Alice and The Rogue Wolf

Chapter 12

*Oh, yeah? Well lucky for you we got more than enough time in our hands,'' I said, checking my watch-less wrist jokingly.

"Well, you see during my time mingling with your pack, I fell in love with one beautiful wolf and she loves me too. Even though her father and I didn't see things the same way, anyone else who saw us two knew we were well suited for each other."

"What happened afterward?" I asked impatiently.

He drew in a deep and long breath. "I was this close to having her by my side forever when Excelsis killed her and banished me from ever coming close to the pack. I didn't even say my goodbyes when they took her from me."

His gloomy expression almost caused me a tear. The thought of losing someone so dear to you didn't sit right with me at all.

"They said that Rogues were not permitted to intermarry with their pack as they were lofty in status than us, and when I insisted and even tried to run away with her, they killed her leaving me worthless."

"I'm sorry for that," I consoled him. But then I slapped myself mentally.

I was supposed to look for ways to bring this man to his knees for what he did and not sympathize with him over some lost lover. With this reminder, the vengeance in my heart began to subdue every sort of emotion I had left.

"So tell me, how's the pack been treating you?" He said, breaking the silence that had begun brewing.

"Fine to say the least. My mother's been taking good care of me since I woke up. If not for your attacks, I'd probably have gotten a job."

"Nothing much has changed it seems, " he remarked, setting down his empty glass.

"Yup! Well, except that I have been betrothed to Jonathan, the new Alpha male, and will be married to him in the next few days when this is all over."

"So you'll be the next Luna?" Jonathan half yelled.

"Yes!" I was surprised at his yell. "Keep your voice down, would you?"

Brayden refilled his glass and drowned its contents noisily. He looked irked about what I just said but couldn't tell why. His face stood tensed and he was shifting uneasily where he sat. This was fremd and out of character of him and I could tell he something was narking him.

"But I don't think I am comfortable with the arrangement." I continued. "they keep treating me inferior to others like I don't belong or something. When big matters come up, they push me to the side and don't even regard me anymore. Honestly, I just wish I could abscond and go to a place where I could be treated differently, you know like I have a purpose."

Brayden let out a deep sigh. I knew he was buying my story; just what I hoped for.

"No one deserves to be made to feel neglected," he remarked despondently. Suddenly his eyes lit up with an idea. "Perhaps you could come over to my pack."

"Your pack?" I asked, feigning surprise.

"Yeah! We normally welcome estranged wolves so I can assure you that you will be fine."

"But I'm scared. If they found out I was trying to leave, they would lock me forever." My voice was getting fainter by the second.

"Well don't worry, we'll figure it out. Perhaps, in the right opportunity, we can make a plan to let you out."

Tears began to spill out of my eyes. They were meant to clear any doubt Brayden may have had about me and it seemed to be working. With his thumb, he flicked away my tears and wrapped me in a tender embrace.

"Are you sure any plan we eventually come up with will turn out fine?" I sniffled, soaking his collar with my sobs.

There couldn't have been a better reply than a reassuring squeeze on my fragile frame. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I couldn't help enjoying his warmth and reciprocating the embrace. Both of us held on to each other, not wanting to let go.

Eventually, we disengaged the hug, and while he pulled at his now rumpled shirt, I looked away shyly as I mopped up the dried tears from my eyes. While at this, I couldn't stop thinking how such a compassionate and warm-hearted individual could turn out to be a cruel and greedy dictator. I tried not to dwell on this thought but my curiosity got the better of me.

"How come you are this sweet man in the morning but the next hour you are destroying my pack? I understand you had the love of your life taken away from you, but why punish the whole pack for the sins of a person?"

"The person who caused me this great hurt is still alive and walking and I will not lay my head to rest until I exact my revenge."

It was obvious he was after retribution and talking him against it was a lost cause. The only thing that I knew could save the tbs pack was Brayden being killed and even though I was convinced I was right at first, the things I was beginning to learn were making me doubt my resolution to exterminate him.

"How do you cope with the guilt that you're either hurting or even causing a lot of innocent people to lose their lives because of yours?" His countenance had changed to something worth of remorse.

"I have a reason I guess," he replied, picking up a dried twig that fell beside him. "You know, my lover, she would've wanted this. I'm just making sure the Excelsis pay for what they did to her."

"Wow! You sound like a scary villain, right now, " I exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. But if you've gone through half of what I faced and felt, you'd probably be heartless as well.* The realization that he was giving off a dreadful aura dawned on him and He swiftly changed the topic. "Have you ever been to this part of the forest?"

The fact that he wasn't scared of voicing out his vile plans scared me. His company was beginning to awe me frightfully and I knew I needed to leave.

"Would you look at the time?" I checked my watch, totally ignoring his question. "Perhaps I should get home before mother returns."

"C'mon it just struck noon. Work doesn't close in the evening. Or are you scared of me?"

"No!" I silently prayed my voice wouldn't betray me. "You know I sneak out sinisterly to meet you right?"

"Well, that's because you can't get enough of me, right?"

"You wish!" My backpack was wide open so I just packed my things. "Well, Jonathan usually checks up on me and I need to get back before he returns."

On the mention of Jonathan, Brayden's face squeezed into a frown. He let out a sigh and then stood up and watched in silence as I rolled up the trampoline mat.

"When will I see you again?" He asked almost without looking at me.

"I don't know, perhaps I'll be able to sneak out tomorrow. But how will I know you'll be waiting when I arrive and not just jump out suddenly from behind me?"

He chuckled softly, his first since we met today. It came out effortlessly and ended seconds after it began.

"I can't promise you I won't jump out, but I can assure you I'll be waiting." He pulled a phone from his back pocket and stretched it out to me. "Here, put your number in here."

"My number? Oh sorry, I don't have a phone."

"what? Who doesn't have a phone?"

"Just me it seems."

" Okay, I'll get you one before we meet tomorrow."

"Don't bother! Jonathan's already getting me one. But I'll see you tomorrow right?"

"Ya!" He said, watching me as I turned to leave. "Don't you think you're forgetting something?"

I spun around confused but when I saw him outstretched, I got the message. Slowly, I unslung my backpack and laid it down before I rushed into his arms.

We stood there sandwiched between each other's arms, each not getting enough of the other. Our bodies were so close that our hearts drummed against each other. His strong masculine scent flowed in my nostrils and his hot breath tingled the hairs on my bare neck. I struggled to keep my wobbling legs steady but when he ran his hands along my back, my muscles lost their strength. What I felt was odd yet alluring and Even when I tried to ignore it, that familiar feeling of belonging persisted.

When I thought this lustful torture was over, he slowly withdrew his head and after flashing me a flirtatious smile, fixated his eyes on my lips. His gaze grazed the flesh with a flame of desire and instinctively I sucked in my lower lips. I knew I had to stop him but my body seemed to have grown a mind of its own.

Slowly, his face began descending and just when I had shut my eyes involuntarily in anticipation of his lips, I felt his hands peel off me, to which my eyes flipped open.

"Goodbye, Alice!" He said as he handed me the backpack he had picked.

I could hear him chuckling as I took off sulking.