THE ROGUE LORD'S OBSESSION

LITTLE DREAM

KRUSTAN CLAN

RUZZAN

"For how long will this keep her asleep?" I wondered aloud, my hand resting over hers.

The warmth of her skin seeped into my palm. She was so small. So fragile. And yet, a few weeks ago, she had pulled silver bullets from my chest without flinching.

Rhysand met my gaze for a moment, then looked away.

"At least two hours after we reach the manor." He paused, studying me with narrowed eyes. "Why are you so worried? You've never paid much attention to she-wolves."

I shook my head.

"You don't have to worry about the details. Just know she is important to me."

His gaze widened slightly. Then he chuckled, taken aback by my revelation.

After all, not every day did I tell others that a lady mattered to me.

"Very well. I'll keep that in mind," he replied, settling onto the other side of the van. The leather creaked beneath his weight.

I was prepared for the little creature before me to fight me. To scream, to claw, to curse my name. But I didn't expect her to faint the moment she was in the same car as me. One look at my face, and she had crumpled like a flower in winter.

I had to move her into one of our vans and lay her down comfortably. But when she woke, she was hysterical. Screaming. Thrashing. Fearing she might jump from the moving vehicle, I asked my right-hand man to sedate her.

Now that she was calm,no hatred on her face, no fear in her eyes ,she was so beautiful.

I couldn't stop staring.

The moonlight fell through the window, painting silver lines across her brown cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing soft and even. I had seen her only once before, in the darkness of the forest, when she was covered in my blood and hers. Even then, I had thought her beautiful. But now, in the quiet of the van, she was something else entirely.

So precious.

"This doesn't seem right, Ruzzan. How did you meet her?" Rhysand asked again after a moment.

I stared at my childhood friend. My brother. One of the rare few I would kill for.

Rhysand wasn't my blood brother, but was of the few chosen brother.

"You aren't giving up, right, Rhysand?"

He shook his head.

"When one of your men trapped us a few weeks back and abandoned me at death's doorstep, she came and helped me."

His mouth fell agape. He moved closer, his eyes darting between me and Dream.

"You mean she is the lady that stitched you? Wait you let a she-wolf that close to you?"

I couldn't help chuckling.

"She didn't exactly give me the choice. And she hit me the moment I moved."

Rhysand stayed quiet. His mouth opened and closed. His hand motioned dramatically as he tried to process what I said.

"You—Ruzzan—let a girl that close to you, and she even hit you? Like, did she not notice your mark?"

I exhaled heavily before leaning back on my seat.

"The truth is, it was hidden beneath my coat. But the knives, the silver gun they were enough to chase her away." I paused. "At that time, if her friend had been alone, she would have left me. Yet little Dream insisted on helping."

His gaze snapped to her.

"Her name is Dream?"

I nodded.

"So you didn't exactly take her away because she was the Alpha's mate?"

I shook my head.

"That pup isn't exactly worth my attention." I exhaled. "But Dream... it's her I want."

I met his gaze and no one else's.

He closed his eyes, then rubbed his palms over his face.

"I don't know what to say, Ruzzan. You've never behaved this way. But let me ask you something."

I nodded.

"Is it out of gratitude or something else that you want her?"

I smiled.

"What do you think?"

He shook his head.

"I don't know what to think."

"Good. Because what happens in my chest each time I see her is far from the effects of gratitude."

"And will she ever accept you when she has a mate?"

"I am not in a hurry, Rhys."

***

The drive continued in silence, and our entry into the Krustan manor came late at night. The gates opened without a sound, the guards bowing as our convoy passed into the vast compound.

Finally, behind those vast stone walls and giant iron gates, I exhaled.

Here, my family was safe.

This fortress was home.

"Get rooms ready," I told Yuna, the governess of my den, as soon as our cars rolled into the family compound.

"Yes, my Lord."

She was a small gamma, grey-haired and sharp-eyed, who had served my family for decades. She didn't flinch or ask questions at the sight of the unconscious girls. She simply bowed and disappeared into the manor.

She was trusted with these tasks for a reason.

Then, as the girls were moved into the house, my younger brother, Druid, stepped forward to help with Dream.

My wolf's reaction was instant.

"What are you doing? Step away," I said harshly.

Taken aback, he obeyed. I ignored the gasp from Rhysand at the door to the den.

I decided it was better to place Dream in the same room with the others. Waking up to those familiar faces would make her less hysterical.

But as I stepped in, I realized how small the room was for four people. Dream wouldn't be comfortable.

"Rhysand, Druid—find another room for the two other she-wolves. Allow the brown-haired one to stay with Dream since they are friends."

They stared at each other, amazed, before they bowed and left.

As soon as I stepped into the room, the brown-haired one stood up.

"What did you do to my cousin?"

Well, well. She wasn't as fearful as I thought.

"You're her cousin?" I asked, placing Dream on the bed as gently as possible.

"Can't you see the resemblance?" she replied directly.

I couldn't help the laughter that escaped me.

What did she mean? Dream was unique. There was no one else like her.

"Why is she unconscious?" she asked this time, frowning.

I stared at her for a moment before adjusting Dream's head on the pillow.

"She fainted from fear and woke up hysterical. I had to administer a tranquilizer to her."

Her reaction was instant. She pushed me away from her cousin.

"What did you administer to her? She has no wolf and can't support a strong dose of shapeshifter tranquilizer."

My heart skipped a beat.

Each time I heard this, the need to protect her grew stronger. Just like when Rhysand had been about to administer the tranquilizer and warned me.

I wanted the whole world away from her.

"Don't worry. We took that into consideration."

She stopped in her tracks.

"How did you know she didn't have a wolf?"

Another question!

I couldn't help chuckling as I walked out of the room.

Little Dream's family was interesting. They just never feared anyone.

I was used to she-wolves barely being able to finish a sentence around me. But this particular family—they not only asked me questions easily, but stared straight into my eyes.

That was new.

And interesting, I would say.

As soon as I stepped back into the sitting room of the family den, everyone stood up.

"How is Luca? Is he better?" I asked as soon as I stepped in.

"Tell me you were able to find out who did it to them," my aunt asked, ignoring my question.

She was a tall woman, silver-haired and fierce, with eyes that had seen too much and forgiven too little. Her son, Luca, was one of the men who had been attacked. He was still in the infirmary, barely clinging to life.

"Well, I did say I'll find out, right? So you have to trust me and let me take things in hand. Nobody else should ask me about that attack again."

Silence descended.

I knew they craved blood. I did too ,for my fallen brother.

The Nightfang had attacked perfectly legal rogues passing through their territory. And their Alpha was determined to protect them. If he did, then that was another opportunity to eliminate at least five units of his shielders.

I wouldn't rest until that blood debt was paid.