I ran and ran non stop. The trees swish pass me as the I only thing left behind was my imprinted paw prints in the cold ground. The sky was dark and the wind cold. My fur pushed back as I ran even faster.
The leaves had small thin icicles on them. The grass had water drops of morning cold rain looking like silver drops. Winter was here and it showed.
My werewolf body was able to help me keep warm during my run. I could feel my eye sight slightly blurry as if I wasn't fully in control but this time aware. My hearing also muffled. I wasn't in control but I was gaining awareness of my surroundings.
Strangely it was only my smelling that intensified. Almost as if it wanted me to only focus on it, to find something or someone. I could still smell the aroma of the breakfast cooking in the buildings behind me and the blood I had spilled even underground. That's when I caught it.
Peppermint and sweet fresh rain.
It was similar to the smell of the forest around me now but at the same time entirely different.
It was the smell of a storm that occurred. It had the powerful electricity from the lighting. And the sweet water after walking through a dry hot desert. It was evocative the fresh vivid green grass after a rainy day.
I stopped the scent far and distant. I immediately set on following it back to the direction I just left. I sniffed the air following the scent to a modern two story brick house. It had floor length window and I spotted a French glass slide door form the back yard. Though it I could see a young man walking into the living room.
I howled realizing the scent came from him. He snapped his head to my direction eyes darting all around not seeing me. I stepped forward showing myself. His eyes widened as he stood shocked.
I cocked my head and started walking forward towards him. He stood still not moving. I got to the glass doors and howled when I couldn't get through. This time it seemed to snap him out of his state.
I could hear a muffling sound as he said something I couldn't understand. I whined not able to reach him. He slowly moved towards me shaking slightly.
When he reached the glass slide doors he hesitated looking down at me. I sniffed the air taking in more of his intoxicating scent.
He slowly opened the doors stepping out slowly. I stood a few feet away following his every move.
It was like a bucket of water was thrown at me. All my senses were immediately enhanced. But it was weird because it was stronger than even my werewolf abilities. This reminded me of after I first shifted how my senses heighten. Except this time it was so much clear.
My sight began to get sharper and clearer than ever along with my hearing that seemed to hear for miles and miles. I was still not in control and seemed to be acting on pure instinct. As he got closer, I could feel myself merging with my wolf and the fire. It swirled hot inside me but this time I wasn't afraid, I was curious to how I would react to my mate. Something told me that I wouldn't hurt him so I didn't fight and let the fire keep control.
He fully stepped outside looking at me curiously too. I took a tentative step forward ready to flee. I could hear his heart beat spiking up and out of control. His breathing coming out harder. I could see his hand beginning to shake. When I saw that there was no one else around, I ran towards him jumping on him taking us both to the ground.
My shoulder burned at contact. Not for bloodlust but for him. I sniffed his hair down his body when he shoved me away when I got to his torso yelling, "Hey!" I growled at him for shoving me which made him jump back away from me.
I jumped on him again this time rubbing myself against him mixing our scents to mark him as mine. "Rue? What are you doing?" He kept repeating. Once satisfied, I licked his face happily making him laugh as he tried to push me away playfully. He placed his hands on my head petting me. I felt sparks on my head as he petted me making me purr against him.
"Zeiden-'' I heard a voice call out from inside the house making me growl defensively. I pushed my mate behind me growling at the door and at the guy that appeared.
He looked at me confused then his eyes landed on my mark and his eyes widened. "Zeiden are you okay?" He asked my mate checking for injuries. He took a step towards us making me snarl at him. He jumped back immediately.
I crouch ready to attack curling back my lips showing my fangs to warning him. He kneed down bowing showing complete submission.
I looked at him weary backing away pushing my mate with me. "Zeiden calm her down. You need to let Rue get control back." The guy directed to my mate as we moved back.
I felt shaky hands on my back surprising me but realizing it was my mate when I felt the tingles. I turned as he ran his hands down my fur from my head down my body. I purred rubbing myself closer to him.
"Rue? Are you there?" He asked looking into my eyes as I pressed against him. I tried to get control back getting it easily because the fire was distracted.
My eyes turned back to my normal green ones showing I got control back. I gave him a lopsided smile barking at my mate. "Rue is that you?" He asked with a cute pout. I nodded nudging his hand. He petted me smiling.
I heard a cough behind me followed by Thomas's voice in my head, Sorry to interrupt but Alpha we have a situation.He said looking at me.
Wait out front. I ordered and he left. I turned to Zeiden who was already looking at me, "You have to leave, right?" He stated more than asked.
I whined licking his hand then I headed inside to my room. I had to turn once I was outside my room to open the door then quickly changed and was downstairs in seconds. I saw Zeiden in the living room waiting for me.
"I'm sorry. How about we order pizza for dinner tonight?" I asked stopping in front of Zeiden.
He bit his lip and sighed, "sure." I wanted to talk to him but knew that Thomas was waiting.
"See you later." I said leaving. Thomas was waiting outside mind linking someone. I got there and waited for him to finish.
"What is it?" I asked getting straight to the point.
"Rue, it's Mason. He found his mate." Thomas informed me in a serious tone telling me that isn't all there is to it.
"And...." I pushed him on.
"And...its the rouge we captured." He finished searching me face for my reaction.
I furrowed my brows pulling my lip between my teeth as I thought.
Okay. I didn't expect that. I need her to tell me more about Brandon's plan now that we don't have the other rouge. But....but it is Mason's mate.
I will tell you this. Before I found Zeiden, I would without a doubt have ignored the fact that it was Mason's mate that I would be half killing if the possibility of my pack was even slightly threatened but now.... Now I don't know.
It is Mason's mate and all I can imagine it what if it was my mate in that situation. I would fight to hell and back for him. I knew Mason would be torn right now because I have seen how loyal he has been to me since all those years ago.
He pleaded his loyalty with me. He was one of the guards back then that were controlled by Brandon. Brandon was threatening his family like various other soldiers. His father was one of Brandon's allies but he left Mason's mother and sister to Brandon's mercy. He had to become the man of the house since then and it was hard for him.
When I was locked up, he would talk to me about his family. Even though I never said anything back. It was one of the things that kept me sane during those days. I owned him.
"Where are they?" I asked Thomas my face blank.
"In the cells." The second those words left his mouth I was off to the cells. I ignored as he kept talking. "Alpha its a mess. The guards and Mason are at the brink of fighting." His only made me speed up my pace.
I flew down the stairs following the sound of shouting. I entered one of the cells on the east side of the underground jail to see it exactly like Thomas described it. The guards were blocking the door with their backs to me while Mason was shifted into his maple-leaf red wolf. He growled at the guards who were seconds away from shifting too.
Behind Mason was the unconscious red headed girl that stirred this problem to begin with. The rouge.
"Stand down!" I growled loudly form the entrance at all my men. They snapped their heads to me then bowed their heads stepping aside to let me pass through.
I looked forward to see Mason look at me nervously with golden eyes telling me his wolf was in control. He backed away from me but didn't bow his head and instead stood taller as I walked closer. The only reason a pack would disobey an alpha is for their mate.
"Shift." I ordered loudly to Mason's wolf. He looked back at his mate then at me with pleading eyes. I could see how hard it was but he ended shifting.
"Bring some clothes." I ordered a men from behind me without turning back. I heard the footsteps walk out the room.
"Alpha Rue, I am sorry. I will accept any punishment for my mate and even leave the pack but please don't kill her." Mason's wolf pleaded me. I looked into his eyes feeling his wolf still on guard for their mate and him, he was still shocked and lost between fighting his alpha or leaving his mate.
"Guards, you may leave." I ordered knowing that they would be surprised so I planned to have Thomas explain later. Mason's eyes never left mine waiting for my next order.
"Take her to the pack doctor, Mason. You may get her a guest room but she has to be watched all the time by you or a guard. Given past history with these rouges we can't let her escape or...injure herself." I said picking my words carefully. Mason looked at me shocked not saying anything so I took my leave.
As I walked out the door, Thomas stood there giving me a soft smile. He squeezed my shoulder reassuring me, "I will take care of it. Good job."
I nodded back at him heading for my own mate. I thought it was going to be something that took longer but maybe now I can talk with my mate.
***
I entered my house not seeing Zeiden in the living room. Maybe he's in his room or Sam's?
I checked Sam's room to see Sam sleeping his afternoon nap. I gently closed the door to not wake him then headed to Zeiden's room which was empty. Where was he?
Then I heard a clanking sound come from my room next door. I opened the door to see Zeiden holding some papers sitting on my bed. I looked at the opened black box with more paper realizing that they weren't papers they were pictures. Pictures I had hidden in that box under my bed for years. Pictures of my family.
"What are you doing?" I asked Zeiden stopping him from flicking through more pictures. He looked up at me surprised.