Alpha Kieran’s Rouge mate

Chapter8

I couldn’t believe this. He’s actually coming along with me to run? Why? Why was this man hell bent on making me stay here? Why isn’t he following the normal rules? He’s a Lycan king and I am omega. A lowly one at that. Shouldn’t he be infuriated to be given a person like me as a mate? Shouldn’t he want better as a king with a reputation like his.

I dragged my feet as we walked towards the woods. I couldn’t help but pray to the goddess for some kind of intervention. Let someone call him so he would leave me alone to run. Of course that doesn’t happen. The goddess never really listened to anything I want.

He stopped walking as soon as we got to the clearing and I stopped too. I could immediately tell this was where the pack members would usually shift before going for their run.

I looked around quietly as I gnawed on my lips. There was no escape here.

“You’re stalling.” he said, his deep voice breaking through my thoughts.

I forced my hands to my sides, balling them into fists. “I’m not.”

His gaze sharpened, like he knew I was lying. I needed to do something. I needed to move.

“So? Aren’t you going to undress?” He asked and I stiffened, my eyes widening slightly. Undress? What does he mean undress?

“W-why am I undressing?” I croaked out, suddenly feeling even more self conscious.

He looks at me with a deadpan expression, “Because you need to shift, Emma. That’s what you wanted to do, right?”

My throat went dry. Right. Of course. That’s what I asked for.

I swallowed hard, nodding stiffly. My fingers trembled as I reached for the hem of my top, hesitating before finally pulling it over my head. The cool air kissed my skin, making me shiver.

I kept my eyes down, refusing to look at him. There was a rustling sound, and I knew he was undressing too. My pulse thundered in my ears.

I told myself not to look. I told myself to shift and run. But my traitorous eyes flickered up, and I nearly forgot how to breathe.

Kieran stood there, half-undressed, his broad chest and sculpted abs on full display. His skin was littered with scars, proof of battles he fought and won, and his biceps flexed as he unbuckled his belt.

I should’ve looked away. I needed to look away.

Instead, my mouth parted slightly.

Goddess help me.

He glanced at me and our eyes locked. I quickly averted my gaze, heat crawling up my neck.

“You’re drooling, Emma.” He said and I couldn’t hear the amusement in his voice.

My face flared up in a bright red, “I’m not.” I shot back, quickly wiping my mouth—just in case.

Kieran smirked, his hands moving to tug off his shirt completely. I turned away sharply, my heart hammering in my chest. Goddess, why does he have to be built like that?

I needed to focus. I wasn’t here to admire my mate….if I could even call him that. I was here to run. To escape. I can’t be bound to another alpha. A Lycan at that.

I took a deep breath and reached for my camisole, pulled it over my head. My fingers trembled slightly as I shoved down my leggings, my wolf whining inside me, urging me to turn and stare at him.

A rustling noise told me Kieran was still undressing behind me. My pulse jumped. I knew if I turned around now, I’d be met with the sight of him in nothing but his bare skin.

I clenched my jaw. Focus, Emma. Move.

And then, before I could second-guess myself, I took off. I shifted mid-stride, my bones snapping, my vision sharpening as I landed on all fours. The moment my paws hit the earth, I didn’t think anymore. I just ran.

A furious snarl ripped through the air behind me. I didn’t dare look back. I had no idea where I was going to, what direction I was heading. I just knew I had to get away. I had to run because if he caught me. I was done for.

A massive weight slammed into me from the side, knocking the air from my lungs. I yelped as I tumbled to the ground.

‘Too slow’, Kieran’s voice rumbled through my head.

I barely had time to recover before he pinned me down, his enormous black wolf towering over mine. His eyes gleamed, filled with something dark.

I growled, struggling beneath him, but he didn’t budge.

“Shift back” he ordered.

I refused and his wolf pressed down harder, his strength suffocating.

“Now, Emma.” He ordered.

A whimper slipped from my throat before I could stop it and just like that, I shifted back against my will, left breathless and trembling beneath him.

The moment I did, he shifted too, his human form just as scary as his wolf.

“You ran,” he said quietly though I could hear the edge to it.

I glared up at him, breathless. “I don’t belong here,” I shot back, my voice trembling. “I can’t— I won’t be a prisoner again.”

His jaw clenched. He stood up, finally letting me go. “You think that’s what this is? That I want to keep you a prisoner?“

I swallowed, pushing myself up from the ground, my legs still trembling. “I—”

“Why?” His voice snapped. “Why the f**k are you like this?”

I flinched.

“Why the f**k are you so hell-bent on running away from me? What the f**k is wrong with you, Emma? Why do you keep running? Have I locked you up? Have I treated you like a f*****g prisoner?”

My breath hitched. “I’m not—”

I opened my mouth, but he wasn’t done.

“Have I hurt you? Have I ever given you a single reason to be this goddamn terrified of me?” His jaw clenched so hard I thought it might snap. “Because I don’t f*****g get it. Why do you keep trying to run away from me?”

“BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS!” I screamed back, my voice breaking. “Because I don’t know how to be your mate! I know people like you and all I want to do is leave your pack but you won’t let me.” My chest heaved, my throat burned, but I wasn’t done.

“I have spent my entire f*****g life being treated like nothing. Like I didn’t matter. And now I’m supposed to just forget that? Just accept that you…you of all people see me as something more?” I let out a broken laugh, shaking my head. “That’s a joke! I will not be a joke again! I know better.”

And before I could stop it…hot tears spilled down my cheeks.

Shit.

I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to stop them, but it was too late. The sob ripped through me, my shoulders shaking, and I pressed my hands over my face, mortified.

This is so embarrassing…

For the first time since I met him, Kieran looked stunned.

I didn’t know what I expected him to do. Maybe yell again, maybe storm off and leave me standing there, breaking apart.

But he didn’t.

Instead he walks up to me and pulls me in for a hug. My body locked up instantly, my hands pressed against his chest, but he didn’t let go.

He just held me.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think. I was supposed to push him away. I was supposed to fight.

But I couldn’t…I didn’t want to and before I knew it, my fingers curled into his skin, and I let out another shaky sob.

“I hate you,” I whispered against his chest

“I know,” he murmured.

His voice wasn’t mocking. Wasn’t angry.

It was gentle.

And that, that was what broke me the most.