The Last White Wolf...maybe

Chapter 3

I stopped in my tracks as I picked up a strong pine scent behind me. I couldn't bring myself to move any further from it, it enticed me.

I was frozen I couldn't move even if I wanted to. I managed to turn around when a big, brown wolf came bounding through the woods. He stopped and sniffed. Finally, he looked up ever so slowly, and I met his gaze. I was swimming in his honey-colored eyes. Drowning in the syrupy sweetness, it was far too sticky to escape. And I didn't want to.

I could stare into his eyes forever. I just wanted to nuzzle her head against his chestnut-colored coat. His own power beckoned mine, and he felt like her equal.

I could feel her fear slowly ebbing away in his presence. It was like every little wolf's dream, to finally find their mate.

Mine, he growled.

The tone snapped her out of the moment of tranquility.

Reality caught up to her. There was a powerful wolf in Sapphire. If her true identity was discovered I would be hunted until her last breath. Mali would fall in the crossfire and even I might not be able to protect her. I couldn't take that chance.

So, with every fiber in her body resisting, I ran. Ran away from her soulmate. Her equal.

In her human form, I know there would be tears streaming down her face.

I just kept running, and I heard him behind her. I felt the rain and risked a quick glance behind her.

Her mate was distracted by the incoming storm and I quickly conjured up an illusion. When he looked back, I know all he could see was an empty forest, even though I was directly in front of him.

Unless there was an emergency, I never used her powers. Never. I couldn't risk getting caught. As one of the few remaining white wolfs, packs would kill for what I could do. I would be shackled in a cell rotting away doing the bidding of an abusive Alpha. I could not let that happen.

They would use the few things I hold dear against her. I would not let Mali get hurt.

Her mate let out an agonized howl. His pain felt like her own as her chest constricted. He tried sniffing her out, but the rain washed away her scent along with all her hopes and dreams of one day living happily with her mate.

I could not risk it; he would just be another thing that could be used against her and hurt because of her. He didn't deserve her anyway; I was so broken.

I knew in her heart he would be much better off without her, and the logic in that made her heart shatter. It would be so easy to just lift her illusion and run to her mate.

But it would never happen. I could not risk it. Not after what happened the last time.

Her parents died because of who I was and what I could do. Died protecting her from being a weapon for Alpha Simo. They might as well of died the day they took her into their open arms after I had been placed on their doorstep when I was only a baby swaddled in a blanket inside a threaded basket.

Mali had to suffer the consequences; a regular pack life stolen from her in the span of a night. Traded for a life on the run, in constant fear. She still suspected her parents had planned to take over Alpha Simo, and that's what led to their deaths. That was only half of it though. Her parents never shared her lineage with Mali, she was very young after all. I would always carry the weight of their deaths on her.

I couldn't let it be in vain. So, I stayed under the illusion of a peaceful forest until he walked right past her.

I knew her mate had to be Brennan Rolfe. There was no other explanation. Those honey colored eyes were forever burned into her memory, the same as Brennan's. Not all wolf's hair matched their fur color, but the eyes would always be the way to identify the wolf in either form. After all, the eyes were the window to the soul.

I turned her head watching his figure get smaller and smaller. His power matched that of a powerful Alpha. I bet he was the future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack.

Only when his figure was nowhere to be seen and then some time after that, I lifted the veil around her. All I wanted to do was scream or howl or anything.

I had to keep her head up and be strong. I dragged herself back to the tree where her clothes were tucked away.

For Mali, for Mali, for Mali.

I could never tell her I have found her mate. She would encourage her to run after him, and I didn't need any further encouragement. I just knew it was time to leave Sapphire forever.

I had to pack; it was finally time. Run away, live together. To be free of Mark's abuse.

I don't know why I felt so sad.

I changed back into her human form. I was soaked from head to toe, and I slipped her clothes on and fastened her moon pendant back on her neck. A nice nifty trick that was very useful is that the pendant hid her scent. There were other ways to mask your scent, Brennan must have been using one of them. I didn't smell pines when he was in his human form at all.

I walked back to the house, soaking up her last few moments at Sapphire. It was nearly 4 pm when I finally got to Mark's house. Mali was probably wondering where the hell I'd been. I creeped up the stairs and opened the door where Mali stood, arms crossed, I could swear there was smoke coming out of her ears.

"Where WERE you I texted you a million times!" she yelled.

"I'm sorry I went for a run and ran into some company. There was another wolf," I said, and Mali's eyes widened.

"You know what that means. It's time to go. We are leaving Sapphire for good," I said somberly and went to the dresser to start packing.

Mali grabbed her wrist tightly and I met her stare.

"No, I'm not running anymore. I will not keep running away with my tail in between her legs," she said with the tone and dominance of an Alpha.

"We can mask our scent and lie low. They would predict that you would run away and find a new salvation, they would not anticipate you staying. After all, rogues don't really stick around in the same place for long. You know it's true. You can start wearing brown contacts. This will work," she looked at her pleading.

I mulled over her words. I hate to admit it, but she was right.

Brennan would anticipate that I run away. Plus, he was bound to return to his pack soon. I had to find out why he was here. And Brennan would dismiss her as the wolf he saw in the forest if her eye color was changed. It would not match up.

He did not get a good luck at her human form; I know for a fact. He was all the way in the back. They never made eye contact.

I couldn't deny her logic. I knew I had not saved up nearly enough to take us across the state. We would leave, but she was right. Now was not the time.

I looked into Mali's hopeful hazel eyes before closing her eyes and let out a deep breath.

"Fine," I muttered.

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best sister ever," she said wrapping her in a tight embrace.

I couldn't help but smile. She acts like I just let her go to Disneyland. She was a freshman now, but she still felt like her baby sister. All I wanted was for her to be happy.

Her ribs didn't hurt as much anymore, so I hugged her back just as fiercely.

Breaking the embrace, I said, "We need to go the store soon and get brown contacts, alright kiddo?"

"Alright," she responded.

"I believe I promised you my famous bagel too, did I not?" I questioned.

She squealed and that was answer enough as she took two stairs at a time to the kitchen.

"You better promise me you'll tell me all about your first day of school while I make them, Mal," I called down.

"Of course!" she said. I knew she already had the peanut butter and the bagels out.

I made her way downstairs trying to quell her fear and worries as I plastered a fake smile on. I tried to focus on Mal's story, but her mind just kept wandering. All I could think of was the beautiful brown wolf and his honey colored eyes. Her mate.

A future that I could never have.