Her Mates: Three and Some

ROGUE IN UNCLAIMED TERRITORIES.

I rejected Steffan as my Alpha and renounced Windy Harbor as my pack as soon as I stepped out of their territory, feeling a sense of relief flood my veins as all the connections that bound me to the pack tore.

It was a very painful, very frightening experience, but my eyes were surprisingly dry even with the devastating tragedy I had endured today.

But I couldn’t think about any of that.

I couldn’t bring myself to think of whether my mother would get the befitting burial she deserved.

I couldn’t bring myself to think about the fact that I was an orphan. Heck… I couldn’t even begin to process the fact that I was rogue just yet.

It was all still too much.

For days, I roamed the woods, not knowing where I was going, but certain that wherever it was, it was totally far away from the life I’d left behind, but I had to be careful. And so, I mostly moved during the day, climbing the highest of trees to mask my scent and keep safe from other werewolves who were rogue like me at night, seeing as they had the comparative advantage of actually knowing the lands and having their wolves to protect them.

I was seventeen years old, and so I still didn’t have mine yet, and for now, that seemed to be the only thing I was looking forward to.

For food, I ate wild fruits and berries, and for water, I drank from dew covered plants and one creek I happened to see nearby at one time.

My wounds were almost healed, and I wasn’t as overcome with grief as I was in the earlier days anymore.

I guess reality was starting to set in, filling me with a new, weird kind of hope.

But all of that changed the night they caught me.

I had been by the creek, where I’d taken off my clothes and washed them, desperate to take the smell of sweat and blood out of them.

Somehow, the beautiful cool breeze and the just right temperature of the almost setting sun lulled me to sleep, one of the most peace-filled ones I had had in a while.

By the time I was jolted awake, it was already night.

Fuck.

I had quickly put on my clothes, desperate to seek cover before they came prowling the lands, but as luck would have it, I was already surrounded.

I could hear the rustling of leaves and the cracking of twigs, and I knew they were near. The unfortunate part? I didn't have time to climb a tree or find a hiding spot.

It seemed I was going to have to rely on only my instincts and my wits to get me out of this f****d up situation.

There was a loud howl, and then another, and then another, and then they began to appear in sight, encircling me… creatures that looked like a cross between wolf and humans, their glowing eyes and feral snarls sending a series of chills down my spine.

Lycans.

Mama had told me stories of them growing up, but I never once thought that they actually existed.

Instinctively, I took a defensive stance, ready to fight for my life even though I knew that trying such a move was probably a very stupid decision.

I was scared to death, but they didn’t need to know that? And so, I feigned confidence, trying to look tough, but we all knew that without my wolf to back me up, I was at a complete disadvantage, but heck… even if I had my wolf, I was still not sure there was much I could have done anyway…

There was the fact that I was an Omega and not of the strongest specie for one, and then there was also the fact that there was only one of me and several of them.

This was definitely a lost cause.

The leader of the group, a broad, menacing, certainly Alpha male Lycan with a scar across his left eye, stepped forward, his head c****d to the side in interest.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here?” He sneered, his voice dripping with malice, all contorted as it tried to maintain the balance between beast and man. “If it isn’t a wee little werewolf pup, prowling dangerous, unclaimed territories at night.”

A tiny snarl left his lips, “Tell me, is it that you have a death wish, Princess?”

I clenched my fists, trying to hide the fear that threatened to overwhelm me, knowing very well that I had to be careful with my words and actions.

These were Lycans… rogue, powerful Lycans.

And now, while I didn’t know much about Lycans, I was willing to bet that they were just like rogue werewolves… totally unpredictable and dangerous. Oh and did I mention powerful?

And so, I said, “L—look I mean no harm, please. I am just passing through,” I explained, a brilliant idea popping up in my head, my voice steady despite the rapid beating of my heart. “I just need to find my Pack.” I lied between my teeth, “I snuck out, and someway somehow I got lost.”

“Well, too bad for you then, pup… no one found by the great Alpha King Ares lives to tell the story. All werewolf territories in this vicinity were warned, you made a mistake coming out tonight.” One other Lycan boomed angrily. “You die tonight!” He announced the verdict.

But I was undeterred, this was a battle for my life, I needed to put every fear aside and fight.

“No offense, but you do realise that had you not told me who he was, I would have had no f*****g clue, right?” I asked, trying to come off as pleasant and curious, realizing a little too late that perhaps I should not have added the cuss word if pleasant and curious was the look I was going for.

Excited chatter broke out among the group of ten, everyone muttering one thing or the other at my harmless question.

It seemed no one questioned the Lycan who seemed to be second in command, and the fact that I just had, had probably come across as some spectacular phenomenon, but all the whispers seized when the so-called Alpha King Ares raised a furry hand.

“She does have a point, Goro, you were the one who gave me away, so spare her life.” He declared.

Turning to me, he came closer, and closer, until I could feel his hot, fiery breath atop my head as he towered over me. “You have spunk, Princess, I’ll give you that. But do be careful, else one of these days, it’s going to get you killed.”

Why was everyone telling me this?

He stepped back after what seemed like ages of inhaling me in, his giant, dark wolf head c*****g to the side again, a look of confusion and curiosity gracing his features for a split second before they disappeared.

“The closest werewolf territory is just a few miles away from here.” He growled at me, “Go towards the tall oak tree behind you, it shouldn’t be hard to miss.”

With a grunt, he started to walk away, the rest of his pack trailing after him.

“Wait,” I called out involuntarily, totally surprised with myself, even as my request made him stop in his tracks, “Why are you helping me?” I asked curiously, taking a few steps closer.

One of the Lycans growled wildly at me, and I shakily stepped back, scared and unable to hide it.

But I still wanted to hear his reply.

He ignored me though, continuing his steps away from me.

But then, just when I’d almost lost hope, I heard him say, “Because I like you, Princess… and because the rogue werewolves who would return once I have passed would not be as lenient as I have been with you. Go home before they do.”

With those words, he took off in a run, he and his frightening pack vanishing into the moonless night.