A New Start (original version)

Chapter 2

Rowena

It had been forty minutes since we had left the pack. We were just walking to catch our breath when there was a quiver in the air around us. Massive wolves suddenly surrounded us. The largest was a black wolf with blue eyes that was emitting authority. He had two white stripes circling each of his front legs about a half-inch apart. My ears pressed to my head when I heard his growl of warning. I rolled onto my back and showed him my belly.

I saw the other wolves look at each other when the growling stopped. The black wolf went behind a tree and was in human form when he came out. He had a set of clothes in his hand as he walked toward me. I saw that he had black hair with blue eyes when I looked up at him. He was about 6'5" and muscular. He kneeled to my wolf's height when he sees that I'm still scared. He gently placed his hand between my ears. The Alpha smiled as he moved his hand down to run through the fur on my cheek. I closed my eyes at the feeling of a gentle hand. "I'm not going to hurt you, little wolf. No one is going to hurt you again." He said to me.

He silently handed me the clothes that he had in his hand. I changed behind a tree and came out once I was human. When I stepped out from behind that tree, I saw that the wolves were now in human form. Almost everyone gasped when they saw me. "How is this even possible?" One of the men questioned. I began to feel lightheaded before my legs collapsed.

The man closest to me caught me as I fell and lifted me in his arms. He carried me over to his Alpha, who took me in his arms and secured my injured body against his chest. "Alpha, she's wounded. She needs a doctor." The man explained to his Alpha. "Let's go. Shaun will meet us outside the packhouse." Then they were moving quickly through the forest. "What is your name, little wolf?" He asked me after a few moments of silence. "My name is Rowena Reeder." "Who did this to you, little wolf?" He asked me worriedly. "My Alpha was the one who hurt me." His arms tightened around my body at my response. "I'm tired." "You have to stay awake, little wolf?" I could tell he was worried about me, but I couldn't understand why. "What is your name?" "I'm Alpha Beau Alexander of the Crescent Moon pack." He responded.

The Alpha spoke to a man when we reached their packhouse. "She has a head wound caused by her former Alpha." "Okay, take her to the infirmary." The man said. The world went dark before we made it there.

Beau

I hastened my pace when Rowena went limp in my arms. My mate was already in the infirmary wing when I arrived. "Did you get her to tell you her name?" Aria asked as she guided me to an empty bed. "She said her name is Rowena Reeder. Her former Alpha is the one who hurt her." I informed her as I lay the small girl on the bed. I saw an odd look pass over Aria's face before she shook her head. "How did she even make it this far? She isn't sixteen yet. The closest pack is His pack forty minutes away." I could tell she was confused. She also seemed flustered, but I couldn't figure out why.

"Alpha, Luna. I need you to step out while I work." Shaun entered the room. I nodded as I placed my hand on Rowena's cheek. "It's okay, little wolf. You're safe now. No one will ever hurt you again that I promise you." I pressed a light kiss on the small girl's forehead, feeling her hand reach up blindly to grasp my shirt. My wolf whined at the child's actions. After that, Aria and I walked out of the room, leaving Shaun to do his job.

We sat on a couch in the waiting room silently for a few minutes before I began explaining a few things. "When a pup transforms before their sixteenth birthday, it's usually a sign that they've been tortured in some way." After my words, I heard Aria sniff. "So, her former Alpha may have abused her?" I heard her voice shake a little. I couldn't figure out why she was acting like a frightened child suddenly. She is usually able to handle this kind of thing.

Maybe she's feeling what we're feeling towards Rowena. My wolf's voice was soft, caring. It made me want to shake him.

It was a couple of hours before Shaun came out. "The good news is there doesn't appear to be any major damage. It looks like her wolf may have healed most of it." Shaun explained to us. After that, we went into the room. I had to keep from going and killing her former Alpha.