Chapter 13

Despite the concerned looked etched on both of their faces, I shook my head. "No, she really needs to go now." My parents didn't know about Adan rejecting me and they weren't going to find out. They didn't need to know how much of a disappointment their daughter was. To have any mate reject you is bad enough, but like I said, to have an Alpha not want you is just... well, if you buried yourself under the floorboards, it still wouldn't be enough to rid yourself from the embarrassment. My mother sighed and gave me a soft smile. "Just be careful. Stay in the boundaries, don't even cross into the Harbor Pack territory, and if there is the slightest thing that seems off, you come straight home. Do you hear me?" I nodded. Sometimes my parents could be slightly overprotective. We always had Rogue trouble, what made this time so different? "I'll see you guys later, okay?" "Love you, kiddo." My dad called. "Love you too, old man." I heard a soft chuckle before the door closed. Just me and you now. My wolf said. In seconds my clothes turned into shreds and the beautiful ash grey fur began to spout. I may not be much to look at in human form, but my wolf was incredible. The tip of my right ear was black and my tail also had flashes of black running through it. Most femmes were small, but unlike some, I didn't have Alpha blood running through me so I looked even smaller in comparison. My eyes changed a little and were now a vibrant gold with strong emerald specks. My paws hit the ground, pounding harder against the dirt as my pace picked up. The wind howled around me as I ran deeper into the forest, and the scent of fresh pine and wild flowers washed over my senses. I ran, not caring where I was going. I ran away the pain in my heart, the numbness of my body and the ache of my wolf. I ran until my paws became sore. But I didn't stop. The flashes of color passed me as the shapes of the trees were blurred. I didn't concentrate on any of it instead I focused on one thing. Adan Williams. His perfect face flashed in front of me, the words he taunted me with, his teasing and his rejection. Pushing harder with everything I had - everything we both had - until I came to a stop outside the familiar cabin. The run might have only been a brief release, but it felt amazing. I padded up to the small stream next to it, my wolf needing water just as much as I had. She purred as the coolness trickled down my throat. Lying down on the grass, I crossed my paws in front of me and rested my head on them. So much had happened in the last couple of days. The emotions I had fought with had exhausted me and all I truly wanted was to close my eyes and have a dreamless sleep. The snapping of a twig prevented me from doing just that. It wouldn't have been heard, but with my sensitive hearing, even the smallest sound rang loud in my ears. I may not have had Alpha blood, but I had one hell of a sense of hearing. Inhaling deeply I tried to pick up on something that stood out, a smell that didn't belong in the forest. But I couldn't, all I could smell was fresh wood. My mother's words ran through my mind. 'Rogues running about town.' Okay, I'll admit, that's the last thing I wanted to encounter right now. That was why our pack, The Shadow Pack, was allowed to share territory with The Harbor Pack. Ours wasn't strong enough to defeat a full blown Rogue attack. Peppermint. The second my wolf's words floated into my mind so did the scent. Lifting my head I took a quick scan of the area. Nothing seemed to be out of place. A branch broke. All four paws hit the ground as my body stiffened. I lowered my head as my tail hung low, my fur spiking with awareness. Please don't be a Rogue, please. A low snarl rumbled and my eyes darted in that direction just in time to see a brown blur running at me. Springing up on my hind legs, I swiftly moved to the left, dodging the attack. From the size, I could tell it was a male wolf and with the angry growl that ripped through air, I knew he was angry. Taking the only chance I had, I ran, but within seconds I could hear the heavy padding of the other wolf and I knew he was close. Being small meant I could easily weave through the trees, leaving the wolf behind me to take the long way around. Leaping up over a rock, I was seconds off beat and my body was slammed against the nearest tree. I winced as the pain rolled over my already sore body. I tried to get up, but it was too late. The wolf opened his mouth to reveal his sharp and very deadly looking canines. Reaching out I tried to claw at him, but my futile attempts had me clasping at thin air. Lowering his snout in one quick motion the wolf latched his jaw on to my shoulder and bit down causing a surge of pain to tear through my body. No! My wolf cried as the pain struck her. Whimpering, I lowered my head in a sign of submission, but the hold the wolf had on me didn't ease.