The Alpha's Beastly Luna

Chapter 9

(Lumi)

I watched quietly as Cascadia padded towards the cave we currently called home. Well, for the next few days at least. This last outing seemed to take a toll on her. I know it did me.

The woman we found those rouges chasing after looked so much like Sasha. Her face was so similar that for a moment, I thought I was seeing things.

But Sasha was dead. I saw her die with my very own eyes, and I knew that woman wasn't her. The black hair and brown eyes were just another thing to confirm that fact.

After Cascadia successfully took down those three rogues, the girl ended up running away screaming, thinking she would be next. But we didn't kill just anyone. We only killed those who deserved it.

That's what our life has been like for the past four years. Wandering the woods aimlessly as we try to find some type of purpose. While the memories of our past chase us further and further away from what we used to be.

We don't kill everyone we cross obviously, only those who wish to cause harm to others. Just like the man who ruined everything. I can't bear to think someone might suffer just like my pack had if we sit back and do nothing. Instead, we fight. We have to fight.

Since shifting that night after our pack was destroyed, Cascadia has stayed in her wolf form. Meaning I haven't stepped out of this darkness once in four years.

It's not that I don't want to shift back, I'm just scared to. What if I shift and somehow lose her? I can't risk it. Besides, it's too dangerous to be in human form out here. The place is crawling with rogues.

We have managed not to get caught yet, making sure never to linger longer than necessary and mask our scent with the environment around us. For some reason, today we ended up a little more north than usual. Cascadia said she had a weird feeling and picked up a strange scent.

Before she could follow it more, we came across those three rogues tormenting the she-wolf.

'Do you think she made it to safety?' Cascadia asked me.

'I'm sure she found some type of refuge. There are a lot of packs in the area.' I stated quietly before settling back into my usual silence as Cascadia neared the mouth of the cave.

That's when Cascadia suddenly stopped. Her body stiffened as she stuck her nose straight into the air before sniffing.

'I smell something.' She rushed, glancing around as this weird feeling began to rise up inside of me. I just stayed quiet, waiting for Cascadia to speak again.

'It's the same scent I caught earlier. Do you smell it?' She asked, prompting me to push forward more and come out of my hiding.

I took a huge inhale, feeling my senses shiver in response as the smell of something new yet familiar hit me. It reminded me of a cold night back home. That fresh, cool air with the trees all around us.

'It smells like home.' I whispered, feeling my heart start to ache as Cascadia lowered her head.

'Lumi, I think-' Cascadia began when the sound of a branch breaking echoed through the trees, making her freeze.

'Someone is here!' Cascadia growled out, her body whipping around as she began surveying the trees around us.

'More rogues?' I whispered, trying not to make too much sound so she could focus.

Then I saw them. There had to be at least eight that I counted right away as a group of wolves started to stalk towards us through the trees.

By the looks of these wolves, they were not rogues. Their fur was too clean and thick for that. They were definitely from a pack and by the size of these wolves... it was a very strong pack.

'We need to run.' Cascadia spoke first as the hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. I could see the surprise on the wolves' faces as she let out a low rumbling growl, causing the earth to shake beneath us.

'Show them we won't be taken easily.' I rushed, prompting Cascadia to bear her teeth before letting out a snarl. A few of the wolves seemed to hesitate, not approaching any closer as we began backing up.

We probably looked even scarier right now, considering there was blood coating our fur from earlier. But that might help us in the long run.

'I think if we draw them all to one side, we can create enough distance to-' Cascadia began before stopping abruptly.

The way her heart started to race had me looking out in confusion as I realized what she was focused on.

'No, it's not possible.' I breathed, fear, pain, and panic flooding through me as a word I never thought I would ever hear again, echoed through my mind.

Mate.

'Cascadia, this has to be some type of trick. It can't be real.' I rushed, staring at the large black and brown wolf with amber eyes. The way he looked towards us intently caused a whimper to escape Cascadia as she started to back up in a panic.

'We have to run.' I rushed, knowing we needed to regroup. This was the last thing we expected to happen. This wolf can't be our mate. We rejected our mate! And the moon goddess... she wouldn't reward us. Not after what we did. Not after all of the blood we have shed.

The black wolf took a tentative step forward, his eyes seeming to soften as he lowered his head.

That's when Cascadia turned, going to run away when we were suddenly faced with a group of wolves, all ready to pounce if need be.

I could feel her start to spiral, her moves growing more frantic as she paced back and forth, and then, she lunged.

Cascadia lunged towards our mate, her body knocking him to the floor before pinning him to the ground and growling.

'Just leave us alone!' I heard her cry out in my head. The fear and pain she seemed to be going through broke my heart as all of those memories of our first mate crashed through us. The rejection was one of the worst pains we had ever gone through as we stared down at the wolf in frustration.

Why... Why did we have to go through this again? Will this mate not want us to? No, we don't want him! We don't need him!

Those amber eyes met our gaze. The way the wolf reached out, sliding his snout against our own, caused Cascadia to gasp as the feel of sparks jolted through us. These ones feel even stronger than the ones with our first mate as Cascadia shivered in response. All the hair stood straight up on the back of her neck as the scent of our mate filled our lungs.

'He's trying to mind link us.' She breathed, her eyes fluttering as she slowly pulled away, letting him press his snout into us once more.

But something seemed off.

I watched as those Amber eyes darted to the side, prompting Cascadia to look the same direction when a half-naked man walked out, carrying some type of gun.

'He tricked us.' I whispered sadly, seeing Cascadia glance back to our mate as she snarled once more, wanting to lash out at him when a bang echoed through the forest.

Before she could act, a small tiny metal thing was now lodged into our flesh as another shot landed in our back. It didn't go through the skin, only poking it as Cascadia stood before staggering back.

Our head started to spin as the trees around us blurred before Cascadia dropped to the ground. Then I felt it. My mind was forced to the front as I knew Cascadia was shifting back to my form.

'No, don't leave me! Please, Cascadia!' I screamed into our mind as the cold air blew across my naked flesh.

I had shifted back.

The last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me were those amber eyes peering down at me.

That's when I realized my mate had betrayed me, yet again.