The woodland blurred together in one long streak of greens and browns as I ran faster than I ever thought possible. My paws pounded rhythmically on the forest floor, dirt and small stones fanning behind me with each step I took. My ears were flat against my head listening out for sounds around me, I knew my pursuers weren't far behind.

I'm sure the blood coating my fur hadn't gone unnoticed by them, the sickly sweet smell of my parents' blood clung to me like a cloak. I turned my head up, slowing my pace and involuntarily let out a long loud painful howl in mourning the death of my parents. I'd been running for two days straight after they'd been killed at my pack's boundary while on a routine patrol. I'd blindly run, letting my legs take me where they pleased. My mind was barely on autopilot and instinct was the only thing keeping me alive; I was sure large roots and rocks would have taken me out without it.

I wasn't supposed to be there that night, instead I should have been home getting ready for bed. I'd been too energised and hopped up on my fathers stories he'd told me at the table that evening during dinner that I needed to see him in action for myself. He'd told me stories of how he took down rogues and kept smaller wicked packs from breaching our land. He'd become a legend in my eyes, a person to idolise. A person to strive to be when the time comes.

My dad was the Beta of the Red Howlers pack, the greatest Beta any pack had ever seen. To people on the outside, he was seen as a cold and ruthless killer but when he was with family that all changed. He would have been alpha just like his father but he turned it down, a reason unknown to anyone but me. I knew the reason why, I knew the dangers it would bring to my mother and the rest of the pack if she found out. It was a secret that I now had to keep all on my own.

I knew how to stalk, to keep hidden in the forage as I followed prey, so I was careful to keep a distance as I followed. It was even easier to fall back when I realised where they were going. Too wrapped up in perfecting my skills I didn't notice how the air felt around me until it was too late.

A rock tumbled down the slope and crashed into my foot jolting me out of my thoughts. I looked up and berated myself for not being aware of my surroundings. They've caught up. I turned to look on my right and two giant brown wolves ran only five feet from me. Rogues.

I stumbled onto them by accident ten minutes ago and had to change course, I'd veered too far west and wasn't sure what part of the country I'd was in. I knew I'd be far from home, two days straight would have at least taken me a hundred miles out. The larger of the two leaped at me, so I rolled out of the way, got back on my feet and continued my run taking longer strides. My feet barely touched the ground but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this pace for long. I was already tired and hungry, this adrenaline would soon come crashing down like a bad whiplash and I'd be left vulnerable.

Teeth clapped down on my left hind leg, I lost my balance from the momentum and tumbled forward. I didn't stay down for long though, a warning growl bubbled within my chest as I snapped my teeth back towards the perpetrator, catching a piece of his ear between my teeth. He whimpered as I drew blood, it was enough of a distraction that he loosened his grip. I shook my hind leg out of his grasp and turned to face him. I lowered my head, bearing my teeth and as I let out a feral growl. It was fuelled by my anger, sadness, frustration and most of all fear, but it was enough to get them nervous about their attack.

I wasn't some female that they could easily mount and have their way with. I growled again, making sure to put a menacing emphasis on it towards the end. If they believed I'd kill them if they touched me again they'd know better and turn away. I waited a heartbeat before they both darted up the slope, scampering as their claws tried to find firm ground.

I gave a satisfied huff but underneath it all I was tremorring. Now that it was over, I needed to work out exactly where I was. There were rules and boundaries that us werewolves couldn't cross without damning consequences, especially if you arrived unannounced. I gazed at the unfamiliar forest, I was definitely in unfamiliar territory, everything smells weird and wrong and to be here without guidance made my heart ache. It had been an awful two days of being an orphan and an exhausting two days of being a lone wolf. I just wanted to collapse in a nice warm bed and sleep forever. However this right here, in these woods, was my reality, I couldn't go back to being a happy teen.

I could feel the faint sting of claw and teeth marks on my leg start to heal, that's good, my body still had energy to do the basic things. Coming down from the adrenaline high my body trembled; I let myself collapse on the ground, resting my head on my paws until my eyes fluttered shut without permission.

...

I was nudged awake, more like jerked awake as I became airborne, my feet dangled in the air as someone carried me. Two arms were wrapped underneath my stomach and a pair of tanned feet went in and out of my vision. First came the confusion, no ordinary human was capable of carrying me in their arms. I was huge, standing the same height as an average human woman and weighing more than a small car in this form.

Then came the panic and fright, so naturally, I struggled out of the grip, when the arms gave way I landed in a crouched position ready to take on the next load of rogues. I let out a warning growl, my heart already preparing me for another fight. What I didn't expect to see was that I was in the middle of a village. In pack territory. How long had I been asleep?

Four wolves circled around me as more villagers took notice. Some mothers pulled their children close, looking at me with disdain, clearly thinking I was a rogue. Well, I guess I am one now.

The man that carried me was bulky but his height evened it out. He was attractive with his short blonde hair neatly brushed back, his cold piercing blue eyes watched me and a small smirk was etched to his lips.

"Shift." He ordered me.

He clearly was a man of power, possibly a beta or gamma. Unfortunately for him I was of alpha blood and didn't take demands from anyone. Well, except from my former alpha. Now that I was free of that, my true nature was taking over. I barked a laugh at him just to get him antagonised.

It wasn't smart on my part, I had nowhere to go right in the heart of another pack with no allies. I was likely to die here but a small part of me was hopeful, death would take all this pain away.

"I said shift rogue." He repeated.

No! I mentally shouted even though he couldn't hear me.

He must have given a signal to his wolves for they lunged at me from different directions. I managed to dodge one and latch my jaw to another's throat tight enough that my teeth pierced his skin but not enough to kill. I knew if I killed him all hell would break loose so I did what my father taught me. I held him down so he was forced to lay on his back and twisted slightly, cutting off his air supply. Behind me someone's jaws tugged on my hind leg breaking it but I didn't let go until the wolf beneath me passed out.

It was a full on battle as I got nipped and bit till I was sure my coat was fresh with blood, this time mine. With a broken leg and multiple wounds I was not going to survive much longer but something in me kept fighting, for what, I wasn't sure.

I was jostled as teeth sunk in from all sides but I barely felt any of it, lost in my own despair and searing pain. My body collapsed under the weight of my attackers and muscles gave way, unable to find the strength to fight back.

"Enough, take her to the dungeons." The man eventually said standing there smugly, he thought I was being submissive.

I got roughly picked up by the scuff of my neck and felt insulted. I was not a pup! I jerked away and for that I got kicked in the ribs.

When we reached the dark smelly cells I got thrown in an empty one, towards the back and hit the ground hard. I definitely broke some more ribs, only when the door closed I let out a whimper of pain. It would take at least a few days for them to heal depending how bad they were and I just hoped they hadn't punctured a lung.

I was aware that two more people sat in the cells next to me but I ignored their comments and focused on trying to relax. Hours later I was still laying in the same position with laboured breathing from the pain coursing through me, it would take another few hours for me to fully heal. Maybe I needed to see the doctor to set the fractured bones before any healing could be done. I had a feeling though that I was not a priority. I prayed that I could just pass out but it seemed that I was on the brink of losing it. Soft howls escaped my lips, my subconscious calling out for my parents like a pup.

It had been quiet outside but then human cries erupted in the silence of the night. It was followed by howls, snarls and the sound of necks breaking. I had no energy to get up let alone defend myself from this obvious threat so I just lay there. Unlike me, my cell mates shifted, choosing either to be human or wolves to meet their end.

I must've blacked out for a second but now all my cell mates had backed up to the furthest wall looking through the iron bars. Not daring to move my head, my eyes followed their path and noticed a dark shadow in the jail. The shadow moved, separating itself from the inanimate and formed a wolf male shape as he approached. His paws and nails didn't click against the hard concrete, he was as silent as death, as black as night before he morphed into a human.

Human hands reached for the locks with a faint glow of a silver key before I heard the clang of metal meeting. I couldn't see his face though, my head was too heavy to lift, even as danger was near.

One of my cell mates approached the gates, his feet shuffling along the concrete like he was struggling to walk. "You came for me."

"Of course, the alpha doesn't like to owe anybody." The other replied.

"Thank you."

They both shifted but on their way out of the door, another figure emerged, this time it was a human. The two wolves bowed their heads, a clear sign of respect. He paid them no attention as he strode in with a purpose. I caught his scent through the breeze that followed him in. His scent warmed my body, soothing all the bodily aches I felt, he smelled like the woods, like home.

Mate, my inner voice said excitedly.

He took his time to reach my cell, I heard the cell doors groan as he ripped the whole door off in a display of anger.

"Find out who did this." He ground out, his voice was deep and commanding, "I want them alive if they aren't dead already."

I heard a huff from one of the wolves and took that as a yes before they ran out into the night.

If I wasn't in this weak state I would've jumped up and cried in relief, probably frightening him. My mate came to stop by me, crouching so that he could lay a hand gently on my back. My heart stumbled as I took him in, as I noticed his dark curly hair and strong jawline, as my eyes fell to his lips. I quickly flicked my eyes back to his but couldn't make out the colour in the bad light.

"Get Eric in here." He shouted.

I pushed myself up with what strength I had left so I was standing on wobbly legs, careful not to put pressure on my back leg. My mate was forced to take a step back but when I adjusted he was quick to run an assessing hand over my rib cage. I flinched away at the pain, his touch was light but my ribs were overly sensitive.

"It's okay my mate, I'm here now. I won't let another soul hurt you." He murmured into my ear as his hands cupped my face and he rested his head on mine.

My body hummed at the contact, it was like nothing I've ever felt. I was connected to him in ways that I never imagined. The invisible strings binding us together as we both acknowledged the mating bond. If I had more energy I would have made him mark me right then and there.

"Let's get you to the infirmary." He said softly, pushing me sideways.

I hadn't noticed they brought up a stretcher until my mate urged me to lay down on it. I gingerly lowered myself, two men on either side picked it up without effort once I was settled. Now that there was no danger I felt drained, wiped out. My breathing was loud to my ears but irregular, it hurt each time I took a breath.

My mate never broke our contact, instead his hands were buried in the fur on my back, comforting me.

With the rhythmic up and down movement of the stretcher I drifted off into a deep slumber, more peaceful than the last few days.