"General Diem, should we wake her?"

"No need, you did good. I'll let Alpha Gian know what you discovered." Nodding, the two recruits took off down the snow-covered sloped ridge. Turning back, he gazed at the woman.

He couldn't see her face, nor most her body. She buried those parts of her within the butchered elk carcass. Crouching he heard light snoring leaving the hollowed-out chest cavity. No clothing lay around, only a winding blood trail. It emerged from a cluster of Aspens, zigzagging over the snowfall from the previous night. She must have chased the poor bastard up the mountain.

Perplexed he stood, using his foot to tap her backside. She wriggled like a snake, burying herself further. Scoffing, he glowered and reached inside.

She practically scrapped it clean in here.

When his hand grazed something that felt like hair, he grabbed a fistful and pulled, dragging her out.

"Wake up mutt."

*~*~*

Khalia jerked at the tightness on her head. The cold air on her wet flesh pricked her skin. Shivering, she reached up, determined to rub out the pounding headache.

"Diesel, stop. I'll let you out in 30 mins."

"Diesel? Is that your Alpha? Why are you in Cruel-Mane territory? Are you a rogue?"

Instantly her eyes flew open. Her hand sat atop another's. The hand was large and gripped her with such force that, if she wasn't frightened, she'd have beat him.

The air soon became suffocating, a pressure weighing down on her. Oddly a sense of familiarity passed and Khalia shuddered. She's felt this before. Feeling a pull to her scalp, she got up on her knees.

"Ow! You don't have to be fucking rough!"

The sunlight that warmed her abruptly vanished. He tilted her head back and her eyes widened at the hardened face. Bizarre yellow irises bore into her brown. Like Marigolds and Sunflowers. Its vibrant hue sent a wave of contentment buzzing in her body. His brown hair danced with the icy wind. The strong urge to sniff and taste him made her squint. It had to be the percs. Looking past his chest it was then that she recoiled.

"Motherfucker you're naked!"

"Diem!"

Hearing footsteps Khalia watched him turn his head, releasing the grip on her. Crawling backwards she collided with the trunk of a tall evergreen. Whipping her head to the right Khalia's eyes met green ones. They also met two other pairs, of which she chose to ignore. Acknowledging them would be acknowledging that she was naked.

Naked in the mountains, covered in blood...with other...naked individuals.

"Damn girl, you did a number in this one."

Heat rose to her face and she looked at the elk. Opening her mouth she managed a squeak. His accusation surprised her more than his genitalia waving in her face. This man was blessed and highly favored.

"Why are you hunting in Cruel-Mane territory? Where do you come from Kirma?"

That word again.

Khalia studied Green Eyes. Taking in his sable skin and high cheek bones. His voice was gruff yet silvery. Lucious locs rest atop his head in a lazy bun. His demeanor wasn't intimidating like Yellow Eyes. He made her feel...safe? If that was the correct word.

His words dawned on her. Wild eyes took in the macabre scene around them. The decapitated elk's body was torn open and chewed limbs were scattered around the area. Doing a 360, she spotted the head by a few yards away. Its eyes were missing, and the empty sockets cut into her. Taunting her, asking why she would commit a heinous deed. Glancing down at herself she took in the dried blood, fur, and fleshy bits.

"Is she mute, Diem?"

Green eyes spoke, scratching at his beard. He turned to Yellow Eyes.

"No, very vocal. I believe she might be fresh. No logical Lycan would waste a hunt like this."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Diem?

Alpha Gian?

Did he call me stupid?

The man called Alpha Gian let out a sigh. He looked at Diem then to the two other men who accompanied him. Silently they nodded and began descending on her. Gian stepped next to Diem, pulling him into conversation.

"Run."

The word rang in her mind like church bells. A deep urgency surged within. One man leered, dragging his eyes slowly over her body. The other gave a lascivious grin as he wrapped his cold fingers around her arm, yanking her from the ground.

"Fucking run."

As soon as Khalia stepped forward, she quickly lurched her body backwards. The unexpected force startled the men causing their hold to slip. With their hands off her she felt a hum pulse within.

"Run damn it! Fucking run!"

She booked it. She couldn't get caught. Not by four naked men in the mountains. Frantically she scanned the terrain, spotting a gap in a cluster of Aspen trees. They wouldn't provide the best coverage, but she hoped it'd hinder them.

Cutting to the left, Khalia made it pass two trees before a force rocked her from behind. Yelping, she went tumbling into the trees, along with her attacker. They rolled until a pile of downed trees stopped them. Her lungs were on fire and her back throbbed.

Face down she turned her head, panting. Her left cheek scraped the hardened layer of snow and a familiar copper taste filled her mouth. Going to raise her head she grunted when it forcibly got pushed down. The body on top of her sent warmth across her backside. Each breath they took, pushed her down into the cold.

They stayed out of her peripheral, spreading her legs with their own, and resting between them. At the base of her cheeks, she felt a large mass. Panicking, Khalia stretched out her arm, reaching for a rock nearby.

"It's in your best interest to stay still."

Khalia did exactly that. Especially when he placed his hand over her outstretched one, dragging it away from the rock. He spoke softly, no hints of aggression. Unlike Theo, his voice was hypnotic. Mellifluous and smokey. Vocal producers would kill for this man.

"Aye! Good job Diem! I wouldn't have caught her like that, but to each their own. Bring her down to the homestead and have her checked out! I'll catch up later."

"Wait! What! I don't even know what's going on! Get the fuck off me!"

At this, Khalia struggled to get up. She couldn't fathom going through another life-or-death ordeal. The thought of being at someone's mercy again sent her adrenaline pumping.

"So explain why you're in my territory? Is Micheal recruiting outside town? "

"Micheal? I don't know Micheal! I got home from a flight last night. I don't know what the fuck is going on. I swear."

Diem climbed off her, pulling her up by her arms to face Gian. The feeling of safety in his gaze vanished. The air became heavy and unpleasant. The two others whimpered before staring at the ground. Khalia herself kneeled slowly as an ache formed in her knees.

Gawking at Gian's cold expression she connected the dots. Diem tightened his hold, bringing leverage by pulling her up. He pushed her forward, positioning her two inches from Gian. She turned away while he towered over her.

"T...C?"

Cupping her chin, he bared her neck to the sky. Taking an icy hand, he dragged it along the raised flesh. Involuntarily she shivered at the sensitivity, and leaned against Diem. Gian stepped back. Grasping his own chin, he glared down at her.

"You're mated. For someone who doesn't know what's going on, you're very in tune to our customs. T.C? Is that your mate?"

"My what?"

Khalia's mouth fell open. She had not a clue what he was talking about, but she knew enough about that word from Nat Geo.

"I don't like repeating myself. Take her to the Main House basement. See if you can figure out who her mate is and contact him."

Contact him? Contact Theo?

Her lip trembled, and stomach churned. She fell back to her knees and Diem quickly released her. The men covered their noses. Diem looked to Khalia, who like a statue, stayed in place.

"No. Fuck...please, please don't find him! Theo can't- He can't find me. That guy...killed everyone...he took everything from me. I'll do whatever you ask."

Closing her eyes, she sniffled. Her heart drummed like stampeding stallions, pulsating in her ears. Wrapping her arms around herself she shivered. Naked, dirty and forlorn, she felt defeated. Gian waved his hand in front of his nose. A moment passed as he stared at Diem, then sighed.

"...Under normal circumstances, you'd be held for trespassing and tortured. Due to what you are and what you say...I'll make an exception. I won't contact your...the Lycan who marked you. Diem, escort her to a empty cabin near the border. The one nearest to town. I'll send an omega to assist. I gotta go, meetings and shit."

With that Gian trudged back to where the elk carcass lay. A broad smile went across his face and Khalia was transfixed by the change.

"You two take the carcass back to the Main House. She left some good bits!"

"Yes Alpha!"

She jumped at their synced voices. When they passed, she kept her gaze to the ground. Uncertain of what to do. The pressure had lifted and she took a deep breath. If she ran, she'll be caught. If she stayed, they might find him. Or worse...

A hand wrapped around her shoulder sending tendrils of warmth to her cold extremities. Diem pulled her up to her feet and arched a brow at her. Again, a wave of contentment took over gazing into his honey eyes. They were enticing like the aura that hummed around him.

This is black magic. He's a wizard or some type of shit. I shouldn't feel like this. Not while cold and naked on a mountain slope, and certainly not around a group of naked strangers!

She seized up when he approached her. Leaning into her space he brought his lips near her ear. She huffed and her eyes grew when his breath tickled her earlobe.

"Behave."

Khalia gasped as his hand clutched her wrist, locking down and leaving no room to wiggle. Instinctively she threw herself backwards. Growling when is grip didn't budge. A cocky grin spread across his face, and he dragged her down the slope.

"Follow me Kirma."

"It's Lia you jaundice-eyed goblin!"

Khalia covered her mouth with her free hand. That wasn't her. It sounded like her, a bit distorted, but she's never once thought those words. Diem stood by looking at her with a mixture of amusement and bemusement.

"Lia, you say. Well Lia, welcome to Cruel-Mane."