(Alexis' POV)

"Faster! Come on, run faster," I say to myself as I race through the trees.

Thorns scrape against my bare skin and twigs pull on my hair as I push myself to run even faster along the bumpy forest floor.

I can hear them behind me; getting closer with each step they take. I can almost feel their excitement each time I stumble. My heart starts racing as I realize I'm completely surrounded by them. My breathing hitches as I scan my surroundings, desperately looking for an escape route.

Who would have thought that taking an innocent run in the forest would end up with me being chased by rogues?

Okay, so maybe my run wasn't that innocent. After having a fight with Dad, I needed my space, needed time to cool down. I mean, seriously, what does it matter to the Alpha's son who I'm kissing?

I didn't understand my Dad's words to me and I still don't.

"How do you think the Alpha's son, the future Alpha, would feel if he knew what you were doing out there with that pup? He isn't your mate so why the hell would you be kissing him?"

And that's how the argument started.

"What the hell does it matter what the future Alpha thinks? Like it's gonna ruin his day. Why the hell would he care? He's never even met me for crying out loud!"

"Don't talk to me like that, young lady. I didn't bring you up to speak to me - to speak to anyone - in that way. Get inside that house and when I get in there you better have a very good explanation as to why you were wrapped around that pup like that," he growled at me.

"In your dreams," I snapped. And with that I ran.

I don't even remember how I came across these rogues, all I know is that they're chasing after me now, and they're getting pretty close to me.

Realising that I don't have any other option, I shift without breaking my stride, my clothes shredding into tiny pieces around me. Feeling slightly more optimistic that I'm about to escape them, I pick up my pace yet again, not knowing that I'm running directly into a trap as they fall back behind me.

After several more minutes of running, I finally come to a stop. I glance around me, searching for any sign of the rouges. Why did they stop? I pause for a second, listening to the sounds of the forest, trying to establish their location. I come up with nothing and let out a yip, happy that I've actually outrun them.

I never did like rogues, but who does. Obviously they're dangerous or untrustworthy; they'd have to be after getting kicked out of their own pack. Almost all rogues are wild and highly vicious. I say almost because that's the truth. The majority of them have been kicked out of their pack for various reasons; treason, disrespect towards their Alpha or even something more serious, like murder.

There are some rogues who don't choose the pack-less lifestyle. They leave their packs for safety because they are being abused in their own packs or have been rejected by their mates and can't stand the pain of seeing them everyday and not being able to be with them. However, those rogues only stay sane for so long.

I crouch down into a fighting stance at the sound of a twig snapping to my left. Maybe I actually haven't lost them. A low growl erupts from the trees in front of me and I involuntary shiver in fear.

The rogues that are chasing me are definitely not the friendlier type. The evil inside them is clear in their black eyes that boar into you. Their coats, which are matted with blood and dirt, are a clear indication to how feral they really are as pack wolves take pride in keeping themselves clean and healthy looking.

A large black wolf emerges from the darkness, his equally dark eyes transfixed on mine. I take a step back, instantly regretting it when I hear, not one, but two growls from behind me. I whimper, knowing that this is not going to end well for me. The black wolf's eyes light up excitedly at the sound of my fear. Rogues are well known for their sadistic nature and their love of torturing their victims.

He steps sideways, as his eyes trailing up and down my body, allowing room for a man to step into the clearing.

"You didn't really think that we were going to let you get away now, did you?" he asks me in a taunting voice. "I'll admit, when we came here we had no intention of attacking anyone, we simply wanted to see what kind of patrol system your Alpha has on his territory. I have to say we were more than surprised to see the lack of wolves around the border. The two that we did find didn't even put up much of a fight," he chuckles slightly before continuing.

My heart lurches painfully for my dead pack mates and their families.

"Pathetic really, that a pack as big as yours thinks they don't need border patrols. Your Alpha might want to reconsider that after today." He steps closer to me, reaching out and grabbing me forcefully by the chin. I struggle to get free but his grip is too tight. I growl threateningly at him as he leans in closer to me but he pays no attention to my warning.

"I must say that our little visit was very worthwhile, very informative and you, my dear, are just the icing on the cake. Like I said, we had no intention of attacking anyone, but seeing you earlier, well, let's just say it was too good an opportunity to miss. Imagine how your Alpha will feel, knowing that someone as important to his pack as you, are no longer breathing."

He turns and steps back to the large black wolf. My mind is reeling with what he's just said.

Me, important to the pack? What is he talking about? I think he has me confused with another she-wolf. I mean, yeah, my Dad is the Pack Warrior but that doesn't make me important. Most people in the pack don't even know my name. So why the hell would he think that I'm important to the pack?

I hadn't noticed that while he was talking to me several other wolves have joined us. I gulp as I look around. There are five wolves surrounding me now. Each and every one of them towers over me, saliva drips from their mouths as they take in every inch of my body with their dirty eyes.

I haven't got a chance in hell at surviving this.I snarl at them all, trying to mask my fear.

"I think I've wasted enough time talking," the man in front of me says. "What do you think, boys?" Growls from the other wolves indicate they couldn't agree more. "It was lovely chatting to you, sweetheart. I'm sure I'll enjoy this much more than you will. Say hello to your Mother for me," he says as his body erupts into a huge storm grey wolf. I whimper again in fear, my entire body shaking.

It takes a second for what he said to sink in. How does he know who my Mother is? Unless...

My heart skips a beat as it finally sinks in. I swore that I would avenge my mom; I'm not going to just stand around and let him attack me.

Being the Pack Warrior, my Dad was not only brilliant at fighting, but also great at teaching people how to fight. In saying that, he refused to teach me how to fight; afraid I'd get hurt. Instead, he taught me how to escape just about every single possible situation. This is my first time putting that training into action and I hope to God that it works.

I watch him carefully as he approaches me, like a hunter approaching his prey.His eyes dance with amusement as I snarl at him once more and snap my jaws in his direction.

Just as I anticipated, he lunges at me, along with all the other wolves; however, I'm ready for it. I leap over his head, landing just behind him. I don't waste a second and break out into a sprint.

He roars in frustration behind me.

I race back the way I came desperately hoping that I can escape. As much as I want him dead, I know that, that isn't an option right now. There's no way in hell that I could take him down alone and even attempting to attack him with those other wolves here is a suicide mission.

As I continue racing along the pack border, I hear them all thundering after me. I stumble over something hard, a branch I presume. I look behind me in horror at the lifeless and bloody body of my friend, Mark. He was one of the wolves on patrol today. My stomach turns as I take in the sight of his mangled body.

I snap my head up in front of me when I hear a growl, purely filled with venom and hate. I whirl around, ready to take off again, when a large wolf comes crashing down on me, pinning me to the ground. It takes everything in me to snap my jaws, trying to bite his legs but it's useless. He presses down harder between my shoulder blades.

I show my neck as a sign of submission; my body too drained from all the running to even attempt to fight him off. The wolf climbs off me and I stand up on shaky legs only to be greeted by six furious wolves surrounding me from every angle.

Before I can even blink, they attack me. I howl in pain as I feel teeth snapping into me. I feel my shoulder being crushed by powerful jaws and pray for the pain to end. A wolf somewhere behind me snaps his teeth into my hind leg, while another scrapes my side, his claws not going deep enough to do any immediate damage but enough to cause some serious blood loss. I sink my teeth into the wolf nearest me, in an attempt to shake him off my shoulder. He howls in pain before lunging at my snout when I release him. Blood drips down the side of my jaws. He shakes his head, tearing the flesh around my lips. I cry out in pain and pull my snout from between his jaws.

I collapse under the weight of another wolf on top of me, pulling at my neck. A loud snarl causes them all to cease their attack. They all back away from me, all but two: the grey wolf that spoke to me earlier, and the large black wolf.

The black wolf pins me down to the ground using his two front paws, while the grey wolf shifts back into his human form and crouches down beside me. I look up at him willing myself not to cry from fear or pain. I struggle to breath as he tightens a hand around my bloody neck.

"It's funny really," he taunts, his hand tightening even more. "This is exactly how your mother looked before I killed her. Imagine; you get the pleasure of dying by my hand, just like her."

The wolves around us snarl, as if agreeing with him. Their sick twisted minds make me tremble.

"It just makes it even better knowing how much pain your Alpha, future Alpha and your father will be in when they learn of your death."

Again with the Alphas! Why does everyone have to involve them in every situation? You'd swear we were mates the way he's going on.

He squeezes my neck once more, his sharp claws digging in on either side. I choke and cough as he continues to strangle me. Tears start to pool in my eyes when I realize this is where I'm about to die.

Blood begins to splutter from my mouth as continue to cough, anything to get some oxygen into my system. I paw at his hand, desperately trying to rip his fingers from me.

He looks down at me maliciously, as black dots start to cloud my vision. Blood floods my mouth and my attempts to push him off start to die. My eyelids begin to droop and thoughts of my Dad enter my head.

'Dad,' I whisper into the mind link. 'I'm sorry.'

The sound of a car stopping close by reaches my ears before I feel the pressure on my neck being lifted.

'Alexis!' I hear Dad's panicked voice but it's too late.

My head hits the ground harshly before darkness finally consumes me.