Chapter 9

**Cole**

I have no idea what to say. I just stare at my beautiful mate. Tears are streaming down her face. I feel a strong need to wrap my arms around her and comfort her. She is hurting so deeply, and is in so much pain from her past.

I envelope her and try to comfort her. How could someone have to live through that. No wonder she was angry when I assumed, she had done something to deserve living this way. She was a rogue due to over whelming circumstances.

Not only has she had to live as a rogue, but she had to do it as a child. At 13 she was sentenced to a horrible way of life. A life of solitude and endless challenges. I can't help but feel sad for her. She has no one. Well, I'm going to change that.

I am her mate, and after hearing about her misfortune I see no reason she cannot become a member of my pack. She will have me and my pack as her family. I know it isn't the same, but I think it may help heal her. If nothing else. My little mate pulls away from me. Why is she pulling away? Is it not my job to comfort her?

“Look, don't pity me. I don’t need it. As you can see, I am doing fine on my own. I have plenty to eat and I have my wolf, Athena for company. Despite the circumstance's things have gone okay. I'm alive and I'm okay and that’s all I can say. SO, don’t you dare pity me, or think I need you to tend to my wounds.”

My little mate is feisty I can see that. Here I am trying to comfort her, and she is not wanting me to see her as weak. She is strong I can see that already. I mean she must be she has been a rogue alone for quite some time.

“Look Cole, I get it. You don’t have to feel sorry, or some sense of obligation towards me because of our mate bond. I get it. I am a rogue. A lone wolf. I know you feel obligated to stay with me, but you don’t have to. I get it if you need to reject me, so you’re not condemned to my life of loneness in the woods. I don’t want you to have to leave your pack.”

She said my name. Winter said my name it sounded amazing hearing it roll out of her mouth. Wait come back to earth she is giving me permission to reject her. Doesn’t she know that she has no reason to stay a lone wolf now. I am the Alpha. She is my mate, and I will take her home. Well, if she wants to come home with me.

Why would she think I would reject her? She is not a criminal. She has done nothing wrong. She will be accepted into The Red Dawn Pack. That is if she wants to. “Why would you think I would reject you. You are not a criminal. You are no threat to my pack?” I ask her.

“Well, last time I checked you can't just let me be a member of your pack. Even if you want to; your Alpha has to make that call. Most Alphas are not super inviting to rogues that cross into their territory. Personally, I have never met one who will take in a rogue.”

Ha, she has no idea that I am the Alpha of The Red Dawn. I can see her point of view. But I am the Alpha and there is no reason she can’t become a pack member. “So, If I get the Alpha’s permission would you come home with me? Would you join my pack and accept me as your mate?”

I know she doesn’t know I'm the Alpha, but I think this is the time to have a bit of fun with her. She looks at me and responds. “Well, what is your pack like?” Are you kidding me? She didn’t just jump at the possibility of joining my pack and becoming my mate.

Yep, she is most certainly different than other she wolfs. Most other women once they find their mate jump up and down to accept them as soon as they can. Not my mate. Not my Winter. She was reserved, and liked to think things through.

“So, are you telling me if there were no roadblocks in the way you would not jump at the chance to join a pack again? You would not accept me blindly as your mate? Don’t you think that’s a bit odd?” I decide to prod her along. I want to understand how she thinks things through.

“Well, I want to accept you as my mate. It has been my dream to have a mate that the Goddess made for me. There is no doubt I want to accept you. And yes, I would love to be in a pack again. However, despite my wants and desires I am unsure if I could become a member of a pack whose Alpha is cruel.”

“How could I become devoted to a pack when I disagree with how they run things. What if the Alpha is demeaning to the wolfs beneath him? What if he doesn’t value the mate bond with his Luna? How can I support and give over my loyalty if the Alpha is just rotten?”

I have to admit she did make some good points. Little did she know I was none of those things. I try to treat my pack members with respect, and I am only cruel to those who have wronged the pack. But I decide to push her a little farther.

“Are you saying that even if the Alpha of my pack accepted you, you would reject me and deny me the pleasure of claiming you if he is a cruel Alpha? You would deny yourself the comfort of a pack and a mate because you do not like the Alpha.”