The Rogue Mate

Three

"Morning." Carol smiled with a coffee cup in her hands.

"I still hate mornings." I huffed falling into the rocking chair.

It's been a week since I bumped into the man at the grocery store. No messages, no trace of him. I can only hope he stayed in Kansas, instead of following me here.

"Does that sound okay, Avery?" Carol said knocking me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you wanted to go for a run in the woods, there's fencing around the entire place. It's like a jungle out there, but I know a great path!"

I smirked nodding in agreement. Carol knows how much runs help ease my soul, it's something my dad and I really enjoyed doing together. She must have ran with dad growing up.

"Go get dressed, I suggest putting your hair up there's a lot of forest." Carol said going inside with a smile, sipping on her coffee.

I jumped up bolting to my room to find Lilly already holding a headband.

"You wanna go on a run Lilly? It's been ages since we stretched our legs." I said putting the pink headband on her head.

Quickly changing into my black sports bra and short shorts, I put my hair up in a high ponytail and grabbed a water heading downstairs. Gosh I can't wait to stretch my legs, all this anxiety is killing my motivation to do anything.

"Why does Lilly have a headband on?" Carol asked holding a water of her own.

"She's coming with."

"Will she keep up? She doesn't look fast enough, maybe she should stay here." Carol said with worry.

"Maybe she'll surprise you Aunt Carol, she's pretty fast. Huh Lilly?" I said looking down at Lilly "can you get me another water please?"

I catched the water Carol threw at me and put on Lilly's vest. Quickly sliding our waters into the two handles and clipping them to keep them there, I felt eyes on me. I spun around looking at Carol only to find her messing with cabinets. I shrugged it off and made my way to the counter.

"Ready?"

"Yup, let's go." Carol said grabbing her keys.

.

.

.

"This is beautiful." I said with awe.

"It's the entire reason I bought the property. John and I wanted to start a family here."

"John is an ass, you deserve better Carol." I said crossing my arms as we walked.

"I just wish it lasted, he was supposed to be my husband not a hookup."

"Enough sad talk, let's run!" I said rubbing my hands together.

I watched as Carol took off her shirt and a stream of excitement ran through my bones. Quickly throwing my jacket off, I did a few stretches as Lilly did her own.

"Why are you jumping?"

"I haven't ran in almost a year, work consumes me." I said laughing.

Brushing off Carol's voice, I closed my eyes and focused. Imagining my eyes, and light fur consuming my being. I felt my bones shifting and heard a slight growl from beside me. Opening my eyes I looked at Carol and shook my body off.

'Ready?' Carol asked with a laugh.

Quickly nodding, Lilly ran ahead and Carol followed behind her. I watched as Carol's light grey fur moved, and I took off after her. Carol nudged me with her side and sadness consumed me.

'This is so pretty!' I screamed hoping she understood my excitement has most definitely risen.

'Layah hates this part of the forest, we came out for a run once and found John rubbing up on his new mate. Ever since then she's been hushed and talks to me only when I'm alone or there's danger.'

'Like I said, you deserve better. John never seemed fit for you and Layah, you'll find your mate Auntie, just give him time.'  I said sitting down beside Carol

'Does Viola talk to you since the attack?'

'I haven't heard from Viola since the attack, we're considered rogue. The only members of the entire pack is us and we aren't even considered a pack since we're never together. Viola is gone, I lost her. The legends say that once you become rogue you lose your wolf, she's completely gone I don't even hear her distant howls anymore.' I said looking at the waterfall.

'I'm sorry Avery. Maybe if you run into Ric again he can get her back.'

'No, I want nothing to do with that asshole.' I said growling, 'The legends also say if you find your mate, your wolf might return.'

I miss Viola, it's been quiet since she's gone away and I wish to hear her distant cries, even if it hurt me.

'Come on Avery! Show me what you got!'  Carol howled hopping to her feet.

Lilly looked at me with excitement in her eyes, and bolted off down the trail. Carol howled and chased after her, I laughed and followed behind her. I bet she expects to catch Lilly, she's going to enjoy this.

I watched Carol and Lilly run ahead of me and giggled when Lilly looked behind her at Aunt Carol and stuck her tongue out at us. Such a silly dog. Suddenly, I felt eyes on me and stopped in my tracks. I thought the property was fenced in, who's out here?

'Aunt Carol!' I yelled out in hopes she heard me and would come back.

Nothing. No one in sight. Who's stalking us.

'Avery? Why'd you stop following us, we got so far before we realized you were gone. I'm so sorry!'

'It's okay Carol, I thought someone was watching me. I felt a pair of eyes on me in the kitchen before we left, and again just now. Maybe I'm just going crazy.' I said looking around us.

Carol looked around her and Lilly, sniffed the air and growled lowly.

'Someone was here, I smell them.' Carol said getting closer to me.

Looking closer at the tree line, there were a pair of blue eyes staring back at me. I decided to move closer to the tree line, Lilly hot on my tracks growling.

'John? I s that you out there? Stop being a stalker!' yelled Carol behind me.

The eyes darted behind the bushes, vanishing. Was that Damian? Lilly didn't like him at all. Did he follow me?