Alpha's Rogue Mate

Kat’s POV

Here I sat on a small bend, shivering in the freezing cold, feeling like I'd been waiting for the train forever. All I wanted was to leave this awful town behind. It was like a prison, filled with memories that haunted me. I craved a fresh start, something to look forward to in life, maybe even finding my mate, though I knew it was a long shot. I didn't even have my wolf to keep me company; or maybe I didn't have one at all.

Leaving was a sneaky move; my parents wouldn't even notice I was gone, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't care. They were just as mean and uncaring as everyone else in this place. When a werewolf turns 16, they shift for the first time under the full moon. I was excited to meet my wolf, to finally get to know that other part of me. But when the full moon came and went, nothing happened. No wolf, just disappointment.

When werewolves turn 18, it's expected they find their mate. Every three years, under the Super Blue Moon, our pack hosts a magnificent ball, inviting all unmated males and females aged 18 and up to hopefully find their other half. It's believed that during this rare lunar event, the Moon Goddess's influence is strongest, helping us find our soulmates. It's odd, though. Despite being created by her, I've been denied a wolf, meaning no mate for me. It's a lonely feeling, contemplating a future without love. Perhaps my destiny lies in a human town. It's a daunting thought, but maybe that's where I truly belong.

Not long after my 16th birthday, pack members started spreading rumors, saying my parents snatched me from a human town nearby. But that wasn't true. They were as shocked as I was about my missing wolf. My dad, who was the Beta of our pack, faced the same ridicule as me. Things got worse; pack members started causing trouble, breaking our windows and showing up with pitchforks and torches in the middle of the night, just to cause my family trouble.

The Alpha gave my dad an ultimatum: if I didn't get my wolf by my 18th birthday, we'd be kicked out of the pack. I couldn't let that happen. My twin brother, Henry, was set to become the next Beta, and I couldn't bear to jeopardize that for him. This year was especially significant because it marked the hosting of the grand "Super Blue Moon Ball"—his opportunity to find his mate. He deserved his chance as Beta, and he deserved to find his soulmate too.

Tomorrow was the big day, my 18th birthday, and I'd been wrestling with what to do for weeks. Eventually, I settled on running away and becoming a rogue as my best shot at a fresh start. Whether my wolf showed up or not was no longer my family's problem. I didn't want them to suffer just because I was different. My best friend, Madaline, had always been there for me, even though my wolf never appeared. But her family didn't see it that way. Her dad, who was the Alpha's Gamma, didn't want her hanging around with someone like me. He thought it would make their family look bad. So, we had to keep our friendship under wraps. As much as I loved Madaline, I couldn't bring myself to tell her I was leaving tonight. I didn't want anyone coming after me. Instead, I left her a note in our secret spot, hoping she'd understand that I was doing this to keep everyone safe.

I sighed with relief as I heard the faint sound of the train whistle in the distance. Finally, it was about time it showed up. I'd bought my ticket as soon as I got to the station, closing my eyes and randomly pointing to a place on the map. It was a risky move, not knowing anything about where I was headed. But at that moment, I just didn't care. The ticket guy had said it would be a 6-hour journey, but the train was running late. It had been four hours since then, and I was getting antsy. I was worried about being spotted trying to leave. The train station was on the edge of our pack's territory, right in human territory. They didn't know about us, and if they did, they'd probably try to wipe us out.

As the train rolled into the station, the hustle and bustle of people disembarking filled the air. Patiently, I waited with my bag in hand, ready to board. My possessions were meager—a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, and an extra pair of sneakers. Alongside these essentials, I carried my hard-earned savings, about $2500 scraped together from various odd jobs I'd taken over the years, minus the cost of my train ticket.

In our pack, everyone had a role to play, but without a wolf, I found myself shut out from any respectable employment in town. Undeterred, I quietly ventured into human territory, offering my services as a babysitter, handyman, or anything else that came my way. I knew I had to find work as soon as I arrived, as my savings wouldn't last long. Even if it meant roughing it for a while, finding a job and a place to stay was my top priority.

As the conductor approached, asking if I was ready to board, I couldn't hide my excitement. Stepping onto the train, I made my way to my seat by the window, tucking my bag between my legs since there was no overhead storage. Despite the cramped quarters, I felt a sense of relief knowing my belongings were safe.

With a heavy heart, I listened to the conductor's call of "All aboard, last call!" as the train prepared to depart, knowing that perhaps a few passengers who had disembarked earlier might need to reboard. As the train's horn sounded one final time, a sense of anticipation filled the air, and we slowly began to pull away from the platform.

With a heavy heart, I pressed my face against the window, soaking in the sight of the familiar scenery rushing past. The trees of the forest blurred into a mosaic of green, each one a memory etched into my heart. Despite the sadness that enveloped me, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the landscape of Moon Rise, my hometown, now dwindling in the distance.

It felt like bidding farewell not just to a place, but to a tapestry of memories and moments, each one cherished and irreplaceable.