Once Rejected, Twice Denied.

Chapter Six

TESSA POV:

A tiny ray of sunshine pokes through an opening in the trees above and forces my eyes open. A few blinks is all it takes for me to rush into a sitting position as my mind becomes flooded with the memories of what happened last night and the shitty situation I have found myself in now. I try to take slow breaths to ease the excruciating pain in my side, but it doesn't help and when I lift my top, I see that my whole rib area is a deep and angry purple.

"Great. Just, great!"

I say to nobody in particular and then lower the hoodie. Considering how shallow and difficult it is to breathe, I can only assume I have broken another rib or worse. My eyes scan over my surroundings. Dark, green and overgrown bush mixed with the stillness of a forest. You would never think that hidden in the beauty of this nature lurks rogues; An evil breed who are only out for blood. Just this thought alone has me buzzing with worry about what to do. If I am found by rogues, I will definitely be killed in the most torturous way and, with my body being in so much pain, I don't know if I will be able to outrun them. I sigh and peep over the rocks that have been hiding me. Only silence greets me, so for now I guess I am safe.

"Time to find some food."

I may not have a wolf, but growing up in a pack taught me how to survive in the wild. Us wolves don't need much, but food and water is high up there on the needs and I haven't eaten since lunch the day before with Aimee. A feeling of sadness ripples through me. Was the whole friendship a lie? Was yesterday just her way of buttering me up before kicking me out of the pack? I shake my head and stand up, my legs cracking from the stiff sleep and my back hunched over from the pain in my chest. The area is still clear, so I started walking forward, my eyes scanning over every bush for possible berries and my ears perked for the sound of water. As much as I wish I could huddle up under that rock forever, I know I need to find a safe place with more resources if I am going to make it out here alive. My feet drag me along no particular path and I carry on with the same routine. Scan my surroundings, pick up any sorts of nuts, beans, berries or mushrooms, listen to make sure I am safe, listen for flowing water and then keep moving. This is how it goes on for what feels like hours and hours and although my stomach is now filled with random stuff I found along the way, my thirst is beginning to become unbearable and I have never felt more filthy from all the sweating. Based on the sheer humidity right now, I would say it is well into midday and this means I have been on the move for quite some time. It takes forever before my eyes catch onto a small glimmer of water trickling down between some smooth stone on the forest floor. I quickly crouch down and lick up some of the water. The coolness is like medicine to my throat. Running water always leads to a water source, so with excitement and energy I never knew I possessed, I manage to push myself up and jog along the water trickle. The sound of the water becomes more and more prominent the longer I run and the air around me also more humid. I can smell the decay of forest leaves rotting from the moisture and I can see a mist swirling just above the canapes ahead.

"Yes!"

I push my body forward as a flowing river comes into view. I could cry. I feel so relieved. Not only does my whole body sigh out in relief as I plummet into the cold water, but my insides scream from the soothing feeling of my mouth sucking in as much water as possible. Goddess, I have never been so thirsty in my life. I look down at the pink hoodie and leggings I have on and start to pull them off. They are filthy, so they could do with a wash. There is a calmness by the river, which makes me smile and, despite the hollowness inside me from the events that I have faced, I feel somewhat at ease here. My fingers decide to take their time in the water as they rub away the filth of the journey to get here. I also wash my body and hair with a small pebble before just lazing in the water for a little bit. With my ears under the water and my eyes closed, I could almost pretend to be back at Full Moon in my usual bathing spot and floating in the water just like the other day. A pang of sadness runs through me as I imagine Keith's green eyes staring down at me and it is as if I am reliving his hot breath against my neck. After accepting his rejection, the enormous pain went away and left me with emptiness. I have never been wanted by anybody in my life, so I am not sure why I ever thought that just maybe my mate would want me. When I open my eyes, I notice the small glitter of light between the leaves above have turned orange. Sunset.

"Exactly twenty-four hours since I left."

I say to nobody as I start to drag myself out of the water. I have already spotted a small spot by a bush where I can sleep for the night and set up camp. Just a little further in is a rock where I can hang my clothes, which will be dry within an hour or two it is so hot and just above are some large leaves which I can use as a mat or blanket. I go about my business setting up and humming to myself as I start a small fire and make myself comfortable. Just sitting here on the leaves reminds me of my childhood with my mother. A sad smile creeps onto my face as I remember the many backyard camp trips that we used to share together. She was the one who taught me how to start a fire in the first place. She may have left me and that is something I could never forgive her for, but I cannot complain about my life before she left. It was normal. Her and I and our home were a happy family and she cared for me with such tenderness, making her abandonment even more sour to swallow. My eyes hover up now in the darkness above and silence wraps me up once again. I munch on a few of the seeds and nuts I found earlier in the day, saving half in case I don't find anything else in the morning, and then decide to check up on my clothes. Just as I thought, they are almost dry, so I decide to put them on again for my own sleeping comfort and also the comfort of protecting my broken ribs. All it takes is a few moments and I am blinking my way into a deep sleep. Another night in nature. My second as a rogue.

_______________

A sort of sizzling starts to creep up my leg and the prickling pain is enough for me to shoot my eyes open. A grizzly wolf with red eyes and hot, rotten breath is standing over me and he looks ready to kill me. It only takes me a few seconds to realize what is happening here. I was found. I was found by a rogue wolf and if I do not think quickly, I will be killed. My eyes try to look between the shifting shades of red and I scrunch my nose up from the vile smell, only causing the wolf on top of me to dig his paws deeper into my ankles and chest. I wheeze out at the pressure and lack of breath on my broken bones.

"Well, well, well..."

Another voice comes from behind me.

"If it isn't a little she-wolf taking a nap!"

The male voice comes into my vision now and then laughs as I wince again in pain from the claws digging into my leg.

"My, you are a looker too!"

"What should we do with her boss? She didn't even budge once yet."

"Not a fighter, eh?"

They all look at me now. The "boss" is tall with a big scar across his face and almost black hair. The other guy is short and a bit chubby, which is surprising for a wolf, but then I have never met rogues before. I open my mouth, but only a whimper comes out as pain starts to radiate through me. Goddess, I can't breathe.

"Sammy, lay off her chest."

The big wolf steps off me and it finally feels like I can breathe. Despite this, I can't move as they have silver chains on my ankles.

"Tsk. It looks like you have some broken ribs there, girl. Strange how slow you are healing for a wolf. Nevertheless, it makes our job a f**k ton easier. Round her up, boys. We got to take her to meet the Alpha."

My eyes widen and I find my voice when the bunch of smelly dogs pick me up. I try to wiggle my way out, but I know it's pointless. Goddess, I feel like an i***t for thinking I could actually feel at peace by the river. I thought I had secluded the place and hidden well, but now that it is morning and the sun is out, I see how open I really was.

"You also left your fire going through the night. The smell warned us."

The fire. I close my eyes in frustration. My body starts to sway and tears build up as I feel my chest concaving in agony. The one i***t even drops me and I scream as little black dots start to form.

"f**k, sorry little girly!"

"What you sorry for, you mutt? The Alpha will probably kill her for invading our territory."

More tears flow down my cheeks now as I take in what they are saying.

"Your alpha?"

I can't help but ask and the "boss" turns to look at me with an evil grin. His teeth are dirty and brown.

"Rogue Alpha. You are in rogue territory little wolf!"

A cold shiver runs down my spine. I have only ever heard myths about the rogue alpha. Legend says he is the greatest psychopath in all of the world, having killed over five hundred innocents. There was even a myth that he eats the liver out of his victims for extra iron. Bile rises to my throat at the thought and I must be pulling one hell of a face, because all of the rogues around me burst into laughter.

"f**k, he is just going to love you."

"You think if he kills her, he will first give me a little fun?"

The "boss" smacks Sammy over the head and he cowers in fear. My stomach threatens to turn inside out as we approach what looks to be a type of camp ground, which I assume is the pack and is crawling with red-eyed beasts who look at me as if I am a prized meal.

"Hmm, a girly!"

"Tresspasser!"

"Kill her and let us nibble on her flesh!"

"Can I keep her hair?"

Whispers ring from all around me, making my head spin and my anxiety peak. It isn't an unknown fact that when a wolf becomes rogue, they lose all that is left of their humanity and live only on their most basic and primal instincts and needs. This is why their eyes turn red and their smell insipid. Rogues are no longer wolves, but monsters.

We enter through a black door and my eyes have to adjust from the bright light. The bad smell intensifies and I have to breathe through my mouth as my body is dropped in a heap on the floor. A growl that is dangerously powerful vibrates the floor below me and my eyes turn to face the red eyes of someone I never thought I would ever meet. The same eyes that haunt every children's book and that reek havoc across the world.

The Rogue Alpha.