ELLIE

        Today was the day that Alpha James and the six other packs were supposed to attack and to say I was on edge would be an understatement. I was absolutely terrified of what was going to happen the moment that sun went down and another day was brought to an end.

        I wanted to believe that he wouldn't attack and that he would just leave off, but I knew that wasn't going to happen because it was James and he didn't back down from a fight.

        I did only have myself to blame for this though. I was the one who organised the entire thing and did nothing to call it off sooner, I didn't even warn Jayson when I had the chance to warn him. He had to find out the truth because Jackson overheard my conversation with Angelica; the bitch who was intent on ruining my life.

        If I was let anywhere near her again, her throat wouldn't be in tact when I was finished with her. I would make sure she knew just how much I hated her right now and that she didn't have the right to threaten the lives of people I cared about, just to get what she wanted from me.

        Angelica was still asleep when I heard the sound of footsteps coming towards my cell, I assumed they belonged to Jackson, so I was surprised when I saw that it was Blake and Jayson who had come down here - I don't know why I was surprised though, I was in the dungeons where they kept all their prisoners and Jayson was the Alpha.

        "Up," Jayson's voice commanded as he walked into Angelica's cell and pulled her from her bed, forcing her to stand in front of him. To be honest, she looked like hell and I was sure her father wasn't going to be impressed when he saw her again.

        "What?" she dared to snap in obvious annoyance at the fact she had been woken up.

        "You're not an Alpha yet, Angelica, so don't pretend that you are," Jayson replied sharply and I almost found myself laughing, but I managed to hold it back for fear of what would happen if I let it slip out.

        "Sorry. Alpha Jayson," I could detect the sarcasm in her tone.

        "You are being released," Jayson told her and even I turned around fully at the sound of those words because I am pretty sure the man was insane. He knew who she was and who her father was, but he was still going to release her and send her back to the man who was going to have them all dead before the sun rose again.

        "About time too," Angelica clapped her hands together like an immature child.

        "You are to tell your father he is to call off the attack. Moon Shadow has brought no harm to Darkness so what he is planning is an unlawful attack. Should your father not retreat, Moon Shadow will be forced to wage war on your pack and you don't need to be intelligent to know how that will end," Jayson replied, his tone unchanged and his expression unreadable.

        "You seem to forget, Alpha, that he was not the one who initiated the attack. She is stood in the cell beside you," Angelica gloated and I was pretty sure she smirked at me before turning her attention back to Jayson.

        "If I catch you, your father or any member of your pack without the boundaries of our territory then I will not be responsible for my actions. I am not going to stand back and watch as you kill hundreds of innocent people," Jayson replied.

        "It is her who needs to be punished. She is the one who has brought this to your people," Angelica stated and I could tell that she was getting more and more pissed off with the fact she wasn't being listened to.

        "You have your warning. Don't think I won't make good on it," Jayson said and then walked out of her cell, the two guards who had come down with Blake and Jayson walked into Angelica's cell and dragged her out.

        As she disappeared down the corridor, all I could hear were shouts of how this was all my fault and anything which happens is entirely down to me from this moment on. I knew she was telling the truth and her words hit me like a bitch.

        The other six packs would back off when they realized I was no longer a part of this plan. James, however, wasn't going to give up that easily and he was going to take what the hell he wanted whether Jayson liked it or not.

        Angelica would be back with her father and I knew she would see good on her promise. I knew that Blake and Jackson's lives were in danger because I was young and stupid, I took what I could get without consideration of the future.

        "Where's Jackson?" I asked from my bed as Jayson and Blake walked into my cell. Blake took a seat on the chair beside the cell door and Jayson took up the space at the end of my bed.

        "He's on patrol. He will be down to see you this evening," Blake replied. The look in his eyes told me he was hurt that I was asking after another male, but he was my friend and nothing more.

        "And what can I do for you?" I came out with it because they sure as hell didn't come down here to release that bitch and tell me that Jackson was on patrol so would see me later.

        "I have decided that I would like you to become an official member of the pack. You are Blake's mate and Jackson's friend so it seems cruel to leave you down here," Jayson told me with a slight smile on his face, his eyes full of hope that I would accept his offer but I knew it was the wrong thing to do right now.

        They were on the brink of war, there was no way I could join the pack now. I didn't deserve it after all the things I have done against this pack. Making me a member is like rubbing salt on an open wound.

        "And I am going to refuse the offer," I shrugged as I picked my book up from the bedside table and continued reading where I left off from last night.

        Blake had brought all three Hunger Games books for me after I briefly mentioned that I would like to read them. I was halfway through the second one and it was just starting to get good, so reading this was far better than talking about me not wanting to be a member of the pack.

        "Don't be so stubborn Ellie. Becoming a member of the pack is on your best interests," Jayson pleaded with me.

        "I don't deserve it Jayson. As that bitch said, everything which happens is my fault and it would be wrong of me to join the pack having that thought in my mind," I said without taking my eyes off the page.

        I had just gotten to the part where Peeta and Katniss were plotting their escape from their allies. The irony of that moment in relation to this was not lost on me, only we weren't looking to escape our allies, we were looking to escape our enemies.

        "Nothing is going to happen. And, if it does, we'll be able to deal with it," Jayson smiled and he was really trying his best but it wasn't happening for me.

        "I am sorry Jayson but my answer is final. I don't wish to be a member of Moon Shadow. I am happy being a prisoner because it's best for everyone," I reiterated, continuing with the page I was reading.

        I would rather be down here, knowing I can't do any damage, thank in the pack and knowing I am going to cause more damage than good. I already had Blake and Jackson on my conscience, I wasn't willing to have any further people on it too.

        "Look, I would really like to hope that you will reconsider your decision. You are an annoying little shit and you push every single one of my buttons but I kind of like you. You make everyone around you happy without realizing that you're doing it, you have a smile on your face most of the time and you have really shown Jackson the person he really is," Jayson chuckled.

        "I know what you're doing Stone and it's not going to work. Besides, I don't think being in a pack is going to work out all that well for me, you know being an Alpha and all," I stated with a slight smile, finally moving my book down so that I could actually look at him.

        Even Blake was smirking at the comment I had made. I don't know how I managed to suppress my Alpha for this long but I knew it wasn't going to end well if I continued to do that, it certainly wasn't going to end well if I was put in the middle of a pack and expected to live by their rules.

        My Alpha had stayed hidden because I was never given a pack. When my father was murdered, I wasn't there to see it, had I been there then the Alpha would have kicked in and I would have been able to protect my pack. But that didn't happen.

        While my family, my pack, were being slaughtered, I was in the middle of the forest in tears. I was eighteen and had never been more afraid than I was in that moment because I knew I was never going to see my parents alive again. I knew the moment I ran that they were going to die while I was going to live.

        "It was worth a shot. You know where I am if you change your mind," Jayson said as he pushed himself from the bed and walked out of the cell, a quick wave of his hand being the only thing which told us he was leaving.

        "You can't stay down here forever. I won't allow it to happen," Blake sighed. I found my eyes moving over to where his were staring at me and I could see the sadness behind them, the intention in his words as he made it clear what he wanted.

        "I also can't be a member of a pack. I have spent too long on my own, keeping the Alpha hidden, so it would never work for me. I would have to have power and control, two things I don't ever want to have," I argued.

        "Fine. Don't be a member of the pack, but I at least want you to live with me at some point," Blake replied and even I couldn't deny that the idea of living with him had been something I had thought about for the last couple of days.

        Blake had spent the last week and a half proving I could trust him. I had seen that he was nothing like his father, that he was going to always be there for me, but I still couldn't help but feel something was holding me back.

        It wasn't that I didn't trust him. Heck, it scared me just how much I had grown to trust him, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for this kind of thing. It was a huge step to go from not wanting anything to do with my mate to actually wanting to tell him that I accepted him.

        "Pretty sure your friend Stone will have something to say about that one," I found myself laughing, only to laugh even more when I realized I had referred to Jayson by his last name again.

        "He loves me. He will let you live with me, as long as you promise not to cause any trouble for the pack," Blake shrugged casually.

        "Sorry, trouble is my middle name and it seems to follow me everywhere I go," I said.

        "You know I'm not going to let this go, right? You will be living with me and I will do everything to see that it happens," Blake replied. I could tell that he was pissed off with me, but this was the first time I had ever seen him act like this.

        Link had warned me that males could be extremely possessive when it came to their mates, though I don't need him to tell me that because I had seen how he was with his mate. He hated it whenever she spoke to another male, he didn't ever want her to leave the house unless she was with someone else and she wasn't allowed any freedom.

        That sort of relationship wasn't going to work for me though. Blake could attempt to be like that all he wanted, but I was never going to listen to him when he told me those things.

        If I wanted to spend time with another male then he was going to have to trust that I wouldn't do anything, if I wanted to leave the house alone then I was going to leave the house alone and if he tried to take my freedom, well he wasn't going to like the outcome of that one.

        "Don't even try to pull that possessive shit on me. You cannot, and will not, control me just because you're my mate," I snapped in annoyance.

        "Whatever El. You know it's going to happen and I know you're going to ignore me if it does, so I guess there's not really an argument to be had here," Blake muttered. He pulld his phone from his pocket and quickly typed something back to whoever it was that wanted to speak to him.

        "Tell me about your brother," I spoke into the silence and he shot me a glare which could kill a person, the anger filling his eyes as he never broke contact with my own.

        You just asked him about another male. Duh. Oh. Shit. I didn't even mean it any way other than I wanted to know about his family. He has told me about Jamie but has never mentioned anything about his brother.

        Better tell him that before poor old Lex meets his death. I could almost hear my wolf laughing as she thought about Blake killed Lex, just because I had asked about him in an attempt to change the subject.

        "I'm not interested in him Blake. I just want to know about him. That's all," I sighed as I moved from the top of my bed and towards the end so that I was closer to Blake. I wanted to hold hid hand, squeeze it and reassure him there was nothing else to my question, but I wasn't ready to be bound to him in that way.

        "His name is-"

        "Lex. I am twenty-nine and have the body of a God. Woman fall at my feet and beg me to sleep with them because, let's be honest, who can resist this?" a voice filled the room and when I looked over to the door, I finally matched a voice to the face.

        There was something in the Jackson genes which had meant all three children were attractive. His arm muscles were obvious under the shirt he wore and it was practically see-through so you could see his chest beneath it. His eyes stood out from his face, the blue against the green, damn they were gorgeous.

        "I was going to go more along the lines on an arrogant, egotistical prick who needs to stop thinking every woman he meets wants his body," Blake muttered and I tried to hide my laugh, but it was pretty much impossible and it was soon the only sound filling my cell.

        "Damn. That was cold. Even for you brother," Lex replied as he walked in and made himself at home on my bed, sitting as close as he physically could to myself.

        He may have been hot but his proximity made me feel uncomfortable, the way he touched me sent shivers down my spine, but not the kind of shivers you got when someone touched you in a way which led to pleasure. It was the kind of shiver you got after feeling like someone had just walked across your grave.

        "I'm surprised there's enough room in here for both your arrogance and your ego. Or have you managed to put them back in their box for this visit?" Blake asked. I knew that the two of them loved each other, Jackson had assured me of that one, but you could also see how much they disagreed with each other at the same time.

        They were the total opposite of the other. Lex was conceited, egotistical and pretty damn sure that every woman who wasn't mated wanted a piece of what he had to offer. Blake, on the other hand, was much more reserved and never paid attention to anything around him unless he had no choice but to do so.

        Jackson had also informed me that, since discovering I am his mate, Blake hasn't looked at or spoken to another female - with the exception of Mollie, Jamie and Jackson's own sisters. But they were the only females he had been anywhere near.

        "You know, you really need to get laid Blake. Your frustration is really beginning to piss me off now," Lex replied as he finally settled for being so close to me that I could feel his breath on my bare skin.

        "How many females to go until you've slept with the entire pack?"

        "Pfft. I don't know. They come to me, not the other way round," Lex shrugged and I was finding it hard to believe that these two actually liked each other right now. Lex seemed to sense that I was confused and let out a low chuckle to which I shoved my elbow into his chest.

        "Allow me to introduce you to Ellie. She doesn't take too kindly to being touched by anyone other than Jackson and I can warn you now, her temper would scare you, so I suggest backing away from her before she hits somewhere other than your chest," Blake was now laughing while Lex raised his hands in defeat and moved back up the bed so that he was sitting on my pillows.

        "Aw. Is poor Lex not used to the feeling of rejection?" I teased him and I felt now was an appropriate time to high five Blake, if only I wasn't restraining my urge to touch him.

        An urge which was only becoming hard which each meeting we had with each other.

        "Funny one. Isn't she?" Blake mused with a huge grin on his face and I couldn't help the smile which appeared on my face as I looked at him.

        "Freakin' hilarious," Lex muttered unimpressed and I couldn't help but feel smug on the inside. The guy had no idea who the hell I was, hence the reason he had done his best to flirt with me and get me to notice him.

        Even if I hadn't found my mate though, Lex still wouldn't be the type of guy I go for. I mean, he rejected his mate so that he wouldn't have to change his ways and could continue to sleep with whoever the hell he wanted to sleep with.

        "Who want to know something else hilarious?" I asked with a smirk.

        "What?" he grumbled, his eyes not quite meeting my own as he thought about what I was going to tell him.

        I moved myself so that I was standing beside him now and I moved my lips so they were beside his ear before whispering, "I'm Blake's mate."

        The sound of laughter filled the room as both Blake and I found ourselves unable to stop. I don't think I had seen Blake this carefree in the time I had known him, there always seemed to be something distracting him, but he was laughing and he looked like he didn't even care.

        Lex's expression, on the other hand, was one of complete shock as he realized he had been trying to hit on his brother's mate. I have never seen a man so horrified to discover the truth, it was comical how petrified he looked right now.

        "In my entire twenty-five years of life this is honestly the first time I have ever seen my brother speechless," Blake managed to say through the laughter.

        "A rogue? Your mate is a rogue?"

        "If you want to be technical about the entire thing I am a rogue Alpha. So I guess that puts me a step above your average rogue," I shrugged with a certain confidence about my words.

        "In that case, I must apologize Blake, I was unaware that she was your mate. I thought you would have marked her by now," and there was Lex's arrogance once more, assuming that he knew everything and had the right to comment.

        "Small case of earning her trust and taking things slow. Our father is, after all, the reason she's a rogue in the first place," Blake's icy tone cast a chill across the entire room.

        I knew how much he resented his father for what he had done to me. Blake had even said he wished his father was still alive so that he could personally make him pay for the suffering I had been forced to endure.

        "How long have you been fighting against your Alpha for now?" Lex asked casually.

        "Ten years. I've managed so far and I will continue to manage because I never wanted to be an Alpha in the first place," I replied, not that it was anything to do with him. He was just Blake's brother, the guy who thought he stood a chance with me the moment he walked into the cell.

        "I hate to shatter that illusion but your Alpha can only remain suppressed for so long. If you don't find a pack and become Alpha of that pack, you could ultimately end up dead," Lex said and there was a look of sudden fear covering his face which only made me panic.

        "What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded to know.

        "If you don't willingly release your Alpha, the Alpha will force its way to the surface and you won't be able to control what happens. Your Alpha will bring death and destruction, the only way it will be stopped is if you are murdered with the use of silver. You will be the result of your own death," Lex explained and I could feel my body physically shaking while the tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt my body fall to the floor.

        The pain which I was feeling now was nothing compared to what I had felt in the past. There was a burning sensation consuming every single muscle in my body, it was like a fire which was spreading to quickly for anyone to be able to stop it.

        My wolf was forcing her way to the surface while my gums ached with the pain of my canines emerging. I wanted to stop her, to tell her that this was the wrong this to do, but the anger I felt was too strong for me to able to do anything.

        I don't know what was happening, it felt like I was shifting, only I didn't shift. I remained as a human on the floor, trying to force all the negative emotions from my head, trying to force myself to get back in control of the situation.

        "What the fuck is happening? Lex?" I heard Blake called out in a panicked state.

        "You need to calm her down. If she doesn't calm down this is only going to end badly for not only us but also those above us," I could hear the fear in Lex's tone as he told his brother what needed to be done.

        "Blake. Make it stop," I sobbed as the pain became almost unbearable. The small part of human which remained still fighting off whatever the hell it was that was happening to me, but I knew I could only hold on for so much longer before my wolf completely took over. "Please."

        "Brother, whatever you're planning you need to do it now. The last of her human is about to slip away," Lex shouted and I could feel myself slipping into the darkness, the last thing I remember seeing was Blake running towards me and then there was nothing.

        Nothing but the peaceful darkness.

- Question: What do you think of Lex?