The Rogue's Alpha

Chapter3:TwoYears Later Part 1

Azriel’s P.o.V.

For two years now, Azaela and I have wandered the world with my mate and our pack. We found a family two years ago. We gained forty more pack members that very day as well. Over the last two years, the pack has gained another six hundred.

We still haven’t found a place to call home though. We wander looking for more rogues to give a home to. We wander to make alliances. We wander to find our place in this cold and brutal world.

For a month now, the two of us have been away helping Alpha Ricardo of the West Mill Pack of Scewana. They have been having issues with rogues that have no wish to join a pack. All they want to do is destroy others. So we helped them deal with them.

Today we are finally on our way home. We know that our pack is up in Ashoria. Somewhere near the Black River Pack. It shouldn’t be too hard to find them. I want to be with my mate again. I have missed Wynter and Eden so much in the last month.

Wynter’s P.o.V.

My wolf, Eden, jumped over a fallen pine tree. I could feel the pine needles and soggy ground beneath her paws. It squished between her toes and under her nails, but she was so happy that I couldn’t help but be happy. I was letting her have her morning run and great goddess was she having fun.

As always, I was letting her have this run undisturbed. This was our daily routine. All I had to do was sit back in our mind and watch through her eyes and feel everything she felt. I mean if she was happy, why shouldn’t I be happy? And right now, she was extremely happy and so was I.

Slowly, I could feel the ground starting to get firmer and I knew she was heading towards the oak forest ahead of us. Gradually oak and pine trees started to mix until the pine forest fully gave way to the oak forest. Eden continued to race forward. In fact, I could feel her pulling harder at the ground.

The oak trees shaded us from the weak morning sun which was making this a crisp morning. About 150 feet ahead of us I saw a large boulder jutting out of the ground and knew where we were heading. In fact, I knew there would be some fog coming off that lake. The lake where everything started.

I let my focus fall to the pack for a few moments. It was the beginning of spring which means for the mated wolves it was the beginning of the pup season. We were rapidly approaching the birthing period. This was our first big pup season. Before it was also less than a hundred wolves having pups. This year there were almost 300 of the pack having pups.

It has been an excruciating spring so far. Game was always hard for us to find this early in the year. I mean some nights we were still getting frost after all. What made it harder was our numbers though. We were a giant pack and it made it even harder to find enough prey. Especially in spring.

We settled in the pine forest a few days ago and would be stuck here for another twelve to sixteen weeks while the pups were born and grew strong enough to travel for the next eight to nine months.

We were struggling to find enough food. Too many wolves were unable to hunt. There were a lot of other jobs to do. There was training to do. We had competition with other rogues in the area. There were also the packs in this area. Most nights we barely even had enough for a mouthful of food each, but we were getting by.

I was struggling with having to watch as my pack starved around me. But despite the harsh conditions, my pack was refusing to give up hope. They all knew that food would eventually come and that I would find a way to make this spring easier. Every spring was like this, and we always made it through in the end without losing any members. My pack believe in my wolf and I to lead them. They believe in my ranked wolves. Thankfully, I had an idea running circles in my head about how I was going to feed the pack. It was going to be risky, but it might just be what decides if we all starve to death or survive another spring.

My focus snaps back to the world around me as I sense air brushing the bottom of Eden’s paws. I feel the moment that the cold, hard, and grassy ground connects with her paws as she lands with a hard thud.

She pulled hard at the ground and charged through the deerberry bush that stood in front of her. The other side of the deerberry bush gave way to a large meadow. In the meadow stood a large group of people that turned towards us, but all Eden saw was the lake in the meadow. The lake where we met Kendrick and Kade.

Eden pulled harder at the cold, wet grass and raced towards the lake. Eden loved the water so much. Very few things made my girl happier than getting wet. She leaped once she reached the edge of the water and landed with a gigantic splash. The water was cold and harsh against her fur. Just like it always is during the spring.

Eden stood belly deep in the water and shivered as the cold seeped into her pelt. Even the weak morning sun that was now shining down on us wasn’t enough to warm her white pelt. I watched as the water rippled around her in large circles. She lifted her muzzle to the cloudless, pink dawn sky and let out an ear-piercing howl. The howl of a rogue. The howl that says, “I am packless”, but we haven’t been packless for sixteen years.

I could feel her excitement and joy burning through her pelt. I am so excited to be back in this forest, Wynter! This is one of my favorite places to be. I mean this is the exact spot where we met Kendrick and Kade sixteen years ago. I remember that day like it was just yesterday. You were so scared of them, but you found your courage and made friends. With my help and their help, you have become the fiercest alpha in the world.

I quietly laughed at my excitable wolf, but I could understand what she was trying to say. I mean if it wasn’t for her, I would have never become an alpha. If not for that, there wouldn’t be a pack and all of my members wouldn’t have what they wanted most in the world. A family. A home. A pack.

The entire pack believed in me. The entire pack inspired me to be a great alpha. They pushed me in the right direction. They supported me. And in return I supported and loved each of my packmates. Whether they were werewolf, vampire, bear, griffin, dragon, panther, witch, fae, demon, or angel. It didn’t matter to me or my ranked wolves. They were family and they belonged with us. Everyone in this pack inspired me to be the alpha that I always wished I had. They never let me give up even when I wanted to throw in the towel and quit this alpha business.

Because of all of them I have become the alpha that gave all rogues, any rogues what we all want. A home. A family. A friend. Those are the things that every rogue wants deep down. I would do anything for my pack now though. I would be anything for them. I would give everything up for them in a heartbeat.

I know exactly what you mean, Eden. I am happy to be back here. This place holds so many memories. I always miss it here. Especially this meadow and lake. This is where our world changed forever. It is an amazing place, but sadly we just can’t stay. There are too many other rogues and packs in this area. We are too noticeable due to our numbers, and we must protect our family. We haven’t associated with the packs in this area, so we don’t know if they will even accept us or not. We must leave after the pup season. We will have to move on when the time comes. We just can’t risk staying in one place for too long and sixteen weeks is already a long time. It can upset the resident packs. Besides, we are struggling to find food here. It will only get worse the longer we remain here.

I know, Wynter, but I wish we could just stay. This place feels different from the other places we have wandered too. It feels different than the other times that we have been here. It feels like home this time

Yet again, I knew exactly what she was talking about, but I had my suspicions that it wasn’t this place but instead the group that was standing on the other side of the meadow. I could feel their stares on us. Somehow Eden hadn’t noticed them yet.

I understood her though. This time this place did feel different. It really did feel like home. It felt like a place that the pack could finally settle in. This was the first place that felt like home besides when I am with the pack. It was a strange feeling. It was a foreign feeling. This was a very unsettling feeling for us, because it is something we aren’t accustomed to. Still, I smiled internally at her words. At least we agree about that.

This meadow truly holds some of my favorite memories that I have. This meadow truly holds some of the best moments in my life. The day I met Kendrick and Kade. The day that Kody, Seth, Ethen, and Cole joined the pack. The day the pack was formed. The day I became an alpha. The day I realized that I really could do anything that I set my mind too.

Finally, Eden sensed something was watching her. She stopped her howl and lowered her head from the sky. She stared hard at the mass of people on the other side of the meadow, lifted her lip in the beginnings of a snarl, and backed up a few steps. She stared at them and slowly lowered her lip.

A sudden brisk wind buffeted her fur and sent their scents towards us. Instantly, Eden was on alert and lifted her nose towards them. She inhaled deeply, drawing the scent in as much as possible. The scent of magnolias with hints of other shifters. Obviously, they are our other mates. My mouth was watering at the scent, and I could feel a bit of drool coming out of Eden’s muzzle. Thankfully, I am the one in the mind and she is the one of there making a fool of herself. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from investigating the scent and finding out who our mate or mates are exactly.

Eden, though, was on high alert. Her ears were pricked, and her mouth was open so that she could draw the scent in deeper. Her head was help high. Her tail was even held high up in the air. Typically, only alpha males held their tails like this, but in Eden’s mind she is and alpha males equal. Therefore, she always held herself with the dignity of any other alpha. Male or female. This was not any different in her mind.

Finally, I watched through her bright, captivating yellow eyes as several of them took a step towards us. Nine of them to be exact. I knew I would have ten mates, but I knew that if I took more than one there were other things that I would have to do.

Eden immediately licked her lips and took a step forward. Her eyes zeroed in on each of them. The taut muscles. The faces. The eyes. Everything about them. She licked her lips again.

I could feel her willpower quickly weakening as she took another step towards them. I started to feel my panic rise as soon as I realized she wanted to accept them. I mean we don’t know anything about these people. They might force us from Azriel or our pack. We didn’t even know what their intentions were or what kind of mates they truly were. Eden! I sent my screech to her in the hopes that she wasn’t past listening.

What is it, Wynter?

This is wrong, Wolfie. This isn’t right. We need to move away from them now. We need to leave before it is too late.

But why? They are our mates. I could hear the confusion in her voice, but she thankfully took a step back from them. We accepted Azriel. Why not them?

That is one reason why we can’t, Wolfie. Azriel needs a say in this. He returns home today. You are like this because you miss him. Just stay calm and trust in me.

I can understand that, but why else can’t we? Azriel won’t deny us our other mates, I am sure.

Eden, no one knows about our bloodline for one. For another, they are rogues. For another, we don’t know if they will make us choose between them and our pack. We are alphas. That means we have to put our pack first. We don’t know their intentions or anything. Which means that they are a danger to us and our pack.

But we won’t know anything without giving them a chance. We won’t know anything without hearing them out. I think we need to give them a chance.

Maybe…but we need other opinions first. What happens if the worst comes true? It would mean we would be abandoning our pack or worse cause the pack to fight for us. Some would be injured. Some would even die. The pack would win, but at what cost? Is that cost worth it to you? Because it isn’t worth it to me. To protect our pack, we will have to reject our mates if they allow us to. Or we would have to break our bond to each pack member. We would be abandoning our pack. Do you want to abandon them? I don’t want to at all. They are who we belong with. Not some mates that we are just meeting for the first time. We don’t know anything about them. Just think about this for a moment, Eden.

As I spoke, I could feel her panic rising and knew that she was seeing some sense. I could sense her sadness and uncertainty. I knew she hadn’t thought about any of this. I mean she is a wolf. A smart wolf, but still just a wolf. All she was seeing was what was right in front of her. She wasn’t thinking about how it could affect things.

Eden took another step back in the water. I knew if I finished my thought process that I would have her, but I wanted her to think about the bigger picture. Eden, we don’t need anyone next to us to lead our pack. Azriel doesn’t intervene or anything for a reason. We don’t need a male that thinks he gets to lead while we plan parties. Is that the life that you want? Is that the type of mate you want?

NO! I would hate that and so would you. She was now growling and baring her teeth again as she started to back up more. I could feel the hair rising along her spine.

Exactly. We would both hate that kind of life, and we really don’t know what kind of males these are. Best to find out with Kendrick and Kade and others with us. Our life is perfect right now. We have our pack. We have our family and friends. We have Azriel. Our pack loves us, and we love our pack. We need to think about them, Eden. We are their alpha. We are the pack’s past, present, and future. They depend on us, and we depend on them. We must think about them first and ourselves second. We gave the pack what they needed, and the pack gave us what we needed.

I could hear Eden letting out a series of whimpers at what I was saying. I could tell that my words were sinking in. I knew it was hurting her and I hated knowing I was hurting her, but right now I had to hurt her. She needed to think about this logically and make a decision. My Wolfie needed to decide where her heart truly lies. My heart lies with the pack, and I was praying to the Moon Goddess that hers lied with the pack as well.

I felt her paws slosh backwards in the lake and I could see the hurt looks on all nine faces. Eden’s belly was now above the water, but not by much. I really needed her to think, and it seemed like she was.

Deep down, I knew that Eden would never abandon her pack. They were her family. They had earned her loyalty. These new mates hadn’t earned any loyalty from us yet. I could feel that all she wanted was to go accept these mates, but as I listened to every thought that raced through her head, I knew that we were going to be out of this meadow very soon. As she tried and failed to find a single way for this to not have the possibility of a bad ending not happening. I knew she was seeing there was too much risk.

She started to whip her head back and forth as she took more steps backward. I could tell that my girl was panicking, and it was hurting me, but this had to be done. Maybe we can talk to them. Maybe we can make this work. Maybe they will happily join the pack. Maybe they won’t care about sharing.

Oh, Eden! Even if it were that easy the pack needs a say. Azriel needs a say. I know this is hurting you, but you know deep down that it must be this way. The pack may never accept these mates of ours, because of what it would mean. They would be furious with us for never telling them the truth about ourselves. I am not ready to face that. We are alphas. Great alphas. If they try to push to be the alphas…the pack would push back at every corner. You know this. I know this. This is for the best that we move on. We need to get back to our pack and think. We can talk to them later and maybe figure something out, but right now the pack is waking up and they need their alpha. Right now, we don’t have Azriel here to decide with us. Let’s go home! Please!

I could sense the turmoil in Eden, but her resolve was wavering in her head. I could tell that I was going to win this round but knew it would happen again. I knew we were going to walk out of this meadow, but it couldn’t happen soon enough. With each passing moment that we remained in this meadow it was becoming harder to leave. It made it that much harder on Eden in the coming days. Very well, Wynter, we will leave. But we talk to them today. We need to talk to the ranked wolves alone anyways. We can do that here and make an alliance. We can talk to our mates, but we wouldn’t decide without Azriel.

I silently sent my agreement to her. Instantly, she let out a wolf sigh, spun rapidly around, and leaped out of the water. She took off for the forest, stopped at the edge and looked back. I could see the pain in our mates’ eyes, but suddenly another male stepped forward. “Alpha Wynter, I would like to have a meeting with you today. We tried to make a treaty between Twisted Moon and Black River before, but we couldn’t finish it before you had to leave.”

Eden nodded her head and urged me to push a link out for a second. Immediately, I opened one with great difficulty. Alpha Grant of Black River, we will be back in an hour to talk. Stay put here. Please.

Very well and it is now Former Alpha Grant. I look forward to talking to you soon. Hopefully in person though. Eden let out a loud barking laugh which caused him to let one of his own out.

Swiftly Eden turned and charged into the deerberry bush that was in front of us. Through her eyes I could see that boulder that stood in front of us. I could feel how hard and rapidly her paws were pulling at the ground, and I knew that all she wanted was to return home to her pack. She missed them as much as I did. This morning taught us exactly how much we truly loved all our packmates.

Suddenly, I felt someone following us. Thankfully, Eden felt the same and turned on a dime and pounced onto the male. Of course it was one of our mates. “I won’t hurt you. I just wanted to talk for a moment. My companions, your other mates, stayed back. I asked to do this alone. Can we talk for a few minutes, please?”

I slowly opened a link with him. It was easier with rogues than others from different packs, but still hard since he wasn’t in my pack. What is your name?

Kallius. I am fae. Obviously, your name is Wynter. I won’t ask you to accept us, but I want to know why you’re rejecting us.

Eden got off him and sat down. Her tail curled to be sitting gently on her paws. We aren’t rejecting you guys. There is just more at stake for us and accepting you means certain things would have to happen. We must talk to our packmates first and we must talk to someone else first as well.

I can understand, Wynter. May we speak about things when you come back in an hour?

Yes, but we must be going now. We will speak about this soon. I promise.

Thank you. I will see you soon then. Just so you know we aren’t going to give you up. We will follow you anywhere. We want our mate whether we must share or not. That doesn’t matter to us at all.

I felt Eden nod her head before dashing off again. We could feel Kallius’ stare burning into her pelt long after and knew that this mate of ours wasn’t going to give us up like he said.

I could feel her desire burning in her pelt. I knew what she desired most was returning to her pack. Her paws were going as fast as they could and still it wasn’t enough for her as she tried to push herself past her top speed.