The Alpha's Rogue Princess

Prologue.

"Tell me the story again, mama."

"Which story, my love?"

"The one with grandma!"

Mother smiles. "You hear this one almost every night."

"Please..." I pleaded.

She softly laughed. "Okay."

She put the soft warm blanket over me and lay next to me.

"Long ago, when deities came to existence, the moon was born, and with it, the moon goddess-"

"Grandma!" I shouted.

She laughed trying to shush me. "Yes, grandma. The goddess of the moon was a beauty to be behold by many. She was worshiped by many cultures throughout the world, even now some still do and she is known by many names. She is the personification of a mother, wisdom, and healing. She has sway over the dream realm, and the domain of magic—both light and dark. Her element is water. She is linked to fertility, childbirth, the protector of women, and is mother to the creatures of the night-"

"Like daddy."

She nodded as I interrupted again. "Daddy and you."

I smiled, petting my little wolf stuffed animal.

Mom continued. "The moon goddess had eight daughters-"

"You and aunties!" I interrupted again.

She chuckled at my excitement. "Aunties and me, yes. The first of us, Ceridwen, was like a mother to all of us. Then there was Cybele-"

I shook my head. "Bad auntie."

"Well, she wasn't always bad. But you don't have to worry about her now."

I nodded.

"After she, came Arianrhod, then Sophia-"

"Then you! Mommy! Diana!"

She giggled. "Yes, then me. After me was Artemis, then Hecate, and then the youngest of us all, Selene."

I clapped.

"Mother Moon would send her daughters throughout the land to help her children, her creations like the werewolves who to this day worship her. Throughout the centuries, she sent me to many places too, until one day-"

"Daddy! Daddy!"

She laughed and nodded. "Yes, she sent me to Daddy and then-"

"Then I was born!" I interrupted once more.

"Yes. There are more details to that but I'll tell you more when you are older."

"Can't I hear it now?"

"You are just five, so no. Time for bed."

"Aww."

She gave me a big hug and a kiss before she tucked me in and left the room.

I was too excited after the story but that was almost every night. I got up and I pitter-pattered to the window where I opened the curtain. The light of the moon hit my skin and I glowed in what mom called moon sigils. Grandmother's light was warm and calming.

I opened the window to let the cool night wind in.

"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." A voice came from the darkness.

I looked out of the window and up to see a man sitting on the ledge of the roof.

"What is your name?" He asked.

I slowly shook my head. "Mommy and Daddy told me never to give strangers my name."

He nodded. "I agree with them."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am a friend of your grandma." He looked up. "She sent me."

"She did?! Why?"

"To be your friend."

I smiled. "I like making new friends."

"Good. Now go back to bed. We'll meet again."

He smiled as his dark eyes peered down at me...eyes that at that time I did not know would come to haunt me in my future.

{Fifteen years later...}

I fall...

"Nooo!..."

...I am falling.

It is like a movie unfolding in slow motion. I swing my arms trying to find a grip as I look up at the wicked grin that imprints in my memory.

My stomach turns, I know I am going to die, and even though to me it looked like everything was happening slowly, the pain as I hit the bottom of the cliff brings me back to reality.

My head feels like it has been split open and my back feels like it has been crushed.

All I see is darkness and his smile...her smile...who was it? Who was it that killed me?

***

-Vincent's POV-

I quietly watch the rogues enter my territory.

I hold my hand up, palm open. My warriors anxiously wait for my signal from behind me.

When the rogues go past my imaginary threshold, I close my fist.

My warriors and I shift but they stand still until I make my move. I know I don't have much time so I waste none and start running. My pack follows.

When the rogues make note of our presence, they speed up but soon they realize that they can't outrun us so they try to split up. We don't let them.

"Vincent...I can't keep it up much longer." Bastian—my wolf—says to me in my head.

I can feel how he struggles.

"Hold it for as long as you can!"

The rogues run out of the woods and into a field that only houses cattle and grass. The animals quickly make way for the rogues and us to pass. They are used to our presence but this startles them.

"I... can't! I am about to...lose control..." Bastian shouts. "Shift!"

He lets go of control and I shift as fast as I can, watching my pack move in unison. They stick together as if they were herding sheep.

"Corner them!" I shout now back in my human form. The only time I can trust myself to have control.

It is becoming more exhausting as Bastian is able to keep control longer.

"Don't let them out!" I shout.

Conrad—my brother—is the first one to pounce on one of them and like a domino effect, the others follow.

"Good job! Leave only one alive."

They do as I say and as I turn to make my way back to the packhouse, Father walks into the field.

"Dad." I lower my head.

"How many this time?" He asks.

"Eight."

"They are becoming bold these rogues." He mutters.

I nod. "And seem to be forming bigger groups."

He nods. "Good job. How long?"

I look down, holding my sigh in. "More than five minutes this time."

"Good. Did anyone see you struggle?"

"No."

"Good. Keep it that way. You are my firstborn and by our law, you will be taking over the pack but...if anyone finds out about your little problem...things might have to change."

My little problem...ever since I got my wolf, my wolf and I have only been able to keep control for just a few minutes. After, we lose all control and go wild, feral. The first time I shifted I almost killed my father. The only reason I didn't was because my brother and beta Keegan were able to subdue me. Only my dad, his Beta Keegan, one of my two brothers—Conrad— and my best friend Lance know about this.

Unfortunately, even though I have the most control over my human form— when the full moon comes around—I lose control, unwillingly shifting and causing havoc. On full moons, I have to be locked and chained. Not something normal with our kind because we are supposed to have control over our wolves—for the most part.

It is frustrating, to say the least. No doctor has been able to find out why I am like this. Father doesn't like to talk about it and doesn't want me to bring it up and because of this, I feel like he knows something. The doctors believe that it could be because of some sort of trauma I experienced when my mother died. But I don't even remember it.

When we finish with the hunt, we head back to the pack house where I meet with Dad at the office.

"It is good that we are seeing some improvement but it is not enough." He says.

"I can add another hour into my training," I tell him.

He nods. "Yes, do that."

I nod with eagerness.

"But make sure it is not disrupting your football training. You know what I always say. Once you start something-"

"You finish it." I finish for him.

He nods. "How did football help last semester by the way?"

"Good! Having to turn off my wolf side through the games and training I feel helps with getting better control."

I can't be hurting humans so I can't use any of my werewolf strength. I have had to learn how to hold back.

"Good, then you were right. It was a good idea." He speaks. "Helps that we enjoy this human sport."

When he is watching me on the field it is the only time we feel like normal father and son. He is a very strict man and to be honest, ever since I was a child, all I ever wanted to do was make him proud. He has always had expectations of me as the eldest son but when I got my wolf, everything came crumbling down on me. I was raised and trained to be the next Alpha. It is all I know and all I want to do but when I got my wolf, all of that was almost taken away from me. My brother Conrad was the one who convinced Father to give me a chance. Conrad does not wish to be Alpha and he has made it abundantly clear though if Father makes him, he will have to step up. This is why I work extra hard. Not just to please my father but also to make up for the control I lack. However, the difference is clear, and many pack members notice it. My control problem is a liability but I am the strongest in the pack, even stronger than my Alpha father. I am bigger than an Alpha wolf—which no one has ever seen before—I am faster and stronger and that is saying a lot since werewolves have unnatural speed and strength. But having no control puts the pack at a disadvantage. If I was ever needed—if my wolf strength was ever needed—I would no doubly fail. I need to be better; I need to be stronger.

"It is great that you are doing better, Son, but finding a mate is crucial. I am sure that a lot of this is because your wolf is too strong for you. It is something to be proud of but it does hinder you in the end."

"You always have believed this, haven't you?" I ask.

"Yes because, weak, you are not." He proudly says. "I am sure that once you have your mate, your wolf and body will align. Mates make us stronger in body and soul."

This is what he believes but I am not so sure about it. We really don't know what is causing this uproar inside of me.

My father's Beta walks in. "Alpha, the rogue is ready for interrogation."

Dad gets up and nods. "I think I will break this one myself." He says. He has a hatred for rogues, as does our pack. Rogues killed my mother. I was four and though I was present, I don't remember a thing. They would have killed me too if Father had not gotten there in time.

"I'll be heading to the campus now. Going to scope out things." I tell him.

He snarls. "Just because those rogues pretend to be civilized doesn't mean they are. Keep an eye on them."

I nod. "Of course."

There is a difference between wild rogues who have chosen to let their primal instincts lead them and rogues who have chosen to live more human lives in the cities and suburbs. The ones we deal with daily trying to break through our territory lines are the primal feral rogues. They are savages and will kill anyone, even children. The non-primal ones pretend to be civilized, living in the city and on campus acting like normal humans but deep down they are just as bad as those wild ones.

It is all the same to us and our pack though, they are unwanted and I need to make sure that none of them step out of line.

***

-Peggy's POV-

Music plays in the background of the car as I write and wait for Mom and Dad to say their goodbyes.

I let my pen glide through the paper. "Magic exists and werewolves are real, I know... because I am one. We live to be free and yearn for a mate. We love hard and tend to have a temper. These are all typical facts of our kind. But I am different. I am more than just a werewolf and thanks to that, we have to hide. This book is about...about... scratch that! none of that! Let's make this a manifesting journal! My perfect man will have a big butt, blue eyes, he will be six feet and will have muscles for days-"

"What are you doing?" Mom asks, now finished with Dad. She comes up to me and opens the car door.

I immediately close my notebook, feeling my cheeks burn. "N-nothing!"

She looks confused. "O... kay... are you...are you writing a book?"

"No! Leave it alone!" I toss the notebook to the floor of the car.

"Is it...about raunchy stuff?" She asks and wiggles her eyebrows with a smile.

"MOM!"

"What? We are all adults here." She laughs.

"Mom, I swear, next time I'm going to use a permanent red marker on your lips when you go to sleep if you keep at it. And it will not. Be. Pretty."

Her eyes flare as she wipes her lips once more today trying to get the red marker off of her lips. "You already did!! And it has not come off yet!"

"I cover my mouth trying not to laugh.

"It would be fine if it outlined the lip perfectly but IT. DOES. NOT! You'd think that someone who likes painting and is going to major in it would do a better job. I look like a damn clown!"

I can't help it, and start laughing.

"It is not funny Peggy! I have to go in public like this!"

"Girls, please." Dad says as he gets into the driver's seat. The mediator of our little family.

Mom takes a deep breath. "Fine...come here, my love." She pulls me in a hug and bear hugs me.

"I'll miss you." I whisper.

"I'll be back soon. Just...please, give this a chance."

I sigh. "Yeah, fine."

After the hug, I get back in the car and Dad heads off, leaving Mom behind waiting for her ride to the airport but I start laughing again because her lips look so bad.

I am nineteen but when I am with my parents, I act like a child.

"You are so mean sometimes." Dad mutters.

"I am not. It's just...good simple fun."

He smiles and shakes his head but then his eyes land on my journal.

"Are you writing a book?" He asks as he drives.

"Stop! I'm just.... writing things."

"Hmh... is about us?"

"No..."

"Am I handsome in your story?" He laughs.

"Eew! It's not funny."

"We should shave his head when he falls asleep." My wolf—Antheia says in my head. Only I can hear her. "Just one swing of the electric razor on the back where he will not notice. He'll wake up without a clue."

"That's going too far, Antheia. All he did was laugh."

"And he is still laughing. Maybe we should even super glue the shaved hair to his upper lip and give him a mustache."

"No."

"Ugh! I have so many ideas and you never indulge me."

"Cause you are over the top most of the time."

I sense Dad looking at me now that he has stopped laughing. I look at him and see his amber eyes giving me glances.

"You look like you are thinking. Don't get any ideas."

Now I laugh. He knows me too well.

"Don't worry, since I am not living with you anymore, you don't have to sleep with an eye open." I tell him.

He sighs. "I shouldn't be surprised that this is how you turned out after sharing my family DNA. You act like my sister more every day. The CRAZY sister!"

I laugh remembering Aunt May. I have a big family from both my dad and mom's side but I have not seen many of them in years.

Remembering the reason why, makes me feel just a bit down.

"Dad, why do I have to do this?" I ask, changing the subject.

"We've already talked about this, Peg."

"Yeah but..." I take a deep breath. "...fine."

"Give it a chance." He says. "Trust me, I don't want to do this either. I'd rather have you home with me safe but...Mom is right. You know nothing of the world. I hate to say it but... by keeping you away from the world, we might have done you wrong."

The thought of being on my own makes me anxious...then again, everything makes me anxious. And it now peaks as we reach our destination.

Dad stops the car, gets out, and opens the trunk as I slowly get out as well. I stand there staring at the buildings in front of me.

"I really don't like this, Dad."

"I know, Peggy, but it is the best idea." He puts the suitcase on the ground.

"Is it?" I ask.

"It is either try this or keep hopping from city to city or state to state...at this rate, we might have to leave the country. And also, your mom and I will not be here forever. You need to experience the world."

I agree, I am tired of running, of hiding and so is he. I hate this idea but it is all we have left to do now. To try and live a normal life as if we were normal people because running away has not been working.

Dad looks up at the college building.

"Peggy... please...don't cause any trouble here."

I roll my eyes. "You always say the same thing."

He gives me a pointed look. "You know why I always say the same thing. But this time I mean it. The dean here...will not see kindly to you."

I sigh.

We are rogues now and have been for a long time. It was the only thing we could do to keep everyone safe.

"You know the plan. Our new home is just five minutes away. Having you live here on the college campus instead of with us would mean that there will be more time to alert you if we are found. Our home would be the first place to go looking for you. It's all a precaution."

I sigh again. "And I am supposed to blend in and really study? Hugh!"

He chuckles. "Look at this experience as an opportunity to live a normal life if only for a while. Peg, you are an adult now, and you can choose to do what you wish but your mother and I think this is the best way to stay invisible. Let us keep you safe." He looks up at the university that stands in front of us. "We have sheltered you too much...too long." His eyes fall on me looking a bit remorseful. "We thought we were doing the right thing and it kept you safe but...you have not lived, not really. You have lived in constant fear all of these years and all you have learned is how to run when things get hard. This...will be a new experience for you. You'll be on your own, I mean not really because we will be blowing up your phone and we will be close by but...you need to interact with the world...not just me, your mother, and your canvases."

I pout. "It's not just you and mom, I see my aunties too."

"You know what I am trying to tell you. Your mother and I won't be here forever. You need to learn how to take care of yourself."

"I know how to take care of myself." I argue.

"I don't mean hunting or fighting."

I take a deep breath. "Fine. But you know how college is. You've seen all those movies. Not my fault if I end up having a bit too much fun." I wiggle my eyebrows and he knows exactly what I mean.

"No, you won't!" His eyes flare.

"And how do you know that? I am a young girl now all alone in the world."

"Because I know you and you are being dramatic. We are just five minutes away."

I was hoping that he would say "Never mind. Let's go back home."

"Whatever. Let's get this over with." I pout.

He smiles as he takes all of my belongings from the car and I just watch him, waiting for him to be finished before I point at him with a bigger wicked smile now. "You parked at the wrong spot. These are not the dorms."

"What!" He shouts.

I start laughing like a maniac.

"Goddammit, Peggy. You should have told me. Why do you always do these things?" He complaints.

I shrug. "Mom says I got it from your side of the family."

He grunts and starts picking up the bags and putting them back in the car as I watch and laugh.

"You can be a real brat at times." He mumbles under his breath.

My eyes widen when I see people walking in our direction through the sidewalk. I stop laughing and straighten up, trying to act like a nineteen-year-old normal person. I am not used to people. I am only used to my parents and aunts so when it comes to other people, I tend to be a bit distrustful.

As they walk past us, I first notice their scent. They are not human. I am surprised but I shouldn't be. I knew that many werewolves went to this college. It is the closest college to many packs. Then I notice the marking of a bite on their necks.

Mates.

My eyes examined their faces. They look so in love. That is what the mate bond does or at least that is what I have been told. For us werewolves, it is very different in the way we find a partner to a human. When a male wolf is interested in a female, he imprints on her. This creates a bond that grows and if the female accepts him, they mark each other and become mates. Dad explains it as a beautiful thing but I am on the fence about it. He says that it is an unbreakable bond that ties two souls together and they love each other more than anything in this world. I can see that with my parents. The love they have for each other is beautiful. And my mom is not even a werewolf.

Unfortunately, not everyone will love their mate unconditionally. I wish everyone would be more realistic when painting a mate bond because I have heard horrible stories where some partners can be cruel to their mates. All I know is that I am not settling, ever. If I do get a mate, I want our bond to be like my parent's bond. I have seen them through the good and the bad and their bond is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. But it doesn't really matter anyway. Getting a mate right now would just complicate things too much. I can't have a mate while I am running and hiding.

After Dad puts everything back in the car, we drive around the campus until finally we find the dorm rooms, or at least we think we do.

"This is it, right?" We now stand in front of a building with some of my bags and boxes on the sidewalk. It is complete chaos. There are many others moving in today as well. It looks like a chicken coop with chickens running around aimlessly.

"This is the one, right?" He asks again.

"Is it?" I ask back, smiling at him.

"Peggy..."

"It looks like one dorm room building...but is it mine? There are many dorms on campus." I innocently smile. "But hey, by all means, take all the luggage out. We can find out later."  I pat my shorts and then fix my black jacket acting nonchalantly.

"Goddess we are so bratty and I love it." Antheia says in my head, laughing.

"You are being very childish right now." He says stumping towards a student staff member in the building entryway while I stay back here leaning on the car still acting nonchalant, hoping it is not the building so I can vex him some more. Now—even though I am—I am not trying to be a bratty daughter right now; I just don't want to live here. I love my parents and I love the life I have with them no matter how hard it is. I know they are not trying to get rid of me, they are only doing this because it seems like the best thing, they think it will keep me safer and also let me experience the world but I would rather stay with them.

I watch everyone and there are so many people here. I am not used to being around crowds like this. My attention is now on a guy who dances in the middle of the walkway. He has headphones on and his sole focus is on his dancing. I find it so strange, probably because I can't hear the music so to me, he is dancing to nothing.

As I am deep in thought, I immediately jump on the hood of the car when I sense a guy flying in my direction and he lands at my feet, right where I was standing just a moment ago. He hits the tire and the car shakes with me on top of it. I gasp so fast that I choke on my spit and start coughing, watching the scene that unfolds in front of me.

"Motherfucker!" The guy on the ground grunts.

"Fuck with me again. Do it..." Another guy warns. This one gives me chills even before I lay my eyes on him.

The first thing I notice are his tatted arms and I see some peaking from his chest through the hem of the neck on his shirt. He has a chiseled jaw that tenses up as he looks at the other guy. His scrutinizing eyes are a grayish blue and his hair is an ashy blond. His hair is trimmed on the sides but long and messy on the top. His muscles ripple through his arms and chest as he flexes.

"Damn...manifesting does work..." Antheia whispers.

"You really think you are shit!?" The guy on the floor spits out.

"I own this bitch! Ask anyone!" The muscular man motions to the campus. He is definitely a werewolf, I can smell him, and by his oppressing aura, he is most likely an Alpha, the strongest amongst werewolves.

The guy on the floor gets up, stumbling back, and then cleans his bloodied lip. "Wait until my pack finds out, you fucking prick..." He is also a werewolf and I am completely sure both of them are because pack werewolves don't—or rather—aren't allowed to hurt humans.

"Go ahead, tell everyone. Let everyone know." Not once did this muscular man shout, he didn't need to. The way he speaks is intimidating already.

I shift my movement as this oppressing man watches the guy with the bloodied lips leave.

I bring my legs in and kneel on the hood of the car trying to steady myself and as I look up, the guy is now close to my own face and stares at me directly.

"Your eyes..." His fists lay on each side next to my knees and he leans in. I pull back just a bit afraid that his lips will touch mine, but only just a bit because though I am startled, I am also drawn to him.

"Damn, you are beautiful." He mutters, his breath tickling my skin.

"W... what?" I am shocked at his bluntness.

He smells good too, there is a manly scent about him that really draws me in.

"Who...is this?" Antheia asks in my head with amusement but I have no mind to answer her.

His blue eyes suddenly stare at my lips and I shiver.

He then looks up again into my eyes now looking unhappy.

"Mh...but a rogue." He mutters.

"Enough..." I hear dad say.

The guy takes a step back and looks at Dad as Dad gives him his warning look.

Dad might be a Beta but he is older and a seasoned werewolf. Anyone can tell and feel how strong he is.

"Mh..." The handsome man grunts and backs up. He gives me one last look and then turns and leaves.

I watch him walk away with just a tinge of excitement but it is not me—it is my wolf who is feeling like this—me? I am faintly intrigued but mostly I am mortified.

He called me a rogue...a werewolf with no pack who runs on their own or with others like them...a werewolf who has no control of their temper and has no love for following rules, a dangerous, almost wild creature—at least those rogue that tend to live in the wild are. Father has told me of city rogues who are civilized but packs see all rogues as the same. They call any werewolf who does not belong to a pack, a rogue.

We come from a pack but technically, we are rogues now. We can't associate with any of my family packs or I would be putting them in danger. That is why we had to leave. I have no scent of a pack on me and that is how they can tell I am a rogue.

"Are you okay?" Dad asks me.

Snapping out of my stupor, I nod as I climb down from the car.

Dad looks in the direction the guy went. "You'll be dealing with a lot like his kind here, steer clear of them if possible."

Again, looking back at the sizzling handsome guy, I nod.

"I think I am going to like it here." Antheia whispers.

Dad claps. "Alright, we are at the right building. Let's get this started."