I huffed for the umpteen time, wriggling as impatience filled my body, my leg held out to make it easier for the nurse. At the moment she was cutting off the cast and I was bored of lying there in wait. I wanted to run free in the woods, to go where I wanted, when I wanted.

The jittery energy flowing through me almost reminded me of when I was a pup, always running in my parents' pawprints and jumping to nip at their swaying tails. Uncontainable and impossible to redirect. The vague memory made me smile before I shook my head and turned it the other way.

I needed to run to calm down, to stop thinking about everything...

But with that insufferable cast on my leg, I couldn't go anywhere! And if that nurse deemed my wounds not sufficiently healed, she'll put on a new one and I'd be stuck here for even longer.

A low grumble escaped my throat, ears pricking up when the Alpha entered the room. Its been about a week and a half since I've been here and I had barely made any contact with any of the pack.

Sure there were teens who aggravated me, a game of poke the bear to prove their bravery against their friends. I snorted, shaking my head as I laid my head down with a huff. Some bravery they had. I hadn't even bared my teeth at any of the youth and they already fled with their tails tucked tightly against their stomachs.

All the while I was keenly aware of the Alpha's eyes on me, his Beta's and Gamma's always close by and keeping an eye on my every move. No doubt they figured I'd be a savage monster that would snap when left alone.

I snorted when there was a knock on the door, a teenager poking his head in before spotting the Alpha. "Sir, he just arrived and is looking for you? Should I bring him or...?"

He shook his head, shooting a glance my way before looking at Karen. "I'll be right back, Karen. I'm sure that Drake is eager to discuss this topic, so if you'll excuse me..." He left when the nurse nodded, the Betas giving me one last glance before they obediently and quietly followed in the Alpha's footsteps.

"Okay, looks like you're ready to go. Your fractures have healed enough to get rid of the cast but you should keep calm for at least another day or two." I almost didn't hear her continue after her first sentence. My eyes were just focused on the cast she was removing completely now.

A last few snips and she grinned as I instantly bounced off of the bed, stretching my legs behind me before whining in delight at the sensation.

Wow... this hurts a lot less compared to-

My mood quickly soured at the memory before I shook myself, taking a few steps to test the healed wounds. There was a slight pinch when I put down too much force but it was more than manageable.

"Don't get too excited. I still need to do one last test and check up but you'll need to shift for that." My teeth clicked together in annoyance, unwilling to shift but knowing that if I refused to do so, I'd be denied to move outside freely.

With an annoyed huff, I shifted, cracking my neck and slightly glaring at Karen when she blinked before clearing her throat. "I'm sorry for any discomfort but it is easier to classify your old wounds and scars in human form. Otherwise I'd be forced to shave your wolf."

She tapped a pen against the side of her clipboard before taking a deep breath. Karen didn't even bat an eye at my nudity and neither did I mind. It was common under shifters and something that was bound to happen anyways.

As she walked around, scribbling on her papers, I stared at the wall ahead with a bored expression. Why they felt the need to check up on scars and old wounds was beyond me. They had healed and I had survived, end of story.

Writing them all down and categorizing them would help nothing. Besides, I didn't need their help with scars. I was fine the way I was, even if I still had old injuries and broken bones that regrew wrongly.

The only reason why I had trusted this pack so far was simply because of necessity and survival. If I hadn't come over here, I would've died, as simple as that.

The opening of the door drew my attention as the Alpha and his two Betas walked in. They obviously were in the middle of a conversation but that quickly died down as their eyes fell on my form.

I could just imagine what I looked like. It had been years since I looked in a mirror and back then, I didn't have the scars I had now. I could still feel them though, the thick ridges that crisscrossed over my legs and hip, the dip in my right shoulder where the puckered skin had pulled together in an attempt to cover up the missing muscles there.

Or perhaps what drew their attention were the thick scars on my throat, jagged lines of skin that showed where the Enforcers had tried to tear my throat out before deciding that it was too quick a death and I deserved more than that.

Another figure joined them and I swallowed heavily at the muscular man that filled the doorway, nearly forcing the Betas to tumble in the room. His silver eyes flitted over my form, hair as black as ink reaching down over his shoulders as he crossed his massive arms.

Another Alpha... of course.

This one exuded a lot more power than the one who was kind enough to take me in. It was easily spotted in the way the Betas quickly made way, as if being suffocated in the man's strength, their wolves cowering and slinking away to avoid conflict.

I barely managed to bite back a scoff and turned my head on Karen's request, ignoring their eyes on my body. As I had to bare my throat so she could gently prod at the scars, a few growled rang out through the room. Their presence was unnerving, providing a tense atmosphere in the room until Karen decided she had enough to work with.

She left the room in an awkward silence, murmuring to herself in search of another doctor. Looking down, I checked my leg and noted that even though there were a few more scars, it didn't seem as deformed as it used to be. I stretched my limbs and huffed before turning to the small company still watching closely.

Swallowing a few times in an attempt to find my voice, I inclined my head to the Alpha. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will leave shortly after I repaid you." His eyebrows shot up as he glanced at the other man before clearing his throat.

"I do believe it is custom that people tell their name when meeting someone new." The other Alpha rasped with a chuckle as he leaned against the wall. I wasn't intimidated by the way he stood there, uninterested yet seemingly challenging my wolf to see how I would respond.

I merely lifted a brow as I sneered, "And I've found its also custom to tear apart any rogue that steps on pack ground, but here we are." Scoffing, I shuffled my weight while crossing my arms to hide my shaking hands. "Kyle."

"Tristan." The Alpha who saved me spoke before mentioning towards the man beside him. "And this is Drake, a good friend of mine who has helped rogues before. If you want we can-"

A scoff escaped as I cracked my neck, taking a step back from the two. "Whatever you're selling, I'm not interested." Tristan paused, seemingly stunned by my instant rejection before he sighed deeply, pressing his fingers against his brow.

"Werewolves need a pack to remain healthy Kyle, surely you know this?" He argued which made me bark out a short laugh because, man, was he far off from the truth.

"Healthy? Does this look healthy to you?" I sneered as I waved towards the mass of scars and puckered skin hiding aching bones that stopped me from enjoying any run.

All the while, Drake hasn't said a word but simply kept observing us before he seemingly nodded to himself.

"What pack was it?" He drawled in a deep, gravely voice. His eyes gleamed with hidden anger as he observed. Those silver orbs gleamed when I asked the simple, one worded question, "Why?"

He growled, the sound deep and vibrating through the room, unsettling the Betas, whom squirmed on the spot. "Because I don't want to be allied with filth that dares to reject their mates."

My eyes widened as the room hushed in a dead silence. I was certain they could hear my heartbeat racing in my chest, or my stomach as it churned and gurgled unpleasantly. Everything in my body clenched together painfully at the harsh truth being tossed out in the open.

"H-how... I don't-" Muscles trembling, I took another hesitant step backwards before my wolf took over, shifting on the spot. Hackles raised, teeth bared and tongue flicking out as low growls rumbled through our chest.

Drake nodded once more, dropping his arms as he stepped forwards. "The signs are obvious, if you know where to look. The distrust of authority and pack, nightmares, daymares, the whimpers when you sleep and the wolf being your preferred skin."

He didn't back down when he stepped forwards, encroaching on my space even if I snarled warningly, tail stiffly flicking side to side and teeth snapping together. Drake simply dropped his ass on the floor a few steps away and held his hand out.

My nostrils flared, anger and distrust warning with the need to stay close, to form a pack. Taking a step forwards, I hesitantly reached out, sniffing at his hand to inhale his scent and frowned, wondering why he smelt familiar and how he knew what happened to me.

Drake smirked, though it seemed more a grimace of understanding and pain as Tristan asked, "How did you know Drake? We've been observing him for the past few weeks and you come in here for five minutes to find out what could've possibly happened to him?"

Silver eyes flicked to Tristan before they turned back to me, becoming an interesting mix of silver and gold when Drake's wolf pushed forwards while he growled, "Kin will always know kin. He wasn't the first to be rejected and sadly enough, he'll definitely not be the last either."

It was at that moment I knew why he seemed familiar, even though he was a complete stranger. His emotions, the hidden pain were exactly the same. And yet we were nothing alike as well, seeing that I was a rogue, struggling to survive after my rejection while this man seemed to be thriving, hell, he was even an Alpha for goodness sake.

"So what, you two are like, gonna mate now? Like you'll get a second chance?" One of the Betas dryly remarked before cringing when both Drake and I glared at him.

Over my dead body will I ever trust someone with my heart.

Drake bared his teeth in a low growl, his voice warped and sounding more like snarls as his wolf pressed forth, barely contained. "There's no such thing as second mates. Don't you think I haven't searched for the chance? Mating is for life, it is a bond not meant to be broken."

He pushed himself back up, snarling and pacing. The Betas backed up, heads lowering slowly with repressed whines slipping from their lips as we all sensed the Alpha's rage. "It's a bond stronger than kinship, stronger than blood or parenthood. You can't just sever the bond cleanly and expect both parties to walk away unscathed."

Drake sighed deeply before shooting me another look, eyes tracing over my scars even if they were hidden away by fur. "Whatever his mate did to him than a mere rejection. If both parties agree, there is still a bond but more akin to friendship than love. But this, "He said with a wave of the hand and I cringed.

"No. I will not rest until I find out the name of that pack, of their unworthy Alpha whom allowed this disgusting hatred, this madness to happen in his territory. My pack will not support such filth."

I couldn't speak, couldn't move or react to everything that was said. All I could was observe and wonder...and even now I still curled my lip at the thought of needing help from a pack. I was fine on my own.

I don't need their help.

They all should just leave me alone.