Chapter 2 (RE-PUBLISHED VERSION)

Caiden

"Alpha," a distant whisper echoes in my mind.

I close my eyes and dip my head under the warm water of the shower as I search through the pack mindlink, looking for the one reaching out to me. When I find the individual, I tune in the thread and strengthen the connection.

The patrol wolf's deep voice rumbles more clearly now. "I found a female rogue trespassing during my patrol this morning."

Over the past few months, we've been experiencing an increase in rogue wolves attacking our pack members. But lately, to make matters worse, they've escalated to an all-time high, and now the innocent humans in my territory are targets.

Unacceptable.

"Where?" I growl.

"Concealed in the forest, waiting."

"For what?"

"She asked to speak with you. She wants to cross through the territory."

"Why?"

"She won't say. Only that it's a matter of life and death."

"Possibly hers, if I don't like what she has to say." I run my fingers through my wet hair as I decide what to do. "You know what? Fuck it. I'll send someone to escort her here. This better be as important as she says."

I hurry to finish my shower. One of the downsides of the mindlink when you're an Alpha is you never get privacy unless you close the link. Of course, closing the mindlink comes with criticism from everyone.

I send Dylan, my Beta and second-in-command, a message through the mindlink. "Sammy is escorting a rogue here. Be on guard for anything unusual."

"Do you want me to handle it?" he asks.

"If by handle, you mean kill, then no."

"We shouldn't be taking risks—"

"I'll decide what we should and shouldn't do," I snap. And then even my tone. "I will hear her out first. Then you can kill her."

* * *

I rummage through my drawers, tossing out shirts that are either torn or dirty.

The uncontrollable rage has to stop.

A low growl vibrates my throat as I throw another ripped T-shirt across the room.

I need better control of the damnation that is my wolf raging inside me.

My pulse quickens, and I fight against my wolf for control. After grabbing a pair of jeans, I head downstairs in search of a clean shirt and ice to calm the fury of the cursed beast begging to be released.

A whiff of a stale stench lingers in the air. Sabrina. An involuntary snarl escapes my lips as I jump over the banister and head down the hall to my office, unseen. Exaggerated laughter spreads through the house, and my nostrils flare.

I've known Sabrina since we were kids, and she's continuously failed to respect my role as Alpha, always forcing me to take her down a notch. While that's enough to keep the respect of everyone else in the pack, we both know that she's gotten under my skin.

Something an Alpha should never let happen.

She's a manipulative and cunning creature, hiding within a beautiful body, and as narcissistic as they come.

Calm down. I can't meet the rogue like this, or else it won't matter what she says.

I glance at the clock. No time for a cooldown run. Instead, I focus on the old leather speed bag hanging in the corner of my office. It's been years since I used it, and right now, a sparring session will be perfect.

I punch the bag. The quick movement of the jab feels good.

Sabrina is all about power. She wants to be the Alpha's mate, Luna of the pack.

Jab, jab.

Call me traditional or old school, but I still believe in the stories of Fated Mates.

These days, many of our kind don't find their Fated Mate, so they accept the bond with another. But the bond with your Fated Mate is rumored to be surreal—something you shouldn't ignore or take for granted. If that bond breaks, your entire existence shatters. One cannot live without the other—or so the Pack Elders say.

From personal experience, I disagree on a certain level. However, the concept of Fated Mates sounds nice enough that I'm not about to give that up for scum like Sabrina.

Jab, jab.

I witnessed firsthand what happens when a bond breaks; sometimes death is the easier choice. Still better than her, though.

Jab, jab.

Now Sabrina's dug her sharp claws into my Beta, Dylan. I should be thankful she has her sights off me, but I have a sick feeling she's just using him. The question is, for what?

An intoxicating smell of mint and honey drifts in the air, and a surge of power ripples through the room. Stepping outside my office, Dylan's voice echoes down the hallway as I walk.

"Hey Lux," he says to our guest, the rogue.

Her body turns rigid, and her pupils dilate and grow black before she closes them. Her chest rises with the intake of a deep breath. It seems this rogue and Dylan are prior acquaintances. And it's obvious she wasn't expecting to find him here.

Upon opening her eyes, her nose twitches, and a slight crease forms on her forehead.

I lean against the doorway. Our eyes meet for a second before she looks away. Something about her triggers a familiarity deep inside my soul.

Sammy points to the girl. "Alpha Caiden, this is the rogue who asked to speak with you."

She turns her head in my direction, but her gaze stays transfixed on Dylan and Sabrina entangled in each other's arms.

I send a small push of power surging through the room. I want her attention.

Her shoulders tremble, and I smirk when she diverts her gaze to the ground.

The sound of soft moans and lip-smacking causes me to grunt. Dylan and Sabrina are putting on a show for the unwanted guest. Sabrina's dark hair slips over her shoulder as she nibbles a path from Dylan's ear to his neck. My lips turn up into a silent snarl.

I send Sabrina and Dylan a warning through the mindlink. "Enough!"

Sabrina slides off Dylan's lap and curls up next to him, cutting her gaze toward our visitor.

The rogue's jaw clenches. "I'll be going now. I'm done here."

Dylan grins. "Oh, come on, Lux. You just got here."

Her shoulders relax as my scent floods the room. She continues her deep breathing but continues to glare at Dylan. It's only a matter of time before she loses control.

Laughing, Dylan pulls Sabrina back on his lap. "You may have learned to control your temper, but you're not fooling anyone. I can smell...her. Your wolf wants out. You can't lock her up forever."

"Why would anyone want to?" Sabrina giggles, then crushes her lips against his. A moan escapes the couple, and a low growl erupts from the rogue.

The rogue's hands clench open and close.

An old trick to staying in control.

Dylan moans as Sabrina caresses his body. "Come on, Lux. Learn to live a little. There's plenty of me to go around."

Sabrina swats at him when he says this.

At the same time, I send another command through the mindlink. "I said, enough!"

Dylan startles but remains calm, and Sabrina pouts as she adjusts herself on the couch.

In the newfound silence, Sammy speaks through the mindlink. "I don't think the rogue is an assassin or a spy, but I can't figure her out."

Dylan smirks before giving his own mindlink reply. "She's neither. I can vouch for her. She's a pain in the ass, but means us no harm."

I nod and continue to observe her tense posture.

Her eyes narrow, and she leans forward on the balls of her feet.

My wolf senses power radiating off her slender frame; tendrils reach out for me, and my own power surges forward.

Whoa. Intense.

As she turns to leave, I walk with a long stride across the room to block her path. "Rogues don't wander unescorted in my territory."

I need answers before she leaves.

I roll my shoulders back and relax my clenched fists. She bats her long, dark lashes, and her pleading hazel eyes capture my interest.

"It was a mistake coming here," she whispers and breaks eye contact. "May I pass through your territory?"

My wolf responds to hers, but I'm trying to tame and control the urges. Through the mindlink, I tell my guards to stand down. When they heard a rogue had requested to talk with the Alpha, my men circled the house to watch the perimeter for signs of danger.

"Let's go," I say and reach for her upper arm.

I'm interested in what she has to say, but not until we both calm down.

The mindlink is flooded by comments from pack.

"Just kill her already."

"Kill the rogue and be done with it."

"What are you waiting for?"

And then finally one from Sabrina. "Showing us your soft side, Alpha?"

That one makes my blood boil. This is not about weakness.

Before snapping the mindlink off, I declare for all to hear, "There's been enough bloodshed as it is. I have...other plans for this one."

And none of them are as good as she's surely hoping.

A/N: THE ROGUE'S FATE is now published! Thank you for taking an interest in my story. If you'd like to continue reading you can find it on Amazon in both eBook, paperback, and audio format, as well as part of the Amazon KU program. 

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