Page 1 of Virtually Guarded

Chapter One: Ren

Gasping, panting, I ran.

On four legs, because I was a wolf. That was what he—the nice one—had told me. I was a werewolf. Sometimes human, sometimes wolf.

My thoughts were on repeat because the agony from my wounds occupied most of my consciousness. I was a wolf, and thinking that over and over kept the pain from overwhelming me. The pain and the blood.

The pursuers. They were after me. They wanted to finish what they’d started back in that concrete-floored room. Injuries weren’t enough. They wanted me dead.

I was heading north. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but there was no question. North was right, because north was where the Anax was.

I hoped the Anax would help me.

The nice one had claimed to be the Alpha. In charge of a pack, the pack I’d been brought to. A wolf had attacked me. That made me a werewolf too, and werewolves belonged to packs.

From the way the nice one explained it, the Anax was sort of a super-Alpha. In charge of all the packs in the United States. And the Anax was nearby. Some instinct in me felt him, the power drawing me like a lighthouse beacon.

Except lighthouse beacons weren’t supposed to draw people. They were supposed to keep ships away so they wouldn’t wreck. So they wouldn’t be destroyed.

The Anax might destroy me. That was what they had said after they started beating me. I was wrong. Fucked-up. I deserved to be destroyed, and the Anax wouldn’t want a werewolf like me in this country.

The sun beat down on me, so hot I felt faint, but I couldn’t stop. I needed water. Maybe the Anax would give me water. Bushes and thin branches scored my skin, but there was nothing I could do about that. They were behind me somewhere. I’d escaped, barely, before they could end me. They wanted to finish the job. I had to keep moving toward that power-beacon, toward the Anax. Maybe they were telling the truth when they said he would want me destroyed, but maybe they were lying. Maybe they only said it to justify their own hate.

I had to hope that was the case. Otherwise, I was dead.

Shivering, I ran faster, even though it felt like steel spikes through my legs and the paw they’d slashed. The blood loss was getting to me. Some of the scratches and shallower wounds had already started to heal, and they itched like fuck. Werewolves healed fast, the Alpha had said. But some of the damage they’d done was more severe, and blood droplets scattered behind me as I ran.

I kept running toward the power that I hoped was the Anax, because I needed him. To help me or to kill me, I didn’t really care which anymore. Either one would stop the pain.

Either one would stop the pack from coming after me and killing me themselves.

Shaking more violently now, I pushed through branches. My vision blurred. I didn’t see the thorns until they were in my skin. They stung, ripped at skin that was already ripped, and I bit back a yelp. The Anax was nearer now. Right in front of me.

Sanctuary or death. I didn’t know which.

You are intruding on the Anax’s property. Identify yourself.

At the sudden, strong voice in my mind, I did yelp. That wasn’t my thought.

The Anax. Was that him? The Alpha had said werewolves in leadership ranks had bonds to those under their rule and could speak into their minds. Was I hearing the Anax?

I stopped on trembling legs. My legs felt heavier, and even the leaves and branches directly in front of me were blurry. I wanted to lie down. Sleep. Maybe forever. My breathing was so loud it hurt my ears, and I still wasn’t getting enough air.

Show yourself. The voice was more compassionate now. Tell me who you are.

Something pushed on me, forcing me to obey whether I wanted to or not. Reluctantly, I started walking forward, struggling now as my feet didn’t want to lift off the ground. Everything hurt, and I couldn’t hold back a few whimpers among my ragged inhales and exhales.

Ahead of me, I saw him. A white wolf, glowing in the sunlight. Power radiated from him. I couldn’t have ignored his orders if I’d wanted to. Shaking, panting, I emerged from the trees in front of him and immediately dropped to my belly. He was the Anax. I felt it. I had to show that I knew he was in charge.

He was imposing. Terrifying. He could hurt me. Or help me. Quaking, I lay still, waiting for him to do or say something.

Your name?

The gentleness of the question stunned me, and for a second, I didn’t know how to answer. Ren, I said finally. I hitched in a breath. Anax.

Yes. I’m Tobias Rogan. The Anax. He sat beside me.

For too long, he said nothing. Did nothing. And I couldn’t move, because if I did, he might take it wrong. I didn’t know all the rules. Hell, I didn’t know any of them. I might threaten him without even knowing I was doing it.