Chapter 1

Cecilia's pov

"I only mated with her because of the stupid mark. She is nothing to me, just an entitled brat bearing a coveted mark."

Those were the words that brought me back to my senses. Liar! Something inside me wanted to rip open. How could he do this to me? My own best friend and the man who had sworn his undying love to me.

I took a step back trying to not make a move but a small whimper escaped my lips.

"Who is there?" That was the last thing I heard before I ran, but I hadn't gone far when I heard a loud growl behind me. What can I do? I could not shift.

"Where do you think you are going?" If only he knew that I had come bearing news about my pregnancy, but he had no idea, I stood there, trying to look away from the wolf that was now shifting into his human form in front of me to turn into the man I had just married.

"I just needed air, that's all." I could feel the uncertainty in my own voice, and even I would know anyone who talked to me like that was lying, but I did not care if he knew that I was lying. I just want to get away as far away as possible. I have a feeling my life is now in more danger than it has ever been, and the fact that I am now carrying a little one makes it even more scary.

"Then why did you run?"

"I am sorry, I cannot run in my own pack again?"

He suddenly bursted out laughing. He was mocking me, and I knew it was because I was not capable of leading the exact pack I called mine. I even stopped believing in myself.

"Your own pack? In case you have forgotten, I now own the pack because your dead father named me Alpha as soon as I married you."

My heart sank at the disrespect of the way he mentioned my Dad. Jackson had been the sweetest mate anyone had asked for before my Dad died, and he started to turn to a stranger, but none of that bothered me as long as he took care of the pack and didn't give me unnecessary issues.

He tilted my chin up slowly as he looked at me with contemot, I heard a female snickered from the rear and I knew immediately whom it was, Vivian, the whore he was cheating with. I knew all along, but I had ignored it.

She used to be a friend, but now, I can barely see signs that we even knew each other. "You think she heard something." She was looking at me with so much disdain that I am sure if she had a chance to hurt me right there, she would, but they still needed me. After all, I bear the mark of the chosen one.

She had first come to me at the time my parents were discussing my marriage. We became fast friends because she seemed to be so knowledgeable about a lot of things that I didn't know. And all of a sudden, I saw her starting to withdraw, and when I asked her about it, she told me she needed a break from our friendship, and the next time I saw her, she was kissing the man I was supposed to marry on the night of our mating ceremony.

"What did you hear?"

"Just let me go, I don't want trouble."

I tried to walk past him, but he would not let me go. I was starting to feel very weak. Sometimes I blame myself for not being able to shift, even though I had the mark of the chosen one, and I am the rightful Alpha to the throne. Even my own father did not trust that I could lead the pack on my own because I had no wolf.

He had had so much faith in me at the start until I turned sixteen and was supposed to shift, but I could not.

"Come on, you know I won't let you go unless you tel..."

"What do you want to hear?" I suddenly lashed out at him angrily as I pushed him. He moved backward a little because he was not expecting it. The look on his face was one of shock because I had never lashed out like that, even when he treated me worse.

"Don't talk to me like that, bitch!" That made me even angrier, and I cannot even understand why their words bother me so much, because it has never bothered me like that before, but this time around, it was as if there was something inside me that was struggling to get out. If only that were my wolf.

"You want to hear that I know you have been cheating on me with your whore for so long and that you are only with me because of what you could gain from our marriage? I heard that loud and clear. Have a nice time with your whore!"

A loud slap landed on my left cheek as Vivian came from behind me and pushed me to the ground.

"You can call me anything but a whore. I saw him first." It was actually funny that she would argue with me about who saw whom first, but something is wrong with me, and I can feel it. I have felt like this all day, and that was why I went to the pack healer earlier today, and there, I found out I was carrying his baby.

He has everything to lay a claim to my birthright now, after all, he is the father of my unborn child.

I am ready or willing to dispute that with her or with anyone because my eyes were getting heavier. I think the pregnancy is taking a toll on me. I tried to get up but found myself falling again, and then their voices began to become a blur until the last words I could hear were my name.

"Cecilia."

Chapter 2

Cecilia's pov

The room smells different from mine. My eyes began to open slowly, only to hear the familiar voice of the pack's head healer as she walked past me. She did not notice that I was awake. I looked around to see that I was being treated, why?

"You're awake, Luna."

Mandy, the head healer, came to me. She was a forty-something-year-old red head whose heart is bigger than anyone s heart is allowed to be. She came up beside me and grabbed my hands.

"I should have let you stay when you came earlier."

I would like to stay, but I think it was best that I leave because now I am scared.

"I need to get out of here."

"The Alpha said you are not allowed to leave except he knows about it."

There, that was the issue I have now. I am right, but I have put myself in a situation where they would be watching my every move.

"You don't understand, Mandy." Perhaps she would understand me, "My life is in danger. They are trying to kill me.

I may not have known that I sounded hysterical, but she was looking at me as if my head was missing a bolt, and then she stood up and whispered to someone else, but all of a sudden, surprisingly, I could hear what they were saying.

"I think something is wrong with her." Mandy said to her assistant, whose gaze was on me, "Don't worry, she cannot hear us, but I think it is best to let the Alpha know that she was awake and what he feared would happen is happening."

"Right away."The assistant left, and Mandy returned to my side. I began to shake my head vigorously as a way to rebel,.

"No, you don't understand." I got out of bed, but Mandy's large body was still on the way, and she did not seem like she would let me go anytime soon. My eyes looked at her pleadingly.

"I know you really want to go, but you can trust that we want the best for you and want to help you. The Alpha would be here soon, and you would be alright."

"NO!" I screamed as I pushed her out of the way. She did not bulge, but I kept trying to get away.

I looked behind her, "Oh no! The Alpha is here." She looked back immediately, and that gave me the opening I needed. She should have allowed her senses to tell her it was a trick I played on her, but she looked away, and I was now running as fast as my legs would carry me, even though I knew there were wolves all around me and it would be a miracle if I escaped.

"Please, Cecilia, don't do this."

"You don't understand, I need to...." Someone bumped into me, and as I met their face, I saw a wicked grin on his face, Jackson.

"Going somewhere, my lady?"

Oh no! I cannot escape this one.

"Heard you are carrying my child, do you think I would allow go anywhere with my own child?"

"IT IS MY BABY!" I said with huge pain in my heart because the last thing I had prayed for was that he had not found out about the baby. I looked at Mandy because she had betrayed me without even planning to, but the look on her face made me realize that she was always finding out what was going on.

"You will not leave this pack. Seize her." Before I knew it, arms grabbed me and began to drag me away.

"That baby is mine." That was what I heard that broke me. I felt a sudden heat in the center of my chest where I had the mark of the chosen one. It was getting hotter as they dragged me away and all of a sudden, there was a huge rush of adrenaline in me, and I shoved the two men that grabbed me in one swift move, kicked the closest in the face, and jumped towards Mandy, who stood there in shock.

They all knew I was weak and powerless, I know that I am weak and powerless, so what was that?

"So you shifted?"

I wanted to tell him that I don't know what he was talking about, but I did not need to let him know that I was weak.

"Get out of the way, Mandy. "

Mandy remained on a spot, probably still trying to figure out what was happening.

"I do not need you, just give me the child and you are free to go."

"Unfortunately, I won't."

He began to rush towards me, but Mandy stood still.

"Go."

She said to me without looking back at me, "Your father may have made a big mistake in entrusting you in his care and this pack, but I will not make the same mistake. Go and make sure you never come back here."

That was all I needed to hear, but I hadn't gone far before I heard her cry; she had been overpowered.

I kept running, I could not weep for the woman who had betrayed me without knowing, and gave her own freedom to make sure that I escaped, most likely as a way to apologize. I ran blindly through the forest until I could run no more, and I decided to take a break.

" She's there, get her!"

As I turned to look around, I heard a loud growl behind me, and then I saw red eyes. My attackers, who had me semi-surrounded, stopped in their tracks as three very huge wolves emerged from behind me; they had red eyes.

"Rogues." I heard one of the men who had been chasing me say. The biggest of the large wolves spoke, his voice deep and masculine, strong.

"Anyone willing to give their lives to catch this lady?"

It was not a request, it was a threat.

Chapter 3

Cecilia's pov

“Hehehe! no one?” The guard with a long scar asked with a proud smirk on his face. He took out his long sword and began to match towards me, My feet remained glued to a spot while I gently awaited my fate.

He stopped at my front and gradually brought his free hand up… intending to touch my face, “seem like you are not only pitiful, you are also miserable.”

His statement touched a sour spot in my chest, I bent my head low, trying to hide the glassy teardrop that hung in the corner of my eyes. Maybe he is right? Maybe I am so useless, I couldn't even run away to save myself… and my baby.

“Hey, capture her, Alpha will catch up with us here. He is done dealing with Sonia and we still have to catch up with those silly rogues around,” one of the palace guards at the front spoke up, sounding very urgent.

The man at my front took a step back before facing the rest, “ that is it. One of you should get her,” he instructed before turning to go back to the town with the rest of his men while a teenage looking guy brought out a chain cuff to hold my hands together.

He clamped my hands and held my shirt, dragging me behind him, trying to match the pace of the rest of the men that are now far away from us. We hadn't walked a great distance when an arrow suddenly flew across, hitting the guy in his shoulder. Before he could scream out or call the attention of the rest of the men, I pressed down on the arrow just like I have always seen them do.

Luckily for me, it worked and his frail body fell heavily on the floor…. Dead.

From the corner behind a tree, a handsome looking guy emerged. His piercing blue eyes settled on me as his king lashes fluttered unconsciously. He was on a horse and his long hair scattered in the wind as he hoped towards me.

I was really dumbstruck by how handsome he was that I didn't know when I was scooped off the floor, I just felt my body dangling in the air and before I could lament, I was already seated right In Front of him, my back touching his well toned chest.

“Who… who…” he placed his thumb on my lip, not giving me a chance to complete my statement.

“We are still unsafe, I am sure you can hear movements, those guys will soon notice your absence so I need you to remain as quiet as possible if not, you will get us killed,” he muttered into my ear, his hot breath fanning my neck which made me turn into pink instantly.

I nodded and remained still while he channelled all his energy into making us safe. Occasionally, a groan will escape anytime he tries to stimulate the horse. After several hours, I could sense that no one was following us again and the guy that saved me already reduced his pace as well.

“Hmmm,” he cleared his throat, trying to gain my attention.

“Who are you? Why did you save me?” That was the first question I asked after our long hours of silence.

He sniffed a bit before responding, “ I am Michael and my identity is something you should have detected,” I could feel him smile behind him.

My eyes dilated as I tried to understand what he meant by that. Guess his identity, how?

“Are you still clueless? Are you intentionally acting like this?” Micheal said In an unbelieving tone. I tucked my hair that was blew away by the wind behind me.

“I honestly don't understand what you mean by that,” I tried my best to sound genuine. He seemed to believe me this time around, “I am a rogue, head of the rogue to be precise,” Michael answered.

“Rogue?”

No wonder the guard was hurrying the rest up with the excuse that they gave rogues to catch, so this is what he meant. I know that rogues and pack wolves are sworn enemies so I didn't bother to say anything again. The rest of the journey remained silent while I was filled with my personal thoughts.

Why did Michael save me? Where are we going? Will my baby be safe there? These are all the unanswered questions in my head.

“Here we are,” Michael jot me out of my thoughts as he pulled up In Front of a nice looking building.

I took my time to admire the green scenery, the place was covered with a nice green habitat and it looked very conducive… enough for me at least.

“Follow me,” he instructed me after tying up the horse.

He held my hand as we passed through different corners of the building.

“This is the headquarters of the rogues. All the elderly rogues stay here,” he said to me before pushing a big door open.

Inside this space was a very large hall and few people were already seated inside. Their attention was called to us when the door was opened.

Michael dropped my hand and took his time to greet everyone while I hid behind him, walking fast to match his pace. After he was done, he took his own seat as well.

“Hi everyone, here with me is …” he turned to me to introduce myself.

I hung my head low and answered, “Cecilia.”

Low murmurs followed before one of them took the courage to speak up, “may we know why she is here? She is not a rogue, I am right.”

Micheal smiled briefly and answered, “indeed, she is not but I have my reasons for saving her.”

I glanced into his eyes, curious to know his reason as well.

“She is what we need.”

“How?”

“I used to think all our elders are people that are great thinkers, seem like I was wrong after all,” Michael teased, followed by a shrug.

“To save you all of the trouble, she is the chosen one… the one we have been waiting for,” a gasp left their mouth as they all turned to look at me, most with admiration while others looked with disbelief.

The elder that spoke up before stood up again, “I know that we all can see the chosen mark on her chest.”

I quickly covered my chest with my hand, trying to hide the mark even though most, if not all, had seen it.

“I refuse to believe she is the one that will save us unless she shifts right In Front of us.”

Chapter 4

Cecilia's pov

Argument surged and before we knew it, a fight broke out in the courtroom. “What is wrong with everyone?” Michael voiced out angrily.

“Are we forgetting something here? I am still the Alpha here and do you think I will just go to a random forest and pick anyone as the chosen? Can the chosen mark be forged?”

Almost immediately, a faint light shone around the mark, signifying the authenticity. Immediately they all saw it, they were in awe.

“Can you all see it? How do you expect a female to shift In Front of you? Just tell me how?” He continued, anger radiating in his voice.

“We are sorry Alpha,” they apologized in unison

Everyone went silent afterwards, they all wore an apologetic look. “The meeting is adjourned,” Alpha Michael finalized and held my hand as he led me out of the hall.

“I will show you to your room, you will stay there temporarily till I am able to figure a few things out. You can aswell take a shower, a maid will bring some clothes to you soon; I will also be back to check up on you later,” Michael dished out all this information at once while I occasionally nodded in understanding.

He gave me a few important instructions to follow as well then he left to accomplish his mission.

I twisted the lock and entered the room, inside of the room was so big and beautiful, aesthetically pleasing artworks were hung in every corner of the room, adding a majestic touch to the already beautiful room.

I walked to the wall and ran my hand over it, the warm smooth feeling welcomed my palm and I involuntarily closed my eyes to welcome the feeling. I was so lost in my new world that I didn't notice when the maid entered.

I turned around to see the person that just entered and behold, it was a gentle looking girl holding a patch of cloth.

“Alpha Micheal said I should bring these to you. Kindly change into them after you are done taking your shower,” I nodded and collected the cloth from her.

I placed the dress on the bed then proceeded to take my bath. By the time I was done, Alpha Michael was already in the room… seated.

I was alerted when my eyes fell on his straight back. I hurried back to the bathroom, changed into the new dress before emerging.

The sound of the bathroom door closing called Micheal’s attention back to me, he stood up and faced me,“Hope I didn't disturb you? I am sorry for coming in without your permission, I knocked on the door for several minutes but no one answered, I thought something bad had happened and that was why I barged in.”

I smiled at his reasonable explanation, such a gentleman.

“It is fine,” I answered as I also took my seat on the bed.

“I need to ask you a question and I will appreciate your sincere response.”

My senses got alerted followed by a skip of my heart. What can the problem be?

“As much as I know and believe that you are the chosen one, I feel like something is missing. Can you tell me? How can you not sense that I am a rogue? Why were you not able to save yourself from those bad guys?” He bombarded me with questions.

I heaved a low sigh before I answered, “the truth is that I cannot Shift which means that I might be wolfless,” Micheal's gaze flickered as he stared hard at my face.

“Are you sure? Have you tried to know what is wrong? Maybe a healer can help, what do you think?”

I shrugged, “I have always been an outcast in my pack, I haven't had the chance to try an healer because I don't think anything can be done to it,” I answered in a resigned tone.

Micheal shook his head then excused himself to do something urgent. Few minutes later, he returned back but this time around, he wasn't alone.

“Here is she, check her.”

I gave him a questioning gaze and he quickly caught on to it, “He is Dorian, the rogue healer.”

I gave the average looking man with grey beards a quick stare, his aura was friendly and that automatically made my body relax.

“I will check on you now, can you lie down on the bed,” he said and I followed what he said.

He began performing different sorceries but after what felt like eternity, he breathed out loudly and moved away from me.

“May I say something Alpha?” Michael nodded for him to go ahead.

“It is extremely difficult to heal her, let me not say it is impossible but I will still keep looking for ways to make her better,” he said and began to pack up his instrument.

“I will come around again, I will keep doing more research on how to heal her,” he added before leaving.

Neither Michael nor I spoke afterwards until I felt a kick inside my stomach. A whimper left my mouth as I held my stomach tightly.

“What is the issue? Are you okay? Should I call Dorian?” He bombarded me with questions, his face masked with worry.

“No, I just felt a kick in my stomach, nothing is wrong.”

His face showed cluelessness so I took my time to explain it in clearer terms to him, “I mean… I am pregnant and the baby in my stomach just kicked.”

“You are pregnant? For who? Who is the bastard that dares to neglect his mate and his baby?” I took in my lips, scared to tell him the truth.

The last thing I want for him is to get him into trouble but Michael was insistent, he kept pestering and asking different questions until I finally revealed the truth.

“The person is actually Alpha Jackson but he only wants the baby, he doesn't want me,” I murmured, clouded by sadness.

“Jackson? That same bastard that is ruthlessly killing rogues? His end day is definitely near,” Michael said through gritted teeth.

“I will kill him and feed his body to dogs,” he swore before storming out of my room.

I just hope the storm approaching doesn't hit harder than expected.

Chapter 5

Cecilia's pov

It was midnight but I wasn't sleeping, my lonely posture was resting by the window side, watching the beauty of the night. My body is extremely tired and needs rest but I can't just force myself to sleep.

I can't really pinpoint the reason but I suspect it's because my body isn't used to the new strange environment.

Unconsciously, I began running my hand across my stomach. At first, it felt warm but overtime, i began feeling extricating pain. I shut my eyes as I bit hard on my lips till I could feel the familiar metallic taste.

My body began to shake as bead of sweat gathered on my forehead, my breath grew louder while I tried to move to a more comfortable position. The more I tried, the more it felt like a waist of time.

I tried to steady my body against the window frame but my hands were already very weak and this made me fall heavily on the floor.

I groaned loudly as i tried to protect my belly with my hand. I rolled in pain as I tried hard not to scream.

‘What is happening to me? Why is everything getting harder for me?’ I couldn't help but think as I tried to distract myself from crying.

I tried hard to stand up but all my effort proved abortive, I could feel my energy draining away while I remained fixed on the floor, literally expecting the worst thing to happen. I was about to close my eyes when a gush of air suddenly rushed inside the room… the door was swung open and the panting Micheal's face came to my view.

“Thank you moon goddess,” I managed to mutter before I finally closed my eyes.

….

The unstopping tingling sensation in my stomach woke me up, I warily opened my eyes as I tried to adjust to the ray of light in the room.

“Are you awake? Can you hear me? How are you feeling?” Someone in the room asked and I turned around to face the owner of the voice, the person turned out to be Dorian.

“Can you hear me? How are you feeling?” He repeated himself.

I wanted to speak but my throat hurt badly, Michael quickly caught on it and passed me the jar filled with water. I gulped down all the content in a go.

“Thank you, “ I muttered, then wiped the little droplet that hung in the corner of my mouth.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I do feel better though it still hurts,” I said truthfully.

Dorian gave me an understanding gaze then he said, “I think the baby is being naughty,”

He turned to face Alpha Michael and added, “I am sorry to say but it might occur frequently and the pain might get even worse,” my heart skipped a bit at the mention of the pains I will still go through.

“What is the solution? You are a healer and you should have encountered something similar to this or haven't you?”

Dorian took in his lips and happened to be in deep thoughts, it took only seconds before he spoke again, “ I have indeed encountered something similar but I was still with my teacher then.”

Alpha Michael nodded, imploring him to continue.

“What I was taught was that immediately the victim shifts, the pain will go away like it never existed,” my heart fell because I was quite expecting a great solution. It turned out that the available solution can't even help me.

“But you know that she can't shift right? At Least for now,” Michael said In a worried tone.

Dorian went into another deep thought then suddenly, his eyes lit up, “I just remembered something now, I think we can heal Cecilia.”

He was all smiles, looking genuinely confident and happy.

The eager Michael also asked, “what is the available solution?”

“I was consulting in the rest of the healers and someone suggested immersing her In the supernatural rogie water,”

“Ohh, I have heard of the mysteriousness before, it is definitely worth it,” Micheal admitted but almost immediately, Dorian spoke up again.

“There is a condition though, only one person is allowed to escort her to the water and the person can't be any of us the healers. Also, the location is located outside of the pack so it is not totally safe,” I could sense the sadness in Dorian’s voice and to be honest , he is such a genuine man.

“What do you suggest we do then?” Michael asked. They began to have various suggestions but someone, it will always end up having loopholes. At the end, Michael said something;

“How about I escort her? I meet all the conditions right?”

Dorian was cat tongued, too shocked to speak.

“Bu…. But you are the Alpha, I mean you are the Alpha here and you can't be absent for long,” Dorian complained, stuttering throughout the statement.

“And who said I was going to be there for a long time? I am the only one that can be trusted with her, I am still the strongest in the pack. No one can protect her better than me, we need her in the pack and as the Alpha, it it my duty to bring everything beneficial here,”

Dorian remained silent and after a long time, he shrugged, “ it is fine then. We can begin the journey tomorrow,” as usual, he packed up his instrument and left.

Michael called on the maids and they began packing up stuff for me, constantly asking me about what I wanted and what I didn't. After several hours of deliberation, it was now dawn and everywhere has grown quiet, so we finally finished packing.

“Thank you all for assisting me,” I thanked all the maids and all of them bowed in response. They matched out in a row but as soon as it got to the last maid, she paused and stared briefly at me before muttering a disturbing word.