Ezra POV

The sky is filled with gray clouds. They're thin and smoky, taking up the horizon with a vengeance. The things loom over my head, above the treetops, high in the air.

It's my first day back on patrol, so it seems sort of fitting that the weather is parallel to my almost permanent mood.

I'm keeping track of time, I don't know how long Klepto has been gone. A week, two? I'm not sure, but I feel her absence like a gaping hole in my heart.

That overwhelming feeling makes all the days swirl together.

The pack is quieting down about the whole "the freak got booted" situation.

It seems to be a blessing, because anytime someone would say something awful about my mate, I would combust in a burning rage that overtook my insides, sizzling just under the surface. It was hard to restrain myself at times like that.

My life is blissfully uneventful, absolutely nothing is happening. As I spend most of the days in the same way, the monotony appears to drag on.

Every moment is boring and painful. Nothing exciting is going on in this pack, so I'm doomed to be useless.

That was until Reid finally convinced me to get back to work, well, it was more like he dragged my resistant ass out here.

Within a few minutes of being out here, I realized it helps to keep my mind off of things. So here I am, in this dreadfully overcast day, the sun hidden from view, white powder sprinkling down from the heavens above in light drifts every now and then.

I spend several hours out here, I am alone and feel glad for it. I found that I prefer to be alone nowadays, finding comfort in the silence.

Leaning against a dark-barked tree, I cross my legs at the ankles and clear my throat, listening to the soft sound of snowflakes landing.

It's undeniably peaceful.

Even after patrolling alone for a few hours, I'm not cold at all. Being a lycan, my body maintains its temperature well despite the weather.

I can't say the same about Klepto, and it worries me that she's out there without a coat on. The mate bond makes me think about all of the crazy small details, anything that pertains to her safety, or her at all.

Literally the air she breathes matters to me.

It feels freeing to finally not continuing to pretend I couldn't care less about her. I don't have to try to convince myself she doesn't matter anymore because I've given in.

Klepto does matter, and I care for her more than anyone else on this planet. Even now, I'm tempted to run into the forest, screaming her name until my throat is raw.

I've never known what emotions are, and I'm finally realizing what they feel like. It seems to me that the matebond slowly thawed my heart, getting rid of any thoughts about myself and my personal agenda.

All I want is for her to be happy, and I've ruined all chances of her finding that with me. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't. Forgiveness is out of reach for me at this point, and as trying to accept that is tough.

Let's just say many tears were shed, and old me would be mortified at the idea of such a thing, but I don't care anymore.

My thoughts are interrupted by a scent on the breeze, it jolts me out of my daze. As it travels through my nose I still, my body locking down as alarm bells ring in my head.

I would know that smell anywhere.

The combined stench of sweat and dirt, it isn't hard to guess.

Rogues, and not just a few. By the smell alone I know there are over twenty heading my way from different directions. I also pick up on the sounds of their approaching, they are moving slow as if to remain undetected.

They're actually looking to ambush me.

I feel a grin spread on my face.

Bring it on.

It takes a while before they start to show up through the dense trees. As they come into view, I crack my knuckles, staring into their eyes without fear.

Each and every one of them is shifted into their wolf form. Thankfully, there aren't any lycans with them, so I'm not in the need for any backup.

The closest one snarls, saliva flying in the air, baring its yellow teeth at me before charging.

I wrap one hand around its neck, squeezing until it whimpers before it's flesh gives and a sickening snap fills the air. As I drop it to the ground, the next two are already on me.

They try to find purchase on me with their claws striking out, I grab one and throw it over my back where it slams into the ground with a thump. The next one I punch in the chest, it flops away, howling in agony.

I don't waste any time dawdling, I attack the next one, disabling it in seconds.

There is no need to shift in order to kill them, I'm strong enough to take them out without that ordeal.

It's definitely slower than it would be if I shifted, but I enjoy it more this way.

It has hardly been a minute before five rogues are dead at my hand, one or two scampering away at the sight. I reach for another, reaching in its chest and tearing its heart out. The dark ruby liquid goes everywhere, staining the snow under our feet, splattering my shirt and face.

I'm not fazed by the gore, I've seen much worse.

Three more come out of nowhere to replace it, they try and fail to hurt me as I toss one and then the another against a tree and snap the last one's neck.

I take a breath before continuing, as I fight off another, I smell something different, much too sweet to be a rogue, and my heart sinks in my chest.

"Klepto, why are you here?!" I yell as I tear into a rogue, taking its life without a second thought.

I turn to see her in wolf form, black fur fluffy and soft. It is obvious she can't reply being that she's a wolf. I growl in frustration and stomp towards her.

"Get out of here now, that's an order!" I yell, getting in her face. Her intelligent, stormy gray eyes blink at me before narrowing. I hear her snarl before running right past me.

Just when I think she's leaving, my mate pounces on a rogue, taking it to the ground before tearing at its leg with her teeth. The wolf whimpers, squirming before Klepto lets go, the rogue can't stand therefore it can't fight.

I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned.

Klepto obviously isn't going for the kill strike, and I wonder absently if she's ever killed someone before. She seems to have an innocence around her, but she is also tough, so it's a toss up.

I don't have time to figure it out as a smelly wolf launches itself my way, managing to bite my arm. The look of fury I give the rogue has it turning tail and running away.

I huff out a laugh.

Coward.

It doesn't take long before a rogue is in front of me again, trying to take a chunk out of me. I wack him on the head, sending him down. He tries to get back up, but I stomp down on him hard, snapping some ribs.

I take care of another by getting it by the head and bashing it into the ground, and I can feel the moment it dies.

Spotting my mate close by, I see she's holding her own against the small army of enemies. I can't help but feel pride well up.

She is strong. And she is my mate.

I then turn around, throwing myself back into the thrall of the fight.

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Klepto POV

I pant roughly as the rogue pins me helplessly to the ground. I start wiggling and kicking until I dislodge her from me. I quickly whip around, pouncing on her back and cutting deep into her flesh with my claws as I nip hard at her face.

She attempts to bat at me with her paws, but I duck and snap at her ankles.

I taste blood, and hear her squeal before she attacks again.

Man, she will not give up.

I'm tired, beyond tired actually. As soon as I made the decision to help my awful pack, I jumped out and ran for the borders as fast as I could.

It's a blessing that I have a good sense of direction, because if I didn't, I would probably be in the middle of the woods lost and confused.

I still can't believe that I stumbled upon Ezra in a fight with a group of rogues, it seems it wasn't happenstance that I decided to come back after all.

Even though he looks to be doing just fine on his own.

Many times I catch a glimpse of what he's up to, and I have to look away. The blood and gore is just too much for me to stomach.

I have never seen anyone die before, and I don't want to.

As I finally dispatch the rogue, leaving her to lay unconscious on the forest floor, I think to myself, why do I need to help Ezra?

I can't come up with an answer, but my gut tells me that this is right. I need to aid Ezra despite all he's done to me.

Maybe it's the brainwashing mate bond, or maybe it's the Moon Goddess using me as her tool to fulfill her will.

Whatever the reason is, I was going with it obviously.

I am glad that he didn't try to shew me away again, I may not be able to fight that well, as I have very little training, but my instincts are leading me more than anything right now.

The idea of someone hurting mate sends me into overdrive.

Knocking out another rogue, I can't help but shiver. I've never hurt someone like this before, but with my mate being threatened it seems to come naturally to me.

What is wrong with me?

Having a mate, that's what's wrong with me.

I go after another one of the villains, going for their tail and snapping down.

The offending rogue howls, throwing their weight around to try to get me to let go. I growl deep in my throat as if to say "get the hell out of here", and they oblige, running away from me.

Before I can go after another, I'm faced with a frightening sight unfolding in front of me.

Some rogues have Ezra quite busy, he is on his knees getting scratched and snapped at left and right.

He seems to be doing alright with them, tossing one away before pinning another to the ground while his other arm has a blond wolf in a headlock.

They're not what worry me, but the rogue sneaking up behind in person form, a gleaming knife in his curled hands.

The stench of him is all too familiar, and I know without a doubt that he is one of the rogues that was outside of my den, planning the downfall of the green pack.

After becoming aware of what's happening, everything seems to move in slow motion as I shift out of my wolf.

I'm buck naked, but I don't pay any attention to that as I run towards Ezra, one thing on my mind.

I have to save him.

My body seems to move of its own accord, like my limbs are attached to silky strings, the puppeteer dragging me to do something that I have no choice in.

Then I'm diving, my back brushing my mate's as the attacker plunges the knife down, down, down.

I'm aware of the blade going through me with a slicing heat, the tip nicking me deep in the rib cage. The weapon sizzles my skin, the sound like a steak on a grill.

My breath is stolen, and I can't close my mouth as shock slips through me.

The rogue who did the dead raises his bushy eyebrows, his dry, cracking lips parting to reveal a shiny gold tooth. I don't know if he's so surprised because he missed his intended target, or because a naked woman is in front of him.

He let's go of the knife handle, and I go down, toppling to the ground in a heap, frigid snow slicking every inch of skin on my body, my blood pouring out of my like a faucet.

But all I can focus on is the inferno blazing in my chest.

As things go black, I hear it, a roar that could cause an avalanche, a sound that booms so loud it could burst eardrums.

I wonder where that came from?

Trying to turn my head and look, my body spasms, holding me captive. I whimper, staring into the gray sky as my vision tunnels, the darkness creeping in until everything goes black.

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If you're reading this, I love you:)

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