Three

It's been two days. I ran out of stuff to mask my scent but I was as far out as I would dare. There were too many rogue packs out there for me to dare go further. It would be like committing suicide.

I had shifted back and put on my emergency clothes from my bag but my supplies were limited. I made the bag up in case I ever had to go for a day, with an end destination. Not for living in the woods.

Unfortunately, I was living in the woods.

I had matches, water sanitizer and batteries for months but I was running out, or already ran out, of everything else.

I needed to join a pack but I know most packs don't accept rogues, and technically, I was rogue.

"How is everyone?" I asked Ben and he immediately replied.

"Blake! We miss you so much. Mom is fragile, you were right. They haven't talked since she yelled at him when you left. We're all camping out in my room. I'm trying my hardest to stay strong, but the whole pack house is silent and everyone is avoiding it in general. Nobody knows what, but they know there's something wrong here."

"Listen Ben, I need to know something."

"Anything, shoot."

"Will dad force Dana into mating?"

"I haven't brought it up but I've thought about it. You can't force a mating until both people are at least twenty-one, so Dana has a year."

"Oh thank god. Thank you Ben. I love you all, and I miss you guys like crazy."

"Ditto. Blake?"

"I only have a few seconds Ben."

"Okay. I just wanted to know, will we see you again?"

"I hope so. I really do."

"Okay, we love you. And we know why you ran. You deserve someone good Blake. You do. Oh! Watch out for rogues, don't even go near them, okay?" He said almost like a demand he was so worried but calmed down, "And if you need help, tell at least one of us. We're here for you." He was so sincere.

I've never heard my brother talk this much, this seriously, in my whole life.

"I will. I haven't stepped foot on rogue territory. And I don't plan on it. Thank you. I'll try to talk again soon."

"Sooner than two days, okay?"

"Okay. Love you guys." I blocked it out again as I felt my father try to communicate.

No way in hell that was happening, I thought.

I fell asleep under a tree in my wolf form a couple hours after my fire died out.

The problem with the pack link is that the alpha can hear any conversation he wants, if he focusses. The good thing about being the alphas first born is that I can block him out better than anyone else, because I'm the only one who can.

I woke up to the sound of paws breaking twigs about fifty yards away in the direction of the pack house.

They're patrolling.

I was close to the perimeter which meant that they would patrol by here every night and about twice a day.

Shit!

I didn't want to go on rogue territory but I didn't want them to smell me.

Too late, I thought as I heard my pack members mention that they found a wolf near the perimeter. It was weird because I was in the pack, so they were telling me about me.

I wanted to run for it but knew it wouldn't go over well.

They called the other werewolves patrolling where they were as they crept closer.

I packed all my stuff up and hid it in a bush. It wouldn't be helpful because if I ever ran again they would know where, but I didn't want to shift or carry it in my mouth as a wolf.

"Wait, I know them." One said and a few others agreed.

"That's alphas kid."

I growled and they came closer, dropping their guard.

Wait, if they don't know, then I could just act like I was out for a run, I thought. I shifted back and dressed quickly.

"Calm down, its just me," I said to them.

One shifted back and apologized, "Sorry, we thought you were a threat."

"Nope, just running," not a lie, I thought.

"Sorry again. Have a good night, and be careful, there are a lot of rogues just past there."

"I wouldn't think of going that far."

"Good. I'm Doug, but everyone calls me Duke."

"Blake."

"You're the alphas daughter right?"

I nodded hesitantly, I hated admitting it.

"Oldest too right? So you're alpha next?"

I laughed dryly, "Yes oldest."

"Okay, sorry to bother you."

I smiled and nodded.

"See you around".

I nodded and started running the opposite way and they spread out again. I looped back around and crawled in for the night in the same spot.

"You'll see me sooner than you thought," I told Ben through the pack link as I woke up to the sound of pack wolves close by.

"Did they find you?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry Blake."

"Me too."

Three guys in wolf form from the pack came up to me, "Alpha wants see you." He said through the pack link.

I knew he was my fathers third in command. He was arrogant and acted like an alpha when no one higher than him was around. My father liked him but I never have.

Not shocking.

I shifted and started running back. It was more of a jog but I wasn't in a rush. There was one ahead of me but I kept running more to his right, which I don't think he was happy about, and two behind me.

I knew I couldn't run forever, but a month or two would've been nice before I convinced another pack to accept me.

"Mind me asking why we had to track you down?" The smallest one asked through the link.

He can ask, I can't stop him, "No."

"Mind answering?"

"I did."

"Why did the alpha have to get three guys to track his daughter down?"

"Because I ran."

"Why?"

"Are you mated?"

He seemed shocked but answered anyways, "Yeah."

"And do you love her?"

He smiled and I could almost feel his love for her radiating off him, "Hell yeah. She's my world."

"Is it wrong of me to want the same thing?"

"No..." he trailed off.

"Well alpha doesn't agree."

"He's mated!" Which got him a scowl from the top in command.

"I know." I guess nobody else knew how their true relationship was.

The third in command spoke up, "Do you know why he wants to ally?"

Is he really defending the same alpha who doesn't even love his mate? Let alone his family or pack?

"No." I replied honestly, "I didn't let him get that far."

"Wait, he's making you mate alpha Caden to ally packs!" The smallest one said.

"Yeah."

"That sucks."

"Tell me about it." I sighed.

The top in line growled, "There's a reason for it."

"I still shouldn't be forced to mate with him. I get that we don't have fated mates any more, but it would be nice to choose."

"You're father chose."

"My alpha chose to give away his daughter for a business deal."

"It's for the good of the pack."

"No, it's just good for him. He will use any excuse to get rid of me."

Nobody argued, they all saw how my father was around us, especially me, they knew it was true.

"It's not an excuse," my father said as we got back to the pack house, "It's my reason."

"But you don't deny that it's to get rid of me."

"It's to form an alliance."

"Still no denying. I wish you would just admit that you're happy I'm leaving."

"I'm happy you'll be in the pack of someone I know is a good alpha." He said it politically correct and I realized Caden was within hearing shot.

"Any alpha is good in comparison to you," I snapped.

"Watch your tongue young lady."

"I can't." I turned on my heel and walked into the house. As soon as I stepped through the door mom and Dana's arms were around me. Ben was sitting on the stairs looking content, with just a touch of worry.

"We missed you like crazy," Dana said.

"I missed you guys too."

"You could've talked to us."

"I talked to Ben," I said.

"Still, it's nice to hear your voice."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean," mom said and I laughed. It felt good to be back here, but it was still quiet in the pack house. It almost had an ominous feeling.

The four of us walked out back and sipped smoothies as we talked about when we were younger.

It felt good to reminisce.