I wasn't sure how long I was walking around in the woods but I just didn't want to go home. I had so much thinking to do about what Nate had said. I don't know why it was bugging me when he could be a full blown liar. My second cousin, really? He's trying to use the family card on me? Why because I was once the little orphan girl and now he's trying to tell me he's family?

Something touched my face and turned into liquid. I tilt my head back to see soon slowly appearing again. Oh great, more snow. I felt someone behind me and I turned around to see Killian walking over towards me.

“Devin home.” he said. “Where you haven't gone. I had to come look for you.”

“I was just thinking.” I said as he took me in his arms. I tilt my head back to look up at him, “So how pissed are you I got sorta of arrested."

“I think your very dumb.” he said. “But at least your pretty.” he jokingly said making me grin. He sighed heavily, “Mat, what were you thinking? We told you not to and of course you do the opposite. Why?”

“Their my parents.” I said. “What if you were told to stay away from your parents? You could never see them again and never fully know who you are. I know Alpha Lincoln isn't going to let this go. He's gonna be on my butt about this for God knows how long.”

“You gotta show you respect him—“

I pulled away and scoffed, “Show him? I have done enough to try and respect that man. I branded myself for him and this pack. I still get treated like an outcast and a criminal.”

“Well if you just follow pack rules you wouldn't get into trouble.” he said and I rolled my eyes as I turned around, walking away. He came up beside me as we walked, “Mat, I’m serious. Why is it so hard to just listen to people—“

“I hate being told what to do. Especially if it's something I want.” I told him.

“And what do you want? Rogue mommy and daddy?” he asked and I quickly turned to him, glaring at him. I grabbed him by his shirt and started pushing him back but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me away. “I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I know you want your family, Mat.”

I pulled my wrist away, “I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're a spoiled little Beta son—“

“Shh.” he said as his nose flared as he sniffed the air.

“No Killian, you know that's true.”

“Be quiet.” he said, surprising me as he looked around. I was about to ask what he was doing but this strong order smell hit me hard in the face and I brought my hands up to my nose. It reeked like dirty moldy water.

I heard something behind me but when I turned around nothing was there. Again I heard the sound of air being whipped like someone was quickly running.

“Who's there?” Killian asked. Every direction the wolf tried to scare us as we were going in circles. I was starting to get dizzy when Killian grabbed me by the hand and tugged me before we ran away.

“What's happening?” I asked as we ran away from the unknown smelly wolf.

“I don't know! Just keep running.” he said as we ran trying to get to the outskirts of the woods to the road.

We ran for about about a couple of moments before we found something. We slowed down a little as we got closer until we were only a few feet away to see it was a young woman. She was laying on the ground on her back with her eyes wide open. She smelled like one of us though and I know she was a wolf.

“Is she. . .?” I couldn't bring myself to finish because looking down at the dead she-wolf made my stomach turn.

“Dead?” we heard from our right, making us jump as we turned to look at older dark haired wolf stepping our way. He was about his mid-thirties and the one that smelled. He walked over towards the other side of the she-wolf and bent down next to her. “Not yet. She's stuck in a paralyzing state.”

Killian pulled me behind him, “Who are you?”

He pointed at himself, “I?” he asked as he stood up. “My name is Ramses.”

“Are you the one who took Melinda Hanigan?” Killian asked.

“The pretty she wolf Aydin has?” he asked. “Oh no, I didn't take her. Poor naive girl, she actually thought Aydin fallen in love with her. Charmed her easily.”

“Why are you here?” Killian asked. Ramses stepped over the wolf and we stepped back away. “Stay away from us.”

Ramses looked away from Killian to me and I glared at him, “Ah and who are you pretty girl?” he asked. Killian bared his teeth and growled at the older wolf in front of him. “Look at those round hazel eyes. I see the way your clinging to this boy you two are together.”

“Go away.” I coldly said. “We never did anything to you.”

“Bad blood isn't between us.” he said as he shook his head. “It's between your Alpha and I. Actually I have a few Alpha's I have a problem with. Oregon is just my few stops.”

“For what?” Killian asked. “What has he done to you?”

“First he killed a young wolf name Jimmy, he was under my protection. Alpha Lincoln and I have been enemies when him and a few other Alpha's and Beta attacked my group years ago. I can remember all their faces even though they were young wolves. They attacked when my father was the leader before I and killed him.”

“That isn't our fault.” I coldly said to him. “So leave us alone. Go have a fist fight him or something and leave the pack alone. And bring Melinda back.”

His right eyebrow arched up, “Are you dumb or something, girl? You should know that isn't our way. Melinda isn't my problem to deal with, take that up with Aydin. Her being Lincoln daughter actually make this bett—wait a second.” he said as he narrowed his eyes on me and Killian stepped in front of me fully.

Killian let out a growl, “Step away.” Killian put his hand on my stomach, pushing me away, “Run!” he yelled before the older wolf lunged at Killian.

“Killian!” I cried out as the wolf held Killian down by his throat.

“Run!” Killian yelled barley as he put his hands on Ramses chest lifting him up. He slid his knees out from under Ramses and tossed him off of Killian. Killian quickly got up and ran over towards Ramses, tackling him to the ground. He didn't turn to look at me as he tried holding Ramses down, “Mat, run!”

“No!” Ramses cried out as he turned his head to look at me. His eyes glowed yellow as he stared at me, “I've seen your face on another before! You have a similar appearance of one of the young man who killed my father! What was his name? Vaughn?” Once Ramses realized that, he roughly pushed Killian off him with the palm of his hands on Killian chest and Killian flew back, hitting a tree roughly. It almost knocked him unconscious as his back slid down the tree.

Ramses slowly got up on a crouching position as he snarled at me, those bright yellow eyes narrowed on me. Feeling threatened, my teeth bared at him as my eyes turned yellow. I watched as Ramses finger nails sharpen and grow to about an inch long. My eyes widen since I never seen a wolf shift this way. He did it so slowly where most of the wolves I've seen just shift automatically.

I nervously chuckled as I stepped back since I felt this bad feeling in my stomach that this wolf was not to mess with, “Oh why can't we just be friends—“

“Mat, run!” Killian yelled and I looked at him uncertain because I didn't want to leave him. He quickly pulled his shirt off and shifted into a wolf. I heard Ramses growl at me and I turned around, running as fast as I could.

I heard him running behind me though and I panicked. I ran over towards a tree and started climbing up on it. When I got up a few branches, my weight was to heavy for one and I quickly fell. I screamed as my hands held back as I tried to grab something to catch but there was nothing. My back hit the ground roughly and I squeezed my eyes shut as the pain spread quickly.

Something heavy pressed down on my chest and I could breath as I opened my eyes to see the dark wolf hovering over me. I gave him a pleading look, “Please! I didn't do anything.”

Ramses brought his muzzle down towards my face, his teeth bared so I could see those sharp killer teeth. Before he could bit down on my face he was pulled off me and I quickly sat up to see Killian fighting with Ramses. They kept biting each other and using their crawls before Ramses grabbed Killian by his throat, forcing him down.

Killian eyes turn to look at me with fear in them and I took in a sharp breath. Feeling so much anxiety I quickly got up and ran over towards them. I felt my body stiffen up and I quickly shifted into my wolf form. I lunged at Ramses, biting down on his teeth to pull him off Killian. His paw came up and scratched me on the face. I let go of his tough skinned neck that no matter how hard I press down on it it wouldn't break through.

He pressed me down on the ground and I bit at his front legs. He growled at me, using his head to make me let go and used his weight to hold me down. Killian lunged back on him but Ramses was able to fight us both since he was an older stronger wiser wolf.

Ramses grabbed me from the back of my neck and threw me against the tree. I yelped since I felt a large amount of pain and I shifted back into my human form. I stayed down on the ground as I watched Killian trying to crawl away from Ramses towards me whimpering. I held my hand out to grab him, just wanting to pull him closer towards me but Ramses grabbed Killian by his tail with his mouth and dragged him away as Killian yelped in pain.

“Killian!” I cried out.

Ramses hovered over Killian, ready for the kill. He was about to bit into Killian neck when I heard something like running. I saw another wolf coming over and lunged at Ramses. They fought around a bit and I swallowed back the pain as I ran over towards Killian. I put my arms around him as I lifted him up and he shifted back in human form. He was bloody and sweaty.

Ramses growled as he stepped back away from the wolf and they glared at each other. We went over to the wolf side and glared at Ramses, challenging him to fight against three wolves now. Killian and I eyes turned yellow and Ramses tossed his head back howling for a moment before turning around and ran away.

Once he was gone the wolf changed into human form and it was Will. He looked at us for a moment, “Are you two alright?” We just both stared at him, breathing heavily since we were tired.

*

Killian splashed his face a few times with water from the kitchen sink to cool himself down as Will spoke, “I was coming to look for you both. Alpha Lincoln sensed another Rogue wolf and we knew you both were out here. I was scared when I saw you both fighting with him.”

Killian turned off the sink and leaned over it, “I was handling it.” he said coldly, confusing me.

“Killian—“ I started but he quickly turned around and glared at Will.

“You think you were the hero of this?” he asked and Will glared at him. “Well your not! I was the one who was beaten up and almost killed.”

“Are you serious right now, Killian?” Will coldly asked. “Get over your pride and be happy you're alive! I don't think I’m some hero! I think I’m your cousin who loves you!”

Killian walked over towards Will and got in his face, “I don't need you protecting me as if I’m some child.” he said before walking around Will and into the backyard porch.

Will and I looked at each other surprised even though we should be. One thing wolves are is that we have allot of pride and I guess not sending Ramses away himself it hurt Killian pride. He wasn't actually mad at Will, he was just taking his anger out on him.

Will walked over towards me and put his hand on my shoulder, “Are you alright, Mat?”

I nodded, “Yeah, I'm fine. A little sore but I'll live.” He nodded and came close to me with his arms opening as if he was gonna hug me. I jerked though and he quickly paused since it wasn't very common for us to hug. He put his arms down and looked away. I stepped away, “I'll go see how he's doing.” I said.

He nodded and I walked over towards the backyard door. I stepped outside where Killian was leaning against the rail of the porch. He was looking up at the night sky with a cold look on his face as I walked over next to him.

“Killian, we both know you were very brave tonight.” I said and he snorted. I put my hands on his arm and turned him. I put my hand on his face and made him look at me, “Hey, come on now. You fought for me, you don't know how much I love you for that. I spent all my life fighting for myself and finally when it was something I couldn't handle you fought for me. You risked your life just for me. Sure Will ended it but you were the one who did have to deal with mostly all of it.”

He looked away with this shame look on his face, “I almost lost though. You don't know how much it hurts to not be able to protect you. He would have came for you next.”

“You think I wasn't afraid when I saw him almost kill you?” I asked. I grabbed his chin and made him look at me again, “Killian, we should be happy we're both alive and safe.”

“You must think I'm very weak.” he said.

I scoffed, “Of course not. Look how long you did lost fighting against him. He's just an older wolf, their all stronger. I was actually scared of him and you know I'm not scared of allot of things.”

“He's still out there Mat and I'm sure he's really pissed now.” he said and I nodded, agreeing with him. “He's more determine to kill now.”

I wrapped my arms around him as I hugged him, “We'll figure it out.” I said and I found comfort when his arms went around me, holding me tightly.