Chapter Eight

I looked down at my hands. My day couldn't possibly have gotten anymore stressful but Sean had let me know that he had found a rogue hanging around the temple and was now bringing it back. I was tired and just wanted to sleep and the thought I would have to deal with a rogue then go complete the burial rights for the Lewis' and then Dylan had my head reeling.

"You forgot these." Benji leaned against the door jamb and looked me over carefully before moving into the study and setting my glasses on the desk.

I nodded at him. "Thank you, Benji." I had honestly forgotten them in the chaos. Glasses didn't really matter with killing pack members.

"You got everything bandaged alright?" He was looking at my shoulder and I nodded once more. The wound was about three quarters healed and the only reason I wasn't going out of my mind as the nerves healed was the pain reliever paste Maricella had placed into the ragged wound. I had to make a note to order more of the paste, it was fucking handy. "Sean says they found a rogue." His tone was all business and I sighed.

"He says it was only one so I'm not too concerned." I picked up the glasses and put them on. I looked at the paperwork on my desk and sighed a touch heavier. "Hunters will be here. I can tell." They had a habit of turning up when they were unwanted and the Enforcer, who I learned was Julia Savage, wouldn't let me go without a check up to make sure I followed the rules.

"Yah, I'm thinking bright and early in the morning. They were informed of the deaths a few hours ago." Benji sounded just as irritated as I felt and I motioned to the chair. We had covered our bases, we were safe from any repercussions but it would still be irritating to deal with them.

"We can get rid of them together, Benji." I sighed once more and pinched my nose. There was too much stress and it was starting to rile up my wolf. It was nice for him to stay quiet in his cage where I had placed him so I didn't wish for anything to change that.

"So about the rogue, what are you wanting to do?" Benji sounded slightly apprehensive but also curious. Some Alphas killed rogues that travelled through without permission. Others placed them into indentured servitude. Some simply listened and then banished.

I shrugged, my shoulders feeling far to heavy. "I'll know when they get here." It was the truth. I couldn't figure out what to do with the rogue until I met them. How I dealt with them depended on what their intentions were and why they trespassed. Sometimes it was an honest mistake, others it was deliberate to try and rile up the patrols and then some deranged rouges did it to harm pack members. How the rogue answered determined their fate.

Alpha, we request to speak with you. It was a masculine voice and I tried to place it. Slater, most likely Brandy's brother. I felt a sudden unease roll through me. Without Kiel or Michael I felt exposed but my pack wished to speak to me and I wasn't about to push them away.

You may come to the study, if you wish. I looked at Benji and grimaced. He looked curious at the expression on my face.

"Ian, Brandy's brother, has requested to see me." I shifted in my chair, resisting the urge to stand up and pace. My nerves were going haywire and I didn't like it.

He frowned, the lines on his face deepening. "I don't like it, Luka." He said it slowly and I agreed with him. I wasn't sure how the wolf or human would react so soon after his sister's death.

"Neither do I but he requested to speak with me." I couldn't find it in me to reject his request. I had killed his sister and the guilt made it difficult to deny any request he would make. "He should be coming in shortly." I clenched my hands tightly together as Benji came to stand by my desk. It felt strange not having Ezekiel or Michael near me. I felt almost vulnerable and exposed without them. I could feel some pack members entering the house and I lifted my head, waiting patiently despite the nervousness of having more than one person come into my domain.

There were a few moments of silence before someone knocked on the door softly. "Come in." I set my hands on the desk and watched as familiar pack members filed into my office. I tensed when I realized they were all related to those I had killed. They looked pale and grief stricken and I watched as they bunched close together as if frightened.

Ian stepped forward and cleared his throat. He looked uneasy and his eyes darted back and forth, it was something Maricella did when she was thinking of what to say. "The rogue the patrols captured. We request you show mercy and leniency. Please, we implore you to let the rogue go." Out of all the things I thought the group of people would request, that had never even entered my mind.

I had to force my mouth to remain closed and I frowned slightly. "Why?" I glanced around the group. They should have been at the temple doing burial rights but they were standing in front of me as if they were done. I knew how long it took to get the dead to listen.

"She gave them their burial rights for us. The moon vines followed her, Alpha. She knew the prayers of the dead." It was Lyle Smith's aunt, Sanny. Her voice was soft and warbling. Lyle had been all that was left of her sister and so his death was a heavy burden for her to bear.

"Everyone knows them." It was the truth. Everyone was taught the prayers when someone they loved died. They were the ones to speak to the dead because they were the ones to reach them the quickest. The fact that a complete stranger was able to reach numerous dead seemed a bit odd.

"Not those ones, Alpha. The prayers of the dead aren't meant for the living. She used a priestesses prayers, from the temples of Altia." At that the frown deepened. Altia was a small very secure territory that did not follow pack structure. Their entire purpose was to protect Mene's secrets and be her conduit to the shifter world and none of their prayers were ever freely given. One either had to be a priestess or priest in order to learn them or one of their family members. A stranger would never be allowed to use the prayers.

"I see. Is she a priestess?" I looked over the group and Sanny shook her head.

"I asked and she said she wasn't. Please, Alpha, find it in your heart to let her go. She did nothing wrong." Her eyes were imploring as she met my gaze. Desperation swirled in them and I realized they weren't scared of me, they were scared for the rogue. I didn't know why but the thought made me want to smile. They came to me to request the safety of a rogue for what she had done for them. My pack was thinking of others instead of themselves and it made a spark of pride erupt in my chest.

"She trespassed." I said it slowly and several of the males shifted slightly, I could feel their anxiety at the situation. What the rogue did for them and their families made them feel protective over her and I wanted to chuckle. They would argue with me, perhaps even fight me to allow her freedom.

"To see the temple. Temples are meant for all shifters, Alpha." Ian said it sharply. He thought I would hurt her and honestly, seeing all of them ready to protect the rogue against my supposed wrath, I knew that I wouldn't harm a hair on her head. They, however, did not know that.

"I see. You are requesting the rogue's safety?"

"Yes, Alpha." They all nodded quickly.

"Alright, I won't harm her. We shall get an explanation and then send her on her away." At my words the relief was palpable and most of the shifters smiled at me brightly. I smiled back and waved at the door. "Okay. You go back to preparing for the funerals and I'll deal with the rest of this." I gestured tot he paperwork on my desk and they all murmured their thanks as they filed out of the study.

"Well, that was unexpected." Benji sounded floored and I nodded. I had not expected that from my pack members but I was happy to provide them with the small comfort of the rogue's safety. I honestly didn't want to kill anyone else today.

"I agree with you there, Benji." I looked at the paperwork and sighed. Death certificates were half filled out and I sighed once more.

"If you had appropriate Betas paperwork wouldn't be an issue." He said it carefully and I scowled before throwing him a look.

"I resent that remark. Michael and Ezekiel are the best second in commands I have. I trust them and that is worth more than anything in this day and age." Trust was something I was very stingy in giving out because I never actually knew who I could extend it to without them stabbing me in the back.

"I agree, Luka. Trust is a major factor in choosing your ranks." He looked me over and I smiled at him before standing up. I gathered all of the papers into a neat pile and stretched with a groan. My wound fairly screamed with pain and I winced, lowering my arm as it throbbed hotly. "So you are just going to let the rogue go?"

"There has been too much death today, Benji. Besides something feels... strange." It was the only word I could use to describe the feeling that was in the air. It was if there was a still expectation, a careful watching of what was to happen. It made em uneasy.

"Mene's eyes are on us." Benji said it softly and I didn't know whether or not to agree with him. On one hand I believed in the goddess but on the other she was very much absent in the lives of shifters. However it didn't explain the sensation I was currently feeling, as if the very air was expecting something.

"I don't claim to know much, Benji, but you put too much faith in a goddess who never watches her children unless they are dead." I frowned before I walked in front of my desk and leaned against it. I frowned at the floor, trying to figure out the problem before me. I had never felt the air like it was and it almost seemed to soothe my wolf. That is what made it even more frustrating for me. He never should have been calm about the situation. For an animal that was as bloodthirsty as him, it was odd and disturbing to feel him calm.

"The goddess is watching. Something or someone has caught her interest, Luka. It has been known to happen on occasion." He said it with conviction and I let the older shifter believe as he wished. It was easier to let him think as he wanted than to argue beliefs with him.

Alpha, we are bringing the rogue in. Sean's voice was strained with an edge of irritation and I looked at the door.

"And so it begins." I could hear the sounds of struggling echoing down the hallway and I raised an eyebrow. There was a loud curse and a string of words that made me tilt my head. I adjusted my arms over my chest as the door opened. Mark came in, his eyes dancing with amusement. He held the door open and chuckled openly.

"Get in the fucking study!" Sean sounded more than irritated with the rogue as he tried to pull them into the study. He was having a hard time and Mark seemed to be enjoying it immensely.

"Jackass, if you don't stop yanking on my arm like a fucking rabid dog, I'm going to rip your testicles off and shove them down your throat." There were faint growls in the lilting, melodic voice. It made me stiffen and my wolf surged forward with an intent to claim the owner of the voice. I couldn't help myself and let my eyes closed as I took in a deep breath, inhaling a faint scent of something purely feminine and enticing. My eyes snapped open right as Sean finally succeeded in pulling the rogue into the study.

She was soaking wet and shivering with a dark scowl on her face. Her black hair hung in wet tendrils around her face and her clothes clung to her form like a second skin. My wolf demanded we claim her, that we take what was now ours. Her eyes were a dark green and they were currently as hard as ice as she stared at Sean and shook his hand off her arm.

I couldn't help myself as I trailed my eyes down her form. The clothing did little to hide the soft rounded curves she had but I could also see the faint muscling carried, a testament to her hard life as a rogue. I bit my tongue hard, trying to force my wolf back into his cage. She was fiery and beautiful and my wolf wanted her with a strength that surprised me. We hadn't even made eye contact to ensure the bond was true but he wanted her regardless.

"Alpha, this is the rogue that was trespassing through the territory." Sean was gritting his teeth and the dark haired beauty turned her icy gaze to mine at the faint introduction. The connection became complete and my wolf banged against the bars of the cage I had him placed in.

Mates.

I hadn't thought that through everything this would be something that was thrown my way and despite what my wolf wanted I felt the need to reject her. I couldn't deal with a mate during all of my personal shit. It wouldn't be fair to her. I needed time before I had to deal with a mate bond. I took another deep inhale, letting her scent fill me up. It would be a long time before I found another female to take her place and I wanted to remember it. There was something missing from her scent and I gave a small frown as I realized it was her wolf. She was a shifter, there was no doubt about it but her wolf was hidden away, completely weak to everything around her. My impromptu mate was a muddie. A shifter who shoved their wolf away or who's wolf was too weak to step forward.

I drew my bottom lip into my mouth slightly, biting it between my teeth as I studied her. She seemed to be studying me just as intently and I made up my mind. It was easier to reject her and find another mate when I wasn't dealing with everything that I currently was. I uncrossed my arms and shifted against my desk.

"Well-"

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to reject me and I am going to accept it." Her melodic voice was hard as she interrupted me. My wolf and I both bristled at the blatant disrespect she was showing. The fabled Alpha's Pride was riding me hard and I set my jaw and narrowed my eyes at her slightly. "After that business is all said and done, Jackass and Mark are going to escort me out of the territory and you will never have to worry about me darkening your door ever again." She looked at her nails before throwing me another icy glare.

"Or you don't and you reject me and I'll never accept it and escape never to be see again. Leaving you to waste away for years without a mate, without a chance at an heir, and without a chance at finding another mate." She met my gaze and my wolf wanted her to submit underneath him. He wanted her on her back, her belly exposed and her utter submission to him as her Alpha. He wanted her neck bared and his canines sinking into the soft flesh, marking her as ours. His urges were riding me hard but I forced him back. "And you can think about keeping me here to force me to accept the rejection but that would be impossible. I'm a rogue, I know how to escape plenty of things. You are no different." Derision and scorn coated her voice and she barely spared me a glance as she seemed to inspect her nails again.

Silence fell as everyone looked between her and me with wide eyes. I could tell none of them had expected that little speech or the fact we were mates. I stared at her intently. My wolf was furious with her current disregard for our bond, no matter how new it was. He viewed himself as an Alpha and her disrespect, regardless of her position as his mate, was something he would not tolerate. Especially considering how weak her wolf appeared to be.

She had demanded that I reject her and despite my previous decision I wouldn't be told what to do. People didn't make demands of Alphas, they made requests. She had not made a request she had made a demand and my wolf and I were in complete agreement as I smirked at her.

"No." At my refusal her head shot up in what appeared to be shock. Her green eyes were wide with disbelief as I crossed my arms over my chest. The smirk only grew deeper as that disbelief was turned into anger.

A rather dark expression crossed her face. "Excuse me?" The words were spat out and I gave her a rather feral grin. My wolf and I were enjoying her anger at our refusal.

"I said no." I watched as her eye colour darkened so much it appeared to be black. The anger was radiating off of her in waves as her eyes narrowed to slits.

"No to what exactly?" Each word was clipped off and controlled as she stared at me, the dark expression still on her face. I enjoyed her anger, it was a good lesson to teach her. She wouldn't get everything she wanted.

"Pui de lupi, I won't be rejecting you or letting you go or letting you escape." I watched as her face paled with each word. "Ever, my wild little shifter, because I find myself in need of a mate." She opened and close her mouth rapidly before she blinked.

"You- you can't do that!" Her lilting voice turned a bit shrill as she glanced around frantically. She wrapped her arms around herself as she looked at me, her eyes frantic. "You can't do that!" She spat the words out and I shrugged.

"I am perfectly within my rights to not reject my mate." I was being contrary with her. I hadn't wanted a mate right at that point but she demanded it of me and I found I would do the exact opposite to prove a point. It was petty but it was effective.

"Find another one!" Her voice rose and she pointed at me.

"No." I watched as anger returned full force to her energy. She reminded me of a wet kitten spitting in anger. Her arms dropped to her sides and her hand clenched before she took several steps towards me. I held up a hand as the three shifters stepped forward as if to stop her.

"Yes! Find another one!" She pointed at me as she moved to stand in front of me and I tilted my head slightly, watching her carefully. She was angry, it was clear but there was an edge of panic to her anger. The thought of me not rejecting her was bringing her a sense of panic that intrigued me.

I waited several long moments, my eyes searching her gaze. "No." The slap that landed on my cheek was harsh and stinging as it jerked my face to the side. Deep growls resonated in the air in the study as the three shifters went on the offensive.

Leave. I can handle the wet little kitten. I sent it deliberately to the three shifters that were vibrating with anger. She didn't need to be hurt because of their instincts to protect their Alpha. I could hear them leaving and a faint tinge of fear tainted her scent. I was almost insulted that she would believe I would hurt her but I knew her life as a rogue had made her wary of such things. As soon as the door clicked shut I turned my head to look at her. Terror flashed in her eyes for a brief moment before she covered it with false bravado. She tilted her chin up and stared at me, daring me to retaliate.

I could feel my skin stinging from her slap but a slap was nothing to get upset about. I lifted my hand and she flinched away from it before she steeled herself. I kept my expression blank as I brought my hand up and brushed my knuckles down her cheek. Her skin was cold but soft like satin and I watched the action intently. She shivered and she moved away from my touch and I let my hand drop to my side.

"Reject me." Her eyes flashed, as if she was suddenly reminded of what she wanted. Something I wasn't willing to give her with her current attitude.

"No."

"Stop saying that!" Her voice was nearly shrill and she was breathing heavy. I shifted in my spot and she took a half step backwards before stiffening and puffing herself up. She wasn't trying to intimidate me but it seemed more like she was trying to bolster herself up.

"No." I smirked at her and crossed my arms over my chest. She glowered at me from behind wet tendrils of hair. I kind of enjoyed the little game of pretend. We were pretending that I would ever listen to her demands and every refusal was amusing for me because her pretty face twisted with anger, making her eyes flash with fire.

"Fucking Alpha prick." She spat the words and I tilted my head before realize she was demanding I reject her and not once did she state she would reject me.

I bent down so I was eye level to her. "Pisică, I'll make you a deal. You can walk out of here completely free under one condition." I watched as she nodded. "You have to look me in the eyes and reject me." She froze, her eyes went wide and she stared at me. She wouldn't do it because from the point of a rejection, the person being rejected held all the power. The rejector had no say if the rejected didn't want to accept it. That is why the bond was designed to slowly kill the rejected. To force their hand to accept it before they died but that was still the power and if I was correct, the little rogue that Mene had decided to be mine, didn't want to trust anyone with that power.

The untrusting little thing.

I respected that. I truly did. I knew how she felt. I watched as a myriad of emotions flickered through her eyes. She took a deep breath and the emotions settled on determination. I raised an eyebrow. She was willing to try and that wasn't something I honestly wanted. I wanted to continue our little game.

"You give me your word that you will accept the rejection?" She watched me carefully as I stood up straight. She was eye level with my neck and I watched as she swallowed. I let a thick silence fall for a few moments, letting her squirm with nervousness.

"Where is the fun in that, gurită?" I tilted my head and watched her. She narrowed her eyes at me, she could sense a trap. She was smart as well as stubborn, I wasn't entirely sure if that was a good combination or not.

"You said I could walk out of here completely free." Her tone was accusing and I shrugged.

"I did but I said nothing about the accepting the rejection." I leaned closer to her. My face inches from her own. "Pisică, you don't want to reject me because that gives me all of the power. I could never accept it and let you wander around for years without ever finding another mate." I was twisting her words around on her and from the way her face paled she understood exactly what I was doing. "It is your choice." I went back to my previous position, ignoring the twinge that followed. I expected her to tell me her choice, to perhaps actually reject me. What I didn't expect was her to launch herself at me. Her face was an expression of pure anger as she swung at me. I blocked the first hit but she managed to slap me with her other hand.

"You son of a bitch! You can't do this!" Her face was red with anger but I could sense the weakness in her limbs, the panic making her heart race and her breath leave her in panicked puffs. The cold and exhaustion were getting to her. Her hits were half as powerful as they should have been even as a muddie. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight to my chest as she struggled. I had her arms pinned down and could feel her heart pounding frantically against her ribs. It was like a tiny bird fluttering around in its cage.

"I can and I will. Now shhhhhhh." I buried my face in her neck unable to resist myself as I took in her scent. She smelled faintly of citrus but it was nearly overpowered by a scent of something purely feminine. She struggled faintly for a few more moments before she went limp in my arms. I held her for tight against me, burying my hand into her wet hair, feeling her body shudder and her muscles shake from the cold. The water was slowly seeping into my shirt and I loosened my grip. I pushed her back slightly, hating how she wobbled with exhaustion. Her pale skin had dark bags under her closed eyes and without the anger radiating from her, she looked sickly. That thought didn't sit right in my stomach.

I carefully reached up and quickly removed her backpack. Her eyes snapped open as I pulled the backpack away from her. She took several steps away from me, a frown appearing on her full mouth. She shook her head and pulled her shoulders back as if remembering herself. Her eyes glanced between me and the backpack, her eyes narrowing. Despite the bolstering she was doing, I could still hear her heart thudding hard in her chest with her fear.

I could see the gears turning in her head and I didn't want to see what she would think up. I took several steps, invading her space before I reached down and grabbed the hem of her shirt in my hands. Her eyes went wide in alarm and she slapped at my hands. "Let go of me!" There was a sharp edge of panic to her voice but I kept my grip on the hem of her shirt. Her heart pounded frantically in her chest and I could smell her fear.

It wasn't right that she was scared of me but I preferred her fear to allowing her to get sick when I could have prevented it. She was so cold her lips were a faint blue colour and despite how she fought against my hands on her shirt, her entire body was trembling. My wolf demanded that we fix the situation and for once I was agreeing with him. I didn't want her to be uncomfortable or become sick. As her wolf was so weak it was a large possibility that she could have hypothermia or even get pneumonia.

She slapped at my hands again, her icy fingers trying to pry my hands off of her shirt. "Don't touch me!" Her attempts at removing my hands were about as strong as a child's. Her panic seemed to ratchet up even more as those gasping pants escaped her once more.

"I must tend to you." I didn't wait for a response before I yanked her shirt up and over her head. As weak as she was, her arms went above her head easily and I threw the shirt off to the side. She gave a small shriek and attempted to cover her chest from my view. I gave her a bit of privacy as I averted my gaze and I pulled my t-shirt over my head. It was slightly damp but it was better than what she had and held it out to her. "This will do for now. Put it on then take off your pants." Her green eyes were wide with an unknown emotion as she stared at me. Her shaking arms covered her bare chest and I shook the shirt slightly.

"Please put it on." I watched as she looked between the offered shirt and the backpack. I used my foot to push the backpack behind me. For some reason I wanted her to wear my shirt. I figured my instinct was telling me that I wanted her to have her surrounded by my smell. It would strengthen the bond. I shook the shirt again before I took a moment to look her over. A silver moonstone pendant hung between her breasts but her arms were covering it too much for me to see it properly.

She had a few small scars on her torso and arms but nothing that was anything different from any other shifter. All of us had scars in one place or another. Her form was muscled but curved in the right places. Desire flared though me but I did my best to push it away, she was cold and this was simply me taking care of her health. However my body did not agree with the assessment while her scent swirled around, tugging at me incessantly.

"Stop staring at me!" She hissed the words out as she snatched the shirt from my head and tugged it on, covering her body from my gaze. My wolf didn't like the thought, he much preferred it if she was naked and underneath us. I couldn't find it to disagree with him but I knew there was a time and a place for everything and now was not it.

"You're attractive and you're my mate. I can't help it." I shrugged as I ran a hand through my hair. I winced as the wound on my shoulder pulled painfully. The paste only did so much.

"Don't think you are paying me a compliment. The bond is running your tongue. It's just empty flattery." She spat the words out as if they tasted rancid and I felt my mouth twitch upwards, not a smirk but a small smile. I liked how, despite the fact she was exhausted, freezing, and borderline panicking, she still had a mouth on her.

I looked her over once more. The jeans and sneakers she wore were just as wet as her shirt had been. "Take off your pants." I gestured and she scowled at me darkly as I heard her heart rate jump up that much more. I could almost hear her response even before she opened her mouth.

"There is no fucking way I am taking my pants off." She glowered at me and looked almost petulant for a moment. I took a step towards her and when she made to move away I grasped her arm in my hands tightly, blocking her attempts to escape. I brought myself down to her level, knowing I would get through to her easier when we saw eye to eye.

"Gurită, you are very beautiful and you are my mate but at this moment your comfort means more to me than either of those things. I say take off your pants because they are freezing wet and you will get sick, not because I want to take advantage of you." I said it carefully and as the words sunk in she relaxed a fraction, it wasn't a lot but as I watched her shoulder slump an eighth of an inch and a shuddering exhaled escaped her I knew she understood. I let her arms go and backed away before walking around my desk and opening the bottom drawer where I kept some spare clothing.

I could hear her removing her shoes and pants before her bare feet scuffed over to where I had thrown her shirt. I sorted through the clothes that I had in the drawer before pulling out a pair of small shorts. I was pretty sure they were still too big for her but they were mainly my clothes because I never had anyone coming into the study but me and my guardians.

"What does it mean?" She was trying to keep her tone aloof but I could hear her curiosity and a smile tugged at my mouth as I stood up. I looked at her as she folded the clothes.

"Pardon?" I knew exactly what she was asking but I wanted her to ask me properly. She refused to look at me as she focused solely on the clothes.

"Gurr-ee-tah, what does it mean?" She glanced at me before she looked away. I moved around the desk and walked towards her. I could see her stiffening, her body ready to bolt despite the trembling that it was doing. I stopped short and held out the shorts. I did my best to keep my eyes from wandering down to her long, pale legs.

"Pisică. It's Romanian but I know it from the mountains. Gamgam taught it to me. It's a term of endearment." I waved the shorts once more before her gaze landed on them. She snatched them out of my hand and stared at me before twirling her finger in the air. I bit back a smile and turned around like she gestured. I would let her think she could push me around because it made the game so much more fun. My wolf didn't quite agree, he wanted her submission while I wanted entertainment.

"I asked what it meant." She was frustrated if her tone was anything to go by but I ignored it and shrugged as I turned around. I could hear her teeth chattering together but I was happy to realize her heart rate had settled, it was still racing but not to an alarming degree.

"And I'm not telling you." It was more fun that way. I wanted to see how many buttons I could push before she lost it on me again. I could hear her muttering curses at me under her breath and I bit back a chuckle. It was in my nature to be contrary. Besides I wasn't sure how she would take to being called 'little mouth'.

"You are such a fucking prick." She was seething as I turned back around before bending down and picking up her backpack. Her eyes landed on it and she looked ready to rip it from my hands.

"Here's a deal, you can carry your backpack and let me hold your hand or I can hold onto it and you can follow me." I wasn't being fair to her. I honestly didn't want to hold her hand or make her feel obligated to do so but I wanted to watch her face twist with irritation as it was currently doing.

"You carry it. I don't want to touch you." Ever. It was unspoken but I could hear it clearly. I wasn't offended by it or even hurt. She was stuck in a trap of her own making and cornered animals did all sorts of things to try and escape or lash out. It wasn't personal. I held the backpack in my hand and gestured to the door.

"Let's get you to a room where you can have a shower and sleep. If you are hungry do not hesitate to go to the kitchen or call for me to come get you something." I wondered if I should have asked for her name but I shook it off. It could be another part of the game. The first person to crack and ask would lose.

"So just call out Dickhead and you'll answer?" The tone was taunting and I smiled at her much to her surprise.

"That will work just fine and when I call out Pisică you will respond?" The nickname was much nicer than mine but it suited her to an extent. My little mate had little kitten claws so calling her cat wasn't such a stretch.

"Pisică?" She managed to pronounce it properly and I wasn't sure why but seeing her speaking the same language that Gamgam had taught me bits of made a fierce feeling of satisfaction laced pride fill me.

"It means cat. Kitten sounded a bit too cliched and I didn't think you would appreciate it. After all you have a bit louder of a meow, don't you?" I looked down at her and kept my face even as hers tinged faintly pink. She looked away and I gestured to the door again. "Well, pisică, shall I show you to your new room?" She didn't respond but moved quickly to the door and yanked it open. I chuckled as I followed her. She froze just outside of the doorway and I frowned, all humor gone as I registered the growls and her sudden fear.

I took four long strides and stopped so my chest was touching her back. I stared at Mark, Sean, and Benji each individually, a harsh rumble of a growl in my chest and throat. It was dominating and angry, my wolf and I working together to protect our mate. I sent each of them a piercing look and one by one they all bared their neck in submission, all anger gone from their forms. I couldn't fight the urge as I reached out and wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her tight against my chest. I would not allow any of my pack members to show her any form of aggression.

My wolf and I knew she wouldn't last very long in a fight against any shifter, not with her wolf so weak. So it made us both hyper sensitive to making sure she was protected, even from my own family and pack. The growl grew louder and Mark and Sean hit their knees in a submissive apology for their behaviour. Benji remained standing but tilted his head further to the side, showing more of his neck.

"She is my mate and she will be treated as such. No one is to act aggressively towards her or show her any form of anger. To do so will mean they will deal with me." It was my wolf as much as me that delivered the warning. We would not allow one hair to be harmed on her head. We could demand her submission but no one else was allowed too. She was to be our Alpha Female and the pack would need to respect that.

"Dickhead, let me go." At the softly spoken words the growls stopped and I instantly released her, stepping back slightly. I reprimanded my wolf gently. I knew the instinct to protect our mate was intense but he had to stop pushing for control. He didn't agree with me as he paced. He didn't believe we had made our point and wanted our little lion to be back in our arms. The urge for it made my skin itch unpleasantly.

"Dickhead?" Benji glanced at our mate then at me and I shrugged at the same time as she did. A smile tugged at his mouth. To my surprise my mate pointed at Sean.

"I call him Jackass." At the rather casual way she said it I couldn't help but smile. Sean's face twisted with irritation but he glared at the wall instead of my mate. The warning was taken seriously, an Alpha protecting their mate was not one to be underestimated, even one who lacked power as I did. My mate wasn't just the continuation of my family line and the future of my name. She was also the future of the pack, the one to carry the future leader, the next generation in power and I had a bone deep urge to protect that future at all costs.

No one beyond you three are to know that she is my mate. You may tell people that she is on the territory but you are not allowed to say anything about the bond. I looked at each male individually and they all gave a short nod to my words. Tell them what I told you. No one is to be aggressive towards her. I let a faint growl follow the words. I would protect what was mine, even though I honestly hadn't wanted it in the first place.

"Pisică, let's get you to your room." I watched her stiffen as I addressed her and she took several cautious steps forwards before glancing at me over her shoulder. Her green eyes held a glimmer of fear and I wanted to slap the three shifters upside the head but the fact that she felt safer when I was close tempered that want. I stepped around her and could feel her lingering less than six inches from my body as she followed me. My wolf liked that she viewed us as her protector and I didn't mind it. It reminded me of Maricella.

I moved down the hall and pushed open the door across the hall from mine. It was a decent sized room. It had been a nursery until my mother had converted it into a guest room. I slid the backpack off of my shoulder and tossed it onto the bed. I gestured to the bathroom door. "The shower is in there. Towels are in the cupboard beside the sink and shampoo and conditioner are under the sink." I frowned slightly. "I think there is a new toothbrush and an unopened tube of toothpaste in the medicine cabinet but I am not entirely sure." I shrugged before turning to her. She was staring at me with a rather strange expression on her face and I tilted my head before crossing my arms over my chest. Her eyes narrowed as she scowled at me but she said nothing as she stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

I stared at the wood of the door for a few moments. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I had to deal with the Hunters and then the funerals and now I would have to make sure she didn't escape the territory all at that same time.

So I found my mate. I reached out for Michael and Ezekiel and could feel their shock at the statement.

What? At the gruff and growled word, I laughed. I had shocked Ezekiel into speaking, that was a first.

The rogue on the territory was my mate but I have a feeling she is a runner. I need you two to watch the house in case she tries to escape. Don't hurt her but herd her back to the house. I need to let her know she can't escape. It was a simple tactic, the wilds would be able to force her to run in a large loop without realizing it. After a few attempts she would realize that without my permission, a dash for the border would be pointless. She was stuck here with me and I would be sure to reinforce that with her. She wasn't allowed to leave the territory without my say so.

Be petty. Bad, Luka. Michael sent it and I laughed again before sitting on the bed. I was being petty and contrary but it was my nature.

Kidnap. Hostage. Illegal. That was from Ezekiel and I bit back another laugh as the shower started. It was funny how the news of my mate could make the two wilds actually converse with me with words.

I am allowed to be contrary. She was demanding things of me and I don't do demands. Also, keeping your mate by your side technically isn't kidnapping or holding her hostage. That much was a terrible truth. If you found your mate it was well within the rules to haul her or him off to your house and keep them there. Which was disturbing but it was how it worked. I honestly felt bad for doing it to my pisică but she brought it on herself with her demands.

Everyone knew that demanding things from an Alpha was like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun. No matter how many times you convinced yourself you wouldn't, you always got shot.