Go Rogue

CHAPTER 9: SHATTERED BONDS

Chapter 9

Zoya

I stare at his back, speechless. Ragnar deflecting was extra annoying, but I know he wasn't kidding about the five minutes. I type in Xander's number, my heart racing faster with every digit. It might have been from the adrenaline from the fight... or the tension. How would Xander react? Maybe he wished I was dead like every other person... Maybe he no longer wants anything to do with me.

"Who is this?" Xander's cool voice cuts through my thoughts.

I take a deep breath. Ragnar only glances back. "It's okay, Zoya," I mutter to myself, remembering that Xander was always like this—cold, opening up only to what he believed in.

Once upon a time, I was part of what he believed in too.

"It's Zoya," I say. There's no reply. Only silence that cuts deeper than any outburst would have. I look back at the screen, wondering if he ended the call, and finally,

"What do you want?"

"I'm sorry, Xander. I'm sorry for everything, for hiding my identity. Everything was so perfect, and this was exactly what I was afraid of." The words spill out of my mouth like I rehearsed them. "You and I were real, Xander. You know that."

I think back to the nights we spent gazing up at the moonlight after the last training session, still sweaty and out of breath. When he first told me he would make me his Luna. The night he marked me as his mate, and even the day after when he swore to fight for us, for what we were. How was it that he cracked under the pressure?

"I refuse to believe this is how it ends, Xander. Deep down, you know the truth..."

"It's Alpha Xander," he cut in coldly. "Begging for a second chance from someone that would have watched you get killed is either blind love or plain foolishness."

"You don't mean that..." My voice drops to a whisper.

"The council is convinced that you're a spy. A prize has been placed for anyone who can capture you. Consider this as last advice from an old friend. Wherever you are, thank the gods for giving you another chance and stay away from the Shadow Pack."

"Xander..." I trail off as he ends the call.

No. Tears sting in my eyes. I blink them away. My hands tremble as I type in Scar's number.

"This is Zoya," I say the moment he answers on the second ring.

"Oh my goodness, Zoya. Tell me you're safe."

"Yeah, I am. I'm okay." I keep my voice from trembling as I nod, looking around the dark woods. I just fought a bunch of rogues for goodness knows why, Xander just confirmed that he wants nothing to do with me, but of course I was okay.

There was no other way to be.

At least I have Scar. I still have him.

"Zoya, I've been so dang worried. I need to know where you are."

I glance around, trying to remember any detail about the place. "Right now I'm in the middle of nowhere, but there's a mountain and..."

The rest of my words are cut off. Ragnar yanks the phone out of my hand.

"Give it back! I'm not done!"

"Zoya... Zoya, are you there..."

My hands clench into fists, but Ragnar holds the phone away from me. His claws extend around it, smashing it to bits.

"Time's up," he announces in a cold voice and starts walking back to the clearing.

I glare at his back, wishing I could grab a log of wood and throw it at him. My only chance of contacting the one person that still cared about me was up in smoke.

The heartbreak after speaking with Xander is still fresh in my mind—like reopening a wound that hadn't even healed. A part of me wants to curl up against a tree and cry my eyes out for the rest of the night.

But I drag my feet on, refusing to show weakness.

Back in the clearing, Ryker drags the last of the dead rogues into a makeshift grave that couldn't have been more than three feet deep. The men start covering them with sand. I didn't think that they would even bother burying them. Ragnar never struck me as that kind.

"We're done for the night. Back to the castle," Ragnar tells the men, grabbing his scythe from the bark of a tree.

Neither of us speak on the way back. Ragnar walks ahead, a frown on his face, too deep in thought. I'm too busy hating him to pick up the pace. Ryker and the men lead from behind, probably to make sure I don't run away... Not that the thought didn't flash across my mind once or twice.

We arrive at his gloomy castle just as the first lights of dawn start peeking through the clouds.

"Get some sleep," Ragnar says, brushing past me.

I'm too tired to argue myself.

I pick up faint voices from Ragnar and Ryker. They speak in hushed conversations as I make my way up the spiraling stairs. I pretend not to care.

The door of my room is open. A lady stands inside with a tray of food. "Master sent me up to deliver your meal," she lowers her head in a bow.

We just got back. I doubt Ragnar had time to tell the maids to prepare food and send it up to my room, but then again, he's immortal.

"Thank you." I take the tray from her. "Do you have any idea where we are?"

"Where we are?" She repeats, looking up at me with glowing gold eyes.

"Son of a gun, Ragnar," I curse under my breath.

"That's not very charming," Ragnar clicked his tongue in annoyance.

I turn behind to see him leaning against the doorway.

"Really? Who knows how many more people you're controlling?"

"You probably won't believe me when I say they had a choice," he replies, clearly unbothered.

I grit my teeth. "What do you want?"

"We leave for the Red Fang Pack in the afternoon. I need you to help me blend in," he says, turning around.

"Are Ryker and the rest coming?" I ask.

"No. Just the two of us. We'll be scouting for information." Then he glances back over his shoulder. "Oh, and wear something pretty."