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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
The Rogue's Desire THIRTEEN
Next morning, Val shakes me awake.“Time for patrol.”“What about breakfast?”“We can eat on the job,” she says. She seems to be in a hurry.I dress quickly and grab my weapons, then we’re off and out.It’s a beautiful morning.Val takes the lead.She is silent, her eyes scanning the horizon.She marching briskly, heading in a direction we don't normally take.Soon, we're climbing a hill. It's not steep, but the terrain in unfamiliar and I have to watch my footing.“Why are we going up here?” I ask.“It’s safer,” she says."If you think the rogues won't bother us up here, I think you're wrong.”Val throws me a quick glance. "I mean it's safer from the pack."I look at her as we continue on upwards. She’s up to something and it's giving me a weird feeling inside.We wind our way through the bramble.It feels like we’re moving in circles.“Are you sure this is the right way?” I ask Val.“Yeah."“But that looks like the same bush we were just at.”Val doesn’t answer
The Rogue's Desire FOURTEEN
I run down the hill as fast as I can go, slipping and sliding on the loose rocks.Please don’t be Patrick.Please don’t be Patrick.“Rylie!” Val calls after me. “Slow down!”She thinks I’m plowing head first into danger.Perhaps I am.But I have no choice.If my mate is in danger, I must go to him.I must help him.I can’t lose him.I push through the leafy undergrowth, clambering over dead branches and barking my shins on the rocks.I am so close now.Then I hear the howl again.He’s close.I push myself harder, faster.Brambles scratch at my arms and legs, but I hardly feel them.“Rylie!” Val calls after me. “Wait!”I ignore her.I’ll just have to hope that if I run into trouble, she’ll be there to help me.The howls are coming from the clearing.Our clearing.Mine and Patrick's.Panic grips me. The howl comes again. I can tell by how clear it is that whoever is howling, they're in trouble.More than ever, I want to be with my mate.I pick up my pace, push
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER FIFTEEN
We bring the rogues to Hunter.My stomach drops the moment he lays eyes on me.I squirm uncomfortably as his gaze follows me across the room.When he sees the rogues enter, his expression turns to confusion.“What’s going on?” he asks.“Your girlfriend wants pets,” Murray says, glowering at me.Hunter looks at me too, his expression perplexed.“Rylie?” he asks. “What’s going on? Why are you bringing vermin into our home?”I wince at the word, but make sure I don't show my disdain on my face.“We found rogue traps," I say. "We thought it would be better to take them alive. For information.”"We?" Hunter asks.I feel Val tense beside me. I don't want to throw her under the bus again, but everyone knows we work in tandem. There's no way to keep her name out of this without arousing suspicions."Val and I."Val glares at me. I hope she understands why I had to say what I just did.“What kind of traps?” Hunter asks, moving on swiftly.“Hidden ones. Ones designed to kill.”“W
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I run all the way back to the dorm.I can't stop thinking about the three rogue prisoners.I hope I have bought them time. I can only pray they are in their cells now scheming a way to get out.I open the dorm door and head inside.Tomasina and Alia are inside. They look up as I approach."What's wrong with you?" Tomasina asks."You look like you saw a ghost.""I'm fine," I say, hurriedly."What happened?" Tomasina asks."Is it Hunter?" Alia asks.I sit down on my bed and rub at my temples."No.""You're obviously upset about something," Tomasina says.I look at her. I want to tell her everything. I want to spill my guts. But having it all out there in the open will be too risky. Val knows and that's already one person too many."I think I might have just made a bad situation worse," I say."I don't understand," Tomasina says. "Explain.""It's kind of long," I say."We're not going anywhere," Alia offers.I sigh."We have prisoners," I breathe."What?" Tomasina asks
The Rogue's Desire CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I stare at the space Patrick just left.I cannot believe what just transpired.My heart feels shattered.I am distraught.He thinks I've betrayed him for my pack.And I suppose, from his perspective, it must look that way.But I haven't and I can't even explain what really happened.What exactly was I supposed to do?Let them be executed?I didn't have a choice. I had to save them.And I will get them out of here, just not in the way Patrick wants.I wish I could tell him everything. That if I had it my way, none of the rogues would be dead. But I can't, and now he is gone. Possibly forever.Footfall approaches.I turn, expecting to see the guards coming around the corner.Instead, I see Val.She locks eyes with me and her face turns stern.My stomach plummets. I know I am in trouble.She reaches me."What are you playing at, Rylie?" she demands. "You're not supposed to be here."She looks around nervously, clearly on edge."What do you mean?" I ask, trying to play
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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.
