On my own

Thea's POV

I was walking through the forest when my eyes caught a figure resting on a tree trunk.

From where I was standing, it was impossible to know who it was. All I could see was half of some kid's face, making me wonder if it was one of the children from the pack.

I got closer to the tree, careful not to let my presence known to the other kid. Getting closer, I smelled blood and forgot all about remaining unnoticed. I rushed in front of it and saw a boy about my age.

He was bloody, with all kinds of scratches, bruises and worst, claw marks! He was barely conscious.

The moment he sensed me, he forced himself to stand up and snarled at me, surprising me with his action. I took a step back.

His smell was that of rotten flesh, thus making me realize he was a rogue. I contemplate between running back home and telling my dad or trying to speak with the kid first and tack him home for medical help. I knew if I alert my father about it, he, with no hesitation, would take him to the cells on the spot.

My father was the Beta, therefore, this child could be seen as a threat or a trap. The state in which he presented himself could hardly be seen as a threat. A trap? Hell to the yes!

Being the second strongest pack, we have been taught to kill the rogues without second thoughts. They were the scums, killers and all the other bad things of our kind. Indeed, they teach us that there were also some who didn't have a choice. But this was rare, and we shouldn't trust anyone. I decide to trust my instinct.

I gathered all my courage and stepped forward. He tried to lunch at me, but his wounds and cuts didn't help him. I dodged him easily, thus he stumbled to the forest floor. In a few seconds, he was up again, with great effort, snarling and stumbling on his feet. I watched him carefully, this could be an act.

I decided to take this opportunity to study him. He had a square jaw, high cheekbones, thin lips and beautiful chocolate brown eyes. He appeared to be taller and more muscular than me, but skinny compared with other boys in my pack. The age when the children of the high ranks, as warriors, Beta and Alpha, were starting training was around thirteen or fourteen.

I am thirteen and just started the training with my pack. My father always believed I should learn how to defend myself early as a future female Beta, so he started training me at home when I was eight. Thus, I knew I could take down the boy if necessary.

"Who are you, and what are you doing on our territory?"

"It doesn't matter who I am, and I should be the one asking. You are the one trespassing on MY territory." He said whit a booming voice. Now being the first time I notice his aura.

I realized he was of high rank. Based on the power in his tone, against his health condition, I could tell he was an Alpha, a powerful one at that. Wait, an Alpha as a rogue? It doesn't sound right.

I looked around and used my nose to see if I indeed trespassed.

Our house is indeed closer to the border than the others. My father wanted us to grow up in a quieter place and with as much forest surrendering us. His reason being that during attacks, we will be safer because they will go first for the pack house where the Alpha and Luna wear. If they will find the house, the forest could provide us with plants to mask our scents and hiding spots until the battle was over. In the worst-case scenario, it will be easy to flee to safety in the human town.

I noticed I was right at the border but didn't trespass. The real question was what he meant by "his territory". After our border, there was common ground, from what I know. I glared at him and answered.

" I know you look like shit and for shore feel worse, but use your nose. You are on our territory, and you should know that there is common ground after this border. You don't have any right questioning me, even if I pass outside the borderline."

He gave me a confused look, probably because of my outburst and the fact that I didn't cower at his powerful tone. Nonetheless, he brought his noose up and sniffed. He gave me a puzzled look and turn around to try and leave, but that was the worst move he could have done. I jumped on his back and tackled both of us to the ground.

"You are not to leave. You are my prisoner. You need medical help and food. Also, being a rogue, don't you know you should never turn your back in a fight?"

"Get off me you brat, before I kill you."

"I hardly doubt you could do that turd. I'm the one who could kill you right now. Just look how injured you are. You can barely walk properly."

"GET OFF ME." He snarled, but I didn't move.

Luckily for me, I had my skipping rope with me. I tied his hands and helped him up while he tried to free himself. Not to brag about myself, but I'm good at knots. I'm 100% sure he will not succeed in getting free. In the pocket ok my trousers I had a chocolate bar, I unwrapped it and gave it to him. He didn't open his mouth, so I blocked his nose with my free hand. When he opened his mouth for air, I shoved the chocolate bare in his mouth and let go of his nose, but he refused to munch it.

"Oh, come on... it's not like it's poisoned. I stole it from the cupboard for myself. I risked being cached by my mom to take this, and I gave it up for you. Can't you do at least that for me?"

I think my speech had some effect on him since he started chewing. After he finished, he said to me.

"You know, sugar is not good, and this chocolate, for shore, is not good if you want a strong body. No wonder you're so skinny and ugly."

"Sooo......you want to tell me that you don't eat chocolate? Are you INSANE? It's the best thing kids our age will want, besides all the other sugary kinds of stuff we can get our hands on. Also, stop with the preaching, you're not my dad."

"We may be werewolves, and it may be hard for us to get fat, but that doesn't mean this is good for our health. If you want to be strong and healthy, you should train hard and eat meat, not this."

"Well, too bad for you, this is all I got. You may not like it, but I do, and I still gave it to you." I huffed and crossed my arms on my chest, annoyed that he didn't even thank me.

Looking up at him, I noticed his wands were already heeling. His deep cuts from the claws almost closed themself. That can't be possible, at least not so quick.

The only possible way for him to heel this quick is if he already had his wolf. For those who didn't have their wolf, it will take almost as long as humans. Sure, we heel quicker than them, but even so, without your wolf, you will not be able to heel so quickly. To get it at this age will mean he had experienced something terrible. Causing his wolf to come forward earlier. An attempt at helping his human half. I can't even imagine how hard it had to be.

My father told me that we usually receive our wolfs about a week before our 18 birthday. You start communicating with each other, thus creating a strong bond between the two halves of your soul and mind. This will help with the pain of morphing on the night of your 18 birthday. Of course, there are exceptions, but that happens rarely.

I know all these things because of a similar case that happened to one of our pack members. My father explained to me everything. His parents died in a rogues attack. He got scared and forced his wolf out to try and help them. Unfortunately, because of the exhaustion of the transformation, he fell into a coma for a week. When he woke up, the doctors had to keep him sedated for another week. The reason was the excruciating pain he still felt after the early transformation.

Coming back to the present, the boy noticed my shocked face, and a flash of realization crossed his face. His eyes darkened, and claws grew to replace his nails.

I jumped up in surprise and took a few steps back until my back hit a tree. I stood there looking at him in shock as he used his claws to cut the skipping rope.

He got himself up and took slow, threatening steps in my direction. His black eyes look into the depths of my soul.

I was sure my heart was trying to get out of my chest. My brain was screaming at me to focus and do something. But what could a werewolf like me do to him? He was an Alpha, was healed, and also had a wolf. I could handle someone like me, but someone who had his wolf.....No fucking way. The only logical thing to do was to run.

I know this part of the forest like the back of my hand. The only problem were my legs, which refuse to move.

I took deep breaths and forced my brain to get control over my body. Just when he was about to reach me, my feet finally listen to me and run. I heard his steps right behind me. I forced myself to run faster, if even possible, but he cached me and we fell on the forest floor.

I tried to hit him with my legs, but his weight on top of me kept me from moving. After a minute, he stood up and flipped me over so I could face him.

His eyes were still black and he was looking into my eyes with a smirk plastered on his face. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. I noticed his claws turning back to nails and his eyes slowly coming back to their chocolate brown color.

He pulled up from me and offered his hand to help me get up. I hesitate at first but ended up accepting his kind gesture. It was the first kind thing he did in the hour we spent together.

"Didn't your parents teach you not to run from an Alpha? He will see it as a game. The trill to catch the prey it's the fun part."

"They did, but I was running from a rogue werewolf, not from an Alpha. My life was on the line." I saw hurt crossing his eyes. I wonder what happen to him to become a rogue.

"Whatever..... let's pretend this didn't happen. I'll leave and be careful not to trespass again. Take care brat, others will not be as kind as me and let you live to see the light of the next day."

This might seem rude, but I don't know why I find that being a kind gest from him, like he was caring about me. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him out there all alone. Now that I think about it... Where were his parents? Why didn't they come to look for him? Was he on his own out there?

"Wait.....you look to be alone. Where are your parents? If you need help, we can go to my Alpha. I'll ask him to let you in the pack and protect you."

"I don't need your pity. It's none of your concern where my parents are. Stop being so curious."

"You still don't look good. At least promise me we will meet tomorrow. Same place, I promise I'll bring you healthy food and some painkillers. Maybe we can be friends."

"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself brat. Let's hope we never met again."

"I don't care what you say, I'll wait for you tomorrow for as long as it takes." With that, I turn around and run back home.

When I got home my mom was fuming with anger. She scolded me for going so deep into the woods. Dad got his share too. Mom blamed him for my behavior, saying he was the one encouraging me to be like a boy, a warrior, not like the other girls my age.

I didn't tell them anything about my encounter with the rogue boy. I just now realize I still don't know his name. I will make sure to remember and ask him tomorrow when we'll meet again. At least, I hope to meet him again.