My Rogue Mate

Chapter Five: Feuding Family

Nate and I crept slowly down the stairs, echoes of bickering came from the family room. I recognised the voices as mine and Nate’s families. I gestured to Nate to sit next to me on one of the bottom steps so we could eavesdrop on their conversation.

“- there is no chance we are letting this happen” a booming voice said - my Father. “Mated to a rogue!? They are packless trash every single one of them”

“I agree” a musical voice said - my mother “But we don’t need to worry, we are going to ignore all of this and focus on Nate and Aleynia - soon they will have mated, and have pups on the way, Aleynia will be in love and she can officially reject this rogue. We will be done with him and this whole nightmare will be over”

I noticed I had been holding Nate’s hand and squeezing it tight. I looked at him and tried to take my hand away, worried I was hurting him. He shook his head and grabbed my hand back. Rubbing it with his thumb trying to sooth me. His presence did sooth me in a way, we had always been good friends and able to talk to each other. But I felt a strange tension from him now. Although we teased each other at times, we always knew we were there for the other. We had sat together on these very steps many times, listening in on pack meetings that we weren’t old enough to attend, then we would sneak up to the library and debate on how we think the lands should be run. We would argue for hours but always find agreement.. usually me submitting to Nate, he was controlling at the best of times. Even then, I couldn’t quite imagine us being Alpha and Luna of our joint packs. The memory sent a pang of guilt through my heart. I promised myself then that I would always talk to Nate, and always listen to his advice, he has been such a big part of my life after all.

“I don’t think her rejecting him is enough” a voice I recognised as Nate’s Father - Alpha Xinx said, “we should have him killed, he is a worthless rogue and for all we know, he could be part of the same group of rogues that murdered your parents Alpha” he said, nodding to my father I suppose.

I breathed in sharply. I didn’t even know his name, but he was my mate and the idea of him being killed broke my heart. I felt Nate’s hand around my arm, keeping me from bursting into the room.

“We can’t have him killed!” a shrill voice shrieked - Nate’s mother, Luna Haley, I always liked her “It is against the treaty, we can’t harm a rogue without reason! We don’t want to start a war over her. Even if he was from the same group of murders, he seems young - he cannot be punished for a crime he didn’t commit!”

“He tried to kidnap Aleynia, future Luna of the Bright Moon Pack - that is a huge offence and if he hadn’t been outnumbered, my daughter may have been stolen away to a bunch of disgusting rogues. Who knows what they might have done to her!? They could’ve corrupted her! Corrupted her pups!” my Father declared.

My mate tried to kidnap me? I looked at Nate, and he shook his head. I was desperate to ask what happened after I fainted, but it was answered by my Aunt Tess in the family room.

“Listen to you all! Aleynia has found her mate, we should be celebrating! He didn’t try to kidnap Aleynia, he was making sure she was okay, trying to get her to a doctor. Plus, he’s her mate, she belongs to him now, and him to her. The Moon Goddess has matched them together for a reason” Aunt Tess stated sternly.

Alpha Xinx scoffed, “the Moon Goddess is wrong, Aleynia and Nate will -”

“The Moon Goddess is never wrong.” Tess said slowly. The room went quiet. No one was ever supposed to interrupt an Alpha.

“Well.. it might already be too late, Nate and Aleynia are upstairs now, they may have already -“

“They haven’t.” Tess said “I know Aleynia, and I know the mate bond. There is no forcing these things. Nate and Aleynia are destined to be great rulers, but not together.”

Tess continued, “I feel terrible for Nate, but we will find his mate. We can still unite our packs. Aleynia needs to see her mate, it is unfair to keep them apart. No matter what all of your plans for her are. So, you must release him from the jail, make sure he -“

At the word ‘jail’ my vision blurred with angry rage. I tore my arm from Nate’s grip and slammed into the family room roaring,

“WHERE. IS. MY. MATE?!”