WINTER ROGUE

CHAPTER 7 - SACRAFICES - JAYLA'S POV

''So who took your sister?'' I asked, and continued to stuff my face in the light of the fire.

''A cursed pack.'' Kolton answered, his eyes darkening.

''I see.'' I nodded. There were four cursed packs, mine being one of them. Had Barret and his father started hurting women? ''Which pack?''

''Fang,'' He told me, and started eating slowly, and I exhaled in relief, at least it wasn't my old pack.

''Why would they take your sister?'' I asked, curiously. It was strange having a conversation with someone, it had been so long, ''Did you provoke them?''

''Of course not.'' He said, sounding offended, ''My pack is peaceful. Haley was born with a birthmark on her ankle.''

I frowned in confusion, ''Oh, yeah, that answers everything. Mystery solved.''

Kolton looked up at me, ''How long have you been a rogue?''

I was twenty-two now, and I was turned away when I was eighteen. ''So four years.''

''Well, that explains why you don't know.'' He said, as he shifted uncomfortably. ''For the past year, women with birthmarks have been rounded up and killed to break the curse, but why that's the damn requirement is beyond me.''

''Because it was apart of the original curse.'' I admitted, there was no point in hiding it.

''How do you know?'' He asked, his hand pausing midair to his mouth.

''Because the curse came from my old pack, Nightsong.''

''You're from there?'' He asked, shifting nervously, but I laughed.

''Relax Alpha, the curse only spreads if you accept me into your pack, I think you're safe.'' I rolled my eyes.

''I meant no disrespect, I just.''

''Just don't want to have your pack destroyed, don't worry, I get it.''

''Can you tell me about the original curse? No one ever talks about it.''

I exhaled and put down my plate, and stared into the flames. ''When my pack was first established, there was a war going on, hundreds were dying, and a white Lycan, Callista brokered peace, but one condition was for her to marry my pack's Alpha at the time. Alpha Decon agreed because his mate was thought to be lost in the war, and he wanted a strong heir.'' I told Kolton, who watched me silently, ''But after about three months, Decons mate, Delilah, returned. She'd been captured, not killed, and she was released with all the other prisoners once peace was made. Decon assured Callista that the bond between them was broken, as he'd already marked her, but it wasn't long before he started neglecting Callista for Delilah, and he even got Delilah pregnant.''

I took a breath, before reciting the tail I'd heard since childhood.

''Decon swore that the child wasn't his, but, of course, Callista knew the truth.'' I went on, ''White Lycan's can see through lies, and she lost it. During the Goddess festival, she cursed Decon, and his whole pack, to break all bonds, including the mate bond, so that no one born into my pack would ever find their mate. Callista said the curse would not be lifted until the next white Lycan was born bearing a special mark, and only after she marries the Alpha would the curse break. She then took her life to seal the curse.''

I leaned back, and pulled up my knees, hugging them.

''Over the years many pack members have run from our pack,'' I said, as I stared at Kolton, ''Hoping to run from the curse, but it just spread. That's why you all reject us joining your packs, but you know that already.''

''So that's why they're rounding up girls with marks,'' He frowned thoughtfully, ''They're hoping to break the curse. They must have just heard the part about the mark, and not about marriage. And I doubt they know about the white Lycan part, because none of the girls who were taken are white Lycans. I haven't even heard of a white Lycan being born in generations. They must just think killing the girls with marks will stop it.''

''Or perhaps they're marrying and marking the girls, but once the curse remains, they kill them.'' I suggested, ''How many girls have been killed?''

''I don't know, I think about nine.''

I looked down as I reached up and touched my collar bone, where I'd burnt off my mark, as guilt filled me. If I'd just married Barret, those poor girls would have been safe. Word would have gotten out that marriage wouldn't work. I was even more determined now to save Kolton's sister. I wouldn't let her die for me.

Over the years, I'd snuck out of the mountains and went in search of the Alpha, but even I hadn't found him, to break the curse, and I was involved in the cure. How could anyone else think they had the power to break it?

The rocks and wood I used to keep my cave closed in, shook from the strong wind of the blizzard and I shivered a little, and tossed more wood on the fire.

''Why do you live here?'' He asked me suddenly, bringing me out of my memories.

''Why? You don't like my cave? How rude.''

He smiled, ''You know what I mean.'' He said, ''Why are you rogue?''

''I was banished here for going against the Alpha's orders,'' I answered vaguely. I couldn't let him know why. He'd trade me for his sister, though truthfully, I wouldn't blame him. ''I'm not allowed to go home unless I agree to his terms, and technically I'm not allowed to leave the mountains, but I sneak out from time to time.''

''Your pack sounds wonderful.'' He said sarcastically.

''Oh, it's a dream.'' I smiled, ''You should visit some time.''

He laughed and shook his head, ''I think I'll pass.'' He said, before staring at me with a strange expression. Sh*t. Was he suspecting something?

''What?''

''Nothing, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare, I just... I feel like I know you.'' He said, as his eyes ran over my body.

''Well, I did have my hands inside you a few hours ago. Can't know someone more than that.''

Again he laughed softly, as he held his stomach. ''I'm serious. Have we ever met? Have you ever been to Lotus pack?''

''No. I've never even left my pack until I was banished, and as Lotus is close to my old one, I haven't gone anywhere near it since my banishment. If my Alpha catches me off the mountain, he'll kill my family.''

''Right, okay,'' He nodded, ''I can't believe you've survived here all these years alone.''

''Why? Because I'm a girl?''

''No.'' He frowned, ''Because this forest is known for its rough conditions. You must be very strong.''

''Something like that.'' I said dismissively. He wasn't wrong. If I hadn't been a white Lycan, I would have died years ago. ''You should finish eating and get more rest.''

''What am I wearing?'' He asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.

I smiled, ''I saved you, fed you, and agreed to help you, and you're insulting my very talented sewing skills?''

He laughed softly, ''You made this?''

I nodded, ''I don't exactly keep male clothing on hand, I had to cut some clothes up, but they'll hold up until you can buy some more.''

''Wait.'' He froze for a second, ''Does that mean you saw me naked?''

''What are you? Shy?''

''I've...''

''What?'' I asked, when he paused and looked down, blushing slightly.

''I've never been naked in front of a woman before, okay? Are you happy?''

I smiled, ''Are you a virgin?''

''That's none of your business?''

''That's a yes,'' I answered, in surprise.

''We don't sleep around in my pack, we wait for our mates.''

''I've never met an Alpha who waited for his mate.'' I commented, ''Especially not one as attractive as you.''

''Well I am. What about you, rogue?''

''Don't call me that, or I'll let you starve.'' I warned as I angrily glared at him, ''And I'm a virgin too. I don't exactly get many offers for courtship in exile, so don't be self-conscious. I wasn't judging you. I was just surprised. However, don't worry about me changing your clothing. I didn't do anything weird to you. Or did I?''

Kolton smiled, ''You're crazy.'' He teased me. ''It's clear you've been alone to long.''

''Well, I am a rogue.''

''You don't smell like one though.'' He commented, ''Not a full one, anyway, your scent's actually really sweet. I've never smelt anything like it.'' I frowned at him, and he cleared his throat, ''Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward.''

''I'm going to sleep,'' I said, as I stood up. Not wanting to have this discussion about scents, it made me jealous that I'd never get to smell my mate one day. ''We need to sleep next to each other for the heat, but wake me if you get cold, and I'll add more wood.''

''Sure, thank you.''

I walked over to my bed and laid down next to Kolton, turning my back to him, as I pulled my blanket over myself. But as he laid back down too, I started to feel nervous, but I couldn't understand why. Even if he tried anything, he was too injured to hurt me. But finally I felt myself drift off, but when I woke early in the morning, I froze, because I was hugging Kolton's arm, and cuddling against him.

Sh*t... I blushed, and slowly pulled myself away from him, as he snored softly. Once I was free of him, I laid on my side, and stared at him.

''He's sexy.'' I told Willow, who was half asleep.

''Most Alphas are,'' She pointed out, ''Go to sleep!''

I smiled, as I got up, and tossed some wood on the fire, before laying back down, and going back to sleep.