Rogue Rage

Chapter 10

Keith handed me the bundle of elder berries that I purposefully dropped. “Here you go.”

He gave me a bashful smile that looked so painfully genuine I almost forgot it was part of the act. To anyone passing by, we were nothing more than two pack members caught in an awkward little accident—him being kind, me being grateful, both of us harmless. That was the brilliance of it. That was the ugliness of it. We had learned how to make betrayal look ordinary. Even knowing his smile was a ruse, guilt still worked its way under my ribs and twisted hard. Keith had never been cruel to me. Not really. He had shared food when Damian’s punishments left me hungry. He had kept pace with me in human form because he knew I could not shift. Small mercies. Dangerous mercies. The kind that made this feel less like justice and more like murder dressed in pack law.

Once Sam told the Alpha about Jace, I knew she would become the blade pressed to Keith’s throat. Maybe not literally. Maybe Gabriel was too honorable for that. But information had weight, and love made men weak in ways chains never could. Keith would break for her. He would trade names, routes, secrets—anything—if he believed it might keep his mate and unborn child breathing. The thought made bile rise in my throat. I wanted to do something good in this world, something that proved I was more than Damian’s shadow slipping through other people’s homes. But this did not feel good. It felt selfish. It felt cowardly. I was buying myself another day beneath the sun by handing Keith over to the same mercy I hoped would spare me. Eventually, I would face judgment too. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when Gabriel learned every lie I had told inside his walls. Still, as I looked at Keith’s careful, practiced smile, the guilt settled into something colder and steadier. There was no saving either of us while we still carried Damian’s name. If one of us had to fall first to loosen his grip, then let it be the one who had already chosen his chains.

“Thank you. I’m not always this clumsy,” I said trying to keep the strain out of my voice.

“No, problem. I get that way sometimes too. A few days ago, I dropped a dress I had just gotten for my wife. My luck being what it is, the dress flew into the training grounds. Completely ruined by the mud.”

I couldn’t hesitate; I couldn’t make him suspicious of me. “That’s terrible. Well, I guess we should both keep caution in mind next time.” Goodbye, Keith. I pray to whoever is listening that mercy is shown. “Have a good day.” I waved as I forced my feet to move.

My throat was tight and my chest was in knots. I counted my steps until the commotion sounded behind me. Twenty-two. I turned, doing my best to look baffled. Keith was being forced to the ground by Sam and another guard. Keith had met Sam once. They never actually spoke, though. It was quick introduction from Marcus. As far as I knew, Samuel only ever confided in me. I was even younger then so I suppose he thought my ties to Damian would be loose. He was mistaken. I was knotted in chains. But luck was on his side. It was because of the closeness to Damian that I knew I to help Sam.

Keith struggled against Sam and the other guard. His eyes turned to me. I knew I was selling my astonishment when he wiggled awkwardly. Jolting his head in another direction. He was telling me to flee. He was telling me not to get caught. Little did he know, I was the reason for the torture he was about the endure. Something dark clawed in my chest. It tore at my heart. I could never get rid of my stains. The blood on my hands could never be washed clean. I couldn’t even blame my father, or rather I had no right to.

All I could do now was make sure the Great Alpha was also punished. It wouldn’t parton me, but at least there would be one less monster in this world. Then it would be my turn. I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs. The anxiety caused me to crush the elder berries in my hands. The juices made my hands turn violet.

I turned into a broad bare check. What kind of luck was this? Maddock was watching the men hold Keith down. His glaze shifted to me. I realized that he was somewhat gauging my reaction to the scene. I couldn’t be sure if Samuel told him anything, but I couldn’t be sure of anything really. He placed a hesitant hand on my head. The thought of him being concerned crossed my mind briefly before the commotion became loud.

I turned to find Keith’s gaze on me and Maddock. A deep-seated look of betrayal darkened his crisp blue eyes. I could see anger stirring inside him. He flung his head back, breaking the guard’s nose. Samuel swung once, trying to knock Keith out, but Keith dodged. Then all hell broke loose. Keith’s hands became free, and then all hell broke loose.

Maddock shifted in unison to Keith, leaping over my head. Maddock immediately went for Keith’s neck in order to subdue him. Keith was not the fighting type. He was forced to train regardless. The problem now was that even though he didn’t like to fight, it didn’t mean he wasn’t good at it.

Keith dodged the attack, his eyes locking on mine. This was it. This was the end for me. He launched himself at me, and I forced every breath from my lungs as I braced for the impact. There was no dodging a wolf in human form, no way to defend myself. All I could do was watch the sunlight catch on his brown fur as he hurtled through the air.

My heart lurched as the heat of Keith’s breath and the slick spray of saliva hit my face. I stumbled backward, fighting to stay upright, but my feet slipped out from under me. Just as I drew in a breath, Keith was ripped away and slammed into the wall. Maddock stood between us, his dark silver hackles raised in a rigid line down his back, high enough to block Keith from view. His snarl rolled through his entire body, and somehow, I felt it tear through mine. Keith snarled back, but between them, Maddock was the one who felt more dangerous.

Wolves shift from all around. In the span of a few seconds Keith went from warning me away to attacking me. Unfortunately, he was too close to the stronghold and once he was outnumbered in wolf, he made a run for it. Maddock was the first to chase after him. Samuel was right on Maddock’s tail. Panic began to settle in my gut. He couldn’t get away. Before I knew it, I was sprinting to the cliff where I knew Keith was headed. He would never lead them back to Damian and endanger Jace but the cliff was the only way to get away from the territory.

I moved as fast as my legs would carry me and nearly tumble off the cliff in my attempts to stop. I spotted Keith and pulled the bundle crushed elder berries from my pocket. I aimed with one between my middle and index finger of my outstretched left arm. Once I could see his next step down the mountain, I launched the bundle with all my might. It hit him square on the nose. He fell a few feet but righted himself and continued to run.

Before frustration could set in, Samuel’s massive claws hooked over the cliff edge and hauled him up in front of me. He huffed once, and I climbed onto him without hesitation. If Keith made it back, Damian would disappear, and I would become the easiest target left behind. Samuel had at least had his wolf when he escaped. I had no way to protect myself.