Chapter 3

Awakening

-Rat-

So, unless I’m in the afterlife, I don’t think I’m dead. I think I’m just…really lucky. To be alive. Peeling one eye open (the other really doesn’t want to open right now) I glance around hastily - what happened?

I don’t remember much from before I passed out, but I know that Harli was hurt- Harli was hurt. Moving onto my side (I can’t shift to my human form whilst I’m injured, so I’m stuck as a wolf for a while), I ignore the searing pain down the entirety of my body, and heave myself off the makeshift bed. It’s really a stretcher with some blankets and pillows on.

A fucking pillow. How long has it been since I used one of those? Well, like forever. When I was a little kid, like 7 years old, just after Harli had been born, we’d had a home. It was a really nice place, and I remember mum and dad being happy and laughing and smiling lots.

And then, we’d had to go back on the run when that fucking alpha showed up.

I hate alphas, I mean, they’re all power-hungry beasts who want to hurt my family. My family. I have to find them. I scent the air, trying to find some kind of clue as to where they are.

I don’t know how I survived, but I do know that my soul wasn’t ready to go yet. I saw something. A golden wolf, shimmering like a reflection in the water. It reached out to me, to my soul, urging me to get up.

I know who that wolf is; I’ve known since I was 16. My mate saved my life. Who my mate actually is, I have no idea, but I know what their wolf looks like. And I know it’s a fucking big wolf, a lot bigger than me. So, probably a guy then, unless there’s some girl out there built like a tank in her wolf form.

Which honestly, there probably is.

There’s another reason a wolf could be that large, which, of course, is the possibility that the wolf is an alpha. But. If my mate is an alpha, I’m rejecting them. I’ve spent my entire life running from alphas, and having one for a mate won’t change that- no, it would just put me in the same position as my mum.

Sure, if I loved them, I wouldn’t reject them, but- this is an alpha we’re talking about. I’m not exactly about to fall head over heels for one.

Stepping out of the tent, I easily spot my mother and sister in their human forms, speaking with a tall man with blonde curls and dark eyes. And, that aura. An alpha. Great.

Keeping my eyes (or eye, considering I can’t open my left one just yet) on the man, I walk forwards to my family. However, with my eyes on the man and my nose leading me to my family, I’m not looking where I’m going. As a result, I promptly trip over a log, landing on my side.

My injured side.

I don’t even make a sound, and just lie there as Harli and my mother come rushing over. “Oh my God Rat are you ok?!” Harli asks, crouching down next to me and stroking the top of my head gently.

I lick her hand, trying to see if her arm is alright. “I’m fine, it’s almost completely healed,” she says gently as my mother’s comforting scent wraps around me as she gives me the most gentle hug.

And then, she starts crying.

“I’m so sorry sweetie, this is all my fault- I should’ve never let you get hurt like this,” she sobs, stroking along my back, which is generally unharmed. I lick her face, trying to tell her that none of this is her fault.

To my surprise, that alpha voices my thoughts for me. “Harriet, none of this is your fault. You did your best to protect your family, but sometimes we need help from others to truly be safe.” He walks towards me, reaching out a hand, most likely to pat my head.

Unable to stop my reflexes, I snap at him, just barely missing his hand as he draws it back in time, looking surprised. “Rat! Don’t do that, he saved your life!” Harli chastises, but she knows why I did it. She would’ve done it too, if she was in as vulnerable position as me.

Plus, this guy didn’t save me. The golden wolf did. My mate did. Not this alpha bastard.

“It’s alright, I understand,” the alpha twat says calmly, touching Harli’s shoulder affectionately. Sorry. What?! How long have I been out?! No way is this guy crushing on my sister, holy shit.

Harli smiles apologetically at the guy, before turning back to me, and catching how I’m looking at her. “What’s wrong?” She asks, and I blink at her, before nodding at the alpha. Harli looks at me for a moment before getting what I’m aiming at.

Me growling at the alpha when looking at his hand on her shoulder probably helped her to get it too. But, you never know, maybe she’s psychic. “Oh- Rat calm down, he’s not- he’s like another brother to me.”

Oh my GOD. That’s somehow worse?! This twat has- I hate him. I really hate him.

Harli looks at me quizzically, but before I can complain anymore, my mother touches my left eye gently. I flinch away, whimpering slightly, and more tears spring to her eyes. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, sweetie.” I lick her hand as reassuringly as I can, but she doesn’t look pacified.

“Rat, you should rest some more, so you’ll heal faster,” the alpha says, and I cringe at the sound of my nickname- that’s what my family calls me, not some random alpha.

I growl at him, and he barely even bats an eye; he seriously doesn’t give a shit. I sigh as best I can in my wolf form whilst my mother chivies me back inside, helping me lie down on the cushions again.

“I’ll let the healer know you’ve woken up. You should be able to shift as soon as your wounds are closed up without the need of stitches; it’ll likely take a few more days, I’m sorry,” the alpha say, and he- he actually does look rather sorry. Huh.

“Get well soon, your family wants to talk to you properly,” he says gently as my mother kisses the top of my head softly. I nod at him, my eyes meeting his and lingering there. There’s…something familiar, about his gaze. Not like we’ve met before, but like…I know him.