Chapter 1
“Fuck, Goddammit! What am I supposed to do now?” I angrily yelled at no one in particular. I was alone, there were no vehicles, houses or animals anywhere. I thrust my hand into my blonde hair and pulled hard with frustration. I was sitting in the driver seat of my car, I put back the key and tried the ignition, the engine roared to life only to sputter and die again.
I tried again for the umpteenth time to start my car engine which had suddenly died in the middle of nowhere. The car was an old Wrangler my brother had gotten for me on my seventeen birthday. I had relied on it for years and it had never failed me until now. I had a full tank, my tires were all new. I had checked the engine oil and it was okay.
I don't know what to do, I don't want to leave my ride here,there was no way I could call for a tow truck, with no service. I either have to wait here and catch a lift or trek to the next town which is twenty miles away from where I currently am. Normally I'm not scared of the dark,I'm a big girl. Not to mention I am also a predator. A werewolf, prey ran away from me not the other way around.
But standing here with my car parked at the roadside in the dead of night and the middle of nowhere is raising the hairs on my nape, and I have a reason to be cautious. I narrow my eyes letting my wolf sight survey our surroundings. Something cold fell on my bang then another which distracted me. I raised my head up and even in this situation I couldn't help but feel awe at the sight before me. It's snowing, it's magical, beautiful snow flurry falling all around me.
Suddenly I miss Nicole, regret and sadness make my heart ache. I wish she's here with me so I could see her eyes light up,Nikki has always loved winter, she's probably watching the snow too. I didn't know how many minutes I took just standing there while snow fluttered down from heaven, to touch my body and finally the earth.
Winter is finally here. I hope this winter will be the year my sister finds her mate, someone who would cherish and protect her,make her very happy as she deserves.
The most celebrated and life changing event that every unmated wolf is looking forward to is finding their mate, that half of their soul that would complete them, love them and protect them no matter their inadequacies. It's the most significant day of every werewolf life, even a rogue like me so…yeah I'll pass.
As a she wolf of course I believe in mates and the bond between mates, I'd witness my parent's love and devotion for each other until death took my mother and left my father to waste away in a lifetime of physical and emotional agony.
So yeah I might probably be the only wolf who is not looking forward to meeting her mate. Now, if fate would be kind enough to schedule our meeting in the next two decades then my wish will finally come true. Nicole on the other hand has always wished for her mate, and I pray she gets what she wants but even better than she expected.
As for me, I don't think I'm ready for a mate just yet. The hair on my nape rose again, that tingling feeling of being watched came back to me, my wolf instinct is telling me something is off. That we should get the hell out of here. I obviously agree.
I got back in the car, rolled up my car windows. carried out my backpack which contained all my important stuff and slid it on,got out of the car then I locked the jeep. Wind blew up ruffling my blond bangs against my forehead and the shoulder length hair around my oval face. I bent down and took off my combat boots, put it inside the backpack then stood back up.
I let my canine slide down from my gums, my claws elongated,I was mid shift. I knew without looking at a mirror my eyes would be a glowing ice blue. My wolf eyes, instead of just ice blue which was my human eyes. I sharpened my senses and tried to reach out to any unusual sounds or smells. I could smell pines.
Sandalwood which is weird, and… Wolves. Plural. Suddenly my hackles was up, my stands was defensive, I am fucked! I can't fucking fight against one alpha much less three Alphas and all at once. I knew there were three because there were three distinct smells plus that weird sandalwood scent I wanted so much to investigate.
But I'm not an idiot, I don't know who these wolves are and I don't intend to find out. I've heard rumors about the ruthless alpha who rule this part of the South and his sadistic beta. He's known as the Mad Alpha, I'm not fucking stupid to let them tear into me. To them I am nothing but a rogue who has entered their territory without permission.
To packs all over the world that's a death sentence, wolf packs can be ruthless which is the reason we, I mean me and my older brother are not part of a pack, though Nicole my twin sister lives with our maternal uncle who is the beta of the Oakridge Pack, he'd taken her in after our father was killed by a feral rogue.
The humans who knew of our existence always make the mistake that a rogue is a wolf that has gone feral but that's not true. A rogue is a lone wolf, we are loners who aren't bound by pack laws, which also means we aren't protected by their laws either.
A feral rogue however is a lone werewolf who has lost his conscience,either because he lost his mate or he's lost his humanity and has given in to his wolf. But the judgemental packs and their Alphas still treated us like the plague.
A feral werewolf on the other hand is a wolf who is part of a pack but has gone feral, either due to the loss of his mate, or some tragedy which might make a werewolf withdrawn from himself and give in to his animal half. I'm neither of the above and hope like hell they would realize this and leave me the fuck alone, I doubt I could outrun them though. But I'm bloody well going to try.
I've heard from Nikki that Packs are strict and have laws of their own, sometimes these laws are totally primitive and unreasonable. I hate living in a place where my movements will be monitored and I'll have to ask for someone's permission, that's not me. I enjoy my freedom way too much to wish for a mate this soon.
I live by my own rules,I haven't stayed in one place longer than two weeks,though there's a reason for that it's also because I enjoy my nomadic lifestyle. Living in a pack will be cumbersome for someone like me. That however didn't change the fact that I want to find my mate but only when I'm ready, which would probably be the next twenty years. Hopefully he's a rogue too. We could go on an adventure, explore the world together, and live a care free life.
My heart pounded with anticipation, I have heard what packs do to rogues from my father. I'm not going to suffer through that brutality,I rather jump off a cliff than face the torture waiting for me at their hands. I will have to run if I want to survive. My stubborn wolf for once was in agreement, I know I will have to change fast and run even faster and harder than I have ever run before in my life.
The instant the change came over me—changing my five feet four inches into my average size wolf with black fur and tufts of white on its flank and hind legs. I bolted. It was then that the wolves hunting me showed themselves, three huge alpha wolves,and a man with white as snow hair.
The wolves were all black and way bigger than me that scared the shit out of me and made my wolf pump her legs faster. That sandalwood scent tingles our nose, raising the fur on my wolf. As we try to outrun them.
They chased after me like the hounds of hell, growling and howling. I howl back and speed the fuck up. Knowing I'm a fucking dead wolf if I got caught. My backpack swinging at the side of my flank. I always lose my clothes after I change but never my backpack. Probably because I wasn't wearing it.
I jumped off fallen trees and branches, skidded down a hard as fuck rock and dug my paws into wet slippery earth and snow that has started blanketing the world. My tongue lolled with my efforts. My wolf was strong and very fast almost as fast as my brother Chris, Nicole (unfortunately hasn't even change into her wolf yet, she could only midshift) but I was beginning to get tired and the fuckers are still after us.
I reminded my wolf of every horrible rumor we have heard about the Blackrock pack. And the things they might do to us, because I suddenly had the feeling she didn't want to run, she's distracted by that sandalwood smell and I am too but we can't slow down what if what we both thought is wrong.
I shook that feeling and thought aside, my wolf pushed on even harder than before and was starting to gain, and put distance between us and our chasers. Suddenly one of the wolves jumps on my back tackling me, we topple over together and at the same time we get up and begin to circle each other baring our fangs to each other. He growled at me.
I growled back, he didn't try to attack me, only howling for the others. Seeing him up close I realized. He was a dark gray wolf not black as I first thought, he's obviously the fastest amongst them, the others weren't far behind us.
I snapped my canine at him trying to take a bite from his forelegs. He yipped, then growled at me, he was an Alpha, my wolf knew that but she doesn't act well when backed in a corner.
My wolf snarled at him to my surprise he quickly backed off, cautiously watching and circling me trying to find a weakness, I suspect. I didn't realize until it was too late that the others were upon us. The sneaky bastard has been stalling while the others catch up to us.
They all circle me, snarling and growling. Three big black werewolves were all Alphas, then I saw him, the only one in his human form. Strong powerful alpha vibes cascading from him stiffly the air all around us. My eyes fixed on him, a towering height of mass and pure muscles. With the most arresting golden yellow eyes I'd ever seen.
My wolf bare his neck submitting which is enough to tell you how dominating this fucker really is, I'm not an alpha but my wolf is pretty high in the hierarchy. I'm a dominant werewolf but even I know enough to not piss off an alpha. Even the other Alphas were intimidated by this Alpha, who was staring at me with yellow glowing eyes.
“Shift mate,” the blond growled, taking a few towards me. My wolf howled then took a step towards him. Don't! I screamed.
