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The morning sun bled through the tinted glass windows of my office, casting an eerie glow over the sleek black furniture. I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming against the desk as I skimmed through reports. The city skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my mind was elsewhere.
Nevaeh.
She had been in my home for a week now, yet every time I looked at her, something inside me twisted. The mate bond was a curse, tightening its grip with every breath she took within my territory. She didnβt belong here. A rogue. An outsider.
And yetβ¦ I hadnβt let her go.
My jaw clenched.
I shoved the papers aside just as Eldric waltzed in like he owned the place, throwing himself into the chair across from my desk.
βWhat’s up, Cuz?” he said, propping his feet up on my table.
βGet your FuΓ§king feet off my desk” I shot him a glare.
Eldric grinned but made no move to obey.
βRelax. Your desk is already ugly. My boots are an upgrade.”
βAre you that eager to die?” I snapped.
He sighed dramatically, finally dropping his feet to the floor.
βSo hostile. No βHey, Eldric, how have you been? Where have you been?β Just immediate threats. Typical.”
βWhere have you been?” I leaned forward.
βSee? That wasnβt so hard, was it?” Eldric smirked. βLetβs seeβ¦ I was in Italy for a bit. Had an… interesting run-in with the mafiaβlong story. Then I spent some time on a private island withββ
βI donβt want to know.”
βYou never do.” He sighed again. βI return after months of adventure, and all I get is scowling.”
βYou always disappear whenever you feel like it” I said flatly. βYouβre unreliable, reckless, andβ”
βDevastatingly handsome” he finished.
βInfuriating.”
βThat too” he admitted.
I exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
βDo you actually have a reason for being here, or are you just here to annoy me?”
βYou wound me to my very coreβ Eldric drawled, clutching his chest like a man mortally wounded. βStill, I come bearing reports.β
βFine. Reportβ I narrowed my gaze and he smirked.
βBusiness is stable. We acquired the steel export contract, and the shipment will arrive in three days.”
βOkay” I replied, though the news barely registered. βWhat else?”
βThe whispers in the pack say the Alpha has been keeping a certain rogue close” Eldricβs smirk deepened.
My fingers tightened around the edge of my desk.
βWatch your mouth, Eldric.”
βIβm just saying” he shrugged, βIf you donβt want rumors, donβt keep her under the same roof. People talk.”
βLet them.” My tone was icy. βSheβs nothing to me.”
Eldric raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He didnβt believe me.
Hell, I didnβt believe myself.
A knock interrupted the conversation. The door opened, revealing Lyall.
He strode in, his expression blank.
βAlphaβ he said with a bow.
I gave a curt nod. βLyall.”
He placed a folder on my desk.
βFinancial discrepancies in the pack’s funds. Someone’s skimming from the profits” he reported.
I flipped the folder open, scanning the numbers. My patience was already running thin, and this only added to my irritation.
βFind the leak and handle it” I ordered.
βUnderstood, Alpha,” Lyall nodded.
βAnd the girl?” Eldric spoke up.
Nevaeh. Again.
I exhaled curtly. “She stays. Thatβs all you need to know.”
βYouβre playing a dangerous game, Kane” He chuckled.
βIt seems youβve forgotten youβre speaking to danger himself” I retorted.
ππππππ
The mansion was too quietβthe kind of silence that made my thoughts louder than they needed to be. I had spent the past week here, wandering its grand halls, avoiding Kane when I could, and trying not to think about the fact that I had no idea what my future held.
I wasnβt worried about my family. At least, thatβs what I told myself. A break from their drama was exactly what I needed.
But Ianβ¦ Ian was different. I could only imagine how restless he must be, trying to figure out where Iβd disappeared to.
I rounded the corner toward the kitchen, but the sound of hushed voices made me slow my steps.
βShe mustβve done somethingβused some trick to make Alpha Kane keep her.”
βObviously. A worthless wolf like her doesnβt just end up under his roof. Can you imagine what the pack must think? That heβs actually considering taking in a rogue?”
I stilled, my blood turning ice-cold.
The voices belonged to two maids, their backs turned as they gossiped freely, unaware of my presence. One of them, a redhead, scoffed as she wiped the counter.
βItβs embarrassing. The Alpha deserves a strong, worthy mate, not some pathetic stray he picked up on a whim.”
βMaybe she threw herself at him. Desperate women do desperate things” The other, a brunette, snickered.
My hands curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. A slow, deadly heat simmered in my chest.
I stepped forward, deliberately letting my footsteps echo against the polished floor. Both maids jerked in surprise, spinning around to find me standing thereβarms folded, expression carved from ice.
The redhead swallowed hard. βM-Miss Nevaehβ”
βDonβt stop on my account” I said smoothly, my voice calm, almost lazy. βIβd love to hear more about how I tricked the Alpha.”
The brunette paled. βWeβuh, we were justβ”
βJust running your mouths” I finished for her, taking a slow step forward. βYou must be very brave, standing here gossiping about me when Kane isnβt around.”
They stiffened at my use of his name.
I ΓOΓ§ked my head, gaze dragging over them like they were filth clinging to the sole of my boot.
My tone became cutting.
βListen carefully, because I donβt like repeating myself. You donβt know me. You donβt know what Iβm capable of. But if you ever let my name leave your worthless mouths again, Iβll make sure the last thing you feel is regretβright before I remind you why even the weakest wolves can still rip out a throat.”
Their eyes widened, fear flickering in their expressions.
Lovely.
βNow⦔ I said, flashing them a cold, empty smile, βget the hell out of my sight.”
They scrambled out so fast one nearly tripped over her own feet.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my pulse to steady.
So thatβs what they thought of me.
Fine.
Let them.
Theyβd learn soon enoughβI was no helpless stray.
ππππ
The water shimmered under the glow of the overhead lights, steam rising in lazy tendrils. Iβd come here to clear my head, to shake off the weight of the packβs demands, but the second I stepped inside, I knew peace wouldnβt be on the agenda.
Nevaeh was already there.
She floated near the edge of the pool, half-submerged, arms resting against the ledge, chin tilted slightly upward as if she owned the d@mn place. Droplets clung to her skin, gliding down the soft curves of her shoulders before disappearing into the water.
For the first time since I met her, I allowed myself to truly look.
Her damp ginger hair clung to the curve of her neck, strands curling around her face, softening her usual fierce glare. Her eyesβmoonlight silver with stormy edgesβlocked onto mine. Her nose was small, elegant, leading down to lips that were parted just slightly, glistening with moisture.
And her body…
I clenched my jaw.
A mistake. A moment too long spent looking.
βAre you just going to stand there like a creep, or do you have something to say?” She smirked.
βDidnβt realize youβd be polluting my pool” I shot back.
She let out a mocking gasp.
βOh no. Iβve tainted your sacred water. Wh@tΓ«ver shall you do?”
I crouched by the edge, arms resting on my knees as I loomed over her.
βDrown you.”
βYou could try, Alpha.” Her eyes glimmered with challenge.
I reached out, brushing a single droplet from her shoulder.
βBe careful, little rogue” I murmured, giving her a hard look. βChallenging me has never ended well for anyone.”
Her breath hitched, but she covered it with a scoff.
βTouch me like that again, and Iβll break your fingers.”
βYouβre all bark” I smirk.
My fingers dragged lower, tracing the edge of her collarbone, watching as her chest rose just slightly faster.
βAnd yet, youβre still in my pool.” My tone dropped. βWearing that.”
βDidnβt know you had a dress code for water” She arched her brow, unbothered.
I chuckled, slow and dark.
βJust surprised youβre not wearing a muzzle. Wouldβve saved me the headache.”
Her nails scraped against the ledge, irritation flaring in her eyes.
βDonβt tempt me. I might just get one for you instead.”
I leaned in, our faces inches apart.
βYouβd love that, wouldnβt you?” My voice was a low rasp. βHaving an excuse to get on top of me.”
She let out a sharp, disdainful laugh.
βIβd rather die.”
Instead of answering, I reached out again, this time trailing my fingers along the exposed skin of her arm. She shivered.
Her scentβwild and intoxicatingβwrapped around me like a vice. The mate bond pulsed between us.
βKane⦔ she whispered.
I joined her in the pool, closing the distance in one smooth motion, my hands bracketing her sides against the ledge.
βYou keep looking at me like that” I crooned. βLike you want something.”
She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering against her throat.
βI donβt.”
βLiar.” My lips brushed the shell of her ear. βI can feel it, little rogue. The bond makes sure of that.”
Her fingers clutched at my shirt, her breath shaky.
βYouβreβ”
βDriving you insane?” I smirked. βI know.”
The moment the words left my mouth, she stiffened. Too late. A sound had already slipped from her lipsβsoft, unrestrained, FuΓ§king intoxicating.
Heat shot straight to my core.
My wolf rumbled with satisfaction.
βMate is perfect. When are we marking her?” Kian inquired excitedly.
My jaw clenched.
βThat is never happening” I snapped through the mind link. “I will not mark a rogue!”
βYet, youβre keeping her” he growled.
βSheβs just here until I figure out what to do with her.”
βSimply admit you donβt want to let her go.”
βShut the FuΓ§k up!” I retorted.
A low growl escaped before I could stop it.
Nevaehβs expression shifted. I could tell sheβd heard itβfelt it.
I tore my hands away and stood abruptly.
βGet out.”
βExcuse you?” She blinks.
βYou heard me.” My voice was steel. βGet out of my pool. Before I lose what little patience I have left.”
βWh@tΓ«ver” she scoffed.
She drags herself out of the water slowly, deliberately, droplets gliding over every inch of her skin like they had no right to.
At the door, she paused and turns her head, her silver eyes gleaming.
βYou donβt scare me, Kane” she mutter.
That is shocking enough.
But then she smilesβsmall, sick, and daring.
And her next words nearly sent me over the edge.
βIβve danced with death before. Youβre just another song.”
