Chapter 1
The shaggy red wolf growled when she finally caught the scent of her quarry. It was faint but it was enough. After three days of tracking the band of Rogue wolves who had attacked a village she had passed through she had found them.
Many had been hurt as the raiders set their homes and businesses ablaze and looted what little the villagers had, not to mention what they did to the omegas. The red wolf knew exactly what they had been through and she knew what she had to do. She would hunt them down and dispatch the worthless curs.
She checked the small bag tied to her leg was secure before quickly followed the scent for several more hours before she heard them laughing as they ate around their campsite. The red beast counted them and snorted quietly. The red wolf may be outnumbered but she had an advantage that made her almost unbeatable against these lesser wolves even with 8 against one. She hunkered down and prepared to leap out from the bushes to rip out the vile smelling beta males apart but paused when a mangy grey wolf appeared from the bushes directly opposite her across the campsite and shifted to human.
“Two fancy Lords are nearby. Alone!” the man sniggered as he pointed over his shoulder and the men quickly abandoned their meal, shifted to their pathetic wolf forms and rushed into the Bush.
Nicole’s wolf Rua growled in her mind as the Alpha quickly ran after them. She hoped to catch them before they reached their prey. She may not be like these wolves but she was also a Rogue, a packless wolf, and if one of those Lords was Pack Alpha of this land they might not take too kindly to her being here, off the safe road rogues could travel, especially because of what she was. She caught up with them just in time to see the rogues surround the two men on their horses and one man tumbled to the ground when his horse reared back in fear of the wolves snapping Jaws.
“Julian!” the other man shouted as he begun to swing his sword from his own saddle but they all froze when Nicole released a terrifying snarl before she leapt on the closest wolf and snapped her huge jaws around his neck before tearing out his throat. The small band of wolves recovered from their shock just as Nicole slammed down on the spine of the one closest to the man on the ground, snapping it in half before she stood over the human protectively.
Neither men knew what to make of the situation but they quickly realised the beast as big as their horses was on their side.
The man on the ground pulled his hunting blade from his boot and rolled onto his belly, under the red animal while the other jumped down from his horse to stand beside the massive creature and soon all 8 attackers were dead at their feet.
Nicole was panting lightly but she was unharmed. She shook out her fur and made to walk off before the men shouted after her.
“Wait!” the man who had fallen called out. “we must speak!” she continued to walk away as he scrambled to his feet. “Please!” she had no interest in hearing what they had to say.
Julian Charles and Randy Nedley shared a worried look and took off after the huge beast on foot but stopped when the animal looked back at them and growled. They were still holding their blades and she may have saved them but she would kill them if they tried to attack her. They quickly dropped the blades like they had burnt them before the men each bowed their heads to her.
“We owe you a debt, Alpha. You saved us, myself particularly.’ The taller man who had fallen said. “Is there anything we can give you to show our gratitude.”
Nicole was surprised. The men seemed sincere but she was used to being run out of Pack lands by Pack Alphas who were threatened by her and who didn’t tolerate a Rogue passing through, even on the safe road, a road that passed through each pack land and where the packless could walk along it unencumbered if they didn’t cause issue.
She only ever wanted two things in life. To avenge her pack and to be accepted into a new Pack. These men couldn’t help with the first and the second was not something she could ask for. She shook her head and began walking again but they persisted.
“Please.” The shorter, older Alpha with a portly stature called out. “these are my lands and you have saved us from a pointless end when we were caught off guard. At least let us feed you and give you a warm bed for a few nights?” the men were wearing leather armour that prevented them from shifting as their wolves were too large and Leather didn’t give in any way. No Fenrir wanted to die in a fight in human form.
The idea of a warm bed and a free meal she didn’t have to hunt did sound nice. She decided to accept the offer and nodded before she trotted behind a tree and shifted back to her human form.
In her human form she had mane of fiery red hair the same shade as her wolf’s coat. She was tall, well over 6 ft with a long, lean frame but she had a strong build. She pulled her tattered clothes from the bag that had fallen to the forest floor and he dressed quickly, shouldered the bag before returning to the men who were standing with their horses.
“I am Randolph Nedley, alpha of the Lawkeepers pack .” The older Alpha introduced himself.
“I am Julian Charles, Alpha of the Angel Pack. Visiting an old friend.” The younger man said. “may we ask your name?” they could smell she didn’t have a pack scent and she bowed her head before replying. She was unkempt and ashamed of her appearance but her life was rough.
“Nicole Haught.” She said. “I apologise for trespassing. I was tracking them for a few days. They attacked a village to the East. I will forgo the bed if you would be kind enough to send them aid.”
The men shared another look before they nodded their agreement.
“If you tell us where then we will be happy to send the help but you will be our guest. Come.” Nedley said and they mounted the horses before the older man offered his arm for her to sit up behind him. “Many Pack Alphas have reported an uptick in attacks from bands of Rogues in recent months. I don’t mean all rogues are criminals mind you!” the man added with a slight splutter but Nicole knew what he meant. Many packless wolves turned to crime as a way to make a living as without a pack they were seen as defective in some way and would rarely find work outside of being in the mines or quarries. Most rogues lived short and harsh lived but that was no excuse.
“Are you a bounty hunter?” Julian asked with great interest but the stoic female shook her head minutely.
“No. I just don’t like those who prey on the weak.” She said gruffly. She hadn’t spoken in human form for days.
“I hope you don’t mind my saying so but your wolf is astounding. How is it so big?” the younger man continued, truly impressed. Pack Alpha’s wolves were usually the biggest, the size of a large donkey, other pack members were slightly smaller and rogues were the smallest and most pathetic of wolves. This rogue stranger was a giant in wolf form and wore a shaggier coat than was normally seen. She was terrifying but neither man felt threatened by such a strong Alpha in a world where Alphas were less and less common.
The stranger didn’t answer. Nicole did not discuss her wolf with anyone. Before she became a Rogue she had been from an old, ancient pack who lived deep on the mountains at the most northern point of their world. The woman had had an idyllic childhood in her pack with her loving parents, hunting and playing with her friends but when the plague hit it killed many of them and weakened them but then they were attacked but a small rogue army lead by an old wolf. They killed everyone but Nicole’s sire had shoved the 13 year old into the fast flowing river that ran through their village to save her but later that night when the pup returned she found the bodies of her parents, friends and people she had known her whole life. Even the youngest pups had been slaughtered.
It had broken something inside her. From that point on she was a Rogue and had to make her way through life alone. She tried to stick to the forests, staying in human form unless she needed to shift as if her wolf was seen she would attract unwanted attention. She entered villages only when she needed something she couldn’t hunt or make and even then she made sure to keep her nose out of trouble unless she caught wind of attacks. Then she would track them down and dispatch them before she moved on. If there was a bounty on any of her kills she never collected it.
After some awkward silence the two men began talking amongst themselves about the hunt they were supposed to have been on. The older Alpha was lamenting the teasing that someone named Chrissy was sure to give them when they returned without dinner.
“Its our own fault. Every year it is harder and harder to hunt in human form. Someday we must accept that we are getting too old for this or the gods will have a good laugh at us.” Julian joked and Nedley chuckled to himself while Nicole listened as she kept an eye on their surroundings, scenting the air around them.
A short while later they entered a bustling town with a wooden long house that had a turf roof in the centre. People were going about their business, trading and gossiping as young pups played in the main thoroughfare under the careful eyes of their dames and other pack members. Several people stopped to gawk at the stranger perched behind their Pack Alpha.
Some caught her scent and realised Nicole was a Rogue who they were immediately weary of. The young Alpha lowered her head after jumping off the horse and followed the two men into the long house, ducking her head as she entered the doorway that was much too low. Inside was only illuminated by the fires at each end of the main room. There was a number of beta and omega servants who bowed when they saw Randy, surprised he was back so quickly.
“someone get some food for my guest. Where is my daughter?”
“Why are you back so soon?” a pretty, young, female omega asked as she came out a doorway beside one of the fireplaces. The Pack Alpha’s private apartments by the scents emanating from that end of the long house. The young omega caught the scent of the female Alpha Rogue in their home and she gave her father and the man she thought of as a dear uncle a confused look. The redheaded Rogue looked filthy and her clothes were ragged.
“This is Nicole, she came to our aid against a pack of bandits who were prowling in the forest. They attacked a village too. This is my daughter Chrissy.” Nedley said and the omega gave Nicole a warm smile.
“In that case you are very welcome, Nicole. Sit and warm yourself by the fire.”
Nicole thanked her and gave her a respectful now before kneeling by the closest fire. She was rarely cold outside of winter but she it was nice to have a roof over her head for a night in a comfortable spot. A few moments later Chrissy returned and handed her a huge bread bowl full of a rich, meaty stew. Nicole felt her stomach rumble as she caught the aroma and her mouth watered. She thanked the omega before she devoured the meal while Julian spoke to Chrissy. Nedley had left to see to the aid of the Village.
“Your father and I were speaking and wondered if you would like to ride back with me to spend some time with Waverly before the winter?” he chuckled when the girl squealed with excitement and clapped her hands.
“Oh yes please! It’s been too long.”
“Yes, she will be thrilled to see you.” Julian said before huffing. “Maybe you can keep her away from that Hardy pup.” Chrissy giggled before she left to pack some belongings for her visit as the man smiled affectionately, he knew it would make his beloved daughter so happy to see her best friend. The two men had often escorted the girls on their visits between their packs since they were infants but they were usually planned visits.
Nicole felt a pang of longing as she listened to the fatherly affection the man spoke with and thought if her own sire who had been her best friend. She missed those days terribly.
The young female Alpha finished eating and drinking before she put her bag under her head as she curled up. She told Rua to take first watch and wake her if she sensed anything was amiss. She was exhausted buy she was always on guard.
No one disturbed her for the rest of the night.