The Rogue's Fate

by Missy De Graff

In the following days, Dylan stayed close, keeping watch over me to ensure I would not snap and attack my own pack members. He didn't trust my members to be able to kill me if needed. This was a strategic move because as he was their Alpha, they would have hesitated. Whereas Dylan had no connection and would not blink an eye if it came to that.

  It was during this timeframe that Dylan became an invaluable part of my pack. He showed the courage and leadership I needed in a Beta. Our friendship quickly grew and I named him as my Beta just as Mia and Gavin returned. To my surprise, they knew him and, after a moment of hesitation, approved of my decision.

  Mia asked about Elizabeth—they had been friends before she left. I don't remember the details of the incident that took place before Dylan found me in the wild, but each time Elizabeth’s name was mentioned I froze and zoned out, blocking the mindlink with my pack and sometimes going off for days with no pack interaction. Sometimes I just need to be alone.

  Mia worries about me, she has ever since we were younger. She was worried I was suffering from PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, so she suggested I see a doctor. But I know it's not PTSD. I know what it really is—it's my mind shattering from the bond breaking with my mate. Not everyone can survive it and keep their mental state in check.

  I went to see a doctor, though, to keep Mia happy. He said my subconscious blocked the details from my memory. Probably for the better, I don't want to remember the raging beast I had transformed into.

  The same heart-wrenching pain I felt after losing Elizabeth washes over me now. I don't know what connection Lucinda and I have, but I am drawn to her, and not just because she is my Beta’s mate.

  “Caiden?” I shake my head to erase the dark memories that invaded my mind. My vision clears and Mia's standing in front of me with tears streaming down her face.

  “Oh, Caiden!” She says, wrapping her arms around my midsection, burying her face in my chest. “You had that look in your eyes again. I thought I lost you for good this time.”

  “No, I’m still here,” I whisper in her ear as I hug her back.

  Turning to Gavin and Sammy, I ask, “Where’s Dylan?”

  “The Pack House.” Sammy's voice quivers when our eyes meet.

  I turn and storm toward the exit, blazing a trail through the crowd and leaving everyone to trail behind me trying to keep up. I climb in the car and Sammy jumps in the passenger seat. Gavin and Mia climb into her car and head home.

  “Hey, Caiden?” Sammy asks. I grunt. My vision’s going bleary as I begin to see black. How could Dylan just leave like that? Disgraceful. Even if she wasn't his mate, a Beta never turns their back on someone in need.

  “What’s going on?” He continues. I take a few deep breaths to clear my mind.

  “I’m not sure.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

  "Who was that guy?"

  "I don't know."

  "How did a nice girl like Lucinda get mixed up with the likes of him?" Sammy says under his breath.

  I grip the steering wheel tighter. Yes, I do wonder.

  Chapter 15

  Lucinda

  It pained my soul to watch Dylan walk away, but turning my back on Caiden was the hardest thing I've ever done. My heart, which I thought hardened years ago, is ripping through my chest, yearning for the calming bergamot scent I have come to love. Why does he affect me this much?

  My pulse races and my hands grow clammy. Straightening my shoulders, I hold my head high and take a deep breath. I can do this.

  Felix drapes his arm over my shoulders and a rush of anger pours over me.

  “Touch me again and you won’t live to see the sunset,” I say through gritted teeth. A low rumble erupts from his chest.

  My fists tightly curl, causing my nails to cut into the delicate skin on my palms.

  “Still so feisty,” he whispers into my ear. “This will be more fun than I thought.”

  "Well, one good thing will come out of this," Cody says through the mindlink.

  "And what's that?" I ask.

  "I can finally get rid of your stuff," Cody says with a wink. My personal belongings. I thought I lost them forever. I could kiss Cody for keeping them for me.

  Turning the corner I steal one last look over my shoulder. Caiden is standing in the same spot that I left him, pale as a ghost. His eyes are glazed over, dazed and unfocused. Now I understand what Mia means when she said he checks out of reality sometimes and it's eerie.

  “Is something going on between you and the Alpha?” Felix asks, nudging my shoulder.

  “No,” I snap.

  “Oh, you two seem rather cozy,” Felix says raising an eyebrow in question. “Of course then there’s the Beta too. You appear almost intimate with him.”

  “We’re friends. Period,” I say. Picking up my pace, I walk ahead of him and out of the mall exit.

  “What a pity.” He shakes his head. “Both of them appear worthy—”

  “Leave them alone.” A deep growl fills the silence. He dismisses me with the wave of a hand.

  “I mean it, Felix!” Raising my voice, I stop and plant my feet firmly on the ground. Felix tenses and turns into me. The look in his eyes causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

  “You will submit to me,” he says and grits his teeth.

  "Maybe in the next life, but I don't plan on visiting Hell–"

  "Let's hope it doesn't go that far."

  Felix's eyes turn a darker shade of black than I've ever seen. Our eyes meet, locked in an unwavering stare, neither one willing to submit to the other.

  Clearing his throat, Cody says, “It looks like the Alpha’s got his act back together.” Cody has always been good for breaking the tension between Felix and I. Bless him.

  “Yes it does,” Felix says under his breath.

  "Interesting company he's keeping, too," Cody says.

  “We’ll have to pay closer attention to him.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “Oh, you don’t know?” Felix asks, drumming his fingers across his bottom lip. He relishes in the excitement of dangling an unknown piece of information in front of me. A smirk creeps across his face.

  I know it's bait and I'm like a mouse attracted to the sweetness of peanut butter. But I can't help it—I want to know more about Caiden, so I walk right into the trap.

  Lowering my gaze to the ground, I show submission. And in a soft tone, I say, “No.”

  “That’s a good girl,” he chides. I hold back a growl.

  Cody holds open the car door for me and I climb in the backseat. Felix sits next to me.

  “Let’s just say he’s been a little unstable since the loss of his mate,” Felix says. My heart skips a beat at the word mate. “Rumor has it they were fated mates.”

  “What happened?” I ask. My shoulders drop and my stomach ties in knots.

  “It was rather beautiful, a clever plan I must say. I’m a little jealous I didn’t think of it,” he muses as he stares out the window. “If you can’t physically dominate your opponent, break them mentally.” His lips curl into a wicked grin.

  “What does that mean?” I ask.

  “The things they did to that poor girl are unthinkable, repulsive even for me. The kicker is, they made him watch, chained to a tree, bound by silver and powerless to help.”

  Heat radiates through my body, a strange sensation spills over my soul. I feel weightless, as if I'm floating in midair. My heart yearns to soothe Caiden's pain.

  I know how ruthless Felix can be and for him to say repulsive—I can only imagine the horrors she endured. I shudder as the images of my pack flash through my mind. The most revolting things Felix did to my father—

  Power surges through me, rippling over my burning skin.

  “You assisted in torturing Caiden and his mate?” Venom drips off my words, sticking to my lips like sap on a tree.

  “Oh no, no. Nothing like that,” Felix s
ays, carefully watching my eyes. “I watched from afar, curious to see how the Alpha would react.” Felix closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, as if he were inhaling something sweet.

  "How he would react?" I ask.

  After a moment of silence, Felix eyes me carefully and says, "Yes. This wasn't a random attack. The attackers planned a well thought-out strike. They were looking for someone or something."

  "How do you know that?" I ask.

  Brushing my cheek with his thumb, Felix says, "Oh my dear kitten, you are so naive in the ways of our world."

  Slapping his hand away, I say, "Naive?" Right. I roll my eyes and glance to Cody who sits next to Felix. "No, I think I grew up pretty quick on my own."

  "That may be so, but you are still ignorant of everything going on in the world around you."

  "What is that supposed to mean?"

  "You know nothing of the company in which you keep," Felix says.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "The Alpha, his Beta, and the other one—" Cody says, but Felix raises his hand, cutting off Cody's words.

  "Kitten, you are oblivious to the true nature of the men you surround yourself with," Felix says and his stare deepens.

  "You are also ignorant of the impending war between the Nation and the Brethren," he adds and sticks out his tongue as if he ate something revolting.

  Crossing my hands over my chest, I turn to look out the window. He is right, I have no idea what he's talking about. The Wolf Council stays out of the Nation and the Brethren business. What is Felix involved in?

  After several minutes of silence, I turn back to Felix and ask, "So, how did he react?"

  "What?" Felix asks.

  "You said you wanted to see how Caiden would react. So, how did he react?"

  “He became crazed with power," Felix says. "And I’ll admit it frightened me. It took all my strength to turn my back on that display of power, but—”

  I throw myself at Felix. Why am I so angry at him? Because he watched them torture Caiden's mate and in turn drive Caiden insane.

  My fists rise in balls of burning desire, a craving for vengeance and an outlet for pent up rage. My fury sees no justice as I strike him over and over again. The car jerks to a stop and I fly off the seat onto the floor.

  Felix looks upon me with solid black pupils–the strength of his power stifles the air around me. Wiping his lip, he looks at the back of his hand and licks the blood.

  “You will do good to learn your place.” It is the last thing Felix says before a solid object smashes across my face, followed by an intense throbbing pain. And then a sharp stab to my stomach, accompanied by a snapping sound in my chest. I hunch over in my seat and grab my stomach as waives of nausea roll through.

  I’m vaguely aware of the car stopping and Felix exiting, before two strong arms grab my shoulders, yanking me from the car. They force my legs to drag across the loose gravel. Finding my footing, I stagger and try to run, but my head spins as another blow meets my jaw. Felix's fist strikes my head hard and I collapse to the ground. He kicks my stomach and face, before stomping on my chest. I gasp and struggle for breath as I hear a loud crack and crunching sound. My ribs.

  I look up to Felix and his smile makes the hair on my arms stand tall. Pushing myself to my knees, I grit my teeth against the pain and find my footing. After a few stumbles, I stand tall, face-to-face with Felix. His mouth is moving, which makes me think he's talking, but I'm not listening. I'm too focused on keeping the pain hidden. I will never show weakness to him.

  Felix steps closer to me and I spit a pool of bright red blood that lands near his feet. Before I can move, his long fingers wrap around my neck. Growling in my ear, he lifts me a foot off the ground and my feet dangle below me.

  Grabbing at his hand, I gasp for air. Laughing, Felix says, "You're pathetic. Why would anyone fear you?"

  I claw at his forearm and kick my legs, unsuccessfully trying to wiggle loose.

  "They want you dead. But not yet, I have a better idea."

  Felix's deep laugh echoes in my ears as my senses becomes hazy. My ears itch and my hearing is fuzzy. My vision begins to dim and the grayness encloses my line of sight.

  I reach out to Cody in the mindlink. He's the only one that is ever able to calm Felix.

  Cody steps forward, whispering something into Felix's ear, and Felix lets go of my neck. My body crashes into the cold earth and Cody rushes to my side.

  "Cinda, you'll be okay," he says and puts his arm around me for support while lifting me to my feet.

  A deep pain spreads through every part of my body. Wincing, I raise my head to the sky and see a lone bat fly overhead. Damn bat.

  Felix had already walked away, which leaves only Cody to help me up the porch, down the hall and into my holding room. Luckily it isn't too far away. Looking around this dimly lit room, I recognize it. I know this room well. I have spent much time here.

  Cody steps away from me and says, "This will only be temporary. We plan to travel soon." Perfect. Traveling is the perfect time for an escape.

  Cody must see the small smile forming on my lips and know what I'm thinking. "Cinda, if you trust me, then please don't do anything stupid."

  My smile opens the wounds on my lips, causing fresh blood to pool. Licking the blood off my lips, I say, "Yeah, okay." If I get the chance, I'm gone.

  Cody heads toward the door. Through the mindlink, he says, "Oh, and your stuff is in the box under the bed."

  The door closes behind me with a loud clank, signaling he locked the big wooden door with the deadbolt. Guess you're not helping me escape this time.

  I take a step toward the small bed that lays in the corner of the room, and then I see purple eyes staring at me from the darkness. I am not alone.

  Chapter 16

  Caiden

  Pulling up to the pack house, I sense a mass frenzy of fear and confusion. Stepping out of the car, I take another deep breath and breathe out through my nose, releasing a snarl.

  “Hey Man,” Sammy says, stopping me with his hand pressed against my chest, “stay calm, okay?”

  Clenching my fists, I brush past him and head into the house.

  Walking toward the front door, I pause and take a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale a few times to clear my head, unsuccessfully trying to shake the image of Lucinda walking away. A piercing pain stabs my heart each time she turns her back, a sign she declined the pack.

  Reaching for the front door handle, the hair on the back on my neck stands up. My senses kick into high gear as my head swivels around, searching for any sign of danger. Stepping into the pack house, an uneasiness washes over me and my hands begin to shake. I look around and see a handful of pack members sitting idly in the living room. Their eyes widen.

  “Caiden,” a young voice says, cutting through the awkward tension hanging in the air. My fangs flash under my lips as I hear loud noises erupt from upstairs. Sniffing the air, my heart plummets into my stomach. I smell the faint sweetness of mint and honey.

  Looking down at my hands, I notice they start to shake uncontrollably. Sammy places a reassuring hand on my shoulder from behind as I close my eyes, and clench my fists wrestling with control of my inner wolf.

  “Dylan’s gone mad!” The young voice whispers to Sammy. “He stormed into the pack house with a crazed look in his eyes. He’s been smashing things in his room ever since!”

  In a heartbeat, I fly up the stairs and find myself in front of Dylan’s room. Pounding once with my fist projects enough power to send the door flying off the hinges. A low growl escapes me as the scene unfolds.

  Sabrina is lying on Dylan’s bed, half naked with a smirk plastered on her face. Dylan jumps to the middle of the room as I growl again.

  “Sabrina. Leave.” I command. I do not take my eyes off Dylan, though from the corner of my eye I see her raise her eyebrows to Dylan without moving.

  “Now!” My voice vibra
tes across the room, laced with my Alpha dominance. I see her flinch and she instantly grabs her clothes and exits the room.

  Dylan and I stand a few feet apart. His body is rigid as a washboard and his fists are clenched into tight balls, mimicking my own. The scowl on his face only fuels my anger.

  “You’re pathetic,” I spit through clenched teeth.

  “How so?” He asks with a raised brow.

  “You walk out on Lucinda,” he flinches at the sound of her name, “and you run to Sabrina!” I spit. “She won’t fulfill the needs your wolf wants…”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dylan interrupts, his shoulders rolling back to expose his chest as he speaks.

  “Oh, I know exactly what’s going on between you and Lucinda.” As her name rolls off my tongue, an ache pounds in my chest.

  A warm liquid run down my palms. Damn. I frantically try to retract my claws before they pierced all the way through my palms.

  “It’s an old childhood crush, nothing more,” Dylan mutters as his eyes narrow.

  “I’ve seen the way you look at her…the way you watch her as she crosses the room.” Dylan catches me off guard, an act not many people are capable of, and a throbbing pain erupts from my jaw as his fist makes contact and I stumble to the floor. He has a nasty right hook. I slowly stand and square my shoulders, turning to face him.

  “She’s your mate.” I spit a mouthful of blood on the floor. This time, I’m ready when his fist comes swinging. My arm meets his in the air, successfully blocking the punch. I raise my own and land a solid hit to his gut, and he stumbles backward before finding his footing.

  Charging me again, I snarl at his feeble attempt to tackle me. His strong legs propel him through the air, but my muscles ripple under my skin and I jump, catching him midair. I wrap my arms around him in an iron grip. I squeeze.

  “You think you know—” He chokes out. He’s struggling against me as I hold him firm against my chest. “She’s wrong—” He coughs. His eyes start to roll back into his head, and my vision blurs and fades to black…

  “CAIDEN!” A voice pulls me out of my trance. I release Dylan and he slumps to the floor. Landing on all fours, he looks up to me in defeat.