Rejected

I am walking briskly down the sidewalk when his smell slams into me, overwhelming my senses and sending my wolf into a frenzy. His footsteps are far too close and I’m in no position to face him when everything is still so raw…so fresh. I increase my pace when a pack link tears in and a familiar voice comes through.

‘Multiple breeches. Western border and northern border. 7 spotted. Moving south by southwest. In pursuit.’

I stop and turn to face the man I can never have, seeing the look of confusion wash over him, seeing him question if I know what he was just told, though knowing there should be no way I did.

‘Breech at the daycare!’

Before the link can be severed, my wolf unleashes an angry growl that erupts violently and fills the quiet around us. The alpha’s eyes are wide as he watches my rage taking form as my wolf pushes forward. Just before my shift is complete, I growl out a response through the link without so much as a thought or concern beyond protecting the four children that I know will be there due to their parent’s work schedules.

‘Hurry!’

The voice is mine, but sounds so foreign as my wolf breaks free, running through the town to a place that has been my sanctuary since I arrived here. The streets are empty and quiet, the stench of rogues is thick in the air around me, but my wolf is unbothered as she bounds through ally’s and down streets until we reach the day care. We stalk into the building through the open doors, following the faint sound of sobbing until I reach the nursery where Margaret is curled up on the floor with a crying infant held tightly in her arms and a large black matted wolf snarling in front of her. My wolf does not hesitate as she leaps onto the back of the rogue wolf, sinking her teeth into its shoulder and clamping down tight just as it begins to thrash and squirm in an attempt to get away. She releases her hold and just as the wolf lunges at her, she catches it by the throat in midair, shredding its carotid artery as its weight bears down on her.

‘Take the baby and get out!’

I shout through the mind link. She stares at me in shock for a moment before coming to her senses and doing what she is told. I follow the scent of the wolves ahead, finding them in the main nursery with Olivia laying unconscious on the floor while one of the wolves is attempting to lift one of the babies out of the crib. Before I can react, the alpha rushes in and attacks one of the wolves, quickly gaining the attention of the others. Olivia begins to stir, slowly regaining consciousness, so I quickly bark out an order to her through the link.

‘Use the window, get the children out of here!’

She only spares a brief glance before grabbing the first infant, quietly opens the window and climbs out. I help the alpha keep the attention of the six wolves while Olivia removes the children and gets them to safety. I am about to lunge at one of the wolves, his grey eyes locked on the alpha while he prepares to pounce, when I hear a loud and agonizing howl. I turn to see three of the wolves piled on the alpha, one has his teeth sunken into his leg and another has him by the throat. I feel a surge of something strange, powerful and completely primal tear through me. My wolf rises up onto its hind legs, my mind and her body melding into one, single being. I unleash a menacing, rage filled howl, sending the five wolves flying across the room and slamming into the wall. In an act that stuns even me, I speak. My tone is filled with authority and issues a command that they seem unable to ignore.

“Stop! If you so much as twitch, I will slaughter you where you stand!” The rogues and the alpha look on in dismay, unable, or maybe unwilling to believe their eyes. I must say, it is strange to be standing before them, half wolf, half human and speaking to them with an authority that I surely do not possess, but they obey.

“Submit!” The five wolves reluctantly lower their heads, but their eyes never leave me. My wolf relents, allowing me to separate and regain control of our body as I drop down beside the alpha. I assess his injuries quickly, noting a large gash in his shoulder that is bleeding profusely.

“You! Grey eyes! Get me one of those baby blankets!” I point at the blankets folded neatly on a shelf along the wall beneath the window. He snarls, but quickly does as he is told. I take the blanket from his hand and place it on the wound, applying pressure in an attempt to slow the bleeding. The alpha’s eyes are locked on me with a look that I cannot quite decipher. Shock maybe? Horror? Awe? Whatever it is, I am not letting this stubborn jackass die.

“Hey, hold on Alpha. You are going to be okay.” I take a deep breath as my eyes stay locked on his. I know that this night…this moment has changed everything and as a result my fate is about to spiral out of control. I focus on the pack link and do the only thing I can to ensure his wellbeing.

‘We need medical at the daycare. The alpha is injured. Area is secure. Rogues detained. Do not attack.’

In mere seconds, Kyle and several of the men from his patrol group rush into the building, pausing at the sight of the rogues as they remain bowing before me. His eyes finally shift to Alpha lynch and he drops to his knees at my side.

“What the hell is going on?” I give him a quick glance then look back down at the alpha.

“He was injured. We need Doctor Morrow NOW!” Kyle puts a hand on my shoulder and looks at me sternly.

“I meant them.” He gestures with his head to the wolves in front of me.

“Do you have a place I can take them for questioning? I don’t want them split up and they are to remain unharmed.” The look on his face suggests he is not about to agree to any part of my request, but then the weak voice of the alpha comes to my aid.

“Do as she asks. No arguments.” The doctor bolts through the door and we step aside so he can do his job while Kyle and I tend to our ‘guests’.

“Rise. You will follow me and you will behave, or you will die. Do you understand?” All five wolves bow their head in agreement to my terms. I motion for Kyle to lead the way and we all walk out of the facility in a single file line.