Klepto POV

It's still dark when I wake up.

I lift my head and open my mouth wide for a yawn. Smacking my lips, I manage to pull myself up and crawl out of my den to start the day even though all I want to do is sleep in for as long as possible.

The chilly weather isn't exactly inviting.

Two weeks. Yeah, two weeks. It has been two weeks since I've been dumped into the woods to live a life on my own.

It seems I'm developing a ritual of sorts, a routine if you will.

I get up in the morning with a determination to succeed, head out into the wide world with optimism, just like good old Paullini taught me.

I've decided to give this rogue girl a few more days to show up before I abandon ship. She deserves that much.

I mean, I've spent enough time out here searching high and low for her to give up now anyway.

Of course I don't blame her for leaving, I'm the one who turned down her offer after all. It's her right to disappear and never be seen again.

I often feel bad for the time I snitched on her to the Alpha of my old pack, she didn't deserve that. She was trying to help me.

I'm sure now that she was harmless, plenty of rogues are harmless, like Aunt Emilia.

Now that I think back on that day, I assume my intention was to get some type of recognition and acceptance by impressing the Alpha.

Looking back now, I shake my head at the ridiculous notion. Like anything I do would actually impress him, or that his opinion of me matters in the first place.

It's crazy how much clearer my head has become since I've been away from my pack.

Without the constant bullying, cleaning, and intimidation, I actually feel like I have control of my own mind. My own emotions.

I feel free, but I still miss my brothers with my whole heart and soul, as cheesy as it sounds.

The thought alone of their little faces sends me into a deadly tailspin. I have to distract myself in any way that I can.

Distractions include hunting, running, and even chasing my tail. Yeah, I am that desperate thank you very much.

Of course I've always loved being in my wolf form, but this is a whole new level of appreciation. It's life changing to be like this all the time. Every few days I change into my human form to do one thing or another, and yesterday I washed my clothes in the river as they were starting to stink, as was I.

Another thing, bathing in a river when December is right around the corner is not a lot fun, believe it or not.

I have never shivered so hard in my life, I almost thought I was having a seizure.

I can't wait to be in the human world. When I've been feeling down these past few days, I daydream about what it will be like to live the life of a human.

There will be no Alpha to tell me what to do, no pack to boss me around and make fun of me, and I will be able to do whatever I want without consequence.

Okay, maybe that's not true, I know the humans have laws of their own, but I just don't know what they are. I've never really been taught anything about humans other than that they are weak, and apparently useless.

But if I trusted everything my Alpha said, than I'd be an idiot.

Most of the things I know about humans were from books, and since the books I read were often fantasy I'm not quite sure what to take as gospel truth.

Some of the other things I know about humans are the few movies my Aunt snuck in for us. I can still remember the awe I had while watching High School Musical, which remains a favorite to this day.

The human world would take some getting used to, but I'm sure after a while I will come to love it more than the life I've left behind.

Whatever the other world has to offer has to be more forgiving than what I have experienced thus far.

But, I have to give the rogue girl more time to make herself known. I will have a much better chance of making it out there if I have her to help guide me.

Who knows, maybe I can do this on my own. I have done just fine so far, and it feels great to be independent and not rely on anyone but myself. It's really eye-opening to be on your own.

Maybe being kicked out of the pack was a good thing, and maybe this is the change I needed to get my life started. Like, really started.

I spend that morning like I spend most mornings, I go out to go looking for food, something to sustain me through the day. I track for a while, finding a mouse, but ignoring it in search of something bigger.

Then I continue my journey into the woods, feeling the wind rush through my fur, the ground pound beneath my paws as I connect with nature.

I am lucky enough to stumble upon a small deer. It's a doe, she is absolutely beautiful standing in the white flurries, sniffing around the dead grass that is covered in a sheen of white crystals.

Getting in a stance to pounce, I hide behind a tree, bowing down close to the ground as I creep towards her, my eye on the prize. My stomach rumbles inside me to remind me of what is on the line.

Survival.

Then, I charge. Sprinting towards the doe, I sink my teeth into her neck, taking her life before she knows what's happening . I don't want her to suffer, I just need a meal. It isn't anything personal.

As J stare down at the corpse, a bit of sadness goes through me at the loss of a life, but also thankfulness to the meal Moon Goddess for providing for me. It seems that lately she is more fond of me than usual.

The deer is not small enough for me to carry back to my den, so I eat most of it where it is.

After a few days of not eating, it tastes amazing and I can't help but savor every last bite that I am capable of eating, which happens to be a lot. Who knew when the next meal will come along?

When I'm done I take a leg with me, it's handy to have some leftovers every now and then. So I carry the leg in my mouth happily towards my home sweet home.

It's a well deserved lunch, and it fills up my stomach nicely. I am content when I finally land in my den, dropping the slim leg in the very back of the hole.

I walk in circles before plopping down in front of the severed leg and I go to work chewing on the bones, crunching on them lazily to keep myself entertained.

Flavor burst in my mouth, and peace slides through me. This is the life.

The life of a rogue isn't a bad life to live after all.

I don't know how long I'm chewing on the leg when I hear the voices just outside of my den. Stilling, I strain to hear what is being said as they drew closer.

"Are we sure about this? I don't think it's a great idea." The Boston accent is rough, and by pure instinct I know that the people outside are rogues.

"Pffft, what are you, scared? The pack won't see it comin, man. They're a bunch a' sissies. Ryk knows what he's talkin about." I shiver, not liking where this conversation is heading.

They aren't talking about my pack, are they?

"Yeah, yeah, but they got all those lycans with em', how do you think we're gonna beat that, aye?"

Okay, so they are definitely talking about my pack.

"I'm tellin you, we gotta trust the boss. Ryk knows what he's doin, he's with the Red Alpha, and there ain't no stoppin' the Red Alpha. You know dat." He spits.

The Red Alpha.

It can't be.

The impossible ghost story of an Alpha who smushes packs under their feet. This can't be happening, I must be dreaming.

"Yeah. We'll take down that pack no problem." They chuckle as they continue walking, the snow crunching under their feet, the sound is loud as it echoes off of the surrounding trees.

A sick feeling spreads over me, nausea overtaking every single one of my senses. My lungs won't function, they scream for air but I just can't get them to move.

As soon as they appear to be gone, I gasp in oxygen, whining lightly at the ache in my chest cavity.

They are going to attack my pack.

Well, not my pack, my old pack.

But it still isn't okay.

Daniel and Felix, my Dad, Dr.Paulinni, my too many siblings, all of them would be in the line of fire. I wriggle uncomfortably as if something is trapped inside my body, trying to escape to the sunlight.

Why do I want to go back? There are few people in that pack that actually matter to me, the rest can go to hell, right?

No, not right. Just because they hate me doesn't mean they deserve a horrible death. And I most certainly can't stand the idea of my loved ones being harmed.

I think briefly of the consequences if I show up unannounced to my pack borders, screeching like a banshee that they are all in grave danger. They'll definitely think I'm off my rocker.

They might kill me, or worse, lock me up in the dark basement cell tied to the wall like a dog... again.

Searching deep inside myself, I ask if I really want to do this. Is it really worth the risk of what could happen?

Picturing Daniel's bright face as he told me he loved me, I swallow hard before locking my jaw.

It's not that I decide it isn't even a question of whether or not I'm doing this, but a question of why haven't I gotten to it yet.

There is no more time to waste.

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

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