Mate!

CHAPTER 3 - MATE! (EDITED)

CADEN

I was going through the pack reports when my Beta informed me through the mind link that there’s a female rogue at the border.

Female rogues were rare. Packs cherished their females too much to exile them, they were usually given punishment or executed if the crime was too grave. 

Female rogues are normally ones whose packs were torn down by war and hard to leave. But new packs were always ready to take them in.

But from Dorian's explanation, this one scent is a bit off, nearing feral. That means she's been rogue for long, longer than normal.

“Kill her,” I commanded immediately.

But, Dorian tried to protest

I shut off the mind link. I can't believe Dorian disturbed me just for this. But for some reason, my mind was not at rest. My wolf kept pacing. Does this have to do with the rogue?

I opened the mind link again. “Don’t kill her yet. Place her in the pack cells for now.”

Even since Rogues attacked my pack years ago, wiping out most of our pack members including my mom, I have had this burning hatred for them. My mom died because of them and my dad followed soon after, he couldn't bear the heartbreak of losing a mate. Forcing me into being Alpha at eighteen. 

I have always killed any rogue on sight but ever since Dorian spoke through the mind link, there’s a feeling of unease in me. Maybe this rogue holds valuable information about my enemies and the goddess doesn't want me to kill her yet.

Later in the evening when I'm done with most of the pack work, I head to the Cellar with Dorian.

I push through the guards, almost shoving them out of the way.

I hear Dorian sigh behind me. “All this for a helpless little rogue.”

“They are anything but helpless,” I say.

“She’s a female and injured for that matter. What's the worst she could do? I think she might be without a wolf, I couldn't sense any-”

I can hear Dorian breath directly behind me. He just stopped himself from slamming into me after I stopped unexpectedly.

An intoxicating scent filtered through my nose, then my brain making it hard to think, hard to breathe.

Mate, my wolf thought.

No it couldn't be.

“What’s wrong?” Dorian asked but his voice sounded miles away.

I began moving before my brain could process things. I passed cells of prisoners, some snarling, others pleading with me to let me out but they have never felt so unimportant as they did today.

I stopped at her cell and if it was impossible for me to stop breathing, I think I did for a second.

The second I met her eyes, those brown eyes, my wolf cried out inside. I couldn't stop staring. She had an oval face, pale skin, large brown eyes and full lips. Her hair was a mess and I could see her shivering. To me, she was the most beautiful woman to walk the realm.

“Caden?” Dorian's voice pulled me out of the trance. I had even forgotten he’s there.

“What’s your name?” I demanded.

She bared her teeth at me and looked to the side. I couldn't sense any wolf. Could she feel anything? Is she drawn to me, the way I'm drawn to her.

The Goddess gave me a wolfless rogue as a mate after all the years of waiting.

This wasn't fair.

I spun around to face Dorian who had a questioning look in his eyes. “The keys?”

He handed them to me and I began opening the cell. My mate's eyes shifted sharply to me, she tried to get up but collapsed back.

I pulled her up to her feet. The very moment I touched her I knew it was real.

She was my mate. She was mine. The touch was so powerful, I felt the electrification. I could feel my hand seeping into her arm.

My wolf called out to her.

I pushed the sensations away as much as I could. “I asked you a question”

I expected her to reply but nothing. My eyes moved to her lips and a strong urge to kiss her washed over me.