#9 The Lonely Rogue

Caspian

I heard the guard wolves shift behind me, Cole at my flank as we plowed through the streets and into the woods. I made it to Cypress’ gate in record time. They didn’t pause at my presence, immediately opening the gate and ushering us inside. We ran up to the packhouse and I shifted, so did Cole, but the others remained in their wolf form. The Gamma, Shaw, was already at the front door with spare clothing.

“Prince Malcolm told us that you might be coming.” Gamma Shaw said, “Your Luna is here.”

“Where is she? Is she okay?” I didn’t stop at the front door, barging inside and searching the entryway.

“She’s fine, sir, she’s in the cells with Alpha Avery, Beta Conrad, and Prince Malcolm questioning the prisoners.” Gamma Shaw said.

I marched towards Avery’s office, knowing that the entrance to the basement was there. I reached the door and yanked it open just in time to be plowed into by a small, intoxicating smelling creature. I grabbed her arms and steadied her, pulling her away so I could inspect her for injuries.

“Caspian.” Junie gasped, looking rattled.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine….I’m fine.” She stuttered, breathless.

“You’re not fine, what’s wrong?” I refused to let her go.

“I found out how Cohen is related to the rogues here and my family. I know everything. It all started with my grandfather, Caspian. He and Cohen were friends, they made a blood oath.” The words came spilling out of her mouth, making me dizzy.

How was it possible? My second chance mate’s grandfather and the man who murdered my first mate, were friends? What sort of irony was that? How cruel is the Moon Goddess?

“Shh, Junie, it’s all going to be okay.” I pushed my feelings aside and soothed my mate, pulling her into my chest. She was shaking as she sobbed, gripping my shirt in her small fists.

Alpha Avery, Malcolm, and Beta Conrad appeared in the office then, watching us. Malcolm spoke first,

“You’re mate is full of fire, Caspian. She got information out of them that we couldn’t.” There was no mistaking the pride in his voice.

“You should have mindlinked me the second she showed up here.” I glared at him.

Junie pulled away from me, sniffing, and detangled herself from my arms.

“Malcolm did me a favor.” She grumbled.

“Junie, you shouldn’t have left your guard.” I sighed.

“You were suffocating me, Caspian!” She was shouting now. Alpha Avery and Beta Conrad looked embarrassed, and Malcolm looked smug.

“Maybe we should go.” Alpha Avery said, inching towards the door. I ignored him and they both took my silence as permission to leave. Malcolm stayed for the show.

“You could have come here with them!” I replied furiously.

“No, they would have stopped me; they would have told you and you would have stopped me.” She said and I couldn’t argue.

“You know it’s the truth, Caspian. She was safe here and she was in control.” Malcolm spoke up.

“Stay out of this, Malcolm.” I snarled, not looking away from Junie.

“I won’t watch you lose another bond, Caspian. I know what happened to Sabrina is traumatizing, but you can’t keep Junie prisoner as a result.” Malcolm said, finally forcing my gaze towards him.

“How dare you?” I started to move around Junie and towards Malcolm.

“He’s right, Caspian.” Junie said in a small voice. I paused and looked down at her with wide eyes, “I’m not Sabrina.” She added sternly.

“Junie, I know that.” I said, flinching at her words.

“I don’t think that you do.” She argued gently, “I ran from my guards because I didn’t trust you to trust me. I would have taken them with me if you would have given me some room to breathe.” She confesses.

“I….” I didn’t know what to say.

I flashed back to our conversation earlier today, when she offered to take guards with her to the human realm and that wasn’t enough for me, still, I pushed for more; pushing her right over the edge.

“You have to trust me, Caspian.” Her eyes were so gentle and soft, her expression lighter than it was before. She laid her hand on my arm lightly before walking out of the room.

“You can’t lose that girl, Cas.” Malcolm said,

“I know I can’t, it’ll kill me.”

“There’s more ways to lose someone than what happened to Sabrina. This time, you’re going to push her away.” Malcolm kept digging.

“What am I supposed to do, Malcolm? Just let her go off unprotected?” I grumbled.

“She said so herself! She would take guards with her, not a small army or you, but a reasonable protection detail. She’s not against that which is normal for the protection of a Luna.” Malcolm said.

“Since when did you become her cheerleader?” I asked bitterly.

“Since she managed to run away from seven elite guard members, including a Gamma, just to come to a pack she hates to interagate a family she hates to get information for you.” He clapped me on the back and stared at me like I was an idiot.

“Well, when you put it like that….” I muttered and Malcolm started laughing,

“You don’t even realize how lucky you are, man.” He shook his head disapprovingly.

“Yes, I do. That’s why I’m so terrified to lose her.”

“Don’t hold on so tightly and you won’t. Go, take care of her.” He nodded towards the door.

“First, tell me what happened down there.”

Malcolm filled me in on all the information they obtained before Junie showed up and the extra details she managed to get out of them. Once I was debriefed, I hurried out of the office to find Junie. She was waiting for me in the front sitting room, engaged in conversation with Beta Conrad and Gamma Shaw.

“Man, I wish you grew up here. You would’ve been a blast.” Shaw grinned and I snarled, immediately crossing the room to grab Junie away from the famous horndogs of Cypress.

“Alpha King.” Shaw and Conrad stood quickly.

“Are you ready, Junie?” I asked, resisting the urge to yank her from the room without asking.

“I guess so.” She sighed, clearly not pleased with me.

She smiled and waved towards Shaw and Conrad before following me out of the room. Once we were outside the packhouse, the wolves surrounded her and started nipping at her ankles.

“I’m fine, guys.” She giggled. I whistled and pointed for the wolves to leave her alone.

“Wait for us at the gate.” I ordered and they all took off running. Everyone besides Cole.

“You wound me, Junie.” Cole frowned as he teased her, but his eyes revealed that he was truly hurt by her running away from him.

“It wasn’t personal, Cole.” Junie sighed.

“You can be pissed at Caspian seven days a week, 365 days a year, and still trust me.” Cole said, “I thought you knew that.”

Junie smiled and reached towards Cole, squeezing his hand.

“I know that and I’m sorry for betraying you. Next time I go rogue on the Alpha King, I’ll bring you with me, I promise.” Cole laughed and his face relaxed at Junie’s joke.

“You better.” He said before sulking away.

“Junie….” I pulled her attention towards me, “I’m so sorry for everything that I did. I never meant to make you feel smothered or suffocated. I’m just….scared.” I sighed, confessing my deepest feelings to her.

“I know you are, I understand. It’s a scary world and you’ve been through so much. I never asked to go out unguarded, Caspian.” She mumbled, her eyes turned down in sadness. I took her hands and pulled her closer to me,

“I know you didn’t. I should have agreed to that, I was wrong.” I said and she smiled slightly at that,

“Sorry, what was that?” She smirked and I laughed, shaking my head at her.

“I was wrong.” I repeated clearly.

“It’s okay, I still love you.” She shrugged casually and I knew that the worst of our argument was over. I leaned down and she gladly accepted my sweet kiss.

“Can I take you home, now?” I asked.

“Back to the bar, first, so I can see Vivian.” She said and I agreed, walking hand in hand towards the gate.

We all shifted and ran back towards the bar together. I mindlinked Jett to prepare some extra clothing for us when we arrived. It felt amazing to run, side by side, with Violet. It was the first time we had both let our wolves out to run together and it connected us in ways we weren’t before. Violet nipped at Jess’s ankles playfully as they ran, and Jess gave chase like a puppy going after its tail.