Primordium

Part 1: Playing with fire.

“F... f… f**k y... you...” I spat dryly onto the concrete floor before me. The drops of bright red blood glistened, catching my eye. I had been in this situation before.

My wrists were chained to the wall as per usual, the cellar was dark, cold, damp. I was a rogue werewolf, born to an Alpha who wanted a male heir. I was too young when he threw me out. I could barely even remember what my mother looked like. I was passed around from guardian to guardian over the years, until I got older and eventually gained my wolf, Artemis, at 18. She was my strength. Rumour has it their pack, the Shadow Angels, were attacked a few years back by a strong rival pack called the Crescent Moon pack, lead by a rather handsome Alpha named Ieuan, and my parents had been enslaved by him and his pack. I smiled to myself at the thought; I hope he’s worked them like dogs.

I was tired and hungry, and my body was numb from the pummelling of fists I had received. It felt like I’d been there for days, but, it had only been maybe eight hours. Yet I felt weak. But my wolf was strong.

Don’t give in.

She was never one for words, Artemis. Whenever she spoke it was always quick, to the point and meaningful. I always respected her for that. It must have been hard for her living the way we did.

Suddenly a fist flew straight into my jaw line again, and I grunted in pain, shifting my head back at the impact and scrunching my eyes shut.

“Shut up, b***h, or I’ll hit you again,” a tall, dark-haired man said proudly. He’d been asking me lots of different strange questions about my family, my past. For many years the rogues believed that there was treasure buried in the cellar underneath the Shadow Angels packhouse. They just didn’t know exactly where, and neither did I. This man was perhaps in his early thirties, at least six foot tall and had a noticeably large scar above his left eye. He had a rough beard, the same colour as his thick dark hair, and deep chocolate eyes. He’d been watching me for hours, so I’d had plenty of time to study his rather heinous complexion.

I just quietly grunted from the pain again as more drops of my blood painted the dimly lit floor in front of me.

“Primrose Merrick, the female Alpha that was just never meant to be,” another man emerged from the shadows which startled me a little; I jolted in surprise, and I felt my heart speed up. This man had mousey brown hair, was also very tall, but looked younger than the other male. He smirked at me, taking a moment to look me up and down with his sky- blue eyes.

“You all know the story. Do you really think I’d keep the money from you? I have no feelings towards my blood relatives whatsoever. Take the money for all I care if it exists that is. You are simply wasting your time and your precious resources,” the Crescent Moon pack had taken over the territory of the Shadow Angels pack. I’m sure the rogues knew this, as they were both smirking grimly at me.

“Big mouth for a dead girl,” he simply replied, raising his eyebrows. “So, here’s the plan. You go into the pack, infiltrate them, find the money, then bring it to us- “

“How on earth is that going to work?” I jolted upright, attempting to widen my rather swollen eyes. “I’m a rogue, they’ll be able to smell it on me. They’ll never let me in.”

“Yes. But you’re also young, and beautiful,” he shrugged. That annoyed me, and Artemis. She let out a low growl.

This might be our chance at a new life.

I guess she was right. I simply nodded.

Rather than being beaten unconscious, the older rogue produced a candle from his pocket, struck it lit with a lighter, and left it a metre or so away from where I was changed. Neither man said anything as they disappeared slowly into the darkness and before I knew it, I was alone, with this rather strange candle. An aroma of burning wood soon filled the air, almost like it was bonfire night. Before long, my eyelids felt heavy, I slumped down, and sleep consumed me.

---

The sweet aroma of toffee apples filled my nostrils. Artemis felt like a volcanic eruption in the back of my mind which lurched me awake. I gasped for breath.

Mate?

This was new to me. I didn’t realise the moon goddess granted rogues mates. I buried Artemis’ words and magma deep into my brain as possible. Slowly my eyes fluttered open to be met with sheer bright artificial light. I lurched upwards, coughing rather violently, then my eyes darted around frantically.

“Where- where am I?” I screeched rather loudly. It was some sort of hospital room; bright artificial LED lights lit the rather bright and airy room. I had been placed onto a spotless white hospital bed, with an IV in place in my arm and monitors ticking away showing my vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. Panic soon set in as I looked around to see if there was a camera or anything watching me,” er… hello?”

Surely enough, the scent of toffee apples got stronger as it entered the hospital room. Artemis growled lowly at this, uttering the same word but more strongly this time.

Mate.

“Mate…” I mumbled under my breath, looking the rather tall handsome gentleman up and down. He had dark brunette locks, deep crystal blue eyes, plump juicy lips. I could see that he took a moment to look me up and down, growling a little.

How is it possible the moon goddess granted me such a mate?

“…Mate…” his wolf growled at his comment. I said nothing. He looked like he could be Prince Charming for all I know. He sniffed the air momentarily before approaching my bed. He finally spoke,” we found you on the border of our territory. You’ve been badly beaten and injured. Our pack doctor, Justine, has tended to most of your injuries but you need to rest. I am Ieuan, Alpha Ieuan,” he bended down by my bedside, took my hand and paced a gentle kiss on the back of it. I immediately blushed. “Can you tell us what you remember, Primrose?”

For a moment my mind went blank, and I sat there, wide eyed. How did he know my name? And was it him that smelt so unbelievably delicious? So, was I inside the Crescent Moon pack territory? Why was I not dead?

Despite the many questions shrouding my brain I stuttered to reply,” I- I rogues… I- I um…” I could feel tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. After all, I was barely 21 years old, destitute, alone. My ribs hurt, it hurt to breath.

“I- it’s okay- “he said rather shyly and gently put his arms around me to offer a hug. “I know what your father did to you was very wrong. I thought you were dead, we all did…” I grunted as he touched my briefly due to the pain in my ribs but that soon settled, and I felt a spark of electricity. He slowly let me free, and his crystal eyes met mine. He looked so delicious I could have leaned forward and kissed him right there and then, claimed his lips with mine. Artemis was egging me on.

I could feel him leaning forward as if he was going to kiss me but then suddenly the door clicked open and a fierce looking lady in a white coat came gliding in. She was easily a foot taller than me, with sleek blonde hair and her eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses.

“Alpha,” the lady bowed her head towards Ieuan.

“Doctor Justine!” He lifted himself up from the side of my bed to face the lady, smiling gratefully and nodding at her. She looked back up at him then over to me.

“Primrose, you are awake. How are you feeling?” She took me in, then briefly glanced at the IV fluid bag and electronic monitor. Ieuan said nothing.

“I- I’m sore, but otherwise I think I’ll be okay. Thank you so much,” I forced a sweet smile at the doctor. I then glanced over at Alpha Ieuan, his face automatically making me blush.

“That’s good to hear. I’d like you to rest in here for another 24 hours before I release you, okay?” I gulped, suddenly terrified that they’re going to throw me out of their pack after I’d just arrived. A brief flashback of the two rogues popped up into my head. They’d surely kill me if I came back empty handed.

“Thank you so much Doctor, I’m ever so grateful.” Ieuan acknowledged the doctor, then she nodded and left the room. "Primrose. You must be starving. C- can I get you something to eat?" 

I looked him up and down, then nodded slightly. He seemed to zone out for a minute, perhaps mind- linking someone to bring the food up, then his focus came back to this room.

Kiss him already. Drag him back into that bed of yours.

Artemis was stirring inside of me. I gulped, my stomach suddenly feeling full of flutters and butterflies. Surely it wasn't just me feeling all these crazy feelings? 

"Ieuan, can I just say something...?"