Alpha's Blood (Book One)

Border patrol

Later that evening, Sage found herself exploring the territory of the pack, getting herself used to the land. The trees gave plenty shade to hide in while hunting and the forest seemed filled with plentiful prey. This place wasn't too bad, the only issues were the snobby wolves. It didn't take Sage long to learn the land but before she could head back towards the camp, she was stopped by Carter. The sun was slowly setting when the white alpha moved into her view and smiled towards the small female.
"I'm surprised to find you out the camp, but since your here would you like to join me for border patrol?" Straight to the point, Carter didn't seemed to hold back his emotions at all. Now Sage was starting to get a picture of why he was trying to understand her.
"Do I remind you of someone, is that why you are always trying to spend time with me?" Sage lifted her head to show she wasn't nervous around him at this point and her eyes didn't hold back for once. She let her curiosity shine with in her blue hues. Carter, on the other hand, didn't seem so shocked by her question. Instead he laughed at it and lowered his head to calm himself. Moments passed before his laughing ceased and he looked towards the female with stern eyes and a stoic face.
"No, you have no similar features to any wolf I know. I want to spend time with you because you interest me." Carter moves closer to her as he speaks, his tail raised and his face showing admiration. "Although, I did have a female I loved dearly, and she was due to have my pups until she lost them. She killed herself after that and I feel, my daughter would've been like you."
   Sage felt her ears go back as her heart went out to him. Lowering her gaze, she sighed and started releasing her trust in him, telling him her story. When she had finished, she felt his head overlap her neck and pull her close. Like a father would hold his daughter or a male would comfort his mate. She felt herself ease in his embrace and his words echoed in her ears.
   "I'm sorry, but you can bet your life I won't let you get hurt again. I'll protect you." He whispered these words and pulled away when he finished speaking. When she looked at him at him, his eyes showed compassion, but what made her smile was his serious expression across his muzzle. He meant those words.
   "Thank you, Alpha. And I'd be happy to join you on patrol." She felt a brick of her wall around her heart break and fall, a bit of herself opening to the brute male.
  "Call me Carter."

  Being on patrol with him, she made sure to walk beside him. Her ears and eyes remained alert, but she kept herself pressed against his flank. The night had been quiet so far, but as they rounded a lakeside, a scent of rogues made Sage freeze.
   "Carter-"
  "I know. Stay behind me."
   She didn't argue, fear striking her heart as she felt herself growing worried. Had Krater found her? Were they delivering her dead brother to her for spite? Her mind swirled with emotions and thoughts as her and Carter moved towards the scent. Eating over a dead carcass of some sort of animal, five wolves moved like badgers. They snarled at each other and showed no coordination of pack life. One wolf in particular seemed to be feared as he neared the carcass and they back away. Sage turned to looked at Carter, who now had his hackles on end and his eyes showed nothing. Dominant energy flowed off him and he stood tall to prove he meant business.
   "Eating off my land and trespassing." His words mixed with a snarl as he stood in front of Sage. "All punishable by death."
   The rogues looked up and gave barks of defiance and anger at the interruption. They left the carcass and circled Carter and Sage.
   "We don't follow pack laws, wolf. We live freely." The one who seemed to be feared the most spoke back to Carter. "But we'll avoid a fight if you give us that pretty little female your protecting."
   "You won't touch her."
   "Oh? Is she your mate or something?"
   "That is not your concern, she's my pack and that's enough. I'll die for her, now leave if you want to remain alive." Carter's threat made even Sage shiver. Being as this was the first time she saw this side, she was actually scared of it. She poked her head under him to get a look at the male, her eyes glowing softly in the dark. He was huge.
  "Then winner keeps her." His words caused a fury of teeth to pulled her away from Carter, her lips parting in a yelp when they released her and all tackled the alpha. Five against one? That wasn't fair at all and even if Carter was bigger than them, there was no way he'd win. Sage had no choice. She felt warmth fill her chest as she watched the wolves pin the alpha down, her paws covering themselves in smoke and the scent of sulfur filling the air. The scent alone caused the wolves to rise and back off the alpha to look at her. When she had their attention, she smiled, her eyes turning from the brilliant blue to the glowing color of burning coals. Amber. Her claws dug into the ground as she focused her energy on her inner flame that resided in her heart. Flames slowly crept away from her paws and flowed on the ground in lines towards the wolves, who now looked at her in shock, frozen by fear. When the line of flames reached them, more flames erupted around them, the scent of burning flesh and fur surrounding her and Carter. When she had enough of the screams, Sage pulled the flames back into her body, her eyes returning to the blue. The burnt bodies of the rogues fell to the ground in piles of ash around Carter who now looked at Sage in fear, and wonder.
   "Tell the pack about this, and you'll join them."
  His only response was a gulp.