THE ROGUE HE DENIED

CHAPTER NINE

RAGNAR POV

I was grateful Hannah hadn't seen Noelani. If she had… what would have happened? How had Noelani even escaped her room? My thoughts roamed as my chest throbbed with that cursed, burning ache. A constant reminder of the mate bond I refused to accept, intensified. Rejecting one's mate always has repercussions, but to hell with it. The moment Noelani said my name, it stirred something in me that I couldn't comprehend, something I didn't want to. Ajax kept on chanting in my head to accept and mark her to make her ours. I refused, I wasn't the one interested in her and never would be. At least I was being honest and not toying with her feelings.

Weeks had passed since I last laid eyes on Neolani. The throbbing pain in my chest became something I got used to, no longer flinching as much as before. Ajax kept on pestering to see her and never stopped whining about her, saying she couldn't handle the pain the way I could. Our wolves were bound, but our human halves were not. It was not that I pitied her or anything, it was only because Ajax pleaded. But I ignored him still.

Then came a mind-link from one of the top guards that all eligible pack members were gathered on the training ground. I trained with them every four days a week. A weak pack brought nothing but shame and ridicule. I refused to let mine be belittled and branded as one. A great alpha with a weak pack is not something I'd want to be known as, like other packs.

I pulled on a pair of black joggers, my chest bare and made my way to the training grounds. It was three wide plots of land cleared of trees and bushes.

“Good morning, Alpha,” They all greeted me almost in unison as soon as they saw me.

I waved my hand. “Carry on,” dismissing them back to their drill.

Training days had always been something I looked forward to, because then I’d be able to see Hannah and hang out more with her. My eyes searched for her presence, and landed on her beaming at Kendrick, my beta. My gut tightened. Kendrick had been away for months, busy with inter-pack visitation like always every year, forging alliances between our pack and other packs. When had he returned? Within a second, Hannah's hand slid into his. Anger flared hot in me but I controlled it. An alpha does not lose control, definitely not before his pack.

Then he kissed both of her cheeks.

What the f**k was going on?

I rose from where I sat, ready to walk up to them. But Hannah beat me to it, dragging Kendrick by the hand as she walked up to me. She was glowing with excitement.

“Ragnar,” she said breathlessly, "This is my mate, Kendrick.” My heart plummeted. “I know his your beta, but what are the odds that we are being mated now? Can you believe it?” She squirreled in excitement, clinging to his arm as he towered over her, dwarfing her with his height.

I forced a smile, “Congratulations, Hannah.” My gaze shifted to Kendrick. “Welcome back Kendrick, you didn't tell me you had returned.” My eyes narrowed at him.

"I just got back a few minutes ago. I wanted to surprise you.” He beamed. “And then I met Hannah,” He kissed her cheeks again, and she snuggled even closer to him.

Jealousy sprang inside me but then again I refused to react. I gave a stiff nod at both of them and turned away.

‘Let's meet in my study room later today,’ I mind-linked Kendrick.

‘Of course,’ he replied. Even through the mind link I could sense his excitement.

Damned mate bond. They've known and crossed paths with each other for years and now that they are in their middle 20s, the Moon Goddess ties them together. No. She was definitely doing this to punish me, but I wasn't going to surrender.

Consumed and controlled by anger, my legs took me straight to Noelani's room. I slipped on leather gloves before I entered. She hadn't noticed my presence as I watched her struggling to shift into her wolf. As soon as she noticed me she launched at me, the rage I had sealed in overflowed. I let out a warning growl before shifting to my wolf. Ajax growled in my head not to retaliate and wanted to take control, but I stopped him. I left her room and went towards the living room when her wolf stood in front of me. Her snowy fur glistered under the natural lightening of the living room as she snapped and snarled at me, which left me in awe and immediately Ajax took control.

He melted at the sight of her, rubbing our muzzle affectionately against hers, and I hated the feeling that followed it. The touch of our bodies together zapped me like electricity.

I took back control and growled to warn Ajax. Noelani tried to mind-link, but I blocked it. I didn't want to hear her voice in my head, it would do things to me, and I'd break.

We snarled and barked at each other. She wasn't willing to submit, and that fueled my anger every passing second we growled and snapped at each other. She bared her teeth angrily at me and pushed hard against my chest, but I barely moved. My own snarl tore through the room, commanding her to submit before I pinned her down beneath me. In spite of the fact that she was pinned beneath me, she continued struggling, and snarling, unyielding.

Kendrick mind-linked that he was on his way and that broke my focus. At that instant, she slipped from my grip and went for my neck, her teeth grazed my neck. I threw her across the room before she could dig her teeth further down my neck, she slammed hard into a mirror which broke on her. Ajax howled in pain which jolted through my bones.

She whimpered then shook off the shattered glasses that fell on her glistering fur. She attacked me in every way possible, but I blocked them in return. I didn't want to retaliate only because of the sudden pain I felt when I did so.

Finally, I broke the barrier she held up on me and forced a mind-link through

‘Stand down.’

She ignored, instead she snarled and growled harder and louder. She was a stubborn one.

The room lay in a disastrous mess. Bored, I shifted back to my human form and carried her aggravated wolf over my shoulders. She clawed at my back, but that was the least of my problems. Kendrick was on his way here.

I threw her into her room, shutting it locked. Then I went straight to my study room. I sat on the leather seat behind my oak desk and rubbed my now healed neck when I remembered where she bit me. How is she this strong? Despite her weak look. No one has ever gone for my neck. No one.

I sensed Kendrick at the door of my office. Hannah's scent lingered on him. I rolled my eyes at him as soon as he entered.

“What's with the scrowl?” he asked with that infuriating grin. Stupid smile, he's always smiling. “After being away for months, don't you miss your friend?” He made the kissy face I always hated.

“Before. Not anymore.”

“Why is that?” he asked before taking a seat on the sofa.

“Because I love Hannah, and now she's mated with you,” I said, staring at him blankly.

“What?” His demeanor changed. “Since when? Why are you telling me this now? Of what use do I have with this information?” He rose from the sofa, glaring back at me.

“It doesn't matter when,” I said coldly. “All you have to do is reject her.” I knew it would hurt him, but I cared less. I always and will always get whatever I want.

“That's vile and I won't do that,” his voice cracked with fury. “You’ve lost your damn mind, Ragnar. She’s mine. The Moon Goddess chose her for me, not you. Don’t ever say that again.”

“Why now?” I slammed my fist against the desk. “You have both crossed paths a thousand times and nothing happened. Damn the Moon Goddess!"

“Ragnar watch your tongue. Don't speak ill of the Moon Goddess,” he warned. “And no, I will not reject Hannah. Do you even understand what you're asking for?” He neared my desk, his fist clenched as he glared at me.

“Then watch me announce to the pack that she's my luna, their luna.” I threatened.

“Don’t think your title will protect you from me if you ever try to claim her. Do that, and you won’t just lose a beta, you’ll lose me as your friend.”

For the first time his face twisted with anger and his eyes glazed with rage, something I'd never seen in him before. Without a word, he left the study room and slammed the door shut.

I pressed my palms on my desk until it cracked. “Fine,” I muttered into the empty room. “If it’s war, so be it. I always get what I desire.”