CHAPTER THREE

JESSICA’S POV

RESUE BY ROGUES

The rogue alpha’s words cut the night sharp—low, deadly, no bullshit.

“Let. The girl. Go.”

Thorne’s half-shifted body locked up. Claws flexed out, amber eyes slitting to knives. His scent thickened the air—dark pine, fresh blood, pure rage—making my tongue taste metal, bitter and sharp.

“Who the hell are you?” Thorne snarled, voice rumbling low through the grass like a threat. “This is Blackthorn land. You’re dead for stepping here.”

The scarred black wolf—Kai—didn’t budge. Silver eyes flicked my way for one heartbeat that hit like a punch, then locked back on Thorne. No heat. No nothing. Just cold, calculating steel.

“Doesn’t matter who,” Kai said, flat and hard. “You’re done laying hands on her.”

The words slammed into me. Something inside ripped open—electric, raw. The mate pull. It roared hot through my veins, yanking me straight at him like invisible chains. My wolf surged up, howling in my chest. Him. Mate. Ours.

Heat hit low and hard—traitorous, pooling between my legs. Thighs clenched tight, breath catching short and needy. Skin flushed under the ripped gown, nipples peaking against silk, aching with every shift. Blood pulsed south, thighs getting slick, shameful. The pull screamed: Drop now. Bare throat. Beg his mark, his grip on hips, mouth on skin, filling me till I break.

But he didn’t look back. Gaze stayed on Thorne, like I was grass underfoot.

Rejection sliced deep—silent, brutal. Chest caved. Heat twisted ugly, shame burning like fire on skin.

He feels it. Bond’s screaming in him too. Why ignore me? Act like I’m worthless? Like my body’s betrayal means zero?

Pain cut through the want, humiliating. Wolf whimpered, confused, heartbroken, scratching at my insides, begging notice.

Thorne barked a laugh—harsh, blood bubbling from his side in thick streams. “Think you can just take my property? She’s my Luna. Bond’s done.”

“Bond ain’t sealed till she wants it,” the rogue next to Kai shot back, voice smooth with a teasing edge, playful even in this shitstorm. He shifted fluid—lean wolf to man with messy brown hair, green eyes sparkling mischief, crooked grin out of place here. Ryder.

He winked at me quick—flirty, bold—body still coiled for blood.

The third rogue—big, dark-haired, silent type—shifted last. Jax. Gray eyes stormed on me, fierce protectiveness that prickled my skin. No words. Just stepped up, muscles bunching, planting between me and Thorne’s guards like a wall.

Thorne’s pack growled deeper, circling in. Fur up on spines. Claws raked dirt, stones flying.

“Take them down,” Thorne spat, venom dripping.

Hell broke loose.

First guard leaped at Kai. Kai met him airborne—claws flashing silver, teeth bared. Crashed in fur and fury tangle, rolling grass. Blood sprayed hot. Yelp cut short—Kai’s claws ripped flank deep, flesh tearing wide.

Ryder laughed wild, reckless—tackled next guard straight. “Come on, big guy, dance time!”

Twisted under claws swinging, knee drove ribs—crack sickening. Bone caved. Guard dropped howling, rolling off.

Jax charged two at once—no pause. Paws slammed earth like thunder, jaws locked one throat—pinning, not killing. Other wolf backed fast, tail low, whining submit.

Thorne went full wolf—huge black beast, size and speed terrifying. Barreled Kai like freight train.

I scrambled up—ankle screaming fire—but pull glued me. Kai’s every move sent heat spikes—muscles ripping under fur, blood streaking shoulder red, power slamming off him. Core throbbed needy, thighs slicker. Hated it. Hated wanting while he blanked me.

Kai dodged Thorne’s lunge last second. Slammed together—alpha on alpha. Claws gouged deep. Teeth snapped air. Thorne’s jaws clamped shoulder—Kai snarled, claws gutting side brutal.

Blood soaked grass black under moon.

More guards piled in—Thorne’s pack regrouping, snarls echoing. One circled Ryder—claws raked air near his back. Ryder spun, elbowed jaw—crunch. Guard staggered, but another jumped in, tackling him down. Fists flew, fur and skin mixing in blur.

Jax held his ground—two pinned, but third wolf flanked him, jaws aiming neck. He twisted, paw swiped—sent attacker flying with yelp, ribs exposed bloody.

Ryder slid beside me suddenly, breathless, grinning despite the fresh gash across his cheek.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he murmured, voice low and flirty, edged with adrenaline. “You okay? That dress is barely hanging on—tearing in all the right places. Maybe save the full reveal for when we’re alone, yeah? I’d hate to miss it.”

I blinked, stunned, cheeks burning hotter than the heat pooling between my legs. “Who—who are you people?”

“Rescue squad,” he said, winking again, casual as if we weren’t surrounded by blood and growls. “Name’s Ryder. The grumpy one over there is Kai. Silent scary one’s Jax. We’ve been watching Thorne’s pack for a while. Didn’t expect to find a runaway bride tonight.”

Watching? Why? The question burned, but the pull drowned it.

Before I could ask, Jax was there—blood on his muzzle, shifting back. Towering. Voice rough, low. “We need to move. Now.”

Thorne threw Kai off—both shifting partial, circling slow. Kai’s shoulder poured red, but eyes stayed ice. Thorne panted, side gashed open, guts barely in. “She’s mine, rogue scum. Council’ll hunt you to dust.”

Kai’s lip curled. “Try keeping her first.”

They clashed again—claws meeting, bodies slamming earth. Ground shook. Blood flew in arcs.

Kai threw Thorne off with a brutal twist. Thorne hit the ground hard, shifting back to human, clutching his side, blood pouring between fingers.

“You’ll regret this,” Thorne spat, voice ragged with pain. “She’s mine.”

I backed up—ankle throbbing, gown hanging rags—but guards noticed. One broke off, lunged my way. “Stay put, bitch.”

Rage boiled. No. Not again. Kicked out—boot hit knee, crunch. He howled, dropped. Another grabbed arm—yanked hard.

“Get off!” Voice raw, furious.

He snarled, backhanded—cheek exploded pain. Tasted blood. World spun.

Ryder broke free his fight—saw, charged. I tackled the guard off me. “Hands off, asshole!”

They rolled punches landing wet. Ryder pinned, knee ground groin guard gasped, curled.

Jax finished his—wolves down whimpering turned, eyes storming my way. Stepped closer, shield again.

Kai pinned Thorne finally—claws at throat, knee chest. “Yield.”

Thorne spat blood. “Never. She’s bound. And my scouts are already closing in. Run all you want—you’re dead by dawn.”

“Not anymore,” Kai growled.

Thorne spat blood, grinning through red teeth. Kai’s lip curled. “We’ll see.”

He turned—finally—silver eyes locking on mine.

The pull slammed one last time, relentless. Heat surged, thighs slick, breath ragged. I wanted him—hands, mouth, mark. Wolf begged.

But his face stayed cold. Distant. No heat. No recognition.

Rejection crushed everything. Tears burned, but rage won. “Why?” I rasped, voice hoarse, nails digging into Ryder’s arm for balance. “Why save me if you hate me this much?”

He tensed. Jaw ticked. No answer.

Just scooped me up—firm, careful hold despite the blood on his shoulder. Scent wrapped me: wild forest, storm, raw power.

“Move,” he growled at the others. “Hideout. Now.”

Ryder grinned through his gash. “Bossy as ever. I like it.”

Jax shifted back fully, scanning trees. Distant howls answered Thorne’s threat—reinforcements coming fast.

We ran into shadows. Pack howls faded behind us.

But the pull burned unanswered. And something in Kai’s grip felt like he was holding on too tight—like he hated that he cared.