Siren -Editing-

Chapter One

"We're leaving," Jes said, the fire in her voice burning brighter than it normally would. I could see the determination in her form as she packed. "I won't tell you why, but I need you to trust me. We can't stay here anymore; it isn't safe."

I looked up at her, my tiny ten-year-old frame shaking, terrified of all the possibilities of what could've happened or what could happen. We would be rouges on the run, two kids who belonged nowhere and stayed anywhere before being chased out with pitchforks.

It didn't matter when we left, or how, I knew he wouldn't just let us go without a blood bath trail following us wherever we stayed for long. I could imagine it, just like a movie, exactly what he would do to the few people out there who would be kind to rogues.

My sister rested her gentle hands on my shoulders, steadying me, "Nothing is going to happen to you, Lily; I'll make sure of it."

______seven years later_____

The trees were a blur of greens, browns, and greys as we ran through the grove, weaving between two different territories in the most beautiful area I could remember being in. We were glad to be able to just run without being chased.

The bliss didn't last as long as we wanted it to.

A tracker's scent grew stronger and stronger as we ran further into one of the territories, one of the many moons, I think. We took a sharp turn, towards the line, to avoid the inevitable fight. But the wind changed directions, turning our scent in the other direction, near where I assumed the tracker was.

Without a word, we ran faster, going through a small stream to throw our trail. But the tracker was fast, already thudding after us and splashing through the stream. Within moments, he was on top of Jes, pinning her down and forcing her to shift back. A usually painful process that we have both been through more than a few times.

I jumped onto his back, doing everything in my power to get him off of her, to stop him from hurting her. He threw me off easily, even mid-shift the man was massive compared to our malnourished bodies. He glared at me for a moment before turning his attention back on Jes, who was twelve shades of red deeper than I had ever seen her and trying to cover herself despite his hold on her.

"Mate," he said quietly, bending over her to shove his face in her neck.

Jes' hands slid over his back slowly, like she was hesitant to accept what was happening. "Yeah?" Her whisper was to him, but just loud enough to stop me from another attack.

"I'll walk you home," He said softly, still focused more on her than anything around them.

I could run and neither of them would notice until I was deep in another territory. The thought was almost too tempting, but if Jes was accepted in...maybe I could be too. Knowing she'd be safe with her mate and that he'd do anything in his power to keep her happy helped ease my concern.

"I'm not going anywhere without my sister." Her hands disappeared to his chest, and she struggled beneath him.

"Sister?" He finally took his face from her neck as I shifted back, letting my long mess of curls cover what little there was of me to see. We locked eyes for a moment as the realization slowly hit him. He nodded, "You have a name?"

"She's Lillian, I'm Jessica, most people call me Jes."

I watched as he let her up, keeping as much contact between them as he could and his eyes on me. I couldn't blame him for not trusting me; the scars that littered my body only told half my story, and the glare I held on him did little to soften my look. I looked feral, I might as well be to him.