Chapter 78
Kaiden
“Goodnight peppercorn,” I told her, she was already asleep. I went to babygirl in the pups’ room, and kissed her gently, to her surprise. She was putting the little ones to bed a little early. They were good on going once they had their bath. Me and babygirl went to bed ourselves, enjoying the peace for a while, until she was getting sleepy. I told her I was going out, and she understood, mumbling okay. I kissed her on the forehead, and made my way downstairs. I shifted as soon as I was outside, and ran somewhat quietly to the border. I didn’t want anyone to know I was on patrol in case that strange border hugging Rogue was out there tonight.
I smelled human. Great. Who let humans this close to the homes, I thought angrily to myself. I ran to the smell, but something was off. It smelled like rot. I slowed my gate to see the undead, the young and old humans were all seemingly unaware that they were dead, and I was genuinely afraid. This was magic…. I could almost smell it. I was forced to shift into a human form, but I could not talk to Rakaam. He did not respond to my search for him in my mind. My pack did not heed my howls for assistance.
Shit.
They all pointed at me, some were missing limbs, some’s necks were snapped, making them dangle freely as they walked…. some looked like they had been partially eaten…. I tried to run, but then I saw the wolves I killed on the Harvest moon. They chased me, and every direction I ran, there were more. Hands reached up from the ground, grabbing my ankles. I fought to get free, but I was grabbed by a sea of countless undead, buried alive and torn apart. I could feel my body being ripped to shreds. I reached grabbing one, trying to pull myself out of the swarm.
I gasped, gripping my clock on the side of the bed so hard I crushed it. I had clawed the desk too… if that had been babygirl or the pups I know I wouldn’t have forgiven myself… I got out of bed, it didn’t matter that it was 3 in the morning. I needed to get out this room now. I don’t usually dream… what the fuck was that? I wasn’t even given my wolf in that dream, that had never happened. I didn’t care about all those years ago, what I cared about was the curse. Why now?
I went into my pack emails, and started sorting them, nothing usually came at night. I was prepping everything for in the morning. Babygirl would take the pups school shopping with Heidi, I would join later at the coffee shop, and I would investigate the scent off my brother. He didn’t smell unstable… that’s only me… but he did smell different since the Lunar Fest. I would also check on Crimson side and Derrick’s mother. She had her soul healed, but from time to time… she would feel lonely and get sick from sorrow. I cracked my knuckles, time to drown in work. Rakaam yawned, ignoring me not wanting to get up at this late hour.
I put my headphones in one ear and put on a podcast of the news. It was going to be human tourist season soon, and I was thinking of just putting a small fence at the road with a bar. Omegas would have key cards to open the gate or be given the access code. This would deter a lot of humans, and make the pack safer.
Originally, I liked the idea of having a steady supply of idiot who refused to read the markings we left, but lately, I wasn’t hungry. I couldn’t put my finger on it. It felt like more than mercy or pity for the dumb bastards that found this place on accident, or were just kids.
/Alpha the strange Rogue is within the territory, should we just kill him?/ Linked a warrior.
No. I will do it myself. No one engage him, but if you must, keep him from leaving. I link back. This would clear my head. I will interrogate this Rogue first. He was not making trouble; he was only taking what he needed. It was almost as if he were trying to be respectful while pissing me off. As a younger Alpha, I would have killed him, but now, I will at least allow him to tell me what’s happening before I give that kind of judgement.
There were no deathly rumbles of dominance tonight, nor would I alert him to my presence, unless he sensed me. He hadn’t noticed that I was there, and moved in timid, jerky movements. He had killed a deer, and was desperately trying to dismember a chunk, knowing that he couldn’t take it all, but didn’t want to get caught either. He was a Delta sized male with tan, black tipped fur.
The wind shifted and he snapped his head my direction. He immediately ran with the deer by the throat, oddly enough. He seemed to be heading to the territory line, but what he didn’t know was that I intended to follow him. I could smell his fear as he ran in a zigzag pattern, trying to make himself unpredictable. I internally sighed.
/Stop./ I command, linking him.
/You will kill me… or put me in Horizon… / He stuttered a mind link back, dropping the deer so he could run faster, but I was pretty much behind him.
/On my honor I will allow you to explain yourself./ I link back calmly. He was behaving too strangely for a Rogue, and I wanted answers.
He stopped, shifted, and kneeled as low as he could, and I shifted to show I meant no harm. “Please … just let me go, forgive my hubris Alpha Kaiden.” He said respectfully. This surprised me. This wolf was no Rogue.
“No. Not until you explain yourself.” I say firmly. He was about 6’3, dirty blond hair, and he was fairly thin. This was odd, most Rogues put up a fight or would rather die than be captured, yet here he is begging for mercy like he’s on payroll… or was on someone’s. I wanted to know more about this strange wolf.
“You wouldn’t want me as a member, not with my mate… she was always sick since a young age… making her disabled...” He said with shame, but there was no reason. It is true that wolves take care of their own, but most Alpha’s want strong members and such. I never really cared about that. My pack was always strong enough. I was always absurdly strong enough in addition to my Warriors.
“You would be surprised.” I say, shaking his wrist. “What’s your name?”
“It was Delta Elliot…. But I left after Alpha Frank of the GreenMoon pack wanted me to choose my job over my mate… she has always been weak, and she got too sick for me to stay from home…. She’s better now, but she still needs rest and meat.” He said truthfully. /What the fuck./ Growled my wolf. I ignored him to keep calm.
“Well this pack has paid sick leave.” I say firmly. “Welcome Elliot. Let’s get your mate out the cold.” I say, and shift into my wolf, picking up the deer. I followed him out the territory. It was no man’s land out here, where stray wolves and other creatures alike came to play. It made me growl to think that an Alpha would be so fucking selfish. Yes, the pack comes first, but Delta is more of an accountant position. What could possibly be so important that he would try and force him to go to pencil push, instead of taking care of his mate?
That she was sickly, and it was a little chilly tonight made me pity them. I would hate for her to be hurt by a stray, true Rogue, or die from the elements. I followed him while we ran, though if I knew where I was to go, I could probably have already been there. I could hear unfamiliar howls in the distance. We raced past trees in the deep forest, but soon I could smell a campfire.
They had a very small, ragged tent with some blankets. They had been roughing it a while, and that bastard would get a call from me tonight. I didn’t care if it was probably 4ish in the morning by now. She was an Omega by smell, a small blonde woman no bigger than an unranked female. She was trying to keep herself warm, though thankfully they seemed to at least have one thick blanket. This is why wolves stay in shit packs… if he wasn’t a Delta she would be dead. The tattered old, well used tent along with a fire that was unfortunately out caused her to shiver at the smallest breeze.
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