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The Rogue's Desire FIVE
I am frozen to the spot.I try to swallow, but I can’t.I stand there, my throat dry and my breath coming in short bursts.I look away from her, to the trees.I look for the rogue.But I don’t see him.My whole body is tensed up, ready for the attack to come."I should kill you," Val says.Her voice cracks.She is shaking."I know," I reply.I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears.I am rooted to the spot.Val pulls back the bowstring.But she is not going to do it.I know she is not.From the quiver in her voice and the shaking of her body, I can tell the last thing she wants to do is kill me.Without a second thought, I reach for my own bow and arrow.I train my arrow on her.Deadlock.We both stand there, bows trained on each other."Riley," she gasps."Let's not do anything hasty," I say.We both stand there, our bows still pointing at each other, our eyes locked.It's the first time we’ve pulled our bows on each other and it makes me feel sick.I can see t
The Rogue's Desire SIX
Hunter sees the cuffs right away.A frown clouds his face."What is going on?" he asks."She let a rogue go," Val explains."What?" Hunter cries."She let a rogue go," Val says again."I don't believe it," Hunter says."I saw it with my own eyes," Val says. She nudges me. "Tell him, Rylie."Her voice is sharp.I can feel my face redden.I don't say anything.I just bow my head.Look down at my feet.I don't want to look at the alpha.I don't want to see the disappointment in his eyes."What do you have to say for yourself?" Hunter asks me.His voice is hard."I'm sorry," I say."Sorry?" Hunter asks. "That's it? You failed your mission! Let your pack down!"The disappointment is too much to bear.A lie appears in my mind.It is flimsy but it's all I've got.Lying to my alpha is not something I relish in doing.But otherwise, he will punish me.I am desperate."I mistook him as one of our own," I say."What?" Hunter says."It was dark," I say."And? Don't you
The Rogue's Desire SEVEN
I enter the mess hall for lunch.I feel like everyone is watching me.I grab some meat and beeline for the table where my friends sit.“Rylie, how’s your nose?” Tomasina jokes the second my backside hits the bench.Ah, so news of my so-called failing instincts has already spread around the pack-house.That's just perfect...“Very funny," I say.Tomasina leans up on her elbows so our faces are close. “Rylie. Come on. What the heck happened?”I can't tell her.I can't tell any of my friends.They all peer at me expectantly.I shove meat into my mouth."I don't know what happened," I murmur as I chew. "My instincts are usually good.”Tomasina studies me. "I'll say. You're one of the best gammas out there."I chew, putting all my focus on the food rather than the burning questions in my friend's eyes."Did Hunter flip?" she asks."Of course.""What did you tell him."I stare at the ceiling. They are not going to drop this, are they?"I apologized.""And he bought it?"
The Rogue's Desire EIGHT
Night falls.I am in my room, lying in bed.I can hear the music and laughter of the pack drifting through the trees. They have been enjoying their lives while I have been sitting in my room all evening, watching the shadows lengthen across my floor, pacing, wondering.And remembering.I cannot get his gold eyes out of my mind.I cannot forget his scent.He smelled as familiar to me as Tomasina or Alia.As Hunter. As myself.My mind is full of him.My body aches for him.I wonder if he thinks of me, too.Or has he forgotten me?Has he already moved on? Picked out a new mate? Someone more appropriate than an enemy gamma?My mind pulls back from that last thought.It is too painful.I need a plan.He is out there right now and I want to be with him.I chew my fingernails, staring into the darkness and wondering what I am supposed to do.I have found my mate.I have found love.My hand goes to my heart, which seems to be beating double-time.I cannot stop thinking of
The Rogue's Desire NINE
I stare at him as my heart gallops."You came," he says."Yes.""I didn't know if you would. I was going to go to your territory to look for you."I gasp. "You can't do that! They will kill you on sight. They are extremely territorial and normally leaves no quarter for rogues or invaders.""It doesn't matter now. You came."He smiles at me.The embers light his face."Did you wait this whole time?" I ask.His hair falls across his face. He pushes it back. "Yes."I shiver against the frigid air. I'm surprised he didn't freeze to death.He takes a step toward me.I take a step toward him."We're mates," he says.I gasp. I know it to be true, but hearing the words from his lips is like music to my ears."Yes."We step closer.Ever closer.And then he is right there.Just a fingertip away.Just a hair's breadth apart.Close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body.His golden eyes glint in the dark.He looks almost hungry.I close my eyes and step int
The Rogue's Desire TEN
I return home.But it no longer feels familiar to me.Everything has changed.The world has shifted beneath my feet.I enter the pack dorm.My friends are snoring in their bunks.I fall into mine and pass out.My dreams are full of Patrick.I need him. I need to see him again.Just one hour without him feels like agony.When I wake, the dawn light is blistering through the window and Tomasina is bouncing on the bed beside me."Come on sleepyhead," she says. "Let's eat!"Alia is already half way out the door, eager for breakfast.I rub my sleepy eyes and follow them to the mess hall.All she can think about is him.Patrick.Patrick.My mate.My one true love.It makes me twitchy.Just thinking of him in this place feels dangerous.I realize my plan to meet with him secretly is never going to work. He was right to challenge me. To ask me to leave the pack. It would be too dangerous. His life would be in danger. How long would we last? A week. At most.But leave my p
The Rogue's Desire ELEVEN
I can hardly think as I work.Val keeps looking over at me, suspiciously.We've not talked about what happened with Hunter yet, and I'd rather we didn't."So," she says. "Are we going to talk about yesterday?"I groan. "Do we have to?""I saved your bacon," she says. "You didn't even say thank you.""I'm sorry," I say."Sorry isn't thank you," she corrects me."Thank you."She leans her head back and puffs out her cheeks. She taps her fingers on her lips. "You know, you're lucky I didn't tell Hunter what I really saw.""I know," I say.Val raises an eyebrow. "Why do you even bother coming out here when you're clearly not interested in working? What's going on with you? I don't like it."I sigh.Val is not going to stop until I tell her something."It's Hunter," I say.Her eyes narrow at the mention of his name. "What about him?""He's given me an ultimatum.""Oh?""He wants me to marry him."Val scoffs. "Oh please!" She's always held disdain for our alpha. "Tell him
The Rogue's Desire TWELVE
"Rylie. Rylie. Rylie." Conner starts to laugh. "You're in big trouble."He hauls me roughly back to camp, marching me past the guards."Found her," he says triumphantly. "Our special little runaway."I realize then that the extra guards were for my benefit. Someone must have realized I was not in bed and raised the alarm."Can you let me walk?" I huff at Conner.He laughs. "You must think I was born yesterday."He hauls me to Hunter's.The alpha turns as I'm shoved inside."Told you I'd find her," Conner says.Hunter glowers at me."Leave us," he tells Conner, without so much as a thank you.The sniveling beta does as he's told.I am left alone with Hunter."I've been worried about you," he says."You didn't need to.""What were you doing?""Patrolling. Val thinks I'm slacking off. I wanted to prove her wrong."I'm surprised by how easily the lie slides out. I have lost all respect for my alpha since he gave me the ultimatum."You know it's dangerous to go alone," Hun
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The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
PATRICKMy heart is racing.Rylie is being so brave.I'm standing here watching her, thinking, this is the girl who I love.She is fierce. She knows what needs to be done, and she is doing it.One rogue is arguing with her, complaining that she is the one who killed his girlfriend. But Rylie is calm and collected in the face of his anger."I'm sorry," she says. "And I know it doesn't make up for it, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that you and the rest of the rogues are safe. I'm going to protect you.""I don't trust you!" he shouts. "And I don't trust him," he points at me, "either."And Rylie says, "I know. But we need to work together. We need to stand together. And we need to fight back."She is a natural leader and doing a wonderful job as our luna. I have never been so proud. I feel like I can do anything with her at my side. Even defeat Hunter's army.Rylie, Robin and I get the rogues organized."Are you ready?" she asks.The atmosphere
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
RYLIEPatrick begins to untie the silver ropes around my wrists.I feel a wave of relief just being near him."Rylie," he mutters, his voice full of emotion."Patrick," I whisper.I can't believe it.Is this really happening?I'm so happy."You're okay now," he says. "I'm here. I won't leave you."The burning silver ropes loosen, and I fall forward into his arms.Patrick pulls me in close to him. He crushes his lips against mine.It's like fireworks are going off in my body.It feels like a million years of separation have been overcome, at last."Rylie, my beautiful Rylie, I thought I'd never see you again," he whispers.I cling onto him. I can't believe that Patrick is real. That he's really here in front of me. I can't believe he loves me and has come to save me."I love you," I say. "I love you so much.""I love you more than life itself," he replies.I pull back with a sudden memory. "The letter! The things I said. Patrick, that wasn't me."He shakes his head.
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
PATRICKThe sun rises on the execution day.My stomach is a ball of knots.I have barely slept.I don't want to witness the execution. Even if she is just a sorceress, she looks like my mate. My love. My Rylie.But I must prove that I'm strong enough to overcome this.I can’t lead otherwise.There's a knock at the door.It's Robin.He pokes his head around. "Ah. You're awake. Good."He seems disconcertingly chipper."Shall we go?" he finishes.We head down to the dungeons.The guard unlocks the door.The room is dark.The cold stone walls make me shiver.I have a feeling I'm not going to like this.I move forward into the gloom.Now I can see her.My breath catches in my throat.She is sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall in her human form. Her hands are bound in silver ropes. Her eyes are downcast.She's been crying.I feel my heart wrenching in my chest.Robin takes a few steps towards her.The sorceress whimpers.She looks so much like Rylie.H
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
RYLIEI am thrown into a cell.I stumble, landing on the floor with a thud."Good luck, traitor," one of the wolves says over me.The other rogue kicks me in the stomach as I try to rise to my feet.I collapse back to the floor, winded."I'm sorry," I whisper as he slams the door shut.I am left in total darkness again.I wonder how far underground I am. The cave mouth was near the mountains. Perhaps I am now many many feet below.It is dank in the cell. So cold I start shivering.I shift into wolf form so my layer of fur can keep me warm. The comforting feel of my luna powers spreads through me.My powers. All this time I thought they were bound up with Hunter. That by choosing Patrick I was turning my back on some kind of pre-determined destiny within my pack. But all along my powers were linked to Patrick, the alpha of the rogue. It is Patrick who's the luna to my alpha. It is the rogues I am destined to lead over.Except I have stuffed it all up, and now I am stuck he
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
PATRICKI stare at her. Rylie. But it is not her. She has changed. Her scent. Her aura. Everything is wrong.She keeps telling me she loves me and I want to believe her. I so want to believe her. But this is not my mate. Not my Rylie.A sorceress in disguise, maybe. Sent by her pack to fool me.It would be so easy to give in.And though it pains him terribly to do so, I must be strong for the sake of my rogues."Take her to a cell," I say."No!" she screams. "Patrick, please! Don't do this!"There is a look of utter terror on her face.I cannot let my feelings cloud my judgment.I cannot let her hurt those I care about.I must be strong.For them, I must be strong.I watch my rogues walk Rylie away. They drag her by her arms.She is still fighting with them.She is still calling for me.She is begging for me to believe her.But I've seen what I've seen.She is no longer my mate.She is not my Rylie.I look away.My stomach turns.I feel nauseated.I can hear
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
All the air leaves me in a rush.I sink to my knees.I have no words.THIS is what Patrick meant when he said there were things it was better for me not to know. He is not only aligned with these rogues… he is leading them. Suddenly, it all makes sense.I am a luna - to Patrick, not Hunter. Being with Patrick would fulfill my luna destiny after all. If only I had known!I would not have been so torn.I would not have dragged my heels.Why didn’t he just tell me the truth…?Patrick stares down at me.It is definitely him.He is real.I am not dreaming.This is real.He is real.I stare up at him.His face is devoid of emotion."Patrick?" I breathe his name aloud.The crowd falls silent. The atmosphere in the room is tense as we stare at each other.Patrick's lips curl.“Please, Patrick,” I say.He does not acknowledge me.He acts like I am a stranger.I think of Val’s letter and it all comes crashing down on me.She knew.She must have.She leads the gamma
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
I am on my hands and knees, crawling like my life depends on it.Behind me, I can hear the heaving breathing of the wolves.They are close behind me.I move through the cave system.I can tell I am going deeper underground.The stones are damp and grimey.I crawl on.They are close behind.I can smell them.I can hear their claws scraping against the damp stone.Then finally, I emerge into a cavern.It is lit by lanterns and the walls extend as far as I can see.The floor beneath me is dry.People are living down here!Suddenly, humans and wolves come through the myriad of different corridors. From all directions. I am surrounded.I grab onto the luna voice inside me."What do I do?" I ask the ancestral power."Trust yourself," it tells me."Hey, look," I hear a rough voice say, "what have we got here?" A wolf steps forward. "What are you then?" he asks, as he shifts into human form.There are humans and wolves on either side of me, spreading out in a formation aro
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
When I open my eyes, the moon is above me.I don't know how long I have been lying here for.The night is freezing and I am stiff from lying on the ground for so long. I shiver, and my joints protest as I sit up.I am still in wolf form, and I'm shocked to discover where I have ended up.I have subconsciously run up the hill Val took me up for our private chat.Beyond the cliff edge, I can see the whole forest.Plumes of smoke rise into the air from chimneys and campfires, from every pack as far as the horizon.But I am alone.I have no pack.I have no home.I have no one.I am a rogue.I am alone.Suddenly, a voice in my head speaks.It is my voice, but it is different from my usual inner thoughts."You are not alone, Rylie. You are a luna."The voice comforts me.The strength of my lineage.Of every luna that came before me.My thoughts become clear.I have to keep moving.I have to keep going.I have to keep running.I start to walk away from the cliff edge.
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
I run to the training ground as fast as my legs can carry me.Please, please, please, I beg to the sky. Don't let me be too late.Behind me, I can hear Hunter and his betas following. They're all still laughing. This is just a fun game to them. I feel sick to my stomach that I am aligned with such cruelty.I reach the training grounds.The captive rogues are all lined up and blind folded.They are tied with silver ropes.They try--and fail--to shift into wolf form.They are helpless.Standing in front of them are about ten guards with their bows and arrows poised.They prepare to fire.I feel paralyzed.It is too late.I burst forward."Stop!" I cry.But I am too late.An array of silver-tipped arrows arc through the air."No!" I scream.Arrows bury into flesh.My heart breaks.The rogues fall to the ground in a heap of death.With sickening thuds.Everyone of them.I run to their side.Even though I know it's too late.Even though I know they're already dead.
