Chapter 2

Intruders

-Alpha-

“Alpha, there’s some intruders at the border,” someone calls, and I jerk myself back to reality. I was thinking about my mate again. Or rather, my lack of mate. I’ve never had the mate dream, so I have to assume that I haven’t met them yet.

After all, there are two kinds of dream - the name dream, and the features dream. I have to assume that mine will be the name one, because it only occurs after meeting my mate. So, my lack of mate dream simply means I haven’t met them yet.

Then, there’s the features dream. That one occurs as soon as a wolf turns 16, so. It’s been a while since I would’ve had that one, considering that I’m 29, and still no dream.

I never considered myself to be mateless, and I never really minded. I mean, I’m busy running my pack anyway, so. Not much time for romance.

“How many?” I ask, rising from behind my desk, and pushing a blonde curl from my dark eyes. “Looks like one alpha, a few of his wolves, and then three rogues, whom they’re attacking.”

Interesting. Those rogues must have really pissed someone off to have an alpha follow them all the way here.

“And it’s not an alpha from the neighbouring packs?” The pack closest to us, is led by alpha Ceyden, but everyone in our packs knew each other, so I’m guessing this is someone we don’t know.

“Not from a pack that we know of. Should we intervene? It’s most likely that he’ll only leave once he’s killed the three rogues,” Myles states, looking a little cold. I know he hates rogues - after all, his mate, Caro, went through an awful experience at the hands of three rogues.

And, those rogues did the same thing to alpha Ceyden’s little brother.

Ceyden’s family is like a second family to me - he’s my best friend, and honestly like a brother. So, I’m not a massive fan of rogues either, on principle.

But, these rogues aren’t the same people. Those rogues were caught almost two years ago, and these ones could be innocent. Well. As innocent as three rogues being chased by an alpha can be.

“Let’s chase them out of our territory; if they want to take the rogues back with them, I don’t care. But, I don’t want another alpha in my home, unless it’s someone I actually know,” I decide, and Myles gives a curt nod.

Taking Myles and a few other wolves, the first thing I notice, is that the other alpha is playing with the rogues. In particular, the one he’s standing over, which looks like it has about as much life left in him as a grave.

But, this alpha isn’t just killing him. He’s making the pain last, because of what seems like a hatred for the two rogue women, who are also injured, but holding on more than the male.

When the alpha and his wolves finally leave, I make my way over to the conscious wolves, whilst Myles checks to see if the other one is alive. “Who are you, and what did you do?” I ask. I want to help these people, based on how pathetic they look, and how sadistic that other alpha was, but I won’t do anything which will put my own pack at risk.

The older wolf clutches whom I assume is her daughter to her chest, whilst the younger girl holds her bleeding arm delicately, pain etched onto her face.

“W-we didn’t do anything,” the woman says quietly, whilst the girl continues to sob. “P-please, he already killed my mate and s-son,” she begins, before is abruptly cut off by her own sobs. I have to assume that the other wolf is dead, based on the grave looks Myles is giving me.

“Why was he following you?” I ask again, although my voice comes out a little less harsh. “H-he wanted me to a-accept him as my m-mate,” the lady tries again, pushing through her tears. “I didn’t love him- I hated him, a-and I already fell in love with my h-husband, so we ran away,” she says quietly, clutching her daughter more tightly.

“And he’s been chasing you since then?” There’s no way an alpha would chase his soulmate for that long, why wouldn’t he just give up?

She nods, glancing over at where her son’s corpse is, before her body shakes with more sobs. “We had Rat after we’d been on the run for a year…h-he’s 25 now…it’s already been so long-“ she doesn’t manage to finish her sentence, suddenly collapsing into her daughter, who hasn’t stopped weeping since we arrived.

“Alpha, we found a pulse! It’s weak, but it’s there!” I turn around abruptly, staring at Myles, who suddenly looks triumphant. “We can’t move him though, he’s barely holding on,” he explains, his expression laced with sympathy.

I nod, turning to another wolf. “Run back to the packhouse and get the healer. You, get some more wolves, we’ll construct a make-shift shelter here, whilst we can’t move the rogue.” The two wolves nod, instantly running back the way we came.

“What are your names?” I turn back to the two rogues, who’re beginning to shake with cold as well as fear and sadness, and the come-down after the adrenaline leaves their veins also, I expect.

“Harriet, my daughter is Harli,” she begins, before her eyes flicker back over to her son. “I-is he really alive still?” She whispers, hope beginning to blossom in her eyes. I nod curtly, not sparing the body another look. It’s fairly gruesome, but I must say, I’m impressed he held on for that long.

I’m also surprised that he’s 25, unless Harriet is lying. I mean, even his sister’s wolf was larger than his. He’s about as runt-like as one can get.

“We’ll try our best to save him. You may all stay with my pack whilst he heals, unless he doesn’t make it through the night. After that, we’ll decide whether you can stay longer, if you should so desire, or if you move on again.”

Harriet gasps, bowing her head to me. “Thank you, alpha…thank you so much,” she whispers, tears falling from her eyes again. I guess it’s been a really long time since anyone was nice to her.

“What’s your name?” I glance down at the unfamiliar voice, realising it belongs to Harli. Her expression is resolute and strong, with plenty of determination heaped on top. She seems like a strong girl, if she had a decent night’s sleep and a hot meal.

“My name is Xabien.”