The Lost One

Chapter 4

The wolf was older, his brown hair already becoming peppered with grey. Still his presence was not to go unnoticed or easily dismissed. Nearly the same height as the Salvatori heir, he stood determinedly with a thick set of shoulders and a physique that was bulky and akin to a boulder. He held himself confidently and the sense of competency and power that radiated from this second rogue was startlingly nearly equal to what Kaiden himself carried.

A series of low growls sounded in the clearing as the alpha and his warriors studied not just the werewolf - but the rogue - who would dare to come onto pack land and put himself between an Alpha and his mate. All eyes narrowed readying themselves for the order to kill. Clayton, Kaiden's head warrior slid into position readying himself to take out the rogue at the signal of his leader. Blair and Austin fell in behind him flanking his position as they all focused on the enemy now standing in their midst. Warning growls erupting from all sides of the clearing.

"Alpha I mean no harm." The Rogue said hands rising before him, but he didn't move or back down, "I know she is your mate ..." This time the rogue was cut off by Kaiden's roar.

"Yet you keep me from what is mine!? You. Will. Die." Kaiden spat, another growl ripping through the air as he took an advancing step on the rogue. To his surprise this time the rogue stepped back, backing down from the challenge, his gaze dropping instantly and without reluctance in a show of submission. It was enough to still the Alpha's advancement for a moment. He wasn't acting like a normal rogue.

"I'm not keeping her from her. But you can't go up there. At least not if you ever want her."

Kaiden felt his patience slipping as he watched the older wolf. His mate was near, he had rogues on his territory and he was exhausted, it took all his control to keep from ripping the rogue into a million pieces at that very moment. "Explain." He barked between clenched teeth.

"The girl she's different. Special. You can't approach her, she will never let you. Ever. And you'll never catch her. And if you do, you'll lose her. I've known her for five years and that girl has never spoken. Has never communicated with me in anyway." The rogue rushed out his words running together he was speaking so quickly.

"What the hell are you talking about!?" This time it was Austin who had spoken. His confusion and anxiety breaking through, as Kaiden was silently trying to grapple and understand the rogue's words. What did he mean she had never spoken? Then how did he know her?

The rogues eyes swung to Kaiden's Beta this time as he spoke, "Please let me explain. I want to help. She deserves a mate. I've never met a wolf who deserved one more. But he can't get her like that, I swear. Beta, alpha please let me explain."

That he addressed both Kaiden and Austin by their appropriate titles surprised all the wolves gathered. Rogues were never respectful and most times didn't even seem able to comprehend the hierarchy of the wolves they were interacting with. This one had identified and recognized the power of the two leaders instantly and spoke with both a familiarity and also a level of deep respect that had them all reassessing the man.

Kaiden looked over the rogue one more time before nodding his head reluctantly to indicate he could speak.

"Thank you Alpha. Your mate's story must start with my own."

It was only his continued acknowledgment of the female rogue still high in the tree as his mate that kept Kaiden silent and on the ground, not to mention the rogue breathing, as he began his tale.

"Up until five years ago I wasn't a rogue, I belonged to the Custoson Pack." If the news that this rogue had belonged to the only other pack in North America that was larger than their own surprised those gathered, his next statement blew them away, "I was Alpha Dominic Custoson's head warrior for over 40 years." The rogue had to stop for a moment as words of disbelief and confusion arose in reaction to the outrageousness of the claim.