The Alpha's Reluctant Wife

Chapter 18: Lance

Hands trembling, heart hammering, and head pounding with a skull-splitting headache. I paced around my small room, my wolf pushing against the boundaries of my body. Coiling rage bubbled underneath my skin.

I couldn't believe I just let that bastard drag my mate away. After everything I've said to Chiara... after all my promises, I still let her be taken away from me.

But what the f**k could I do at that moment? We were back in Calyx City, in the middle of Galway's Pack territory. I was outnumbered, at least ten-to-one. The situation could've only worsened if I had spoken up right then and there.

Roaring, I punched the wall of my room, leaving a fist-size indent through the concrete. Hallelujah for having my own private space away from other shifters. I punched the wall, again and again, until I burned out the anger and frustration inside me, not worried about being heard or disturbed.

I stopped when the wall started crumbling, and my fist became a bloody mess. Panting, I crouched on the ground and pulled at my hair.

I still remember how that bastard Adrian looked at my mate and how Chiara's face was etched with silent determination and defeat. Who knew those two emotions could co-exist? But that's what I saw in her. A small kindled fire behind her eyes alongside the acceptance to endure.

How long since I had last seen Chiara? I looked up and checked the digital clock at my bedside table. It was just past nine in the evening. A few hours since we separated. What could've Adrian done to her in such an amount of time?

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. My wolf growled as I approached, still too tense and wound up from what had happened. I opened the door and saw Connor waiting outside.

Here was the last person I wanted to see. Just f*****g great.

The pup's eyes scanned my room until it landed on the broken wall. He gulped audibly before looking back at me again. "Adrian wants to see you."

"Good. I want to see the bastard, too." I shoved Connor away and began marching out of the townhouse.

However, I hadn't even reached the ground floor when the pup blocked my way. I snarled at him, but maybe I should've given the shifter more credit because Connor didn't even move.

"Get. The. f**k. Out, Connor. I'm not playing," I growled.

His hands were trembling. He's afraid. But not afraid enough to f*****g follow me.

"R-Rogue, listen. I don't know how it happened or why but I can see you care about the Madam," he began.

I huffed and folded my arms over my chest, finally giving him a few minutes to talk before I threw him out of the door.

Connor wet his lips, noting my silence as I sign for him to continue. "I've seen how you treat her, and I think it's nice, but maybe you should consider distancing yourself away from her."

The f*****g audacity.

"I am her bodyguard," I exclaimed. I almost blurted out that I was actually her fated mate and that she shouldn't even be married to Adrian. I was hers.

"I know! I know!" Connor shouted back. "But Adrian is a jealous person. Really, really jealous. And possessive. If he sees the two of you..."

"He could just suck it up," I snapped. Connor had no idea about my arrangement with his Pack Alpha. Adrian took the risk of accepting me as his member, and he knew I was, in some way or another, interested in his wife. He's not stupid.

So, if he's suddenly feeling territorial, I have a few choice words for him.

"We're still going to talk. Later," I said to Connor before leaving the townhouse.

***

Adrian's office looked the same, except this time, it was filled to the absolute brim with the scent of roses. The scent was mostly sweet and floral, although there were also notes of bitterness. I tried to discreetly observe the room, but other than the odd chair haphazardly placed in the corner, nothing seemed out of place.

Chiara was nowhere to be seen, too.

I focused back on Adrian instead. He sat again behind his desk, just like in our first meeting. This time, though, he was holding something else in his hand.

I narrowed my eyes when I realized it was a handkerchief stained with blood. My handkerchief. The same one I wrapped around Chiara's wound.

"The preparation is finally done," Adrian said while toying with the cloth. "I have my first mission for you, Rogue."

"Escorting your wife to Hoult City isn't my first?"

"Hardly, especially when you failed at it." Adrian tossed the handkerchief on the floor in front of me. I gave it a cursory glance before glaring at him.

"She fell off the bench—"

"Hmph, you two also give the same excuses. How curious."

"I'm telling the truth—"

"Wooden pallet. Smells of old mold and moss. It was likely left outside for long periods of time. A hint of sea salt, so close to the bay walk, but not too much, so not directly beside it. There are only two possible areas where my wife got that injury: the warehouse district and the old factory."

I stared at Adrian, slack-jawed. He smirked at me and touched the side of his nose. "Don't understimate my senses, Rogue. I'm not Pack Alpha for no reason."

He leaned forward and held my gaze. "Would you like to tell me what really happened?"

Shit. Utter f*****g s**t.

'I am so sorry, pup,' I thought to myself.

"It's your cousin," I mumbled.

"Connor?"

"Yes," I hedged. "We were checking out the warehouse district since it's close to the baywalk, like what you said. He was playing rough and accidentally pushed your wife. The Madam fell atop a broken pallet and got wounded. I guess Connor was just too excited that time. The Madam didn't want him to get in trouble, though."

"Hmmm," Adrian hummed. He still seemed suspicious, as if there was something else I hadn't told him. Weeell, that's true, but I made a promise to the pup. Although, I might as well just had sold him to the devil by telling his Pack Alpha he was the one who hurt Chiara.

"I'll let this slide... for now," Adrian said.

"The Madam is alright, though, isn't she?" I asked, hoping to glimpse what happened to Chiara after he dragged her into his office.

Adrian grunted. "Her state is none of your concern, but if you really have to know, she's doing great."

I called bullshit. I needed to see with my own eyes that my mate was actually fine.

I was about to demand that when Adrian opened a drawer on his desk and retrieved a document. He held it out to me.

I accepted the folder and skimmed through the files inside it. There were pictures of people, both portraits and candid ones. Each picture had a profile under it detailing the names and routines of the people in the images. The last file contained hefty information about a Feridian-based pack called the Moonstone.

Looking back at Adrian, I found him observing me closely.

"Ferid City. That's pretty far away from here, isn't it? Even farther than Hoult," I said.

Adrian nodded. "Do you know anything about the Moonstone Pack?"

"I've heard about them," I replied. "Extremely shady. They often use blackmailing as a method to get what they want. Why? They got dirt on you?"

"Do you really think I will send you to a pack that you can use against me?"

I gave Adrian a blank look.

"I am doing this for... another person," Adrian answered.

Was this related to Governess Menessa's favor from Connor? No. Something wasn't right.

"I want those people dead." Adrian jutted his chin to the document in my hand. "I want it done cleanly. If you mess up, it will be easy for me to use your name and let you carry the blame. You don't want that happening, hm?"

Out from the pan and into the fire. I told myself I wouldn't be used as a tool by anyone. Yet, here I was again, in the same situation a decade later. I wasn't doing this for myself, though. I needed to play along... just until I could get Chiara and me out of this f*****g pack.

But how long would it take? How many lives would I have to end until I could give us freedom?

I tucked the document under my arm and nodded at Adrian. "Consider it done."

Adrian smiled wickedly. "I'm expecting great news from you soon, Rogue."

I stepped out of his office and headed straight out of the mansion. The night air was cold against my skin. The chill was enough to keep my thoughts clear.

I'd do whatever it takes to get us out of here.

Whatever. It. Takes.