Eighteen Years Ago

The Shadow Pack burned that night; the storm came first, then came the lightning.

It split the sky in two; thunder shook the very foundation of the pack, like the growl of a vengeful god.

The rain lashed out, falling heavily, but it didn't quench the fire swallowing the packhouse whole.

The flames devoured the Alpha's mansion and everything that stood in their way.

Hidden in the hollow oak tree is a child with jet-black hair clutching a leather-bound book to her chest.

The pages smelled like burnt ink and blood; the cries of the people filled the air.

"Run, Eliana!"

Her mother's voice, filled with pain, echoed in her mind.

"Run, don't look back!" She screamed.

The child scrambled off the oak tree with tears almost blinding her; she made a run for it.

The white-haired woman with icy silver eyes wielding a flaming sword appeared in the ruin.

"Where is she?" she barked at Kimberly, the fated mate of Alpha Orin Stormwolf. The king was gutted open on his throne by his bastard son, Damon Blackclaw.

"You will never find her," she barked, laughing at her foolery.

"Call out to her," the moon priestess whispered.

"Never..." Before she could finish, the moon priestess drove the flaming sword into her. Kimberly groaned in pain and died.

Eliana, hiding behind a tree, saw the flaming sword buried in her mother's chest, went mad with fury, and her silver eyes glowed faintly as the moon had touched them.

She made to avenge her mother when a hand suddenly gripped her from behind.

Holding her mouth with one hand while holding her back with the other.

"Oh," the voice hushed, begging her not to fight him anymore.

"You have to survive and grow strong, and when the blood moon rises, the stormwolf will make them pay for what they have done."

Kristen chanted the prophecy to her, hoping it would calm her rage down. Immediately she saw Damon; her rage was instantly replaced by fear. She had seen Damon gut the Alpha open in the throne room.

"Find the brat," Damon ordered his men.

"The Stormwolf Whelp dies tonight, or we all burn tomorrow."

A whimper cut through the silence; they all turned.

"Run," Kristen whispered in her ear. Eliana lunged to the rear tunnel, the one only the alpha's bloodline knew of.

She made it three steps to the tunnel when the moon priestess appeared behind her like a harbinger of doom, with her flaming sword in her hand.

"Found you," she whispered.

Then he swung the sword at Eliana, and it found her; the force pushed her into the tunnel, and a gust of wind, unnatural and howling, swept her into the darkness. Just as the tunnel collapsed behind her.

Damon roared in fury, but the moon priestess gripped his hand.

"No child could survive that; if the sword and the fall didn't kill her, the marshes would swallow the last of her, be rest assured."

Above them, the crescent moon bled crimson, a sign the moon goddess was watching them.

And wrath, as all wolves knew, was a storm that always returned.

The twig broke under my foot while I crouched down, my eyes on the target and nose twitching at the scent of the rabbit blood and wildflowers.

My stomach growled loudly. Maybe a little too loud; it must be excited at the sight of food. I have gone three damn days without real food.

Not that anyone in the small band of rogues had eaten any. We just get by with nuts and whatever we can lay our hands on until it's safe to hunt.

Rick and Knox We're already scattered in the forest, trying our luck out there. I just can't spend another day eating those cursed nuts again.

I sniffed the air and smiled; the prey was close, closer than it had ever been.

Placing both hands on the floor and one knee buried in the wet floor, I was ready to pounce on it at any given moment.

But then, something hit me: it wasn't the familiar scent that lured me into this part of the forest.

My heart jolted, the breeze shifted, and my eyes widened the moment I recognized the scent.

"Shit!" I blurted out, It wasn't the prey I was hunting all along, but a predator.

"Run!" I yelled out, spun on my heels, and made a run for it.

The scent of power and danger filled the forest, like thick fog. If I saw correctly, they were pack wolves, definitely warriors, and an alpha amongst them.

No rogue in his right senses would stand to fight them; it's suicide.

The leaves and branches slapped my face as I ran deeper into the forest, my heart pounding harder in my rib cage, threatening to escape.

I took a glimpse over my shoulders, and the sight of black furs and paws striking through the trees sent shivers down my spine.

"They are too close," I gasped as I increased my speed.

I ducked a low branch, nearly tripped but found my footing, and kept running. I just needed to get to the base; Rick and Knox would meet me there. They know the path; all rogues memorize the path by heart.

It is a haven for rogues; no pack wolves would dare wander into rogue territory, not without backup.

I ran deeper into the forest when suddenly my foot caught on something, something soft but buried in the sand.

I hit the forest's wet floor so hard that it stung. I turned to see a child's scarf; it was torn, muddy, and faded red.

I gasped and froze; forgotten memories hit me: my sister's laughter, images of the riverbank, her wet feet, and slippery rocks.

My sister laughed and jumped into the river, splashing the water.

"No, no..." I gasped, clutching the red, wet scarf. I yanked it off me, snapping out of the memory. I began running again, tears welled up in my eyes, making them sting.

"I can't get caught," I whispered, definitely not now, when the past reared up its ugly head.

Immediately I caught sight of the secret pathway; I sneaked in and collapsed on the floor.

Rick and Knox were already there, sitting on the floor while panting.

The moment I caught sight of Rick's bloody hand, I jerked off the floor.

"Are you okay?" I asked him

"Yeah, I tripped on something," he explained.

I still can't believe how things have turned out. I was once the hunter, but now I'm the hunted.

I turned back to take one last look at the forest. When I heard a faint whisper.

"Why didn't you die!" I gasped as the memories of how it all began came flooding back.

* * *

I knelt on the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks. The air around me was thick with a scent of grief and fury, a dangerous mixture that made me choke.

My knee was pressing down on the rough wooden floor until splinters bit into my skin. But I barely felt the pain; it was nothing compared to the chaos and wound in my heart, threatening to wrench my heart out of my chest.

"You should have been the one," I heard Dad yell at me. I could feel the rage behind his voice. The rage was like a blade and drove into my heart without warning.

My father was towering over me while he continued hurling curses at me; the Alpha aura flowing off him made the lanterns flicker. For a moment I thought this was the end for me.

But then I caused Karen's death; it's merely a punishment that fits the crime.

I couldn't bear to look up to see the rage lurking in those golden eyes that once held nothing but love when Karen and I played at his feet. Only right now they are pitch black, just like my life now.

"Why did Karen die, why!" Dad yelled one more time, banging his hand on the door frame, and crying inconsolably.

"Dad, please, I tried...." The words cut up in my mouth as he barked at me.

"Don't you dare call me Dad. Why are you alive? You should have been the one dead," he barked. A sob tore out from my throat as I fell into the abyss of sorrow.

"Dad, please don't..."

He bent over and grabbed my arms, shaking me vigorously.

"Why did you take her to the forbidden river? You have always wanted her dead," he spat out while shaking me.

"No, no, I..." He suddenly let me go like realization was now setting in.

"You knew no one dares go to that river once it rains; you knew the damn rules," he barked, and he tore his clothes in rage.

I had no idea what pained me more, the fact that I lost my only sister or the fact that I had been accused of her death. The vision of Karen's laughter played right before me.

Just one last time, she begged to dive in the last time before we headed home, but the current snatched her before I could get to her.

When we found her body, caught up in the reeds, her face was beyond recognition; it was bashed in more places than we could count. I recognized the clothes she wore that day. How could I forget? I practically saw her face everywhere I turned.

"You did this, you killed her!" I remember Dad crying out.

"Witch!" heard a handful of the pack members whisper under their breath.

"You witch, you should have drowned instead!" He hurled another curse at me. The words struck a deadly blow to my heart. I gasped, slowly retracing my steps. The looks on my father's face made me realize that he didn't say all that out of grief, but he meant it. Something inside me broke.

If my father wished me dead, then so be it.

"You are right, maybe I should have died in her place." All shaken, I took a few steps backward, spun on my heels, and ran.

The deeper I ran into the woods, the colder it became, but it wasn't enough to quench the furnace burning in my heart; it wanted nothing but to consume me whole.

All I could think of were ways to end my miserable life; that is the punishment befitting my crimes.

I came to a halt at the edge of the cliff, breathing heavily. I was becoming lightheaded, my heart racing. Tears flowed effortlessly down my cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Karen," I said amidst tears. "Please forgive me," I said again, spreading my hands like a wing, and with my eyes closed, I let go, throwing myself to the wind.

Then I felt someone grip me from behind; it was a pair of strong arms, and it wouldn't let go no matter how hard I fought.

"No, no," I screamed. "Let me go," I ordered, but the grip only tightened.

I was still struggling when the scent hit me; it smelled of sandalwood and earth.

My vision suddenly became blurry, and I gave in to the darkness.

When I woke up the next morning, I had become something I feared the most.

An outcast, a rogue.

* * *

"I'm going to go check this out," Rick said, jerking me back to reality. He walked away with Knox trailing behind him. I heard a twig break behind me. I turned to see a black wolf with fiery red eyes staring at me.

A cold shiver ran through me. Scared that it might jump me any moment from now, I didn't hear it until a couple of seconds ago. I cursed myself internally for not going with Rick and Knox.

The wolf stared for a few seconds and snarled at me. It didn't move, nor did it flinch, but something about the wolf seemed familiar. It turned almost immediately, sprinting off into the woods.

I sighed, relieved. We have heard stories of rogues attacked in the woods by some lone wolf.

"That was close," I whispered, getting off the wet forest floor. My clothes were damp, and my hands were tainted with the wet soil. I turned, almost hurrying back to the base when something caught my attention.

It was written with red paint; it looked and smelled fresh like someone did it a few minutes ago. I got close to the tree, and my mouth fell open when I read what was written on the tree.

"Karen Lives." My blood instantly turned to ice.

The sun penetrated through the window of the small, rundown room where I slept. It was casting a golden hue on my body. I got up, sitting on the floor, stretching my body. I felt so sore from the cold cement pressing on my bones all through the night.

The ragged blue blanket offered little or no comfort, but I didn't mind; I wasn't supposed to have comfort, not after what I had done.

My name is Eliana Paw, a rogue, and I have been for the past ten years. I can't believe how quickly time flies; it felt like yesterday, the very day Karen died.

The day my life changed for the worse. The guilt and nightmares had kept me awake at night all these years. Reminding me constantly never to be happy. But last night was worse; I couldn't shake off what I saw earlier.

A familiar rustling outside my window caught my attention. The other rogues were stirring. I rubbed my eyes when I heard a coarse voice call me from outside. But pretended not to hear.

Most of the rogues don't know me. I hunt when I have to and only speak when necessary. For some crazy reason, I kind of love it this way.

"Eliana!" The voice came again. I was still pondering whether to answer or not when the voice came again.

"Shift duty, now, East perimeter," Rick ordered. I heard footsteps as he walked away.

I got up from the floor, put on my coat and a pair of boots, and tied my hair backward in a high ponytail.

I pulled open the door and straddled out. I always shudder each time I'm posted to the east border; it was one of the most dangerous borders. It was close to the old border of the most powerful pack.

I hadn't dared approach since I left home; their patrol rarely comes this deep into the woods, but we still have to stay alert.

I could hear my wolf stirring endlessly as I approached the east border; it hated this part of the woods. It was an endless reminder of our past, but it's not like we have a choice.

I was almost at the border, just a twist over the fallen oak tree when they ambushed me.

"Happy Birthday, Minx." Rick and Knox said, "Scaring the shit out of me."

"Damnit, guys," I blurted, clutching my chest. They both laughed heartily.

I can't believe I forgot today was my eighteenth birthday. How can I remember? I'm just a ghost of what I used to be.

"I know you don't like celebrating your birthday, so we got you a little something," Knox said, all smiles, his icy blue eyes staring at me.

"Here, we got you a little something." He pulled out his hand from behind to show a pair of black leather gloves.

He took my hands and helped me to wear them. "These should keep you warm," holding my hand affectionately.

It was this pair of strong arms that saved me that night that I almost fell off the cliff. Sometimes I don't know whether to be grateful to him for saving me or to curse at him.

"I should get going; I don't want to be late for my shift." I headed out.

No matter how I look at it, I have no right to celebrate my birthday. When I killed my sister, tears welled up in my eyes. I was staring at the gloves when I suddenly heard a twig break, then footsteps. I looked up frantically when the scent hit me.

"Pack patrols?" I gasped. They never patrolled this deep into the woods.

I quickly ducked behind a big tree, my heart racing, slamming against my ribcage. My wolf growled inside. For some reason, my wolf has been unsettled. The closer I get to the border, the more unsettled it becomes.

I looked around searching for a way to escape; I can't possibly stand here till they catch me.

I took a quick peep as they advanced close; I could count five men, and one of them was an alpha.

There was no mistaking that aura.

I was still thinking of a way to escape when a scent struck me. It wasn't like anything I had ever smelled, but my wolf recognized it.

The scent of sandalwood and earth, my eyes lit up in realization, while in denial.

"Mate," I heard my wolf growl the word I had feared the most.

I pressed my hand on my chest to calm my beating heart. I can't have him see me, definitely not like this.

As they wandered in the forest, I stood hidden, but I couldn't get my eyes off him; the mate bond was messing me up.

He was tall, cold, and commanding; he was everything I had heard in whispers amongst the rogues.

He was feared as the most ruthless alpha. And has always been open about his hatred for rogues.

Fate must be enjoying this cruel joke. How on earth did he pair me with someone like that?

I sighed in relief when I saw the patrol head back. I went down on all fours and crawled away. I was almost halfway back to the rogue border when I heard a cold voice that stopped me in my tracks.

"Stop!"

I froze; his voice was sharp, firm, and lethal. It was etched into my bones, sending cold shivers down my spine. Without being told, I knew who the voice belonged to; my wolf was almost leaping, fighting to take control.

"Turn around," he commanded. My wolf continued howling inside, pushing me to go to him.

"I said now," he barked at me. I slowly turned to face him.

"Go to mate," my wolf kept purring into my ears, but I dared not.

He stood a few feet away from me, flanked by two warriors. But his scent and alpha aura suffocated me.

His dark hair was tousled by the wind, his jaw was clenched, and his icy blue eyes glared at me like he was seeing my soul. A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard.

The moment we locked eyes, the mate bond hit me. I could sense I wasn't the only one feeling it; his nostrils flared, and my legs instantly became weak.

I was still in disbelief that the alpha of the Blackclaw pack was my fated mate.

He stared at me for a while like he had seen a ghost, one he hadn't expected to see and didn't welcome.

I could tell without being told that, just like me, he was fighting the bond.

"You!" he snarled in disgust.

The warriors looked between us with a confused expression.

He took a step forward, and I quickly took a few steps backward, eyes still fixed on him.

"Name," he demanded.

"E...Eliana, Eliana Paw," I slowly said, scared.

His brow furrowed, but his face quickly turned cold and unreadable again.

"Paw, you must be the fallen daughter of the old alpha; you are the daughter who went rogue ten years ago, the disgrace."

"Of course, I was a disgrace to my father."

"You, my mate!" he blurted out as reality began sinking in. Not with excitement but anger.

His words stung like a bee; my heart ached.

"I didn't ask for this," I fired at him, trying to remind him that we were both slaves to fate.

"Neither did I, but here we are," he spat out. His words twisted deeper, and I groaned in pain.

He advanced towards me and was only a breath away from me, then stopped in his tracks; the warriors quickly looked away.

My wolf whimpered, pushing me to cover the distance between us and kiss him. But I held it back.

I wasn't going to do something that would get me killed.

He looked me over for a few seconds and spat out.

"You are coming with us," he commanded.

My eyes lit up in shock. "Wait.... What?"

"You're in my territory and mine, so you are coming with me." He turned almost immediately and began walking away.

I stood frozen, furious, and at a loss. The moon goddess must have wished to punish me for my past and decided to send him as my fated mate.

I spun on my heels to run, but he grabbed me by my throat and suspended me in the air.

I hit his hands a few times and tried speaking but ended up making incoherent noises.

After a few seconds, he let me go, and I landed on the floor, coughing hard.

"Get up!" he ordered. I quickly scrambled up, glaring at him.

Running from him was useless; he would hunt me to the depths of the underworld if he had to.

So I followed him. My wolf wouldn't allow me to run, and I didn't bother trying to. He would kill me if he caught me.

Maybe this would turn out for the best. But just as I was in my thoughts, a scent hit me. It sounds crazy since right now, I should be possessed by my fated mate's scent, but I couldn't dismiss the scent no matter how hard I tried to shake it off.

It smelled strange, dark, and chilly, but what was stranger was that the scent was coming from him.

But for some crazy reason, the scent smelled familiar. I could swear I had smelled that scent a couple of times in the past but can't just place it, but why he has it on him aside from his scent beats me.

"Move!" His voice jerked me back to reality.