The Rouge

Chapter 1

I run through the woods, hoping no one will smell me. I try to be as discreet as possible, but I'm not sure I'll be able to escape without it being noticed. The rouges are relentless when they don't have their property in their grasp. I start running faster, sniffing the air trying to find a pack near here. If I am lucky then maybe I'll cross their borders. I hear a howl behind me and push forward even more than I already was.

It would be faster to run in wolf form, but then it would be easier for them to scent me. Also my wolf's color doesn't blend into this environment at all. I have to do it this way if I want any chance of slipping away.

I tried to mask my scent as much as possible with mud, some leaves, and dirt. It won't do much against the distinct odor that the camp reeked of, but it's better than nothing and alerting everyone of my location. If I do trespass, it would go better for me to not look and smell exactly like the rouges do.

The howling sounds are starting to sound closer. I need a distraction. I must really be using my luck up now because just as I thought that, a deer came into view, which gave me an idea.

I catch the deer and sit on it while I take all my clothes off except for my shorts and tie them to the deer. I hear them tramping through the woods, so I get off the deer and let it start running in the opposite direction. I sit with my back to a tree and listen to which way they are running.

I release a sigh once I realize that they are going in the direction of the deer. That's when I sprint in the direction that I think a pack is. Just before I finally think that I might be able to make it through this, three wolves step from behind the trees in front of me. The largest one in the middle changes back to human form and walks towards me.

"You really didn't think you could escape us, right? How many times have I told you, I don't like my things running around getting dirty. When will you get it through your thick skull?" he shouts, slapping me at the end of his statement. "If you think that after this escapade that I would still want something like you, then you are mistaken. A filthy, puny runt. Just remember this: I will always own you no matter what. Even if you are grown and have pups, I will take you and kill them mercilessly while you watch. I may not want you now but maybe later." he whispers the last part in my ear while I'm on the ground, spitting blood from where he slapped me earlier.

He gets up and walks off but then turns around, "Oh and by the way, if you do ever find a mate, they will be drained of all blood, chopped into bits, cooked; and I will make you watch. Once that tedious task is out of the way, you will eat the bits and drink the blood unless you want to watch packs be slaughtered, knowing you could have let them live a long, happy life, but because of your selfishness they all must be destroyed."

I lay in the same spot and let his words sink in. It's at that point that I realize that there is no escape. I look up to where he is now.

"Alright, boys, you know what to do now. Just let me do something to him first, just in case he happens to forget my message."

He saunters back towards me, while the other wolves follow him, growling and snarling at me. He squats down to me and puts his mouth up against the side of my neck, rubbing his stubble across it as he does it. I flinch away as he does it, but am met with a growl from him.

His canines extend, and he bites me with the force it would take to break bones. I feel the pain emitting from my shoulder. He leaves his teeth there for a moment, but then starts to slowly drag them up, towards my ear. I shout so loud and long, I know that if I survive this then I won't be able to talk for a very long time. He twists his mouth some when he finally does reach the bottom of my ear. I'm trying to distract myself from the pain by shouting at the top of my lungs.

After what seems like an hour, he retracts his teeth and admires his handiwork. I don't even know why I'm still conscious at this point. The pain is overwhelming. The blood is covering everything near me, putting a thick coat everywhere on my body. If they don't finish this soon, I'm going to bash my head into the nearest tree until I kill myself.

"What do you think, guys?" he asks the other wolves. He gets howls in replies, probably meaning that that wasn't painful enough. "I happen to like it. It'll leave a nasty mark, but he'll be able to use it after a while. Maybe if I return I'll be able to get a good fight out of him. That's enough for me. You guys can finish now." he says as he turns away giving me a smirk. "Remember what I said now, pet."

The other wolves seem more than ecstatic to be getting rid of me after all that time. The last thing I feel is part of my ear being ripped off before the darkness takes over.

~~~

"Alpha, we found a rouge on our land," my Beta tells me, rushing into my office.

"Is he in the dungeons?" I ask as I stand up to address the matter. It's not the first time a rouge has come across us and we've had to deal with it. My Beta gives a curt nod and starts leading me to the dungeons.

Before we reach the entrance into it, he stops me, "One thing, Alpha. When we found him, he was dead. We performed CPR, but he's still unconscious right now. He's in bad condition. Two fingers were ripped off, part of the head was deeply cut so you could see skull, a giant gash from shoulder to ear, some skin tore from the upper part of the back, and many scratches and bruises."

"You act like I haven't seen gruesome death before, Reed. I can handle it." I chuckle at him trying to protect me. He's always been like that. I've always seemed weak and scared until I had to become Alpha. Since then, I've tried to run my pack with a no nonsense kind of attitude. Another thing, if anyone does give me attitude, I will not go easy on them unless they are either a child who doesn't know better or special and doesn't know better.

"Alright, but I warned you."

I wasn't prepared for what I saw. Even when I our pack was attacked by rouges, it still didn't prepare me for the sight I saw before me. Everywhere there was blood and muscle. One thing I did notice was that whoever did this, left his face completely untouched except for the blood that got on it. I remember Reed saying something about a head wound, so I circle around him inspecting his hair for it. It isn't until I get to the opposite side of his shoulder gash that I see all the blood. The sight is nauseating. I check over him again, making sure the pack doctor didn't miss anything.

"Does anyone else smell that?" I ask. I didn't notice it before because of the blood and the state the guy is in, but now that I'm just standing here something smells off.

"Anything besides metallic and wet floor, no."

That's strange. It's a subtle smell. The blood and earthy smell of the floor is overwhelming it right now, but I can swear I smell something like cinnamon and musk. It must be that guard outside the cell wearing a new colonge. I've seen him trying to get one of the females to notice him.

"Have him cleaned up and fed. He looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks. I want all his wounds treated on. Even if it's just a little scratch. We won't be able to get any information out of him if he dies of infection."

"Yes, Alpha. One thing though, if he wakes up it may not be the best thing for him to meet you first thing."

"And why's that, Reed? Think I'll try to sleep with him?" I growl. I walk up to him and get into his face, demanding respect. I will not be disrespected, especially in front of others.

"No, Alpha, of course not." he flinches at my tone. "It's just... that you're kind of intimidating."