Chapter 3 UNWANTED STRANGER

KAYSON'S POV

I knew something was up!

I just knew it because my ears had picked up a cry that rang out far up in the woods. I became alarmed and I immediately broke into a run.

Within minutes, I had shifted into my wolf form, and I was panting.

The order had been under attacks by rogues lately, and I didn't want to risk it. I was alert as I sprinted in my wolf form in the direction of the cry.

It rang out again; this time it was strained whimper and I was able to tell that it came from a female.

A female in the red-zone? What the hell would a female be doing in this parts of the forest that was mostly dominated by ruthless rogue wolves?

I did not spare any moment in trying to figure out an answer to the question that tugged at the back of my mind as my paws started to pound against the damp forest ground. I started to race faster as my senses directed me to where the predator was.

As I drew closer, I slowed down my pace and peeped through a covering of shrubs.

My eyes almost popped open when I saw an unfamiliar young woman seated by the foot of a tree, running a finger over her ankle.

Without thinking, I jumped out of my hiding and as soon as her eyes met mine, she let out a shriek before crashing to the ground.

She laid still, with her eyes shut. I took step away from her and shifted back into my full form. I was about to go back in the direction I came from when I remembered that the woman hadn't moved an inch yet.

I strode towards her with a frown, half worried that she was dead. Her face was pale and her lips bled. There was also a deep gash on her shoulder. I leaned towards her and checked her pulse. She was still breathing.

Rage, my wolf stirred at the back of my mind as I peered into the woman's face.

"Mate." Rage growled inside me, "Save mate."

Mate?

How could she be my mate when I couldn't even sense her wolf? It was very unlikely. I grew confused by Rage's behavior. Rage had never been vocal about getting a mate. Why was he now claiming a complete stranger who was most likely a rogue wolf?

A cold chill ran through me, and I staggered backwards.

"Rage!" I yelled in my mind, "You don't expect me to pick her up, do you?"

"She's my mate. Save her now" Rage responded, making me even more confused.

I scanned the area where I stood, and realized that I just couldn't leave this stranger behind in this lonely and dangerous forest.

With no other choice, I lifted her unconscious body from the ground and cradled her in my arms.

The Red-zone was one of the forests that were inhabited by rogue wolves, and only strong wolves could make it out of there. I had taken it as a route on my way back from a neighboring pack.

As I slowly walked back to Landside pack, a thought came to my head.

Who was the woman in my arms?

Why was she in the red-zone? I was sure that she was a rogue, because every woman from all the packs in the order were prohibited from stepping out of their packs without any form of physical protection.

I exhaled as I made it to the borders of Landside pack. By the time I arrived at the pack house, I noticed that the stranger's breathing was now slowed.

Panic seized my chest as I hurried down the hallways and rushed to the wing of the building where the pack healer's room was.

Without a word, he took the dying woman from my hands and placed her on the small bed.

"Ghol" I panted, "Do anything you can, anything at all to make sure she lives, please."

I headed out of the dimly lit room and walked back to my chambers. An hour later, the door was pushed open and my beta, Reese, slid in with his arms folded across his chest.

"You've been gone all day, Alpha Kayson" He said, leaning against the wall.

I was seated at my study table, in front of a lit candle, going through some scrolls which I had gotten from the Alpha Ronan of the Seaside pack.

I raised my head and shot a confused glance at Reese. When did he start monitoring my movements and the time I spent outside the pack?

I bit hard on my lower lip and returned my attention to the scroll in my hands.

"Alpha Kayson?" He repeated.

"What is it?"

"I only pointed out that you spent the whole day at Seaside, or did you go elsewhere?" His voice was laced with anger, but he seemed composed, as he eyed me from a distance.

"Reese, I am the Alpha of this pack, and I don't appreciate you breathing down on my neck like I'm six." I snapped.

"My apologies, Alpha." He said, still maintaining a blank expression on his face, "While you were away at Seaside, I had to sign a number of documents from the council's secretary. There are currently plans in motion for the next general mating ceremony"

I shrugged, "Can we talk about this tomorrow? I am exhausted, and I've had a long day."

He nodded, and approached my table. When he was close enough, he placed both hands on the table and pinned his eyes on me.

"If you don't mind me asking, who did you bring back from Seaside, Alpha?" He said.

"Oh! Did you see me with someone?"

He shook his head, "No, but a number of servants did. They said you took the person to the healer's chambers"

I leaned back in my seat, running my fingers through my hair.

"Reese, On my way back from the Seaside pack, I picked up a half dead woman at the red-zone"

"Picked up?" He asked with a dry chuckle.

I nodded.

He was silent for a moment and then he cleared his throat.

"Alpha Kayson, if you had truly picked her up at the red-zone, then she's definitely a rogue wolf. You need to send her away, Please."

I pushed back my seat and rose, fuming. "No! She shall stay here."

"She is a stranger and a potential threat!" He argued.

I raised my hand in the air, signaling that he shouldn't attempt to counter me again. A line etched between his brows.

"Reese, she will stay until she gets better, and there's nothing you can do about it."

I watched as Reese's mouth dropped open and his eyes narrowed on me.