Chapter 6
+8 Poin
Some Nice Strangers
Being a rogue is brutal. During the first few days on my own, every little sound would make me
stumble. I had never been away from home for this long, and I knew the woods were full of different supernatural beings.
At night, I would find a secluded tree trunk or bury myself under some branches in wolf form
to stay warm and sleep–not so peacefully.
There’s no rush for me to reach the mountains. I know where I’m headed, but in my current
state, I don’t know how I’ll be received.
One morning, while walking through the forest in human form, I began to hear laughter and
running. I shouldn’t have, but the sounds were so innocent and playful that I started heading in
their direction.
Just over a small hill, I looked down to see a fresh spring where a young man and woman
were splashing each other, laughing. They looked like two innocent teenagers having fun.
A small smile crept over my face until the breeze carried their scents toward me.
Though they smelled human, I instantly detected a faint trace of wolf. I knew there were
wolves in the forest, but for a split second, I was terrified that I’d stumbled into a territory
without realizing it. I took a step back, my foot crunching a twig.
Their eyes immediately snapped to me, and I saw the man’s eyes turn solid black as he locked
gazes with mine. A low snarl escaped his lips as he sniffed the air, trying to figure out who I
was. In an instant, I turned and bolted.
It wasn’t long before a brown wolf cut me off.
I could shift and try to fight my way out, so I dropped my backpack, letting my nails start to elongate and my canines grow along my lip.
“Stop.” The girl from the creek stood behind me. She and the wolf were sandwiching me,
making me feel trapped. Her head tilted to the side, her eyes watching me carefully.
“Just let me pass,” I decided to keep my eyes on the wolf in front of me. His snarl still curled
on his muzzle.
“Where are you going?” she asked calmly.
“I’m not trying to trespass on your land,” I explained briefly. “Just let me pass.”
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She let out a small laugh. “Land? We own no land.”
I finally turned to face her, shock evident on my face as she gave me a half–grin. “What?”
Her eyes shifted to the wolf. They began a small telepathic conversation, his eyes darting between mine and hers. After a few snarls, he relaxed his body, letting me know he wouldn’t attack me anytime soon. In seconds, he shifted back into his human form, the girl tossing him a pair of shorts.
“How long have you been a rogue?” he asked, his arms crossed.
“A few days,” I answered quietly.
“Why?” the girl asked.
Every part of me screamed to run, but since they’d both relaxed, I could only assume they
weren’t a threat. “That’s none of your business.”
There was no need to explain the circumstances that led to me becoming a rogue. Rejected or not, leaving my pack had been one of the worst things to ever happen to me.
The couple exchanged a look.
Their minds almost visibly linked. The silence around me grew, making me feel increasingly
frustrated.
“Fine,” the man huffed, visibly irritated. “We can take her back, but you explain this one to Hala
and Kane.”
I started to panic, unsure who or where they were referring to. Sensing my fear, the girl took a small step toward me. A warm smile suddenly appeared on her face. “We’re not going to hurt
you. We have a camp with food and shelter.
It’s where a lot of us live. You don’t have to come, but it might be nice to get some warm stew
if you’ve been running for the last few days.”
The thought of warm stew instantly made my stomach turn. Or having a proper roof over my head. A good night’s sleep. All things I now considered luxuries. But I couldn’t trust these two.
I didn’t know who they were or what they wanted. Maybe they were trying to lure me into their
camp to kill me.
“I can’t,” I hesitated. “I need to get to the mountains.”
“Really?” Her eyebrow raised. “We know a few people who are headed there in the morning.”
The man growled, “Jess…”
“Oh, come on.” Jess rolled her eyes. “If they’re already making the trip, might as well just carry
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Chapter 6
a stray up there. At least she won’t be alone.”
My voice caught in my throat. Do I trust them? Do I run? Maybe they’re just being nice.
So they can kill me as soon as I step foot in their camp.
“I would appreciate that,” I stuttered.
“Great.” Jessica smiled brightly. She stepped closer to me to formally introduce herself. “I’m
Jess. This is my mate, Eric.”
“Mia,” I introduced myself.
Jess turned to her mate, who sighed deeply. He moved past me and ahead. “Follow me,” he
said under his breath.
At first, I didn’t notice it. But as soon as Eric led us into the forest, my breath hitched in my
throat. On his shoulder blade, I instantly recognized the brand. The sigil against the crown.
The mark of the rebellion.
Every pack knows there’s a rebellion against the Crown forming outside the kingdom.
Wolves who believe the King shouldn’t have his powers. We’ve only seen drawings of the sigil,
circulated in packs to warn us to stay away from it. It’s a Celtic rune I don’t fully understand,
but it’s clearly burned into his skin, like he’s been branded.
A part of me wonders how it hasn’t healed. It must be laced with something painful.
I saw Eric glance over his shoulder at me. He knew I was staring at the mark, but he didn’t
even flinch.
I have nothing for or against the King. He’s like a mythical figure to me. I know he exists, and
I’ve seen plenty of pictures, but since I’m not from the Kingdom, I wouldn’t say I know him very
well. Our Werewolf King and the Werewolf Capital are on an island. I’ve heard it’s almost
magical, and some part of me wants to visit someday. But not now.
“You’re both part of the rebellion,” I stated simply.
“Yes,” Jess answered curtly as they led me through the woods. “Soon we’ll be at the camp, and
you’ll get to meet a few other rebels.”
