Northwood

Days passed as Adline grew accustomed to her early morning wake up calls by Frosty who would then take her to what was obviously the designated training area, a gym in the town near Kane’s home.

At first, people sneered at her and said rude things in passing, all of which Adline ignored, and Frosty growled at. It didn’t bother the young newcomer that everyone thought so little of her; she was classified as a rogue after all even if she was the Alpha’s supposed mate.

There were often whispers that Alpha Kane took pity on her for the loss of her pack, others whispered that she wasn’t pretty enough for someone like Kane and that he could do much better but every single time harsh words were ushered it was Frosty who jumped to Adline’s defence.

Adline rarely saw Kane and was constantly told that he was busy in meetings or sorting through pack business. The few times she was forced to eat dinner or lunch with him always seemed tense and awkward, like he would have liked to have been somewhere else instead of dying in her presence.

“So how’s things with you Adle?” Asked a very enthusiastic Frosty as she drove the pair once again to the gym near Kane’s home.

“Oh you know Frosty I just love being held against my will in a house that seems forever lonely by a man who is clearly incapable of showing any form of emotion and clearly not interested in getting to know me as a person or as a wolf, it’s just chipper!” Snapped a slightly irritated Adline from the front passenger’s seat.

Frosty let out a whistle of air as she looked briefly at her sad looking passenger, “wow he really not putting out is he?” Asked an absent minded driver.

“What do you mean put out? Does he usually put out?” Asked Adline still a little annoyed, at what? She didn’t know.

“Oh well you know, Victoria keeps hanging around him, you know who she is too. She’s the bitch that keeps making slutty comments about you but I think she’s just jealous that Kane cut her off right before he found you,” the words Frosty spoke suddenly piqued Adline’s interest in the matter, perhaps if she could get Kane and Victoria together he would let her leave. She knew it was a very long shot but there was no harm in trying......right?

As the pair pulled in to the gyms parking lot that was unusually larger than it should have been Adline quickly glimpsed the shadow of a person rushing through the doors, others milled around outside but before the girls climbed from the car the small crowd had quickly disbanded and entered the indiscriminate building.

“Wonder what that was about,” shrugged a barely curious Frosty and with a shrug. Adline soon climbed from the vehicle followed by Frosty who constantly seemed to need to talk, as though it were her oxygen.

Gathering their gears from the trunk the two quickly approached the doors and waited as the burly ‘door guard’ pulled it open with a crooked grin.

“What’s so funny beef cake?” Asked Frosty as she stood defiantly before him folding her arms.

The man just chuckled and shook his head, “she’s in trouble that one.”

Frosty turned to look at Adline somewhat horrified before rushing through the doors pulling a very worried Adline behind her.

“That must have been Kane,” muttered Frosty quickly. “No use in trying to hide you now he’d probably smell you on me,” Adline could see Frosty begin to stress about what was going on so she took the situation from her hands and shoved past her walking straight to the counter where two very smug ‘attendants’ stood waiting.

“You are in so much trouble little rogue I wouldn’t be surprised if we never see you again. Actually I’d be happy if we never saw you again.” Adline didn’t know what she had done to make Kane angry but she knew she would soon find out.

“Double the happiness if you never return,” muttered the second attendant. Both females were typical of what was found in Kane’s pack. Slim but athletic with dark hair and makeup. Why they needed to wear make up to the gym a constant benign thought in Adline’s mind.

Smiling wickedly Adline continued on her way. The pair behind the counter always stood as though the entire gym would fall down if they were not there. Part of the young rogue wished it would fall in to a crumbling mess then maybe she would have been able to leave.

“Believe me I would be happiest at not returning.” At her words the pair behind the desk looked at each other more than a little confused. Adline made no secret that she didn’t want to be there so it confused her more than a little that people still found it odd that she spoke the way she did.

Pushing her way through the security door and in to the gym past the façade that humans saw Adline soon found more eyes on her, Frosty at her side frowned. “Honestly it’s like were going to a damn funeral or something.”

All young Adline could do was smile and chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Came a smooth, calm voice from behind the pair. Both Adline and Frosty turned to see Kane standing there in his training gear.

A questioning look settled itself on to Frosty’s features. “Alpha.......I wasn’t expecting you to be training today.” Were the only words that came from her mouth. It was highly uncommon for the Alpha to train with anyone outside of his small Academy, no wonder why everyone thought Adline was in trouble.

“You?” Scoffed Adline quickly, “train? That’s laughable.” She amused herself with the thought as a darkness grew over Kane quickly. His eyes darkened and his head dropped. “I mean don’t get me wrong you look like you train but you also look too precious to get off of you’re arse and do anything about it.” Adline knew she was pushing her luck but she didn’t care, she wanted him to be rid of her, she wanted to be cast aside or cut loose. She didn’t want him and she didn’t need him. She needed the people she loved, the people that she cared for and that was it.

Much to her dismay her words barely caused him to flinch, instead, he smiled a wicked smile and shook his head lightly. “I know what you are trying to do little Adline and believe me it’ll take much more than that to get me mad.”

Not only did his words surprise Adline but they surprised everyone else around them as well. No one spoke to Kane like that and got away with it. Adline just wanted him to be rid of her but it seemed that was asking too much.

“I wouldn’t be so sure Alpha.” She replied sarcastically. She wanted him to lose his temper, she wanted him to do something that would mean he have a complete meltdown. She would do whatever it took to make that happen.

“Everyone out.” He ordered calmly. Frosty looked towards Adline but her eyes were completely and utterly focused on Kane, he in turn mirrored her exactly.

The silence between them grew as the half dozen people that were with them awkwardly left the room.

The intensity of his stare made her flinch unexpectedly.

Kane stood as still as he could just observing her carefully. Her jaw was tense and her eyes seemed apprehensive. She was guarded and stood with her feet squared as if she expected him to charge at her as soon as the room was empty.

He found himself admiring her slightly for her bravery, no one would dare speak to him the way she had but he would make her live to regret her words.

Kane found himself smirking as the corner of his lip curled up, “I do believe you are nervous Adline.” He muttered as he confidently took a step towards her. “I the words you speak and this false confidence that comes with it is a result of that nervousness, but it’s okay;” he smiled again and took another step towards her as she stepped back, “I’ll make sure you regret them.”

His words drifted through the air and Adline could see that he was serious, though he smirked there was something dancing in his eyes that she found difficult to comprehend and difficult to grasp. He almost looked manic but he seemed happy about it.

The emotions he was putting out made Adline snap instantly, she hated him and everything that he stood for. He was vile and cruel and he meaned to mock and belittle her. She would not stand for it.

In the moment she ran at him and pulled her fist in to a tight ball, “I hate you!” She screamed as she thrust her fist towards him. Her small balled fist connected with his cheek. She thought it was a good hit but she found that all he managed was a laugh.

“Well that wasn’t entirely convincing.” He mocked her easily which only made her angrier. Adline didn’t even see what he was doing as she tried and failed to hit him again.

“Shut up!” She screamed at him again.

“I can see why your pack failed to protect themselves.” His mocking had quickly turned in to cruel jibes as his words hit Adline like a tonne of bricks.

She felt the pit of her stomach fall away as the anger boiled over within her. How dare he!

“You arsehole!” She ran at him again but he tripped her and watched as she landed flat on her back. Her discomfort and anger brought joy to his heart. That’ll teach her for being a smart ass.

As she lay there staring up at her he bent a knee next to her which made Adline sink a little more in to the ground, she lay there wishing the Earth would open up and swallow her whole.

“I am going to say this once little Adline and you better listen good.” His words were ice cold and his demeanour completely changed. The laughter that had been dancing in his eyes turned to bitterness, the smirk completely disappeared and he seemed to puff out his shoulders to make himself look bigger. It all seemed more than a little intimidating to Adline who suddenly lost herself in fear. “You are here, you are mine and you aren’t going anywhere. You will not be setting foot in Carriere, you will not see Levaud and if you continue to pursue that path I won’t hesitate to remove the obstacles to make sure you don’t.”

As she lay there against the mat covered floor she noticed the little smile he left her with as he stood up straight and stared down at her. Adline lay as still as possible, in that moment a very dark thought crossed her mind. If she didn’t want to live there she didn’t have to but her only escape meant that she wouldn’t live at all.

And that thought alone scared her.