Rogue Luna: The mate bond

Astra's POV

The shot just missed Astra's ear by a few inches. She dove and ran faster, and each breath hurt her lungs. She was being chased by four wolves through the dark bush. They weren't trying to make friends.

A deep voice yelled behind her, "Get the rogue!" "Don't let her escape!"

When Astra jumped over a downed tree, her bare feet hit the cold ground. There were leaves and sticks in her long, dark hair as it whipped around her face. She couldn't stop. When thieves were caught by pack wolves, they usually died.

She kept going even though it hurt her side to run so fast. She had learned one thing from being chased for ten years: never stop when they're close.

"I see her!" Another arrow flew by, this time brushing her arm.

Astra bit her lip to keep from crying out. Blood trickled down her arm, but she couldn't worry about that now. The smell would make it easy for them to track her, though.

Up ahead was a river. If she could just reach it, she might be able to hide her smell. Astra pushed her tired legs harder, ignoring the pain shooting through her body.

Behind her, the sounds of heavy paws hitting the ground got louder. The wolves had changed forms. As wolves, they were faster than her human form, but Astra didn't dare shift. Her wolf was weak from hunger, and shifting would take precious energy she couldn't spare.

The river came into view, moonlight dancing on its surface. Just a little farther...

A heavy weight slammed into her back, sending Astra crashing to the ground. Sharp claws dug into her shoulders as hot breath hit the back of her neck.

"Gotcha, rogue," growled a voice that was half-human, half-wolf.

Fear shot through Astra's body, but she wasn't done fighting. With a scream of rage, she twisted and slammed her elbow into the wolf's eye. The creature yelped and loosened its hold just enough.

Astra rolled free and scrambled toward the river. Without thinking, she leaped into the icy water. The cold hit her like a thousand knives stabbing her all at once. The current was stronger than she expected, quickly pulling her under.

Water filled her nose and mouth as she fought to reach the top. Her lungs screamed for air. Just as spots began to dance in front of her eyes, Astra broke through, gasping.

The angry howls of the wolves grew distant as the river carried her away. They wouldn't follow her into the water. Wolves hated getting wet almost as much as they hated rogues.

When she was sure they couldn't see her anymore, Astra swam to the opposite bank and dragged herself out of the water. She fell on the muddy shore, shivering violently.

"H-happy early b-birthday to me," she mumbled through chattering teeth.

Tomorrow she would turn eighteen. Ten years since everything had gone wrong. Ten years since the day her little sister Lyra had died. Ten years since her pack had turned on her, blaming her for Lyra's death.

Astra closed her eyes, the memories washing over her like the cold river water.

She had been just eight years old when they kicked her out. The Alpha-her own father-had looked at her with cold, hateful eyes.

"You let your sister die," he had said in front of the whole pack. "You are no daughter of mine. Leave and never return."

No one had stood up for her. Not even her mother. They had all watched as the guards dragged her to the pack borders and threw her out into the woods.

A little girl, all alone.

Astra pushed herself up, wincing at her cuts. She couldn't stay here. Those wolves might still be hunting her, and other predators would smell her blood soon.

She had lasted this long by never staying in one place too long. By being unseen. By acting as a slave to other packs who were willing to give her scraps of food in exchange for endless work.

Her present "master" would beat her for running off. For getting hurt. For anything, really. But it was better than being dead.

As Astra limped through the forest, she thought about the strange feeling she'd had all day. Like something inside her was waiting. Changing. Maybe it was just because of her birthday tomorrow. Eighteen was special for werewolves, marking the beginning of adulthood.

Not that it would change anything for her. Rogues didn't get to celebrate birthdays.

By the time she reached the small hunting house where she worked, the sky was turning pink with early morning light. Astra slipped in through the back door, hoping no one would notice she'd been gone.

No such luck.

"Where have you been, girl?" Master Kron's voice boomed from the dark. The big, ugly werewolf stepped into view, his face twisted with anger.

"I was gathering herbs for the kitchen," Astra lied, keeping her eyes down. "Like you asked."

A hard slap across her face sent her sliding backward.

"Liar! I can smell the river on you. And blood." He grabbed her hurt arm, squeezing until tears sprang to her eyes. "You were running again, weren't you?"

"No, Master, I-"

"Silence!" he roared. "I paid good money for you, thief. You belong to me."

Astra bit her tongue. She belonged to no one, but saying that would only make things worse.

"You need to be taught a lesson." Master Kron pulled her toward the back room where he kept his whip.

Panic rose in Astra's throat. The last time he'd whipped her, she couldn't move for days. She couldn't go through that again.

"Please," she begged. "I'll work double jobs. I'll clean the whole house. Anything!"

Master Kron ignored her pleas, his grip tightening painfully. As they passed the fireplace, Astra's gaze fell on the heavy iron rod leaning against the stones.

Without thinking, she grabbed it and swung.

The poker connected with Master Kron's head with a terrible crack. He froze, a look of shock on his face, then slumped to the floor.

Astra stood there, shaking, the poker still clutched in her hand. What had she done? Attacking a pack wolf was punished by death. If anyone found out...

She dropped the poker like it was on fire. Master Kron was still breathing, but a nasty gash oozed blood on his scalp. He would be out for a while, but when he woke up, he would kill her for sure.

Astra had to run. Again.

Quickly, she stuffed some food from the kitchen into a small bag, along with a knife and a blanket. As she reached for a water bag, a strange pain shot through her wrist.

"Ow!" she gasped, dropping the flask.

The pain increased, spreading up her arm. Astra rolled up her sleeve and watched in horror as dark marks started to appear on her skin, forming a pattern like a crescent moon surrounded by stars.

Her heart nearly stopped.

A mate mark.

It was impossible. Rogues didn't get mate points. They didn't get mates at all. Yet there it was, burning itself into her skin like a brand.

Somewhere out there, a werewolf had just turned twenty-five-the age when men could sense their mates-and that werewolf was connected to her.

The front door shook. Voices approached.

"Kron! You in there? We caught one of the rogues that's been stealing from the eastern region!"

Astra froze. More pack dogs. If they found her with Master Kron knocked out and a fresh mate mark on her arm...

The mate mark throbbed, pulling her attention northward, toward the areas of the most powerful packs in the land.

Toward danger. Toward fate.

Outside, the handle turned.

Astra's POV

Astra jumped through the window just as the wolves burst through the front door. Glass broke around her as she hit the ground outside, but there was no time to check for cuts. The angry yells behind her meant only one thing-they'd found Master Kron.

"There she goes! The outlaw attacked Kron! Get her!"

Her feet pounded against the dirt as she sprinted toward the trees. The morning sun had barely risen, creating long shadows between the trees. Perfect for hiding.

This wasn't how Astra had planned to spend her eighteenth birthday. Then again, rogues didn't get birthday parties or presents. They just got to survive another year.

The mate mark on her arm throbbed, a steady reminder of the impossible thing that had happened. Rogues didn't get mate points. Everyone knew that. Rogues were outcasts, unworthy of the Moon Goddess's gift of a true mate.

Yet here she was, running for her life with a fresh mark burning on her skin.

As she reached the cover of the woods, a strange feeling pulled at her chest. Like an invisible rope pulling her northward. Astra had never felt anything like it before. It was both painful and somehow... right.

"Must be the mate bond," she whispered to herself, ducking behind a thick tree. "But who would be mated to someone like me?"

The sound of howls echoed through the trees. They were changing to wolf form to track her better. Astra knew she couldn't outrun them as a human, but shifting would leave her exposed for precious seconds. And her wolf was weak from years of poor care.

Still, she had no choice.

Astra closed her eyes and called to her wolf. The change ripped through her body-bones cracking and rearranging, skin stretching over new muscles. It hurt worse than normal, probably because she was so tired and hungry.

When the change ended, a sleek gray wolf stood where Astra had been. Her wolf form was smaller than most-another sign of her hard life-but faster.

She took off running, following game trails she had learned over the years. The pull in her chest grew stronger with each step north, fighting against her urge to head east, away from danger.

After an hour of running, Astra could no longer hear her attackers. She found a small cave hidden behind a waterfall and shifted back to human form, falling on the damp ground.

"Happy birthday to me," she whispered, catching her breath.

Her stomach growled loudly. The small bag of food she'd grabbed had been lost in her flight. Astra couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten a proper meal. Master Kron had kept her on scraps, just enough to keep her going.

The mark on her arm caught her eye again. In the dim light of the cave, it seemed to glow slightly-a crescent moon circled by five small stars. It was beautiful, really. A evil joke from the Moon Goddess.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" Astra asked the mark. "Follow you to some wolf who'll probably reject me the moment he realizes I'm a rogue?"

But the pull was getting harder to ignore. Like an itch under her skin that wouldn't go away.

Astra dozed off, tiredness finally winning. In her dreams, she saw a pair of ice-blue eyes watching her from the darkness. Eyes that seemed to look right through her.

She woke with a gasp as rough hands grabbed her arms.

"Found you, little rogue," growled a voice she recognized. One of Master Kron's friends, Vane. His breath stank of meat and ale.

"Let me go!" Astra struggled, but Vane was twice her size. Another wolf stood behind him, grinning wickedly.

"Kron is real mad," Vane said, shaking her. "That was some nasty bump you gave him. He's giving a reward to whoever brings you back alive... though he didn't say we had to bring you back undamaged."

Fear shot through Astra's body. She knew what that meant.

"I think we should have some fun first," said the second wolf, going for her face.

Something snapped inside Astra. The partner mark on her arm suddenly burned white-hot, sending waves of strength through her body. With a scream of rage, she twisted in Vane's grip and sank her teeth into his hand.

The taste of blood filled her mouth as Vane howled in pain. He let go, and Astra didn't waste the chance. She kicked the second wolf between the legs, making him double over in pain.

"You little-" Vane rushed for her again, but Astra was already moving.

She burst from the cave and ran like she'd never run before. The pull in her chest was now an urgent tug, almost painful in its intensity. North. She needed to go north.

For three days, Astra ran, stole food when she could, and slept hidden in bushes or caves. The mate mark continued to burn, getting stronger each day. The pull was so powerful now that trying to move in any other way made her physically ill.

On the morning of the fourth day, Astra stood at the edge of a vast region she'd only heard whispers about. The Northern Packs. The most powerful werewolves in the land lived here, led by Alphas whose names were spoken with fear even in the farthest regions.

No rogue would ever dare enter these lands. The sentence was death, no questions asked.

Yet the mate mark pulled her forward, straight toward the heart of danger.

"This is crazy," Astra told herself, touching the mark. "Whoever is on the other end of this bond can't possibly want me."

Still, she took a step forward. Then another. Something was changing inside her-a new strength she couldn't explain. For the first time in ten years, she felt hope.

A twig snapped behind her.

Astra whirled around to find herself circled by five massive wolves, each wearing the symbol of the Northern Pack on leather bands around their legs. Their teeth were bared, eyes locked on her.

"Rogue," growled one as he changed to human form-a tall man with scars across his face. "You've crossed into forbidden ground. The punishment is death."

Astra raised her hands slowly. "Please," she said. "I don't mean any harm. I'm just... following my mate mark."

The wolves looked at each other, clearly not believing her.

"Show us," ordered the scarred man.

Astra slowly rolled up her sleeve, showing the crescent moon and stars. The wolves stared in shock.

"Impossible," mumbled one. "That's the Alpha's mark!"

"The Alpha?" Astra's voice shook. "Which Alpha?"

The scarred man's face had gone pale. "Alpha Alaric of the Northern Pack," he said. "The most powerful Alpha in all the regions. And he's been waiting for his mate to appear."

Astra's knees went weak. This couldn't be happening. The feared Alpha Alaric-her mate? She had heard stories of his harshness, his cold-heartedness. They said he killed rogues without pity.

"There must be a mistake," she said.

"No mistake," said the scarred man, his tone suddenly polite. "The mark never lies."

Before she could answer, a howl ripped through the forest-deeper and more powerful than any Astra had ever heard. The wolves around her instantly lowered their heads in submission.

"He knows," said the scarred man. "The Alpha feels your presence."

Astra's heart hammered in her chest as the forest seemed to go totally silent. The pull in her chest was now an almost unbearable pressure. He was coming.

The bushes parted, and a huge black wolf stepped into view, its ice-blue eyes locking onto Astra's. The same eyes from her dream.

As she watched, the wolf changed, shifting into the shape of a man. Tall. Powerful. Dangerous.

Alpha Alaric stood before her, his face a mask of shock and something else-fury.

"You?" he growled, his voice like thunder. "A filthy rogue is my mate?"

Astra's POV

"Kneel before your Alpha," growled the scarred guard, pushing Astra to the ground.

Her knees hit the dirt hard, but Astra kept her eyes up. Ten years as a rogue had taught her one thing – show fear and they'll tear you apart.

Alpha Alaric towered over her, his ice-blue eyes burning with disgust. The mate mark on Astra's arm throbbed painfully, as if trying to pull her toward him despite his clear hatred.

"A rogue," he spat the word. "The Moon Goddess must be playing a cruel joke."

Astra's heart sank. She had expected rejection, but the pure hatred in his voice cut deeper than she'd imagined. Still, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her hurt.

"Trust me, I'm not exactly thrilled either," she shot back. "Being mated to an arrogant Alpha wasn't on my birthday wish list."

The guards gasped at her rudeness. One raised his hand to strike her, but Alaric stopped him with a slight motion.

"Lock her up," Alaric ordered coldly. "I need time to think about this... unfortunate situation."

Two guards grabbed Astra's arms and pulled her away from the clearing. As they marched her through the trees, her mind raced. Being locked up was bad, but at least she wasn't dead. Yet.

The guards brought her to a small cabin at the edge of the area and shoved her inside. The door slammed shut, and Astra heard the heavy click of a lock.

"Great," she mumbled, looking around the single room. There was a bed, a small table, and a barred window. Not exactly a five-star hotel, but better than the dirty floor she'd slept on at Master Kron's.

Astra sat on the bed and looked at her mate mark. The crescent moon and stars seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

"Fat lot of good you are," she told it. "Found my mate, and he hates me. Perfect."

The sound of footsteps outside made her nervous. Was Alaric coming back already? Had he chosen to kill her after all?

But the face that showed at the window wasn't Alaric's. It was a man with kind brown eyes and shaggy dark hair.

"Astra," he whispered. "It's me, Damon."

Relief rushed through her. "Damon! What are you doing here? If they catch you-"

"Shh," he warned, looking around nervously. "I've been tracking you since you ran from Kron's place. I saw them catch you." He frowned at the mate mark on her arm. "So it's true? You're mated to that monster?"

Astra nodded sadly. "Apparently. Not that he wants anything to do with me."

Damon had been her only friend for years. Another rogue, he'd helped her survive when things got tough, showing her how to hunt and hide. He was older than her by several years and had always been like a watchful older brother.

"We need to get you out of here," Damon said quickly. "That Alpha... he's scary, Astra. They say he killed his own father to take control of the pack."

Fear rippled through Astra's stomach. "But the mate bond-"

"Means nothing to wolves like him," Damon ended. "He'll use you or kill you. Either way, you're not safe here."

Part of Astra wanted to argue. The mate pull was stronger than ever with Alaric so close. But Damon was right. The disgust in Alaric's eyes had been real.

"How do we escape? There are guards everywhere."

Damon grinned, holding up a small key. "I made friends with one of the kitchen staff. Not everyone is loyal to the big bad wolf."

Hope sparked inside Astra. Maybe they could actually pull this off.

"Meet me at the back window in ten minutes," Damon whispered. "There's a shift change then. It's our best chance."

As he disappeared, Astra paced the small room. Running away from her mate went against every sense she had. The mark burned at the very thought. But staying could mean death.

When ten minutes passed, Astra crept to the back window. Damon was there, quickly working on the bars with a small tool.

"Hurry," he urged. "The next patrol comes by in two minutes."

With a final twist, the bars came loose. Damon helped Astra squeeze through the tight space. Her foot had barely touched the ground when a shout rang out.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

A guard ran toward them, already shifting partly to wolf form. His hands became claws, teeth growing into fangs.

"Run!" Damon pushed Astra ahead of him. "I'll hold him off!"

"No! I won't leave you!" Astra cried, but Damon was already turning to face the guard.

"Go!" he growled. "I'll find you!"

Heart beating, Astra ran. Behind her, she heard growls and the sounds of fighting. Each step away from the Northern Pack area made the mate mark burn worse, like it was trying to drag her back to Alaric.

She forced herself to keep moving, running until her lungs felt like they might burst. When she finally stopped to catch her breath, leaning against a big tree, she realized she had no idea where she was.

"Damon?" she called softly. No answer.

Guilt crushed down on her. Had she just left her only friend to die? And for what? To run from a mate who didn't want her anyway?

A twig snapped nearby. Astra froze, listening closely. Footsteps approached-too heavy to be Damon's.

She prepared to run again, but her legs trembled with tiredness. She couldn't escape another wolf, not now.

"Well, well," came a familiar voice that made her blood run cold. "Look who I found."

Master Kron stepped into view, a cruel smile twisting his face. A patch covered the wound on his head where she'd hit him with the poker.

"You've caused me a lot of trouble, girl," he growled, moving closer. "But now you're going to pay."

Astra backed away, looking desperately for an escape route. But Kron wasn't alone. Two other wolves flanked him, cutting off any path she might take.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" Kron laughed. "You're mine. I paid good money for you." "I belong to no one," Astra said, trying to sound brave despite her fear.

Kron's eyes fell on her mate mark. His smile faded. "What's this?" He grabbed her arm roughly, studying the mark. "A mate bond? To whom?"

Before Astra could answer, a deep growl rumbled through the trees. All four wolves turned to see a massive shape emerge from the shadows.

Damon stepped into view, his clothes torn and bloody from his fight with the guard. But he wasn't alone.

Next to him stood the tall figure of Alpha Alaric, his ice-blue eyes glowing with rage. Around them, at least ten Northern Pack warriors emerged, surrounding Kron and his friends.

"She belongs to me," Alaric said, his voice deadly cool. "The mark proves it."

Kron's face drained of color. "Alpha Alaric? I didn't know... I would never have-"

"Silence," Alaric ordered. "You dare to threaten what's mine?"

Astra looked between Alaric and Damon in confusion. Why was Alaric here? And why was Damon with him?

"Damon?" she asked, her voice small. "What's going on?"

Damon wouldn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, Astra."

Suddenly everything clicked into place. The easy flight. Damon knowing exactly where to find her. The convenient look of Kron.

"You led me into a trap," she whispered, feeling sick. "You brought me right to them."

"It wasn't like that," Damon started, but Alaric cut him off.

"Enough talking." The Alpha stepped forward, his eyes locking with Astra's. "You ran from me, little mate. That was a mistake you won't make twice."

Fear and anger battled inside Astra as Alaric neared. Had Damon misled her? Or was there something else going on?

All she knew for certain was that she was trapped between the Alpha who hated her and the master who wanted to punish her-with her only friend caught somewhere in the middle.

Alaric reached out and grabbed her arm, his touch sending electric shocks through her body.

"Take care of the others," he told his warriors, nodding toward Kron and his friends. "My mate and I need to have a private conversation."

The last thing Astra saw before Alaric dragged her away was the look of anguish on Damon's face and the terror in Kron's eyes as the Northern Pack fighters closed in.