Longing roils in the pit of my stomach as I set foot inside my pack building after weeks. Everything reminds me of him. Every single detail screams of his absence.
Death is unforeseen and unsought. It comes knocking at your door and suddenly life doesn't make sense. From the moment I was found by Alpha Renier half dead at the outskirts of their vacation home's hunting grounds, he considered me his own. The pack wasn't given much of an explanation about how the Alpha family suddenly had a new daughter. Most considered me to be an illegitimate child. This made Aria, Alpha Reiner's wife hate me even more. And she made her disdain pretty evident, further feeding the rumours until they became half truths for everyone.
Rey, on the other hand, simply did not care. It was like I was never there.
Like I didn't matter.
I am shaken out of my trance when a there's a sudden pick in my heart beat. It thumps rapidly and continuously. I suddenly feel heavy for some reason. Something is wrong. Before I can figure out what, I catch the sight of our pack house's lobby.
It is completely abuzz with people. Humans, werewolves and hybrids. I even pick up a hint of witch scent. Witches are rare. Most of them died out in the Great War before the kingdom of Utrif was even formed. So for them to be present... the rogue situation must be very serious.
They're all here for the Union meeting, I conclude.
I slip past the rush, get into an elevator. I am welcomed with the sight of my pack mates, including Aria at the top floor. The whole floor quietens as I get off. Some of them offer their condolences and sympathies as I walk past them. Some offer prayers for me to get better.
Rey's office is at the end of the pack office. Behind tall dark wood doors. I walk inside.
He sits in Alpha Reiner's chair, surrounded by papers, files and envelopes. His dark hair is ruffled and messy, his sleeves rolled up and his expression tired. There is darkness beneath his bright brown eyes that wasn't there the last time I saw him. He looks tired, completely enervated actually.
He looks up at me. "You're here."
I nod. There's silence for a minute.
He scribbles down on a piece of paper, leans down to open his drawer, takes a brown envelope out and puts it at the end of his desk. "Here."
I grab the brown envelope. Open it and get the contents out. There's a house deed, account transfer confirmation, passport and a plane ticket to Utrif. "Utrif," I say out loud. "This is a creative way to tell me to die."
Rey watches me for a second, a slight furrow forming in risen brows. The question in his eyes falls a second later, indication he realizes what I mean. "It's the safest place for you."
"A rogue?"
"You are not a rogue. Not anymore. You are a registered pack member and unless someone has a good reason to suspect the daughter of an Alpha, which I hope you don't give, no one will be any wiser." He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. "Rogues cannot look for you in Utrif and you can easily enter there. So yes, it is the safest place for you, a rogue."
"And if someone sees the—"
"As I said," he snaps, "unless someone has a reason to suspect you, they won't strip you down to look for a small tattoo, Leona. And even if someone sees it, it is an ancient mark. No one will know. So act like the daughter of an alpha, not a rogue on the run, and you'll be fine."
"Where in Utrif?"
"Hela Ti, a town in the outskirts. I have transferred ownership of our summer house there to you. You will also have a bank account in your name after you sign these papers and submit them there. I will send you a monthly allowance. You can tell me whatever amount suits you. And if you wish to work there, I have someone I know who can find you a job. The town is in the outskirts but it is known for its peacefulness, so rest their for a couple of months. Hopefully till then this Rogue situation will be dealt with. Then you can either come back or stay there. It is up to you."
I still. Come back. "Come back?" I hate the emotion in my voice.
Rey doesn't look up. "Yes."
I stay quiet for a long while. My fists are so tight besides me. "Thank you," I say, more in shock than gratitude. I mean it. Rey was the last person I thought would help me.
He nods as a response and grabs the piece of paper he was scribbling something down on and hands it to me. "Call this man once you get to Utrif. He will give you the keys to the house and help you settle in." A pause. "Meet the elders before you leave so it's not suspicious. Your stuff is packed and in the suite. The car is waiting in the back. Leave directly for the airport from here. You only have three hours. The Utrifian delegation will be here first thing in the morning. So do not miss that flight."
I grab all the paper work, my ticket and passport and turn to leave. I don't say anything as I grab the handle. But someone opens the door before me. I hurriedly get out the way.
"I apolagise," he says.
Haze. The beta's son. The new beta. His father stepped down days after Alpha's death. Haze looks at me for a second, smiles and then moves past me.
"The Utrifian delegation is here, Alpha."
I haphazardly swirl back. Rey is looking at me. My eyes are wide. His face is unreadable but I can see the vein popping on his forehead.
Something was very wrong.
My feet are stuck in place. My heartbeat is fast. But not because I am scared. I... am happy. There's a certain dizziness that envelopes me whole, heightening my senses. I can feel everything. I can hear everything. My wolf is at the surface. I only feel excitment even though death is directly knocking at my door now. My wolf howls in delight. I feel heavy. Almost as if something is pulling me. "Where are they?" Rey asks. "They are at the embassy," Haze replies. The wave of relief that washes over me and Rey is shared. But then he adds, "however, the head of delegation, along with ten others is here. He is in an audience with the elders right now." Rey swears under his breath. "The meeting is in a week. What is their purpose of coming a week prior" "Due to serious threats to the delegation, there was a sudden change in plans as a security precaution. The Union has decided for the meeting to take place tomorrow. We have just been notified." "Security
"Mate," he says, his voice a silent thunder, a command. As if, he knows who I am, he is just making sure everyone else does either. I have heard stories about this. How you just know. A blessing. No matter who you are, how you are, what kind you are, a blessing for all. But somehow I led myself to believe I was an exception. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong. I raise my hand. He can't be real. I breathe in. I have a mate. I breathe out. My palm touches the fabric of his cursed mask and everything falls into place. I sigh, a wave of gratification rendering me breathless for a whole minute. He's real. "Mine," I gasp, more shocked than joyful. My mate likes that. The slight crinkles under his eyes show that. His eyes are sharp, sweeping through every inch, every corner of me. I do the same. Though, there is not much to find. A dark cloack, a dark mask and a dark cap. All I can see is his eyes. A part of me screams to rip the cloth off his face
Fate plays with you in funny ways. A single look, a single moment, that was all my luck could give me with my mate. I start towards the end of the basement, where Haze mentioned the car would be. Its not there so I wait. The basement is empty. No one in sight. Only their cars. I catch my breath for a second. In just a few hours I will be in Utrif. A place of death for rogues. It doesn't leave me. The reminder that my home is no longer my home. I never belonged anywhere. I had a home. It went away. I found my mate. And I had to walk away. Everything I get, I only get so I can see it being taken away. Pain swirls up my palm. I loosen my nails from there and only then realize the crescent moons reddened in my palm. Within seconds they start to subtly stitch themselves up. Tissues connect slowly. The red dissolves into pink and then finally into its pale tone. But it is for the better— I stand. Scents, bitter and wrong surround me. Rogues. They're here. But I am not sca
Valis lunges forward in less than a moment. I sidestep, movement fluid and precise, and dodge him with no effort. I may have been resting here for seven years but that does not mean I would let the torturous training I endured go to waste. Valis barely has time to react before my fist connects with his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. I spin on my heel, my movements a blur, and deliver a swift kick to the other rogue's midsection. He doubles over, gasping for air. Valis lunges again, his claws extended. I dodge, feeling the rush of air as his claws slice through the space where my head had previously been. I counter with a powerful punch to his ribs, the impact reverberating through my arm. Valis staggers but remains standing, his eyes blazing with fury. "You'll pay for that," he snarls, spitting blood on the rough pavement. I aim a kick at his knee but Valis catches my leg, wrenching me off balance. I twist in mid-air, landing awkwardly but on my feet. Pain flar
I am a fast runner. But the kalhyi are faster. I don't count how many of them are there. But they are a big number. And all of them catch up to me in no time. One of them lands a slight blow to my leg. I don't falter. Show pain and you're as good as dead. With a swift, decisive motion, I drive my elbow into its throat. It falls back, immediately going still. I don't stop to monitor its ability to move again and bolt through the endless rows of cars. That's when it happens. Something rakes across my front, sharp and swift. Claws. A loud roar renders the place silent and only when my legs buckle and I come face to face with the ground do I realise it was my roar. Heavy weight pushes me further into the ground. My vision swims with stars. With a single thundering growl, I heave out my claw from under me and dig it into the weight's side with all my might. An even more tremendous wail is let loose at my gesture. I hoist myself up from t
"Let me see your face." His voice sounds like safety. Powerful. I shake my head. My wolf is a slobbering mess, screaming in true delight at the sound of our mate out loud. We stay still for a few minutes. "Are you alright?" he asks in a whisper. The three straight cuts throb, reminding me I am not. I finally pull back, looking up. His face is still covered under the strange looking mask I couldn't decipher in the darkness of the ballroom. But now, in the dim basement lights, I see it and instantly a chill runs down my body. It's an eerie black skull, gleaming ominously with shadowed eye sockets and delicate silver-highlighted cracks. Sharp cheekbones, a jagged nasal cavity and a chillingly realistic grin of teeth enhance its lifelike, unsettling texture. Only the azure of his eyes pokes out. "Take off your mask," I say so, so softly that even I am surprised at my tone. He gives me a half smile. And then one of the men behind him takes a careful step forward. His eyes g
The moon grows distant with every lingering moment I sneak glances at my mate. He catches me at my twenty-seventh try and I not-so-subtly turn to the window. The abruptness of the movement causes an agonising shiver to run down my back. I grit my teeth to not hiss. The world rotates a little faster for me, my vision a little dim and my body a little numb. I clench and unclench my fists, willing control in my cold body as I watch trees fade into the misty night. We're driving through the outskirts of the city, into the forest. If it were anyone other than my mate, I would have jumped out of the car by now. With him. . . I feel trust. It scares me. "Are you okay?" my wearisome mate asks for the hundredth time. "Yes," I lie for the hundredth time. I don't get why he is asking me this time and time again. I am hurt, yes. But it is not that serious. The cuts weren't
As I near the plane I only have one question. Who is Noah Silverton? He was present at the pack house which means he was part of a delegation. He is from Utrif, as he said. An envoy, for sure. He is of high ranking, I can tell by the aura he carries alone, and well, the private jets. Alphas and Betas do not leave their packs unless it's for grave matters. Rarely deltas are sent out for work like this as well. Gammas are sent mostly. And for a gamma to emit such waves of authority means the rank of his pack is high as well. The higher the rank of a pack the more they are involved with the country. And the King. The thought disappoints me. I can not stay with him if he's that close to an Alpha who could causally ask for rogue hunters to check in on his Gamma's mysterious mate. Then not only will I die but my mate would get into trouble as well. Helping a rogue in Utrif, for whatever reason it may be, is punishable. Helping a rogue inside Utrif. . . I start to chart my plan of es