The Alpha's Run Away Mate

Cornelius Sullivan

On the other hand, one month passed by in a blink of Emily's eyes, too.

Not so far away from Howling Tribe's territory stands a small village built and nourished by Rogues, by strangers who decided to settle together as trustees and friends. It was hidden by the woods, in the midst of the forest between different territories, and was especially built as shelter for run away pack members and Rogues of different background and reason for being Rogues.

There were mostly old people in the village, some banished, while some only wanted peace. They have been managing the place ever since its establishment many years ago.

Sometimes, visitors come in to rest, unknown guests and other strangers. Most of the time, it's tranquilly silent and pleasing to be swallowed by nature's solemn.

Emily loved how calming and safe the village makes her feel. Better than when she was alone in the woods, running from other packs as the past Rogue she was before finding Howling Tribe. It was also very dissimilar compared to the pack— Howling Tribe being a territory full of energy and chaos, sparkling with joy, too.

In Emily's first few weeks away from Lucas and his pack, she felt a striking sense of guilt. For leaving. For promising the pack's children that she would play with them again the next day. For swearing she would help the elders in fixing their gardens. For leaving the ornaments she planted and grew behind. For not staying with Lucas like she promised she would.

However, she knew that her decision was for the best. Or at least she thought it was.

Up until currently, she is still in the midst of figuring it all out, pondering, wondering whether she has made a selfish decision by running away, or if she has actually done the right thing in that difficult situation.

Has she invalidated Lucas's feelings? Did it hurt when she did not try to hear him out or what he has in store just so they could be together? Or was it actually the best thing she ever did in order to protect the Alpha, even if she knew Lucas could do that thing by himself and he did not need her protection?

She sighed. What is the point? There is no turning back anymore. She has already rejected her mate and told him off, pushed him away, and gave him the right to find somebody else to love while she is away, another female werewolf to be his Luna and carry the next of his kin, the future Alpha of Howling Tribe with his blood and flesh.

Even if there was a resisting urge deep inside her to go back to Howling Tribe, find Lucas, apologize for hurting him, and promise she will never run away again for stupid reasons, Emily kept it hidden behind a strong facade.

Even if she has to do this alone, for as long as Lucas would not sacrifice anything for her, especially his position, it would be all fine. And she would be glad to know if Lucas falls in love with another girl, builds a family of his own, and grows as the strongest and most feared Alpha in the werewolf society. She would be glad... although hurt at the same time.

Her decision was final. She will stay away from Howling Tribe's territory for good. She will never show them her face again.

Fortunately enough, her feet brought her to this small village. There, she wished to allocate her strength into giving a helping hand to other werewolves who accepted her in their little place. She tended to the wounded. Helped in giving shelter to those missing their homes, or were banished from their pack, or those who ran away for certain reasons— just like her.

“I have always wondered why you smell amazingly different when you first came here, Emily,” Elder Veronica, one of those who established the place, said when Emily sat down beside her after applying herbs to a newcomer's wound, “It has only been a wild guess before, but now, we are sure. Maybe because he is growing so fast and your body is changing, too."

“What do you mean, Elder Veronica?” She asked, completely puzzled at the suddenness of the old woman's remarks.

“You have a strong little alpha right there. Take care of him and make sure he grows up to be an amazing gentleman,” the older woman smiled, “I can feel his presence as early as he is one month old. He will be powerful and dependable, Emily, maybe just like his father.”

“What... do you mean? I do not... understand any of your words, Elder...”

For a fact, she does understand completely. And it is why her mind just automatically wandered to find out how and when did it happen.

If anything, she was the first one to notice that her body was changing. Especially now that a month has passed. Initially, though, she thought she was just eating too much, and she was used to that kind of life as a Rogue, hence the bulking up of her tummy. But now...

“Did you not know that you are pregnant?”

“I am... pregnant?” She let out a rather sarcastic laugh, a bit confused and a tad scared, “You must have mistaken that observation, Elder Veronica. I cannot be...”

The old woman shook her head, no. And then, she carefully reached out, put the palm of her hand above Emily's belly, and rubbed it as gently as possible, smiling almost instantly as she continued to do so.

“Ah, he must have been around here for a month or two already. And he seems strong. He is one good little boy, behaving so fine, not wanting to hurt you, so he does not make a lot of movements for you to notice.”

No way...

All this time... she was actually pregnant? With Lucas's child?

And now, she has already ran away and she could not come back to Howling Tribe. If she does, she did not know if Lucas would still accept her, especially after she rejected the Alpha and absolutely broke his heart out of faulty decision making.

D*mn it, Emily thought to herself. How could she be so careless? How could she be this d*mb to not notice? If Elder Veronica had not told her, she would not realize she has been carrying another life inside of her— and that new precious life is still in his most vulnerable form.

Moreover, it was somehow... saddening.

It was heartbreaking knowing Lucas would never learn that their love has produced an offspring, and their child will be a strong little male alpha. She bets Lucas would have jumped out of joy if she told him this, if she did not run away and she actually stayed like the Alpha wished, anyway. Lucas would have thrown a whole celebration in Howling Tribe, announced the existence of the pack's future alpha and claimed this child as his own legacy.

Emily would have felt very happy with the idea of having a family with Lucas. Just the thought of being with him for the rest of their lives. Sitting in the pack house while watching a smaller version of Lucas roaming around. Raising their son together under the same roof, as they kiss each other good night before going to sleep everyday. Having more kids and guiding them all as they grow up to be independent werewolves.

It would have been the best life ever. She could die in that state, beside Lucas, with their child, and she would breathe her last breath with a joyful smile in the lips. She would've been able to say she has acquired the greatest joy a werewolf could ever wish for.

However, she has already made her decision. She has left the pack already. She had two choices, whether to leave and save Lucas, or stay and let the Alpha receive all the lashings. And she has chosen the former already. Either way, she would have felt really selfish by choosing one, anyway. Saving Lucas instead of pulling the two of them down together will always be the best answer.

Another thing. If she showed up once more after running away, she does not know what they will do to her. She cannot risk her safety, as well as their child's own. She will never let anybody hurt them. This kid is the only gift he has from Lucas and nobody could put the tip of their fingers in him to cause pain and harm.

Months later, Emily gave birth to a beautiful baby boy which she decided to give the surname of his father, Lucas.

“I will call him Cornelius, Cornelius Sullivan,“ she smiled as she accepted the small body Elder Veronica was lending her. Cornelius was so tiny, she could hold him in one arm. He was so vulnerable, she might break him. He was too precious, she started tearing up. “Welcome to the world, my son.”