KADEN’S P.O.V

I had the best date planned for Amelia but I couldn’t get to it because of all the meetings I was being roped into. I loved being Alpha but sometimes it could be annoying and this was one of those times. The elders were fretting about a potential rogue attack due to my actions and I had to meet with the guards and patrol team in order to beef up securityin the case that the rogues chose to attack.


Last night, there was an attack on one of our neighboring packs and Caleb is concerned that it was a retaliation for our actions and we might be next. I wasn’t as concerned as he was because I was certain that they wouldn’t attack and even if they did, we had the manpower and the weapons to wipe them out. The pack they attacked was much smaller than ours and easier to overpower and still- they lost.

I was finishing up my meeting with the patrol border when Caleb ran up to me. He looked panicked and I knew that I would want to hear whatever he had to say so I dismissed the border patrol and turned to him. He didn’t say a word, he just grabbed my arm and began to pull me in the direction of the car. I didn’t know why but I knew better than to argue and just followed him.

As soon as we were in the car, he spoke. “I got a call from Amelia’ phone but it wasn’t her. It was na girl- Serena- and she said that she and Amy were attacked by rogues. Amelia told her to run and she did.”


I felt blood rush into my ears at the thought of my mate being in danger. “Step on thegas, now!”

Caleb did as I asked and floored it. I tapped my fingers anxiously against the door. It felt like he was going too slowlyand it took everything for me not to jump out of the car and shift but I didn’t know where we were going. I waited anxiously until Caleb stopped the car and I followed him out. He led me through the thick trees using the description he had gotten from Serena. I didn’t know who she was but I made a mental note to reward her in any way that I could.


We were weaving through the trees when I heard a scream. It was shrilly and high pitched and I knew without a doubt that it belonged to Amelia. I couldn’t stop my wolf fromtaking over and shifting. He ran towards the sound of his mate’s cries and I took a back seat for him. I could feel his bloodlust and anger rushing to the surface and I wanted to calm him down but that was until I took in the scene in front of me.

Amelia was pinned to the wall by a rogue with long matted dark hair and eyes that were so dark they were almost black. There was a gash on her forehead that was oozing blood and she had a bunch of bruises on her arms and face. The anger swallowed me whole and I didn’t even realize when I charged at them. It helped thatthey were not so organized. I ripped through bodies without a care in the world.

I noticed that the rogue who had Amelia pinned was trying to escape so I chased after him. He was fast andcunning with the way he weaved around the trees but I had grown up in these forests and I knew them much better than he ever would. I tooka shortcut so I would cut out in front of him and when I pounced on him, taking him to the ground, I saw his eyes widen in fear.

I growled in his face and relished in the pungent odor of fear that seeped fromhis skin. I was going to bathe in that smell over the next few days as I made him regret the moment he touched my mate inappropriately.

“I don’t want any trouble,” he began but I snarled in his face. “Look, we just came to figure out who killed our friends. It was not my fault that she was walking around at the same time. You have to admit, she is a hot piece of ass.”

I wanted to kill him and I would have if Caleb didn’t walk up to me and call my name. it took everything in me to not bring my paw down against his throatbut I knew that was what he wanted. He wanted an easy death but I was going to make sure he suffered. I reluctantly pulled myself off him long enough for Caleb to put him in handcuffs and lead him away. Caleb dropped some new clothes on the floor seeing as I had ripped the ones I was wearing.

“She’s in the car waiting for you.”

That was allmy wolf needed before he gave control up to me. I put the clothes on in a rush and all but ran to her. She was hugging herself close but as she saw me, she ran into my arms. Holding her felt like bliss and I pulled her impossibly tighter against me. Her shoulders began to shake as she sobbed and it felt like a part of my heart was being pulled out right from the center of my chest.

“It’s okay baby,” I whispered in her ears. “I’m here now. Tell me what happened. Did they hurt you?”

“We were going back from Serena’s parent’s restaurant. We went for lunch and decided to take a shortcut but they came up to us. I asked her to run and then I tried to run but they were faster. I tried to fight them, I swear I did but there were so many of them and they hit me. The main guy, he said he was going to have fun with me first. I was so scared.”

Her voice broke with each word and my heart clenched in pain. I couldn’t believe that she had gone through that. I hated that she had gone through that and I internally promised that man a fate worse than death.

“Kaden,” her voice was soft and I reluctantly pulled back from her to stare. “Why were they here in the first place? How did rogues get on your land? Were they looking for me?”

I felt guilty about what happened. If I hadn’t gone to kill them, they would never have come.It was even worse that she felt she was to blame.I couldn’t tell her that. I couldn’t tell her that I was the reason that she had been hurt so badly. Instead, I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead.

“We have been having a rogue problem,” it was part of the truth. “It got worse in recent days. We kept it from the pack so it wouldn’t inspire fear. It wasn’t because of you, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

She sniffled. “Please take me home.”

“Clara’s?” I asked but she shook her head.

“I want to be with you.”

I felt a rush of relief knowing that she wanted to be around me at this moment. I didn’t hesitate before getting into the driver’s seat and rushing home. When I saw my mother’s car in the parking lot, I muttered a small curse under my breath. I glanced at Amelia but her eyes were unfocused and I knew she hadn’t noticed the car yet.

I picked her up bridal style and walked her into the house. Mother saw us but thankfully, she knew better than to say anything. Amelia’s head was buried in my shoulder so shehadn’t noticed my mother and I planned to keep it that way. I took her to my room and the first thing I did was help her out of her clothes.

She had the scent of the rogues all over her and I wanted it off. I ran a warm bath for her and helped her in. She seemed to be in a permanent state of shock because she didn’t react as I washed her hair or lathered her body in my body wash. She was passive in my arms and it made me worry. She didn’t even flinch when I got her dressed in one of my shorts and an oversized shirt.

“Please say something,” I murmured but she remained quiet. “Amelia, please, I need to know that you’re okay.”

“I’m just tired,” she mumbled and althoughI knew it was more than that, I nodded.If space was what she wanted then I was going to give it to her.

“Let me get some ice for your bruise. The scratches should be healed by tonight although the bruise might last until tomorrow.”

“Okay.”She sounded so detached as she spoke and I had to force myself to leave her.

I had forgotten about my mother’s presence until I saw her in the living room pacing. She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come out. I ignored her as I took out a pack of peas.

“Is she okay?” mother asked finally and I turned to her. “Don’t look at me like that, Kaden, I saw the bruises on her skin.”

“I didn’t think you cared. You were against me being with her. I thought you would be happy.”

“I’m not a monster, Kaden. I would never want an innocent person hurt,” she dropped her voice to a whisper. “I just want what is best for you.”

“You mean like when you wiped my memories,” her mouth fellopen in shock. “Yes mother, I know about it and you will not say or do a thing to Dr. Brown because at least she was honest with me.”

“I was just trying to protect you.”

“Of course,” I began to leave but she stopped me.

“Don’t push me out like this, Kaden, I am your mother. Do you know how terrible it feels to hear about things from other people instead of you? Were you going to tell me about this?” I didn’t need to respond, the answer was no. “I just want to be a part of your life.”

I felt bad for hurting my mother but Amelia needed me more which meant I had to put an end to the conversation.

“We can talk about this later mother,” I made my way towards the stairs. “My mate needs me and I have some rogues to end. Please lock the door on your way out and I would appreciate it if you put your spare key on the table before you left.”

“You’re kicking me out?” she raised a brow.

“I am going to be living with my mate and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”