick wall was blocking them. It kept a small headache pounding, but at least it was easier to deal with than before.

As I stumbled further into the trees, I began to feel my chest constricting. A spot on my neck burned a little out of no where, causing me to touch where the sting was at. I could feel a slightly swollen part on my skin where I just knew that Chase's mark was.

How bad could they possibly be?

The mark began to burn even more and my body began to feel hot. Like really hot. I wasn't sweating, but a need began to burn in me that I couldn't describe. It was uncomfortable and I just wanted it to go away.

Chase. I wanted Chase and I didn't know why. The thought of him seemed to call to me so I looked back the way I came.

Why the hell am I not just leaving already?

My body was tingling and burning even more now, the mark becoming painful. Leaning against tree, I found myself sliding to the forest floor. There I sat, tears welling in my eyes yet none falling.

It didn't take long before I heard multiple feet running closer. There definitely wasn't just one person coming after me. I panicked.

"I didn't want to freaking die now," I groaned, clenching my eyes shut.

"Macey!" The desperate growl had my eyes opening and landing on Chase. He stood there in the clothing he wore earlier in the kitchen; a light blue shirt with plain blue jeans. He wasn't wearing any shoes, which seemed reasonable in case he shifted.

A growl ripped through Chase when he looked at me before he snarled at the two men standing beside him. Blake and Leo. "Leo, get out of here immediately. Blake, make sure he is under control."

Leo didn't seem to take a second to spare before turning and sprinting back from where they came. Blake followed after him.

"Chase, it burns," I whimpered. I just felt desperate at this point and the thought of Chase holding me helped to calm the burn in my head down.

"Can I take you back to the pack house?"

His question was hopeful, yet strained sounding. I thought it over and thought it over but I couldn't think of anything to think over. Of course he could take me back to the pack house. I needed him right now, even if I wasn't sure why. Hell, he could have forced me to go back with him yet he was asking me what I wanted. I made me want to smile.

The possibility of being attacked by all the wolves in that pack house reminded me why I had been trying to run in the first place. They were dangerous; killers.

But so was I.

"I want to go back."

~~~~~

So my laptop shut off on me writing this so I did it on my phone, but when I got back on my laptop, half the chapter was missing and it saved like that. OOOHhhhhh I was so mad so I had to retype it. Luckily, the chapter on my phone was, for some reason, still not updated so I could retype it without having to think it up. So basically it's all the exact same just with a few typos gone.

THANKS FOR READIN, FOLKS!

Go ahead and just comment what ya think :)

Also my dedication to AndRuinThePlot was for helping me to decide how I wanted this story to go. Thanks!