Three

Ruby insisted on us spending the day together. It was going well until we ran into Jack and Wayne at the arcade in the mall.

"Preying on another innocent girl Ryan?" Jack asks walking up to us.

"Beat it Jack you guys got what you deserve I preyed on no one." I snap at him.

"Who's this little girl then? Maybe I should show her the "kindness" you showed my sister." He hisses grabbing Ruby's arm. I go for him but he bears his teeth near her neck.

"Let her go!" I yell.

"No." He whispers but before he can bite Ruby flips him over her shoulder.

I am boiling mad! This is not just land any more this is family! I see one of his pack mates and grab hold of her as Ruby gets free.

"Don't touch my family!" I yell at him and bite the girl. I throw her on top of him take Ruby's hand and run.

"Why did you bring that girl into it Ryan!" Ruby screams as we drive home.

"He doesn't understand the concept of off limits. I was protecting you! He will leave you alone now! She will be fine in a couple of days." I tell her.

"That's not ok Ryan! What if she has a mate! How will he feel about you marking her?" She continues to scold me.

"Doesn't matter it will be gone in a couple of days." I say. She just rolls her eyes.

"How can you not see this is wrong?" She asks but I stay silent.

It doesn't hurt anyone. The girl gets embarrassed the guys get the message. Leave us and what is ours alone! It's simple as that!

"I'm gonna go for a walk." I tell her as we pull up to the house. I decide to go to the park.

Most wolves live in the middle of nowhere. We are near LA the closest wilderness is the Angeles National Forest. It's harder to go free as a wolf when so close to a big city. We have to be careful when we run not to encounter hikers and campers. So I go to a small park near the house. I'm sure Ruby is telling Dad what happened and he will be calling me home soon so I can't go far.

"Ryan my office now!" Dad links me.

When I walk into the office I see Dad is the only one in here. He must have sent Ruby away.

"How many?" He asks as I take a seat opposite him.

"What?" I ask.

"How many girls have you marked?" He asks. He is so calm it is scary.

"Three." I tell him.

"Why?" A simple question... one I'm not sure how to answer.

"It makes them listen... they don't respect the boarder. Jack attacked Ruby! They don't listen unless you do something drastic!" I explain.

"And who made you think this was the rout you should take? I know you didn't think of it yourself. " Dad is still way too calm. I can feel the anger radiating off of him but his voice is steady.

"Ummm..." I look at the ground I don't want anyone else in trouble.

"Matthew?" He asks.

"No way Matt was against it all along!" I defend him.

"Bring Trayson in here now!" Father orders pushing a button on his phone. Soon Tray is seated next to me with his father, Gamma Zade, standing with his arms crossed behind him.

"What did my boy do now Alpha?" Gamma Zade asks.

"What exactly did you tell Ryan to do at the beach?" Father asks I see Tray gulp. His father smacks the back of his head.

"Answer your Alpha boy!" He orders.

"Ummm... I told him how some guys will punish those who cross their borders by marking them. I told him how the mark would fade and she would be fine but the embarrassment would stop them from coming back. And I couldn't do it because I have a mate!" Tray rants as quickly as he can.

"You are dead boy!" Gamma Zade growls.

"What?! Stacy came back to school perfectly fine! What is so bad about it?" I ask. this is ridiculous! They are fine!

"Marking someone who isn't your mate is wrong. Beyond wrong. It leaves mental scars long after the physical ones fade. The release of...." dad starts.

"No!" I yell. No way I hurt them! No way it was that bad! Tray said they would be fine! I'll prove them wrong!

I jump out of my chair and run to the door. I can feel my father chasing me. I see one of the girls in my class. I grab her and turn to face my father.

"Don't do it Ryan. You don't underst... "

"No you're wrong! I didn't... I couldn't hurt them... you're wrong! You'll see. I'm sorry Lisa but it will only last a couple days." With that I bite her shoulder and let her go.

"What did you just do?" Lisa stumbles back from me. "Why do you smell so good?" Next thing I know Lisa lunges at me. I feel my Dad grab me as Gamma Zade catches her. "He's mine! Let me go! I need him!" Lisa fights the Gammas hold but he simply stands firm keeping her off of my neck.

"You don't want him Lisa. Calm down pup." Gamma Zade trys to comfort her.

"No! I'm his! He's mine! Mate!" She yells.

"What?! Dad what's going on?" I am so confused. This didn't happen before.

"You marked her... the chemical reaction in her brain makes her want to return the favor." He explains.

"But the others didn't act like this!" I say. I didn't hurt anyone No! I... I...

"You didn't stick around with the others... plus Lisa is an omega. Stacy is an Alpha's pup... I'm gonna bet the others came from ranking wolves... at least wariors. The stronger the wolf the better they can resist it." Dad tells me.

I fall to the ground at my father's feet crying.

"I... I hurt them." I say gripping my knees to my chest. "I really hurt them... no wonder they hate me. I deserve it... so... they all had this happen? They all lost control? That's why they stayed home until the mark faded. They weren't just embarrassed... they had to stay away from me!" My Dad sits next to me and pulls me into a hug.

"In varying degrees yes... they were all drawn to you. Probably not as fiercely as Lisa but they were confused and angry and desperate to see you. The mark claims a person and once marked you want to return it. Deep down it pulls you to the person who marked you." Dad whispers to me. I can still hear Lisa screaming for me as her parents pull her away toward her room.

"I really screwed up." I say to myself. I feel my Dad sigh at my side.

"You really did pup." Is all he says before standing.

"I'm going to let the other Alphas know that you are no longer a threat to their packs. I assume that's true Ryan." I feel his eyes on me but I can't look up. I can't move my body. My lips won't form words. I nod in agreement. "Good... go to bed boy... there's nothing more you can do."

I hear his words but I can't move. I am scum. I am dirt. I belong on the floor not in my cozy bed. Tray and Gamma Zade pull me up and drag me to my room.

"Your father wants you to stay in here until the mark fades. She shouldn't have to be locked up for your mistake." Gamma Zade says as they drop me on my bed. I nod at him. I couldn't move if I wanted to. "As for you!" He grabs Tray by the ear. "You have a big mouth boy!" He drags Tray out of the room.

This isn't enough. I deserve so much worse. I can't go on like it's all ok. They may recover but what I did was wrong. What will my mate think when I find her? Will she hate me? I marked four other girls! How can she forgive that!? She will reject me. She will see me for the scum I am.

"You are an idiot!" My wolf says.

"And where have you been through all this?" I ask him.

"You were so caught up in yourself you wouldn't listen. Not to me, to Matt, your father. You are an idiot!" he yells at me

"I didn't argue with you the first time."

"And it's just as true the second... and the third. You. Are. An. Idiot!" he emphasizes each word.

"Thanks man."