The Lost Wolf

The Truth.

SAIGE’S POV.

Dad dragged me out of the hall, followed by Luke, who was completely silent.

“Dad, what are you doing?!” I cried. “This is wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Saige. I know he is your mate and this hurts right now, but we need to get to the bottom of why he is here, he could put our entire pack in danger.”

Once home, I ran to my room and laid on the bed for only a moment before Luke entered.

“You lied.” He stated. “And now you’re putting me in a position where I have to lie.”

“How are you making this about you? Hes in there, being interrogated, somebody hit him Luke! It’s not right.”

“You know this is how strangers are dealt with. It has always been like this. They’re not trying to punish you, or him.” He spat out, I could tell that his wolf was angry that he was speaking to me in such a tone, but his wolf was also angry that I was worried about another male.

“He didn’t do anything wrong, Luke. His family took me in, gave me food and let me go.”

“Wait, you met his family? Why didn’t you tell Alpha Hudson this?”

“I mean it was a bit hard after being told to leave and dragged out by my own father. You have to do something. This will clear us.”

“Clear us?” He scoffed. “What happens when he actually meets his mate and everybody finds out you’re lying? Do we just stop trying to find out what happened to us and why we were paired? Because we sure as hell can’t go digging when you apparently already have a mate!” He was quite angry now.

I turned away from him. “Just go.”

“Saige---“

“Go.”

With that, he left.

He was right though, it was stupid of me to say that, but I know my pack and I know how much everybody worships the mating bond, I hope they respect me enough not to hurt somebody if they think he’s my mate.

Our pack didn’t take too well to other werewolves, especially in our area. And I know its in the best interest of everybody I care about, but I couldn’t help but care about Alex too.

I spent the whole day avoiding everybody in my family, but playing it cool. When nightfall hit, I said my goodnights and climbed down my bedroom window.

I crept along the houses in my street and made a bee-line to the community hall where they were keeping Alex. Sure enough, he sat in the same spot with that cheeky grin on his face.

“I knew you’d come crawling back.”

“What were you thinking!” I wanted to slap him. “My pack is not as welcoming as yours!”

“Yeah, I got that impression… I needed to see you again.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t even know myself. I minute I was sleeping and the next I was running as fast as I could go to find you. You’re different to them, Saige. Untie me and come home with me.”

“They’re my family, and my pack. We don’t just get up and leave. Why don’t you shift and break the ropes?”

“Wolfbane ropes, if I shift it will burn like hell. This isn’t your pack either. What are you hiding?”

I gasped. “What do you mean, this isn’t my pack? Of course it is. I was born and raised with them.”

“You rejected your Alpha.”

“How do you know about that? I did initially, but it was fixed.” I was lying to him.

“You know that you scrunch your nose a little when you lie?” He chuckled. “Saige, I know for a fact he’s not your alpha.”

“Oh yeah, and how do you know that?”

“Because.” He began. “A Lycan would never submit to a werewolf alpha.”

“Well luckily for you, I’m not a Lycan – whatever that is. But thank you for your concern.” I scoffed at him. Who did he think he was?

He chuckled. “Oh wow, your pack has just decided to pretend we don’t exist at all hey?”

I glared at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you wondered why you shifted yesterday when there was no full moon? Or that you did it on command? That has to be the tell, right? Come on Saige, you didn’t think you were just a special werewolf did you?”

“Well i—“ He got me there. “I… I did think about that. What’s a Lycan?”

“A Lycanthrope. We, yes we, including you.” He smirked again. “We are of the wolf family, however we can shift whenever, any time of the day, we have a lot more control. We’re usually larger, scarier, more fierce.” He growled, with that same smirk on his face. “I mean, werewolves are a lot stronger, but we also have a very lethal bite.” He chomped his jaws. “Our bite can create another Lycanthrope, and that being then goes under the command of the one who turned them.”

“So I… I was bitten?”

“Well I dunno, do you have any bite marks? I’m sure you’d remember something like that. Can you untie me and we’ll finish the story on a nice moonlight run.” He wiggled his arms.

“Oh, yeah.” Instantly knelt down to untie him, until I was stopped by the menacing yell of my alpha behind me.

“Saige Taylor. What the hell are you doing?” He stormed in with his same band of men, which included my dad and my brother. “Get away from him now.”

“Alpha, he didn’t do anything wrong!” I spoke softly but loud enough for them all to hear me.

“Saige, it’s not about what he has done, it’s about what he might do. You are not to go near him again and that’s an order.”

I looked at Alex, who knew I had no reason to listen to Alpha Hudson and gave me the look as if to say ‘Listen to him’. I followed Alex’s silent request and stepped away.

Alpha Hudson turned to my Dad. “Kevin, I know your family, and I respect you all. But this is the last time I will need to deal with your daughter being disobedient, next time there will be consequences.”

My dad shot me the angriest look I had ever seen him make. I knew Alpha Hudson was tough, but I didn’t know it was to this extent, and I also didn’t know how angry my dad could get.

I gave Alex one more look before running out the door with my dad closely behind. He caught up to me and yanked my arm jolting me in the opposite direction.

“Saige, you cannot go against Alpha Hudson, you are going to get us all in trouble.” He looked at me sternly. “I did not raise you like this. You listen to your Alpha.”

I heard Alex yelp in agony and tried to run to him, Dad held me back. “Let go! Why are they hurting him?”

“If he doesn’t speak, the pack sends a message. He will spend the next few weeks as a prisoner until the next Full Moon and then they’ll let him go, we follow, find out his clans whereabouts and prepare for an attack.”

“An attack? Why would you prepare for an attack with Lycanthropes who can shift whenever they want? That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, you’re giving us all a death sentence.” Nothing he said was making any sense. “This didn’t have to go like this.”

“How do you know about Lycanthro…. Nevermind. We are prepared. Saige, you have no idea what our pack has gone through to get to where we are now. We are feared, we are prepared for whatever they want to throw at us whether it be a Full Moon or not, the only difference is, in a Full Moon, it would take us about 5 minutes to kill them all, as opposed to 10.” He dragged me back in the direction of our home. “You’ve put us all in a really s**t situation, Saige. I’m very disappointed in you.”

Me? How did I do this?

I compared my pack to Alex’s. Innocent until proven guilty was their way of dealing with things, they were sure they could handle it if a stranger entering their premises and brought danger. My pack seems to talk big but the fact that they’re so defensive about Alex, means that they’re scared. They don’t want to seem weak, but personally, I think they’re all cowards.

We’ve got to help him. Ecko piped up. I was wondering when she’d force herself back into my head again. Shift and run to his clan.

‘If I do that, then I put my pack in danger. And as much as I hate them right now, I can’t do that.’

He’s in there suffering. How can you sit by? There has to be something we can do.

Hmmm.. maybe there is.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at my dad. “Would you ever hold me prisoner or punish me?”

“What? No, why in the world would you ask that?” He looked shocked, but I could tell he was genuinely telling the truth.

“Then for the next month, you’ll make sure they don’t lay a hand on him. Or I’ll go straight to his clan and let them know exactly where the King’s son is.” I couldn’t help myself but smirk, and then I wiped it. I’d never spoken like this to my dad.

“The king’s son… Well you didn’t mention that part.” He was taken aback but continued with the brave face. “Was that a threat?”

“It’s whatever you want it to be, Dad. I mean you can lock me away for a month, but then you’ll have to live with that, and I’ll never forget it.”

Playing the guilt card… I like it.

He hesitated for a moment and it shot me straight in the heart that my own dad was considering locking me up for a month to stop me trying to help somebody innocent.

“Okay. You swear to me you will not go out looking for his family?”

“As long as Alex remains unharmed, I remain silent.” I stated. “Oh and I want to be allowed to visit him once a day.”

“f**k, Saige. You’ve really put me in a hard position. Go home.” He turned and went back to the hall with the others and left me to wander back home on my own.

I really hope he kept his word.

**

The next week went by quickly, I avoided Luke, I attended training, and I was allowed to visit Alex once a day as I’d requested.

He was quite an interesting guy, and I really enjoyed my time with him. Hes the kind of person I hope to be fated to one day. He wasn’t scared, or held any resentment toward my pack, he understood that being a werewolf means learning how to survive, and this is how they did it here. He knew that he was being held prisoner until the next Full Moon so that if his clan did decide to attack, then the werewolves were ready, but he didn’t see that as something to worry about. He was sure that his dad would be able to talk them down to a treaty and it would be a peaceful event.

He taught me a lot about being a Lycan, and while I didn’t completely understand how I was given this form, I was happy that I had control over my shifting, however I knew I could never tell my pack or I would possibly be banished. Alex ensures his pack would take me in, but these people are my family and I didn’t want to be separated from them.

I strolled through the doors of the community hall and tossed Alex an apple, to which he humorously caught in his mouth. “Good catch doggie.”

He quickly shifted and wagged his tail and then winced before shifting back to human form. He still had the wolf bane chains on his wrist and that was something I wasn’t able to bargain. “Thanks. I’ve been practicing.”

“When will your family start to look for you?”

“They won’t.” He grinned, continuing when I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. “See this watch?” He motioned down to his side where he wrist was bound. “My dad’s got the same, it sends him a signal if my heart rate reaches a point where I might be scared or something crazy like that.”

I laughed. “Is that even possible for you to get scared?”

He shrugged. “Maybe if someone I loved was in danger, but when it comes to myself, I’m not scared to die. If I die it’s not because I came here looking for you, it’s because it is my fate.”

“What about your girlfriend?” I broke eye contact with him asking this question.

“Tasha? How do you know about her?”

“I didn’t, but you just confirmed it. Are you mated?”

“If I was, I wouldn’t be here right now, would I?” He caught my eye and held it. “We met in preschool, our parents are close friends. We have dated ever since and sort of expected to be fated. But she turned 18 and it didn’t happen, it was kind of sad but we both mutually agreed to continue seeing each other & then be mature and step back when the other meets their mate.”

“So sleeping together.” I spat without realising how jealous I sounded.

“Are you… jealous, Saige?” That cheeky smile rolled on his lips and he lifted his eyebrows, looking slightly up at me. “Yes, we sleep together, but I don’t see that happening again…”

“Why not?”

“You’ve kind of caught my eye, miss.”

“So? We are not mated, and I would not become your little thing until you meet the one you’re fated to.” Calm down, Saige.

“You’ve seem to have forgotten it works both ways, I would hate to see you meet someone and I’ve only known you a week.” I noticed his cheeks flush a quick pink and then fade. “Nah, to be quite honest with you, Saige, I feel drawn to you for some strange reason, we were supposed to meet each other. We might have known each other in a past life.”

“Maybe you’re right, who knows. I’m glad I’ve met you, but sorry to have gotten you into this situation and sorry that my pack is such a bunch of idiots.”

“It’s okay. What are you going to do when they find out what you are?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. Reckon your parents might adopt me?” I joked.

“Yeah sure. Do I start calling you sis now… or later?”

I wished I could enjoy this type of attention to a greater extent, but stupid Ecko was in my head gagging because this wasn’t the person she wanted the attention from.

“Saige.” Just the person Ecko wanted to see. “Time to go.”

I turned around to Luke. “I’ve been here 5 minutes, Luke. Relax.”

“Alpha’s orders.” His eyes shifted to Alex. “You doing okay?”

Alex grinned. “Never better with this one keeping me company.” He looked at me and winked. “But really Saige you should listen to your brother.”

I glared at him. “Okay. Have fun on your own. See you tomorrow.” I got up and walked past Luke swiftly who followed closely.

“Saige, when the full moon arrives in a few more weeks, we’ll find a way to contact the Moon Goddess to give us answers about whats going on here. I’ve looked into our family history, I’ve seen the birth records and we are definitely siblings. I’ve come to the conclusion that something must have gone wrong when you went to the constellation early, you messed with the balance of nature and maybe you were pared with the wrong wolf.”

“The wrong wolf?” I scoffed. “That doesn’t make any sense. Lets just ask Mum & Dad. Wait, nevermind… I already lied that Alex is my mate, they wouldn’t have any reason to not hurt him if I come clean.”

“Yeah coming clean is not an option for your friend in there. Do you like him?”

“I think he’s nice, but my wolf thinks your nice, so I’m in a pickle aren’t I.” The feelings that Ecko was making me feel when I looked at him, made me sick and it needed to be sorted. I walked away from Luke quickly before I could let these feelings overwhelm me.

I remembered the look at Luna Avery gave me the day I woke up after the constellation, it was like she knew that I was rejecting Alpha Hudson. I decided to give her a visit.

Her house was only a couple blocks away in a tiny cottage right in the middle of the town. That’s where the Luna-Gen’s stayed mostly, it was their safe haven.

I didn’t even need to knock before I saw her tiny figure open the door, she was instantly warm and comforting.

Before I got a chance to speak, she did. “We can’t talk here. Let’s go for a walk.”

She reached out her hand for me to take and we walked in silence through the town, people passed and smiled innocently, nobody dared question a Luna even if they were intrigued to why she had left her safe haven to walk through the town with me.

The night sky was blooming over us, and the stars glistened above, the air cool and the chatter of townspeople faded. We walked until we got to the west of our small town and we sat on the swing of a large oak tree and sat in silence for a moment.

“Luna Avery, I need guidance.” I began.

“I know, dear. I could see it when you woke, you still rejected Alpha Hudson even after exiting the constellation and finding your wolf. I can see you’re struggling.” Her hand was still gripped to mine and her thumb brushed my knuckles.

“Can I trust you?” I was scared, I didn’t know what was going on with me and I needed somebody with experience in this world to give me some hope.

“Oh, my girl of course. I am bound by an oath to all the women in my pack.”

“But what if I’m not a part of your pack?”

She looked taken aback by this.

“I mean, because I rejected Alpha Hudson.” I continued. “Is it possible to be fated to the wrong person? Someone that is completely not an option, someone that I love but not in a romantic way.”

“Yes dear, fate is fate. We all make sacrifices for our mate.”

And then it all started to spill out. I told her about Luke, I told her about how I can shift on command and that Alex thinks I’m a Lycan. For a moment, I forgot that I was telling another person, it was as if I was talking to a mirror trying to make sense of myself.

She let go of my hand and looked away before muttering. “I’m so sorry, dear.”

“Sorry about what?”

“Saige Taylor.” That booming and familiar voice followed by the large shadow of Alpha Hudson came out from the shadows. “You have fooled us all.” He looked at Luna Avery. “Thank you, you were right when she said she would eventually come to you. Please go home.”

Luna Avery nodded and stood up from her spot and left the scene quickly.

“Alpha… I—“

“Do not call me Alpha.” He was angry. “I watched you grow up, Saige. I have given you and your family all I have to give and this is how you repay me? By being a liar and a master manipulator.”

“I’m sorry, I have been so scared to tell the truth. I just wanted to find out answers for myself. I thought you would banish me.” I was crying now, I had just been betrayed by the only person I thought I could trust in my pack, and I didn’t know what was going to happen.

“You should have just told the truth. You will now be dealt with like all others that have crossed me and this pack.” His pack of men came out from the shadows behind me and surrounded me.

I was grabbed by the two men who I have called uncle my whole life, they dragged me across the ground, ignoring my pleas and cries for help. Who were these people that I thought were my friends and family?

With no mercy, I was literally dragged through the town on show for all to see. My parents stayed silent as we marched past their house, my mother clutching my dad who looked expressionless, the only person who looked like they were about to tear the town apart to save me was Luke, but to save himself, he stayed still with fists clenched. I had no one.

The doors opened to the hall and inside I went to join Alex as a prisoner. They bound my wrists with the same wolfbane cuffs that Alex had, and I was chained to a chair on the opposite side of the room. His eyes widened when he saw me and he watched as my own pack handled me like an animal even though I wasn’t fighting back. Tears drenched my clothes, and I noticed Alex check his watch.

“Now is your chance to tell us about whatever plan you two have conjured up with your clan or we will deal with you accordingly.” Alpha Hudson spoke.

“Plan?” I was genuinely confused at this point. Did he think we were conspiring against him? “Like you said before, you know me, Alpha.”

“From now on you will refer to me as Samuel. I am not your alpha, and the longer you pretend and lie to us, the harder it will be for you.” His eyes were darker than I had ever seen, I had heard tales of Alphas in our groups having cold hearts, but I thought Alpha Hudson…Samuel was that change in our history.

“Everything I said to Luna Avery was true, when I woke I didn’t know why I still didn’t accept you as my alpha, I pretended out of fear. I went home and I went out to get some air and before I realised what was happening, I had shifted in the absence of a full moon. I met Alex in the woods, and he took me to his family who fed me kindly and let me leave to come back home, that’s the last I had seen Alex until he ended up here.”

“It’s true.” Alex began. “I knew what she was the moment I laid eyes on her, she didn’t even know, she thought she was a special werewolf that could shift on command.” He winked at me. “I set her straight though.”

“He told me last week, I truly had no idea. You have to believe me, Alph---Samuel. I have not conspired anything.” I felt weak grovelling, but I really didn’t know this man as well as I thought I did and I didn’t know what he was capable of.

“I want to believe you, Saige. But what you’re telling me doesn’t make any sense. Two werewolves do not make a Lycanthrope and that leads me to believe that your family is involved in this madness. They’re telling me that you were not adopted, but like I said, this isn’t making a lot of sense.” For a moment I felt like he was genuinely trying to understand. “I feel like I’ve let a bunch of liars live freely among us.” Never mind.

“You lied about your mate.” He continued and I gulped, looking at Alex. “You didn’t think we were going to find out eventually? Its not easy to conceal the mate bond you already have.”

Alex’s eyes darted to me as he was completely unaware of any mate bond I already had. “What do you mean the mate bond you already have?” Suddenly it felt as if we were alone in the room, I felt as if I had cheated on him and was now coming clean.

“I…”

“Oh she didn’t tell you? You’re just lying to everyone aren’t you?” Samuel had a smirk on his face that made me want to launch myself at him. “Go on, tell him who it is.” He looked at Alex. “You know you’ve already met him multiple times. It’s quite disturbing really.”

“Saige?” I couldn’t tell if Alex was sad or angry.

The doors swung open and in walked my family.

“Ahh look, here he is now. Come here, Luke.”

“Luke?” Alex asked. “Isn’t he… your brother?”