Alistair

I'm scared.

Actually, I'm freaking terrified. All I wanted was to chase after a "lost" pig. That's it.

I'm not looking for trouble of any kind and certainly not with pack warriors. Much less six of them.

If one on one is hardly a fair fight, you can imagine the damage this many can do... to me and Tristan. So, I'm very scared for my life right now.

As the warriors circle us, not leaving any possibility of escape, the only thought that occurs to me is to signal submission to them.

I can't fight them off and to start something now is practically begging for a horrible death. Tristan's wolf is showing teeth, in fight mode before the threat.

But I want to avoid any bloodshed. Mine or his, so I lower my head. I submit to them in hopes they take this as a sign that we don't want any trouble.

Though Tristan's attitude is not exactly helping matters at this moment. He refuses to submit, which angers the wolves salivating at us.

After an angry stare competition, Christian arrives in his human form - he ran behind us once we smelled the pig. He scented it too, naturally.

He looks baffled at the show down and the wolves also growl at him.

"Wow. Wow. Calm down, folks. Please, we don't want any trouble." - He said in a clear frightened tone, raising his hands up in a surrender stance.

Some wolves take a frightening step towards me and Tristan, not wanting to back down.

"We're sorry! We didn't know the pig was yours. You can have it. I swear, we mean you no harm. We live in peace. We don't seek any conflict." - Christian insisted in a frightened expression.

I nuzzle Tristan to submit as I do, but he resists. I whine, pleading to him with puppy dog eyes. Finally, he lowered his head in equal submission, much to growling threatening wolves.

After a moment, one of them starts shifting back into human. Five or six minutes later, a large man appears (naked) with furrowing eyebrows. We try to avert our gaze from his anatomy.

"Who are you?" - He asked Christian, who still had his hands up.

"We're just teenagers, hunting. I swear I didn't know the pig was yours. We don't mean any harm, I swear." - He replied, fearfully.

"I don't want to see any of you in our territory ever again." - The man said, threatening. He is strong and muscled. I can see why he's the leader.

"We're not in your territory." - He defended himself, to which the wolves growled irritated.

"Please, sir. I'm 16 years old. My parents are waiting for me. We just want to live in peace." - Christian argued, looking terrified at the strong looking man.

"If I see you again in our territory, things will not play well for you." - He threatened, just before he started shifting into wolf again.

Once he did, he howled and all the wolves left after him one by one in formation. I breathed out a huge sigh of relief.

Later, we took our hunt and went back home. I wanted to bathe first but now we need to take the meat before it starts to go bad.

After we shift back, we start to get dressed before we walk the short way home.

"You idiot! What did you think you could do against six trained wolves? Do you have a death wish?" - I barked at Tristan with all the anger I had bottled up since earlier.

"They were gonna attack us, what was I supposed to do?" - He defended himself.

"Not antagonize them. Beg for mercy! What good would your death do to anyone? Have you thought about that?" - I snapped at him, angrily.

Both he and Christian gulped at my words. But I'm seriously pissed off at him. This was deadly dangerous.

"I'm sorry, okay? You're right." - He lowered his head, regretfully.

"If it weren't for Christian pleading for our lives, we would probably be dead by now." - I said with a heavy sigh of relief.

The one in human form rule for hunting never came so in handy... Goddess, that was so close!

We might have encountered another rogue or two back in the past, but nothing quite as frightening as that, for sure.

When we returned to our families, we told them about our run in with the pack warriors. Momma was terrified for me. As were Tristan and Christian's parents for them.

Pappa hadn't returned yet because it's still midday and he wouldn't return until much later. We drank some water and broke for lunch with the rest of the families.

"I can't believe you were surrounded by six pack wolves, Ali. Even a skilled warrior wouldn't like those odds." - Momma said, while she fed my siblings. Since they're little, they're the first to eat along with Sarah's children. Then, the rest of us serve ourselves.

"Tell me about it. I knew we didn't stand a chance against them. My only choice was to submit and pray for mercy. But Chris really saved our lives." - I said, fear flashing my eyes as I think about it.

"Good on you, Christian. Quick thinking on your part." - Elodie commended. She is his twin sister.

"Yeah, I hope I don't ever face those people again. They said if they ever see us in their territory, it's not gonna end well." - Chris spoke with a frightened tone as he served himself some food.

"But you weren't in their territory." - His father noted, frowning at their words.

"That's what I said, pappa." - Chris spoke in a high pitch.

"These pack warriors are so arrogant. They think everywhere is their territory." - Momma said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Well, let's hope we don't see them in our territory again." - Sophia said in a joking tone.

"Not if we want Tristan to survive..." - I commented, getting wide-eyed freaked out stares from everyone.

"I said I was sorry!" - He exclaimed, aggravated.

"Son, the problem is not so much that you stood your ground. But it wasn't a fair fight. Ali was right to submit to them. It was the only play in that scenario." - His father spoke in between bites of his food.

"I know, pappa. I get it." - He agreed, feeling embarrassed.

I never felt so scared before in my life. There are many dangers in life as a rogue. We all know that. Some dangers I'm yet to face. But nothing is as dangerous as facing warriors.

That's why we don't go wandering into pack land. It's a death sentence for people like us. Even though we're not opposed to fighting for our lives if the need arises, we need it to be a fair fight not a slaughter.

After lunch, we helped the men with chopping the wood necessary to build the houses. It's a massive endeavor to take on, but we need something to protect us from the upcoming winter.

We can't exactly take shelter in the city. Though I wouldn't mind taking a bath not in the river.

Speaking of which, after hours working we still have to fetch some water in the river. It's a long walk, but unfortunately we can't shift into wolves to do it. We need to be able to carry the buckets.

As soon as we reached the water though, I practically jumped inside. So tired and sweaty. The boys do the same.

"Damn! I needed this!" - I commented while splashing around the water. The boys wholeheartedly agreed with me.

There's a beautiful waterfall not too far from where we're bathing. We like to go over there when we have time to enjoy ourselves - which is not that often, unfortunately.

"I really am sorry if I put our lives at risk, Ali." - Tristan told me with a guilty conscience.

"You didn't put our lives at risk. And it's water under the bridge." - I reassured him with a modest smile.

There's no point in dwelling on the issue and make him feel bad. It's over now. We're alive and well, thank Goddess.

Right now all I need is to enjoy myself a little more before we have to get back to camp. It's not good to stay in the woods too late at night.

We hardly have any natural predators, but you never know what it's gonna bump into at night.

I watch Tristan play with Chris for a minute and can't help but admire his body. Since we've been raised together since we were pups, we're all used to seeing each other naked.

There's not much privacy out in the woods, especially among werewolves. Also, as a rule we never do anything alone. So it's always the three musketeers doing everything together.

And sometimes teenagers get curious about stuff. Especially incredibly hot best friends.

I'm glad the river can conceal my nature right now. However, both Tristan and Chris stare at me for a moment.

"You know we can scent it, right?" - Chris said with a raised eyebrow. I blushed hard under their gaze. He's talking about the sexual attraction I'm feeling right now. Our body exudes pheromones when we're horny for someone and our sensitive noses catch it easily.

"Of course, I do. I'm not an idiot! But it's not my fault." - I defended myself, mortified.

"It's fine, Ali. Not a big deal." - Tristan downplayed it, blushing.

"I think the closer I get to be in season, the hornier I'll become." - I snickered, trying to defuse the awkwardness with humor.

Since I'm an omega, momma told me there will come a time when my body reaches its peak of maturity and I'll be struck by heat, attracting any males within my vicinity.

And when this happens, 'someone' could seed me and I'd become pregnant.

This caused me a huge shock when I heard it. I told her I don't wanna be seeded by anyone. I don't wanna get pregnant, not by Tristan and certainly not by anyone else.

"Do you know what you are going to do then?" - Chris asked me, curiously.

"Yeah, I'll lock myself up until it passes. I don't wanna be seeded by anyone whatsoever." - I replied, deeply committed.

"If you want, Ali..."

"I don't! I just said that!" - I cut Tristan off, angrily.

There's a clear difference between having a crush on him and wanting to carry his baby. I'm only 17 years old. I don't wanna carry anyone's baby. Goddess protects me.

After that awkward exchange, we got out of the river, got dressed and returned to camp carrying buckets of water.

I guess it's a good thing we're naturally strong people, though Tristan alone carried 4 buckets. Show off.

Later after we retired to our tent for the night, he whisper talked to me before we sleep. Though at this close proximity, there isn't any tone low enough for Chris NOT to hear us.

"You know, when I offered to claim you earlier, I didn't mean to sound like I'd be doing you a favor." - He started with a cheeky grin.

I laughed mildly at his words.

"Thanks for saying that. I know you much prefer to claim Elodie than me." - I told him. Christian took a giant inhale of breath, but said nothing.

"I don't, actually. She's a nice girl, don't get me wrong. But I think of her more like a sister, as I do Chris." - He informed me and I gasped in surprise.

"Really? I confess I didn't see it coming!" - I'm legitimately surprised at his revelation.

"Why not? I never demonstrated any romantic interest towards her." - He said with a 'duh' tone.

"Right. True. But it's not like you have said anything to the contrary either. I just assumed..." - I spoke with a somewhat relieved expression.

"Well, you shouldn't make assumptions." - He said with a mischievous grin.

"You're right. But that still doesn't change anything for me. I don't wanna be seeded." - I reiterated in a firm tone.

"That's fair. Do you wanna be kissed?" - He proposed with a devious smile.

Yeah... Who can resist such an offer?

We kissed for a good time before we drift off to sleep. I wanted to do that for a while now, so I'm in heaven kissing his luscious lips.

What can I say? I like what I see and I like it a lot. But that doesn't mean I'm ready for anything else.

In the next morning, over breakfast, I take my shot at some much needed sightseeing.

"Joe, would it be okay if I tag along your trip to the city or is it a father and son thing?" - I surprised both of them with my question.

Momma stares at me for a minute, wide-eyed.

"No, Ali. It isn't a father and son thing, you can come too if your mother says so." - He replied, not bothered by it.

"Why do you want to go to the city?" - She asked me, intrigued.

"I'd like to know where we're at. What the city has to offer. You never know when we're gonna need to go over there, pick up something for the kids." - I argued, using my siblings as an "excuse".

Momma smirked at me. She wasn't born yesterday, but offered no objections. However...

"But if you're going to the city, you're going to take money from pappa and bring back some things for us." - Momma stated, winking at me.

"He should be earning too, not parading through the city." - Pappa interjected in a snarky tone.

"Who's gonna employ a 17 year old? Plus, I don't want him in the city alone. He could go in season at any time. At least with Joe I know he'll be safe." - She argued, causing me to blush.

Damn, these omega genes are really messing me up!

"I'll watch over him, I promise you that." - Tristan's dad pledged to momma with a honest tone.

Pappa found work in one of the human farms in town. Depending on the season, they always need extra hands and they're oblivious to the fact that he's a rogue.

Soon enough, all four of us left camp towards the city. It's a long walk, better done in wolf form but not possible under the present circumstances.

Pappa went on to work as Joe, Tristan and I walked towards downtown.

I recognize we don't exactly have it easy as rogues. We often face hardships city people don't. It's a lifestyle not fit for everyone. And the walks are really long.

Some choose to be. Others are forced upon them. But I wouldn't trade my family and friends for the world.

They're the ones who would lay down their lives to help and defend each other. Goddess knows how momma would've survived having to raise me alone in the world.

Before pappa came along, I mean. She's lucky he did. He has flaws, sure. But some rogue families never stick together, so we're lucky in this regard.

And even though I'd much prefer not having to carry water for I don't know how many miles, it's the only life I know.

I walk around town, marveling at its people and places, stores I've never seen before. We get the odd look from one or two people at strangers passing through, but mostly it's just curiosity.

We also bought supplies for the camp momma and Sophia had asked for. I don't really understand much about pricing and cost of stuff, but fortunately I'm not alone.

I have the help from my people.

We might seem like a dysfunctional family at times, but we're all we got. The ones we can really rely on and understand what we're going through.

The few people I trust. Misfits living in a world that refuses to acknowledge them, to respect our existence.

The people like us.

A|N: I so love this song and KC. I have literally thought of it as I wrote the words earlier in the chapter and it fits perfectly with the theme.

Unrelated, this is my favorite pic of 'Ali'. It almost made the cover of the book.

That was a close call, Ali!

Unfortunately, this is not the last time his life will be in danger.

Something much worse is yet to come. Gulp!

Love,

Léo.