Chapter 35: Chapter 35

I dashed straight across the border, trying not to think about the fact that if Fauna was screaming, then she must be attacked by another wolf. The pup was merely seven-year-old and I would be crushed if something happened to her. I was also aware that wolves this close to the border rarely travelled in anything other than a full-sized patrol. What type of Luna thinks about those things and not about protecting a pup?

"Help me!" The small voice yelped again as I tore straight through the border and stood on the other side.

"Fauna!"

There were three of them—the regular size for a casual patrol. One among them was a brown wolf, Alpha, and the rest were more minor tawny wolves. Those three stood in a hostile semi-circle around the tiny pup, teeth-baring at Fauna.

For moon's sake! She's just a kid who trespassed for a rabbit; why were they treating her like an enemy.

"Leave her alone!" I let out a snarl, throwing myself in between them. The coat of my fur caught the glint of bright light, almost making the wolves howl.

The pup immediately crouched down behind my bigger body, making herself as small as possible. Anger coiled in my belly, knowing that these wolves scared her to an extent. I fluffed up my fur, baring canines at them even though they could kill me. The wolf standing closest to me, made a sound, something flickering in between his eyes.

Focusing on him made me feel less terrified, even though I knew my stare should be focused on all of them; doing otherwise was likely to get us both killed.

But why was he staring at me so weird? Did he recognise me from somewhere around? That's nearly impossible as I haven't stepped out of my old home except for Aiden's pack-house. Even that was for my sister. Maybe it's my fur. Cara said that I had the rarest wolf colour even in our pack. No one had silver-white fur, which exposed me to more bullying. They thought it was an abnormal colour for omega and often laughed at me during the hunting parties, which made me not want to attend them later. The only one who appreciated me was Zain.

"What are you doing on our land?" The Alpha of the group demanded, narrowing his eyes which snapped me out of the thoughts. It only made Fauna shiver, considering she's a pup and her ears were over-sensitive to Alpha noises.

"I think they are prey stealing!" The other ginger wolf spat, a low growl escaping his lips. "Are you rogues?"

My ears rang from the sound, but I held my ground, trying not to show the fear and masking it with fury. One weakness—that's all they would need to pounce on both of us.

"Or are you so useless at hunting you have to steal rabbits from us to survive?" The Alpha added, sounding more amused than hostile.

"I am sorry," Fauna cried pitifully, her big eyes full of tears and forehead pressed into my stomach, "I forgot the markers."

"You heard her", I patiently said. "Besides, she's just a kid and new to this territory. Let her go."

"She tried to take something that belongs to ours."

Technically the rabbit was not in their territory when Fauna saw it. Why could they not grasp? Exhaling a breath, I looked up and stared at the beta, who seemed to gawk at me, started to take a step back. But why?

"It's only a rabbit. You can keep it. Leave her, and I'll take her back."

"Why should we forgive? Today it's just a rabbit then tomorrow; you could steal all our preys and leave us starving."

Way to exaggerate! I thought under my breath.

"Yeah, you're on our land, and prey stealing is a punishable offence," The Alpha hummed, trying to circle to get to the pup hiding under her.

"We can either break her leg or puncture her bones as a punishment."

"Mervin!" The beta, which took a step back, gave him a shove, "Let it got. That girl is already scared."

"Exactly," I snapped, turning my attention to the Alpha, "besides, why don't you pick on someone your size?"

"Maybe because there's no one my size around here for me to pick on."

The two of them started laughing. It was not even that funny but only made me realise that we won't leave. Not without giving them what they wanted.

"If punishing the pup is what takes to leave from here, then fine" I took a step forward, meeting their eyes. "I can take the punishment instead of her. Not a big deal, but you will let us go after that."

"Oh, with pleasure..." The Alpha purred.

Before I could register what was happening, the Alpha leapt in my direction, almost lightning fast. Someone shrieked in the background, possibly Fauna, but it sounded too rough to be her voice. My eyes rolled back as his jaw snaked forward to latch onto one of my hind legs, yanking it out from under me. I staggered, almost falling on my face, when a voice bellowed from behind me.

"What is going on here?!" Both the wolves jumped. The first wolf's teeth were still attached to my leg, however, causing fur and skin to come away with the movement. My vision was blurry, but I could see only two wolves with that ginger wolf making a run already. I couldn't see the newcomer through the tears, but the voice sounded familiar to my ears.

"Leave her..." The male voice added, sounding deadly calm.

The teeth disconnected from my leg, allowing him to maintain my balance and immediately rush to Fauna. She was whimpering, her body shaking, when the pup noticed blood trickling down my shin.

From my peripheral vision, I saw the Alpha who saved me. Caden. The trainer of our pack. What was he doing here? How did he find me?

"We caught this one stealing prey," The Alpha of the territory spat, motioning towards Fauna.

"Do you even know who you attacked? She's Pack Alpha Aiden's mate, so if you don't want to face his wrath, I would suggest you scram!"

That was all it took. They bowed down, apologising profusely before disappearing into the woods. I breathed a deep sigh and wondered how often Caden had to pull Aiden's rank on people like that physically. He slowly turned to look at my wound.

"It's fine," I huffed. "I will fix myself once I get home."

"Doesn't mean I can't clean it up now," Caden replied, already moving towards my lower half and crouching down next to the leg in question. My face flamed.

Once the adrenaline leaked out of my blood, it started to sting incessantly. Caden settled himself before gently closing his mouth around my paw and drawing the leg out towards himself.

"Stay still," I heard him order as he went to work on broken flesh.

The Alpha swiped his tongue over the damaged skin. Pulling fur out of the wound and cleaning away any dirt stuck to the blood. I winced but stayed quiet, not willing to let him think how much it hurt. Caden kept at it for a good long while, obviously being as gentle as possible but also giving me warning growls whenever I attempted to pull the leg away.

Fauna cowered by my side, her eyes getting droopy and face hiding in my fur.

"Let me!" I just huffed, laying my head across the front paws and swiping my tongue across the wound. With one lick, the gash started to close up, skin patching together.

Caden gasped, eyes widening. "How did you do that? Heal yourself?"

I blinked at him, letting out a dry hiss. "I thought every omega could do that. It's no big deal."

"No, Rose." Caden asserted his voice in awe. "Omegas are incapable of doing what you just did. You have a gift."

***