The Hidden Mate

"no,please do-", I woke up breathing heavily as I remembered the feeling of the beating I received that day. Nothing could have prepared me for what I went through after my brother died. He was my anchor, my rock. The one thing that kept my family together, but in one night that all changed. And it was all my fault. At least that's what I was told to believe. My parents blamed me, my friends blamed me, even my whole pack blamed me. Things Changed after the accident that took my brothers life and it was all because he wanted to help me. I went to a party one night where I may have had a little too much to drink,even for a wolf, and my brother being the great brother that he was came to get me. I don't remember too much but something caused us to crash and somehow I was the only one to survive. I was 17 and blamed for my brothers death just because it was my fault he went out that night. The whole pack was devastated as he was to be our future beta once our young alpha Christopher was to take over. I slowly got out of bed all thoughts of sleep gone only able to think of why I left my pack and my family in the first place. I decided to take a hot shower hoping to erase the tension in my muscles. It's been almost 9 years since the accident. 9 years that my family took there frustration out on me causing me to leave everything I knew behind. Once I left I became a rogue living under the radar and avoiding pack territories never staying in one place for more than a year, never getting close to anyone. What was the point. I get out of the shower and look at the clock reading 4 a.m. seeing that I still had almost 5 hours before I needed to be at the diner I've been working at for the last 3 weeks. I landed myself in a small town in Kentucky, not so much for the opportunities as there is practically nothing here, but for the space. Being a wolf it's hard to feel free in a city. The last year my home had been in Florida and there wasn't much space to run. Shifting is the one time I can feel free and forget everything. Not bothering with clothes I walk out of the house I have made my temporary home and shift before darting in to the trees. Out here there is no need to worry about neighbors and the other animals tend to stay away from me. I kept running feeling the breeze through my fur until I found myself at the river. I take a drink soaking in my surroundings before looking at my reflection. My piercing blue eyes standing out in contrast to my red and white fur. Looking at my human form you never would have guessed the color of my fur, the only thing that stayed the same was my eyes unless my wolf took over, which then they became a golden yellow. I stay at the river long enough to watch the sun creep over the mountains realizing people would probably be around soon. It was summer after all. I make my way home avoiding anything that could blow my cover. It would be odd to see a red wolf twice the size of the coyotes out here. I shift walking in to the house checking the clock to see 7:45 before I start getting ready. My shift at the diner may not start until 9 but from where i'm staying everything is 45 minutes to an hour in any direction. Well, by car at least, but I can't risk shifting in the daylight. I walk towards my room throwing my curly blonde hair in to a messy bun with the hair tie I left on the table by the door. Getting ready I pull on my white button up, thankfully short sleeves, and some jeans before slipping on my converse. I'm thankful the manager lets us wear just about anything we want as long as it's respectful. Not bothering with makeup I glance at the clock seeing only 10 minutes have passed since I got home. Figuring I had enough time I quickly munched on an apple throwing out the core once I finished. I take one look around confirming nothing was forgotten before grabbing my keys and heading out not bothering to lock the door. My truck is a junker but it is the one thing I still have from my old life, a 98 Ford Ranger. My brother bought it as a project and once he finished working on it he had no need for it seeing as he always had the newest truck as his everyday driver. Driving through town was always boring to say the least. Most everything opened later so there is never much traffic out. It sucks having to drive 60 something miles in just one direction everyday just to get to work but I don't mind. Driving past pastures gives plenty of cows or horses to look at along the way. As i got closer to work I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Good or bad I couldn't tell. If only I knew what the goddess had in store for me today.