CHAPTER 3

"You shouldn't be here, rogue."

My spine tingled as the voice spoke, every word brimming with hate. My wolf scratched under my skin, restlessly stirring. I jumped off the bed, looking for the source in the shadows.

"Who is there?" Although I spoke steadily, my heartbeat was deceiving me; it pounded in the quiet like a drumbeat.

A massive figure emerged from the shadows as they changed. In the dim moonlight, his wolf-like smile shone brightly. His scent was one of Power and something sinister; therefore, he wasn't just any old guy. Midnight Pack, although not a follower of Darius.

He circled me like prey and remarked, "You've made quite the impression." "I'm afraid you won't be around for long."

"Give me a try." Now, my voice was sharper, with every syllable laced with defiance.

His chuckle was a deep, menacing rumble. "I'll give you that you have fire." He made a lunge.

Instinctively, I ducked, but he was too quick. He tugged me toward him, his hand closing like iron around my arm.

"Leave me alone!" I struggled against him, hissing.

"Not until I teach you how to be polite."

It was not my snarl that tore through the room.

Darius flooded the room as the door flew open and slammed against the wall. His anger was evident, and his presence was oppressive.

"Get away from her." He had the kind of voice that promised violence deadly calm.

The intruder hesitated briefly. His grip tightened, and he murmured, "She's just a rogue. Why did you care?"

Darius moved more quickly than I had expected. He was across the room one second, and then he was smashing the man into the wall with his hand around his throat.

"I own her." His canines flashed, and his words were a snarl.

I felt a sudden, unwanted burst of heat mine. Anger and something else something dangerous came rushing through me as the word replayed in my head.

"Are you aware of what happens when someone tampers with something that belongs to me?" Darius's voice was low and deadly as he commanded.

The man choked out a jumbled apology as he battled.

He collapsed to the ground, unable to breathe, as Darius let go of him.

“Get out," Darius commanded.

The door was left open as the man stumbled and ran away.

The tension crackled like a live wire, making the place too silent.

"Are you in pain?" Darius's eyes were still blazing with unresolved rage, but his voice softened.

I said, removing my arm from his persistent contact, "I'm fine. I didn't need your help."

"Obviously." Despite his clipped tone, he continued looking at me for wounds.

I crossed my arms and tried not to notice the thrill in my skin from his closeness. "That wasn't necessary for you to do."

He took a step toward me, his warmth pouring between us. "You don't know me well if you believe that I'll watch helplessly as someone touches you."

"I don't know you at all," I shot back, looking him in the eye.

The sneer on his face was devoid of amusement. "That will soon change."

The tension between us was oppressive the following morning. Darius was waiting for me outside the room, resting against the wall as if he hadn't claimed me the previous evening.

With a playful tone, he said, "You're late again."

I glared at him. "Do you like this? Like an overbearing babysitter hovering over me?”

His laughter was gruff and low. "Take it as a precaution."

"From what?" I brushed past him and asked. "Your wolves?"

"Among other things."

I stopped and looked at him. "Darius, why are you concerned? Remember, I'm just a rogue”

The teasing edge vanished from his face, and it darkened. "Maya, you're more than that, regardless of your feelings.”

I was shocked by what he said but didn't have time to think about it. Another round of humiliation was waiting in the training yard.

The training that day was hard and meant to break me. And it could have if Darius hadn't been staring at me the whole time.

I could feel his heavy, unyielding stare whenever I faltered. It was frustrating and somehow comforting.

One of the sparring partners leaped at me and hissed, "Keep your guard up, rogue."

I slammed my elbow into his ribs to sidestep his strike. I said, "You'll regret calling me rogue one more time."

I didn't care that the people gathered around us burst out laughing and cheering. Being the underdog was over for me.

Darius's voice broke the sound. "Enough."

The mob dispersed, complaining but obeying orders.

His tone was almost approving as he continued, "You're getting better."

“Did you take that as a compliment?” I raised an eyebrow in question.

He answered, a faint smile pulling at his lips, "Don't get used to it."

The apprehension from the night before again later that night.

The sensation that someone or something was observing me persisted.

My heart raced when I heard footsteps outside my door.

Breathing shallowly, I waited while grabbing the closest weapon I could find a broken chair leg.

With a creak, the door opened, and I swung mindlessly.

“Easy, Maya."

Darius's reflexes were painfully quick, and he caught the homemade weapon mid-strike.

"Why in the world are you here?" I lowered the chair leg and demanded.

He said, "Checking on you," with a calm tone and piercing gaze. "You appeared... uneasy."

I hurriedly answered, "I'm fine," but my face displayed the truth.

His presence filled the tiny space as he took a step closer. "You're an awful liar."

For an instant, I lost my ability to breathe due to the crackling tension between us.

"What makes you concerned?" My question was hardly audible above a whisper.

His fingers touched my cheek, and I felt a shock of the contact. "Because you make not doing so impossible."

I froze, torn between the unexplainable want to stay and the urge to draw away.

For a split second, I thought he might kiss me as his eyes fell to my lips.

Instead, he took a step back, his face unreadable.

His voice was hoarse as he urged, "Get some rest." "You'll need it."

He was gone in an instant, leaving me to deal with a flurry of emotions that I was unsure how to manage.