The Rogue King's Wolfless Queen

Chapter 4: The Rogue King's Domain

Caleb’s hand was warm and completely swallowed hers. The moment she pulled herself up, her knees buckled from sheer exhaustion. She had been scrubbing floors all day, got rejected, and then ran for miles.

Before she could hit the dirt, Caleb’s massive arm wrapped around her waist, catching her easily. He pulled her flush against his chest. He was like a furnace, and he smelled like rain, pine, and expensive whiskey.

"Whoa there," Caleb murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against her ear. "I got you."

Elena’s face flushed hot. "I can walk," she muttered, trying to step back.

Caleb chuckled, a low rumble in his chest, but he didn't let go. "Sure you can, sweetheart. But I'm faster."

Before she could argue, he swept her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style. Elena gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. His muscles were like rock beneath her hands. With a sudden burst of supernatural speed, Caleb took off through the trees. The wind whipped past them, but Elena felt completely safe in his grip.

A few minutes later, the dense trees cleared.

Elena blinked in surprise. She expected the Rogue Pack to live in dirty caves or broken shacks. Instead, hidden in a massive valley, stood a gorgeous, modern estate made of dark wood and glass. It looked like a billionaire's fortress.

Guards in tactical gear stood at the perimeter. The moment they saw Caleb, they dropped to one knee, their heads bowed in absolute respect.

"Alpha! You're alive!" a tall, scarred wolf named Jax breathed, rushing forward. "We heard the hunters ambushed you with silver. We were preparing to launch a war—"

"Stand down, Jax," Caleb interrupted, stepping past him into the bright, luxurious living room of the main house. "The hunters are dead. And the silver didn't finish me."

Jax stared at Elena, his eyes narrowing. "Who is the human? Why does she smell like the BloodMoon Pack?"

"She's not human. She’s wolfless," Caleb said, finally setting Elena down on a plush leather sofa. He looked at Jax, his eyes flashing a dominant, deadly amber. "And you will address her with respect. Her name is Elena. She’s the one who pulled the silver poison out of my veins. Without her, you'd be planning my funeral right now."

Jax’s jaw dropped. He looked at Elena, then quickly bowed his head. "Forgive me, Lady Elena. Thank you for saving our King."

Elena blinked, completely stunned. Lady Elena? Yesterday, she was being called a b***h and having buckets kicked at her. Now, a high-ranking warrior was bowing to her.

"Bring food, clean clothes, and the best medical supplies we have to my quarters," Caleb ordered Jax. Then he turned to Elena, offering his hand again. "Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up."

Caleb led her upstairs to a massive master bedroom. It had a king-sized bed, a fireplace, and a massive glass bathroom.

"Shower's through there. Take your time," Caleb said, tossing her a soft, oversized black shirt. "Wear this for now until Jax brings up clothes in your size."

"Thank you, Caleb," Elena said softly.

Caleb paused at the door, turning to look at her. His eyes traveled down her torn emerald dress, seeing the scratches on her legs, before snapping back to her purple eyes. A dark, dangerous heat flared in his gaze.

"Elena," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "In this pack, we don't care if you can shift. You saved the King. That makes you royalty here. If anyone so much as looks at you wrong, you tell me, and I’ll tear their throat out. Understand?"

Elena felt a shiver run down her spine not from fear, but from an intense, intoxicating thrill. Killian had thrown her away like trash. Caleb was treating her like gold.

"I understand," she whispered.

Caleb smirking, nodding before closing the door.

Elena took a long, hot shower, washing away the mud, the blood, and the literal filth of the BloodMoon Pack. When she stepped out, she slipped on Caleb's shirt. It hung all the way down to her thighs, smelling strongly of him.

She walked back into the bedroom just as Caleb returned. He had washed his own wounds, completely shirtless now, showing off a perfectly chiseled six-pack and a broad chest where his wounds were already fading into faint pink lines.

He looked up, and his breath hitched. His eyes locked onto her bare legs beneath his oversized shirt. The air in the room suddenly became heavy, thick with a sudden, undeniable s****l tension.

Before either of them could speak, the front doors of the estate downstairs slammed open, followed by a loud, panicked shout from Jax.

"Alpha! We have a problem! A border patrol from the BloodMoon Pack is at the river boundary and Future Alpha Killian is leading them!"by