The soft thudding of paws hitting the floor made my ears swivel before the sound stopped. I dared to glance to the side from where I was crouched in the foliage, eyes meeting with the two Alpha males and their Betas heeling a few steps behind.

Looking back ahead, I huffed a breath as I realized the deer hadn't noticed the extra additions. I knew that Tristan had said that if I were hungry, all I had to do was ask, but I'd rather hunt for myself.

My leg no longer hurt and it was time to put it to the test anyways. I've been roaming the woods for a suitable prey for a good while, ignoring other wolves that were on patrol. They had kept a close eye on me but seemed to realize what I had been up to, as they had kept quiet.

And now it seemed that I had an audience for the upcoming hunt. I had to bite back a growl, feeling my stomach roll slightly as the familiar hunger gnawed at it. I was used to trying to ignore it, especially close to pack wolves but I couldn't let this opportunity slip.

Besides, if I proved I was capable of feeding myself, they would realize they could let me go with a clear conscious. My paws were digging into the soil as my body reacted on instinct, darting after the small deer.

The pain in my leg was minimal, allowing me to simply pursue the deer without having to try and run it down. I kept close on it, hearing the other wolves give chase and unintentionally joining in on the hunt.

Grumbling to myself, I slowed down, letting the others give chase to the deer while I huffed and turned back towards the pack house. I knew it was just in their instinct to help in the hunt but it irritated me.

Even more annoying than that was the fact that I was still hungry. I heard a crunch of leaves and swiveled my ears, glancing behind to spot the massive grey wolf that was silently following me.

Drake.

I huffed, choosing to ignore him as I sniffed at the floor to pick up another scent. I didn't waste all that time lying in ambush, simply to go home hungry and being forced to beg for food scraps.

My ears perked at the slight scuffle in the foliage, body freezing when a fat hare hopped into view. It nibbled at a strand of grass before shaking out its front paws, licking at them to clean his fur.

A small meal but it'll do just fine...

Slowly, I inched forwards, eyes on the prey as it cleaned itself before pausing. The second it kicked the floor and bolted, I was after it, hearing Drake in hot pursuit.

Hares were tricky to catch and this time I appreciated the presence of another wolf, for the hare didn't know that Drake wasn't interested in the hunt. The mere bulk of the wolf was enough for the hare to be blocked off, avoiding his presence.

It hooked and weaved, nearly tripping me up twice when I came close enough to snag a tuft of its fur between my teeth. I skidded through the dirt, digging my claws in as I turned as quickly as possible before running after the hare.

Drake was observing closely, letting out a surprised bark when the hare darted beside him, forcing me to jump over his massive frame. It spooked the hare, which quickly jerked to the side but shrieked when I managed to snag its hind leg between my teeth.

Shoving it to the ground, I quickly ended its life with a bite to its fragile neck, dropping it to the floor as I panted. My leg was radiating with pain but I had never felt so successful as of that moment.

The surgery must've fixed some of the issues because I would've bailed out of the hunt a lot sooner in the past. Lying beside the hare, I panted for a while to cool off and catch my breath, glancing at Drake as he simply sat down and observed.

My wolf was quick to push my mind back, taking control as it eagerly dug into the meal, wolfing down flesh and cracking bones. Halfway though, I was surprised when it stopped. Ears twitching before splaying to the side, it reluctantly picked up the carcass before trudging through the snow...

And dropping it in front of Drake.

I guess my wolf felt obliged to share the kill, as Drake inadvertently did help us in catching the hare. The grey wolf sniffed the remains before nudging it back towards me, declining politely and allowing me to his share of the kill.

As I dropped down to enjoy the rest of the meal, so did he, panting quietly as he looked around, keeping a respectable distance so my wolf didn't feel pressed to defend his meal. A few minutes later, Alpha Tristan and his Betas returned with bloodied muzzles and sharing a sheepish expression, especially when they noticed my small kill.

No doubt their wolves had taken over and only given control back after they gorged themselves on the deer. My eyes flitted over their bulging stomachs, making me snort slightly as I was snapping the bones to make the most out of my meal.

It was enough, at least for now. A deer would truly had been a feast but then again, it would've been a waste, as I wouldn't be able to eat it all. A few more minutes of cracking bones and the hare was no more. I huffed as I rolled on my side, cleaning my fur diligently to remove all traces of my meal.

A sudden move from one of the Betas made me jolt to my feet, hackles raised and teeth bared with a defensive snarl. It was only after Drake softly huffed and sniffed at my side, did I realize the Beta had seen another hare in the distance and had instinctively wanted to give chase when it bolted.

I grumbled softly, hearing Drake huff beside me, almost sounding as if he was laughing. He nudged my side before stepping forwards, nudging again when I didn't follow. Letting out a frustrated growl, I trotted after him to catch up before walking beside him.

Being around so many wolves was making my skin crawl as the fur on my back rose when more people looked on. I could tell they were all looking at me, judging me for being rogue. They had no idea what I went through and yet in the comfort and luxury of their own pack and home, they found it easy to point fingers and brush off any responsibility for their actions.

Drake's ears swiveled at my growls before he turned to eye the crowd. I slipped past him and went inside, body low as I felt annoyed and stressed. I'd rather be out there in the woods, fighting for my survival, than to stay in a busy and loud pack like this.

"Would you accept a pack if it was less ... confining as this one?"

I started at Drake's voice and turned around, keeping my gaze on his face and not his nude body as he slipped some shorts on before tossing me a pair. I caught them mid-shift, my bones protesting softly against the gesture but I hadn't wanted to soil the pants with wolf slobber.

Sighing, I dressed myself and crossed my arms, unintentionally supporting my disfigured wrist. Pain was slowly webbing through the muscles, making my hand tremble uncontrollably, skin twitching ever so slightly.

"I know how it feel Kyle." Drake reminded with a soft voice. When I glanced at him, he wasn't even looking at me, his gaze on the window as his eyes were cold...dead.

"You don't understand." I growled lowly and Drake turned his head, not a spark of anger or disgust in sight. Instead he looked at me with kindness and genuine curiosity.

"Then make me understand." He spoke softly, leaning against the doorway on the far side, allowing me the space I wanted and needed. "Make me understand what happened. I would like to offer you a place in my pack or at least the protection and home that you can't find as a rogue. But I want to understand what happened to you."

The shaking of my hands had gotten worse, but this time it wasn't just because of the pain of broken bones. No, this pain was much deeper... much worse.

I didn't want to speak about the past, I.. I couldn't. I wouldn't. The past was what it was and dwelling in it wouldn't change anything.

Drake's smile became softer as he slowly crouched down, trying to sooth my wolf as it growled lowly. It was funny to see him try to calm my wolf as simply the bulk of his muscles was sending out an aura that could not be controlled.

And the odd thing was, not even my wolf wanted to touch the topic of our ex mate with a ten foot pole. In fact, it took over and shifted, snarling and snapping at the shorts that snagged around our legs.

Drake nodded, sitting down completely with one arm resting on his bent knee. "I understand... There is another way..."

I growled, knowing instantly what he spoke off. Mind-linking was done in packs, close relatives and mates... Knowing that this man was an Alpha, who had already told me he wanted me in his pack for whatever reason, I wasn't going to allow him in my head.

Alphas weren't to be trusted and neither could I fully trust any pack wolf. Each time I dared to put my trust in them, they'd prove me wrong and punish me for my insolence. Even with this pack, I felt agitated and twitchy, wondering when they were going to lash out.

It was better if I left, sooner rather than later.

"My mate didn't like my rank."

I froze halfway through the door, putting my paw back on the floor before I slowly looked at Drake. He had a faraway look in his eyes, staring unseeingly at the room.

"My mate was a Beta and claimed to be bi, more interested towards the females. When we met and he realized I outranked him, he assumed I wanted him to submit to me in every shape and form. I was rejected after two weeks, after he claimed and bred one of the females from his pack."

A whimper slid out of my wolf as it cringed at the idea. To have your mate not only reject you but to replace you instantly with something you can't offer... Drake's expression was like stone, his aura chilling as he probably relived the memory.

"He was from a different pack so I had no authority over what he did. All I knew was that I was invited by his Alpha, only to arrive at their mating announcement and the hopes of being blessed with pups in the near future."

His scent turned bitter, acrid from his pain and hatred. My ears flickered, unsure as what to do but my wolf knew there was nothing that could be done. It took a few steps before huffing, hot breath blasting against Drake's arm.

The only thing we could do, was what we ourselves never received. To offer comfort and companionship.

Drake looked up and the instant his silver eyes connected with mine, my wolf seemed to trust him enough to sent a hurricane of information and images, cutting through both our minds before I jolted back with a snarl, hiding in the corner as I shook all over.

The howls from the border patrol jolted him instantly, shoving Kyle to his paws as he rushed to grab the pup he had been watching and rushed it to the shelter. Luna was already there, nudging the pups inside and quickly grabbed the last pup as Kyle placed his charge inside before vaulting back out.

Thudding paws made him spin around, teeth clashing against teeth as the rogue snarled and snapped at him. He could hear Luna yelp at the door and pushed back, biting at the rogue and forcing it out of the doorway, slamming the door shut as his body was shoved against it.

Teeth dug into his scruff and yanked, pulling pained whines and angry snarls from his chest before he bit the rogue's front limb, breaking the bone and thrashed out of its hold . Two more appeared, forcing Kyle to stand in front of the door and guard it until the rest of the pack arrived.

He knew the pack was his only hope of surviving this. As soon as the pack got here, they all would be saved.

A hand touched my scruff and I snarled, lunging and sinking my teeth in flesh, freezing as another wave of sickening memories rolled into me without remorse.

A loud keen escaped Kyle, horror and confusion pouring through his link when Max lunged forwards, breaking his paw , wrist and ripped through the sinews with ease. He felt sick with the rage that came from Max' side, the anger and betrayal that soured his scent while he charged and attacked Kyle.

The rest of the pack was stunned, except for the doctors that rushed to get Gavin some medical treatment. As Kyle yelped in pain, the Alpha took one look at Gavin, Max, whom was attacking his very own and then howled.

A howl to signify that another rogue was in their midst and needed to be dealt with.

Harsh, panting breaths rushed painfully through my chest as I was pinned to the floor. Eyes wide and panicked, I growled and tried to move away before realizing that I wasn't being pinned to the floor, just held against Drake's massive chest.

His arm was marred with blood, the puncture wounds already healed as he held me tightly against his chest, eyes flickering between silver and gold before he relaxed when I was back in control.

The memories of lying in my own blood and waiting for death made him cringe, even more so when he felt my hatred when the enzymes kicked in just in time. When my wolf released us from the waves of images and memories, we both slouched and relaxed.

Movement made me look up, realizing that Tristan, his betas along with Drake's betas were standing in the doorway, watching the scene unfold. I panted and flopped on the floor, quivering all over while Drake shook his head to get his bearings.

Their voices were low murmurs but unintelligible for me at the moment. My wolf was still very much in control and huddled next to the wall, hackles raised and snarling at anyone coming too close.

I didn't even know why it decided to share my memories with Drake. I just hope my wolf's decision wouldn't come back to bite us in the butt.