Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
The Rogue’s Fate
Missy De Graff
Copyright © 2017 by Missy De Graff.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Table Of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Lucinda
A rogue wolf entering pack territory is asking for a death sentence. Packs don’t like us, and we’re not supposed to like them. We separate ourselves from packs because we need to be free and independent.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
A chill races up my back as I stand in the tree line of the State Forest. A cool breeze blows and dead leaves rustle at my feet. I take a deep breath to slow my rapid heartbeat and the scent of fresh pine swirls around me. It won't be long before the members of this pack pick up the scent of an intruder. Until then, I’ll catch my breath and wait. Leaning against a large boulder nestled between two tall oak trees, I wipe my clammy palms on my jeans and watch the sunrise–it could be my last.
I want to live, but the man tracking me has other plans for my future. I hope the Alpha of this territory will give me a chance to explain my situation. I need time to catch my breath and find Mia. I hope she’s still here. She’ll help me figure out what to do. But, it can only take a couple of days to find her, because that’s all I can afford. Anything longer than that and it wouldn’t be fair to this pack. It could cost them their lives. And I’ve seen enough bloodshed to satisfy an eternal thirst for blood.
The scent of someone approaching tickles my nose and I flinch. Hopefully, the patrol member is in human form and not wolf. The other half of my soul—my wolf—is already on edge. Keeping her in check is exhausting. A human is less threatening, usually. Although Felix, the man I once loved, is terrifying—man or wolf. I would rather die than be bound to him for eternity. Because there isn’t anything in this world worth living for if my fate lies with Felix.
Shit. Today’s not my day. The patrol wolf snarls in my direction and paces back and forth, twitching his rusty brown tail with enough force to kick up a breeze.
“Please, this is a matter of life and death. May I cross through your territory?”
I force my inner wolf to submit to the patrol’s assumed dominance and kneel down on the pine needles that litter the hard ground. After a few minutes, a man steps out from the shadows of a walnut tree and strokes the wolf's back.
“What's your name?" he asks.
My shoulders fall. What name do I give him? I have so many.
“Raven,” I whisper. It’s not a total lie. Raven is my family name. Lucinda is my given name, but I only share that with people I trust, and trust is earned.
The hairs on my forearms stand tall as the high-pitched croak of a raven echoes through the woods and I glance over my shoulder. My pulse calms when the narrow two-lane road below me is clear, but it skips a beat when the black wings of a bat soar in and out of the tree line high in the sky.
“Expecting someone?” The man asks.
“No.”
“Then why do you keep looking over your shoulder?”
I bite my lip and ask, “Please sir, I really need to cross through your territory.”
“Why don’t you go around?”
“That would take too much time.”
“We don’t take in strays, especially not ones bringing trouble.”
“I can’t go back that way. There's nothing back there for me anymore, nothing but chains and a doomed future.”
He hesitates and crosses his arms across his broad chest.
“May I speak with your Alpha?” I ask.
His jaw muscles clench and his nostrils flare. The wolf circles around me and growls.
Finally, the man says, “Follow me, Miss Raven.”
Glancing over my shoulder one last time, I notice that damn bat circling overhead. It’s the same bat that’s been following me around for years. After a moment of hesitation, I step forward to follow the man, hopefully not to my death.
I wish it hadn’t come to this. I hate asking for help. My late father would be ashamed to know I've disgraced our family name by coming to this pack. I wish I were here under different circumstances: as a diplomat, a friend, anything other than a shameful rogue.
When I step from the protection of the forest, I draw in a long breath to relax my racing nerves.
We walk, single-file, along the white line of the two-lane road. My wolf within me stays alert, searching for signs of danger and an escape route in case I need it. The rusty brown wolf keeps pace alongside us, but is careful to stay in the protection of the forest.
We walk in silence for several more miles until we reach the outskirts of a small, quaint town. This must be Floyd. My father always complained the Blood Moone pack claimed to live rurally, but compared to us, they don’t. Though, I'd say the Dark Raven's were more primitive than rural. I blink back tears at the thought of my old pack. I can’t show weakness here.
He leads me through the crowded streets and people step out of their shops to stare. A group of men loiter in front of the country store and growl as I near. My escort nods to the men as we pass. The light breeze carries whispers from another group standing idle on the street corner.
“Filt
hy rogue–”
“Disgusting piece of scum.”
“Why is she still alive?”
My nails dig into the soft flesh of my palm, but I’m able to restrain my wolf and keep walking. And as we weave through the humans and dodge the wolves, my nose twitches when I catch a scent that is all too familiar. Mia. My heart bursts with renewed hope and I smile.
But then another scent tickles my senses. It stirs memories from the past of my childhood best friend, Dylan Sparrow. The memories, both sweet and painful, still haunt me to this day. Damn him. Why is he here? He makes everything complicated. My wolf and human side are in disagreement, and I grab my head to combat a dizzy spell that threatens to knock me off balance. Thinking of our unique relationship and troubled past, a smile plays at the edges of my lips and I blink back tears. Relief washes over my heart knowing he's still alive, and anger steams from the depths of my soul that I may have to see him again. I grit my teeth and hope I don’t cross paths with him today. That won’t end well for anyone.
I glance to the sky. Lunchtime. As if on cue, my stomach churns. I wish I ate breakfast; my wolf gets uneasy on an empty stomach. And then I startle at movement in the tree line near us. Peering into the thick woods, several more wolves have joined the rusty brown wolf from earlier. Great, an entourage, or a killing party.
As we near what I assume to be the Pack House, the familiar scents from town become stronger. An intoxicating aroma swirls in my nostrils, one composed of scents familiar and foreign. Both are woodsy and masculine, but Dylan's scent is sweeter. Notes of cumin and freshly cut grass drift through the air, stirring up the most painful memories, and trigger my nose to twitch.
But this new scent tickles my nose with its spicy undertones and something else. I suspect bergamot. Inhaling again, the woodsy, citrusy notes make my stomach twist.
I climb the steps of the porch and wrinkle my nose. Please don't let Dylan be inside.
Chapter 2
Caiden
"Alpha,” a distant whisper echo’s in my mind. I close my eyes and dip my head under the warm water of the shower as I search through the pack mindlink, looking for the one reaching out to me. When I find it, I tune it in and make a connection, which strengthens the mindlink, making it clearer.
“I found a female rogue trespassing during my patrol this morning.” The patrol wolf’s deep voice echoes through the mindlink.
"Where?" Over the past few months, we’ve been experiencing an increase in rogue wolves attacking our pack members. But lately, to make matters worse, they’ve escalated to an all-time high and now the innocent humans in my territory are targets. Unacceptable.
“Concealed in the forest, waiting.”
“For what?”
“She asked to speak with you. She wants to cross through the territory.”
“Why?”
“She won’t say. Only that it’s a matter of life and death.”
“Fine. I’ll send someone to escort her here.”
I hurry to finish my shower. One of the downsides of the mindlink when you’re an Alpha, is you never get privacy unless you close the link. Of course, that comes with criticism from everyone.
I send Dylan, my Beta and second in command, a message through the mindlink.
“Sammy is escorting a rogue here. Be on guard for anything unusual.”
"Do you want me to handle it?" Dylan asks.
"If by handle you mean kill, then no."
"We shouldn't be taking risks—"
"I'll hear her out first," I say.
"Your funeral,” My eyes roll at Dylan's last comment.
***
I rummage through my drawers, tossing out shirts that are either torn or dirty.
This has to stop!
A low growl vibrates my throat as I throw a ripped t-shirt across the room.
I need better control of the damnation that rages inside me. My pulse quickens and I fight against my wolf for control. Grabbing a pair of jeans, I head downstairs in search of a clean shirt and cold ice to calm the fury of the cursed beast begging to be released.
A whiff of a stale stench lingers in the air. Sabrina. An involuntary snarl escapes my lips as I jump over the banister and head down the hall into my office, unseen. Over-exaggerated laughter spreads through the house, and my nostrils flair.
Sabrina’s made my life a living hell since we were kids. She is a manipulative and cunning creature, hiding within a beautiful body. Calm down. I can’t meet the rogue like this, or else it won’t matter what she says.
I glance at the clock. No time for a cool-down run. Instead I focus on the old leather speed bag hanging in the corner of my office. It’s been years since I used it and right now, a sparring session will be perfect. I punch the bag to see if it still works. The quick movement of the jab feels good.
Sabrina is all about power.
Jab, jab.
She wants to be the Alpha’s mate, Luna of the pack. Call me traditional or old school, but I still believe in the stories of Fated Mates. These days many of our kind don’t find their Fated Mate, so they accept the bond with another. But the bond with your Fated Mate is surreal, something you shouldn’t ignore or take for granted. If that bond breaks, your entire existence shatters. One cannot live without the other—or so the Pack Elders say. From personal experience, I disagree, on a certain level.
Jab, jab.
I witnessed firsthand what happens when a bond breaks; sometimes death is the easier choice.
Jab, jab.
Now Sabrina’s dug her sharp claws into my Beta, Dylan. I warned him, but he shrugged it off, saying he knew how to handle her type. I will not allow him to take Sabrina as a mate, she is not worthy of the title. I pray he finds his Fated Mate before Sabrina gets that serious.
Jab, jab.
Dylan came to us a few years ago. He helped me out of an intense situation, and for that, I will forever be in his debt. The more time I spent with him, the more I saw his potential. I invited him to stay and, after a while, I asked him to be my Beta. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. After what had happened to our pack, everyone was eager for strong leadership and that is what Dylan gave them. But this thing with him and Sabrina is unnerving.
Jab, jab.
***
An intoxicating smell of mint and honey drifts in the air and a surge of power ripples through the room. Stepping outside my office, Dylan's voice echoes down the hallway as I walk. "Hey Lux," he says.
I lean against the doorway to observe our guest, the rogue.
Our eyes meet for a second before she looks away. Something about her triggers a familiarity deep inside my soul. Her body turns rigid and her pupils dilate and grow black, before she closes them. I notice her chest rise with the intake of a deep breath. It seems this rogue and Dylan are prior acquaintances. And it’s clear she wasn’t expecting to find him here.
Upon opening her eyes her nose twitches and a slight crease forms on her forehead.
"Alpha Caiden, this," Sammy points to the girl, "is the rogue who asked to speak with you."
She turns her head in my direction, but her eyes stay transfixed on Dylan and Sabrina entangled in each other’s arms.
I send a small push of power surging through the room. I want her attention. Her shoulders tremble and I smirk when she diverts her eyes to the ground.
The sound of soft moans and lip-smacking cause me to grunt. Dylan and Sabrina are putting on a show for the unwanted guest. Sabrina’s dark-hair flips over her shoulder as she nibbles a path from Dylan’s ear to his neck. My lips turn up into a silent snarl.
“Enough!” I sent Sabrina and Dylan through the mindlink.
Sabrina slides off Dylan’s lap and curls up next to him.
***
"Never mind, I'm done here," the rogue says through a clenched jaw.
"Oh come on, Lux. You just got here," Dylan whines, and stares at the rogue.
Her shoulders rel
ax as my scent floods the room. She continues her deep breathing, but continues to glare at Dylan. It’s only a matter of time before she loses control.
"You may have learned to control your temper, but you're not fooling anyone. I can smell...her...she wants out. You can't lock her up forever." Laughing, Dylan pulls Sabrina back on his lap and crushes his lips against hers. A moan escapes the couple and a low growl erupts from the rogue.
"Won't you ever grow up?" She says through gritted teeth. Her hands clench open and close. An old trick to stay in control.
"Lux! Learn to live a little," Dylan says, moaning as Sabrina caresses his body.
“I said, enough!” I send again through the mindlink. Dylan startles, but remains calm and Sabrina pouts as she adjusts herself on the couch.
“I don’t think the rogue is an assassin or a spy, but I can’t figure her out,” Sammy says through the mindlink.
“She’s neither. I can vouch for her. She’s a pain in the ass, but means us no harm.” Dylan says through the mindlink to Sammy and I.
I nod and continue to observe her tense posture.
Her eyes narrow and she leans forward on the balls of her feet.
My wolf senses power radiating off her slender frame; tendrils reach out for me and my own power surges forward. Whoa. Intense.
She turns to leave and I walk with a long stride across the room to block her path. "Rogues don't wander unescorted in my territory." I need answers before she leaves.
My shoulders roll back and I relax my clenched fists. She bats her long, dark lashes and her pleading hazel eyes capture my interest.
"It was a mistake coming here," she whispers and breaks eye contact. "May I pass through your territory?"
My wolf responds to hers, but I’m trying to tame and control the urges. Through the mindlink, I tell my guards to stand down. When they heard a rogue requested to talk with the Alpha, my men circled the house to watch the perimeter for signs of danger.
"Let's go," I say and reach for her upper arm.
I close the mindlink to my pack because I’m flooded with criticism over my actions. They'd rather we kill the rogue, as a message to others, and be done with it. I've seen enough bloodshed in my life. I'm interested in what she has to say, but not until we both calm down. Sabrina and Dylan's little display of affection is nauseating. I can only take so much of Sabrina before my inner beast needs to be released. If it wasn’t for her family connections, things would be different.
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