I had the element of surprise on my side. No one knew I could shift. I took off on a run and knocked out the warrior wolves poised to block my way. I kept going until I reached the forest on the west side of the cemetery. It's dense and spread to directions that could lead to anywhere.

If I head northwest I'd be in the direction of the next town. I can shift back, grab the public transport and transfer out of the state to an international airport. But if I want to reach state boundaries and be out of the country by the end of the day I have to continue to run in my wolf form and take my chances in the forest.

Once I felt I was on the clear, I allowed my wolf to take over.

I'm sorry Rothe. I said talking to my wolf, taking the back seat on my own body.

It's uncanny but I could be in full control of my senses even in my wolf form. If I wanted to I could just keep on running but Rothe would get us there faster and his senses were keener than mine when we're on this form.

It's not your fault, my wolf scolded. We just have to get out here right? Once we board an airplane we'd be safe.

I nodded, allowing nothingness to slowly consume me.

I felt drained, mentally exhausted. Seeing members of my old pack brought back haunting memories I've been trying hard to forget. I remembered the beatings. The countless nights I would cry because of the pain. The days I was hungry and was denied food for an offense I didn't know I committed. How scared I was because I always felt alone.

When I was younger I never felt my wolf stir inside me. Happy, angry or sad I felt nothing. I never felt any scratching or clawing like the other kids did.

But I liked to pretend he was just sleeping. I always hoped that when he wakes up he'd be my partner and he'd be fiercely protective of me. We'd be the best of friends and we'd rely on each other. I dreamed of finding our mate together and live happily ever after. But when I didn't phase when I was supposed to, I knew there was no happy ending waiting for me. I was devastated. I thought even my wolf deserted me. I felt like it couldn't get any worse than that.

Then Ciaran rejected me and I decided to run away. I felt the stirrings of something inside me but I blamed it all on the injuries I sustained from the thrashing and the possibility that I might be losing my mind from my mate's rejection. But when stirring started to scream at me and kept yelling why I never woke it up when I needed help I finally realized I wasn't alone anymore.

I phased for the first time that night. I was so drained I lost consciousness. When I came to, I was already in Jasper Gale's front door. My wolf tracked him down and took us to his place while I was passed out and resting.

It turns out Rothe have indeed been sleeping inside of me. I had unconsciously pushed him to the side, on a deeper part of my being, shielding him from everything that was threatening to harm us. I was taking the brunt of everything without him knowing or feeling any of it. He would have been left dormant if I hadn't found out about Ciaran. Because of the mating bond Ciaran's wolf connected with Rothe, successful waking him from the state of unconsciousness I forced him into.

Wake me when you need me to take over. I whispered tiredly knowing Rothe would wake me after I'm fully rested and not before. If there were problems he'd deal with it on his own and won't disturb me unless it's absolutely necessary for me to intervene.

I closed my eyes and dove right into unconsciousness.

I trust my wolf. Rothe would do anything to protect me. He'd get us to where we need to go without fail.

The next time I opened my eyes we were on the airport. I could feel Rothe's uneasiness from being around too many people at once. Large crowds make him nervous because he feels like he wouldn't be able to properly protect me.

Hey, I greeted as he pulled back allowing me to resurface.

Check in is an hour, he said glancing at the ticket on my hand so I'd see the flight information. I'm beat. Wake me up when we're airborne.

Sure, have a nice nap.

Since Rothe surfaced five years ago he never sleeps longer than necessary. I keep telling him it's all right to leave me on my own for a few hours while he rests but he just growls at me saying he's rested quite enough for 16 years. He's always awake and on guard when I'm asleep. Unlike most wolves, he never forced himself to the surface if I don't ask him to. I know it's in a wolf's nature to be dominant but in Rothe's case he doesn't mind leaving me in charge. It's like he's atoning for all the years he unconsciously left me alone by giving me full reign all the time.

My wolf and I connected in ways no ordinary werewolf does. In most cases when the human half is unconscious, the wolf half goes out of control and runs rampant without the restricting force of its human counterpart. But in my case, I can sleep deeply without worrying Rothe would do something stupid before I wake up. When we're both awake I can control him even when we're on our wolf form. And when I'm asleep or knocked unconscious I can rely on Rothe to take care of my body provided that he's still conscious.  

I walked around the airport and sat on a coffee shop to wait for the flight. I was enjoying a cup of coffee when the familiar scent of sandalwood and fresh-cut grass wrapped around my senses. I stood up knocking my chair backwards, my eyes darting from one side to the other hoping I was mistaken.

What's wrong?

It's him. He's here.

Rothe growled and paced around restlessly. He doesn't like Ciaran. In fact, he hates him and his wolf. It doesn't matter that we're mated to them, to him what happened five years ago was unforgiveable. He doesn't want us anywhere near them.

It was hard during the first year we went away. The separation weakened Rothe and I to the point I was afraid he'd fade away. But we survived it and now we're used to living without them. We both agreed never to go back especially after what happened last time.

Move! Go to the counter and check in. Once we're passed security they won't be able to follow.

I grabbed my things and walked hurriedly towards the check in counter. But before I could hand the land stewardess my passport and ticket, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

Electric tingles erupted on my skin. It started from my wrist travelling through my arm towards and my entire body. Rothe whimpered and I could feel how conflicted and anguished he was.

"Did you really think you could run away from me again?" A deep husky voice whispered by my ear. From the excessive heat emanating from my back, there was no doubt as to who he was and how close he was standing behind me.

"Let me go!" I said through clenched teeth, trying to sound angry and threatening but miserably failing.

"No," he growled pulling me closer. "You've been gone long enough. It's time for you to come home."

I laughed but without humor.

"Home?" I asked sarcasm laced on my tone. "I'm rogue. I don't have a home!"

"Sir, is there a problem?" The land stewardess interrupted before Ciaran could say anything. "Are you here to check in?" She was eyeing Ciaran and I suspiciously. She couldn't decide whether to call security to help me or not.

"Yes!" "No!" Ciaran and I answered at the same time.

Ciaran pulled me to his side harshly and wrapped a restraining arm around my waist then glared at me to shut up before looking back at the stewardess.

"We're on the wrong counter. Sorry about that." He smiled apologetically at the woman, flashing her his dimples and even white teeth. The poor girl didn't stand a chance.

Ciaran can be charming if he wanted to and devastatingly handsome when he really puts an effort to it. No female, of any specie, would be able to withstand the brunt of his flirtatious side if he had a mind to use it. They seem to fall helplessly in love with him without much provocation.

What a douche! Rothe growled, annoyed that the mate who rejected us was openly flirting in our presence.

I know. I smiled sadly feeling the familiar tightness in my chest. What are we going to do about getting caught?

Let's see what they want. They'd keep chasing us if we keep running away. It's better to get this over with now. But at the first sign of trouble you have to switch with me and I'll get us out of there. No heroics, deal?

I don't want to go back to Moonscape but whatever it is they want it has to be something important if Ciaran was willing to come and get me himself.

He was half dragging half carrying me out of the airport, which was amusing because at 5'11" I wasn't a small baggage to haul around but compared to his 6'3" of pure hard muscles maybe I was. He seems to be managing just fine.

Lorcan wasn't with him. I'm guessing the beta is still on his way back. But Ciaran has the rest of the top ranked warriors surrounding us. They were eyeing me blankly. Most of them I knew from when I was young, from the type of bruises they left on my body, while the others were unfamiliar to me. I guess there were a lot of new comers for the past five years.

I sighed, finally resigned to going back.

It's not like I haven't changed. I can easily escape if I want to. Why not find out what they want and as Rothe said get this whole thing over with so I could move on with my life?

Deal. I answered Rothe as Ciaran gently pushed me inside a black SUV.