The Alpha’s Little Rogue

Attack

The moment Kade stepped between me and Ronan, I knew everything had changed, this was pure instinct, he wasn’t just protecting a rogue trespasser anymore, he was claiming me.

Ronan’s smirk faltered for the first time, his dark eyes moved between us, calculating the odds.

He let out a low chuckle. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ronan said.

Meanwhile, Kade didn’t move, but the power radiating off him was suffocating. “Step one foot closer, and I’ll rip you apart.”

Ronan sighed, shaking his head like this was all some big inconvenience. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Alpha. That little wolf of yours is a liar.”

Kade didn’t so much as flinch. “She’s mine.” I swallowed hard, hearing that.

‘He doesn’t mean it.’ I uttered inwardly.

I mean, Kade was an Alpha protecting his pack, protecting what was his, that was instinct and wasn’t about me, it couldn’t be.

However, Ronan just smiled. “For now.” He vanished upon saying that, one second he was standing in front of us, the next he was gone, blending back into the shadows of the forest.

His men followed, their glowing eyes retreating into the darkness, even at that, Kade didn’t lower his guard, and neither did I.

Damon and the other enforcers arrived moments later, their wolves on edge, sensing the danger still lingering in the air.

Kade’s voice was sharp. “Lock down the borders, double the patrols, if they step foot in our territory again, I want to know immediately.”

Damon nodded, but his eyes flicked to me. “And what about her?”

I braced myself for whatever was coming as I knew it wasn’t going to be bad compared to what I had been through.

Kade turned to face me fully, his silver gaze locked onto mine, unreadable. “She’s coming with me.” He said.

Shortly after, the walk back to the pack house was silent as I could feel the tension rolling off Kade in waves, but I kept my mouth shut, he was angry not just at Ronan, but at me.

When we reached his office, he shut the door with a quiet click and turned to face me.

“Sit.” He said.

I ignored him and kept standing and unmoved.

His jaw ticked. “Don’t push me, Raine.”

I crossed my arms. “Or what? You’ll throw me in a cell?”

His silver eyes darkened. “Don’t tempt me.”

We stared at each other, the air between us thick with something dangerous. Then, finally, he exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his dark hair.

“Tell me the truth.”

I swallowed. “About what?”

He took a slow step forward. “Who is Ronan to you?”

Every muscle in my body tensed. “No one.”

His gaze darkened. “Liar.”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “Then why ask?”

Kade’s hands curled into fists, but he didn’t lash out. He just watched me, his wolf prowling beneath the surface, waiting.

I turned away. “I should go,” I uttered. But before I could take a step, he was in front of me, blocking my path.

“You’re not leaving.”

I glared up at him. “Try and stop me.”

His fingers brushed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, my breath hitched instantly.

“You’re mine, Raine.” His voice was dangerously low. “Whether you accept it or not.” He said and left me in my temporary room, at the same time, a shiver ran down my spine.

This wasn’t out of fear, but because I hated him for saying those words repeatedly, yet, some part of me wanted it to be true and I hated that.

‘I couldn’t stay here, I couldn’t be his, because if he knew the truth about me, he would never treat me the same.’ I bit my lips feeling restless.

On the other hand, I should have left and found a way to escape, even if it meant breaking every bone in my body to do it. But instead, I stayed and that was my first mistake.

The next day….

The pack house was eerily silent as I paced my temporary room. Every now and then, I could hear distant footsteps, the murmurs of wolves Kade stationed at my door patrolling the halls, but no one approached, except him.

The knock on my door was firm, I didn’t have to open it to know who it was. Suddenly, the door swung open anyway.

'Mannerless, he didn’t wait for permission. Well, it’s his pack.’ I tilted my head to face him with arms crossed. “Ever heard of knocking?”

His silver eyes flicked over me, lingering for half a second too long. “I did.”

‘Arrogant bastard.’ I huffed, almost rolling my eyes at him.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I need answers, Raine.”

I stiffened. “I already told you…”

“I don’t believe you.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. “You know exactly who Ronan is and you know why he’s after you.”

I swallowed hard. “It’s none of your business.”

Kade growled low in his throat. “It became my business the moment he set foot in my territory and you walked into my life.”

I clenched my fists. “I didn’t ask for this, Kade. I didn’t ask to be your mate.”

His eyes flashed with a glint, a storm brewing.

At that, he took a slow step forward. “Neither did I.” He stopped right in front of me, the heat between us was suffocating as I could feel my wolf clawing beneath the surface, desperate to submit and surrender to him, however, I couldn’t and I wouldn’t.

His fingers brushed my wrist and the sparks were instant, a wicked pulse of energy that shot straight through my body.

I sucked in a sharp breath. “Don’t.”

But he didn’t let go, if anything, he stepped closer, his voice dropping dangerously low.

“Why do you fight this?”

‘Because if I gave in, if I let him in, it would destroy us both.’ I said internally and twisted my hand away, ignoring the ache that followed. “I’m tired, I need sleep.”

A muscle in his jaw tightened, but after a long moment, he exhaled. “Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.” He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand against my racing heart, ‘I needed to get out of here tonight.’ My eyes dimmed, thinking of the nearest alternative route to take.

And just as I was about to move, a loud bang on the door disrupted me. At the same time, the door flew open violently, slamming against the wall.

A wolf I didn’t recognize lunged inside, eyes glowing with pure rage, my instincts kicked in a second too late as a fist slammed into my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs.

I staggered back, pain exploding through my ribs, before I could react, I was slammed against the wall, a blade pressed against my throat.

My pulse pounded as a deep, unfamiliar voice growled in my ear. “You should have left when you had the chance, little rogue.”

The blade pressed against my throat was ice-cold, I couldn’t breathe or move as the stranger’s grip was brutal, pinning me to the wall with enough force to make my ribs scream in protest.

His breath was hot against my ear. “You don’t belong here, rogue.”

On the other hand, my mind moved quickly, analyzing my escape and, if necessary, killing.

I glanced down, catching the glint of his weapon, it was silver, a shiver ran down my spine, one got in, that was a hunter.

My heart pounded, ‘How the hell did he get inside the pack house?’ I pondered deeply.

Perhaps, he must have seen the realization in my eyes, because he smirked. “That’s right, little wolf. Your past is catching up to you and today you’ll die just like everyone.” He uttered and knowing what he meant, panic tightened in my chest, but I forced it down. I wasn’t that scared little girl anymore, I was a survivor.

“Get off me,” I hissed.

He chuckled. “I don’t think so.”

‘Bad decision.’ I muffled and slammed my knee hard into his gut.

He grunted, the blade dragging against my skin as he stumbled back, although not deep enough to cut, but close.

In a flash, I lunged, twisting his wrist until the knife clattered to the floor. Before he could react, I snatched it up and spun, pressing the blade against his throat this time.

His eyes widened. “You…”

‘Bang!’ The door exploded off its hinges, Kade dashed in as a blur of motion, moving too fast to track.

One second, I had my attacker pinned and in the next, he was flying across the room, slamming into the opposite wall with a sickening crack.

I barely had time to register what happened before Kade was in front of me, gripping my face, scanning for injuries. His touch was rough, urgent, and possessive.

“What the hell happened? I thought something happened.” His voice was dark with fury, as if he knew I was dangerous.

‘Could it be the mate bond? Did I tug at the mate thread?’ I shook my head.

‘No! We might be mates but not connected, he hasn’t even marked me yet.’ I affirmed internally and looked at him.

“I…” I swallowed hard, my pulse still racing. “He…” I said, trying to catch my breath.

At the same time, a groan came from the floor, Kade’s eyes snapped to the hunter, who was already crawling for his weapon.

He moved faster and in a flash, he had the man by the throat, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing.

The hunter gasped, his boots kicking against the air. “I…was just delivering…a message.” He stuttered, gasping for air.

Kade’s grip tightened. “From who?”

The hunter coughed. “Ronan.”

Saying that, the air in the room turned deadly as Kade’s wolf rumbled beneath the surface, pure lethal rage pouring off him, his fingers flexed, claws pressing into the man’s throat.

He was going to kill him and for some reason, I didn’t want him to, so I stepped forward, grabbing Kade’s arm. “Don’t.”

His silver eyes snapped to me. “Give me one reason why.”

‘Because killing him wouldn’t change anything, and this meant Ronan had already infiltrated Kade’s territory, neither do I want his blood on Kade’s hands.’

Anyways, I couldn’t say any of that, instead, I whispered, “Not yet.”

For a second, I thought he wouldn’t listen, that he’d snap the man’s neck anyway.

But then, slowly, he lowered the hunter to the floor, Kade’s voice was a lethal growl. “Take him to the cells.”

Damon appeared in the doorway, dragging the hunter away without hesitation.

And now we were alone, he turned back to me, his hands were on me in an instant, checking for wounds, his touch rough, but his voice was soft.

“Are you hurt?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”

He exhaled sharply, like he didn’t believe me and couldn’t handle the thought of me not being fine.

Before I could stop him, he leaned in, his breath wafting against my skin, his lips a whisper away from mine.

I should have pulled back, but I didn’t feel like it. “You’re not leaving my sight again,” he murmured.

‘I wasn’t sure I wanted to.’ I said internally letting the moment simmer, our breath against each other with calmness enveloping the space, only the heavy sound of our breath was heard.