Lady and the Rogue

Unexpected Arrangement

Jamila

The next morning, I received news that my father was gone out for the day and that his ‘good’ friend Sarah and her boys were coming to the house. I knew why he did it. It was a way to keep me inside. Aunt Sarah, who my dad made me call her, wanted my father, but I believe she secretly wanted what comes with being a Duvall. She even considered that I marry one of her sons so that one of them would become the Alpha. I was the key to power, and she was relentless in her pursuit of it. My father never had a son to become his heir, and she knew that the traditional pack rules stated that. My father wanted to change them on my behalf, and she would do anything to stop it from happening. I did my morning routine. I ran along the walking trail in the proximity of my home. Our security was close, so I knew that I had to dodge them even when my wolf wanted to emerge. I needed to be smart about every move I make going forward.

When I was done, I showered and changed into some pink fitted joggers and a white T-shirt. There was no point of dressing up if I was going to be watched like a hawk. I brushed my kinky curly hair into a messy bun and headed downstairs to eat breakfast. I pulled out my phone and opened the message I received last night. The word Ashes stood out to me. I was going to meet him at midnight.

But what if it wasn’t Silas? My soul wouldn’t let me think otherwise. It had to be him. Closing the message, I scrolled to Bianca’s number and pressed the green call symbol. After two rings, she answered.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey. So, I may have told my dad that we all hung out last night.”

Bianca groaned. “Okay. So, who is he?”

I paused, but a smirk appeared on my face. “What made you think it was for a guy?”

“Come on, Mila, if you’re going to use us to lie, at least tell me what the lie was for.”

I picked up a sausage and bit it. “Okay it was, but I can’t talk here. We should all meet up and I’ll tell y’all about him.”

“Okay, just send a group message,” she agreed.

“I will. Also, just so you know, my dad has Aunt Sarah coming by.”

“Oh God. Well, have fun with that.” Except it wasn't fun. Aunt Sarah was worse than the wicked witch of the west. She was so desperate to be involved with our family that she'd be satisfied if my dad gave her the hem of his shirt. She and her husband, George, were a part of our pack before George died. My father and George were close friends and he promised to look after them. Aunt Sarah wasn't always a b***h. Before she lost her mate, she was an active wolf. She was heavily involved in our communities. She gave to the less fortunate wolves and even made generous donations to many charities. It was like a light switch and I couldn't determine if this was her true colors showing or if it's a way to grieve.

“Please save me,” I playfully whispered.

“Did your dad forget that you are grown?”

“Nope. It only seems relevant when it’s related to pack business.”

Bianca breathed out deeply. “I’m sorry, babe.”

I shrugged, “It’s fine, but I plan to meet him tonight. I just have to figure out how to leave undetected.”

Having a babysitter at twenty-two was wild to me. Maybe I could use it to my advantage.

“Okay, just text me the time to meet up. You know we’ll help you.”

“Thanks, B.”

“Anytime! I have to go.”

“Okay,” I ended the call and finished my food.

As soon as I sat the phone down, a chill ran down my spine. The air in the house now shifted with an unseen presence. It was more than just the unease of being watched; it was a primal sense of danger, a feeling I hadn't felt since I was a child, before my wolf had fully awakened. I glanced around the kitchen, but nothing was amiss. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Still, the feeling persisted. It felt like I was being hunted. I quickly pushed the feeling aside, telling myself it was just the stress of the day ahead. I rose and headed toward the front of the house to see who had arrived. The front door opened and in walked Aunt Sarah and her two sons, Mark and Leo. Mark, the eldest, was a brute. His shoulders were wide, and his biceps strained against his shirt. He stood tall and radiated an arrogance that was repulsive. Leo, the younger, was wiry, with a smirk that never left his face. He was sneaky and a liar, and you couldn't trust a single word that came out of his mouth. Yet, his mother believed everything he said.

"Jamila, darling!" Sarah's voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

She was an impeccably dressed woman with a face that was surgically altered to look younger. Her smile never reached her eyes, and her every movement was calculated.

"Look at you! I barely recognized you."

I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or not. I offered a tight-lipped smile in return.

"Aunt Sarah. It's nice to see you."

I knew it was a lie, and I believed she knew it too. We didn’t have the great relationship and that’s putting it nicely.

They quickly made themselves comfortable, as if they knew that this would all theirs one day.

"Come, sit with us. The boys and I were just discussing some business with your father." she said, gesturing toward the living room.

I reluctantly followed them. Mark's eyes lingered on me as I walked past him. It made my skin crawl. He had been trying to get close to me since we were children. I sat in the recliner and Aunt Sarah sat on the love seat, a satisfied smirk on her face. Mark and Leo sat on a large couch, their presence filling the room with a suffocating air of male entitlement.

"So, your father tells me you've been meeting with some of the younger members of the pack. You know, it's important to be a part of the community." Aunt Sarah began.

I looked at her, my face a mask of indifference. "Yes, I have been."

Most of them were young girls and boys, but I did befriend some Omega wolves. Yara being one of them.

"And who have you been meeting with?" She asked, her voice was falsely sweet.

I lifted a shoulder. "Just some friends. Nothing you would be interested in."

"Nonsense! I'm interested in everything you do, darling," she cooed. I’m sure she was. She wanted to be so involved with me. She pretended to be this 'motherly' figure since I didn't know my biological mother. It made me think of the portrait of the woman hanging on our wall.

"She was probably just trying to find a good husband." Leo chimed in, a smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I mean, since she doesn't have her wolf yet, she will need a strong wolf to provide for her," Mark added.

"You're right, my boy," Sarah smiled.

I clenched my fists under the table. "I can protect and provide for myself! If you're not careful, I'll show you both just how well."

Mark let out a laugh. "Ooh, tough one. I like it. A woman with a little fight in her."

I ignored them and turned my attention back to Sarah. "Is there something you needed, Aunt Sarah?”

Her expression became serious.

“Your father was just telling me about some of the pack's traditions. He's been so worried about you, dear. He says you're not behaving like an Alpha's daughter should."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice dangerously low.

"It means you need to settle down. Find a good mate. A strong mate. A mate who can lead the pack by your side."

She gestured toward Mark. Hell no!

"My Mark would be a good choice. He's strong, he's a leader, and he would love you fiercely."

I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest. "I have no intention of marrying anyone, Aunt Sarah and I'm not going to let you or anyone else pressure me into doing something I don't want to do!"

"Jamila! What is the meaning of this?" My father's voice boomed from the doorway. I turned to face him, his face was a thundercloud. His eyes were narrowed into slits and I fought the urge to turn away from him.

"I was just leaving."

"You will sit down, young lady," he commanded, leaving no room for any other option.

He slowly walked in, and the others stood and bowed to him. My father was respected by many of our pack members. They were afraid of him, I'm sure. Hell, so was I, but I never hid from him. Being afraid and hiding were not the same thing. My pulse may drum against my throat, but I could still face what was in front of me. Fear didn't strip me of reason—it sharpened it.

"You and your Aunt Sarah are having a discussion, and you will be a part of it."

I hesitated, but his gaze was unwavering. I knew better than to challenge him because challenging an Alpha was a form of disresoect. I sat back down, my anger simmering just below the surface.

“I’m not marrying Mark or Leo,” I remained firm.

“Samuel, would you tell her that it’s already been set!” She blurted.

What?

I whipped my head towards my father and his expression was blank.

“Tell me this isn’t true, father.”

“It is. I met with the other elder Alphas and they did agree with changing the traditional rules. However, you must get married before you take over as Alpha.”

I couldn’t contain it anymore. “No! This is enough! I’m not marrying anyone for a damn title I never wanted.”

“Mind your tone, young lady,” my father replied.

“You can’t make me do this.”

“You don’t have a choice,” he muttered in an almost deadly tone.

The threatening sound should’ve scared me and it usually does. However, it fueled my anger. I was a puppet, and my father and Sarah were pulling the strings. I was a pawn in their game, a means to an end. But I was not going to let them win. I would not be a tool for their power-hungry desires. I would not let them control my destiny. As the afternoon wore on, I found a moment to send a quick message to Bianca and the rest of our friends.

"Meet me at the old oak tree near the Detroit river at 7 PM. It's urgent."

I knew the location was a good one. It was a secluded spot that we used for pack business, and it was far enough from the house that I wouldn't be followed. After I sent the message, I pretended to be sick and went up to my room. I needed to plan. My mind was racing, trying to come up with a way to get out of the house undetected. I knew the security was tight, and I knew my father had probably given them strict orders not to let me out. But I had to see him. I had to know for sure that it was Silas. As darkness fell, my restlessness grew. I paced the floor of my room, a caged animal. I needed to get out. I needed to breathe. I needed to be free. The window in my room was large, and it overlooked the gardens. It was my only option. I pushed the window open, the cool night air hitting my face. I needed to climb down the wall, but it was too steep. I looked around the room, desperate for a solution. My eyes landed on the fire escape. It was rusty and old, but it was there. I slowly opened the door to the fire escape and started to climb down. The metal creaked and groaned with every step, and I held my breath, praying that no one would hear me.