"Well... isn't that... just... fucking precious," one of the wolves nearby was slowly getting to his feet, having recovered enough to catch his breath, "A dyke and a pussy... match made in fucking heaven."

She raised her eyebrow, stepping in front of him and looking down at the young man before her.

Like all the trainees in this program, everyone was barely of age and none of them were over 25. They lacked skill and discipline, and even without her advanced education she could have defeated them all easily.

"A dyke that laid you out like a mere child - appropriate since you think like one too," she said cooly, tilting her head, "Who's the real fool?"

"Bitch!" he roared, launching himself forward.

Too slow.

She dodged his attack easily and brought her knee into his stomach with full force. Combined with his own body weight, which he'd thrown forward without reserve, he was instantly winded and easily tossed back to the ground where he'd just risen from.

"Cole!"

She snapped her head toward the voice, positioning herself in front of her mate protectively as she prepared for a new attack.

"It's okay," he said gently, drawing her eyes back to his.

She softened instantly under his gaze, though she stayed where she was.

To protect him. To keep him safe.

"What the fuck is happening?!" The older man, clearly related to the younger one that first called out, asked.

His aura suggests he's an alpha, but no alpha's aura can make her submit so she stayed in place despite the way he clearly tried to force her to her knees.

"They waited for you to leave, Alpha," Cole explained, gesturing to the many trainees on the ground around him, "They planned to attack me the moment I was alone."

Glancing over them, the two men before them were torn between being furious at Cole's words and the audacity of the trainees, and confused at how they all ended up rolling in the dirt instead of doing what they planned.

"I was saved by my mate," he said, looking at the woman who currently looked ready to shred both men without hesitation if Cole so much as hinted it's what he wanted.

The way she looked back at him warmly and his face softened under her gaze, it was clear that the mate bond was strong despite this being their first meeting.

"Your mate... the rogue?" the Alpha's son was clearly struggling to understand what was happening, but there was no doubt that the rogue that the border patrol alerted them had broken through and was barreling toward the training grounds was the very woman standing in front of Cole now.

They'd been called back because the rogue had seemed unstoppable... and the patrol simply couldn't handle it.

They'd failed to mention she was a she, or that she was trying to get to her mate.

"Ruth," she said quietly, studying Cole, "The rogue's name is Ruth."

"Ruth," Cole whispered, and everyone watched the woman damn near melt into a puddle in response.

"You broke through our territory's border patrol, Ruth," the Alpha said sternly, though his gaze was complex, "attacked our warriors and-"

"Yes," she said simply, turning her gaze to the alpha in challenge, "and I'd do it again. You didn't protect him. You didn't keep him safe. So I did."

They hesitated, looking at the group of trainees around them that was slowly making their way to their feet - no longer able to attack with the Alpha present. The hatred in their eyes making it clear what their intentions were without the need to pull the security footage.

"Humiliating to need a woman to defend you," one of the trainees grit out, glaring at Cole.

"More humiliating than being beaten by that very woman in a single strike?" Ruth asked casually, barely glancing at the speaker, "More humiliating than needing to go 20 to one to defeat someone?"

Ruth was used to being hated for not being feminine enough. She was a natural warrior - naturally bulky and nothing like everyone wanted her to be. Too tall, too strong, and too intimidating for most fragile male egos when she stood before them, she had heard every small-minded insult from the lips of men.

It was why her mate rejected her, and why she went rogue rather than stay in that pack. Why should she remain, their strongest and best warrior, when they hated her for that very accomplishment?

She never expected a second chance, but she adored her mate already. He was like her... he was different, and was used to facing the world simply for existing outside the standard they judged him by. She could see it in his eyes, in the weight that kept his shoulders down even as he'd prepared to face the inevitable defeat by the cowards around them.

No more. She'd keep him safe.

"Fuck you, bitch! You took me off guard!" he roared, lunging at her before anyone could intervene.

Not that she needed them to.

He was on the ground again, wheezing and coughing from the blow to his abdomen before anyone even registered she'd moved.

"It would appear," she chuckled, watching him squirm on the ground as the Alpha and his son nearby gaped at her, "You are still off guard, then... even when attacking first."

"Ruth."

The sound of her name from his lips had her softening instantly, turning to look down at the man she'd protect as long as he accepted her... if he simply let her stay...

"Thank you," he said gently, slipping his hand into hers.

She blushed - something extremely unusual for the woman, and strange to see on someone so tall and muscular - yet that blush made Cole smile warmly at the effect he clearly had on her.

She was perfect. Everything about her was perfect, and he was already head over heels for the woman smiling down at him.

She didn't so much as flinch as men and women rushed into the training grounds and surrounded them. Not trainees and far more of a match for her in this number, yet not intimidating to someone of her caliber either. It'd be harder, but she would lay them all at his feet if he asked it of her.

"Ruth," the Alpha said her name cautiously, now aware that he wasn't dealing with a mere rogue, "I'm going to have to ask you to go with the warriors..."

"No," she said softly, reaching up and stroking Cole's cheek gently, "I don't think so."

She knew they couldn't force her, and they were all cautious enough after her display to agree by exchange of uneasy glances to wait before moving toward her.

"I'll be okay," Cole told her gently, cupping her hand.

"Do you want me to go?" she asked, tilting her head.

If he asked, she wouldn't put up a fight.

"No, but I don't want you to get into trouble," he admitted, "this Alpha is fair."

"No Alpha is fair," she chuckled humorlessly, ignoring everyone else, "but if you want me to go, I will."

"Where are you going to take her?" Cole asked suddenly, looking at the alpha before agreeing.

"She is a rogue, Cole," the Alpha said cautiously, his eyes darting between the two of them, "She... will be detained."

"And tortured? Killed? Or just left to rot indefinitely?" she snorted, eyeing the man with clear disdain.

"She's my mate," Cole said quickly, stepping closer and suddenly not comfortable with her leaving, "She came to protect me. She's done nothing wrong."

"She broke into our territory, Cole," the Alpha's son tried to reason, though even he clearly didn't think her imprisonment was justified.

"Should she have let me be attacked then?" Cole challenged, "If she listened to your rules without caring about context, I'd be bleeding on the ground right now and you would be gone without even knowing about it. Is that what she should have done, Don?"

Don hesitated, looking at his father questioningly because - well quite frankly, he agreed with Cole.

The Alpha also looked uneasy, looking around at the trainees that didn't show a shred of remorse for what they had done. He was right, of course - if the rogue breaking in hadn't called them back, they'd have been none the wiser of the attack until someone found Cole beaten and bloody later.

"Both of you come with me," the Alpha said finally, nodding in understanding that the situation was more complicated than he'd earlier acknowledged.

Hearing that, Cole's shoulders relaxed slightly and he released a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding. For now, at least, his mate was safe.

--

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