The air is frozen lace on my skin, delicate and cold, like winter waves on sallow sand. The sky is washed with grey, watery light illuminating thin patches to brilliance. In some moments I am watching my boots over the frozen ground and in others transfixed to the interplay of cloud and sun above.

Winter that year had been cold but not as brutal and unforgiving as the last. Now only gentle flakes fell from the clear sky, the aftermath of the storm that past day. I stretched my sore back, twisting and cringing as it popped in some places. Though it was early, pups were already outside frolicking in the white cotton snow, throwing it and chasing their peers. I stood watch, arms crossed and at attention.

My job was to protect my people however I did so modestly. I never made demanding laws. Never had punish members for stepping out of line. My pack was good. My pack was obedient.

My attention drew to one of the pups. She was new, at the ripe age of 4. Her mother had her bundled in a pink snow coat, making her appear to be 30 lbs heavier then she was. Her long blonde hair was now decorated with snowflakes, each fragile and unique... like her. Mary had met my gaze and smiled, running over with her little hands cupped with a prize inside. She thrust her finger out towards me eagerly as giggles erupted from her lips. The boys she had been playing with were trying to get her over since typically Alphas didn't pay mind to young ones.

I knelt down to her height, deep brown eyes narrowed slightly to see a perfect snowflake. So this was her prize. A deep chuckle sounded from my throat as I leaned forward, pressing my lips to her forehead.

"See Alpha is a sowfake!" she beamed

"A snowflake." I corrected, speaking slowly

"A snooowfllake?"

"Very good little one. Go along and play now."

I gently pushed her away towards her friends and she went, skipping with happiness. I stood, dusting my jeans off and resumed watching over everyone. Most of the mothers were either tending to the pups or in the dining hall preparing breakfast for everyone.

"Alpha we have new recruits!" I herd a yell.

To my right sprang my beta Thomas. We had known each other since we were Mary's age, possibly sooner. When I had taken over the Alpha position I knew immediately who would be my right hand man. It seemed only fitting.

Thomas stood at slight attention, chest out to show strength. His trademark red hair was as wild and unkempt as when we were pups. And still you could see the brightness in those lively green eyes. I peered to the group of males standing behind him.

There were five of them, all different yet the same. They were all young and eager to please. Yet they all lacked experience. However that was easily adjustable. I stalked closer to them, narrowing my deep eyes to get a look at their features. Most were visibly strong however one was a little more lanky.

The teenager had thinner arms and little muscle under his white shirt but something was evident in him. His crystal blue eyes held respect and maturity while the others were just plain immature and reckless. Like a ticking time bomb..in my opinion.

"I'm Alpha Elijah. And you are?"

"Patrick Michael Jackson sir." his response came without a seconds hesitation

The most surprising thing he had done was stick his hand out. The corners of my thin lips tugged up. Impressive. I gripped his lanky arm and gave it a firm shake, getting the same in return. So it seemed he had strength. Good.

"Well its nice to meet you Patrick. I look forward to working with you."

A long minute passed as I looked over the others but not once did I ask for a name. Nor did they introduce themselves. Already Patrick's acknowledgement seemed to lower their egos. Thomas awaited instructions with a proud smile. These were good members...a little younger but that would change. Thomas took his place to my right as I inhaled the winter air deeply.

"Welcome new members. I am Alpha Elijah Rogers. You will all be working with my Beta Thomas. I expect you to give him respect. I will be taking you all on a perimeter sweep of our territory. You will wake up 7 am sharp each morning and perform the same sweep then once at 8 o clock pm. Any rouge activity sited will be personally reported to me. Anything suspicious you will report Thomas and he will act accordingly. Any question?"

No one replied

"Good. Shift and lets get going. I have other matters to attend to today and so do you. " I spoke

The teenagers stripped their main articles of clothing; pants, shoes, shirt. Once they were near bare they each shifted into medium sized wolves, coming in array of chestnut browns and grays. I observed their stature before following suit, shifting into a midnight black wolf, much larger then the rest due to aloha blood. I stood high and proud, growling a but to get their attention. Beside me was the red wolf I knew far too well, now brown eyes twinkling with amusement.

'Follow. Don't stray. Memorize the territory'. I spoke to the wolves using the pack link, a common use for communication while in wolf form.

The walk with the new members was smooth for the most part. Some got restless so I allowed a small break to watch their wolf forms fight. Quickly I found out Patrick wasn't as strong as the others but he was smart an quick. If he wasn't pinned he could easily win a fight with the right amount of fatal blows. Another gray woof, Jonathan, had caught my attention. He was strong. The strongest in the bunch. But he lacked experience and strategy. His movements were chaotic and random. In a real fight with a real enemy he would have a hard time winning. Thomas noticed the same thing and together we spoke a silent conversation with our eyes.

After letting the boys show off a bit we began our journey to our northernmost point, keeping a steady pace. Not one wolf showed exertion... or were feeling it but was smart enough not to complain.

The steady breeze allowed the forest scents to invade our minds. Strong oak from the trees, fresh snow, the scent of small game running, fresh water from a nearby stream. Then...strong copper an metallic. Thomas noticed and gave a sharp bark, freezing the others who were looking around wildly. A low growl escaped my throat as I inhaled deeply, eyes dark. I knew that scent. Blood. But not just any blood. Werewolf blood. Rouge blood.

We stalked forward cautiously for another 100 yards, on edge. It could be a trap...an ambush. Enough of them in one place and it would prove difficult for them to escape from. Except this blood was just that. Blood. I caught sigh of crimson drops in the fresh snow along with foot prints...bare foot prints. Not wolf paws or shoes.

Every three feet it seemed to drip more blood. The occasional one drop turning into two, then five. Whoever this was.... was badly injured....and defiantly cold since it was a little below freezing. I halted as the scent grew stronger and a steady flow of blood was shown. That's when I saw it. A dark mound of clothing half covered in snow, blood stained all around.

'Keep them away. It may be a trap.' I ordered Thomas as I made my way closer.

I shifted out of my black wolf form and into my human one, pulling on jeans and a t shirt I kept hidden in a nearby tree. Now I was a few feet away and I could smell the blood distinctively...but also something else.

I paused, eyes closed, inhaling the air deeply. Something sweet caught my attention. Sweet like strawberries..with a woodsy smell to it too. It was enough to shut down every muscle but exciting enough that my wolf all but cheered in happiness. Mate! My wolf yelled with so much joy it made me smiled....almost instantly that smiled disappeared.

I dropped to my knees and quickly brushed off the snow and pulled my mate closer. I slowly grabbed the hood and pulled down, holding my breath.

Beautiful.....he was so beautiful. His snow white hair complimented the pale completion and deep dark, long lashes. But there was no mistaken the serious condition he was in. Those lips he longed to kiss were tinted blue. The cheeks he yearned to caress were hollow. The hair he wanted to comb was oily and nappy, a tangled mess....wait his breathing.

Quickly I pressed my ear to his chest, holding my breath as I waited anxiously. Small. Slow. Faded. Thumps of a heart beat were present along with shallow breathing. It was bad but could be worse. At least his mate was alive.

During me coddling and freaking out over the boy Thomas had dismissed the five wolves, knowing that something was wrong.

"Alpha? What's wrong?" he asked as he had shifted into human form, dressed.

"My mate.......oh god he's hurt.." I whispered as I held him close as if just holding him would magically heal his wounds

"You're mate?! Oh....oh... We need to get him to the medic now Alpha. He doesn't look to well..." Thomas spoke concerned

"Y-yeah....hurry and alert the medics." I ordered

In a flash Thomas was off, making preparations. I gently placed my arms under his frail body, one behind his shoulder and the other, supporting his mid thighs. I slowly pushed up, trying into to bump him in any way. A faint groan escaped his blue lips, making my wolf whimper in undeniable heart ache.

"I know...I know it hurts.." I whispered

After a few moments of him groaning in pain and me slowly standing, the boy was well situated. Breaking in the deep wintry air, I made my way back to the pack house. With his clothes dark and body covered I knew little of the extent of his wounds. So I made the journey back quickly, trying not to move the sleeping boy.

When I arrived at the back house I rushed towards the medical wing.The hospital corridor is stuffy and the air has an undertone of bleach. The walls are magnolia and are scraped in places from the hundreds of trolleys that have bumped into them. The pictures on the walls are cheap benign prints of uplifting scenes and above the double doors are large blue plastic signs with the areas of the hospital that lie ahead.

Nurses rushed in towards me as soon as I entered, pushing a trolley to me. I immediately laid my mate on the white bead while nurses busied themselves. It was a blur. All of it was a blur. I rushed with them to a hospital room. An oxygen was over my mates blood painted face. The machine he was hooked up to made a loud beeping sound. A red light flashed as someone yelled 'Code Blue'. More nurses and doctors crammed in. Two of them were eagerly pushing me out but my body was too in shock to process anything. Just before I was pushed out I caught a glimpse of my mate being jolted up by diffibulators.

I now stood in the hallway stunned. Traumatized. Heart beat racing. It all slowly sunk in. My mate was dying...maybe already dead. All was quiet save for loud clatter in the closed door infront​ of me....'mate?' my wolf whimpered.....but all we could do now was wait...