The Lost Rogue Heiress

TEN - Run Away

Desmond’s heart pounded in his chest as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling. It was only a dream, he reminded himself as he tried to slow his breathing down to calm the inner turmoil the nightmare had caused him. He had never imagined that meeting his mate would cause so much internal struggle. Of course, he had never imagined that his mate would be Olivia, either. As the Alpha’s granddaughter and only heir, she represented everything that he was not. That was something he felt like they could overcome, the difference in their stations. When she discovered who he was though, he knew that she would never be able to reconcile her past with his. The thought that he had done things in his life that could now bring pain to her was enough to make him want to crawl into a hole and never come out. If he couldn’t move past it, how could he ever expect her to?

There was a plan, there had always been a plan, and this revelation had not been factored in. He knew as soon as he ran into any other pack members their bond would be revealed because her scent was all over him. Desmond hadn’t been able to bring himself to wash her off his body when he had finally made his way inside the pack house the previous night. It had a calming effect on his wolf, even if it was also driving them both crazy. The next morning, he could still smell her on his skin, and now his sheets had a hint of her too.

Most wolf shifters had two or three smells that combined to give them each their unique scent. It was a gift and a curse; although it protected them from being blindsided to a certain degree, it also made it nearly impossible to sneak up on anyone. That’s how Olivia knew he was near last night, and he was an i***t for allowing it to happen. He should have run before she ever had a chance to see him, but he was enraptured from the moment he sensed her presence.

Olivia had the sweetest and most calming scent he had ever encountered, but it was one he was unable to nail down to just two or three things. His mate smelled like the whole damn forest, but only the good parts. There were strong smells of pine and oak, but there were also hints of cedar, elm, and ash. She smelled alive the way the brush does after it’s had a decent rain, and there were hints of fresh grass mixed in as well. The wildflowers were laced in as well, but only enough for a hint of floral, not something that smacked you in the face. Finally, to add the sweetness that was driving him mad, was the smell of the berries that grew wild and naturally all over the woods.

Desmond let out an audible breath of air while rubbing his face with his hands, trying to get the blood flowing. He wasn’t going to get any more sleep, that much was clear. He rolled out of bed and grabbed his shorts off the floor where he had dropped them the night before. As always, he chose to forego any undergarments; as a shifter, they usually just got in the way and were more trouble than they were worth. Not to mention, very restricting.

Zane was restless. Desmond had felt his wolf’s energy pacing all night, probably part of the reason he had that damn nightmare.

You had that dream because that is what’s going to happen if we don’t change our course, Des. You will lose her, and you won’t be able to bear it. I will not abandon you, Des. But don’t do this to us. It will break us.

She will break us, Zane! Don’t you understand after all this time? It’s Olivia, for Goddess’ sake. It will never work!

Maybe not the way you thought, but it could. All I know is, if we lose her, we are lost. I don’t know how, but I can feel it. We need her, Des. She’s the reason we breathe now.

No! That’s not how this is going to work. I have worked too hard to just throw everything away, even if it’s for her. I can’t do that. It’s not just us that we have to think about, Zane.

Maybe you wouldn’t have to throw everything away, Des, did you ever consider that?

Zane was borderline pleading with Desmond now; he could feel the pain in his wolf’s voice through their bond, and it crushed his soul a little. It would probably be more difficult for Zane if they rejected their mate; the mate bond was a part of being a wolf-shifter and the instincts that came with it were animalistic when it came to many wolves.

She’s too strong, Des, she’d never be okay with it and she’d never back down. It would be a neverending battle for her to accept it. Her Alpha blood is too strong.

Desmond’s tone made it clear to his wolf that he wasn’t going to change his mind, and he felt Zane growl through the bond before retreating to hide somewhere in the depths of their spirit. He’d come around; Zane was a soldier through and through, and he would come around for the greater good eventually.

He made his way to the showers and quickly washed Olivia’s intoxicating scent off before throwing on a clean pair of shorts and heading to the courtyard on the northern side of the pack house. He needed to run and burn off some energy, but he knew that there was a chance of running into Olivia if he went to his usual trail to the south.

“Good morning, Desmond,” Alpha Grayson said to him as he closed the door.

Fat chance of not running into his Alpha, the old man never seemed to sleep and appeared to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. Desmond glanced in his direction briefly, not wanting to make eye contact after what he had shared with the man’s granddaughter the previous evening. Grayson was smiling, the old man was always smiling, but this morning it held traces of sadness.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Desmond responded with a quick head tilt as he continued walking north. “I’ll be back, going for a run.”

“Care for some company? These old muscles still work.”

Desmond stopped walking but didn’t turn around. To continue walking away while his Alpha addressed him would be an extreme sign of disrespect, but he also couldn’t force himself to turn around and look the man in the eye.

“With all due respect, Alpha, I’d prefer some time to myself right now if you don’t mind.”

“Well,” Grayson paused before responding. “I figured everyone would know by the end of the day.”

“Alpha?”

“Don’t play coy, boy, it doesn’t suit you. I haven’t even convinced her to return, yet, but I think she will,” Grayson smiled. “I know you have your doubts about her, but I think she will surprise you. She is strong, just like her parents. She’s just been hiding it all these years.”

She surprised him, just not the way Grayson was suggesting.

“If you say so, Alpha. Am I free to go now?” Desmond asked

“Of course. Just know, you can’t run away forever. These dilemmas will still be here when you return. But go. Clear your mind. We have a pack meeting this afternoon, and I expect everyone to be present. That includes you.”

With that Desmond broke off into a jog. If he continued speaking with his Alpha he would reveal information he’d rather keep to himself for now. The old man didn’t deserve how he was treating him, but he didn’t have the mental energy to concern himself with that now. He needed to clear his mind; he needed to run.

Before he reached the forest edge, he heard Zane mutter through their bond.

Go ahead, Des. Run away.