Alcina could feel the earth changing beneath her paws and ran harder. It was becoming less damp which meant she was getting close to yet another territory. She had run through three different pack territories in the past two days. She didn't stop for anything, not even a drink or sleep. Part of her feared they were right behind her and the other part was glad to be free to run. Racing through the woods she stopped, coming to a clearing.
She stopped walking and looked around. It was the most beautiful and peaceful place she's ever seen. Just as she was taking in the sights. Something slammed into her side cause her told roll a few feet back. Jumping to her feet she looked to see what hit her. Standing about five feet away now in the middle of the clearing was a large dirt brown wolf while others began to emerge from the forest behind it. The hit caused Alcina to realize how tired she was. She had to find a way out. She was too wore out to fight. She looked to the left and then the right before darting to the left and into the forest.
*Xavier
Miles away the alpha of red dawn pack sighed before tossing his pen down and leaning back. He had been staring at the packs finance numbers all morning and his head was begining to hurt. Ever since they claimed the land to the east it felt like all he did was paperwork. Oh what he would give just to get out and let his beast run. A knock at the office door broke his thoughts.
"Enter." He said straightening the finance papers and switching them out for the training schedules for the new shifts in the pack.
"Alpha, it's urgent. Fae says they found a rouge in the clearing." His beta, John, said immediately after opening the door. "She says they need your help. Apparently it doesn't wanna be caught."
Of course, John was here to answer his silent prayer. He silently praised his beta and stood up. He walked to the door grateful to be able to stretch.
"Then let's go play, John." He couldn't help but let a wide grin spread across his face as he passed his beta. Once out of the house he pulled his shirt and dark blue jeans off and shifted on the run.
"Location check!" He sent through the packs mind link and got flashes of his guards location. Running slightly south west he caught up to his guards in just five minutes. They stood circles around a tree and he could recognize Fae's growl. The small crowd parted without even looking at him. As he approached the front he could see a small white wolf with a patch of black fur on its right eye. He approached the strange wolf and let out a low growl, filled with alpha energy. The wolf crouched slightly but refused to submit fully. He walked closer baring his teeth and pressing them to her throat. A clear warning. Submit, or die.
"We have to shift." Her wolf cowered at the commanding alpha before her. With nothing to eat or drink, she would surely not survive since she can't heal. Before Alcina could protest her wolf began to fade causing her to shift back. The pack watched as the woke shrank down to a battered girl. The girl swayed slightly before falling into unconsciousness.
"Get her to the hospital." Xavier demanded though the mind link. "I'll be there in an hour."
His pack huffed in agreement and others helped Fae slide the girl onto her back and she set off to the south. Xavier ran back to the pack house to get dressed and have a room prepared. If everything checked out then the girl would be permitted to stay.
"John, have a room prepared just in case. There was something strange about this one. Her scent was off." He told his beta as he walked out of the ensuite bathroom.
"What do you mean smelled off?" John questioned looking at his alpha with a scrutinizing look. He stopped for a moment thinking about how best to explain. The rouge still had a slight pack smell but it was overpowered by the scent of cotton candy. All rouges usually smelled like death but this one was different. She looked unique too. There was something on her right eye that looked too familiar. He touched the burn scar over his left eye. Who was she? Images of her beaten body began to flash in his brain and for some reason it bothered him.
"Just do it. I have a feeling we'll need it." He said shaking away the thoughts. He had acted tough in front of his pack but he couldn't help but worry about the girl.
"At once, but Xavier?" John waited until Xavier looked up at him. "I have a strange feeling about this. Just be careful."
John left the room and Xavier slipped on his shoes and grabbed his keys heading to the hospital. It was a short ride from the pack house, only a tem minute drive. When he got to the hospital he parked in front and immediately went inside.
"Alpha. We got your new arrival." A red haired doctor greeted him.
"So? What's her situation?" He said walking down a long hallway with the man.
"It's not very pretty. Dehydration, years of malnutrition, scars and other signs of severe abuse. She had a small contusion on her head that needed stitches. Where did you even find this girl?" He asked standing before room 122.
"The woods. She crossed into our land this morning." He didn't offer any more information about it so the doctor moved on.
"She's in here. We've given her a little pain relief but not much until we can find out her tolerance and allergies." The doc said pointing to the room. Xavier turned and pushed the door open , stepping into the room. Xavier sniffed staring at the brown haired girl on the bed. The cotton candy smell filled his nose again and she rolled to her other side. The sight before her caused him to suck in a sharp breath. The back of the gown was slightly open and he could make out both white and pink scars on her back. Wolves shouldn't scar. He decided she must have been starved and beaten with a silver tipped whip.