Clutching the stained motel sheets closer to my body, I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. With a quick glance over my shoulder I sighed, realizing Freddy was already gone. Hopefully, he was out getting us some breakfast or something-- my stomach rumbled in agreement.

I lifted my discarded jeans from the night before, and fished around in the back pocket for the pack of Newport's I'd picked up the other day. With a flip of the lid, I pulled a cigarette out and placed it between my lips. Just as I was about to lite up, the motel door flew open and a very flustered Freddy blew in with the wind.

"Alexis!" His tone was sharp as he called out to me. "C'mon, Love. Get up and get dressed," he instructed with a quick clap of his hands.

My own hand quickly shot up as I tried to shield some of the brightness of the sun. Goddess, I swore sometimes I was actually supposed to be a vampire instead. My eyes squinted on their own accord as I turned towards Freddy.

"Not again," I growled, scrubbing aggressively at my face as I watched him shove our few belongings into a duffle bag.

"I'm afraid so," he replied as he came to stand in front of me. Usually, his wonderful, British accent was like music to my ears, but right now it was laced with nothing but dread-- a tone I had become all too familiar with.

Bending slightly, he kissed the top of my head before handing me the rest of my clothes.

"The Alpha of this territory is on his way here," Freddy explained. "And he's not particularly happy that we snuck past his patrols."

I huffed before rolling my eyes in annoyance. "It's not like we're doing anything wrong," I grumbled.

"Except that we're Rogues, Love," he reminded me for the millionth time this week. "And that alone in itself, is wrong enough for them."

I sighed before resting my head in my hands. Rogue, vagabond, deplorable. We might as well have been labeled the scum of the Earth.

"Speak for yourself," I growled before grabbing the tequila bottle sitting on the nightstand. "If they picked up on anyone's scent, it was yours," I pointed at him accusingly. As far as anyone else was concerned, I was just along for the ride.

Freddy silently nodded his head, knowing it was pointless to argue. As I watched him scurry about the room, I began to feel guilty for snapping at him like that. He wasn't my mate-- if I even believed in such a thing-- and despite being a werewolf, he wasn't the most handsome or strongest I'd ever seen. Yet with me, the man was more patient than a catholic saint, and of course those perfectly kissable lips and experienced tongue made a pretty good case as well. In my book, Freddy was damn near perfect.

I took a long swig from the bottle in my hands and continued to watch him pack. As the golden liquid burned down the back of my throat, a lock of chocolate brown hair flopped over his hazel eyes. I longed to trace the stubble over his jaw with my finger, but now wasn't the time for that.

For the last twenty years, I had been fortunate enough to have Freddy by my side. With nearly seven billion people in the world, I knew the odds of him finding his true mate were slim, but that didn't stop me from fearing that one day, the possibility could become a reality. Suddenly, my chest tightened as the wolf inside of me howled in frustration.

And what about your own mate? She challenged.

As she paced incessantly inside my head, I noticed how she seemed a lot more restless today than usual.

What's wrong? I snarled. Afraid I might make good on my promise?

Regardless of the beast inside me, I refused to identify as a wolf. I have never shifted, and I swear on my own dead mother's grave, I will never submit.

I tossed my head back, taking another long sip of the tequila. When I finally found a way to rid myself of the pathetic beast, I'd do it. Without hesitation. Until then, I just needed to keep her weakened and chained up, making sure to never let her out. With a frustrated growl, I felt the connection fizzle out.

One day, I will find a way to kill you, I promised.

Discarding the near empty bottle, I slowly followed Freddy around to the back of our car. As I watched him throw our bags into the trunk, the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly prickled. We had done this a thousand times before, but something about this entire trip just felt off.

"We're going to be ok," Freddy assured me before pecking my lips. "We'll be back in Chicago in no time."

Glancing up, I smiled and quickly offered a kiss of my own. Sometimes, I swore Freddy could read my mind. A moment later, I was seated in the car. Starring out the window, and pressing my forehead against the cool glass. Just a few more miles, and we would be completely out of Stark Territory.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, placing my hand over his.

I watched his eyes dart to the rearview mirror and back to the road again before offering me a weak smile.

"Of course--"

Suddenly, I found myself lurching forward as all four tires screeched to a halt.

"Bloody hell!" He cursed as we swerved violently into a ditch.

I swore my life flashed before my eyes, and if it hadn't been for Freddy's hand against my chest, I probably would have gone flying through the windshield as we crashed into a tree. I winced slightly as my fingers gingerly pressed against the side of my head, but I was pretty sure that I was already healing. At least my stupid wolf was good for one thing, I thought.

All of a sudden, a rough pair of hands grabbed my waist, ripping me from the car kicking and screaming. My wolf sprung forward at the thought of us being in danger but I mentally beat her back-- now was not the time to shift. I looked up just as a dozen or so men walked out of the tree line. A quick sniff of the air and a glimpse at their glowing eyes confirmed they were wolf.

"Freddy, run!" I cried out as I struggled to get free, but I was shoved down forcefully into the dirt.

Strong fingers gripped the hair at the base of my neck, forcing me to look up as Alpha power rolled off the man before me in disgusting waves. He narrowed his eyes at me, demanding my submission but I refused to bare my neck. Snarling down at me, I caught a glimpse of his sharp fangs before he slapped me across the face.

With a sickening thud, Freddy's body was dropped to the ground in front of me. My wolf whimpered at the sight of him-- blood and bruises littered his body, limbs twisted in unnatural angles-- and even though he wasn't our mate, she still longed to comfort him. As my eyes roamed over the damage they had inflicted on this innocent rougue, I was reminded again of my hatred for these creatures.

With one final burst of adrenalin, I tried to break free, but I was shoved down into the ground face first. It was pointless to have even tried in the first place, but at least no one could say that I went down without a fight.

"Why are you doing this to us?" I cried, grunting forcefully as someone pressed their knee into my spine.

"You entered my territory without my permission," the Alpha replied simply with a shrug. "And now, you'll need to be punished."

"Territory?" I questioned. "Punished? But I-- I don't understand."

As I turned my face to the side, trying to keep the mud from flowing into my mouth, I could see that the Alpha was looking down at me in confusion. Enraged, but uncertain, he stepped forward and jerked me up to my feet.

"Wh-- what are you doing?" I asked as a couple of convincing tears fell down my cheeks. I really had done this performance one too many times.

Inwardly, I smirked as I watched the Alpha's pupils dialate before burying his nose into the crook of my neck. It wouldn't be long now, and we would be on our merry little way.

"You're unmarked," he muttered as he roughly released my arm. "And you're-- you're human?"

I stumbled back before looking up at him, rubbing the spot on my arm where he had released me.

"Of course I'm human." My wolf bristled at the insult. "You're not?"

The Alpha turned his back to me, putting some distance between us before turning to who I assumed was his Beta.

"What do you think?" I heard him ask in a hushed whisper.

"I guess it's possible," the Beta muttered. "After all, the mutt was only a rogue."

"We can't risk revealing ourselves to a human," the Alpha reminded him.

"Are you sure she is?"

The Alpha let out a deadly growl at being challenged before angrily puffing himself out.

"I'm sorry, Alpha." The Beta quickly bowed in submission. "I didn't mean to question you."

I was about to roll my eyes when a humming noise accompanied by white spots clouded my vision. A wave of dizziness racked my body and my eyes fluttered as the stabbing pain in my head intensified. This could not be good, I thought.

"She don't look so good," the Beta muttered, mimicking my own thoughts exactly. Eyeing me suspiciously, he and the Alpha walked back over. "You're not gonna barf all over us, are you?"

I could feel myself swaying back and forth as I looked up at him, choking back the bile that was quickly rising in my throat.

"I dunno," I slurred, answering him truthfully. "Are you gonna let us go?"

The Alpha looked at me before letting out a roar of malicious laughter.

"Why-- why not?" my voice croaked as my mouth had suddenly gone dry. I levelled my eyes at him and my wolf paced nervously in apprehension. There was something about this pack she just didn't like.

"It's complicated," he smirked. "But I don't fully believe you are who you say you are," he shrugged.

Well that was new.

"So what do you want us to do with 'em, Boss?"

I could barely hear the Alpha's reply as a heavy darkness suddenly clouded my vision.

"We'll take them to the dungeons," he instructed. "And tomorrow, when the King arrives, we'll let him decide."

Perspiration broke out across my brow as I struggled to keep myself conscious. I could feel my eyelids growing heavy, and I questioned whether I had even heard him correctly or not. As I looked up into his face, my grip on reality slowly began slipping away-- but I had to know what the hell he was talking about.

"What King?"