CHAPTER 10

Kiara's POV

Time seemed to come to a standstill, as I stood rooted in my spot. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't bring myself to move, and I told myself that it had everything to do with the fact that I was scared and anxious, and was nowhere near related to the burly man behind me.

My back was still pressed against his front, and alongside his abs making a dent into my back, I felt something else poking at me.

I shuddered.

I didn't want to think too much about it, if it was real or just my mind playing games with me. If there was something I was sure was more real than I would like to admit, it was the goosebump that trailed my skin, and how the spot where our bodies touched singed with a dangerous kind of fire.

His hands were by my sides, and for a moment, I wondered what it would feel like if he were to inch closer with his fingers and…..

“What the hell do you think you're doing, rogue?” Darius' voice washed over me and I shivered. I parted my lips to speak, but my brain seemed to have shut down, and at the worst time too.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, fate just had to set me up for more surprises.

One minute I was racking my brain for a means to get out of this compromising situation, and the next, Darius had let go of me, completely, but not for long though.

His hand barely brushed my wrist, before he backed me up into the nearest wall behind me. I collided against it with a soft thud, but that was the least of my worries.

Darius stepped closer, closer than I would like as he spoke up again.

“I guess you must have missed the question the last time.” He voice was groggy, but still commanded every inch of authority he could find. “So I'm going to ask you again, what the hell do you think you're doing here?”

I pressed my lips into a thin line. What was I going to tell him? That I'd been restless and decided to snoop around? That I felt the door calling out to me and I only wanted to know what was in it? That I….

“Answer me!” He slammed his palm against the wall, just close to the side of my head. I gasped, but it was nothing compared to the crack that had formed in the wall.

“I got lost.” My voice was nothing short of a whisper, but I didn't mind. Even though the words had slipped through my mouth, I didn't believe them one bit. “I was only trying to find my way back to the room.”

Darius didn't move, he didn't breathe even. He just stared at me, his glowing eyes taking in every bit of me he could find. It felt as though the more he stared at me, the more he was trying to unravel my secrets.

While he figured out if I was saying the truth or not, I took that as an opportunity to really take him in. His shirt was loose, and his hair tussled about like he'd just gotten out of bed. His sweats hung loosely around his waist, and for a moment, I found myself imagining the secrets that piece of clothing held.

Stop it, Kiara. Get a grip on yourself.

“Don't come here again.” He let out slowly, his voice pulling me back to the present. “Do you understand?”

“Why?” I blurted out before I could get a hold of myself. I knew I was treading on dangerous waters, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. “Why shouldn't I come here anymore?”

I knew I was questioning the Alpha, and in a pack like Darius', I wouldn't be surprised if the punishment that came with it, was an instant execution. If that was the case though, then I really didn't mind. I was already scheduled to die in the next couple of hours.

“Because you are a rogue.” His jaw was rigid. “And rogues don't wander around my pack house, like they own the place.”

“But it called out to me.” More words slid past my lips, and for a quick second, I could swear I saw surprise flash in his eyes. “it really did. That's the only reason why I'm here in the first place. I just want to know what's behind it….”

“No.” His voice was sharp and firm. “Its none of your business. And if you want to live, you'd better forget about coming here.”

I locked eyes with Darius again, and for what seemed like forever, but he pulled away in an instant. He took a step back, and without so much as another glance in my direction, he stalked in the other direction.

I watched him take every step farther away from me, and before I could second guess myself, I latched onto his arm.

He halted in his tracks, and I slammed into his back with so much force, it shocked me how I wasn't sprawled on the floor.

I had no idea why I'd done that, but it was too late at this point.

“Please.” I begged, my hand still latched onto his arm. “Just tell me what's …”

“How dare you?” His voice was low, but dripped with a searing rage I hadn't felt before. “How dare you lay your filthy hands on me?”

“Please, I'm sorry.” I pulled away, like his skin burned me. “I didn't mean to…”

“Guards!” His voice boomed all around me, and in the blink of an eye, two hefty men rushed at me. “Seize her!”

“Please.” Pain flared up my sides as the guards grabbed me. They were rough and no matter how hard I trashed against them, they did nothing to budge. “please have mercy. I was only trying to…”

“Lock her up in the dungeons with the other rogues.” I paled at the Alpha's words. “Let them teach her a lesson or two about etiquette and respect.”

“No, no.” I shook my head furiously. “No, don't…”

The rest of my words blurred into nothing as a loud clap came against the back of my head. My vision slurred, and the last thing I saw was Darius' stalking away again, before the darkness swallowed me whole.