Evangeline:
The next morning I awoke to a woodpecker pecking its way through a tree. Anyone else would've been annoyed by the sudden wake up call but I felt blissful. I loved the nature and living amongst it was something I had become accustomed to as I spent more time sleeping in the woods than I did in motels.
I pulled a small travel stove out of my bag and melted down some snow to make myself a hot drink and used some of the water to clean the dried blood off of my leg and examined the injury. It definitely was in need of some stitches. I could only get supplies to treat the wound from the infirmary that would be in the middle of the pack, ten kilometres away from where I was. I decided not to risk it. I would just have to pray that my werewolf genes would help me heal quick enough to get out of there.
It was boring sitting in that tree for so long. I frowned. I couldn't stay there. I had to keep moving. I sighed and wrapped a clean piece of the shirt around my leg and reluctantly left the safety of the tree. I tried to avoid using my injured leg too much and eventually made it to the bottom. I pulled my long brown hair into a pony tail and hobbled further into the forest. I was crying out in pain and soon grabbed a long stick that was strong enough to support my weight to help me walk, well hobble. It had been two hours and I had barely made four kilometres. If i continued at such a slow pace I would never get out of there.
I hummed to myself to try and direct my mind somewhere else. The pain was almost over bearing and I was travelling at a dangerously slow pace. It was only a matter of time until I was found by the wolves within this pack. I was hidden in the under growth but there would be wolves scanning the entire area. Nobody really liked rouges and wouldn't rest well knowing one got away.
After four hours of walking I had made a further eight kilometres of progress. I had tired quickly and was in desperate need of some rest. I found some edible mushrooms within the forest and washed them with some water, eating them raw. Poisonous or not my body would be able to deal with it pretty well even though I didn't have my wolf.
I climbed another tree and settled myself amongst the branches again, falling into a deep slumber.
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I woke up a few hours later feeling pretty hungry. I tried to ignore the hunger and made myself another hot drink, trying to keep myself as warm as possible. I was wrapped up in a thick coat, scarf and gloves as well as some thick sweat pants but I was still cold. I tried to distract my brain from my current situation by thinking of worse ones I had been in and come out the other side alive.
I had experienced encounters with many ruthless and completely insane rogues. I had been at the mercy of them as they had beaten me for their entertainment. One time when I was younger, about fourteen, I was almost kidnapped by a rogue but a guy who I didn't know popped up out of no where and rescued me. He seemed to be about eighteen. He never told me his name or his age or anything about him for that matter. He just said "Get out of here kid, go back to your pack." That of course, stung like a bitch as I had no pack or family to go back to. My alpha had torn me away from them. He didn't even deserve the title of an alpha.
I suddenly heard voices and the soft crunch of snow beneath feet. I listened more carefully. Four males, that much was clear. Strong auoras too. They were muttering amongst themselves but I couldn't hear much of what they were saying. They got closer until they stopped at the base of my tree. I peered down at them, using the tree to sheild myself from their veiw. I could hear them more clearly now.
One of them bent down. Dirty blonde hair, nicely cut and groomed. I didn't see his face but he was well built and I could see that through his winter jacket. I gulpeded. Uh oh. The rest of the guys looked slightly smaller than this guy but were clearly all strong people.
Blondie spoke "Blood." He rose to his feet and showed his freinds the blood on his hand.
Crap. That was mine.
"Do you smell that?" He murmured.
They shook their heads, "No" They all said in unison.
I started to panic and looked around for an escape route. My only option was to jump and try to reach one of the trees near me.I gulped and shakily pulled myself to my feet. Blondie must've heard the movement and looked up.
"There!" He growled. His friends nodded and two of them started to climb the tree, while blondie and the last guy spread out looking ready to what, catch me?
I shook my head to myself. Hell no. This is not the way I'm going to die. I didn't think twice and lauched myself at the closest tree. I groaned as the wind got knocked out of me as a grabbed at the trunk. My hands couldn't find their grip though and before I could register what was happening, I was falling towards the ground.
Fuck.
I braced myself for the impact with the floor but I never hit it. I fell into soft arms instead. My eyes were wide as saucers and I looked up to see blondie looking down at me.
"Mate" He mumbled in disbeleif. I felt it too. The sparks, the mouth watering scent of warm vanilla and cinnamon and the way looking into his eyes made my stomach do flips. "Mate" I whispered in just as much disbelief.
My breath caught in my throat. This just got a lot more complicated.
Sense suddenly hit me as I tried to scramble away but this man was stronger than anyone I'd ever encounted. Panic rose in my chest. Oh god, I'm so screwed.
His eyes softened as he loosened his hold on me slightly. "Hey, it's okay, love. I'm not going to hurt you"
I eyed him cautiously, observing his body language and his features. I also took into account how beautiful this man was. His face was soft and looked kind as he watched me, his emerald orbs skimming over my face and body, appearing to be taking note of my injuries.
"My name is Carlos. What is yours?" He asked gently, seemingly trying to calm me down.
I didn't respond instantly. I was unsure of whether I should. People didn't need to know my name and I was never asked. I was just a rogue. No one knew I even existed. My name was also something sacred to me. It was a gift given to me by my parents and I know it sounded silly but it comforted me knowing that they named me with love in their heart and mind. I debated telling him my name. I considered the fact that he might reject me once he found out I was unable to shift, so in the end my name wouldn't really matter. Something within me was telling me it was okay and that I could trust him.
"Evangeline" I eventually responded, it sounded almost like a whisper but I knew he heard.
He grinned. "Hello Evangeline, what a beautiful name" He smiled in awe.
I tried once again to climb out of his arms, not liking how childlike I felt and must've looked.
"Easy now" he looked pained by my reaction. "You're alright, you're safe now"
He let me down anyway, sensing my anxiety. I put all of my weight on one leg and tried to hide my wince as I let a little bit of weight on my injuired leg.
"Are you alright? What happened there?" he gestured to my leg.
I nodded. "I-um-nothing" I answered shyly. It had been a long time since I had spoken so it felt strange.
He nodded. "Okay, well, would you mind if I had a look?" He asked carefully.
I shrugged and nodded my head.
He pulled my pant leg up until he could see the injury and winced. "Holy cow" He muttered. "Yeah that's gonna need to be seen to. Can you walk?" He asked me.
I nodded.
"Okay. Do you think you could follow me to the infirmary in my pack? I'll get you fixed up and warm, then we can decide where to go from there. What do you think to that, Evangeline?" He asked carefully.
I nodded. "Okay"
He smiled. "Follow me"
"We can offer you a shower and some new clothes too" He offered as we started walking. Well, he walked, I stumbled.
I looked down at my clothes and grimaced. They were tatted and torn and covered in dirt and blood. I really did need some new ones.
He noticed me struggling to walk and smiled sadly at me. "Please let me carry you? I don't want you to make that leg worse than it already is."
I sighed and nodded. As badly as I wanted to say no , I knew I was lying to myself saying that I could handle it.
"Are you warm enough?" He asked as he carefully picked me up.
I nestled into his warm arms and sighed in delight at the warmth his werewolf body was giving off. I nodded, truthfully.
He was gentle and avoided bumping me. I also took note of how comfortable and relaxed I felt in his arms. I tensed slightly. I was trusting him too quickly. Although, if I was supposed to be threatened by him, would he really be taking the time to care for me?
"Why are you helping me?" I asked quietly causing him to frown.
"Why wouldn't I? You're my mate" he looked bewildered.
I went quiet again, not sure what I should say. The atmosphere was thick. Thick enough to be cut with a knife. I could feel his curious gaze as it flickered down to me every once in a while and it gave me a strange sense of comfort.
I hadn't spoken much in the eight years I had been a rogue. The only time I would speak was when I was trading and that would be a quick exchange of a few short words, money and then shuffling off back into the dark as if nothing had happened. I often felt lonely but I also didn't really know how to interact with people. I was used to the sound growling and barking as I fought and fled from wolves.
"You're not much of a talker are you?" Carlos raised a questioning eyebrow after an hour of the heavy, awkward silence. Even the wolves that hung back behind us didn't talk much.
I shook my head, not sure of how to respond which, unintentionally, added effect to his comment. He sighed seemingly to have given up with making me talk and carried on walking.
We soon arrived at the same pack house I had dashed out of a few days ago. My heart rate accelerated in panic at the bustle of people around the gigantic mansion. It was much like the crowds you would experience in a shopping mall and I didn't enjoy it. I also didn't fail to notice I was being carried right back into the place I had fled from.
Carlos didn't have any issues navigating his way through the crowds towards the infirmary which I learned was actually located at the bottom of the house. He told me it was to protect the wounded. It made sense.
The crowds parted like cars in a street would if there was an ambulance, and I didn't fail to notice the nods of respect Carlos received from his pack mates and curious gazes settled on me.
"Who is that?" I heard someone mutter. "Did he finally find his mate?" I could sense excitement in their voice.
This caused my heart rate to increase even more as I suddenly realised that he was a high rank. Maybe a warrior, beta or alpha. I silently prayed he wasn't an alpha. I hadn't had a good experience with alphas.
When we reached the infirmary I took note of its simplistic look. It was pure white and looked exactly like a human hospital apart from the size. It was large but it was only one floor. This allowed me to infer that it was a strong pack because not only was it small in size but it was mostly empty. Perhaps only used after battles.
As soon as I was lay down on the white bed there was a bustle of doctors and nurses around me hooking me up to machines and cleaning my leg and the entire thing caused my panicking to accelerate to a level of which I couldn't breathe. I wasn't good with people and this room felt as if the walls were closing in and there was too many people within the small space.
Carlos eventually seemed to notice my panic and snarled at a lot of the nurses to leave the room which left only one nurse and one doctor. I felt myself calming as the mass of people filed out of the room, which was really only five people, and the walls seemed to retreat again as my lungs finally felt air flow back through them. I hadn't noticed that Carlos had moved during the commotion and was now by my side holding my hand, gently.
"Are you alright?" He asked, concern dripping from his tone.
I nodded and turned my attention to the doctor who was currently treating my leg.
"Hello miss" he smiled when he felt my attention turn to him. "I'm going to need to stitch your leg as it is rather deep and I will dress it. I will give you some antibiotics to prevent any further infection and I would like to keep you in over night as you are rather malnourished so I'd like to put you on a drip. Is that okay with you, Alpha?" The doctor turned his attention to Carlos.
Meanwhile, I felt my body tense up and freeze. Alpha? He's an alpha. Oh my god. Oh Jesus. My mate is an alpha.
"Hey, hey. Evangeline. Hey. Shh its okay calm down" Carlos tried to sooth me before I went into a full blown panic attack but it was too late.
My vision started to blur and my lungs burned from a lack of oxygen. The last thing I remember before passing out was Carlos' frantic face above mine shouting words I couldn't hear over the ringing in my ears.
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