The Alpha's Rejected Silent Mate

Chapter 38

Winter POV

I’m running in wolf form, as fast as my little legs can carry me, grateful for the speed that I possess. The trees

pass by in a blur and I easily jump over broken twigs and branches. I have to keep going, I can’t afford to stop. Not

now.

Keep running Winter Sabriel tells me urgently and I continue to do so, my nose picking up a horrid scent of rotten

eggs and meat, wrinkling my nose in disgust. The scent is overwhelmingly familiar and I begin to feel slightly

panicked as I start to run even faster.

How close is the rogue?

He’s gaining on us fast Winter. I don’t think we’re going to outrun it. We’re going to have to turn and fight.

But I haven’t practiced much, Sabriel, I don’t know if we can take them. I don’t know how to fight!

We have no choice, Winter, now turn around before he tackles you!

I turned and jumped neatly to the side in time to avoid the rogue which had jumped to tackle me from behind. I stare. It’s thin, mangy looking and malnourished, as though it’s been a long time since, it’s had a long time since they last ate. Its eyes are a crimson blood color and it’s a dark gray color, much like a normal wolf. It’s drooling as it snarls

at me and I flinch, staring into it’s eyes, my whole body tensed as I wait for the inevitable attack. I feel slightly sorry

for it, which annoys Sabriel.

Jump. Attack first Winter.

it and surprising it for a moment as I rake my claws against their back. They

at me as I fall off and roll over. It leaps at me and I howl as I feel

all fours, whimpering slightly as I’m forced to keep one off the ground. I’m a goner. There’s no way I can take them out now. But Sabriel refuses to let me

today and neither are you. Run and tackle it

says but the rogue isn’t expecting me

the tree, snapping and biting at it in desperation. It bites back and we roll over and over, both of us scratching and clawing at each other. Without knowing it, I rip through his stomach and dig my claws in

away as they lie there, not

and know they aren’t dead

us, Sabriel tells me, and

taking another life, even a rogues. After all, once upon a time, they used to

doing what their nature demanded of them? It wasn’t fair or very sportsmanlike. Plus, I

compassion is going to get you killed,

in a great deal of pain and, from the looks of it, it would live but take hours to heal.

not, I can’t. They are in no condition to continue fighting. Let’s just leave

alone and get away.

They’ll kill someone else.

lives forfeit just because they are rogues? Everyone deserves a chance to live. I

I can avoid

you want Winter, but don’t say I didn’t warn

biting my lip against the pain of my leg, searching

stolen from an unsuspecting household.

into long strips as the rogue watches me, clearly confused. I approach

that I’m naked and vulnerable. There’s such sadness in its eyes

seem like an ordinary run of the mill rogue, at least not like I’d imagined them to

holding my arms out as it gives me a low growl, its head staring

out

and it seems to eye me for a moment

I place one against the wound, wiping up what blood I can. It whimpers but doesn’t try and do anything.