The Rogue's Plight

“Put me down” Sienna's voice was barely above a whisper, her body stiff in Kieran's arms.

He ignored, his jaw clenched and expression unreadable as he carried her through the dimly lit corridor. The warmth she felt in his arms at that moment was supposed to be comforting but her heart pounded against her rib cage— not from the drug flowing through her veins but from the bolt of electricity she felt from him.

Kieran was too silent— his grip firm but not rough. She could feel his muscles tensed against her body making her breath ragged.

Hse forced herself to focus as she swallowed hard.

“I can walk…”

“No, you can't,” his fingers twitched against her thigh, voice sharp, leaving no room for argument.

Sienna clenched her fists, she'd never felt this way before and she hated it— She hated feeling weak, she hated the heat crawling under her skin, making her breath more uneven. Her body was betraying her, responding to something that she thought wasn't there but more than anything, she hated that Kieran had to see her like this.

On getting to his chamber, he kicked the door open, strode in and placed her gently on the massive bed. The room was dark and its only source of lightning was the moon splitting through the open balcony doors. He bent in front of her, gently brushing damp strands of hair from her face.

She coiled.

He batted his lashes.

“I want to hurt you.”

She blinked as if she wasn't sure if she should believe him or not.

Time seemed to stretch, the air between them thick with tension. His eyes roamed over her— lingered on the flush on her skin, the way her fingers dug into the sheets as if trying to control herself.

He sighed, voice low and almost frustrated

“You're burning up”

She smirked despite the discomfort gnawing. It's easy inside her.

“And here I thought you liked your women warm”

His entire body went stiff, the warmth in his eyes finished instantly. He quickly pulled back— his expression closing off as if she'd just reminded him of something he'd wanted to forget.

Sienna was shocked at the way his mood shifted. One moment, he was gentle and caring. Now, he's suddenly gone back to being cold, distant— as if whatever had made him go soft before had been nothing but an illusion.

“I'll get you water, I can tell the drug still has an effect on you” He muttered as he stood abruptly.

Before she could even stop herself, she grabbed his wrist.

“Why do you do that?” Her voice was hoarse, barely more than a breath.

He didn't make any movement.

“Do what?”

“Act like you care… and suddenly remind me that you don't”

His fingers curled into a fist at his sides

“You should rest”

“But that's not an answer”

Kieran exhaled through his nose, his patience obviously wearing out.

“You seem to forget I'm still the Alpha!” He forced his wrist away from her hold.

“You should be grateful I saved you, Sienna”

Her stomach twisted. He was right— he'd stopped Lucian and brought her to his room to make sure she was safe, pushing his limits at this point was not a good idea.

Rather, she owed him…

“You don't owe me anything” he continued as if reading her mind.

“And I also do not owe you anything as regarding the way I choose to speak to you” 

His words were sharp, if she was like every normal girl… it would've cut her deep but she wasn't. She was an assassin— one who'd come for revenge.

She exhaled as she held her fingers together in exhaustion. The heat from Kieran's skin was still there, pressing against hers and made her feel trapped in her own body. But Kieran… he was a totally different kind of suffocation.

She relaxed her body, allowing her head to fall back against the pillows.

“Ok…that's better” she muttered as she closed her eyes.

“Go back to being the Almighty Alpha that everyone is scared of, then”

Deep silence followed.

Then slow steady footsteps.

The door clicked shut— he'd exited the room.

Sienna let out a slow breath, her body was too weak to move. She didn't know how long she'd laid there, drifting between the feverish heat and exhaustion. She was only barely aware of the door opening again as Kieran returned and placed something cool against her lips.

“Drink”

She obeyed, why wouldn't she? She was too tired to argue anyway. The water was cold giving her dry throat a certain kind of soothing.

The bed dipped slightly as she noticed he was seated right next to her. Her fingers ballad but she didn't dare open her eyes.

“Sleep” he murmured like he already knew she wasn't really sleeping.

“I will…” she turned her back to him as she tried to sleep again but sleep didn't come.

She did all she could because even her body gave in to exhaustion but her mind was filled with one thought.

If Kieran hadn't come when he did, she'd have been in serious trouble.

But Kieran too, she wasn't sure if to call him her savior at this point or her ruin. After all, he's the cause of all the things she'd gone through since she turned eight.

Just as sleep started knocking at her door, the sound of voices outside the room suddenly snatched it away bringing her back to reality.

“She's a rogue, Kieran. You shouldn't have punished your beta all because of a rogue”

Sienna’s breath seized.

“Say that again and I'll rip your throat out.” Kieran replied in a low threatening tone.

“Kieran, you're losing focus, you're giving her too much liberties!”

“You're supposed to be looking for your mate not to fraternize with a rogue…”

A sharp crash filled the silent air as glass shattered.

Kieran's voice dropped, dark and shaky.

“You're not supposed to tell me that?”

Sienna’s pulse spiked, was all this argument because Kieran saved her?

Before she could make sense of everything, the door pushed open again and someone stepped in, but it wasn't Kieran standing there.

“Get the fuck out!”