Chapter 1 - Trespassing
~~~~~
Book 1 of The Rogue Beginnings Series
~~~~~
Conner
Rain.
That was all I could hear, all I saw, all I smelt and it'd been that way since before dawn, so to say I was soaked was an understatement.
But, it worked to my advantage as it covered my scent and presence as I walked through the wilds; I never did know who might just be trying to track me, even after a decade. And at 6'11 with a broad, muscular build I was hardly inconspicuous, so any advantage I can take I would, lessons I'd learned living as a rogue these past nine years.
I had been traveling from around 5am, I would estimate, it must be past mid-day by now and the rain had finally let up. I should stop soon and try to eat and drink, luckily the weather had ensured my canteen was filled with water, but as for food I'd need to shift to my wolf, Colt, to hunt. I was still on unclaimed land so hunting wouldn't be an issue, I just needed a suitable spot to leave my clothes and backpack where they could at least dry somewhat while I hunt.
If I could keep up this pace, I should arrive at my destination in a few days' time. Not that I was particularly looking forward to it. This was something I knew I would have to face at some point, no matter how much I dread it. It had been nine long years that I had spent in exile since I was chased from my home pack, for a crime I was innocent of, a crime committed by my own brother; the murder of our Alpha and Luna...my parents.
That night was still carved in my memory, the sight of rogues, the smell of blood, the fear of our pack, my mother's face as her throat was torn out and my father's broken howl as he held his dead mate till a rogue, without contestation, snapped his neck.
Every step I took towards the Black Forest packlands brought those memories thundering back.
I couldn't help letting out a deep sigh and taking in a deep breath to ease the sudden melancholic sensation washing over me...wait...that scent...fuck, wolves!
Two of them and approaching fast.
The rain had virtually stopped by now so I could hear and smell better, their footfalls suggested they're in human form and the scent, stronger now, suggested...pack?
This was way too far out to be Black Forest wolves, the nearest pack would be Silent Rivers but what would their patrol be doing out here in unclaimed land?
I decided to hold my position to show I was no threat and that I knew they were there.
"You're trespassing rogue, what're doing on our land?" the patrol guard states and I don't miss the venom in his tone as he says 'rogue'.
The two of them give me a once over, trying to gauge how difficult a threat I was going to be. Judging by the subtle defensive stance they took and facial expression trying to stare me down, they were a little intimidated. And I didn't really blame them.
Not to sound egotistical, but I was a big guy and with my hood up from the rain and huge beard from being unable to shave for months I must have the whole 'wild, mountain man' look. I took my hood down, luckily my longer hair was tied back out of my face, and I held my hands up as a sign of peace.
"Sorry, I didn't realise I crossed pack borders. With the rain and all it must've masked the scent markers. I'm not any danger and I'm not here to cause trouble" I said with sincerity, because it was the honest truth.
Damn rain must have dulled the scent markers of the pack land boundaries. s**t, that meant the Silent Rivers pack must've expanded their territory in recent years, which would explain why the territory markers would be dulled by the rain. f**k, this was all I needed, getting detained by the neighbouring pack.
I saw the two guards glance at each other and one look into the distance briefly, must've mind-linked each other before linking someone else.
Please, for the love of goddess, don't say the Alpha is on their way, I internally prayed.
"Alpha's on the way, you'll wait right here under our watch. Try anything and you're dead."
Well s**t, just perfect.
I gave a tight nod and crossed my arms over my chest. Welp, I don't really have any choice now. I could take these two easily and just leave. And I was pretty sure they knew it because they looked slightly uncomfortable. But I really didn't want to injure them, they were just doing their duty.
Yarrow Saloman was the Alpha here when I was still in my pack, he was a real good friend of my parents. I only met him the once when I started going to Alpha meetings with my dad at 16, that was about 8 months before my life went to s**t. I remember he kind of looked like he belonged to another time period, like he should have been on a Viking battlefield wielding an axe at his enemies. His appearance betrayed his demeanor though, he was incredibly kind, jovial and seemed to have a great sense of morality, no wonder he and my father got on so well. Yarrow was an older Alpha even back then, I was sure he was around 80 when we met and would be around 90 now. Werewolves being incredibly long-lived, reaching over 150 years old, he would have passed for a 50 year old human. Would he even still be Alpha? I was sure he only had one child, a daughter I think.
The guards and I stood in silence for a good while, must've been close to an hour, when my wolf suddenly started to stir and become restless, which was highly unusual. For an Alpha wolf, Colt was surprisingly quiet, laid back and composed, much like myself, so we worked together in complete sync and rarely clashed.
'What is it? What's got you pacing?' I asked him.
'Someone's coming. Someone we want' was all the reply I got.
The f**k's that supposed to mean?
But before I could dwell on it any further I heard the footfalls of someone approaching and an incredibly powerful aura...the Alpha was here.
And like a hammer I was hit with an intoxicating scent of fresh peaches, 'MATE' my wolf practically howled. My arms slowly lowered from across my chest, I felt like I had no control over my heart rate or breathing and I couldn't take my eyes off the figure in front of me.
The Alpha of Silent Rivers was my mate!
