Marcus

This is the one time of day that I actually feel free. I feel the wind brush past my fur, the winter chill biting into me. I love it. The smell of the forest surrounds me and my wolf howls with joy. I love this time of day. The time of day where the sun is setting and the trees are aglow. The forest is more alive than ever, now that night is descending. These moments release me from my paranoia. These moments release me from the dark memories of my past. My paws lope up the side of a mountain and my hind legs are working hard. My breaths come out in soft pants. I love this release, I love how fast I can run and how strong I feel. I love the control. After Leon and I fled our old town, I finally shifted. It was exactly like my pack mates said it would be. Liberating. Powerful. Wondrous. I was fifteen back then. Two years later and the feeling never gets old. Lost in your own world again, Evie? I chuckle and swerve around him. His greyish white fur almost blends in with the snow that crunches below us. He yips and we pick up our speed, almost reaching the top of the hill. The setting orange sun warms my fur and lifts my spirits. We jump over a fallen tree and I stumble. My legs give out below me. I can hear my brother laughing in my head. He's four years older than me and acts like he's twelve. I growl at him playfully and nip at his shoulder, getting a head start. I'll race you! I mind link him. I'll beat you. He catches up and we are off. Our legs move so fast, we're neck and neck. He bucks up to me as we stumble across a clearing and I howl in surprise. My legs give out, yet again, and I roll across the snow. He laughs and prances in a circle around me. You are a horrible runner. Yeah, because I'm in four inches of snow! I roll up to all fours and chuckle with him. Suddenly, his yellow eyes catch something behind me and he stiffens. I glance in the same direction and feel my own heart quicken at the sight. Four extremely large wolves have stopped tearing into a dear carcass and they are staring right at us. Their menacing glares are hard and unforgiving. One even steps away from the bloody meal and leans into a crouch. Shit. I think they're rogues, Leon. And we're in their territory, he finishes and I see him take a tiny step back. I quickly follow in suit. The action is enough to set the four rogues into a wild, ravenous hunt. They push off, forgetting their food and start sprinting after us. Leon and I take off, pushing through the snow as fast as we could, and take a sharp right. The forest is dense, and luckily the snow isn't as thick as it was in the clearing. My heart clenches when I hear a nasty snarl not to far behind us. The noise is enough motivation for my brother and I to pick up our pace. We dodge boulders and fallen trees, trying every way to get rid of them. If they catch up to us, we will be murdered, torn into shreds, all because we hadn't realized that this area was claimed. I silently curse myself, wishing I had been more careful. I could have picked up their scent if I had paid more attention. Evaline, we have to split up! What? Are you f*****g crazy? I cry in protest and swerve around a tree. The growls are growing closer. This is the only way to throw them off. We can meet in the middle, just don't stray too far from this path. And with out another word, he vanishes into the forest. All I can see now is his silver fur and two sets of red eyes trailing closely behind him. What the hell? Why had he done that? He knows that I am not capable of a chase like this. I was a late shifter, and I still haven't found my mate yet. I wasn't in the greatest shape to survive this unexpected hunt. And my common sense was practically screaming for me to just give up. I just needed to turn myself over and end this quickly. No. I thought to myself. I'm not letting this go. I push on, urging my legs to move faster. My heart is pumping quicker and my breaths come out in shallow gasps. I need to get away from here. A series of barks sound off behind me, a little too far behind me, and I dare myself to look back. The two wolves are being tossed around by a larger one. The largest wolf bares it's teeth, jumping in front of the monstrous animals, blocking their path to get to me. They immediately stop and surrender, showing submission and loyalty. I come to a halt, snow flying all around me and sticking to my fur. That wolf was giving commands like it was nothing, and the rogues were quick to obey. The Alpha. Fear spikes through my heart and I slowly back up. And when he turns around to glare at me, I shoot off, sprinting as fast as I possibly could, despite the howls of protest behind me. The freezing snow slices my paws, and my lungs beg for more air. Why had that alpha stopped his wolves? I had been in the wrong. Leon and I had been trespassing, and as much as I hated to admit it, we deserved punishment. We should have known better. So why was the alpha protecting me? I glance over my shoulder to see him racing after me, a look of determination etched on his face. I growl and push myself harder, not willing to give up just yet. No! Stop. The alpha mind links me, and I stumble. His voice...the hot energy plagues my mind and dances around my subconscious. His link was so strong with mine. How is that possible? What the f**k was going on? Instead of complying to his demands, I push forward, trying so hard to ignore the fire in my muscles. My legs were screaming for me to stop but I couldn't now, I had to get to Leon.. As alpha, I COMMAND you to stop! His order sends shock waves through me, but its not the command that makes me stop. It's the strength of our connection. Its how clearly I can hear his voice. Images flash through my head of all the ways he could brutally murder me, and my legs give out. I try to suppress my terror while my heart beats out of rhythm. This was finally it. If not my father, it might as well be him. I was going to die. I grit my teeth and keep my body low to the ground. I have to get myself out of this. I have to survive. I see boots in front of me suddenly. He has already shifted, but I don't dare look him in the eye. All I can see is dark jeans, a dark green t-shirt and a leather jacket. Who ever this cruel alpha was, he was definitely young. Not much older than me. But no matter his age, he still posed a threat to me. Good bye, Leon. I mind link to no one in particular, but hope my brother gets the message. I love you. "Shift." The alpha commands, and I hesitate before following orders. I know my thin, grey sweatshirt and leggings aren't enough to keep me warm in this weather. I shiver immediately after I shift, the arctic winds sting my eyes and I feel a few tears escape. I let out a shaking breath and keep my gaze down, but out of the corner of my eye I see him kneel down next to me. I see his hands turn to fists, his skin quivering with anger, adrenaline, energy. Who was this guy? He grabs my chin suddenly and pulls my face to look at him. My face is directed towards him, but my eyes still don't meet his. I do not want to see the face of my killer. I just want this to be over with. "Look me in the eye, girl." How. Dare. He. I keep my offense to myself and slowly bring my gaze to his. Our eyes lock and the world slows around us. I've never...He is so handsome, and his green eyes are gorgeous. I suddenly forget the fact that he is an alpha of an independent pack, I forget about Leon and the fact that I am shivering to death. The only thing I can focus on is how familiar the feeling of his skin on mine is. How it charges me with uncontrollable urges to run and stay. I feel sick. I blink hard when I feel my skin tingle under his fingers. "Mate." I nod slowly, fearing what would come next, my eyes never leaving his. "Yes." He stares at me for a few moments, and I am desperately hoping he will let me go and keep me here. Everything inside me is a whirlwind and I don't know what to feel. He leans in, and my heart speeds up. Will I really let this monster touch me? Will I dare to give in so easily? He is just a breath away. I pick up on the minty tones of his scent and it sends chills through my body. My mate is so beautiful. With chocolate brown hair, tan skin and green eyes he looks like perfection. It only makes him scarier. "What's your name, little one?" My throat tightens and I look away from him, trying to anchor myself to reality again. To think logically. This man is my mate, yes, but that does not grant me immunity to his anger. I crossed a territory. I posed a threat. And he's an alpha. Whatever would come next would most likely be very bad. "Evaline," I mentally applaud myself for keeping my voice so steady. My insides were definitely in a spin, something I didn't necessarily want him to know. "Evaline." My name rolls off his tongue with a hint of confusion. Like he's puzzled. He sighs and releases my chin and I'm grateful. I need to think straight. I need to survive. "Well, little one. It seems as if we are mates." He says this with a little bit of annoyance and I don't dare question him. I notice the others shift, but I still don't look their way. They're still pissed, still gasping for air and waiting to go at it with me. And the alpha wasn't expecting this. Does he not want me? Will he reject me? Will he kill me? The thoughts have me panicking as he starts giving out orders. "Kol, take Jarek and find Brady. I'm sure they'll have the other wolf already. He didn't seem very fast." Despite the rude comment, I suddenly become bold. "Please don't hurt him, he's my brother." I stumble to my feet and take in the other wolves my mate called, Kol and Jerak. They both have brown hair, but one is shorter and seems a lot younger. I immediately recognize him as an omega. He's the b***h of the pack, I can already tell just by the way he stands, the way he carries himself. But he nods automatically at me. "Yes, Luna." My mate growls. "You do not answer to her, Kol." I flinch but keep my head down. Luna? Oh, s**t. This can't be happening. "Yes, Alpha Marcus." So, Marcus is his name, is it? Marcus growls under his breath but waves Kol off, "It's fine. An understandable mistake." Mistake. "Contact Aspen and get him down here." They both nod and begin to jog off, but Marcus stops them one last time. "Make sure not to kill the boy." His eyes turn to me and I struggle to hold our gaze. "We wouldn't want to upset the little one, now would we?" Kol and Jerak run off, and as soon as they are out of sight, I boldly glower at Marcus. "I am not little." He seems a little surprised at my boldness. He walks over to me, slowly, and regards me intensely. Checking over my body. Assessing me. If I could have my way in a fighting ring with him right now, I wouldn't hesitate to beat his ass. "You're...what? Five foot?" My jaw clenches. "I'm five-one." He shakes his head and lets out low chuckle before glancing through the trees, surveying our surroundings. "Well, now that we've got that settled, why don't you and I take a walk?" He holds out his hand for me, but I don't take it. He seems offended as his arm drops to his side. "What's wrong?" Everything was wrong. But I couldn't let him see my weak spots. "I...nothing," I trail off, but he insists and rather dominantly. "Tell me, Evaline." I sigh and roll my eyes. "You know, you may be an alpha, but your ranking means nothing to me." He growls and suddenly sends me flying back, his hands on my shoulders and my back up against a tree. I snarl in retaliation and struggle against him. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" I let out a huff of frustration and keep my gaze level with his. He would not win dominance over me. I would not submit. "You are one tough mate, aren't you?" He asks, amused and takes a deep breath, his face inches from mine. "You smell good too." My jaw locks and I look him in the eyes, "Don't touch me." I shove him with every ounce of anger in my body, sending him flying back into the snow. He looks so pissed, so shocked covered in ice that I almost laugh out loud at the sight of him. Almost. "I need to see," Que embarrassing swallow, "my brother." Marcus leans up on his elbows and drags his eyes down me slowly, a look of curiosity in his eye and a fire behind his gaze. I have surprised him. Good. He starts to get to his feet, slowly, as if I was about to strike again, "Why did you push me away? I wasn't finished with you yet." I glare. "Marcus, I need to see my brother, and I barely know you. If you don't mind, I would like a little space right now." He is breathing hard and he balls his hands into fists, his eyes narrowing at me and nothing all at once. His body quakes before his anger gets the best of him. Then, out of the blue, he punches the tree we had just been leaning on. An echoing c***k bounces off the trees and I can't help but flinch at his aggression. It only makes me dislike him more. "Damn it, Evaline!" He says through gritted teeth. I stare for a few seconds, then stalk towards him, my voice low and demanding when I ask, "Are you throwing a temper tantrum?" "What?" He shouts. "Of course not!" He growls and runs his hands through his hair. I can tell Marcus has always been this way. Terrifying, intimidating. He probably thrives off the fear of others. That must be how he gets what he wants. I keep my voice even. "I need to see my brother." He lets out an annoyed sigh and takes my arm, leading me into the forest. "Fine, but this isn't over."