The Rogue Alpha

Alpha Jack was growling down at the young girl who was kneeling at his feet, her head bent forward as she listened silently to the slanderous words that the Alpha was spewing about her. Glaring down at the Rogue with unbridled hatred, Alpha Jack’s lip curled up cruelly as he sentenced her to death. The teenager flinched at his words, the first indication that she was scared about what was happening, she peeked out through her dirty brown hair, her tanned skin shivering slightly as she held in a sob. Straightening slightly, she gazed around at everyone who was watching her, hopelessness rolling off her body as each face in turn informed her that no one was coming to her rescue. Her brown eyes slowly moving over the guards, she focused first on Alexander before her gaze connected with Archer’s. Her eyes widened slightly, her mouth forming a perfect O as Axel started to jump around in craziness, ‘MATE’ he yelled in Archer’s head. Transfixed, Archer took a tentative step forward, ignoring his brother who was trying to grab hold of him, his whole existence drawn to the dark skinned woman who was watching him with fear but the barest flicker of hope. It took his father a few moments to realise that something was amiss, turning to his son and roaring loudly, ‘Archer, get back to your place!’ he yelled furiously, ‘what do you think you are doing?’ ‘Mate’ Archer whispered, his feet slowly moving him toward her. Jack looked from his son to the Rogue, his face contorting with fury as he screamed out, ‘grab him!’ Archer’s arms were grasped tightly as he struggled against his captives, his body shaking as he glared at his father. ‘Let me go! She is mine!’ he roared furiously, fighting to free himself as Alpha Jack stepped closer to the girl who watched him fearfully. ‘No son of mine will be mated to a dirty Rogue’ he growled, staring his son down until Archer had no choice but to avert his gaze in submission. His gaze moving to his mate, Archer stiffened as his father extended his claws and brought them down across the woman’s neck slicing her head from her body. Eleven Years Earlier The double doors burst open, the door handles slamming hard against the walls with an echoing thud as the short black haired boy dressed in shorts and a green t-shirt thundered down the hall toward the room at the end of the regal looking corridor. Out of the shadows jumped a twelve-year-old boy, his own black hair shaved into a military-style crew cut, his muscles already holding definition under his blue jeans and white top. Holding out a hand, he grabbed hold of the younger boy, steadying him as the ten year old stumbled from the sudden halt in his movements. ‘What are you so excited for Arch?’ the older boy asked, his eyebrow raised questioningly. Archer turned his deep brown eyes to his brother, barely contained excitement on his face, ‘to get father’ he burst out, ‘they caught a rogue! There is a rogue here Alex! Maybe dad will let us go with him this time . . Maybe we are old enough to see how he handles them.’ His older brother Alexander gave the young boy an endearing smile, releasing his shirt and patting him on the back in a friendly manner, ‘maybe Arch, you never know’ he agreed. The gilded double doors at the other end of the hallway swung open to reveal the dominating silhouette of the pack Alpha. The muscular man strode out of the office, heading toward the two boys who stood back nervously. ‘What is all the commotion boys?’ he asked sternly as he reached them. Alexander bowed his head immediately, showing respect, but Archer bounced on the balls of his feet, his hands behind his back as he beamed up at their father. ‘The guards, dad! They caught a Rogue’ he said immediately, his whole face lit up with hope. Alpha Jack grinned down at his youngest son, reaching out and ruffling his hair affectionately, ‘I know son, they mind linked me . . we can do that you know’ he added teasingly. Archer blushed slightly, kicking his feet as he grinned sheepishly, ‘yeah . . I kind of forgot’ he admitted. Alpha Jack laughed, his booming voice resonating around them as he grabbed both his sons and crushed them into his chest in a bone breaking hug. Releasing them again, he started toward the door that was still open from Archer’s dramatic entrance, hesitating for a moment, he turned back to his sons and said, ‘well I suppose we had better go and deal with our newest guest.’ Holding out his hands, he smiled widely as both boys cheered and grabbed hold of him with their own small hands, Archer almost dragging his father to begin with in his eagerness to see the big brave Alpha in action. Walking through the packhouse, the boys’ had too half run to be able to keep pace with the long strides of their father, as they approached the foyer their mother stepped out of the packs kitchen, an apron around her waist and a small dusting of flour on her left cheek. Smiling at the trio, she tipped her head to the side so that her husband could kiss her cheek, ‘and where are my boys off too?’ she asked, taking in the two children excitement. ‘We have a Rogue mum!’ Archer piped up before the others could answer. Luna Carol’s face softened as she looked down at the little boy, ‘really?’ she asked, ‘so why are you with dad then? Surely little boys should be safe in the pack house when someone unknown is on the territory.’ She gave her husband a pointed stare, the fearsome Alpha grinning back sheepishly at her with a small shrug of his shoulders. ‘They need to learn at some point my dear, Alexander will take over from me one day, he needs to know how to deal with all aspects of running our pack’ he replied. Luna Carol, placed her hands on her hips, ‘and what of Archer? He is too young to be involved in such things’ she said firmly. Archer’s face fell, his grip tightening on his dad’s fingers as he looked up at him beseechingly, ‘please? I want to go too, please dad’ he begged, his eyes clouding slightly. Alpha Jack looked from his son’s face to his wife’s and back again before giving the Luna a pleading look of his own. Sighing, Luna Carol threw up her hands, ‘fine, they can both come, but they stand with the guards! I want them out of harms way. We know most of the time that these people are just wolves caught in bad situations but occasionally one could be dangerous’ she growled, ‘I will not have my children put in danger Jack.’ She turned her attention to her sons, capturing them with her stubborn gaze, ‘you so much as put a toe in front of the guards, boys, and you will be straight back inside, do you hear me?’ she warned. ‘Yes maam’ the two boys chirruped back before starting to pull their father again toward to large oak front doors, their mother a few steps behind, shaking her head in amusement. Heading outside, the Luna removed her sons from their father’s grasp and steered them toward four guards who were stood to attention at the side. ‘Gentlemen, please guard my sons do not allow them near the Rogue’ she ordered. ‘Yes Luna’ the four replied immediately, bowing to her before they split apart so that the two boys could stand between them. Nodding in satisfaction, Carol walked back to her husband and stood to his right side, on the steps in front of their packhouse. Jack raised his voice to be heard across the group that had congregated nearby, ‘bring the Rogue forward’ he said with authority. Shuffling could be heard before a man with dirty clothes and matted hair was escorted forward, a guard on each side of him. His head was bowed and his hands were clasped in front of him whilst each arm was held by one of wolves, restraining him. Standing before the Alpha and Luna, Jack nodded to his men to step aside, releasing the Rogue who glanced up at him furtively before dropping his gaze again. ‘What is your name Rogue’ Alpha Jack commanded, his tone making his members shudder slightly. The Rogue merely growled low in his throat, not uttering a word. Jack’s wolf bristled at the blatant disrespect, pushing his human forward as Jack spoke louder, his Alpha aura seeping through. ‘I asked you a question Rogue’ he growled in warning. The Rogue shrugged, ‘what does it matter?’ he asked disinterestedly. Jack scowled, ‘it matters as your fate lies in my hands’ he replied icily. ‘I do not know what you have found outside of our walls, but here a Rogue is given the chance to speak despite our laws allowing us to kill you on sight. You will be judged by me and my mate, we will decide if you may integrate yourself into our pack, be released back outside our borders with a warning not to return ro will be killed.’ He looked down at the Rogue who had stiffened at his words, ‘we are aware that some Rogue’s are out there due to no fault of their own and we welcome them, some are there through choice and pose no threat so we let them go, and some are dangerous and need to be executed.’ The Rogue looked up, his eyes meeting the Alpha’s before flicking to the Luna and back again, ‘and where do I fall Alpha? Am I a good wolf or a bad wolf?’ he asked dangerously. Jack took another step forward, his wolf fighting for control as Luna Carol placed her hand onto his arm to stop him. ‘Please Jack, he has obviously been outside for a while’ she said softly before stepping past her husband toward the Rogue. ‘What do you think sir, do you think you are a bad wolf?’ she asked quietly. The Rogue’s grin widened as he shook his head, ‘no Luna’ he replied inching closer to her, ‘I don’t think I’m a bad wolf . . . I know I am’ he suddenly shouted before extending his claws and ripping them across the Luna’s throat cutting through her neck with ease. The Alpha roared in pain and fury as his mate fell to the floor, grasping at her neck, her sons screaming as they fought to run toward her but found themselves held back by two warriors each. The two guards that had accompanied him grabbed the Rogue as Alpha Jack fell to his knees desperately trying to stem the blood as his mate gazed at him in horror. ‘Don’t leave me my love’ Jack croaked, ‘please, I need you, don’t leave.’ Carol held his gaze, a small smile flickering at the edges of her lips as she shook her head imperceptibly before her eyes rolled back and she stilled. Jack stared down at her for a moment before a howl of anguish ripped from his chest, mingling with the cries of the pack at the sudden and violent death of their Luna. Standing up, Jack turned on the now smirking Rogue who was looking down at the Luna in amusement. Reaching out, Jack grabbed the Rogue and twisted his neck, breaking it with ease before dropping the lifeless body to the ground. Turning to his boys, Jack glared unseeingly at them as he roared out to all who could hear him, ‘all Rogue’s that enter our land will die by my hand, no exceptions’ before picking up his mate's lifeless body and returning to the pack house with out a backwards glance.