“Jaxe,” calls one of the He-Rouges surrounding us. “Where is the Kaldar Alpha?” Hearing that word I question what it means. The other wolf, Jaxe I think it was, chuckled. “He wishes to see all of the women of this pack.”

  One by one, all of the she-wolves except for the children were picked up by the necks of their dresses and dragged into a single-file line. After watching the Rouges pull infant pups off of mothers and give them to the older pups, I was yanked up by a rough hand that had a strong grip. I yelped as pain shot up my legs and sides. Goddess, I’m in worse shape than I thought.

  Being thrown to the back of the ever growing line we start moving into the tree line being poked and prodded by large, wooden staffs when we slow down or don’t stay in the line. When we reach the edge of a small clearing each she-wolf is brought up to the center of the clearing. Because I’m in the back of the line I can’t quite make out what going on.

  As each she-wolf I brought up, I hear a yelp or a cry come from each of them. As they are walked back to the courtyard they pass by the line each with a red handprint visible on their body, each hand being in a different spot. After several minutes of this happening, it’s down to four more she-wolves left in front of me.

  Feeling my leg starting to shake, I double over before falling down. I’m desperately trying to hold back my cries of agony while tears stream down my face. One of the He-Rouges that are standing guard walk over and yank me back up and force one of my arms around his shoulder. He smells of annoyance but when I get a better smell I pick up worry coming from him as well. Odd. Rouges don’t take care of other wolves from packs. They usually eat them. Frowning I ask, with what words I know, “Y-you h-he-hel-help?”

  Knowing I probably didn’t say the right thing, I hear him sigh. “I could sense you were in pain and seeing you fall I knew you couldn’t stand on your own much longer. I am only carrying you until the we reach the center of the clearing.” Understanding, I nod, and in doing so, wince as pain shoots through my ribs once again.

  I catch a glimpse at the He-Rouge that was named Jaxe. Seeing that his eyes were a bright teal color, I knew for sure that he was a Rouge. Seeing a She-Rouge next to him, I realize it’s the same one that brought me out to the courtyard.

  As if sensing me looking at her, she snaps her gaze to me with that same frenzied look she had when she found me. Looking back and forth between the He-Rouge Jaxe and the She-Rouge that is next to him, they look like siblings. Picking up on the fact that their wolf ears started to flatten they appeared to be the Beta and Gamma of this whole thing. I realized why their ears were flattening moments later, when I started bowing my head in submission, the other four she-wolves in front of me following in suit.

  The Rouge Alpha was giving off pheromones to make us submit so we didn’t get and ideas and make sudden moves. After a few moments, the next she-wolf was brought up to the Rouge Alpha. Realizing that she was about to get the very same slap that the others had gotten, I lower my head further, whimpering in fear. Several minutes go by and I’m the last one in the line.

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  Hobbling over to the center of the field, I look up just enough to see the eye color of the Rouge Alpha. A stern and foreboding frosted amethyst eye color meets my gaze. Realizing that one of the He-Rouges is still holding onto me, he finally lets go when we reach two feet in front of the Rouge Alpha.

  A silky, yet commanding voice finds my ears telling me to look up. When I do, the un-mated bond, ever a crushing weight—ever-present yet hollow, like an abyss carved into my soul, yearning to be filled, and the abyssal emptiness imploded, replaced by a searing rush—completion, gravity, and fire all at once. Seeing the realization in his eyes his face hardens. Seeing him twitch, his eyes turn black—empty, like an abyss, and all I hear is, “MATE.” Chills run down my spine, my primal instinct trying desperately to take hold and force me to run.

  “Who hurt you?”

  Standing frozen in fear and unable to use my words, I don’t answer. Embarrassed, my cheeks burn a deep crimson, the flush creeping to my ears and down my neck. It was the kind of red that felt raw, like a burn from too much sun, but vivid with embarrassment. The feverish glow, a stark contrast with my pale and bruised skin, betraying my mortification. My eyes darted away, lips parted as if to disrupt the blanketed silence, but no words came—only the unmistakable heat of shame radiating from my skin.

  Growing impatient, he asks again, “Who. Hurt. You?” Not knowing what to do, I bolt for the trees as fast as my injured legs will allow me. After running for what seems like forever, I fall over in pain, my vision around me darkening. Hearing heavy footfalls coming after me, I curl into a ball, my energy spent, legs no longer willing to move.

  After a few moments, the heavy footfalls turn into soft footsteps, stopping in front of me. He bends down and gently lifts me upright. I look up and see that his eyes have softened and he looks concerned and hurt.

  “Why did you run from me?” Struggling to stay conscious, I say “No w-wor-worthy.” His expression hardens a little. “Little lamb, you are my Mate. Why would you not be worthy?” “Alpha and other Packmates say so,” forming the first coherent sentence since starting those secret lessons. “Say can’t have mate. Or can’t have wolf. Believe I filth and Runt.” My broken speech getting the message across, the Rouge Alpha growls at my story.

  “No one will harm you again,” he declares with the conviction of a leader.

  I didn’t notice it before but his eyes had returned to that frosted amethyst color that was so captivating. Knowing I’m about to pass out, I rest my head on his chest. Sensing myself being picked up, I nudge closer, smelling the scent of my mate, soft cashmere and amber, I take in the soft notes of bergamot, amber, citrus, sandalwood, patchouli, peppercorn, cassis, and moss, and sigh.

  Seconds later I pass out. Everything is black and I lose all touch with reality.