cover by @Asher_Were

***

I have been roaming around the earth for centuries now, alone and empty inside, I'm a wolf but everywhere I go, no one accepts me and I don't belong anywhere. I'm cursed. I am feared and even though time has passed and legends have faded, even though nobody else remembers who I am, their instincts stay the same and no one dares to get closer.

The murmur of my black Chevrolet Chevelle FF4 makes me purr. My fingers glide delicately along the leather of the steering wheel. My heart beats steadily. My gaze falls on the three cars around me, today might not be as easy as I thought. The Red Mazda RX7 in front of me and the white and black GT40 and yellow Nissan GT-R R35 on each side of my car could make for some competition. I smile.

This should be fun.

I have no intention to lose, today's reward is way too interesting to let it pass. Five grands. Well actually I don't really need the money, being as old as I am, sadly, I've had time to save up enough for a lifetime or two. I'm here for the adrenaline, the risks, the danger. I dont remember how many times my cars went flying out the road, with me bleeding and laughing like a crazy person, only waiting for the next rush. A shrink would say I seek the attention of my father, let's just call him creator shall we ? Up in the sky I'm sure he can see just fine, if only he cared.

A bimbo in a tight shirt and a mini skirt walks ahead with a flag. I roll my eyes.

They watch too many movies.

Still, my grip tightens, my foot at the ready on the pedal, my stare concentrating solely on the girl. She brings the flag seductively above her head, looking at the red car in front of me. That's a nice car, been there, done that, I'd choose my Chevrolet every time over it though. For a second I wonder who's inside. The moment passes and I forget all about it when she quickly and swiftly splits the air in front of her with the flag. My foot crashes on the pedal and I'm propelled against my seat, feeling the power of the motor in every fiber of my being. My car roars to life around me and I'm soaring through the vehicles, fast like the predator I am. I can see my eyes shining brightly in the rearview mirror from the excitement as I turn at the curve on the road and sneak between the GT40 and the Nissan GT-R. I can hear them curse with my enhanced ears but pay them no mind.

Sore losers.

I concentrate on the last car before me. I quickly change gears to speed up, now glued to its rear. Maybe it'll intimidate him. The car speeds up.

Well then.

I slide to the right trying to overtake him.

"Not happening". I hear his low voice from my seat as he positions his car in my way.

He wants to play, nice. He's in for the surprise of his life. I try to estimate how much time's left. Two right turns and one left before the finish line. I try to sneak to his left but he gets in my way again. I smile. He thinks he can keep this up until the end. I start slaloming from left to right still increasing my pace. We turn two time and he's still in front of me, the red of his car, brightly screaming its power, I can almost feel his pride, he thinks he has won already. I can see the last turn ahead. I move to the right and he follows suit. I wait for him to engage in the turn and suddenly slide back on the left before powerfully pulling the hand brake up, the wheels screeching on the road as I'm head to head with him. My foot hits the accelerator and the car screams as I speed down to the finishing line never glancing back but not missing his frustrated growl.

I slow down the car in front of the stands that arranged the race. I try to calm my excitement so that my eyes don't glow anymore. Wolves eyes usually shine bright yellow but mine are a deep red in my wolf form. Once again a reminder that I don't belong. I let my long raven hair loose and ruffle it a little before getting out of the car and stroking the metallic vehicle lovingly.

"Good girl" I whisper.

I happily start trotting to the stands when I finely take in the deafening silence around. I frown. Usually races get people cheering and excited. And even though I am a rogue we are allowed to participate. Rogues can set foot into a pack territory if they ask permission to attend events like races. Yes... I might have had something to do with it when I suggested it a century ago. At the time packs wanted to develop an healthy competition between them and I might have suggested to organize events over a few drinks, explaining that that way the packs could keep an eye on the rogues and even spot any possible and interesting addition or threat to their own pack. What better way to know what a rogue is capable of than seeing it first hand.

So really it was a pleasure, yours truly.

As long as we're not seen as a danger for the pack everything is fine and we can spend some time to cross the territories.

I focus on the people around, watching me, fear in their eyes. My frown deepens. Did I do something wrong ? Did I speak out loud ? Tell me I didnt make an entire monologue out loud. Being alone most of the time I'm not used to interact with people anymore, and I talk to myself. A. Lot.

Ah... depressing thoughts.

I get to the table and stretch my hand in the face of the man, in his fifties, sitting behind it.

Ah... old people. Something I'll never get to know...

Man ! This place is depressing me ! I better get out before I try to hang myself for the sixtieth time. Or I could jump over the cliff I spotted five minutes from here. But that would do me no good. I'd only get drenched. The man doesn't make a move and I wiggle my fingers in the air.

"I won. Pay up." I say sweetly, my biggest smile on.

I hear steps behind me but decide to ignore it. As long as I don't sense a murderous intent everything will be fine.

"You" I hear.

I recognize the voice from earlier, the one I associate with the red Mazda. That's a nice voice.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. As soon as Roger here gives me my money I'm out." I say in a cheery tone eyeing the name tag on the man's chest. His eyes bulge on his face and somebody gasps on my right but I pretend I didn't hear it.

"No one's paying a cheater." Ah, that voice, that's loser number 1

"Excuse you, I won fair and square." I reply calmly over my shoulder, smiling at Roger. However if he doesn't get to it that might not last. I watch the box by his hands. I'm ninety percent sure that's where the money is. I could grab it and run for it. We just saw I'm too fast for them, that might work. And if push comes to shove I'll just wipe this pack out.

No. Remember, no massacre.

Alright, just the fighters then. Damn, me and my conscience. It's so hard to be good...

Suddenly I feel a hand on my arm and the contact disgusts me, it almost burns my skin in an unpleasant way.

"Get your filthy paw off me before I make you eat it." I purr in a sing-song voice, the underlying threat clear to everyone.

The pressure increases instead.

Well then.

Even my wolf is ready to jump.

"Let her go" The first voice commands behind me. I still haven't turned around to see their faces. I'm thinking that maybe if I keep on staring at Roger he will give me the five grands I WON eventually. But he still doesn't budge and I sigh exasperated.

"Roger, dear, as you can see I'm in a pickle. If you would be so kind as to give me my prize so I can get lost." I wiggle my finger again.

Last chance dude. Move it.

His eyes roam my face before looking over my shoulder for instructions.

"I'm afraid we can't let that happen."

Damn that's really a sexy voice.

"Why, because you got your ass kicked by a girl ?" I joke.

"Careful rogue." He warns.

I feel it now, the power behind the voice, the respect it demands, but I'm not scared. Sadly I can get hurt, but time numbed my feelings, so whatever they do to me won't be as bad as they'd like. I'm the monster, the nightmare in their dreams. Eventually I'll become their end.

Call me death. Ah !

I giggle at my own joke. I think I might be going crazy. At least that's what the wide eyes around me are implying.

I feel the powerful being getting closer, the heat of his skin radiating on my back. That's nice. And I smell his wooded scent. That's even better. I close my eyes to concentrate. Musk. Pine. Elaeagnus Ebbingei.

"Look I'm not saying we won't pay you, but first you'll have to answer some questions."

"Like, how a rogue like you could get that car." Loser number 2 interjects.

"I'm sure she stole it." Loser 1 adds.

Thank god I've worked on my temperament these last few years otherwise there are two wolves that'd have lost their heads three seconds ago. I take a deep breath to calm myself.

"She's a cheat and a thief. We're not giving her naugh !" Stupid-loser-with-a-dead-wish number 1 argues.

Alright. That's it. Someone's losing his head right now.

Too bad, I really worked hard on my control, it's been fifteen days since the last one. I guess I'll have to start over again.

I smile sadly at Roger showing him clearly who's wrong here, before turning around to kill someone.

"Sorry it had to be that way" I start, "I really tried to be nice here but..." I'm cut short with what I see. There, less than a meter away from me, standing tall and powerful, is the handsomest man I've ever seen. And hot. Really, really hot. Even my wolf is whistling in my head. I check him out without an ounce of embarrassment. I'm not one to shy away. Especially in front of a yummy piece of meat like that. I MEAN A MAN LIKE THAT. Someone as drool worthy as this has to be checked out. My eyes travel up his body slowly to his head were an amused smirk is illuminating his face which is surrounded by brown hair. Then my stare lands on his eyes and I freeze. And gasp. And wobble. His intense deep green eyes stare back at me and the only thing I hear is my wolf screaming 'mate' in my head.

No way.

'I'm telling you, it's him. I can feel it.'

I can feel it too, the bond pulling on me, but I won't admit it. He hasn't moved still observing me curiously.

That's not how a mate reacts.

'That's weird. Try getting closer.'

Nope.

'Come on. Your mate, OUR mate is right in front of us.'

Nuh uh. Nope. Not happening.

I can hear her growl but I ignore it. I'm not supposed to have a mate. I'm cursed. Alone forever. My brows crease.

Still...

"But ?" He asks amused.

"What ?" I try to concentrate.

"You really tried to be nice but...?"

"Right." I'm stuck, my mind in the gutter. Sure, I can try to be really nice. I hear one of the two guys behind him whisper 'crazy' and focus on that. Right I was about to rip his head off. I make a move in their direction but the gorgeous piece of art steps in my way, threateningly. He must have sensed my intent to kill. I don't really hide it so anyone attentive enough would notice it. I try to ignore his body in front of me, never looking in his eyes, not wanting to lose my train of thought, and keep moving.

"Stop." He orders in a growl. Everyone stops breathing, some of them flinching, others cowering away.

Shoot. He's an alpha. Should have known.

I can either do as he says, at least pretend to, because his order doesn't have any effect on me, or I can fight and get to my prey. But I know I won't be able to fight him, not because I can't but because my entire body doesn't want to. In the second that follows his order I decide to pretend to cower away from him, taking a step back. My wolf seems conflicted, not used to being given orders and especially not used to following them, but on the other hand she wants to please our mate.

I look at the ground, waiting to hear movement to make my next move.

Damn it's hard to pretend.

"I disagree with them but you are a rogue in my territory, so remember your place." He keeps talking, disgust in his voice. That makes me flinch more than the rest. My mate is disgusted by me. Harsh. Then anger seeps through me. I don't like being treated that way. Neither does my wolf.

'Remember your place alpha.' My wolf growls.

I smile, not 'mate' but 'alpha'. Now that's the powerful wolf of the Sun that I know. Not a love struck puppy. Much better.

"Name" He asks

"What ?" I inquire, lost in my thoughts?

He sighs exasperated.

"What's your name ?"

Oh. That. Should I tell him ? Give him my real name. Only a few people have known my real name over the centuries. But this is my mate asking. Can I lie to my mate ?

"Usually you start by giving yours before asking someone's name." I answer seriously.

His jaw tightens, I think he's ticked off but I don't really care, that's fun to watch. I see his green eyes burn yellow before he closes them and breathes heavily, his breath hitting my skin and I shudder.

"Nate Turner."

I knew that of course. Since I did a little of research before entering the territory. But it's always good to be reminded. Okay, I admit I spent less than three minutes looking up the important member's names and didn't register them. At least I tried... yeah right.

"Hope." I answer nicely. "Hope Michaels"

I. Know. Hilarious. The cursed child of the Sun, the beast of destruction, with the name of Hope. A twisted joke indeed.

"Hope." I shudder at my name on his tongue. "This here is Jared Miller my beta and Steven Williams one of my best fighters." He informs me.

However to me they'll remain stupid loser 1 and stupider loser 2. I smirk. Number 2 wouldn't last one minute in a fight with me. The person concerned seems to understand my expression because he takes a step in my direction and I smile brighter. The perfect-looking individual that I now know is named Nate places his hand on number 2's torso.

Too bad. I'm sure it would have been fun.

Even my wolf is disappointed in the lack of action of today.

Packs are no fun anymore.

Ah, the good old days...

The blood baths, the fighters never giving up to the end, the strong powerful alphas falling to my feet, the weak omegas whimpering in my glory. Best. Time. Ever.

"Hope." Nate's deep voice pulls me out of my reverie.

"Hmm ?" I ask absentmindedly.

"I need you to follow me to the pack house."

I tense at his words.

"Why ?"

I see his glare at my question. Well, what did he expect ? Yes, of course my lord, I'll follow every one of your commands. Puh-lease !

"Because as I said earlier I need you to answer a few questions."

"I didn't cheat. I didn't steal this car. And I earned the five grands so I want them. And then I'd like to leave. I have other things to do than accommodate pricks who lost on the second turn and an egoistical alpha who won't admit he lost to a girl." I respond in a steady voice.

I bite my tongue hard when I realize, once again, I went too far as I hear the whispers around me. There's also the growls of the three men in front of me. Okay, maybe insulting the alpha wasn't such a good idea, the other two I don't care.

"You will come with me to the pack house without another word of complaint or I'll rip your tongue out for you."

But I'm really not in the mood to go to a pack house, I want to leave.

Someone gasps loudly on my left and I look at a young girl, her eyes bulging out of their sockets.

What ?

I turn back to mister alpha who's in my face with a deadly glare in his eyes.

"Did you just complain ?" He whispers so low I think I'm the only one hearing it.

"Did I speak out loud ? Silly me !" I smile.

Even if he rips my tong out, it'll grow back. Not the most pleasant feeling but I'll survive. In a second his hand is on my throat, his upper lip curled up, his canines visible and his eyes a bright yellow.

Damn, he's hot when he's angry.

The pressure on my neck increases but I don't react, only watching him fascinated, my skin buzzing with electricity and heat. His stare flickers to uncertainty faced with my reaction, or lack of one. I'm not scared in the slightest and he can see it. Maybe he thinks I'm just suicidal.

Right I should be scared. He's an alpha. I widen my eyes and pretend to struggle in his grasp. He loosens it immediately and lets me back on my feet. He watches my neck and I pull at the collar of my shirt knowing there is no bruise where there should be one. He's watching me way to closely for his own good and my sanity. His eyes scrutinizing me make me want to fidget and I don't miss the shadow of lust that crosses his eyes when he checks me out.

"You're coming with me" He orders with finality not leaving any room for an answer.