The Unloved Rogue

Chapter 2

Daliah POV

After driving 45 minutes in a comfortable silence we finally pull up to my house. “It’s not much but it’s home.” I shrug as I put my car in park.

“What are you talking about, D? It’s beautiful. You actually live here?” Caleb looks at the front of my house in awe.

“Come on let’s go inside and clean up. I’ll tell you my story while we eat dinner. I’m ordering pizza.” We go inside and he looks around. My space is pretty boring, I keep things super basic. Couch, TV, coffee table and a book shelf in my living room. “Come on puppy I’ll show you to a shower you can use.”

I take him upstairs to my guest room. Now that I’m walking in here I start to question why I even have this room. I don’t do guests. I have no friends. Caleb is the first and only person to ever see my home.

Caleb looks at me quizzically “You okay, D?”

I blush realizing I got lost in my own mind again. “Sorry, I just realized how weird it is having someone in my house.” I shrug. I point to a door to the left “bathroom is in there, it’s fully stocked with anything you could need. My room is right next door if you need anything.” I glare at him before walking out the door “do not come find me. You are a grown ass man, you can find whatever you may need.” I turn on my heel pulling the door shut behind me to the sound of Caleb laughing.

Caleb POV

I lean against the bathroom door gathering myself. I knew she had to say something smart to make up for the blush earlier. I shake my head and make my way into the bathroom. Her home is cozy, it doesn’t look like she actually spends much time here but it also looks like a home she would have. Everything is so organized and available. I open the cabinet door in the bathroom to find a towel and of course she would have every brand of soap available for a guest to choose from. She will never admit it but she loves helping people and making their lives easier.

As I hop in the shower I let my mind wander to Daliah. So much has changed in ten years. Rebecca rejected me but that didn’t even hurt as much as Alpha Geoff Banishing Daliah. That cut me deep. I was at football practice when we all felt her tie to the pack sever. It brought me to my knees. I tried to find her but it was impossible. I am not the best tracker and not having that link to her just made the whole situation even more difficult.

The water starts to get cold and I realize I have been in here way longer than intended. I step out and start to dry off. I make my way out to the bedroom and see a pair of clean pajama pants and boxers lying on the bed.

*see she really does have a heart* my wolf Jax begins to laugh in my head.

*yea but don’t let her hear you say that.* I chuckle and start getting dressed.

*could she be our second chance?* I feel Jax perk up and wag his tail.

*I really doubt it, man. We would have felt something by now if she was.* Jax nods and folds his ears down feeling defeated.

I quickly get dressed in the clothes she left and throw on a white t-shirt from my bag, I head downstairs to see Daliah sitting on the couch “wow eating without me!” I gasp and put my hand on my chest while pretending to be hurt.

Daliah hasn’t changed a bit. And seeing her now without her leather and weapons and black cape I can truly see how beautiful she is. Her long blonde hair flows down to her waist. She has the curves any woman would kill for and those eyes. Damn those eyes knock me on my ass. I’ve never seen anyone with purple eyes besides Daliah. That’s honestly how I knew it was her when I bumped into her earlier.

“Hey you snooze you lose.” She shrugs and takes another bite of her pizza.

I chuckle and sit down next to her and grab myself a slice.

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while just eating until I notice she starts digging her nails into the palm of her hand. A nervous habit she’s had for as long as I can remember. “Daliah, what’s up? Something on your mind?”

She takes a deep breath. “I feel like I need to tell you what happened.” She turns and looks deep into my eyes. “I need you to listen to everything before saying anything. A lot has happened in the last ten years Caleb. But I really feel like I need to tell you my story.”

I reach over and grab her hand and rub my thumb on the back of it. “Daliah, you don’t have to tell me anything but I would love to hear it if you want to share. No pressure though.”

She half smiles and nods her head. “Okay here goes nothing.”

She takes a deep breath and blows it out. “As you know my mom died when she gave birth to me. I was, as I like to call it, my dad’s greatest disappointment. He wanted a son and got stuck with a daughter.” She shrugs before continuing.

She squeezes my hand a little tighter before continuing. “What you don’t know about me is that unlike other wolves I didn’t get my wolf at 16. I got her at 13. I was alone for my first shift. She told me the Moon Goddess sent her to me early because I needed to start training right away, she knew I would be strong but neither of us expected me to be this strong.” She looks up at me with her eyes shining. “You’ve never met Rhea but Caleb she is the most incredible wolf. She is absolutely beautiful.” Her eyes shine with pride talking about her wolf and that makes me smile.

She looks back down as pain flashes across her face. “On my 16th birthday my dad came to my room. He told me that I would never take over as Alpha of his pack. That he would not embarrass himself by letting a girl be the alpha.” She rolls her eyes. “He said he was taking a chosen mate. And apparently she was pregnant.”

I knew Alpha Geoff had taken a mate and that they had a son but what I didn’t know was that he didn’t want her to be Alpha. He told the pack that she refused to take on the responsibility and ran away. I shake my head in disgust.

“He told me I could stay in the pack house as an omega to earn my keep but I was no longer his family.” Her voice shakes a little at the last part but she quickly composes herself. “I went to my room and packed as much as I could. That night I broke into dads office and took about five hundred thousand cash out of his safe, hopped in my car and left.”

“The next day I was sitting in a small diner eating dinner when I felt the pack bond break as my dad banished me. I dropped to my knees and screamed loudly. Everyone was staring at me...” she chuckled “it was humiliating, but I left a huge tip and got out of there quickly. I drove for three days until I made it here to the middle of nowhere Kansas. I drove by and saw a for sale sign on this house. They were willing to lower the price since I was paying cash. I stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks before I was able to move in and I have been here ever since.” She shrugs and takes a sip of her coffee.

I take a moment to absorb everything she told me. What kind of father would banish his only child? It was disgusting. Then another question came to mind. “Why does everyone call you the Huntress?”

She pauses mid sip and a small smile creeps onto her face before she sets her cup down and looks up at me, her eyes shining with pure delight. “Because Caleb. I am THE Huntress.”

She stresses the word ‘The’ and then realization dawns on me and I gape at her looking at her in a whole new light. “No way!”

She nods slowly

“Everyone knows about the Huntress, I just didn’t realize that was you!” I run my fingers through my hair thinking about everything I know about the huntress, she kills demons for hire but she is the best. Like the best of the best. She is impossible to find and never misses her mark. She is truly a legend that no one at home actually believed existed.

She sips her coffee calmly like this is a normal every day thing.

“How many?” I ask truly curious.

“297.”

“297? What the hell, D! You’ve killed 297 demons?” God this woman is incredible. “Wait. Now I have a follow up question.”

She looks over at me a raises an eyebrow

“If you kill demons, why are they so willing to work with you in this upcoming battle?”