Klepto POV

He's here, and all I can feel is calm wash over me. How can someone so cruel have that effect on me? Why is the Moon Goddess so cruel?

Stupid, stupid mate bond!

I peer down at Ezra through the last bit of dead foliage hanging onto the tree branches around me. What used to be bright tangerine and deep wine colored leaves are now shriveled up shells of their former selves. much like myself.

Ezra's tall enough that his head almost brushes the lowest branch of the oak tree I've found my refuge in. A glare adorns his face, as it usual does when he's around me. His buttery gaze examines my skin from head to toe, assessing every inch of me.

I know that Doctor Poland told me to relax and give myself some time to heal, but I can't stand to be around my mother right now. Her satisfied expressions and her snarky attitude drive me insane. I need somewhere to think, and I long for a story to cheer me up, or, at the very least, distract me from my ever present broken heart.

And yet he's found me here, so my luck is definitely running on fumes.

"What are you doing up there?" Ezra's gravely question catches me off guard, and my answer is lifting my new novel for him to see. It doesn't seem to satisfy him.

"I was told that you were hurt. What are your injuries?" It's more of a demand than anything else.

So, Reid did tell him after all. I can only imagine what's going through Ezra's stupid head. He only came here to gloat, I bet.

He knew he had been right all along. I'm weak.

"Broken nose. Some broken ribs. No big deal." I blow it off, but it only seems to infuriate him even more.

"No big deal? No big deal?" A fire kindles in his irises, dark reddish brown eyebrows drawing together in a sharp pinch that has his face looking harsh and mean.

What I wouldn't give to kiss that expression away.

No! No, I will not bend to my damn mate instincts. I am above them. He threw me away, so I am done with him. I can do this.

"You shouldn't care one way or another. We're not mates. Remember?" I say the words softly, so much hate woven into my voice. I watch as he flinches, though I can't for the life of me figure out why. This was his choice, his doing.

Ezra shakes his head in irritation, setting his jaw like a vise. He grabs a branch and begins pulling himself up into the limbs of my tree. I try to scamper back, alarmed at his intrusion.

I came out here for some peace and quiet, and this is what I get! More drama. Thanks, Moon Goddess. You're doing a great job at making me miserable.

My foot pops right out, shoving my converse shoe into Ezra's big forehead and trying to push him back to the ground where he belongs. He lets out an infuriated snarl and grabs by ankle in a vise like grip, trying and succeeding in moving it out of his path.

I kick at him frantically while I maintain a death grip on my book and the trunk of the tree. Ezra relentlessly tries to clamber up towards me. I fight like a crazy person.

"Enough of this, woman!" He shouts, and by now he's a branch underneath me. His fingers cling to my foot and rip it down towards him. I let out a shriek as a pang of agony shoots through my rib cage and up through my neck. Ouch.

Tears prick my eyes and I swing out wildly, my mind screaming at me to get away from the pain. I suddenly picture Nathan, and I know he would hurt me, I'm utterly defenseless. I scream as more pain assails me. I'm going to die. This is the end.

Flailing pointlessly drives me further into my panic, I can't escape. I can't get away. He's going to finish his job this time.

There is an overwhelming warmth completely enveloping me now, as if it's always meant to be this way for the rest of eternity. My breath starts to slow rhythmically, my heart beat going back to normal.

Then there's the realization of the arms tightly secured around me, and the soft sound of shushing filling my ear.

My body is being rocked back and forth, and I become keenly aware of a spicy aroma.

Ezra.

He holds me close as he sits on a wide tree limb, his form seems to radiate heat that seeps into me like an electric blanket.

I pull away slightly to peek up at my destined mate and see the heated glare plastered to his features, but more than anything he seems concerned. He appears to see straight into my very soul as we stare at each other, and Ezra's hand comes up to brush away tears I hadn't realized escaped to trail down my face.

As his fingertips brush my skin, the warmth travels across my pores. My hair stands on end at the wonderful prickling sensation.

"Who did this to you?" He asks me, but this question isn't like the other ones before. It's tender and merciful, everything a mate should be.

Everything he hasn't been to me so far.

I sniffle as I feel snot begin its descent down my nostril, using my sleeve to wipe at it without any remorse or embarrassment. I honestly don't care what he thinks of me anymore because there isn't anything I can do to get him to like me at this point.

Shifting further from him, I glance away. I can't get caught up in his yellow eyes, because I'm petrified I'm going to get lost in their depths.

"I did this to myself." I let out after a short pause. Ezra's face lifts in surprise before twisting in distaste.

"Klepto, you know what I mean." He sighs, leaning back against the enormous tree, "I need to know who attacked you. This is important. Tell me. Now."

I reer back in surprise, completely shell shocked. Why does he care so much? As my mind reels, trying to find an answer it suddenly hits me.

Mate instincts.

The animal side of Ezra's soul is wanting to deal out some revenge for hurting his mate, a hard notion to resist, but it's somewhat programmed into all of us, even those with more control.

It doesn't even matter if he likes me or wants me, it will still be an instinct that snaps into place when he sees me hurt. As soon as he deals with it he'll go back to hating me.

That just makes me feel even worse.

This concern is not because of his feelings or any attachment to me, it's just his lycan taking the situation into hand. His mate instincts are controlling him now, and his anger proves he's not too happy about that. He doesn't want to care about me.

"No. I'm fine, just leave me alone, Ezra." I snap, pulling away from him as hard as I can. My attempt doesn't register because he doesn't even budge one bit. It only seems to agitate him.

"Why do you have to be so difficult?! Just tell me who did this." He barks, I sag against him, the will to break free momentarily leaking away.

I bet he only wants to know who did it so he can see how easily I failed at defending myself. He'd take one look at Nathan and laugh in my face for not being able to fight him off myself.

Ezra will take every chance he can to make a fool out of me, because that's what everyone does, and he's certainly no exception.

I can't let myself trust anyone in this world.

"Look," I rub my forehead with the palm of my hand, "I get that you think you can keep testing me like this, but I can't take it. I understand, okay? I understand why you don't want me and I'm trying to accept it. So why can't you just freaking leave me alone?!"

My furious tone shocks him, Ezra physically recoils like I'd slapped him across the face. His hold starts to loosen up on me, enough that I start to slip from his hold.

This is my chance to get away from him.

I tug and struggle until I'm sliding down the trunk of the tree. My feet met a branch a few feet underneath Ezra who is still as motionless as a statue. I finally stand on the forest floor.

My escape is short and sweet, and as soon as I begin strutting away with my book in my hand, I hear my mate hit the ground behind me. I can tell he's already following me.

Whirling around on the balls of my feet, I throw him the most wickedly murderous expression I can muster.

"What don't you get about leave me alone?" His enormous body stops dead, those strange eyes harden as they face me, but I can't seem to conjure up any fear. Ezra's big shoulders heave with his breathing.

"A name. That's all I need." His voice is fierce, but low. I chuckle at him without humor.

"Ezra." I say, and he narrows his gaze at me, "because you're the one who did the most damage."

I watch as his expression falls, a pang of regret and sorrow fills me. I won't act on it, if I do I'd be hugging him like crazy without a second thought.

After a short silence, I turn around and amble through the thick underbrush and foliage. I try my hardest to focus on the lovely melody of birds chirping high above my head. They sail through the air carelessly, generously sharing their songs.

I would trade my life for one of theirs in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.

Continuing to stroll through the forest, my distraction not working quite as well as I'd hoped it would, I try to pay attention to things I've overlooked before. Like the way the greenery underneath me tickled my ankles, or all the squirrels fluttering from one tree to the next.

None of it side tracks my mind enough to stay away from Ezra.

My stupid brain wants to focus on him and only him. Ezra's face pops into my head so often I almost fall over from how dizzy it makes me. I'm getting whiplash.

That auburn brown hair that likes to ruffle in front of two glowing irises the color of sunshine.

As I often do, I wonder what he would look like in his shifted form. Lycans are supposed to be enormous. Their wolffish forms are bigger than any canine you've ever seen. They are killing machines that can shred anything with ease.

It's chilling, and the mere thought sends a jitter down my spine. I've never caught a glimpse of a lycan in that form, and I can't say I want to.

I'd heard horror stories, everyone has. People mainly like to describe the horrifying mayhem and bloodshed that is sure to follow a lycan like a shadow.

I'm drawing deeper and deeper into the trees, they begin to grow denser and shadier. There is no fence or anything around the boundaries of the pack grounds, but I know I'm getting close by the scents that surround me.

As I trudge on through, a shiver tickles me and I cock my head to the side as I slow to a complete stop. Something isn't right here.

My suspicions are confirmed when a snap of a twig catches my ears. Head swinging, limbs tight, I seek out the danger with wide eyes.

It's a girl, a she-wolf. Her honey colored hair is buzzed tight to her scalp, and it accentuates her small, delicate features. Despite her soft appearance, she seems tough and worn. She looks to be in her late twenties, but her eyes hold age and wisdom.

Once her scent slams into me, I let out a ferocious growl and jump back, prepared for a fight to the death.

She's a rogue.

I am in complete shock that this intruder is actually in front of me, and I almost entertain the thought that I'm hallucinating. I am crazy after all.

Our guards are overly vigilant and aware when it comes to securing our borders, I must be seeing things, right?

At least, that's what Alpha Green led us to believe. So maybe it des make sense that it's not completely true.

"Cool your jets. I'm not gonna pounce, kid." I see her brown eyes rake me from head to toe, sympathy swimming in them. I despise that.

"You shouldn't be here." I spit at her, peering around frantically as I do. I hope a guard is nearby, if I get attacked I won't stand a chance with the condition I'm in.

The she-wolf rolls her eyes as she leans her slim body against a nearby tree.

"Don't worry, jeez. Yeah, I shouldn't be here." She stares at me, sadness still attached to her demeanor, "but neither should you."

I scrunch up my eyebrows in distaste.

"What are you talking about? Of course I should be here. This is my pack. This is where I belong." I say it even though I feel the complete opposite. I want nothing to do with the wolves here, even I was born and raised in the property.

"Obviously they care deeply about their packmates." She glares pointedly at my injuries, and I subconsciously try to hide the worst of them on my neck but it just draws her gaze there instead.

The rogue visibly winces at the sight of the brutal bruises, and I don't blame her. It's hard to believe a pack could treat a member so cruelly. It's disgusting as well as disturbing.

"I'm sorry, that was a cheap shot. But really, why are you even still here? I would've high tailed it out of here as soon as I had the chance." She shifts her body a bit closer to me. I take an automatic shuffle backwards.

She does have a good point, and I don't know how to counter it.

"I shouldn't be talking to you. I should be calling for help." I mumble.

"And yet, you're not. I wonder why that is, hmmm?" Again. She's right.

My instincts are telling me to trust her for some odd reason, and I can't understand for the life of me why. The other side of me begs to run or attack or hide, anything besides chatting with the enemy.

She could be drawing me in until she has the perfect moment to strike.

Yet here I am, doing nothing.

"Why do you stay?" She ponders, mostly to herself. I look away, trying not to remember my little siblings and how excited they were to see me each and every day when I come home.

What would they think if I just didn't come back? What would Mother tell them? How would they turn out with her raising them?

And then there's Ezra to think about, though he would probably praise the heavens if I vanished into thin air.

"I just... can't." I settle for and the rogue girl just laughs.

"Can't or won't?" She demands, and it's something I've asked myself as well.

This pack might eventually kill me and not think twice about it. I shudder, not wanting to even consider that, but it is a possibility.

"Come with me." My head snaps up and I gasp. She actually wants me to leave? With her?

"What?" I'm sputtering and incredulous, and that seems to amuse her.

"Life as a rogue isn't as bad as you might think it is. There's lots of freedom. If you play your cards right, you won't get crapped on like you do here." She reasons, and I feel a pull in my chest as I consider it.

"All you have to do is come with me. Leave this horrible pack life behind and join us. Be a nomad, see the country, explore! It's paradise, believe me."

I can't believe I'm actually seriously think about this. Leaving. Forever. I could do everything I've dreamed of! Drive a car, go on a roller coaster, go to humongous book stores and spend hours at a time searching each shelf.

It sounds too good to be true. I've never left this pack.

"I don't know." I say, uncertainty creeping in. I could get in so much trouble if I'm caught. I can't imagine the punishment.

"It's up to you. But you gotta make up your mind quick. I can't be here, remember? I need to leave soon, so what's it gonna be?" She presses, huffing a sigh before muttering, "If I were you, I'd get the hell out of this place."

My mind races frantically, and I bite my lip as I concentrate hard. Would I be able to pull it off?

I glance back to where I'd come from, remembering Ezra. My mate's here. There's nothing to discover out in the outside world when all I need is here. Even if I can't have it, I've already found it.

"I'm staying." I eventually admit. The pixie girl shakes her head in disappointment, shoving off the tree.

"I think you're making a mistake. But who knows, maybe your luck will change if you stay. The Moon Goddess is a funny gal." She gives me a little salute before backing up, disappearing into the thick trees like a ghost, gone as fast as she appeared.

I sit there for a while, pondering those haunting thoughts she left behind. I hope I chose the right path, but a sinking part of me feels that I have a rough road ahead.

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If you're reading this, I love you:)