The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 75

Amber

POV

I don't know what gave me the first inkling that something was badly wrong. It might have been the rustling I heard in the background or the soft crunching of leaves beneath a footstep, a soft thud of a paw hitting the ground. Whatever it was, it gave me the notion that I wasn't as alone on my walk as I thought I was. Perhaps I had been a touch foolish to go walking in the forest, but after my discussion with Darius, I had needed some alone time to think and to just breathe. To be alone rather than surrounded by people in a sea of chaos. I whirled around, my eyes searching the forest, Lilac urging me to be cautious. "Hello" I called out, "is anybody out there?"

Surely there would be a member of patrol close by? I was being anxious over nothing. There was no one there. At least none that I could see. Lilac wasn't so convinced.

There is a wolf out here. I can smell it and sense it. It is close and coming closer still. Be prepared to shift, for I don't think it's a friendly wolf.

You got it Lilac, but I don't smell anything rotten, does that mean it's not a rogue?

It smells like an ordinary shifter wolf to me. It's very near now, be on your guard.

My eyes scanned the forest, looking for this wolf which suddenly seemed to appear out of nowhere. One second all I saw were trees and the next was a grey and white wolf coming out from behind one, its ears pricked back and a snarl on its face. I hesitated, seeing that its eyes were not red. This meant that it had to be a member of the pack, I thought to myself, but the wolf was unfamiliar to me. It was not one I had come across before. It was also decidedly male.

SHIFT CHILD shouted Lilac and I did as she ordered, wincing as my bones cracked and broke, readjusting themselves, until I stood in my pure white wolf form. The grey wolf didn't hesitate, putting its head down and then running head-on toward me, as I dodged to the side just in time. It skidded to a stop and then turned around, jumping and I jumped as well, meeting it in mid-air. I gave a yelp as its claws found my side, leaving a big gash, even as I too managed to drag my own nails down the stomach of the other wolf, eliciting a howl from it.

We fell to the floor, the other wolf backing away, its ears pricked back as it silently observed me. I waited patiently for it to make its move. It began to run once more towards me and I dodged it, taking off, my paws thudding against the ground. I wanted to lure it towards the grounds or closer to patrol. Some part of me wanted this wolf caught, in order to find out which pack member it was. It shouldn't have been able to match my speed, but the next second it was in front of me, barring my retreat and growling, showing off its sharp and dangerous teeth.

Whoever this is, they are sure determined to take you down. Have you pissed off any pack members lately?

Not that I can think of Lilac. None besides Stacey and this wolf is decidedly male. It's not an Alpha either, but rather just a normal shifter. Where the hell is patrol? They should be close by. This feels like a trap to me.

Screw patrol Amber. They aren't going to get here and we can't rely on them. It's time to use another ability. I want you to picture fire coming out of your mouth. Do you hear me?

Fire, since when can we breathe fire?

Since always, I've just been keeping it for an important occasion and this happens to be it.

So I just picture it?

Picture it and feel it. Feel the warmth of the flame in your throat and expel it from your mouth. You can do this child. I have faith.

I'm not sure I feel comfortable burning another wolf to death.

Are you comfortable with being dead yourself?

I get your point.

The wolf was still there, observing me. Its hackles were up and it was still growling in it's throat. It's eyes were narrowed in on me and I knew that it wouldn't be long until it made its move. I took a deep breath, picturing fire in my mind and trying to feel it's warmth. Heat filled the back of my throat. At first, it was deliciously warm and tolerable, but it gradually began to intensify, to a burning hot sensation, It was so hot, that I automatically opened my mouth and I jumped back as a large flame came rushing out, towards the wolf which appeared stunned, it dodging only some of the flame, as the rest of it caught the fur of the wolf alight. It yelped, frantically scrabbling at the ground and rolling over and over, some of a tree sparking and becoming aflame.

f**k, at this rate the forest would be afire if I wasn't careful. Lilac, however, seemed pleased with what I'd done, as the wolf came to a stop, large black burnt marks of flesh and fur appearing on it. I winced. That looked extremely painful. It glowered at me and then turned tail and ran! I tried to chase it through the trees, but it weaved and darted back and forth, appearing to know the forest well and I lost sight of it for mere moments. That was all it took to lose sight of the blasted wolf. I tried to track it with the burnt smell, but with the tree burning behind me it confused my senses.

Several patrol members came running past me, one with a large hose, which he began to aim at the one tree that was silently burning.

"Make sure it's out" I heard a loud booming voice from behind me and turned to see a grim-faced Alpha Rowan who was silently observing everything and everyone.

We should shift back to normal now that the threat is gone.

Yeah. But I'd sure love to know where that wolf ended up going.

Perhaps our mate can help with that.

Yeah, right, I thought sourly, as I began to shift back into my human form. The sounds of bones cracking and readjusting made me flinch, and then I stood there, right in front of my supposed mate, vulnerable and naked. It wasn't the nicest feeling. "What happened?" asked Alpha Rowan, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance.

I felt a throbbing sensation as well as something trickling down my side and glanced downwards to see that I was bleeding from a large gash in my side, courtesy of the other wolf. I placed my hand against it, in an effort to stem the bleeding. "I was attacked" I gasped "out there" indicating with my head the direction the perpetrator had gone.

"Was it a rogue?" asked the Alpha hastily, his eyes full of concern as he moved closer to me.

"No, it was definitely not a rogue. I think it was a member of this pack" I said shakily, still feeling like my throat was aflame.

"Are you certain?" asked Rowan, standing up to his full height and pulling back his shoulders.

"I'm one hundred percent sure" I answered, frowning at him.

He turned towards his men. "Get your best trackers out here and find this man," he said, his voice thundering throughout the quietness of the forest.

His men began to a*semble.

"I think I burnt him," I said quietly "whoever it is that is. He's badly burnt."

Rowan gave a small nod. "That should make it easier," he said softly, mind-linking his men. I could see his eyes glaze over as he did it, informing everyone of the other wolve's injury.

"How did you manage it?" asked Rowan confused and bewildered "I mean the fire, how did you start it?"

I opened my mouth to answer him when I saw none other than Stacey rushing towards him, followed by a quiet-looking younger man behind her.

"Rowan darling" she trilled "are you alright? You weren't hurt, were you? Who started the fire?"