*1 Year ago*

Fire. That's almost all I could see. Apart from the corpses of my pack. My eyes searched the ground as I searched for any survivors. I shivered and rubbed up and down my bare arms. My clothes that I had left near the wolf's edge had caught fire. I was left nude as I searched for my family. I should have just stayed in wolf form. My human form was much weaker and got cold easy.

When I did find my family, my hands fell from my arms. I dropped to my knees at my mother's side. Her blue eyes stared up at the sky, seeing nothing. I shivered once more and this time I knew it was anger instead of the chill of the October night. I heard hoots and hollers from where the pack house was. I looked at my father. My sister. I should have stayed with them. I should have never gone on that run. Maybe things would have turned out different for them.

I stood slowly after closing each pair of eyes. I crept cautiously around the fires and saw men I did not recognize. The pack house was broken down, maintaining only half it's structure. The alpha's wife was tied to a tree nearby the celebrating strangers. I looked for my alpha but when I spotted him, my anger spiked to a point I saw red. A shrill scream ripped through the air and I turned my head just in time to watch my Luna fall into her own pool of red. I snarled lowly.

I crouched, about to pounce, hiding behind a battered structure of the pack house. But then a whimper caught my attention. I straightened my back and looked around. Someone was still alive. Someone in my pack had survived. I followed the sound with my sharp hearing and hoped that the strangers wouldn't hear it too.

I found the source of the noise hidden in a bunch of bushes about a yard from the broken down pack house. I pulled back the green leaves and sticks to see a young boy. In the dark, it was hard to make out who he was. But as the light from the fires flickered across his face, I realized who he was.

"Aaron.." I whispered.

He gazed at me with his big blue eyes. He was only five years old. He was the only male child of the alpha and Luna so far. His face was red from the salty tears that ran down to his mouth. He seemed to recognize me as well but he was also too terrified to speak. And in that moment, I realized that the celebration had silenced. My eyes widened.

The strange men must have heard us. Or me. I tried to look through the flames but could not see a thing. I looked back at the terrified young boy. I shook my head, picked him up with ease and ran into the forest. I couldn't run far without making us noticable so I stopped and looked around us.

We were around two hundred yards from the burning village. I saw a figure coming to where we had just been and knew they had come to investigate the small noises. I got Aaron on my back and climbed the nearest tree.

The dark night was to our advantage to an extent. Werewolves can never have night vision but one wiff of our scent and the men would climb this tree faster than I could run away. The man looked at the edge of the forest but came no closer to it. The different scents around him seemed to confuse him.

He turned away and I let out a shallow breath. I took Aaron into my arms and put my finger to my lips. He understood me and silenced his small whimpers. For a five year old, I was glad he was so advanced. He put his head against my chest and hung onto my hair. I swung down from the top of the tree with my free arm, the other arm holding Aaron.

I looked back at the flames one last time and ran the opposite way. I held onto Aaron with a firm grip and kept running until I could no longer smell my pack, until I could no longer see the battered structures of the homes, until I could no longer see the flames of my former home.

Aaron cried himself to sleep slowly. My bare chest was warm and I felt that he found comfort in me. He was my responsibility now. And I would take care of him like a mother would. He was the last of my pack and that made me hold him closer as he began to snore.

I woke up early in the morning and rolled over to make sure Aaron was okay. He was sound asleep, his thumb in his mouth. I took it out and set his hand on the ground. It was a habit I was working on breaking for him. I smiled at his peaceful face.

"Aaron." I whispered.

He sighed in his sleep and his eyelids flickered but did not open.

"Aaron. Sweetheart." I said a little louder.

His eyelids slowly slid up until his bright green eyes were showing. He let out a big yawn and smiled a tiny smile at me.

"Hi momma." He grinned.

I grinned back at him. I had explained to Aaron that I wasn't his mother but he said he wouldn't call me anything else. He said he knows that I'm not his momma but he also knows that I am the one who takes care of him.

"Good morning baby. Are you hungry?" I asked.

He shrugged his little shoulders and scooted closer to me. The grass was damp between us from the dew of the spring morning and I pulled him closer.

"Too tired to eat?" I asked.

He nodded and soon I heard light snores once again. I sighed and picked a sticker off my ratty old shirt. I stole it from a line off a woman's laundry line. Along with a pair of loose fitting shorts. Both of them had holes in them and a bra was long ago not considered necessary.

I stood up and stripped of my clothes while Aaron snored. I shifted into my gray wolf and nudged him awake.

He smiled up at me and kissed my nose. He was all for getting up then and stripped out of his own clothes. He concentrated so hard and finally formed into his small brown wolf. I barked in approval and he sagged his little tail, wanting to play. I pranced around him as he lunged at me playfully.

Aaron had had his first change a few months after we left the... Scene. I was so scared for him. But luckily I knew what to do from experience of my own and helping someone else go through it. Once he had successfully formed into the small wolf at least three times, we traveled together to a whole other state. We traveled from New York to Ohio. Not too long of a trip for a mature wolf and it was at the limit for a young wolf like Aaron. He was also learning to hunt for himself.

I tilted my head and he came to my side. His size was very impressive for someone so young. I sniffed his scruff and he barked a laugh. I let him lead the way for the hunt and watched as he used his nose to find food. ~Watch where you step. Use your senses, not just your eyes.~

Our minds were very much attached that our voices were as clear as they were when we spoke as humans.

~Yes momma~ He mind linked.

I was focused on Aaron so much that I almost didn't see the net that was set. I got Aaron's scruff between my teeth and cautiously backed away.

~Aw. Momma, I thought I was doing good. I had a really strong scent of a deer!~ he mind linked.

~Aaron, please be quiet sweetheart. And whatever I tell you to do, do it.~

I set him down and his head cocked to one side. I heard a rather large branch or stick snap somewhere close. A growl rumbled from the part of the forest that was still dark to my vision. Aaron's puppy whimper made me take a defensive stance in front of him.

As far as I am concerned, Aaron is my pup, maybe not blood but by heart. No one will lay a harmful hand on him. The source of the growling showed themselves from the dark of the forest and started to stalk toward us. My ears flattened against my head and I crouched, covering even more of their view of Aaron.

~Rogue~ The mind link from these wolves was completely unclear. I almost didn't catch the words that the three wolves were yelling to each other.

~Momma?~ Aaron whimpered.

The three Wolf's heads snapped to me and they looked at the small form behind me.

~Stay behind me.~ I told him.

~A pup. But she has no mate.~ The Amber colored wolf to the right said.

~She may have killed him.~ Another said.

I sneered my objection at the comment. I have no mate, nor would I kill him.

~Grab him!~ The one in the middle shouted.

Aaron's yelp made me spin around to see a black enemy wolf take him roughly by the scruff. I was about to lunge when a pretty faun colored wolf stood in my way. This one seemed to be female. And by the way she protected the male, she was his mate.

~Just.... down.... surrender... pup will be unharmed.~ The Amber colored wolf said.

I looked around at the wolves and wondered if there was a way that I could get us out of this mess. The large black wolf tightened his jaws and Aaron yelped louder.

~Momma!~ He whimpered.

I bowed immediately and the black wolf set Aaron in front of me. We were circled in and I licked at Aaron's scruff where the black wolf had started to draw blood.

The same wolf shoved at us to walk forward. I snarled and nudged Aaron to go first.

~Peculiar rogues indeed, brother.~ The female wolf stated to the Amber colored.

He nodded. I kept my eyes on Aaron, making sure he kept his pace. I had no idea what they would do if he fell or became tired. This was the first time that we had crossed a pack's borders. And it was my fault for not paying attention to our surroundings. I hung my head in shame.

~To the alpha with them. I'll keep watch.~ The black wolf said and the faun wolf stayed with him.

I barked and pushed Aaron back. The Amber colored wolf narrowed his golden eyes at me. I huffed angrily.

~Let us leave. We meant and mean no harm.~ I'm sure my statement was unclear in the stranger's head but he must have heard enough.

~No rogue.... After crossing our land... Must be taken to the alpha.~ I got the gist of his message but stood completely still. The black wolf stepped toward us and I snapped aggressively at him. The female growled and got closer.

~Try me, bitch.~ I spat.

She snarled and her mate pushed her back with his nose.

~Come.... Pup gets it.~ Another wolf snarled.

I got the gist of that statement as well and Aaron's frightened little wolf face had me taking my steps again. We followed the strangers to their alpha and they began to walk too fast for Aaron. He started to fall behind and I had to keep nudging him forward.

~Slow down. He can't keep up.~ I snapped at them.

~Then he gets left behind. He's only a pup after all.~ One said.

I growled.

I looked at Aaron's scruff and gently lifted him off his feet. He did not whimper so he must have healed already. I followed the strangers at a steady pace and was pushed forward by the wolves behind me.

We arrived at a large house. Their pack house I would assume. The Amber colored shifted and threw on the shorts that lay at the forest's edge. The rest of them did the same as I kept my eyes on Aaron. He looked tired and frightened.

"Shift stranger." One ordered.

I snarled and hid Aaron once again.

"No harm will come to your pup. So long as you do as we say. And as our alpha says." Another stated.

Aaron looked at me for what to do and I sighed. I nudged him and nodded.

~Do what they say. Shift.~ I told him.

He did as I said and looked at the men around us. His eyes were wide with fright as they stared me down. Waiting for me to shift as well no doubt. I waited a few moments and shifted as well. Some of them gazed at me with looks of adoration. My mother used to tell me I was blessed with looks of the moon goddess. I took Aaron's shoulders and put him in front of me. I covered my breasts with my arm. Aaron had been oblivious to the fact that he was on display. After all, he was only a little boy. Opposed to the fact that I am an eighteen year old woman.

"Odd. They don't look alike. And she doesn't seem to have birthed children." They started to speak as if I weren't even here. One of them came down the stairs of the large home and came toward us. I bared my small human teeth as if I were still in wolf form. He did not stop and his brothers looked nervously at him. Aaron backed farther into my legs and I held him closer if possible. The dark haired man got too close and I snapped.

"Get away from my pup!" I growled.

He stopped his movements and looked me over before moving his gaze to Aaron.

"Is this your blood pup?" He asked.

I said nothing. It was easy to tell Aaron and I were not blood. My skin was very tan while Aaron was white as paper like his true mother and father. Aaron's eyes were blue/green while mine were brown. And Aaron's hair was blonde opposed to my brown.

"Did you steal him?" He snarled, taking another step forward.

I growled.

"Step away from us. I don't wish to hurt anyone. But I will protect him." I stated.

The statement seemed to stop the man in surprise. Surely, they had never heard a rogue say such a thing. But it was the truth. I didn't wish any harm but it was my only choice if they threatened Aaron's safety.

The man that was closest took slow steps back and soon rejoined his brothers. The man who was an amber colored wolf called me forward. I came into the large porch, keeping Aaron and myself as far from the men as possible.

"We will take you to our alpha." One man said.

Two men walked behind us and two in front of us. I did not like the men being behind me. I felt unsafe, not to mention exposed. We came to two large white double doors. The men in front opened them and led us into what looked like a ballroom without the mirrors, bars, and chairs. Aaron seemed to be clinging to my leg for dear life.

I did not mind that he clung to me though.

It reminded me that he was still there and reminded me of what I was protecting. The men around us got on one knee and bowed their heads. Aaron and I stayed standing as the men around us growled. Aaron whimpered and tried to kneel but I would not let him. This man is not our alpha. Aaron's alpha will always be his father. Alive... Or dead.

I kept my eyes on Aaron and covering myself as best I could. A shirt was thrown at me and I looked around. A guard was missing a shirt. I slipped the dark shirt over my head and watched it slide over my feminine parts. Aaron didn't seem to care that he was on display. I kept my eyes on Aaron as I heard footsteps against the large tiled floor.

"Rise." A voice commanded.

I shivered. I felt the need to look up but refused to give the man the satisfaction.

"Your name, rogue." The alpha, who I still had not looked at, commanded.

I said nothing in response. He growled.

"I asked your name." He stated.

"You did not ask. You command. I do not take orders from a man who is not my alpha." I said under my breath.

Of course the man heard. A man behind us grabbed Aaron from beside me. I bared my teeth and swung my body around, my fists swinging as well. I heard a crunch from the man's nose and quickly picked Aaron up. A small bruise was healing on his shoulder. I backed away from the man.

"Don't you touch my pup." I snarled.

"Your pup? I don't think so." The alpha chuckled.

I growled and faced this alpha. Once I saw his face, I lost my breath and my words. I heard pounding footsteps behind me but I couldn't tear my eyes away. A hand wrapped around my chin and head, about to snap my neck but the alpha roared. The man who had my head stopped.

"Take your hands off her. Now." He growled, making his way toward me.

The man immediately removed his hands. He glared at the man as he made his way to me.

"Fantastic." He whispered, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

I sighed, feeling suddenly calm.

"Leave. All of you." He demanded.

For a moment, I thought he meant me as well. I felt rejected and turned to go.

"Where do you think you're going?" He chuckled.

"Oh.. Well you said leave so.." I trailed off as he smirked.

"I have waited for you for many centuries. You will not leave my sight now." He said.

His breath fanned my face and I inhaled deeply. It made me momentarily dizzy until a small voice interrupted.

"Momma? What's going on?" Aaron asked innocently.

"Oh.. It's alright now, baby. That man won't hurt you again." I said.

My eyes narrowed at the floor as I set Aaron down.

I looked back up at my mate and his gaze flickered between Aaron and myself.

"We have much to discuss. I assume your... Pup is exhausted. And you may want a warm bath." The alpha said.

I nodded timidly.

Aaron looked up at the two of us in helpless confusion. He realized we were just being threatened by the men around here and now we were about to be taken care of.

"Your name?" He smiled.

"London." I whispered as he took my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"Beautiful." He whispered.

"A-And yours?" I whispered.

"Mason. Alpha Mason." He grinned.

I blushed under his intense and loving stare.

"Well Alpha-" I was cut off.

"No no, my dear. Just Mason for you." He smirked.

I blushed again.

"Well Mason. Thank you for offering us a place to stay. But we should-" I was cut off again.

"Should what? Go back to the woods. No no. I have found you, my beautiful mate. You will stay here now." He said.

"What's a mate?" Aaron asked.

I looked down at his confused face and couldn't help but giggle.

"We'll talk later. But right now, I think you need to nap." I told Aaron.