Chapter 4

KELIEGH

I'd already been unconscious twice today, but not once had a scent like this been the one to wake me up. Just like the scent of the rogues, it was hard to put a finger on the exact nature. However, unlike the scent in the woods, this one smelled… divine.

A deep inhale, and my lungs clogged up. My skin rippled with an almost barbwire-feel dragging across it. Although my body was weak, my wolf evidently wasn't, as her senses piqued up instinctively.

The moment i raised my head up, i saw the culprits sitting on the table with their arms crossed in front of them. Carbon copies of each other, they were. Not a single visible difference between the two. Perhaps twin brothers. Although the one on my right reeked of intense alchohol.

But that strong feeling just moments ago. Don't tell me these two were my—

"Get her some water" the one on my left said, and i heard scurrying in the back until a glass of water was placed in front of me. "You're pale. Drink it" he said, and i did exactly as i was told.

The moment i finished the glass of water though, he reached for it, and i was about to drop the glass in his palms, when he gently tugged the glass away and held my hand instead. My first instinct would've been to drag my hand away, but something about him felt… felt warm and genuine.

"Another injury?" he said, tilting his head to the side and assessing the injury on my wrist. "Our Omegas must not have seen this one" he looked at his brother beside him, and it felt like they communicated with just their eyes.

"No" the one on my right said adamantly. "I'm not doing that."

"You're already basically drenched in alcohol, it wouldn't hurt to lick one wound" he said. "Can't you see she's hurt?"

"I don't care. I'm not stopping that low. I won't do it—"

"There won't be any need to do anything" i said, and they both turned to look at me. "I know what this is" i made him release his grip on my hand. Summoning the strength, and gathering the courage, i said, "I, Keliegh Storm, Reject you as my—"

He covered my mouth before i could even let the words slip out.

"What do you think you're doing?" He whispered.

I didn't know when in the midst of everything, i broke into tears. My sobbing made him take his hand off me, and i cried even louder.

"Please release me" I cried. "I can't do this anymore. I just can't."

I buried my face in my palms but my tears kept pooling down.

"I don't know who either of you are, and i know this is fate's way of playing a stupid prank on me after all I've been through today…" i lifted my head up and stared into the warm eyes of the one that had covered my mouth, "...just let me go. Please."

His eyes warmed up, and the look on his face showed me that he was genuinely rethinking things, but then, all a sudden, the one right of me burst in anger!

"How dare you!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring me in the process. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to? I am not interested in whatever this is turning out to be, Ryker!" He turned to his brother, inexplicably furious. "Reject this woman and throw her out of here. Isn't it already shady enough that she was dropped here by Zen? For all i know, she could be a spy wokring with our enemies" he turned back to me. "I, Arnold Night, reject you, Keliegh Storm, as my—"

"Leave us, Arnold" Ryker, still seated and looking at me said. The words trickled down his mouth so calmly, even I was shocked.

"Heh?" Arnold burst out again. "You're choosing some tramp we found seconds ago over your—"

"Watch your mouth" Ryker thundered, and his brother stood dumbfounded. "I'm stopping you from making a decision you'll regret, but if you want to ahead and reject her, that's on you" he still said without even stopping to glance his younger brother.

Arnold took his eyes off Ryker and looked at me, boiling in anger… I could tell from his clenched fists. But instead of throwing a tantrum or outrightly rejecting me like he wanted to do, he walked out of the living room, and out of the house… fuming.

My eyes traced back to Ryker and the warm look he had on.

"Are you sure that—"

"He doesn't care" he answered me before i could ask. "He'll get over it before dusk" he added, tilting his head and getting a closer look at me in the process. "What happened to you?", he asked, and his words took me back a little.

"What?"

"...'After all I've been through today'" he dissected my words from just a couple moments ago. "What happened?" He asked, putting his right hand on top of my injured wrist, and his left hand beneath it. "You can trust me."

His hold was so warm, his words so gentle, and his eyes so hypnotic.

There and then, I confided in him, and told him everything. EVERY LAST DETAIL.

"... And that's why I have to run. That's why i have to keeo running" i almost cried yet again. "I don't know what he's done with my father, but I'm sure that if he catches me, he'll k—"

"We'll handle that" he said, and i felt lungs knock loose.

"What?"

"I mean…" he adjusted his posture. "...I've never heard of this 'moonlight' pack, but I'm pretty sure we'll be more than able to handle whatever they bring our way."

Our?

"Y… you don't understand, Ryker. I don't belong h—"

"Don't say that" he smiled, and got off the table, then squatted right beside me. "How bout we make a deal, Keliegh?"

"A… a deal?"

"Sure" he smiled. "How about… six months" he gesticulated with his fingers. "You can stay with my pack and I for six months, and we'll protect and stand by you during those six months. I give you my word" he said. "Whatever decision you choose to take after then, I'll happily oblige. How's that sound?" He said with a smile, and i was riddled to my bones.

He wasn't serious, was he? He'd just met me. Why would he offer such a proposal to some random bruised girl that just happened to show up at his… oh.

I wasn't just some random bruised girl. I was his mate. His fated mate. That was the only reason he was doing this.

"Something the matter?" He noticed the way my emotions swung.

"You're doing this so you can convince me to be your mate… right?" I lifted my head up and looked into his eyes. "That's the only reason you're—"

His gentle chuckle stopped me from talking any more. Almost everything he did had this majestic aura hovering around it.

"I mean, if that's the way you want to put it, sure" he adjusted the tufts of his curly black and brown hair. "But I'm not forcing you into a decision" he got up. "As a matter of fact, I'd reject right now if you wanted me to" his smile doused. "...but you're pregnant, Keleigh. It wouldn't just hurt you, it'd hurt your baby as well" he smiled. "I know it's a lot to ask, but trust me" he put out his hand. "I'll take care of both of you. I promise…"

"Of all ways to end my Armageddon of day, did fate really choose this?" I said to myself, looking at his veiny hand.

"Deal?"

"Deal."