Blood Bound (mlm)

Chapter 1: Part 2

f**k, if I can smell him then...

A twig snapping in the distance puts me on high alert, I stop drinking and assume a defensive position facing the direction of the sound. Stark white canines shine from the dense forest first, then the sound of growling reaches my ears. I could fight but, even theoretically, I could never win against The Rogue. I could run, but I'm frozen in place by my own fear. I may be fast but I highly doubt that I'm that fast, especially when I'm so tired and literally have no experience with the lay of the land outside of Atlas territory.

He steps closer and my heart beats faster as my mind goes blank. What the f**k do I do? Is all I can ask myself as it becomes increasingly difficult for me to stand. My legs feel weaker and weaker the closer he gets and louder he growls. Before I register it, he's right in front of me and snarling viciously. His eyes are nearly black, like an abyss that sucks the life out of everything. The scent of burnt wood invades my senses and I'm utterly paralysed by pure terror. He doesn't have the chance to hurt me in a way that I can feel though, because everything goes black before he can lunge at me. Thank the Goddess.

I thought I would be dead for sure, wake up in the afterlife being greeted by the Goddess because he just snapped my neck so quick my brain didn't notice. But I'm alive and waking up in a cosy room that's unfamiliar. "Where..." I start to ask the air groggily then notice the clothes I'm in; a baggy black hoodie and matching sweats. It smells like an abandoned campfire so I'm acutely aware that I'm not back at home. Home...I remember how I ended up here. How my defence was to run instead of face the music or stand my ground. To some extent I feel pathetic, especially knowing how much my actions must have pleased Meira. But then I remember who I am or rather what I'm not. This is for sure better than risking my life.

Not wanting to give it more thought, I get out from underneath the heavy and warm blankets expecting to feel cold. But all I can feel is a strange sense of warmth. It's weird, especially since I'm likely in the home of The Rogue. Why hasn't he killed me, oh Goddess, he's going to torture me! Great f*****g job Luca, you ran from one prison straight into another, likely worse one! I chastise myself as I creep out of the room. Legend has it that he hates all pack wolves, as rogues are known to, but he especially hates Atlas wolves. And here I am, essentially royalty in Pack Atlas, right in his home! To my left, a little further down, is a door to another room and another one at the very end of the hall, so I know where I'm not going. To my right and at the other end of the hall is the way downstairs.

I walk, trying to make my steps as light as a mouse, the last thing I want is to run into The Rogue and have to make a run for it so early on. I make my way past the blank walls before getting to the stairwell, the light of day making me hopeful that there's a good chance for escape. I can't hear anything so it must be that there is no one in the large cabin, but there's a lingering scent underneath the burnt wood. It's something I can't place but it's pleasant, not pleasant enough to relax me completely though. The closer to the ground floor I get, the stronger the scent becomes until eventually, it has completely replaced the scent every wolf is taught to fear.

Despite how nice it is I can't let it distract me as I get to the bottom and into the large open-plan living-, dining-room and kitchen. For a wolf so dangerous he has really good taste in interior design, everything is so cosy and well coordinated. I take a step forward, my head on the swivel to make sure I'm in the clear. The front door is right there ahead of me...Just sprint, break the door down if you have to! I shout at myself but the sound of a flushing toilet stops me in my tracks. s**t! Panicked, I run for the couch and hide behind it just in time for the downstairs bathroom door to open.

My heart is beating so fast it feels like it'll explode and I can't do anything but hold my breath. How could I not have heard him?! Wait... "You do know that I can hear you?" The voice is low and baritone, shaking my bones. Well, of course he can, I should've run. I'm so screwed. I resign myself to my fate as he steps towards where I'm hiding. "Your heart is beating out of your chest." He adds just as he turns around the couch to find me on the floor, as stiff as board and wishing I actually was one. As afraid as I am and sure that I'm about to be in the worst pain of my life, my eyes stay open to see him. He's not at all what I was expecting, well not completely.

He's taller than me for sure and scores more muscular. His skin is weathered and tanned with light freckling from sun exposure. His dark brown hair is short, spiky and cut into a mullet, it's rugged and definitely not a professional cut but it frames his diamond shaped face perfectly. He's ruggedly handsome even with his long stubble, slightly crooked nose and brown-black eyes. I must say I'm stunned at the wolf I'm seeing before me because he's so...well, so attractive! He's exactly what any Alpha Pair in the Region would want their pup to be mated to, but he's also The Rogue of No Wolf's Land.

"Is the floor comfortable?" His voice pulls me out of my viewing of him and I notice his outstretched arm and open hand. I look between him and his hand, confused by the gesture before I cautiously accept the help. The second our hands touch his warmth travels up my arm and wraps around my body like a snake, I barely notice that I'm still holding it after he's helped me up. A thick eyebrow c***s slightly as he looks between my hand tightly clasping his and what is probably a lost look on my face. Finally realising how strange I'm being I let go and take a step back from him, holding his intimidating gaze as best I can.

"I...why haven't you killed me yet?" I ask somewhat steadily. "Well," He starts, breaking eye contact briefly before looking at me again. "I haven't found it in me to murder the future alpha of Pack Atlas quite yet." He finishes and I can tell there's something he's not saying, but I'm not about to call him out on it so he can find a murderous bone in his body. Instead, I focus on his assumption that I have Alpha Blood and scoff. "I'm not the future alpha." I say simply and he hums with slight interest. Without a word he turns and walks to his kitchen, opens the fridge and grabs two bottles of water before tossing one to me.

"Y-You heard me didn't you? I'm not going to be alpha. So if you're going to kill me that's your cue to do it." My tone is bold for a wolf faced with death. But despite all the stories about how ruthless he is, I can't believe that the wolf I'm looking at right now can technically kill me. Something in my gut tells me he wouldn't dare, not because he's chicken or physically incapable but because it would mean destroying himself too in some way. "Alpha or not, you're still the son of Gregor and Phoebe. If I kill you, I'll start a war I'm not in the mood to fight." He responds and cracks his water open, drinking as he walks past me to sit on the couch like I'm not an intruder. Well there's why he won't kill me but what is with this guy? He's so...passive.

"Are you seriously The Rogue every pup across the three major packs hears about? Because you're not acting like it at all." All reverence I have for his legend escapes me as I turn and walk to stand over him seated comfortably. He shrugs and takes another gulp of his water. "What can I say, don't judge a book by its cover, or its reviews I guess." He replies nonchalantly, leaving me dumbfounded. We stay silent for a moment before I sigh and take a seat next to him. "Well what are you going to do with me?" I ask, somewhat afraid to hear the answer. He smirks, a very faint wicked glint in his eyes when he looks to me. "What do you want me to do with you?" He asks with a subtle flirtation in his tone.

WHAT?!

I can't help the heat that rushes to my cheeks as I look away from him and open my water to distract myself. He huffs, prompting me to look back at him and he seems to finally be ready to be serious. "Look, you can just go back to your pack. Sure you violated my territory but I won't hold it against you or them." He speaks flatly, almost defeated which is strange. "No." I respond quickly, making him perk up and give me a questioning look. "No?" He questions as if it's the last thing he expected to hear, which is likely true. "I'm here on purpose—um, well not here but I'm away from my pack's territory for a reason." I reply and finally drink some water, though I'm not relaxing the way he is.

"And what reason could that be?" He asks, a judgy tone in his voice. While I could be defensive about it, I can understand why he would judge me for leaving my pack considering he's a rogue. The most important thing to a wolf, other than their mate, is their pack. It's what keeps us healthy emotionally, physically and, most importantly, mentally. "My family wants to force me to take the Alpha Trials in a month." I answer with a sigh. Saying it out loud almost makes my reasoning seem idiotic, even to me but when he asks me to elaborate and I do, I'm reminded of just how much the situation is unfair to me.

"I see...well you can stay, if you want. Any search parties that come for you won't be very fruitful in their efforts." He offers kindly and I look at him just to find his eyes already on me. The look he gives is...soft and empathetic. "Really? I mean I'm grateful but I don't want to intrude..." I reply. You i***t! Why are you being gracious? You have nowhere else to go and this is the perfect place to hide out until Meira has to take the Trials! I shout at myself but can't take it back. "You wouldn't be intruding..." He assures me with a gentle tone, perplexing me more.

He's opening up his home to me, a wolf from a pack - no the wolf from the pack that he hates the most, even though packs and their wolves are a rogue's mortal enemies. "W-why is that?" I can't help but ask and it seems to make him realise what he said. "Uhm, I just mean that this is a perfect situation. Keeping you here against your parents' wishes is the ultimate slap in their faces. They took my family from me and now I get to keep their only son from them." He explains shortly. "What do you mean my parents took your family from you?" I'm afraid to hear the answer but I can't help but ask once again.

It seems to be a sore question for him because he sits up, his head hanging and his arms resting on his thighs. "They had my family killed...14 years ago when I was 13. We used to live by the Falls and I guess your parents just had to have the site as part of their territory." He tells me in as little words as possible. Oh... I don't have any words, what can I even say? I don't know him well enough to even begin and what's worse is that I was 9 and can vividly remember my parents' joy over the Falls becoming theirs to claim. Of course I was too young to think to ask how they got it, but I never bothered to consider the kind of Alpha Pair my parents are before now. The worst thing about them to me is their attachment to s*x norms and how they allow that to dictate how they treat Meira and me.

But now, after hearing that, I don't even think I know who they are...and that's worse than any over-adherence to social norms.

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