Rejecting the Alpha
Chapter 19

Kylie

I ran through the trails of the familiar forest, my wolf revelling in the freedom, looking for prey. I mostly lived by eating small animals in my wolf form or berries, but unfortunately berries were going out of season so I could only hunt to survive now. I understood I regretfully might have to move soon, since the prey was becoming thinner after a month of my presence.

As I trotted through the forest, the earthy scents filled my nose, but I didn't smell any fresh trails of small prey or anything else of interest.

Then the scent of rabbit caught my attention, and I turned to follow it, my wolf doing half the work as we trailed what would hopefully become our next meal. Through the underbrush I pushed, branches catching on my fur as I pushed through. I salivated at the thought of a full stomach.

So intent was I on my meal that I was caught off guard. There was an unfamiliar wolf up ahead. By his scent I knew instantly this was no animal.

My first fear was that the alpha had finally found me, but his unkempt appearance dismissed the notion. His eyes darted around a bit jumpily, marking him as a rogue whose sanity was no longer entirely intact and there was menace in his stance. My assessment was confirmed when the gamey scent of rogue met my nose.

I backed up slowly, trying to look like I could fight, but would prefer not to. His frame was larger than my own, but he was nearly skin and bones. He bared his teeth and howled.

I dashed away with the intent to get to my car. Once I was there I could drive somewhere far from this threat. My way was blocked by another pair of rogue wolves, a female and a male, and I was forced to run in the opposite direction of safety.

I tried to lose them by dodging and weaving and running through difficult terrain, but while I managed to stay ahead, I didn't gain enough distance to lose them entirely. With a curse, I realized that two more had joined the chase, and worse, I was heading directly towards Lightwood.

There was nothing else I could do, though, so with a howl I rushed through the scent of territory lines. I would probably die, but it would be better in the jaws of the pack rather than by the teeth of savage rogues.

It took only a minute for the pack to descend upon us, a handful of fighters who were presumably on patrol. I instantly crouched into a position of submission, hoping that the pack would let me go. Since I made myself look like the lesser threat, I was largely ignored as the pack warriors first faced the hostile intruders.

In a few moments the threat of the other rogues was gone, either dead or captured, and it was only me and the pack.

One of the fighters transformed into a human with soft brown eyes and a handsome sculpted face. I forced my eyes not to wander lower. "Transform so we can speak."

I didn't have much choice, so I did, kneeling on the ground, keeping myself as covered as possible, although none of them ogled me and for that I was grateful.

"Who are you?" he asked. "You smell of a pack, but not exactly. Are you newly a rogue?"

"I am."

"Why did your pack expel you?" he asked.

I inhaled. "I ran away. My former pack wasn't..." I didn't know how to explain it. "I ran, and then I've been living here in the forest for the last month, until these rogues found me and I had to flee from them. I didn't mean to trespass. I'm sorry. If you let me go, I'll leave and not come back."

He crouched down to my level, his reassuring voice washing over me. It was dangerous to feel safe in the situation I was in, but I somehow did even though I needed to stay on guard. "I think you should speak with our alpha."

Even the word alpha made me shiver, but I didn't think I had much choice. The Lightwood alpha had a reputation for being even-tempered, so I would probably be fine, now that they did not seem to see me as a threat. "Okay," I agreed, and then we both shifted back to our wolves.

I followed the wolf leading me. His scent was incredibly appealing and I wondered if I had just been missing the contact of other werewolves.

After a bit more than a half hour of running, we reached the heart of the territory. It reminded me of my lost home, maybe because it felt safe. I had not felt safe in what felt like a long time.

I was provided with clothing and I shifted, quickly dressing before standing up. The man who had lead me back emerged as well, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. A full head taller than me he smiled down encouragingly, "I'm Vander, the Lightwood delta."

I smiled back. "I'm Kylie."

"Good to meet you," he said, holding out his hand.

I took it, and the warmth hit my nerves like lightning. I was confused for a moment. What was it about him? If I had not already found my mate, I would have sworn that this man was the one. I blinked in bewilderment.

Our hands released, and he looked at me for a long moment, his brown eyes flickering with something similar to what must have been in my own. So, he felt something, too?

It was very strange, bordering on impossible.

He guided me into the large building that was clearly the pack house. The alpha's office was in the centre on the main floor, so it took only a few moments to get there. Vander pushed open the door with his elbow and motioned for me to precede him. I did.

The Lightwood alpha was an imposing man, taking up a large part of the room with his muscular bulk alone. He seemed to be in his forties, and he smiled at me slightly, but not coldly. "Please, sit down."

I took the chair indicated. Vander shut the door and took the one beside me and I was glad he stayed.

"I'm Alpha Timothy of Lightwood.

"I'm Kylie, it's good to meet you."

"So, I hear you were inadvertently chased into our territory?"

"Yes, Alpha," I said, using my most respectful and deferential voice.

"I was also informed that you fled from your former pack?"

"Yes, I did."

"Which pack was that?"

I swallowed and lowered my eyes. "I'm not sure I should say. I don't want to go back, and I think knowing might risk your pack as well."

"Hmm. I promise that it will go no further than Vander, my luna, and I."

My fingers gripped the arms of the chair. "I really don't want to go back."

"I promise no one here will force you to go back there if you don't wish to go." He caught my eyes. "No one will force you to stay here, either."

Tears welled up in my eyes at his words and I couldn't quite stop them. I wiped my hand with my sleeve. "Sorry."

"No, don't be."

I drew in a shaky breath. "I was at Stonemason."

"Stonemason." His voice did not reveal what he thought of that information.

"Before that, my pack was Glenhaven." I sniffled.

"Glenhaven." He sounded regretful. "We heard of the Glenhaven massacre. Were you there?"

I nodded.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

I shook my head. It certainly was not his fault.

"How did you survive, may I ask?"

I swallowed. "My mate was at Stonemason and he found me once everything was over."

The alpha and delta exchanged looks between themselves.

Finally, the alpha spoke again. "I want to give you the option of staying here and joining our pack, if you wish. You're free to leave at any time, however. We don't hold innocent wolves against their wills, even rogues."

More tears ran down my face at his words. I tried to compose myself. "Sorry, I was never so weepy before. I'd really like to, but I don't think it's safe for you. My mate...he's powerful, and he's not good."

The alpha smiled at me, and it somehow reminded me of my father, which did nothing for my emotional control. "You can stay, nonetheless. If there's a threat we'll meet it when the time comes."

I wanted to accept, but my mind filled with visions of blood and destruction. What if Alpha Gavriel found me here? What would he do to these decent people? "I c-can't," I said in almost a whimper.

The delta had been watching the exchange silently, but finally he turned to me. I met his eyes.

"Kylie, I don't know how it's possible since you said you've already got a mate out there...but I think you're mine."