Chapter 17
Kaiden
The first chase, the first time you run when it means something should be held onto. Honestly, as selfish as it is, I wanted to be that memory. I want her to be calm should something ever happen. I want her to be confident in her wolf to help her if it really counts. I am here and it may never happen, but my life is a brutal one, and she must be a strong Luna.
I would leave her sleeping soundly this morning. I told him I would be back. He still breathes; therefore, he is still mine.
[Take me to the Rogue. I wish to feel his bones in my teeth.] He growled with venom. I ignored. I wouldn’t be able to be there for her should I go down. He may be useful to the pack, however, I must break his Alpha oriented spirit first.
I got a pair of my old jeans and my holster off my other pants. Today I may need it again, but I would confirm that I broke his spirit first. If he stood a chance entering anyone’s pack, his mind would have to submit to his Alpha. I also got a pair of my heavy boots because today would likely be like all the others. The small rebellion roused other humans, and even wolves to misbehave, but they wouldn’t try it today knowing that I was heading there before the sun.
“Morning brother….” Said Beta Connor. He was downstairs with his mate, and she was making him breakfast. It was unlike him to be up this early. I got no bow from him, however he gave subtle nonverbal acknowledgement of my leadership. “The border is secure.”
“Thank you little brother, you’ve done me a solid.” I said about to ask a favor of him, but he stopped me.
“I’ll keep an eye out for your mate.” He said responding to the next task I would ask of him. We three siblings were unable to read each other’s minds, but we knew each other well. This ability wasn’t something a normal Alpha could do, but what we did was passively so.
“She needs training.” I mumbled. “Even now should we be attacked or I lose, I dare not think of what could happen.” I said, but Rakaam thrashed in my head. He wanted Out to destroy these threats that weren’t there… but to him it didn’t matter.
“I know, but I also heard you chased her. I can’t tell you what to do, but I wouldn’t have done it that way.” He said taking a sip of coffee.
“You and I both know that was the only option to trigger her instincts.” I grumbled, and he nodded in agreement.
“Yeah.” He said drawn out. “But still, don’t be a dick to your mate. I actually have an idea too, but it isn’t training related.” He chuckled.
“Trust me, I already hear enough from Rakaam.” I grumbled. “What’d you have in mind?”
“A nice lunch at the stream you told me about.” He said with a smile. “Nobody goes over there that much, and I’ll have everything set up. All you have to do is be there.”
“I’ll be back by nine…. I owe you one.” I said with a small smile, going outside to shift. I would take him up on that, but for now, I had to make good on a promise.
I ran full speed, not necessarily happy that it was cool and misty this morning, as it would make my fur damp. It would mean that my scent would be stronger when I got home, but we were wolves, nobody would mind. Plus I could always take another shower.
I also thought of my brother’s words. I needed to adjust myself with her. Eclipse was just a pack wolf.
I approached the prison again, but I didn’t announce my arrival. I wanted to see what the night shift was up to. I walked in the lobby, the receptionist was on her phone, but she nearly dropped it when I walked past smelling as I did. I put my clothes back on, and glanced around. Everything seemed to be in order, and there was no scent of blood. My head guard captain wasn’t here yet, as his shift didn’t start until 7, but I was still greeted.
“Good morning Alpha.” He said with a bow.
“Morning. Tell me of the rogue’s activities since I punished him.” I commanded.
“Forgive me Alpha, I only work on the intake floor.” He said with a lower bow, linking another guard, one who worked that floor.
I made my way to the elevator, and he met me there. When it opened, the new guard showed submission as well. “If you speak of the red wolf Alpha, he behaves.” He said firmly.
“You’re dismissed.” I said getting on with him and riding up with him. He said nothing more to me, which I didn’t mind.
I got to his cell, to see him again, sitting up on his bed, his arm stub down, hand on his forehead. He looked like he had not slept. He bolted up looking at me, his broken eyes were what I was looking for. The ultimate submission, it’s one of the soul that can be seen in someone who has totally given up. Someone who was crushed. He might as well have been dead.
I opened the cell and pulled up a chair, turning it around and I rested my chin on the plastic back. He looked down and mumbled. “Good morning Alpha, I show respect to your presence.” I gave a small throat clear to let him know he was acknowledged.
“What is your name and your story.” I command.
“…My name is Matthew Rustin, my Alpha….” He stuttered quietly, then paused to compose himself. “Everything was so peaceful. I was happy, even though I would be Beta when father, Alpha Tern of the RoseMoon pack, passed on Alpha to my older brother, Jet” He mumbled, looking off into the distance, his eyes glazed in remembrance. “I had gone hunting that day, I was bored, life was carefree…. Until I smelled the metallic smoke. Headhunters, they found my pack and burned it to the ground. They used silver bullets and shot my brother in the head. Father was his wolf and they skinned him, like a prize. My brother was still alive when they did him. Mother was human formed…”
He stopped. I had heard this story a hundred times, and it made my gums itch. She likely died in the fire. “I was on the other side of the flames and could not reach my family. Then they drove off, and threw a tear gas canister, but the color of the gas was silver. One by one, anyone who was still alive passed out… and when I woke up… I was the only one alive.” He held his composure, though I could hear it in his voice he was not. “I roamed aimlessly in the wilds of the human world, running from my nightmare… and then I smelled your pack. I thought… I thought that I could make myself a home here. That I could be Alpha here and maybe it would wash the pain away. I should have died. I wish I did…all my family is gone.”
I took a deep breath. I was moved, and he was not lying. Headhunters want the pelt, so they really don’t want to shoot… but silver gas was something I’d started to hear more and more about. It was our one weakness, one even I was not resistant too… He was a ginger wolf as well, a rare color, especially for an alpha strength wolf. They burned his village for his father and brother’s skin. So many lives taken…. For sport. A small fire of rage was kindled inside me; however, I kept my composure.
“What do you wish now?” I asked sternly.
“I want to return to my pack…” he said somberly. I knew what he meant, but this would not have been what his family would have wanted. I had never heard of Alpha Tern, as that could have been his human cover name, but there was still no telling how far he ran away from his memories, only to be reminded of them in defeat.
“Your request is denied, pup” I said sternly, “You will join my pack.” I commanded. He did not question me, but I could see he wanted to in his face. “I am Alpha Kaiden of the CharredMoon pack, and in time, you will heal.”
I motioned for a guard to get him cleaned up, and he walked out Horizon with me. I didn’t know where I would put him, so he followed me to the packhouse and set in my office, his chair almost in the corner of the room. I typed, looking up his file, and added him to my pack registry.
He was staring at the floor in the corner of the wall, and I decided it was best to just leave him be; he was new and afraid. I’d broken him so he could be a functional member; he would be of some use when he snapped out of it.
He was disabled, so he could not be a Warrior. It was something I wouldn’t put him through, as he would need to be in peak condition for that. There was also the fact that no Alpha would likely add a disabled wolf into the pack. If they were already there, that was another thing; at that point they likely got injured protecting their pack in the first place, but with him, he lost his arm because he challenged. I just so happened to glance his direction from my computer, and I internally sighed.
He kept staring at my whip I set on the table. I didn’t do it to intimidate him, it’s just genuinely uncomfortable to sit on. This isn’t for the pack; this is for the prison. Intimidation is what hardened criminals understand. Respect to those who are stronger is something they know and think twice about.
I looked up to see him talking to my Luna. He was almost the same age as her, though a little younger. He had not found a mate yet, so he was no older than 18. I held in a growl. I knew he meant no harm; he told her headhunters killed his pack and that he was a new member. He still looked in the corner of the room, but he was not as broken as this morning.
I confirmed that the Rosemoon pack was destroyed, and his face was on the missing registry. Hopefully he has some distant relatives that don’t live too far to see him, and possibly bring him around. I emailed the Council as well. Poor kid. He lost everything.
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