The rouge's secret

The lone wolf

I walked hastily through the dense woodland, my bare feet putting slight pressure on the soft blanket of snow, causing it to crunch beneath me with every step, while I attempted to continue forward without being noticed by the 3 wolves that I sensed nearby. As the wind picked up, teasing my red hair across my shoulders and eyes, the scent of the wolves seemed to intensify, causing me to panic slightly. They were of no threat to me, if I was to shift into my wolf too, but then I could not do that. Truth be told, I was ashamed of my wolf. I found every other wolf more beautiful than mine, no matter the rank, or coat colour.

My focus sharpened when a cracking sound came from around 3 feet behind my back. One of them stood on a branch, what a stupid mistake to make while in pursuit. Realisation suddenly hit me. They were protecting their territory, and saw me as an intruder, so now they were surrounding me, in an attempt to to eliminate me.

I casually walked on, pretending not to notice their presence, waiting for the ill fate to come my way. After several seconds, I felt sharp claws rip through the skin on my back, causing me to cry out in pain. The anger was building up in me, but I couldn't let it out, or else I would shift.
The male who cut my back, was still behind me, never moving away, ready to chase me if I tried to escape. He did not expect what I decided on next. Swiftly moving around, I wrapped my long, bony fingers around his throat, pinning him to a tree.

The sound of loud snarls echoed through the forest, my head whipping around to lock eyes with the other two wolves, who have now shifted back, standing there in full glory, naked. The chilly wind picked up again, causing goosebumps to spread rapidly across my skin. I wish I had worn something else rather than the torn shorts and light t-shirt I was currently wearing.
" Leave me alone, or I will snap his neck." My voice coming out harsher than intended.
My eyes shifted between each man, and back to the one I had pinned. He stared into my eyes, which were as pale as ice, and twice as cold. His pupils have dilated so much from fear, they were barely visible. He was controlling a shift, and it caused him a lot of pain. My fingers slowly unraveled themselves from his neck, causing him to fall into a miserable heap, onto the forest floor.

My back was sticky with blood, but the wound was already healed, leaving not one mark on my skin. I have just done something I promised myself I'd never do..I had just hurt another werewolf. Images of golden eyes twisted with anger filled my head.. He was so easily angered to the point of no control.. No wonder people said we are alike. Tears began prickling my eyes, ready to flow over onto my pale, frost-bitten cheeks. I placed my hand, unconsciously, on my mouth, trying to hold back the sobs and torturing memories.
"Im sorry.." I managed to whisper

The three men looked at me with something else than anger. Their eyes were filled with curiosity, and anticipation, so I continued.
" I was just passing through the area, I didn't realise that this territory was yours. I just need to keep walking through these wood, please don't interfere with me again," I gasped out, scared my anger would hurt someone again. One of them attempted to come close to me, but I only recoiled in fear.
"Please leave me alone," I managed to choke out.
"Easy, now we see you are no threat to our pack, don't run, we can help you. Come with us." One of the men spoke. It was the one with fair hair, and a scar running across his right cheek. How did he know I need help?? I never mentioned being a 'rouge'.. Well.. I sort of was.
"why would you want to help a girl like me?" I snorted, although my eyes were still filled with tears.

" you have no choice, this is our territory, and we decide what happens to you. I demand you come with us," the strongest looking man spoke. He must have been the eldest, also, he was the alphas brother. How did I know that? Well it's simple. The higher the rank, the darker the hair. His hair was almost black, but not entirely. There was an unidentifiable authority around him, he seemed to be in control right now. The blonde haired boy I pinned to the tree was glaring at me suspiciously. I couldn't blame him to be honest. After a slight hesitation, he opened his mouth to speak,
"Why are you here? Where is your pack?"

There is was. The memories began flooding my brain, no matter how much I tried to shut them out they kept returning. Eventually, I managed to gasp out,
" don't have one." I heard the fair haired man gasp.
"Rouge," the alphas brother spoke with disgust lacing his voice.
"Sort of. You see, to be a rouge, you have to be exiled from the pack, disowned, or kicked out. I ran away," I explained hastily. One of them sighed, and before I knew what was happening, I was swept off my feet by Mr. Blondie. I cried out in protest, but his chest offered so much warmth..

"Hey! Where are you taking me?!," I finally managed to find the anger within me, and took it out on these men.
" you cant just find a girl in the middle of the forest, try to kill her, and then sweep her off her feet and carry her to only god knows where! I demand you PUT. ME. DOWN" I yelled. Blondie was whining, as my mouth was right next to his ear.
" listen......?" He began.
"Anastasia," I muttered
"Well, Anastasia, in return for you almost killing me, I would ask you for one favour. Keep your mouth shut until we reach the pack house, or else I wont be gentle with you," he smirked, the innuendo making me cringe.
A million thoughts were racing through my head, but I did as I was told. A habit learned the hard way. We took a little break in the forest, one of the boys giving me a grey hoodie, after noticing my shivering.

" my name is Aleksander, but friends call me Alex. Our Mr.grumpy here is Xavier, and Max is the youngest out of us three," the man with the scar, Alex spoke. I made a mental note of each, the Blondie was Max, and relative to Alpha was Xavier. A strange pull had my eyes always travelling to Xavier's back. There was just something about him....

" Xavier is the younger brother to our Alpha, Fletcher. Fletcher is 18, and Xavier is just one year younger. We are both the same age, but Max is only 16." My eyes widened. They were my age?! With those bodies made of pure, rock-hard muscle, I expected them to be at least in their twenties.
After our break, the boys agreed I wasn't going to run, so I was allowed to walk on my own. After another hour or so of walking through the dense woodlands, my bare feet digging into the snow, I came to a sudden stop, walking into Xavier's back.

"Sorry..." I murmured, pushing myself away from him.
"We're here." Max spoke loudly.
I walked around Max to see where we exactly were, but before I could ask any questions, the beauty of the landscape took my breath away. Right before me was a valley, a wide green beautiful valley, with a powerful river roughly 25 meters bellow us. The land on the other side of this valley, was also covered with woodland, except for a clearing, a few strides away from the edge. In this clearing three wooden buildings sat proudly. Two old style, big houses, facing each other, and a smaller cottage at the end.
Around me the boys began to shift, and I watched in awe, as they transformed a into beautiful gold, brown, and black wolves. They all jumped the valley, landing with ease, on the other side. Before I could change my mind, I ran straight at the cliff, and jumped, the wall of rock rushing to meet my falling form.