Suits and Rogues

Chapter 5

“Congratulations finding you mate, alpha. But sadly, you’ll have to go seeing as you’re mated to the hellhound.”

Odin would just love to lunge at this filthy elder and give him a taste of hell but the dozens of guns pointed his way and a lot more targeting him from the outside denied him that pleasure. One wrong move and he’s dead and his pack will fall. He can’t have that. He cursed. Trapped and targeted in his territory? He can’t believe his luck. Then again, he didn’t have any in the first place.

He masked his rage. “Congratulations volunteering to be killed easily. It seems that I have my work cut out for me.” He threw back.

Elder Ken sneered at him before composing himself. “Your bark is much worse than your bite now alpha. You’re out numbered.”

Odin scoffed. “Is that why you hide behind your precious kittens? Such a shame...seeing as you’re a respected elder, I thought you’d be more exciting to kill than be offered in a golden platter. What does that tell you, elder?”

An eye twitched at this elders face. “Nice try alpha but that ‘riling me up’ trick won’t work on me.”

Odin laughed. His deep baritone voice echoing around the place like a devil was mocking them with his laugh. “I’m not even trying, elder. But you’re already riled up. I’ll bet your sagging c**k that you’ll s**t yourself if I even exert a tiny effort. Wouldn’t be that fun?” he smiled with his fangs glinting and his wolf greeting from his eyes. He could feel his eyesight turn 50 times sharper and he immediately took note of the sweat beading the elders’ foreheads.

“Both of you argue like dumb kids.” A voice spoke somewhere from the right that had a growl tumbling out of Odin’s chest. Elder Mackley stood at the kitchen entrance eyeing an antique cup that his mother is very fond of. Seeing that in the elder’s hands makes him angrier than he was before. First, they polluted his territory with their scent and now, they’re touching things that mean a lot to him and his family and pack. That’s a f*****g huge disrespect mocking him in the face.

“But you sound like a moron.” Was Odin’s gritted rebut.

Mackley only sighed in response. “You know, I expected a lot from you Alpha-“

“Do I look like I care?”

“Gray.” Mackley gave him a passive-irritated look. “You could’ve been a great alpha, perhaps greater than your ancestors. Perhaps you could’ve even earned the forgiveness of the world from your ancestors’ actions. It’s truly disappointing to witness your fall from grace.” Odin scoffed at that. He didn’t fall. He just cut ties with these devils. “It’s no wonder the goddess cursed you by giving you a male as a mate.” Odin growled and started to take a step towards him as Mackley gave him a smug look but a bullet flying too close to his face halted him. His silvery-gray eyes flashed darker in anger as his head snapped towards the trees where an enforcer is pointing a rifle at him. He flashed his fangs at him with an unspoken threat that has the enforcer gulping before Odin turned his attention back to the elder he hates the most.

Mackley only smiled at him in mock sympathy that burns Odin’s hatred towards the elder even hotter. Odin hates manipulative and fake people and Mackley is the epitome of it. He’s the reason the seed of doubt was planted inside his pack; making his pack members doubt his abilities to lead them along with making them fear him.

“He’s.not.my.MATE!” Odin barked angrily, about to lunge again but this time; an arrow lodged itself in his calf; making him lose his balance and for his strength to leave him as the wolfsbane in the arrow spreads through his veins.

Chuckles resounded around him as he was forced to kneel by his rapidly weakening body. He could feel the wolfsbane pumping rapidly inside him. He’s not sure what type it is, but it seems potent enough to weaken him so quickly and for black veins to appear through his skin. He has no doubt it’s one of those illegal types and the fact that the council is using them makes him thankful that he cut his ties with these bastards. Mackley’s sinister face appeared in front of him, looking smug at his no doubt paling complexion. “That’s not what my enforcers told me. After all, the hellhound is not known to be a liar.”

“How would you know? Have you met him yourself?” He gasped out as his chest started to burn from the poison. He has trouble kneeling upright as his strength continues to wane.

Something flashed in the elder’s eyes and Odin immediately knew that the elder is hiding something. “There are a lot of rumors about him.” The elder’s words reek of lies and Odin let out a raspy chuckle.

“No one ever survived in the presence of the hellhound remember? So how can dead men spread rumors?” Odin immediately knew he caught the elder’s lie from the way his eyes narrowed and a scornful look overtook his usually passive facade.

A sharp slap was sent to Odin’s face; making him fall to his side as his nose ooze blood and his lips started to bleed from the poison along with the assault. His silky black hair was fisted painfully as Elder Mackley pulls him up by the hair with an angry sneer his way. “You know what happens to someone who is mated to a rogue, don’t you alpha?”

Odin tried his best to send a threatening glare despite his sagging body. “Go die.”

Mackley chuckled once again; irritating Odin the hundredth time. “Your pack will be ours, alpha and you know how easy we could do it. Imagine how easier it would be now that you are mated to the most hated rogue of all.”

“Not if the rest of the world finds out about your filth.” Odin growled but it came out weak. Black dots are starting to appear in his vision and his grip on consciousness is rapidly loosening.

Mackley only smiled. “You’ll be dead before that happens. After all, you gave us too much trouble being alive. It’s time to end your bloodline.”

Odin sensed the elder’s claws advancing towards him but before the elder could succeed in killing him, a blast resounded from outside and Odin’s pack warriors stormed in; firing at the elders and enforcers using their own advanced guns. Mackley had to jump away from Odin to dodge the raining bullets. It’s a disorienting blur of gunfires, yells, and growls after that but Odin managed to hear Mackley’s threat somewhere around him saying “We’re not done with you yet, Alpha. One way or another, we’ll destroy you. I swear by the goddess’ will.” before he lost his hold on consciousness.

$=$=$=$=$

“I’m not leaving the pack!” Odin growled for the hundredth time after waking up.

“Alpha we’ll be fine. You need to recover fully and going back to the city will help with that. Besides, the company needs you.” His Beta also repeated for the hundredth time but as usual, it keeps passing though Odin’s mind; refusing to accept his beta’s reasoning.

“The pack needs me more. The company could survive with a few million dollars wasted but I’m not risking my pack’s safety and life for my own health and for the sake of money so swallow those reasoning down your throat before I shove it in forcefully.” Odin crossed his arms stubbornly from his sitting position in the pack’s hospital. His leg is in a cast and is dangling in the air by a thick gauze thingy he didn’t bother to remember what it’s called. Whether he likes it or not, he’s stuck there until his leg is fully healed and he has to put up with his Beta’s constant lecturing and persuasion to seek a better medical attention by an expert healer in the city.

“Alpha, please listen...” he could hear his Beta’s tiredness in his tone along with irritation. “You want to protect the pack? Fine. But how can you do that if you’re not at the topmost shape?”

“Dr. Elliot can help with that just fine, beta. Don’t underestimate our pack members.” Odin growled. Dr. Elliot is a talented doctor and healer despite being young but the doctor’s nervous and uncertain expression while he’s trying to heal him made Odin doubt his faith on the wolf. Maybe Odin gives him too much credit. Still, he refuses to be shipped off to the city just because he’s “incapable” once again. Damn it, he hates this feeling.

“Alpha, it’s not that! He said so himself that he can’t help heal you fully so you need Lyra’s help for this.”

“I didn’t hear him say anything like that and until I hear it myself, then I’ll believe you.” Odin huffed; getting tired of this conversation really fast. Just his luck, Dr. Elliot entered and affirmed his beta’s words.

“I’m sorry alpha but the healing you need is out of my knowledge and expertise. Perhaps Lady Lyra can help.”

Odin cursed his luck. “Then get her over here.” He grumbled, already sensing that he’s about to lose this argument but he’ll keep trying.

“Alpha, you know she won’t come over. She hates wolves and you know that.”

“That’s settled then. I’ll stay here until I’m fully healed.”

“Alpha-“

“Enough! I’ve had with all of you trying to get rid of me. Despite only having the best interest of the pack in my heart, all of you keep on treating me like a tumor you need to remove!” Odin bursted out, not able to keep his emotions in check now that the very pack and wolves he spent his life prioritizing over anything in his life are trying to get rid of him. Why else would they try so hard to drive him away?

“Alpha we didn’t mean it that way-“ they started but he cut them off.

“Save it! All of you keep saying one thing but acting otherwise. Your actions speak louder than your words.” He snapped, looking away from them as his chest started to burn with an unpleasant emotion.

“Odin I-“ his beta and only friend started but Odin had enough for that day.

“You are all dismissed. Close the door on your way out and anyone who disturbs me will be chained for a week. Let the pack know.” were his final words. His pack members might’ve sensed he needs time alone because they reluctantly went out. Odin sensed his beta looking back at him one last time before closing the door but Odin did not acknowledge it. He knows what his beta’s eyes will hold and that is no other than pity – his most hated look of all.

Silence reigned and called forth his inner demons that started haunting him.

What a failure...

Even your pack doesn’t want you anymore...

Such a pathetic piece of s**t. It’s no wonder the goddess cursed you.

You’re worthless...

You will never be enough no matter how hard you try...

You were never meant to be an alpha in the first place...

“Stop!” he gritted out to his inner thoughts as his hands fisted the sheets beneath him. “You’re wrong.”

Are we?

Odin couldn’t answer because he’s not sure himself. He might act all high and tough but he’s still full of doubts. And from all his failures in the last 36 hours, his self-confidence are beat down a little bit more. He feels hopeless. First, he unknowingly rescued an enforcer and took him in the pack despite the huge feud between him in the council. He should’ve known better when Kade appeared at the same day as the injured man. He should’ve suspected that the council has more plans than just giving him a deadline. Because of that, he intentionally brought a spy to their pack and that caused the attack. f**k! He’s so stupid. Where’s his intelligence when he needs it? The hunters should’ve been a dead giveaway along with Kade’s appearance. And now, a lot of his pack is dead and he couldn’t even send them off back to the moon honorably because of his f*****g injury.

Maybe the moon did curse him. So many bad things had happened in succession it’s hard to believe otherwise. Worse is that even his pack is losing their fate in him. How much worse would it be when they find out that Odin is mated to the hellhound? They’ll disown and drive him away for sure. He might be a powerful alpha but he’d rather kill himself hurt his pack. He needs to keep his bond with the hellhound a secret until he finds a way to break it. But the problem is, the council knew and would use it to their advantage. Odin could already predict that they’ll spread that rumor all over the world and even without evidence; he knew how gullible most wolves had become since the supernaturals coexisted with the humans. It wouldn’t take long before some stupid pack would come and attack his and there’s no doubt that the council would back them up. Odin’s pack might be one of the biggest and strongest pack still standing but an onslaught from other packs along with the councils that are embodied by a mix of supernatural beings, it’s a hard and almost impossible feat. This is why not many packs, covens, kingdoms, communities, prides, herds, and clans dare to go against the council. It’s suicide.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts and also to get rid of the growing headache, he ripped the cast wrapped around his injured leg and carefully stood up. It’s healed already but the traces of the poison are still present; hindering Odin’s strength from coming back fully.

Walking towards the balcony, the beautiful view of the sunset greets him along with the peaceful interaction of his pack. Most of the males are already doing repairs inside the territory and his chest clenched painfully once again. He should be out there helping them, not stuck in there. On second thought, maybe it’s better he stayed there. Over the years the pack had drifted away from him and act skittish and wary whenever he’s near. He blames his short temper and wrongly-timed outburst but it still hurts to know about it. He remembers the way he once was. The pack loves him and they almost do everything with him. They trust him. They need him. He was one of them. But now, he’s like that sore thumb people have to tread carefully with but avoid nonetheless.

The more time passes by, the more he feels like an outcast.

“So it’s true that you brought in the spy and got the pack attacked.” His attention was diverted when a familiar deep voice spoke behind him. He fights the urge to sigh knowing that this won’t end well. He straightened up and turned around to meet the former alpha – his father. The former alpha still looks as muscular and as intimidating as he once was during his reign. His silvery-gray eyes that Odin inherited looks as sharp as steel blades eager to cut enemies in half and even with his graying hair, he still exudes that aura of power that undoubtedly announces his blood as an Alpha.

“I made a mistake. It would not happen again.” was his curt reply. He swallowed the words “Good to see you, father. I missed you.” down his throat, knowing that he’ll be ridiculed by it.

His father’s eyes narrowed and Odin struggles to keep his impassive facade. He had always feared that look on his father’s face because it never ended well for him. “How many times do you have to repeat that before it actually turns into reality, boy? Any more excuses? Hmmm?”

“None sir. It would not happen again. I promise you.” Odin assured.

His father – Aakil Gray – advanced towards him and invaded his personal space; leaning so close to his face their noses almost touch. “You better make those promises fruitful, boy. Fate must’ve chosen you as this pack’s alpha but you’re still not my successor so don’t disappoint me.”

“I won’t, father. I swear by the moon.”

Aakil’s silvery-gray eyes turned stormy at his words. “You won’t because I won’t let you.” He leaned away and Odin should be able to breathe better after that but he wasn’t. Something in his father’s gaze unnerves him and he has this sinking feeling he won’t like what he’s about to hear next.

“Go back to the city to get yourself fixed up. The company requires your assistance from a stubborn alliance and I have your mess to clean up.”

“But father, I ca-“ Odin started protesting but a stormy glare his way cut him off.

“I didn’t ask your opinion! You’ve given me enough trouble to last 5 generations and I can’t have you adding more to it. Now go somewhere else where you’ll actually be useful.” With that, the father-son reunion ended as Aakil stormed out.

Odin let out a shaky exhale. His emotions are boiling once again inside him; threatening to explode. The pressure on his shoulders is crushing him along with the weight of his emotions. There’s this huge urge to unleash them but what good will it do? Looking back at the view of his pack members outside, he once again saw those happily mated couples and some families going on about their day. A surge of envy, resentment, unfairness, and pain hit Odin’s heart, knowing that he’ll never be able to have those.

Perhaps moving back to the city isn’t such a bad idea after all. Or is it?