Riley POV
He's never going to let me go. I know that now. My mate is determined to keep me here against my will. I remember hearing about the rogues nearby though and part of me is curious as to why there are so many females needing help. It's against the rules, it's against his rules, I correct myself, but I'm through caring. If something happens to me, then it will be his fault. He could have marked me by now or claimed me for his own. I don't know whether to hate him. It's all so confusing, sometimes I hate him and then he touches me and it's like everything is forgiven.
I sit on my bed and debate the wisdom of my actions. This cold get me killed but at this rate did it matter? What kind of life was this, constantly waiting for my mate to spare me the merest crumbs of his affection? I glance out the window. I already know that Callum has made his way back to the study. If I want to make my move, I have to do it now, before they realize I've gone missing. There's every chance patrol will pick me up anyway, before I can make it over the border, but that's a chance I'm willing to take.
I slide off the bed and peer out the doorway. The coast is clear. I resolutely make my way through the back of the pack house, careful to keep my head down and my body language of somebody who is on a task or errand. I avoid Sandra which is incredibly lucky and none of the other omegas care enough to question me about what I'm doing or where I'm going, too absorbed in their own tasks or their gossip to pay me much attention at all. It's perfect. Being invisible has never been so easy before.
I step out onto the grounds. Pack members walk or mull around but as a lowly omega, I'm barely even spared a glance. I remember Callum saying that they were close to the boundary and I began to head toward the forest, my body trembling slightly. Any moment now, I'm certain that a pack member or a patrol member is going to demand I stop and question me as to what I'm doing. But I reach the forest without issue, shocking me completely.
This was strange. What had happened to the so-called security of this strong pack? I shrug and begin to head in the direction of the boundary, certain I know which direction the women are. I push past shrubbery, stumble over debris, and pant as I continue to walk, the warmth of the sun becoming more intense as time passes by. It's times like this that I wish I had the ability to shift. It would make travel a hell of a lot easier.
I see a patrol member and quickly whip behind a tree. Why hasn't he smelt me? Picked up my scent? I sniff myself. I'm so covered in leaves and dirt that it's covered my scent completely. He continues on and I wait, before heading in the direction he came from. I was so close I could almost taste it. I didn't know why I was so intrigued by these women, only that I wanted to meet them. Maybe it was because I was wondering what it was like to be a rogue. Maybe it was because I was considering running away and becoming one. If they would accept me, could I leave this pack and travel with them? The idea lurked in the back of my mind. Freedom, I could almost smell it. If I got past the boundary line, Alpha Jaxon would have no authority to keep me here. I pushed a little harder, despite the pain in my chest and the shallow breathing. So close.
Something hits me, causing me to fall downwards, pinning my body to the ground as it lets out a ferocious growl. A large black wolf rests atop of me, his lips curled back in anger, it's eyes so black they are like obsidian. I swallow hard. It's expression is fierce. It continues to keep me from moving as I stare up at it, it's paws so large they are twice as big as my hands. I know instinctively it has to be him. It has to be Jaxon. How long has he been following behind me? How long has he known that I was trying to reach the boundary line?
He snarls again and I wince from the sound. He sniffs me as I tense. His snout lowers to my shoulder and he licks it as I stiffen. Another lowly growl and then he gets off of me, backing away slowly. I slowly sit upright, my head aching. He had really knocked me hard. He growled and I looked at him terrified. He suddenly shifts and I can hear the bones cracking and adjusting as I close my eyes. I jump when I feel his hands on my shoulders.
"What on earth were you thinking?" he roared as I opened my eyes and stared dumbly at him "do you have any idea how dangerous it is to get so close to the border?"
That was the idea, I wanted to shout. His grip was painful, his fingers digging into my flesh. There was a mad look on his face. "You're driving me insane" he shouted as I stared at him blankly "every time I turn around I'm either having to save you or you're injured. You're supposed to be keeping a distance and instead, I'm forced to be close to you to make sure you don't do anything rash or stupid" he roared sounding frustrated.
I wasn't making him do anything I thought dazed. If he was following me or keeping tabs that was entirely his decision. I refused to be apologetic about my actions, flattening my lips and glaring hard at him.
I wish I had something to scribble down what I thought about him. He scowls at me and then lets go. I feel instant relief from the grip his fingers had on me.
"Where were you going?" he demanded shrewdly, his eyes narrowing "Were you just hoping to get past the boundary or..." he trailed off as realization dawned "You were trying to get to the rogues. Are you insane" he thundered "rogues are dangerous, regardless if they are women. They would have killed you instantly. Where is your brain," he said crudely "are you stupid or just naive?"
How I wanted to be able to retort or shout back at him. I stood up and dusted myself off while he continued to glower. I looked down at myself and saw that I was covered in various scrapes and cuts. No wonder my body was hurting. He growled at me "Get back to the pack house, now" he said impatiently.
I refused. I stood there defiantly. My hair flowed slightly around my body as the wind began to pick up. He got even angrier. "Get back to the pack house now," he said between gritted teeth.
I folded my arms across my chest. I was provoking him, I knew that. But I was tired of being bossed around. Tired of being made to feel like less than what I was. If he wanted me to go then he could use his Alpha tone. Nothing else was going to get me to move from this spot. The look on his face told me he had realized it too.
"For god's sake must you be so stubborn" he shouted as I raised a brow "What is it with you and defying my authority?" he hissed, coming closer "What is it with those eyes of yours that remind me of a brilliant blue pool?" he continued making me frown "and that hair of yours that's like a bright sapphire? Do you have any notion of how beautiful you are" he groaned, causing me to look at him taken aback.
He thought I was beautiful? Despite myself, my chest tightened. His words were strangely poetic. Desriptive. But he sounded resentful about it as though he'd said the words against his will. His eyes narrowed "Your lips are so luscious and captivating" he groaned.
They were? My mouth parted as he moved even more. I tried not to blush at the fact that he was completely naked, my eyes focussing solely on his face. His hand shot out and I flinched, only to relax as it cupped my face. His eyes were piercing.
"Just one taste" he whispered, his voice dripping with longing "just one taste. What can it hurt?" he continued, although it didn't sound like a question.
My mouth opened involuntarily and that's when he made his move, his hand moving to grip the back of my neck firmly, his head bending down and his lips pressing firmly to mine, causing my body to instantly heat up and the tingles to go from gentle to what felt like an explosion of sparks flying throughout my whole body. Time stood still and it was like there was only two of us in that moment, a moment that I never wanted to end.