Valentine's Mate

Chapter 1

SKYE

Opening the door to my little flat, I stepped inside and closed the door. Turning around, I stared at the little place I had been staying. It was supposed to feel like home, but it didn't.

I came across this little town about six months ago, while I was trying to establish a place I could call home since the war that took out most packs, including mine.

The war between three ruthless alphas, that led to the death of many innocent people. They all wanted power and whatever each of them had. They declared war and lost. All three alphas killed one another is what I heard, but I don't know for certain. All I know is I lost everyone in that battle, family and friends, people I loved with all my heart. I only made it out alive because of my father, who told me to run. I knew how to fight, and was even willing to die trying, but my father had other ideas. My two older brothers fought off wolves while my father dragged me away to safety.

When he got me to the edge of the border, he looked broken and frightened. He never wanted this life for us. Our alpha was the worst of them all, taking what he could from others and never giving a damn about the people who followed him.

Once my father hugged me goodbye, he stared at me for a moment and handed me a necklace—a locket. It was my mum's, which he carried everywhere with him. He told me before he went back to my brother's to have it, that my mother was part of me and so will he and my brothers. He kissed my head and turned back into the war zone.

I remember standing there for a few moments before I heard a loud howl and a snap of connection to my family, which meant all my family were dead.

Tears flowed freely while I bolted away.

For days, I ran, but I had nothing to my name—no money, nothing. The worst part was that I became a rogue all in one night. That part was a struggle, especially when I have always lived in a pack, even if it was a dark time while living there.

Movement in my head pulled me back from my thoughts, which meant Nyla, my wolf, was awake. I didn't bother looking back at her, since she had been asleep most of the evening while I was working.

It has been Nyla and me ever since the war.

Keeping my dark thoughts at bay, I walked further into the flat and headed to the kitchen to make something to eat. I had been starving for the last three hours.

Working in a bar is fine, especially since it is the best place to work for cash. I have worked in a few bars over the last few months. I always make sure I have enough money before I move on.

Nyla moved closer while I grabbed an apple from the bowl. I needed to get proper food, but I would have to wait till tomorrow.

"Do we have meat?" Nyla mumbled, not liking the fact there was not much food.

"Nope," I muttered, looking back at her. Her yellow eyes bore back, but she grunted. "I hate fruit."

I said nothing and was about to move back till she stopped me with her next words. "Can we go for a run?" she asked, making me look back at her with wide eyes. I let Nyla run when we leave. I only have a few essentials to my name, basically a bag that I live out of which she carries when we leave for the next town.

Living with humans has been easy. We avoid any place where other rogues are since we don't know what the rules are when you are one. We have mainly kept to ourselves, not knowing whether there was an option of being near others.

When I was younger, my father would tell me stories of how ruthless some rogues can be and that they sometimes go feral when they haven't been within a pack for so long. I didn't want that for me, but moving around there haven't been many wolf packs around, which makes me wonder if the war went to other places.