Saved by the Alpha

Unloved. Unwanted. Abandoned.

Those words have followed Kayla since birth. Abandoned by her pack as a pup and left for dead in the woods she was taken in by the Cedar Wood pack. Raised as their servant and deemed a runt too weak to hunt with the pack, her life is one of servitude and that's all it'll ever be. That's all she's worth. Or at least that's what people keep telling her.

So why does the visiting Alpha of the most powerful pack ever to roam the land keep looking at her and what is he whispering about?

Chapter One

I gazed into the cracked mirror, pursing my lips. It didn't matter that it was cracked right down the middle. There wasn't much to look at anyway. I wasn't ugly just plain. Plain, unnoticed and unwanted.

"Runt," the Luna's piercing shriek split the crisp morning air. "Runt," she screeched louder.

Runt. I wasn't worthy of a name.

I yanked my limp, mousy hair into a messy top knot and dragged my aching body from the floor.

The future Alpha turns 18 in three days. The celebration started two days ago and I was the one who had to do all the cooking and cleaning and decorating. I attended to the pack's every need. It's how I earned my keep. I guess I should be grateful. Some rogue and lost wolves are abused or killed by the pack who finds them. I'm ignored when I'm not needed. Unless they want something I don't exist.

"RUNT," the Luna barked.

"Coming, Mistress," I squeaked rushing across the hall towards the shrill shrieks of the pack's Luna.

My toe caught on the door frame as I rushed into her room sending me crashing to the floor. I landed hard on my knees. Luna Lucy growled her displeasure at my clumsiness.

"Yes, Mistress?" I said pulling myself to my feet. Blood seeped through my worn jeans. I ignored the nagging stinging in my poor knees, keeping my gaze lowered. Only Betas and Gammas are allowed to look the Luna and Alpha in the eye. I'm not even an Omega. I'm nothing. Unworthy of a place in the pack.

"I will take my breakfast in bed this morning."

"Yes, Mistress."

"The Alpha and my son are out hunting You will leave their breakfast in the dining room ready for their return."

"Yes, Mistress."

"The other packs arrive today. Once you've seen to your usual duties you will assist the Omegas in preparing tonight's feast."

"Yes, Mistress."

"The Omegas will be let off their duties tonight. You will be serving drinks at the feast and making sure everyone has a good time. The Alpha and I think it's only fair the Omegas celebrate the coming of age of their future Alpha."

"Yes, Mistress."

"And Runt?"

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Find something clean to wear."

The words came as a snarl. I would bet my last dollar, if I had a dollar, if I peeked up her cute little button nose would be curled in disgust.

"Yes, Mistress."

"Leave."

I shuffled backwards, waving my hands behind me so I didn't hit the door frame again. You don't turn your back on your superior. Don't look at their face, don't turn your back and always show respect. Anything else is considered a challenge and the punishment for challenging an Alpha or a Luna is death.

I used to dream about challenging them. About ending the dull monotony of my life. If it was a quick painless death I would have followed through but it wasn't. A challenger is taken to the woods and hunted by the challenged. When they're caught a bloody fight to the death ensues. The challenger is shredded alive. Claws tear at their skin, ripping it off in ribbons. Fangs sink deep into their flesh.

If the challenger wins they take the place of Alpha or Luna. But that's never happened. Luna Lucy told me as a pup when I growled at Aaron the future Alpha while we were playing. No challenger has ever succeeded. They all died a gruesome and bloody death and then their pups were slaughtered and their wife demoted to Omega, if she was lucky. I was put to work that day. I don't know how old I was but I remember I couldn't reach the kitchen counters without a stool.

My chores were the same day after day, week after week, month after month. Every morning I prepared breakfast for the Alpha and his family, checked the bathrooms were fully stocked, opened the blinds and windows, made the beds and swept the floors.

Every other day I did laundry. Once a week I changed the bedding and tended to the garden and once a month I deep cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms.

Today was an easy day. Normally I liked these days. My chores were always done by lunchtime. The Alpha and the Luna were usually out so I got to go the woods. I'd sit at the top of the cliff overlooking the clearing our pack lived in.

The rest of the pack refused to stray that far into the woods. Rumours of a rouge Alpha slaying entire packs had plagued the forest packs for years. Most people believed the rouge lived wild and free in the forest killing anything and anyone who crossed his path. They blamed the rogue for the slaying of the White Wolf pack, the last direct descendants of the moon goddess herself.

I didn't believe the rumours. If the rogue Alpha really did slay the White Wolves he had to be ancient by now. Those wolves were wiped out 18 years ago. Besides, White Wolves were the most powerful of all the wolves. No lone rouge was capable of wiping out the entire pack. All except one. Princess Serena, the great, great, great, great-granddaughter of the moon goddess herself. Destined to become Queen of the Wolves, Luna to all, the most powerful wolf living, they never found her body. Some believe the rogue kidnapped her, forcing her to live as his Luna, others think he ate her in a vain attempt to consume her powers and take them as his own. Whatever he did, he didn't do it alone that's for sure and if he did exist, I'd never seen him in the forest.

I sighed, placing the broom back into the utility room, which also served as my bedroom. No peace for me today. I have a feast to prepare.

Chapter Two

I placed the last pot back into the cupboard, wiped my wet hands on the back of my ripped jeans and leaned against the stainless steel counter.

The Omegas had all left to get ready for the feast an hour ago leaving me with a mountain of pots to wash.

My back ached, the soles of my feet burned and my hands were cracked and weeping. I straightened myself up, arching my neck to stretch out the stiff muscles. Lower in the pack than even the Omegas my head was permanently bowed.

A piercing trill shattered the blissful silence. I heaved myself towards the stove and slammed my hand against the timer. In less than an hour, all the local packs would start arriving for the feast and I was supposed to be waiting to serve them.

The walk from the packhouse to the Alpha's cabin was less than a minute on foot but every step was an effort. My bones ached. My joints screamed for mercy. Since the celebrations began two days ago I'd had less than 5 hours sleep. Even the Omegas suffered and there were twelve of them sharing the burden. At the Alpha's cabin, there was only me.

After what felt like an eternity I made it to the cold, sterile utility room I called home. If I wasn't working this was the only room in the house I was allowed in. It comprised of tiled walls and floors, a washer, a dryer a stainless steel sink and a counter. My sleeping mat rested under the counter.

I peeled my sweat-soaked shirt off tossing it into my small laundry bin. My clothes weren't allowed to touch the rest of the packs and I wasn't allowed to use the washer during the day. I wasn't allowed to use the tumble dryer which meant I often wore stale, still damp clothes. The utility room had no windows. Clothes took days to dry unless they were tumbled. During the harsh winter months, my clothes would freeze. It was so bad one year Alpha Patrick allowed me to use a small fan heater borrowed from the cosy packhouse lest I freeze to death in the night.

Tonight wasn't so bad. The cool Spring air didn't seep through the tiled walls the way the frozen winter winds did. Wear something clean, Luna Lucy had warned me. I pinched the bridge of my nose, staving off a headache that's been brewing since dawn and blinked at the meagre pile of clothes at the foot of my sleeping mat. I wasn't paid for serving the Alpha the way the Omegas were paid for serving the pack. The only belongings I had were cast-offs the rest of the pack no longer wanted.

I knelt on the cold, hard floor, wincing as my weight rested on my bruised knees, and rifled through the pile of hand me down clothes, finally settling on a faded black shirt and a pair of black men's trousers. Both had swamped me when they were first donated to me but over the years I'd become adequate with a needle and thread. I placed the clothes on the tumble dryer still warm from drying the Alpha's formal wear and turned to face the sink. The utility didn't have hot water but the cool water splashing against my skin helped wake me. I washed the day's sweat from my skin, dried with a rough, damp towel and pulled on the clothes I selected earlier.

The sun dipped behind the tall cedar trees as I made my way back to the Cedar Wood Pack House. A black SUV with tinted windows pulled up as I made my way to the front door. I stepped aside, giving my superiors the right of way.

With my head bowed I only saw the feet of the passengers as they strolled past me. Two men and a woman, I guessed from the shoes. The woman wore an expensive pair of diamante encrusted stilettos. I figured she must be the pack Luna. I rushed to the door, head still bowed and held it open for them.

"Thank you," she said softly as she passed me. The men grunted their thanks too. My brow furrowed. Luna's and Alpha's don't thank lower wolves and there's no way they mistook my tiny, pathetic frame for a fellow Luna. I nodded my head slightly, unsure what else to do. I couldn't speak to them. It's forbidden for a lower wolf to speak to Luna unless she is asked a question or responding to an order.

I hurried to the next door, my mind still pondering their strange behaviour.

"Allow me," the bigger footed guy said, reaching for the heavy fire door before I could pull it open. "Ladies first," he ushered the Luna through the door and waited. I felt his eyes burning into my skin. He smelled of coffee and cigarettes and his voice sounded rich, smooth and comforting. Something deep inside me stirred. "Ladies first," he repeated, tapping me gently on my shoulder. His touch was electric. It terrified me and excited me all at the same time. My insides churned like they were in a blender and my cheeks flamed. My feet stayed rooted to the ground. If Alpha Patrick spotted me entering the room before a superior he would have me whipped for subordinance. I'd made it 17 years without being whipped. I didn't intend to break my streak now. The wailing and begging of the Omega he whipped four years ago still haunted my nightmares. Poor Penelope had never been the same since. She physically shook whenever she heard Alpha Patrick's voice.

He gave me a slight push. I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. Why was he doing this? Was it some kind of cruel game? A trick? Did he wish to whip me himself?

"Fine," he sighed, sounding almost annoyed. He entered the room first, still holding the door open for me. I shook my head again. "Strange one, aren't you?" he chuckled as he let the door close gently.

The room buzzed with people as I entered with my back to the wall. Alpha Patrick snarled at me. I was supposed to be there first but there must already be at least six packs here. One of the Omega's raced around with a serving tray offering drinks to new arrivals.

"Get the tray and get to work, Runt," Alpha barked.

"Yes, Master," I scurried towards the Omega with the tray as fast as I could, head bowed, dodging well-heeled feet and spinning every few seconds.

Don't look your superiors in the face, never turn your back on a superior, don't speak unless asked to, Alpha Patrick's voice echoed in my head.

"What took you so long, Runt?" the Omega snarled thrusting the tray at me. It weighed almost as much as I did but somehow I managed to balance it across my forearm. My insides still felt odd, almost as if something was growing inside me. The room sounded louder than usual, the voices crisper and over the ruckus of the gathering, I could hear Owls hooting in the cedars.

I felt his eyes on me the whole time as I wound my way awkwardly through the room. I heard him whispering with his pack mates as I danced around trying to stick to all the rules.

Head down. Don't turn your back. Don't speak.

There were people all around me. It simply wasn't possible to not have my back to at least one superior.

I counted feet as I worked, keeping track of who had drinks and who didn't. Everyone was served. Everyone except him.

"Her? You're sure?" His pack mate asked.

"That's what Shadow seems to think," his smooth voice came out as a sigh. "I admit, I was surprised too. I mean, look at her? I'm sure she's sweet and all but she's timid as a mouse. She's not Luna material. The poor thing would probably keel over in fear if I spoke to her."

"Drink, Master?" I squeaked.

He jolted, his feet spun sharply towards me.

"And she's quiet as a mouse too," his packmate laughed. "Didn't even hear her coming, did ya?" his packmate laughed.

"Fuck you, Blake," the words were spoken without anger. Traces of laughter lingered in his voice.

"And she called you Master, kinky," the Luna teased.

Tears blurred my vision. My own pack were never nice to me but they never teased me.

"Enough," he snapped. "You're upsetting her."

She dipped her head, peering up at me from chin height.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I meant no offence."

The thing inside me started whining. My Wolf. My Wolf was finally waking up and she was just as upset as me.

"D-d-drink?" I asked again, desperate to be away from them.

"Maddox Mason," he said, offering his hand. My wolf whined louder, almost deafening. She did not want to be around him. Maddox Mason, Alpha of the Moutain Ridge pack, the biggest pack in our region. He was almost royalty and if you believed the Omegas who were tittering about him this morning in the packhouse a fierce warrior and single to boot. Everyone one of them yearned to be his mate. As if the Moon Goddess would pair an Alpha as powerful as Maddox Mason with an Omega. He'll be paired with the daughter of a powerful Luna.

I backed away, thrusting the drinks tray forward, partly in sheer desperation to get them to select a drink so I could get the Hell away from them and partly to use as a shield, a barrier between me and Maddox Mason.

"And your name?" He stepped closer. I shook my head so hard my hair whipped me in the face sticking to the tears resting on my cheek. "Can you speak?" The heavy jug of red wine wobbled as my limbs started to tremble uncontrollably. My breath came in short jagged bursts. White dots danced in front of my eyes.

"Dude, I think she's gonna pass out," Maddox's packmate said.

"Are you okay?" Maddox reached for the tray, not to take a drink but to take the entire tray from me. I yanked it towards me, clutching on to it for dear life. Forget a whipping, if I let the Alpha Reagle hold a serving tray Alpha Patrick will have me executed.

"Pay her no mind, Alpha Maddox, Sir, " Alpha Patrick's glossy black shoes appeared by Maddox's rugged leather biker boots. "She's not all there if you get me?" he took a drink from the serving tray, handing it to Maddox. I scurried away, secreting myself into the darkest corner I could find. I swear I heard Alpha Maddox snarl at Alpha Patrick as I hurried towards the corner.

Chapter Three

Maddox's POV

Shadow, my wolf, spotted her first. A tiny, scrawny girl with no curves or femine features, racing towards the Cedar Wood pack house. Her stringy, pale brown hair in a messy pile on top of her head. It was only because of her hair you could tell she was female. She wore mens clothes, at least three sizes too big for her skeletal frame and she had no figure to speak of. She may as well be a teenage boy with a body like that.

"Mine," Shadow growled, racing in circles inside my head. His panting grew louder the closer we got to her. "Mine, my mate," he snarled.

"Uh uh, buddy," I told him shaking my head. "Not her. No way. You're wrong."

She struggled to open the heavy security door as she reached it. Too shy to even look us in the face she stepped aside, pushing the door open with her back. Shadow inhaled, savouring her scent. She smelled of crisp fresh linen on a warm summers night. She smelled like home.

"Mine."

Shadow might be drawn to her but I wasn't, at least not as strongly as he was. I had to admit there was something alluring about her, something drawing me towards her. A wolf will know his true mate when their eyes meet but this teeny thing wouldn't even lift her head. And when I tried holding the door for her her beat so hard I could hear it thumping against her rib cage.

Her behaviour declined once she got inside. Tasked with serving drinks, I guessed from her outfit because she was broke and needed the extra cash, she kinda danced around the room in an akward Tango, twisting and turning like a spinning top, side scuttling like a confused crab.All the while her eyes locked on the floor.

"Strange one, ain't she?" Blake, my Gamma, said following my gaze to her tiny frame weaving between guests.

"Shadow wants her," I sighed.

"Really? Her?"

"My thoughts exactly, dude," I sighed. Shadow growled. I shook my head, scanning the room. My head tilted, my eyes narrowed. The entire Cedar Wood pack acted oddly. The Omegas were lined against the wall, laughing and joking with each other while never looking at each other. Their eyes, like Shadow's fixation, remained on the floor. The warriors, Gamma and Beta all carried out the same bizzare dance as my alleged future mate. All of them spent most of their time with their eyes fixed to the floor.

"Is it just me or is Cedar Wood kinda odd?" I asked Blake.

"It's not just you," he laughed, "but really, with Patrick Gibson as their Alpha do you blame them? The dude is unhinged."

I scanned the room. Shadow's mate was still dancing around, spinning and ducking. Her head was still down. It didn't take me long to spot Patrick Gibson. He, his Luna and his son were the only members of the Cedar Wood pack not partaking in the ridiculous dance. Instead, he stood loud and proud in the centre of the room guffawing like a demented hyena.

I cast my eyes down his silver-white silk suit and blood-red shirt. Against a backdrop of understated, quality suits and classic cocktail dresses he stood out like a sore thumb. Garret, the Alpha of Black River pack, the second largest pack in the region shook his head as he walked past. Sara, his Luna pursed her lips, scooting away as Patrick attempted to engage her in an ear shatteringly loud conversation about wolf hierarchy. He didn't appear to notice the massive empty space surrounding his obnoxious family.

"An Alpha needs to command the respect of his pack," Garret said as he strolled over to me. "As Regent it's your job to lead."

"I'll have a word with him," I sighed pinching the bridge of my nose, "just not tonight. It's his pup's coming of age. If he wants to impersonate Fat Elvis, let him."

"Mate, mate, mate," Shadow whined, begging me to turn my attention back to his shy, broken bird. When not distracted Shadow would be rearing to pin Patrick to the ground and teach him respect. Shadow was the leader, not me. I was a warrior, a soldier and then my father went missing, victim to the rogue Alpha, and I inherited my place as Alpha Regal way before I was ready, putting an end to my military career. I manage my pack, I earned my respect as a young pup but other packs? Dealing with other packs never failed to give me migraine.

Shadow flipped. Screeching and whining, clawing inside my head and a strange calm warmth washed over my body.

"Her? You're sure?" Lena, Blake's mate, my Gamma female asked turning gaze from Blake to myself.

"That's what Shadow seems to think," I said. Despite his screeching the odd warmth enveloping me brought a sense of calm, allowing me to think over the top of his desperate pleas. "I admit, I was surprised too. I mean, look at her? I'm sure she's sweet and all but she's timid as a mouse. She's not Luna material. The poor thing would probably keel over in fear if I spoke to her."

"Drink, Master," a tiny voice behind me squeaked. Blake's mouth twisted into a shit-eating grin, Lena dropped her head, her shoulders shaking under a burst of suppressed laughter.

"Quiet as a mouse too," Blake laughed, "Didn't even hear her coming, did ya?"

"Fuck you, Blake," I said, pursing my lips to bite back a smile. Shadow calmed, his panting faded and I swear I heard him licking his lips.

"And she called you Master, kinky!" Lena teased between giggles. Her face was puce now from holding back her giggles.

"Enough," I warned with a low growl. "You're upsetting her." The tiny woman visibly shrank in front of us, hunching her shoulders, dipping her chin close to her chest. Her arms shook under the weight of the drinks tray and the jug of wine she held in the other hand had to weigh almost as much as she did.

"I'm sorry," Lena said softly, dipping down to peer at the girl's face. Waves of sadness and fear washed off her. Shadow was begging me to grab her in my arms and hold her until she stopped quivering in fear and if he could sense her fear Lena's wolf could too. "I mean no offence."

The more we spoke the tighter she curled her shoulders.

"Get Lena away. She's terrifying our mate," Shadow warned. Much like dogs wolves were way better at reading body language than humans but I didn't need Shadow to tell me the poor creature in front of me was a nervous wreck.

"Maddox Mason," I said quietly offering my hand. If she touched me and Shadow was right, the spark would be instant, overwhelming and then I'd claim as my own and Patrick could kiss my muddy biker boots if he thought the future Luna Regal would spend the night serving drinks like a slave girl.

She inched back, holding the drinks tray our further. Her biceps stood out against her bony arms. My stomach growled just looking at how thin she was. I've met fatter famine victims.

"Kill him," Shadow snarled. "Kill her Alpha."

I was tempted to let Shadow out to do just that.

"Uh uh, buddy," I told him. "Killing another Alpha without all the facts, without a trial would be a death sentence and then where would our mate be?"

"And your name?" I asked her. Her head shook so hard I was kinda worried she was gonna snap her neck. Her pale brown hair whipped across her face. I caught a flash of her face. Pale, teary but not hard to look at. Fatten her up a bit, teach her to stand with her shoulders back and head high like a Luna should and she'd make a decent mate.

"Pay her no mind," Patrick snivelled, grabbing a drink from the tray and thrusting it into my hand. "She's not all there if you get me?"

I clenched my fists, driving my thumbs nails into my palms. It took everything I had to keep Shadow contained. Lena raised an arched brow at my drink and looked down at her own empty hand shaking her head. My mate vanished into a sea of half-drunk wolves.

Chapter Four

Kayla's POV

My mind raced. My hands shook and my arms ached under the weight of the heavy brass drinks tray. Scanning the crowd for people without a drink was impossible with my eyes glued to the floor. I tilted my head slightly, not so much that I would make eye contact with anyone but enough so I could see their hands.

Immediately I was drawn to tattooed forearms. They belonged to a well-developed torso barely contained in a black cotton shirt. My gaze drifted downwards to a pair of bulging thighs and muscular calves and a large pair of feet encased in soft leather biker boots. Alpha Maddox. The Alpha Regal. Basically, royalty, as Alpha of the largest pack in our region he was in control of all the smaller packs and outranked all other Alphas including Alpha Patrick.

My stomach flipped. A soft purr echoed in my mind. My wolf. She either wasn't strong enough to speak to me yet or I was too weak for her to want to speak to me. Probably the latter. My palms started to sweat and electricity tingled through my body. An overwhelming urge to look up took over me. My head started to lift and I was powerless to stop it like my body was in control, not me. I held my breath.

His neck was tattooed, he had a strong square jaw covered in dark stubble and his lips were thick and lush. A heat built in my core. My foot tapped erratically on the floor. Goose pimples rose on the back of my arms.

His nose was straight and cheekbones high and prominent. With my eyes constantly glued to the floor, the only men's faces I saw were Alpha Patrick and his son in the picture frames I dusted. They did not look like Alpha Maddox. My gaze rose further. I'd given up trying to force my head back down when I reached broad chest. His eyes were brightest, bluest blue I'd seen. Bluer than the sky on a clear summer afternoon. Bluer than the lake in the clearing. My feet started to inch forward. Oh God, I needed to hold this man. I yearned for him to meet my gaze.

"Eyes down, Runt!" Alpha Patrick screamed in my ear. His words were lost in the din of the room. Alpha Maddox didn't turn around and no matter how much I strained my gaze fixed on him. "Eyes down." His command came as a low, steady snarl.

My throat vibrated. A rumble echoed in my chest. Panic rose in my throat. I clenched my lips as hard as I could, biting down on my tongue. It didn't help. A low, rumbling growl erupted from my chest.

Alpha Patrick's fist tangled into my hair. He forced my head down, calling for his beta and gamma males. They rushed to his side, each grabbing my arms so hard I was certain my bones would shatter.

"The runt just challenged me."

Shit! Fuck! Help, oh Dear Moon Goddess, help!

I tried to speak, to beg and plead but nothing came out. Tears stung my cheeks. My heart pounded so loud I could feel it beating in my throat.

Alpha Patrick, the gamma and the beta dragged from the dining hall. My left shoe came off, my heel scraped the floor. I wasn't allowed in the packhouse much. I'd never been outside of the kitchen and dining hall. I had no idea where they were taking me but it was nowhere I wanted to be.

The Beta kicked open a heavy metal security door. Pain radiated through my body from Alpha Patrick's grip on my hair to the Gamma and the Beta grasping my arms so hard their hands ground against my bones. We reached a dark stairwell to narrow for us all to fit down. The Gamma went first as Patrick ushered him forward. The Beta followed up. Alpha Patrick yanked hard on my hair, dragging me down, step by step.

"Please," I finally choked out. "I beg you, please." Alpha Patrick tightened his painful grip on my hair. My scalp was about to come off, I was sure of it. The agony was blinding.

We reached the end of a long, damp corridor. Gamma Graham opened a heavy padlock attached to a thick, heavy door. Alpha Patrick finally released his cruel grip on my hair. The blood rushing back to it sent a shudder down my spine. The pain was almost worse now than when he had my tresses wrapped in his sweaty fist. The sobs came hard and fast, so fast I couldn't breathe.

I kept my head down, silently begging for mercy.

Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't speak unless spoken to.

Don't look anyone in the face.

Don't even breathe without Alpha Patrick's permission.

The damp seeped from the grey stone floor through my jeans.

"Strip her!" Alpha Patrick demanded.

Please, no, please I wanted to plead for forgiveness but knew better than to open my mouth. I forced my quivering body to remain still as the Gamma and Beta tore my hand me down clothes from my body, knocking me off my knees and onto my back to yank my jeans off.

The damp bit into my skin. Someone gasped at the sight of my prone and naked form curled on the stone floor. I swallowed hard, hugging my bony knees to my chest trying to hide as much of my body as I could.

"Chain her," Alpha Patrick commanded. Strong, calloused hands gripped my wrists, pulling me from the floor. Heavy chains were clasped around my tiny wrists. Someone yanked the chains tight pulling me up off the floor. My entire weight hung from my arms. My elbows strained and ached.

"Look at me, Runt." Alpha Patrick growled.

"A-a-a lesser n-never l-looks a s-s-uperior in the f-face, M-m-master," I managed to choke out between gulping sobs. My cheeks burned so hard they throbbed. I felt their eyes crawling over my naked body.

"And a runt never challenges her Alpha, do you wish to challenge me, Runt?"

"N-n-n-no." I shook my head until my neck ached. Tears flew from cheeks landing in soft splats on the floor. Strands of hair stuck to my soggy cheeks.

"Then you will be punished. Pass me the whip."

I froze. My breath stuck in my throat. I pulled violently at the chains. Leather hissed through the air. I sank in my chains.

SMACK!

The leather tore into my skin. Searing pain ripped through me. A sound only an animal could make vibrated through the room. My throat was dry and horse.

Hiss! SMACK!

The leather tore against my buttocks, wrapping around my hip and kissing my stomach. Blood trickled from a thick red welt beneath my navel and dripped onto the floor at my feet. My vision blurred.

Hiss. Smack. Hiss. Smack. He whipped every part of my body, my back, my buttocks, my thighs and every time the whip curled around my front stinging into my breasts and stomach. Over and over until the floor was crimson with my blood.

"She's had enough," Gamma Graham said.

My vision blurred. Darkness crept in. Every inch of my body burned with the fire of a thousand suns.

"I'll say when it's had enough," Alpha Patrick snapped.

Hiss. Smack. My chin sunk to my bloodied chest. Blissful nothingness took over.

Chapter Five

"RUNT!" The words echoed around the room, faint and distant as if they came from miles away. I tried to open my eyes. The mat I lay on felt wet and sticky.

"RUNT!"

My body shook violently.

"RUNT!"

My hands scrambled on cold, sticky tile. I urged my feet to move, straining my legs until I was breathless and laced with a cold layer of sweat. No matter how hard I tried my body refused to move. Every inch of my body ached and burned. The pain grew with each tiny movement as if a thousand needles were driving deep into my limbs.

"RUNT! UP NOW!"

Alpha Patrick. His snarl sounded closer. His hot breath crept over my clammy cheeks. Still, my feet refused to budge. My palms gripped at the floor, my arms ached as I tried to pull myself from the mat. Eyelids closed tight I sighed, sinking back to the mat in exhaustion.

"You dare to challenge me again?!"

I wanted to shake my head. I tried with all my might but no matter my desperation I was too broken to move. My bones crunched with every move I tried and failed to make.

"Obey me or I will take it as a challenge to my leadership."

A challenge to the death. Sweet, sweet death, the death of pain, the death of misery, the death of me. I sank deeper into the mat and let sleep take me.

***

"What the fuck am I to do?" Alpha Patrick's desperate tones pulled from a restless slumber. I wriggled my toes. They refused to budge. "How the fuck was I supposed to know the Alpha Regal wanted her? The fuck does he want that for anyway?"

My chest tightened. Maddox. Maddox wants me.

"The runt is dead."

"Mmmph," it's not what I wanted to say but it was a start.

"Shit!" Alpha's Patrick's putrid breath assaulted my nostrils, I felt his cheek against my chest. "It's alive but scarcely," he said. "Take it into the woods, deep into the woods. I'll deal with the Alpha Regal."

His mouth moved to my ear, "Runt," he whispered. "The Alpha Regal heard of your challenge last night. I wanted to forgive you, give you one more chance but he forbade it. He wants to kill you himself. I'm going to give you a fighting chance. I'll tell him you escaped into the woods. If you know what's good for you you'll run until your feet bleed because he will hunt you and believe me he won't show you the mercy I did."

"Take her," he bellowed. I smelled the Gamma and Beta Males. My mat started moving. My skin clung to it as if it was dried into my back as if my skin had started to grow into it. As the cool air kissed my skin I realised I was still naked. Alpha Maddox, the most beautiful man I had ever seen, wanted me dead. I guessed if I had to die his hand was as good as any to die by.

Leaves crunched under the sodden mat. The scent of congealed blood filled the air overpowering the alluring aroma of the forest. I blocked it all out. The voices of the Gamma and Beta, the scent of my blood, the call of death lingering on the horizon, all blocked from my mind as I concentrated on relishing the sounds of my beloved woodland one last time.

Songbirds filled the air with joyous twitter. Leaves rustled as they tumbled to the ground on the sweet spring breeze punctuated by the soft patter of paws as tiny forest creatures scurried about their day. I savoured every sound as if it was my first time hearing it because it would be the last.

The sun gently warmed my tattered skin. A strange peace slowly washed over me. It was the end. The end of nothingness. The end of mundanity. It wouldn't be the peaceful end I hoped for. The Alpha Regal had a reputation for being brutal and bloody. His victims lingered on the edge of death while he relished in their suffering. But, it was an end nonetheless.

Trees slowly blocked the comforting glow of the sun. My wolf senses told me we were nearing the edge of our teritory close to the cliff I spent my most peaceful moments on. If anyone had asked me where I'd like to die that would be the place I chose.

"I'm going no further," the Beta said dropping the mat. My skull cracked on a large rock beneath the mat. A pitiful groan escaped my cracked lips. "If we leave her here, with any luck the rogue will get her and save all our skins."

"Fine," Gamma Graham conceded. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up."

“Why?"

"I'm gonna bury the sleeping mat and I don't know, dude, make it look like she actually ran away. If Alpha Maddox finds her like this we're all fucked."

"Whatever, man, the rogue will scent out an easy kill like her in seconds anyway."

His feet crunched away.

"Runt," Gamma Graham whispered. "Open your eyes."

My eyelids flickered.

The Gamma sighed. "Look," he said tersely, "I've left you a sack lunch, some water, bandages and medication. For everyone's sake, I suggest you run. Run far. Run fast. If Maddox finds you in this state you won't be the only one who suffers. All wolves will pay the price."

His heavy footsteps thudded away in the soft mud. Alone. Finally and forever alone. My body loosened. I let the sounds of the forest envelop me in peace.

But, what the Hell did Gamma Graham mean every wolf would suffer? Why would any wolf even care? Not one of them cared about me. It would surprise me if anyone but the Alpha's family noticed I'd gone.

Before I could ponder the riddle a strange scent crept towards me. Its owner had done his best to hide it under the scent of rotting bark and animal carcass but its stench was unmistakable.

Alpha male. The rouge Alpha.

I closed my eyes and awaited the sweet kiss of death.

.

Chapter Six

Maddox's POV

My head sank into the pillow. A cinder block probably weighed less than my sleep-deprived brain. I reluctantly inched an eye open. A burnt orange glow seeped through the crisp white blinds.

I bolted upright, my eyes darting around the room and my heart pounding hard.

"We're at Cedar Wood," Shadow snapped. "And our mate is missing."

I pressed my hand over my eyes blocking out the bright spring sunrise and yawned. Shadow kept me up most of the night, demanding something terrible had happened to his mate, pleading with me to find her. I relented at 3 am, delirious with exhaustion and scoured the packhouse. Her scent lingered in the kitchen and dining room and along an ominous narrow hallway but there wasn't a single trace of her in the sleeping quarters.

"You don't find that strange." Shadow snapped in my sleep-addled head as I went over my foggy memories from the night before.

"Maybe she has her own place," I shrugged rubbing my temples. My stomach knotted. Wolves live in packs.

"Bull," Shadow barked. "You're as worried as me. Drag your sorry ass out of bed and let's go find her."

I eased out of the bed, the bare cedar wood floor was cold underfoot. Once more we scoured the packhouse and once more we found nothing. Not a single trace.

"Alright," I conceded. "We will go to Alpha Patrick."

"And rip his throat out."

"No!" Shadow shrivelled at my roar. My brain vibrated. "No violence," I said softly. "Not yet. We need evidence, Shadow. We have to lead. As much as would love to tear the entire wacky pack to bits we can't. We can bring them to justice if we have proof they've hurt her and believe me, we will but we cannot go around slaying Alpha's without proof of wrongdoing."

"Fine," he skulked around, pacing back and forth but he accepted my leadership. Much as I wished for the opposite on a daily basis Shadow wasn't in charge, I was and what he wanted would rip what little peace my people had to shreds.

But if they've hurt her... My fists clenched so tight my knuckles whitened.

Blake and Lena agreed to come with us to question Alpha Patrick. as Gamma male and female of my pack they didn't exactly outrank Alpha Patrick but he should show them the same respect he would show me. We strutted through Cedar with our shoulders back, me in front, Blake and Lena behind me.

I reached Alpha's Patrick's door.

"This house is bigger than the packhouse?" I said to Lena and Blake.

"This house used to be the packhouse before Alpha Patrick took over," Blake said.

As a soldier, I never attended multipack meetings and parties like Blake did. Not until I was Alpha. I was always fighting, running peacekeeping missions or training. Since the White Wolf pack were slaughtered my people had been at war. It was the murder of my Alpha, my father, which put an end to my career. A rogue Alpha prowled my territory, killing off the most powerful Alpha's one by one, bringing chaos and war to our world.

My mate's scent permeated the air. It didn't bring me comfort. She shouldn't have been secreted away in the Alpha's house. She should have been where she belonged with her pack.

My fist slammed hard into the door. It shook in its frame. The thunderous hammering of my fist off the heavy cedarwood door echoed through the forest. Birds took flight, screeching in panic. the woodland was silent but for my fist against the door.

The gamma male opened the door. He stunk of blood and of my mate. Shadow bared his fangs. It took every ounce of strength I had to keep him under control.

"I'm here for Alpha Patrick," I snapped. "And bring me the serving girl from last night. She's mine." I barged into the hallway, knocking the gamma aside. Blake and Lena followed me.

"Th-th-the serving girl?" The colour drained from his face, "I-I-I think she's busy."

"I don't give a fuck if she's busy. Bring her."

"Yes, Sir," he turned, head down and scuttled into the belly of the house. I found Alpha Patrick's office and made myself comfortable in his seat, resting my boots on his pristine desk. Not a thing was out of place. The windows and surfaces shone under the morning sun. Fresh flowers filled strategically placed vases. His Luna cared deeply about her house, she must spend every waking minute cleaning. That or they pay a team of cleaners a fortune while their pack can't afford decent clothes. Their priorities were screwed.

Lena tapped her manicured nails off the desk. Blake paced the room sighing. Another minute passed. And another. Tick tock, tick tock, the grandfather clock in the corner teased.

"Should I go and find someone?" Blake asked, eyeing the unmoving door.

"Give them two more minutes and we all will," I said. "Hopefully they're finding my mate."

"So you agree with Shadow?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "There's something about her scent. It fills this place. It's warm, calming, addictive."

"I think she's sweet," Lena offered.

My last girlfriend was tall, curvy and outspoken. The entire pack wanted her as their mate. She left me when she was mated to a Mountain Creek Omega. He actually asked my permission, like I was powerful enough to disobey the Moon Goddess' wishes. She chose our mates and our nature ensured we found them irresistible. A mate bond was like nothing else in the world. A wolf could literally die of heartache if their mate rejected them.

The door swung open. Patrick stumbled in, his face red and clammy.

"Alpha Maddox," he offered me his sweat-soaked hand.

"The serving girl, my mate, where is she?" I snapped ignoring his hand. His shoulders slumped. He kicked his foot against the floor.

"Gone, Sir. We found her room empty this morning, all her belongings gone. My Gamma and Beta are scouring the forest for her as we speak."

I rose to my feet, fists clenched, jaw tight.

"Sir, if I may," he said refusing to meet my eye, "with all due respect to yourself and the Moon Goddess, she's not mate material. There's been a misunderstanding. The girl, she doesn't even have a wolf and the pack is afraid of her. She visits the rouge's territory whenever we take our eyes off her. Sir, she's a traitor. The Moon Goddess wouldn't mate someone as powerful as yourself with a traitor."

"So, you've got a traitor in your midst and you failed to report it to me?" I walked around the desk. Blake and Lena closed in on him. He hugged his chubby arms around his bulging stomach.

"I, We-we, there was never any proof, Sir," his face turned from red to lily-white, his eyes remained on the floor and his shoulders hunched. "And truth be told, I didn't want to believe it. Sir, I raised the wee girl myself, took her into my family as my own, loved her like a daughter. When the pack came to me with their concerns I refused to believe but the signs were all there."

"Why aren't you using her name? She must have a name," I tilted my head, studying his reaction.

"I-I, we call her Lucille, Sir, after my wife."

"Take me to your packhouse. I will question your pack."

"Yes, Sir. I'll make the arrangements."

"NOW!"

Blake and Lena followed me to the door. I wasn't giving him time to get his story straight with the rest of the pack. My mate was no traitor. And I would find her if I had to search every state, every country in the world I would find her and I would bring those who wronged her to justice.

Chapter Seven

Kayla's POV

I was gripped in a pair of massive arms. My heart pounded hard against my ribs. Trembles shook through my limbs. The harder I shook the tighter he gripped me.

His racing heart echoed in my ears as he pulled me close to his expansive chest. The rogue was real. He tore through the forest taking me far from my pack. Far from everything I knew. Ever giant step he leaped sent waves of agony cascading through my broken body.

It was all too much. The terror of what he would do to me, the pain, all of it. I passed out, falling into a nightmare filled sleep. The rogue was real and I was his prisoner.

***

I sighed. A blissful warmth enveloped me. Small, soft hands stroked my tattered skin. My frail body rested on soft ground. A fire crackled beside. I struggled to make sense of what was happening. Did someone rescue me from the rogue? Did he mean to keep me as his slave?

"Serena, please, enough," a rough voice pleaded. "It's too much for you. Let her own wolf heal her."

"She's trying," a young girl replied. Her voice came from right beside me. "But she's weak. Her wolf has kept her alive for 18 years."

"Serena, you know how much healing another wolf takes out of you, please, let her heal naturally. You've done enough."

"It's different with her," Serena said moving her hands to my stomach, "easier. It's like we're connected somehow."

The older male wolf inhaled. His rough, heavy hand rested on my cheek. "Do you think she's..."

"Yes," Serena interrupted him. "It's her. We're saved, gramps, we can go home."

A warm tear landed on my chest. I tried to protest. Whoever they thought I was they were wrong. I'm not important to anyone. The effort was too much. My broken body drifted back into slumber.

I woke again to the alluring scent of freshly roasted meat. A nearby fire hissed and crackled.

"Gramps, she's waking up," Serena said. I arched my back, stretching out my muscles. For the first time ever nothing ached. I wanted to run, to sing, to swim. I needed to move. I was alive. More alive than I'd ever been. I rolled to my side opened my eyes and took in my surroundings.

I was in a cave deep in the mountains. Roasted lamb rested above a roaring fire. My body was rested on a giant fluffy pillow stuffed with lambs wool and a fleece blanket covered my modesty. A young woman, probably around 18 years old perched in a large wooden log by the fire. The glow of the flames reflected in her flowing silver white hair. Her bright grey eyes were the colour of the moon and they gazed expectantly at me.

The missing Princess. And I was staring right into her eyes.

Fuck.

I dropped my chin to chest and squeezed my eyes tight.

"I-I-I'm sorry Your Highness. I did not mean to challenge you."

My limbs trembled and my stomach heaved. Now I really would die and just when I finally felt well.

"Challenge me?" She giggled. "To what? Oh please say chess. I love chess and gramps always lets me win. I want a challenge, someone who will try, but first eat."

Metal scraped across the floor. Something hit my toe and the scent of roasted meat wafted closer. My mouth watered. I'd never eaten hot roasted meat. I was only ever allowed scraps.

"I looked you in the face, Mistress, a wolf must never look a superior in the face."

A tear dripped off my chin. The growl of my stomach echoed off the painted cave walls.

"Says who?" Serena asked shuffling closer. I squeezed my eyes tighter. A fork of roasted meat hit my lips. "Open."

Desperate not to further upset the Princess I snapped my mouth open so hard my jaw clicked. Warm, melt in the mouth meat landed on my tongue and an explosion of flavour spread through my mouth. Meat tastes better than it smelled. The flavour was indescribable, like what I imagined a hug from a loved one on a warm summer morning would taste like. An involuntary moan escaped my lips. The Princess giggled softly, pushing more meat into my mouth.

"Who told you not to look at me?" She asked resting a soft hand on my knee.

"It's always been the way, Your Highness, a lesser must never look a superior in the face. If they do it is taken as a challenge and they must fight to the death to take the superiors place. A lesser has never won a challenge."

"And you were taught this by your pack Alpha?"

I nodded. Soft, quiet sobs came from beside me. Princess Serena's shoulders trembled at my side.

"What have my people become?" She gulped between cries. "Please," she begged, "tell me its not all horrible. '

"Um, I guess if you're an Omega or higher some of its OK."

"And what's lower than an Omega, dare I ask?" The rogue snarled.

"Me."

"Oh, I can't bear this," Serena cried, placing her hand under my chin. “Please look at me, please, I beg of you."

I shook my head too afraid to take the risk. Alpha Patrick tested me dozens of times a day when I was a pup, always asking me to do things I wasn't allowed and punishing me if I forgot the rules.

"I think we can trust her," a voice in my head whispered.

"My wolf?"

"Izelle, you can call me Izzie. I'm sorry I haven't spoke to until now. It took all my strength just keeping us alive but I think we're safe now. Serena healed us and when she did I felt a connection, not a mate bond, something else, something ancient and powerful. I think we're supposed to be here with her."

I lifted my head slowly, my palms sweating and my stomach in knots, and slowly opened my eyes. Serena was nose to nose with me. Tears stained her delicate ivory cheeks, her lower lip trembled. She managed a small, wet smile.

"What is your name?" She asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I-I don't have a name," I dropped my chin, my cheeks flamed, "they call me Runt."

Serena sighed, shaking her head. The rougue clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.

"I will call you Kayla," she said. "I am Princess Serena and this is my Gramps, Casper."

"Casper? Former Alpha and King? King Casper is the rogue?" My jaw dropped. My eyes locked onto his.

"Rogue," he roared. "I am no rogue. My pack was decimated. Slaughtered in front of my face. There was nothing I could do but take Serena and run. This is where we hide. This place is warded from other wolves with powerful, ancient magic. We're safe here."

"But you slaughtered the White Wolf pack," I frowned, "and you've been on a rampage ever since!"

"I did not," he yelled so hard the cave shook. I shrank back, tucking my knees to my chest.

"Kayla, are my people being slain?" Serena asked.

I nodded, "since the attack on your pack, two more packs have been wiped out and dozens of powerful Alphas. Your people are at war, Your Highness."

We sat in slience. Serena and I in a tearful embrace and Casper slamming his fist into his palm

"So, Kayla, tell me more about how my people live. I need to know everything." Serena broke our embrace and wiped our tears dry.

She listened for hours with tears rolling down her cheeks. The rougue Alpha's nostrils flared as I spoke. His face glowed red and his knuckles were white. He let out a few growls and snarls when I told him about the punishments doled out for disrepecting your superiors or insubordinance.

"Who is King?" He snarled when I'd finished speaking. "Who took the place of my son and turned my people into slaves."

"We don't have a King anymore, Sir. We have an Alpha Regal, he's kind of like a King, he rules all packs. His father refused to take the title of King until he found Serena."

"And the Alpha Regal, the monster who enslaves and brutalises our people?"

"Alpha Maddox Mason, Sir, but I've met him. He's not..."

"Mason? You're sure?" Casper interupted me. "Son of Nicholas Mason?"

"Yes, Sir."

"You know him, Gramps?"

"I knew his father. Maddox was but a pup when I fled with you but Nicholas was a good man. He'd not put up with a son who did the things Kayla desribes. What happened to him?"

"Dead, Sir, killed by the rogue."

"His son will soon join him."