The Mark of an Alpha

Rogues Don't Walk In Packs

Rowan went to get closer. Alex didn't move. She couldn't. 

Jordan stopped him. "It's a Rogue. It's in their nature to look defenseless until they strike."

There's that IT word.

Rowan brushed him away. "She's a Rogue? She looks just like an actual wolf. She so small.. frail." He walked around Jordan. Sarah took to his side to get a better look as well. "We can't just leave her here."

"Sure we can." Jordan walked back up the slight embankment. 

"You're kidding, right?" Sarah looked down to her. "She won't make it."

"The wound is in it's chest. It won't make it anyway. And besides, it's a Rogue. What would we need it for?"

Jordan was very blunt with his feelings towards Rogue wolves.

"How about to question her about the other Rogues. If she is one, maybe she can tell us why they started hunting in a pack of their own?" Rowan looked up at Jordan, who was getting annoyed by the delibrate tones of his Betas.

He let out a sigh. "You're even starting to talk like an Alpha. Fine. We'll bring it. But I'm not touching it!" There's that word IT, again.

Sarah kneed down next to Alex, and stroked the grey fur by her ear. "Don't worry," she said. "We got you." Those words sound like a distant memory. Alex closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she was in a cage, laying on the cold floor. Still a wolf. When a wolf is injured in human form, they can not turn into a wolf until they are healed. If injured in wolf form, they can not turn back into a human until they are healed. It's like their body is in a state of shock. 

"Tell me, Little Wolf. What brings you to my land?" Lucas looked down at her. Her eyes wandered the floor of her cell. Not looking at him. Afraid to look at him.

She felt weak. Unsure of what to do. Why did she chase that rabbit? How could she have wandered so far? If this Alpha didn't kill her, her mother certainly will. She whistled a high pitch whimper again, in fear and pain. 

"Maybe you'll be in a more talking mood tomorrow.." Lucas walked away from the cage and up the concrete stairs.

Oh Alex, she thought. What are you going to do?

The next day, Rowan came to her cell, with some scraps on a plate. "Come on. You need to eat."

She slid her body into the corner, taking heed of her injury. She growled at him, showing teeth. Trying to be agressive as she can in her state.

He sat on the floor, sliding the plate under the bars. "Please. Eat." 

I'll eat you! She thought, snapping in his direction, refusing the food on the plate.

He let out a sigh and stood up. "Soon you will shift back, and they will question you. You better save that strength for then." He walked to the stairs. 

Alex just layed back on the cold floor, not turning her back to the door.

He shook his head and walked up the stairs. As he left the cellar, he was greeted by the Alpha. 

"She's an Alpha, you know." He made it a statement.

Rowan looked back to the cellar. "What? But she's a Rogue. Jordan even said. That's why she's so small."

Lucas shook his head. "An Alpha can always sense another Alpha. Even one as old as me," he snickered and walked away.

"So you think she was kicked from her pack? Why else would she be a Rogue." Rowan followed him.

Lucas stopped. "I'm not sure. But I intend to find out."

Rowan looked back at the door.

When Alex awoke, there was a sheet over her, covering her nudity. She was back to her human form. 

"Good morning." A voice spoke. It made Alex jump. "It's ok. It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." Sarah came to sit at the floor. Her auburn hair, just grazing her shoulders. "I'm Sarah. What's your name?" Alex looked around, there was a bandage placed around her chest. Blood had begun to soak through. "Do you even have a name?" She asked. "Can you even talk? Do you know how?"

"Yes I know how!" Alex said coldly.

Sarah let out a sigh. It was almost relief.

"Well I'm not sure what you remember. But we rescued you. You were shot."

Alex looked down at the wrapping.

"Oh that," Sarah explained. "I did that. There was a lot of blood when you changed back so I, ugh, cleaned you up a bit and wrapped it. I also gave you the blanket. Incase you were cold." She slid a plate between the bars. "I also brought you food, incase you were hungry."

Alex looked at the food then to Sarah. She really was hungry, and given her circumstances there really wasn't much of a choice. Alex picked the plate up and gave it a sniff.

This made Sarah giggle. "I'm not much of a cook really, but pasta I can make really well. I hope you like it. I'll bring you some clothes when I come back." She stood up.

Alex looked up at her and watched her walk towards the stairs. "Alex," she said. It made Sarah stop. "My name... it's Alex." Sarah gave a smile that Alex couldn't see and continued up the stairs.

Alex ate quietly.

The clothes Sarah brought for her were slightly bigger for her size, except for the pants. They were too short. Considering that Alex stood a few inches taller than Sarah, this wasn't surprising. Alex cuffed up the pant legs.

Rowan entered and she wrapped the blanket around her, making herself as small as she could on the floor.

"Where's your pack?" 

Alex sat quietly.

Rowan let out an exasperating sigh and looked up to the doors. "We really don't have time for this, they are on their way here to question you. So you can speak to me or them. Either way, they want answers."

"I don't have a pack." Alex put plainly.

"They don't believe you. So I'll ask again, where's your pack?"

"I don't have a pack." She said again. 

Rowan had enough. He crouched to the floor and screamed about her pack and again she gave the same answer.

She shook her head, repeating it again and again. "Why won't you listen to me?" She exclaimed.

"Listen to me!" He screamed, and he reached in and grabbed her arm. As he did, something happened. A surge of energy went between them both, awakening their wolves. You can see the amber in her eyes glowing as the sea blue in his pooled. Mate! The wolves said in. unison, in their heads. It made Rowan let her go. Alex back into the bars as he did. What was happening.

Just then the doors opened and Lucas, Sarah and Jordan entered. Lucas looked down to see a surprised and scared Rowan. His eyes turned to the cowarding girl in the cage. "Come with me, Little Wolf." Jordan opened the lock to the cage door. 

Alex stood slowly, shaking. She walked passed Rowan, who was still confused and startled on the floor. 

Sarah knelt at his side, "Rowan. Are you alright?" 

Rowan, she thought. His name is Rowan. 

As the entered the main hall, Lucas opened the front door, motioning for her to exit. Slowly, and carefully she does. The sunlight burns her eyes alittle.

"Not used to your human form?"

Alex shook her head.

"No." He continued. "From what I gathered, your people grow accustomed to your wolf. As if that's your true form. Your true nature."

Alex said nothing.

"Tell me. Little Wolf. Why are you here?"

She looked up at him then back down to the earth. "I..." she struggled to find her voice.

Lucas raised and eyebrow to her then looked up at Jordan. "I was hunting for food. I was chasing a rabbit." She continued down the steps, her gaze to the earth. "I didn't mean to.. I didn't know I crossed boundary lines. I stopped to get a drink and caught the smell of a human. That's how I knew I was too close to the city. I went to run, but.."

"But you got shot." Lucas finished.

Alex nodded.

"And your pack?" Lucas asked.

There's that pack question. It made a confused line across her forehead. "Sir?" She looked up at him. "Rogues don't walk in packs."

He walked around her, studying her. "But you weren't always a Rogue?"

This really made her confused. "My mother is a Rogue. I was born a Rogue."

He stopped surprised at her answer. She really has no clue! He thought. "Is that a fact? Very well." He motioned with his arm. "You're free to go."

"But Sir." Jordan interjected. 

"What? You heard her. She's a Rogue and the Rogues don't walk in packs. Aside from her mother, maybe they're the only Rogues close to this region. We will just make sure they keep off boundary lines."

Jordan opened his mouth then closed it. He wouldn't dare question his Alpha.

***

Rowan was left shaking on the cellar floor. Sarah knudged him. "Snap out of it!"

He looked at Sarah with his eyes wide. "Sarah... We have a problem."

"What?" She looked confused.

His eyes focused, still with the look of shock on his face. He got up as quickly and ran up the stairs. 

"Rowan, what's wrong?"

"It's her." He stated, his voice winded. "It's her." He went through the door. "Wait!" He screamed, running out the front door. "Who is your pack?" He cleared the stairs, landing his feet to the ground.

"She said Rogues don't walk in packs.." Jordan was trying to catch Rowan up to speed. 

But Rowan cut him off, "I know, you have a pack, so tell me. Tell me who they are." He grabbed her forcefully, angrily, and stared as if he could see through her.

"Let me go!"

Lucas and Jordan both grabbed him as Sarah watched from the doorway. It was as if Rowan would rip her to shreads. "Tell me!" He screamed.

"Take him away!" He ordered Jordan. 

Alex was afraid. By the time Lucas turned back to her she had changed back into her wolf form and ran far into the woods.

"She can Quick Change..." Lucas said with a sigh. Why is an Alpha a Rogue? Alphas don't just become Rogues. They would sooner die. So why her?

She ran as fast as her paws could carry her, bounding over rocks, dirt mounds, and dodging tree after tree until she his the Outlands of the Territory. Her home.