The Prophesied Claim

You Can't Stay Here

I know it hasn't been more than five minutes since I locked the truck with Alec stalking someone in my apartment, but it feels like an eternity. Sweat is beading on my palms and my heart is racing in fear. Someone's in my home. Someone has invaded my space. Why? The prophecy? Is this what Finn meant about my presence creating violence? Am I actually in danger?

"Sirena," my name followed by a knock on the window causes me to jump, but I manage not to point the gun at Alec in my panic. He jerks his head in the direction of the apartment and I assume it must be safe to go inside.

I open the door hesitantly and stay close beside him as we go inside, "Was I robbed?" I ask half hopefully. I feel a robbery would be much easier to deal with than anything else, plus, I don't have anything of value. The most they'd be able to do is break the TV. If they wrecked the closet they'd just be saving me a trip to Goodwill.

But Alec shakes his head, "Not a robbery. A wolf. Finn was right, damn him. You'll need to pack a bag. Enough for a few days. Anything else you need. You'll stay with me until we figure this out."

"I can go to my sister's," I offer not sure I want to be forced to share space with Alec right now. I won't be able to keep my hands to myself, and I really need to pause and take a breather at some point, "It's just outside the city. She won't mind. We haven't seen each other in a few weeks."

"Sirena. Think about this for a second. There hasn't been a born female wolf in over a hundred years. You're it right now, and you haven't been claimed. That means any rogue wolf over the age of twelve is going to hunt you. Out of desperation or hope, they'll hunt you. Wolves are naturally cunning, ferocious when needed, but cornered wolves are vicious, surviving solely on instinct. You won't be safe at your sister's house, and she won't be either if you're there."

I give in gracefully, a few days ago I would've said this guy was nuts, but I just spent part of my day roaming around wearing a fur coat, so I'll go with him knowing more than I do.

"What's a rogue wolf?" I ask quickly, grabbing a bag and proceeding to stuff it liberally.

He twitches the curtain aside, scanning the parking lot, clearly only partially listening as he responds, "Rogues go on their own. They don't abide by pack law. They're usually decently harmless, think of them as being common criminals. Petty theft. A little perjury or forgery. Small time stuff. Some are extremely dangerous. They don't follow pack law and they don't follow human law. It used to be pretty rare, but in the last ten years or so more and more have turned rogue, and the violence they've wreaked has escalated."

"Why would they be interested in acquiring me?"

I have his full attention now, "Because it's illegal for rogues to reproduce and keep their offspring. If they procreate outside of the pack, outside of pack law, it's a death sentence. You're a female wolf. No one would dare harm you or your offspring. Having you is a form of protection to a rogue. They'd escape the wrath of the pack and ensure their protection."

"Rogues are killed," I gasp in shock, "That's barbaric."

"No. Sirena, think about what I'm telling you. These are not mere men. They've the instincts, the skills, of wolves. They hunt. They kill. They abide by no law. If they reproduce, they raise their offspring to that life. Potentially training a child from birth as a serial killer. Our people are a dying race, but we can't allow ourselves to become what horror movies have made us."

The true job of the Alpha I realize isn't a figurehead position. It's making decisions between life and death. Deciding how best to protect both humans and the race of wolves, even when the decision seems brutal.

"Who carries out a sentence?" I ask hesitantly, already knowing the answer, hating it for him.

"I do."