The scent of roses still lingered, cloaking my body like a comforting blanket. It's the only buffer I had against the murderous thoughts running in my head because fuck me... those damned wounds...
I kept repeating my meeting with my mate as I lay on my bed. I purposely snuck out in the middle of the night, hoping to find where she was staying. When my wolf felt her presence near the garden balcony, I stayed until the bond led her to me.
It took all my control to stop my wolf from ravaging her right then and there. We were feeling equally betrayed and desperate, a yearning so painful it rivalled the one I've always harboured in my heart. Even in her bed-rumpled state, my mate looked oh-so-fucking delectable.
And then I saw the welts, and all lustful thoughts went out the window.
I swear when I saw that bastard Adrian again, I would strangle him with my bare hands. I would take great pleasure in seeing his black and blue face under me, the light in his eyes dimming as I exact his judgment.
No one— absolutely no one— hurts my mate and lives.
But I needed to play the long game here. Adrian fucking Galway was a cunning alpha. Dastardly, yes, but still clever and conniving. I had to be careful if I wanted to take my mate from him without any repercussions. I needed a plan, a good one.
My scheming mind kept me up most of the night until exhaustion finally drove my body to sleep.
***
The bright shine of sunlight from the open window woke me up. With groggy eyes and an even groggier body, I got up from the bed to close the offending window and block out the light. I looked around my room and noted the bare but practical furnishings. It just had a bed, a set of tables and chairs, and a dressing. Opposite me was another door leading to the bathroom, and then there was another one in the corner that opened outside.
Tools didn't need personalized belongings, it seemed, although having my own private space was nice. This was a good upgrade from the abandoned warehouses and forest camps I usually stayed in.
I quickly bathed and put on fresh clothes, then headed out of my room in search of my ward.
Outside, shifters were already up and running about. The Galway Pack seemed to be a well-oiled machine, each cog trained and turning to perform their duties. Despite my sordid reputation, only a few batted an eye when I walked through the busy crowd. They chose to mind their responsibilities rather than spend their precious time worrying about what I might do. That observation made me think how bad Adrian was as a Pack Alpha when most were more afraid of him than me.
My room was in one of the pack houses surrounding the main mansion. The main mansion was built in the compound's center, where the event was held last night, and I met my mate. As I reached its front doors, a figure emerged from the shadows.
The man had ashy blonde hair and freckles on his tanned face. His eyes were a mismatch of colors, grey and blue. He had a boyish grin as he waved at me to come over. Overall, he was exuding a preppy energy.
"The rogue wolf, right? Right?"
Too much preppy energy. The man was practically bouncing on his heels when I reached him.
"Connor. Connor Galway. Nice to meet you!" He almost shouted at my face, his hand extended for a shake.
I looked at it pointedly, then dug my hands deeper into my pants pockets. Connor looked unperturbed by the rejection. He just shrugged and continued grinning.
I stared at him.
He stared back at me.
And we looked at each other for some time before I realized he was probably waiting for me to tell him my name.
Fuck social interactions.
"Right. Just call me Rogue," I replied at last. He nodded, satisfied with my answer. He then turned around so fast that I got whiplash from the movement.
"Right, right. Follow me!" He screamed. Again.
I sighed and followed the overexcited puppy.
The mansion was less busy than last night, although I never had the chance to explore its winding halls, given my previous... predicament. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that its interior was as lavish as the ballroom floor where the bastards had dragged me like a freshly caught fish. Or according to them: a pig. Ha, fuckers.
Connor, to his credit, was a better host. My reputation didn't deter him from giving me a "full" tour of the premises, his eager voice and skipping steps filling the halls. We might've gotten a few suspicious glances, but he ignored it. Oddly, he wasn't scared of me, though it was a refreshing change. Either he's too dense to be even scared or just thick-skinned. I had a feeling it was the former.
We reached the gazebo that opened to the garden, which I could view from the balcony last night. Again, the image of my mate's wounds flashed in my mind, and I swallowed the snarl that bubbled up my throat.
"—outdoor parties and, and, stuff, but the Pack Alpha usually leaves this place—"
"So, Galway," I interrupted Connor mid-speech, and he whipped his head to look at me.
"Sorry, what?"
"Your name."
Connor briefly looked at me in confusion before his eyes widened, and he chuckled. "Yeah... yeah, Galway. I know. Same surname as the Pack Alpha. He's my first cousin."
That tracked. He kinda had the same shade of hair and eyes. "You're too energetic to be related to him."
That made Connor laugh. "I get that a lot. Adrian can be intense, but he means the best for the family."
I scoffed and looked up at the balcony. It's empty, shadows obscuring most of it. "Does the term family extend to his wife?"
"Of course, of course!" He exclaimed a bit too quickly. "Madam Chiara is well taken care of."
Chiara.
My mate's name is Chiara.
Iron coated my tongue as I bit my cheeks so hard I drew blood. "It doesn't seem like it."
"Come on, I know how it looks, but Adrian cares for her. The Madam is just unstable sometimes. They both went through a lot."
"Is that how he painted the picture?"
Connor's smile turned into a frown, and he glared at me. He would've looked intimidating if he wasn't a good foot shorter than me. As it was, he was just a mock copy of an angry chihuahua.
"Look, I'm not your enemy. None of us are. You're going to become a part of our pack soon. Don't pick up fights, especially ones you can't win. Okay, okay?"
I grinned at the puppy, all bared teeth. "Hey, who says I can't win?"
Connor spluttered, but before he could come up with a comeback, a group of shifters entered the garden. They stopped in their tracks when they saw us. A man in camo pants and a white tank top stepped forward, and I immediately recognized him as one of the patrols who got me last night.
His smile was just as wicked as the last time I saw him. My fingers twitched, itching for a punch.
"If it isn't the pig we caught!" He shouted back at his friends while corking his thumb at me. "You got lucky the Pack Alpha didn't butcher you on sight."
"Weeell, what can I say? I have a charming personality," I replied, maintaining my smug smile. "We can call it even, then. You and I both just got lucky."
"Us catching you has nothing to do with luck," he spat.
"Doubt it. How about we have a round 2? Just to make sure."
Connor hissed behind me. "Don't instigate him!"
I looked back at him over my shoulder. "Why not? Your advice was not to pick a fight I can't win, and I'm telling you, I can definitely win this one."
Groaning, Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please, please, please. Rogue, this isn't part of my to-do list today. Adrian only said to give you a tour of the compound."
"So, you're my glorified babysitter. The cousin of the Pack Alpha himself. I'm honored," I drawled. "Too bad. I am making this part of your list."
I approached the other shifter, letting my wolf roil under my skin. He was pissed and salivating for revenge. He couldn't wait to maul the guy as payment for what he did to us. Connor tried to pull me back, but I shook off his grip easily.
Definitely too dense. One wouldn't stupidly go between two wolves thirsting for a bloody fight.
The shifter moved as well, his friends cheering him on. He raised his fists, pulled his shoulders back, and went into an offensive stance.
I smirked at him and waved my hand in a come-at-me gesture. Adrian might've wanted me as a tool, but he should've known I wouldn't just follow him quietly. My stay here was solely because of my mate, and if he hurt her, then I just had to hurt him back, one way or another.
That's until I figured out how to whisk my mate safely away from here.
Buuut, might as well enjoy this, right?
The shifter roared and dashed towards me. Smiling, I curled my fingers into a fist.
"You left too early last night."Adrian's voice was measured, and his face looked calm and composed. I tried to get a read of him as we continued eating in the dining room, a spread of breakfast and pastries separating us. Despite my efforts, I couldn't determine whether he was simply curious or hiding his anger.After seeing the Rogue... or Lance, I returned to my room last night. I couldn't bear to stay in the same space with Adrian, and my brief talk with Lance left me unbalanced. I hoped Adrian would be calm enough when morning came, and we could return to our previous routine.Routine meant predictable actions. Routine meant I could plan ahead.But this, Adrian Galway, hiding his emotions? It meant bad things.I swallowed another bite of food before answering him. "I needed something from my room, and I figured you wouldn't want to be disturbed in your sleep. So, I decided to stay back."Adrian hummed while meticulously slicing a slab of bacon. I watched his deft fingers move, im
Between the murderous thoughts running through my head, thinking how dare these mutts threaten my mate, and the nauseating indignation as to how she could think I couldn't protect her myself, deep down, I knew what Chiara was doing.Still, when the shifters moved closer to our position, I couldn't stop the snarl that ripped from my throat. My wolf pushed against the confines of my body, begging to be let out and lay havoc. Elongated canines dug deep into my lips, and claws slipped from my fingertips.Depending on the Alpha, the effect of his dominance could vary. Adrian's dominance was a toe-curling chill that sunk deep into a person's bones. It was designed to instill fear, immobilize, and bend others to his will. Fitting for someone of his designation.As for mine?I didn't need the theatrics. Out in the woods, where I had no one to rule, and everyone else was my enemy, it was better to keep things straight to the point.The shifters gasped and fell to the ground like puppets with t
I smiled at Connor as he approached us, but deep inside, my heart was pounding. Lance looked unaffected, though. Perhaps slightly angry, with a slight furrow between his brows and lips quirked down. Other than those reactions, he seemed wholly calm.I wished I could be as composed as him. My hands were already starting to shake again, and I had to repeatedly pinch my skin to ground myself. There was a prickling feeling on my neck, as if someone was watching me. It's as if Adrian was staring at me with disappointment.'Who do you belong to?' His voice inside my head asked.'You belong with me. Too broken for anyone else other than her Alpha. I own you, Chiara. You're mine. Mine, mine, mine—'"Madam?"I jolted out of my trance and found Connor staring at me worriedly. The mismatched colors of gray and blue in his eyes were more prominent in the early morning sun. He wasn't looking at me like I was a traitor set for the gallows. He wasn't readily dragging me towards the compound and tell
Run.Run as fast as you can.Don't look back. Don't falter. Just keep running. Just keep -"Ahhh!!"My internal mantra got interrupted when my feet tripped over an exposed root. It sent me tumbling down a small hill, scrapes and cuts marring my fair skin. I couldn't stop myself from yelping, and no sooner than the sound left my lips, I heard the telltale barks of wolves in the distance.I scratched my neck for the millionth time that night, desperate to dislodge the metal choker around it. My nails came out crusted with both dried and fresh blood. The silver choker served as a twisted reminder of my position and inability to shift into my wolf. It would've been much easier if I could run faster than my two human feet.No time to dwell on it, though. My time was running out.With a huff, I planted my hands on the ground and pushed myself up. I willed my legs to keep working, resuming my escape deeper into the forest. The bright moon lit up my path through the winding trees. I could vag
Three Years AfterWincing, I dabbed the make-up brush harder against my skin. The foundation gradually concealed the finger-shaped marks around my neck. After I put on the choker again, it would look like nothing had ever happened.Just the way I liked it.Every day, it got harder to cling to my quest for revenge. It started with the hope of taking out the Pack Alpha and gaining my freedom. Reality soon dashed it, and my next goal became much less until it devolved into the simplest things.Silent protests, never-spoken insults, and vague jabs against my tormentor. I took my wins, no matter how small, to keep myself sane and continue fanning my dwindling fire.My wolf whined in my head as I finally finished my make-up and put on the choker again. The silver metal was cold against my skin, and I gulped as its familiar weight settled on my neck. It was encrusted with diamonds to complement my ball gown. Nevertheless, its meaning hadn't changed.It's been years since I shifted into my wo
"Let's all welcome, Galway's Pack Alpha, Adrian!"The host's voice boomed throughout the ballroom, and the guests turned their heads to us as we entered. My hand was in the crook of Adrian's elbow. He expertly maneuvered us through the crowd, greeting each of them as he walked toward the center. It didn't escape my attention that none of them even glanced at me. I was used to being ignored by everyone, although the reasons why they did so varied. Some hated me for my position. Despite being practically a property to Adrian, I had some perks. Nothing could grant me power, but I could at least live a comfortable life —well, as comfortable as I could— while being subjected to Adrian's sadistic side.However, everyone also knew that I was off-limits. The Pack Alpha was a notoriously ruthless leader. When it came to his... interests, he was over-protective with them. Or perhaps it's better to say that he was possessive and obsessed. His violent tendencies were enough to deter anyone from
Smack!My shoulder throbbed as the bloody bastard brought down his baton against it. I snarled and tried to shrug the mutt off, but my cuffed hands didn't help. Instead, I fell on my knees, my teeth knocking painfully from the impact.Hands gripped the scruff of my shirt, dragging me forward."If you can't even walk, we might as well just break those legs. They're fucking useless anyway," one of the patrols drawled as he looked down on me.I glared at him and bared my teeth. "Bold of you to assume you can just lay your hand on me, mutt."Derisive laughter came from the wolves surrounding me. "Are you blind, too? Or maybe just plain stupid. We've caught you, Rogue.""You're all bark but no bite!" Another hollered, followed by a round of chuckles."No, that's wrong," someone wheezed in while laughing. "He's no wolf. Not like while being tied up like a pig in slaughter. Oink, oink!"I gritted my teeth and stayed silent while they laughed their assess off. If I could just break away from
Adrian was mad.I could feel it in how he gripped my waist, fingers digging into my skin. That would bruise, for sure. It was another thing I had to hide and ignore.But what I was most concerned about was the man kneeling before us. I watched him from the corner of my eyes, drinking in his scruffy appearance and bloodied face. Matted dark hair stuck to his tanned forehead, and his dark gray eyes were shadowed. There was a flash of hurt and sorrow, but they were gone so quickly that I thought I might've just imagined them. A faint scent of pinewood permeated the room, making my wolf stir for a bit before returning to slumber again. It wasn't surprising, given how much she's been hidden.The man looked at Adrian and me with mild interest. They called him The Rogue Wolf. His story had haunted packs for more than a decade: a wolf-shifter who had gone mad and slaughtered his members.Rumors said that it must've been a disease that caused his rampage, while some theorized that he was simpl
I smiled at Connor as he approached us, but deep inside, my heart was pounding. Lance looked unaffected, though. Perhaps slightly angry, with a slight furrow between his brows and lips quirked down. Other than those reactions, he seemed wholly calm.I wished I could be as composed as him. My hands were already starting to shake again, and I had to repeatedly pinch my skin to ground myself. There was a prickling feeling on my neck, as if someone was watching me. It's as if Adrian was staring at me with disappointment.'Who do you belong to?' His voice inside my head asked.'You belong with me. Too broken for anyone else other than her Alpha. I own you, Chiara. You're mine. Mine, mine, mine—'"Madam?"I jolted out of my trance and found Connor staring at me worriedly. The mismatched colors of gray and blue in his eyes were more prominent in the early morning sun. He wasn't looking at me like I was a traitor set for the gallows. He wasn't readily dragging me towards the compound and tell
Between the murderous thoughts running through my head, thinking how dare these mutts threaten my mate, and the nauseating indignation as to how she could think I couldn't protect her myself, deep down, I knew what Chiara was doing.Still, when the shifters moved closer to our position, I couldn't stop the snarl that ripped from my throat. My wolf pushed against the confines of my body, begging to be let out and lay havoc. Elongated canines dug deep into my lips, and claws slipped from my fingertips.Depending on the Alpha, the effect of his dominance could vary. Adrian's dominance was a toe-curling chill that sunk deep into a person's bones. It was designed to instill fear, immobilize, and bend others to his will. Fitting for someone of his designation.As for mine?I didn't need the theatrics. Out in the woods, where I had no one to rule, and everyone else was my enemy, it was better to keep things straight to the point.The shifters gasped and fell to the ground like puppets with t
"You left too early last night."Adrian's voice was measured, and his face looked calm and composed. I tried to get a read of him as we continued eating in the dining room, a spread of breakfast and pastries separating us. Despite my efforts, I couldn't determine whether he was simply curious or hiding his anger.After seeing the Rogue... or Lance, I returned to my room last night. I couldn't bear to stay in the same space with Adrian, and my brief talk with Lance left me unbalanced. I hoped Adrian would be calm enough when morning came, and we could return to our previous routine.Routine meant predictable actions. Routine meant I could plan ahead.But this, Adrian Galway, hiding his emotions? It meant bad things.I swallowed another bite of food before answering him. "I needed something from my room, and I figured you wouldn't want to be disturbed in your sleep. So, I decided to stay back."Adrian hummed while meticulously slicing a slab of bacon. I watched his deft fingers move, im
The scent of roses still lingered, cloaking my body like a comforting blanket. It's the only buffer I had against the murderous thoughts running in my head because fuck me... those damned wounds...I kept repeating my meeting with my mate as I lay on my bed. I purposely snuck out in the middle of the night, hoping to find where she was staying. When my wolf felt her presence near the garden balcony, I stayed until the bond led her to me.It took all my control to stop my wolf from ravaging her right then and there. We were feeling equally betrayed and desperate, a yearning so painful it rivalled the one I've always harboured in my heart. Even in her bed-rumpled state, my mate looked oh-so-fucking delectable.And then I saw the welts, and all lustful thoughts went out the window.I swear when I saw that bastard Adrian again, I would strangle him with my bare hands. I would take great pleasure in seeing his black and blue face under me, the light in his eyes dimming as I exact his judgm
Absolute darkness.All I could see was black: endless and suffocating. The blindfold dug painfully against my eyes. My head was pounding in pain from the pill Adrian forced me to swallow. I felt disoriented, the ringing in my ears going on and on, defeaning despite the silence surrounding me. Other than that, the only thing I could hear was my heavy breathing.I didn't know how long I was hanging. Adrian dragged me straight to his playroom after meeting with the Rogue. Then he proceeded to tie my arms and hang me from the ceiling, feet dangling on the floor with just the tips of my toes barely touching the ground. My shoulders... my legs... my feet... everything was already aching.As time stretched on, I could feel the tendrils of panic slowly seeping in. Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I had to continuously bite my lip, using the pain to ground myself. This torture was nothing new. Adrian had done so much worse to me, yet I found myself succumbing to his games again for the first ti
Adrian was mad.I could feel it in how he gripped my waist, fingers digging into my skin. That would bruise, for sure. It was another thing I had to hide and ignore.But what I was most concerned about was the man kneeling before us. I watched him from the corner of my eyes, drinking in his scruffy appearance and bloodied face. Matted dark hair stuck to his tanned forehead, and his dark gray eyes were shadowed. There was a flash of hurt and sorrow, but they were gone so quickly that I thought I might've just imagined them. A faint scent of pinewood permeated the room, making my wolf stir for a bit before returning to slumber again. It wasn't surprising, given how much she's been hidden.The man looked at Adrian and me with mild interest. They called him The Rogue Wolf. His story had haunted packs for more than a decade: a wolf-shifter who had gone mad and slaughtered his members.Rumors said that it must've been a disease that caused his rampage, while some theorized that he was simpl
Smack!My shoulder throbbed as the bloody bastard brought down his baton against it. I snarled and tried to shrug the mutt off, but my cuffed hands didn't help. Instead, I fell on my knees, my teeth knocking painfully from the impact.Hands gripped the scruff of my shirt, dragging me forward."If you can't even walk, we might as well just break those legs. They're fucking useless anyway," one of the patrols drawled as he looked down on me.I glared at him and bared my teeth. "Bold of you to assume you can just lay your hand on me, mutt."Derisive laughter came from the wolves surrounding me. "Are you blind, too? Or maybe just plain stupid. We've caught you, Rogue.""You're all bark but no bite!" Another hollered, followed by a round of chuckles."No, that's wrong," someone wheezed in while laughing. "He's no wolf. Not like while being tied up like a pig in slaughter. Oink, oink!"I gritted my teeth and stayed silent while they laughed their assess off. If I could just break away from
"Let's all welcome, Galway's Pack Alpha, Adrian!"The host's voice boomed throughout the ballroom, and the guests turned their heads to us as we entered. My hand was in the crook of Adrian's elbow. He expertly maneuvered us through the crowd, greeting each of them as he walked toward the center. It didn't escape my attention that none of them even glanced at me. I was used to being ignored by everyone, although the reasons why they did so varied. Some hated me for my position. Despite being practically a property to Adrian, I had some perks. Nothing could grant me power, but I could at least live a comfortable life —well, as comfortable as I could— while being subjected to Adrian's sadistic side.However, everyone also knew that I was off-limits. The Pack Alpha was a notoriously ruthless leader. When it came to his... interests, he was over-protective with them. Or perhaps it's better to say that he was possessive and obsessed. His violent tendencies were enough to deter anyone from
Three Years AfterWincing, I dabbed the make-up brush harder against my skin. The foundation gradually concealed the finger-shaped marks around my neck. After I put on the choker again, it would look like nothing had ever happened.Just the way I liked it.Every day, it got harder to cling to my quest for revenge. It started with the hope of taking out the Pack Alpha and gaining my freedom. Reality soon dashed it, and my next goal became much less until it devolved into the simplest things.Silent protests, never-spoken insults, and vague jabs against my tormentor. I took my wins, no matter how small, to keep myself sane and continue fanning my dwindling fire.My wolf whined in my head as I finally finished my make-up and put on the choker again. The silver metal was cold against my skin, and I gulped as its familiar weight settled on my neck. It was encrusted with diamonds to complement my ball gown. Nevertheless, its meaning hadn't changed.It's been years since I shifted into my wo