Chapter One

Jesse’s POV

“Split!” I barked out my orders to the others as the others approached. Spinning around I held back a growl at the approaching wolves of the Variant Pack, with Maddox at the helm.

The only relief I got was the retreating sounds of my pack going far away from me. I prepare myself. I was going to fight this alone.

From afar I noticed Maddox gave orders to his pack. Was he ordering them to follow my pack? I bared my teeth.

No way in hell was I going to let that happen.

I ran and struck him before he could continue. Meeting hid gray eyes, I bared my teeth before we battled.

The Rest of his pack chased after mine. I held hope that they were already in our hideout far away but there was no time to focus on it as I battled Maddox away in the field.

As I swiped my claws at Maddox one more time for him to evade, frustration built up in me.

There was no way I could win this fight. Maddox was stronger and faster than me. Anytime I struck him, he always managed to evade making my efforts fruitless. I couldn't stand the growing exhaustion or the ache in my bones from the battle.

There was something strange about his attacks though. There was something I was missing…

I held back a gasp at the realization.

Maddox wasn't attacking directly. Most of his efforts were to try holding me, yet whenever it came to direct attacks, he hesitated and backed away. It was likely the reason why the only injuries I'd sustained was from the struggle but not the fight itself.

Why? What the hell was wrong with him?

I didn't know and I didn't want to, but I could use it to my advantage.

Feigning an attack, I threw myself towards him with bated teeth. He instantly held his claws out, as if ready to block when I switched up retracting. I was asking for death by leaving myself defenseless, yet as he caught me I saw the realization spark on his face.

There it was again, that hesitation.

His hands hovered over me but didn't attack. I used it to my advantage, clawing his belly before pushing him away. His scream echoed behind me as I ran for it, fast enough to avoid evasion.

“Please be there,” I prayed to whatever powers there were that my hopes were right. That nobody had caught up to my group.

As I reached the spot, relief flooded me instantly. All the rogues were there, not a single one out of sight.

“Are you okay?” Brandon, my second in command asked. I nodded frantically.

“We need to leave. Now.” I addressed all of them. There was no time to waste as we took our belongings and ran from the fields. As the place that had been our home for the past month faded away, a sense of victory and relief filled me. We had successfully escaped.

…

Cheers and celebrations filled the air as everyone celebrated around the campfire for our escape. I held my cup of ale but couldn't take a drink.

Brandon settled beside me, “White wrong Leader? Are you still worried?”

I could only grunt in response, looking around at the rogues around me. They were my group, my pack of sorts and it was my responsibility to protect them. I just couldn't understand.

This would be the second month now and the 6th time we had nearly been cornered by the Variant pack.

Ever since I led my group through the region near them, they always seemed to have it out for us. It didn't make any sense why. We were one of the most peaceful rogue groups to coexist with, staying around other packs with a code of no violence. We'd barely even touched their territory and had only encountered them once, yet ever since then they and their alpha Maddox had chased after us till date. Our days of peace were cut short and we we're constantly on the run.

Looking around, I didn't know how much of this that I would be able to take.

“Don't be so down on yourself Jesse” Brandon patted me.

Before I could respond, a sudden growl alerted me. I stood up un time to hear the growls grow as our celebration was cut short. Everyone gathered together a d I looked frantically around as more wolves came into sight. They were everywhere. There was no chance of escaping. We were surrounded.

One problem after the other. I clenched my teeth. I didn't know what else to do. Did we fight or surrender? Looking at my pack, I could tell they were exhausted from the escape. Could we Even fight at this point?

More rustling came and men emerged from the forest. My breath hitched as I spotted the middle aged man in the front.

“You trespassed on our territory. “ He growled while I was at a loss of words.

Eric, the beta of the Revelle Pack. If he was here then that meant…

I stepped through the crowd to face them. He looked at me with hostility stinging me with slight disappointment. Of course he didn't recognize me. It had been years.

It didn't matter though. Taking advantage of the silence I spoke.

“We surrender.”

Shock seemed to fill my group. The wolves and their pack was confused but I continued

“It wasn't our intention to intrude on your pack. We were on the run. I plead for mercy. Please let us pass safely through your pack. I promise none of us intend to harm or bring chaos to your pack.”

Eric was a soft hearted family man and I knew he would understand looking at some of the families here. Of all people, he would be the easiest to convince.

“You expect us to obey you filthy rogues?” One of the warriors said snidely, looking over me

“The only passage you deserve is one to execution.”

Murmurs grew. I felt my group grow agitated, incensed at the insult towards us but I ignored it, focusing solely on Eric and waiting for his answer.

“Stand down.” Eric ordered. The place instantly became subdued before he looked at me.

I could sense the hesitation in his eyes before he sighed, “I cannot decide this. Our Alpha would be the one to choose.”

Alpha.

My heart skipped a beat. I tried to not show trepidation as I nodded in agreement. We were bound and made to follow them to the Pack gates.

I lowered my head, trying to ignore the tumbling knot in my belly as we neared the gates. It was a failed effort when a voice rang out.

“Eric, what are you doing bringing in rogues to our territory?”

My heart skipped a beat when his voice rang and I gripped the bindings.

“They requested an audience, Alpha Claude.” Eric said. Even hearing his name made my heart skip but I suppressed it.

His footsteps approached before stopping and I felt his gaze penetrate me. I hoped we would never meet again, but there was no escaping this.

I clenched my hands, before looking up to meet his. In an instant the dormant mate bond I wished to forget flared up in my chest again as I locked ey

es with Claude. My former best friend. The man I wished I could forget.

Mate.