The Rogue Luna

Resolve

Resolve

noun

resolve (noun) · resolves (plural noun)

firm determination to do something:

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Blake’s POV

As breakfast finished up, Kane gathered everyone's dishes and put them to soak.

He was always the responsible one out of the two of us.

Ever since we were just pups he’d always take on this fiercely parental role over me and our sister. Especially our dear sister, she was the light in the dark for anyone who met her, and though she was a clueless child before she was ruthlessly taken from the world her outlook on life was unreasonably positive.

After we escaped the rogue attack, I always allowed Kane to continue that role in my life. I knew that as badly as I still needed some kind of guidance as a young newly rogue wolf, I always knew he needed it even more so than I. I suppose to keep some sort of normalcy in his life, in our life.

And now with Winter here, I could see that protective aura of his was heightened more now than it had been in years.

He loved her, maybe more than I did, I wasn’t sure yet, especially after the short stint the two of us had this morning.

She was confusing, the persona she portrayed during her first moments with us the night before was the tough b***h type, and now… now I wasn’t sure. Maybe that was just an act she put on since we quite literally kidnapped her?

Most likely.

She was here against her will, and yet already seemed to calm down quite a bit after a shower and some food.

But who’s to say? This was brand new for all three of us after all.

Maybe she thought if she complied just enough to appease us, we’d let her go.

Poor girl, hadn’t come to the realization that she was home now. We’d never let her leave, not alive at least.

Because the fact of the matter was that if she wouldn’t come to love us, if she couldn’t come to accept us, if we couldn’t have her completely then no one could.

And, if I were being honest with myself, despite it being my idea in the first place, to go and take her, to bring her home with us, her presence was distracting. And I despised being distracted.

Even though we lived pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with little to no foot traffic in our vicinity even from other rogues or traveling wolves, I always felt the intense need to protect our little territory.

It was all we had after all.

Just like Kane’s parental tendencies were his own form of coping with the tragedy that is our lives, that consumed our pup years, my territorialism definitely helped me cope with the loss of not just our family and friends but our pack.

And having Winter within arms reach clouded my mind more than ever.

I wanted nothing more but to take her every time her sweet scent flooded my nostrils.

It was intoxicating.

To breathe her in.

And then seeing her so bare, so vulnerable this morning.

The water cascading down her velvet skin.

Her dark hair molding to the curves of her torso.

The soap that gathered at her bare breasts as she wrapped her arms around her nude form.

The soft expression that painted her face when she noticed these f*****g scars.

She made me feel so drunk with lust, actually, not even lust. Was it love? I wasn’t sure still, but it was an intense need that bubbled inside my stomach.

It made me want to be careless.

Fuck…

I thought to myself, my head draped forward as I made my way outside. I just needed to walk away for a moment.

My mind was beginning to wander much more than it needed to, especially with her sitting right beside me. Even though she bathed in lavender just moments before her natural sweet musk was filling the air. I could tell it was difficult for Kane as well, but his composure was always better than mine.

That primal urgency inside me was too much to handle.

Maybe getting a workout in, some patrolling of the perimeter of our cabin, would ease it.

As I pushed the front door open heading towards the dense trees, I didn’t bother to pay attention to the sound of her small footsteps trailing closely behind me.

“Blake!” She shouted out trying to grab my attention, her voice gave away how unsure she was of us still, yet she spoke so casually.

Her voice sent those delicious chills down my spine as I stopped in my tracks. My back turned towards her still.

I didn’t want to look at her.

I knew if I did I might not be able to control that need inside me, and part of me feared I would push her further away from us if I didn’t yet the other didn’t care.

It felt as if I had a devil and an angel sitting on my shoulders now.

“Blake-” She said again, her tone still nervous yet softer now.

Staying behind me, she began despite her own unease, “Blake, about this morning… I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. We’re strangers, and I know I shouldn’t have done that… Even though,” I could sense the sincerity in her tone, then there it was, the but of it all. “Even though it was kind of your fault, I still don’t understand why you couldn’t just let me shower in peace.” She scoffed.

I couldn’t help but smirk, I could tell she was probably nervously fiddling with her hands or brushing loose strands of her dark hair behind her small ear. Waiting for my response, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

I was never good at talking anyway.

“It’s cool. I already told you not to worry about it, Winter.” I just plainly spit out, my tone soft yet unassuming as I began my short walk into the trees, but of course, Winter just couldn’t let it be.

She could’ve just gone back inside.

I could have just ran, shifted quickly and jetted out of her proximity, making it impossible for her to go after me, but part of me enjoyed her trailing after me.

It was delusional, I know, but it made me feel wanted.

In some twisted way. To be chased by her.

As we reached just a couple feet from the border of the clearing into the treeline, Winter pranced in front of me. The crunching twigs and leaves filled the short silence as she walked over them, the fresh forest air diluted her scent only slightly while simultaneously wafting it right by my face.

I could feel that rumble inside me awaken. My heart began beating faster, my palms sweating lightly as I grew anxiety ridden by the second.

Why couldn’t she just leave me alone?

Staring up at me with annoyance written all over her face as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’m not leaving you alone because I’m trying to apologize properly I guess.” She retorted, making me instantly roll my eyes.

Ugh.. I forgot she can f*****g read minds.

Winter scoffed, matching my attitude instantly.

Rolling her eyes just as I had done.

“Yeah well, I didn’t exactly want this to be the gift I was given either, asshole..” She muttered, chewing on her inner cheek.

With narrowed eyes, she peered back up towards me through her long lashes, watching my face. Watching to see if my expressions changed at any moment.

“You’re a d**k you know that right?” She seethed, her hair blowing slightly as the wind picked up.

My gaze was glued to her for a moment longer.

My heart felt as if it could leap through my ribcage right out of my chest just looking at her.

Even though, she was beautiful, breathtaking in the moonlight. With that tight black dress hugging every curvature of her form in just the right way.

Then seeing her in the shower this morning, completely bare in the dim cool lighting of the bathroom was divine.

But this, seeing her like this, in the bright warm sunlight that illuminated her soft olive skin perfectly.

Her deep eyes and dark hair seemed brighter now, warmer even.

Her hair had strands of chocolate brown and a deep gold that you wouldn’t be able to notice if it weren’t for the sun’s bright rays.

Her eyes… God f*****g damn it, her eyes, they were so entrancing, being orbs of amber and a rusty shade of brown that swirled together and nearly had me at my knees.

She was ethereal..

No wonder we decided she had to be ours. No matter what it took, or what the risks were. Taking in a deep, elongated breath, I broke eye contact, glancing up at the trees then around her.

“Winter, just drop it,” I replied, my tone cold as I attempted to move around her, determined to create some sort of distance between the two of us.

The forest floor shuffled as the two of us began walking further into it.

“Why are you such a d**k to me?” She nearly shouted, causing me to grimace at the sudden loudness. “I get that I’m like your f*****g hostage or whatever.” She continued, her hurried footsteps followed her voice as she caught up to me, cutting off my path once again.

She stood in between me and one of the larger trees in the forest, it was one I usually would climb and look over the area as the advantage of its height allowed me to observe everything.

“But the absolute least you could do is be f*****g nice to me like Kane is.” She muttered, annoyance dripping from every word that left her soft lips.

What can she not get about leaving me alone…?

Just as she opened her mouth to spew her bratty rebuttal, I grabbed her shoulders.

Squeezing my fingertips into her soft flesh as I pressed her against the tree’s rough bark.

Nearly slamming her into it as I felt my resolve melting away.

A soft gasp left her as I stared down at her, my eyes changing to the red she witnessed before.

“Yes, we took you from your home Winter.” I seethed, fighting every cell inside my body to not do anything too drastic. “We took you, and we don’t plan to let you go.”

Despite the craze I felt growing, seeing her face pale at my words brought me back to reality ever so slightly.

“But- But..” She whimpered, I could tell she was fighting an inner battle as well. Her eyes flashed a shade of copper, a signature of the Dark Hollow pack.

A growl rumbled from my throat as I shoved her back again, gentler this time but enough to understand she needed to shut up.

“Kane is nicer to you because he can control himself better.” I reluctantly confessed, my eyes traveled her form just as they had this morning and my mind instantly flashed images of her naked body.

I could feel my instincts clawing at my mind, “Me not so much, sweet girl.” I muttered through gritted teeth, the grip on her shoulders loosened as my body nearly betrayed me as it wanted to touch her more. To explore her.

Winter’s POV

Another gasp left my slightly parted lips as I started up at the wolf before me.

He was tall normally, but in this moment it felt as if he were towering over me now.

Though I didn’t truly know them, this didn’t feel like the Blake from this morning. The cool, cocky, dickhead that made a joke of everything. He felt different, and the crimson glint in his eyes only confirmed his dissipating composure.

His hands grazed down my arms now, moving to my waist as he reached my forearms. Pressing deeply into my sides, he grabbed me as if he holding back everything in him to not attack me right there.

I could feel my chest tighten with nerves as my eyes widened.

His touch was sending jolts of electricity throughout my body which made those conflicting emotions in my head become even more of a scrambled mess.

But before he could do anything more, Kane’s voice knocked us both back into reality.

“Blake, let her go.” He rumbled, his eyes matching his brothers as if he were readying himself for a fight. “Now.”

Blake immediately gulped, his gaze slowly breaking from me to his brother.

His older brother’s presence seemed to instantly ground him. His eyes instantly snapped back to their normal shade of brown as he looked back towards you.

Chewing on his inner lip, his face looked as if he needed to say something, but couldn’t vocalize his words.

As Kane approached, he snatched one of Blake’s hands that had still gripped my waist, holding his wrist tightly he moved the man away from me slowly.

“Take a walk dude.” He hummed, his tone gentler now as if he empathized with him. His eyes watched as Blake looked me over one more time before walking away.

Once there was a decent amount of distance between us and him, Kane sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed father.

Looking at me, he raised his hand, cupping my face so gently in it that it nearly made me flinch.

Though Kane and I were actually physically aggressive towards one another, Blake seemed much more intimidating.

“Did he hurt you, love?” He softly murmured, pressing his lips together as his thumb grazed my cheek bone.

I could feel his eyes on me, just as much as Blake’s were, except less fiery.

Without a word, I shook my head. Wanting to explain what had happened, in a way hoping the men wouldn’t be angry with each other.

Ugh why do I even care?

I mentally drawled, internally rolling my eyes at my eyes at myself.

My mind was riddled with questions that I couldn’t find the courage to verbalize, at least not right now.

Was I really never going to go home?

Kane nodded, reciprocating my silence as he removed my hand from my face, moving it to my back, he ushered me off the harsh bark.

“Look..” He began as we walked back in the direction of the cabin, moving past the tall trees and fallen logs. “I don’t know what Blake said, but my brother isn’t so bad. Moody? Yes, on the rare occasion. But a bad man? No, definitely not.”

I nodded, silently acknowledging his words, still unsure of what even to say.

“Please just let me go,” I muttered under my breath with my head hung low, but my words caused us to stop in our tracks.

Kane sighed heavily, “You’ll learn to love us.” He said simply, “This is your home now, sweet girl. Please, try to get used to it.”

Without thinking, without another thought or care, I faced him. Moving my shoulder back to instantly remove his gentle hold on me.

“Why?” I shouted, my face stiff with frustration, “Why are you doing this to me? I just want to go the f**k home, and first, the psycho is saying you guys aren’t ever going to let me leave and now you?” I asked with furrowed brows, using my hands to motion around, my movements seeming to punctuate each word. “I don’t understand any of this?”

As Kane opened his mouth to speak, looking down at me with sweet apologetic eyes. He reached his hand out towards me again, which only caused me to jump backward to avoid his touch.

I need to get out of here.. One way or another..

Holding my hand up, I huffed while shaking my head.

I didn’t want to talk anymore. What else was there to say?

They both already had predetermined my fate.

That taking me meant my permanent residence here. With them.

I’d really never be able to leave…

To live truly free. To see my parents and brother again. To go to another one of my packs ridiculous festivals.

To maybe find my second chance mate…

And you know, part of me had been aware of this fact since the moment I was swept into the dark forest and brought here. But I had also hoped that maybe, just maybe the two men that showed their softness just hours ago would have some kind of humanity, some kind of compassion in them, and would let me leave if I satiated them just enough.

But this… this just fueled the flame of my desire to get the f**k out of here. Far away from these f****d up wolves.

I turned around, still in the direction of the cabin as I stormed away with my mind made up.

I’d leave tonight. No hesitation.

It’ll be the death of me if I stayed here for any longer.