The rules

Asher’s jaw clenched. His breathing grew heavier. For a long moment, something dark and hungry flickered in his eyes, the mate bond clearly affecting him whether he wanted it or not.

Then, just as suddenly, his expression hardened again and anger replaced the momentary lapse.

He stepped inside the bathroom, not caring about the water spraying onto his clothes, and slammed the door shut behind him.

“I want to read you the rules of this pack quickly, rogue,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. His eyes stayed locked on mine, refusing to drift downward again.

“First rule: You do not speak unless spoken to. Second: You will obey every order given to you without question. Third: You will not attempt to escape. If you do, I will personally hunt you down and make you regret it.”

He took another step closer, the steam from the shower making the air thick between us.

“You are not my mate. You are a mistake. A trespasser. A prisoner. You exist in my house only because I allow it. You will stay in this room unless I say otherwise. You will eat what is given to you. You will keep yourself clean. And you will never forget that the only reason you are still breathing is because I haven’t decided how best to use you yet.”

His gaze burned into me, intense and conflicted.

“Understand?”

I swallowed hard, still painfully aware of my nakedness, my hands barely hiding anything as water continued to pour over me.

“Yes… Alpha,” I whispered hoarsely.

Asher stared at me for another long second, his fists clenched at his sides. Then he turned sharply and left the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

I slid down against the tiled wall, heart racing, cheeks burning with embarrassment and confusion.

The mate bond was real.

I stayed on the cold tile floor for what felt like an eternity, the water still streaming over me, growing lukewarm then cool. My skin pricked with goosebumps, but I couldn't move. My mind was racing too fast and my heart hammering too hard.

He saw me. Every part of my body and didn't even feel ashamed. It was so humiliating. I wasn't gay.

But the bond....

I shook my head violently, water droplets scattering from my wet hair. No. I couldn't think about that. I couldn't afford to but it was the terrifying truth.

The mate bond was real. I'd felt it the moment I was dragged into his presence, that undeniable pull in my chest, the way my wolf had whimpered and strained toward him despite everything. Despite knowing that he was a fellow man. Despite knowing that its the man that destroyed my entire pack and I ended up being a rogue.

I pushed myself up on shaky legs and turned off the water. The sudden silence was deafening. I stood there dripping, my eyes scanning the bathroom for anything useful. A towel hung on a rack near the door. I grabbed it, wrapping it around myself, but my mind was already working.

Escape.

I had to escape. There was no other option. Stay here, and I'd either be sexaully used as a gay, or worse, I'd be trapped in this pack, bound to a man who destroyed everything I loved.

I couldn't let that happen.

I stepped out of the bathroom, my bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor. The bedroom was empty now. The Beta was gone. Asher was gone. But I knew they'd be watching. They'd have guards outside the door, patrols around the perimeter. Escaping from the pack house itself would be nearly impossible, especially in my weakened state.

But I'd done impossible things before as a rogue.

I moved toward the window, my towel clutched tightly around me. The glass was cold against my fingers as I peered outside. Two stories up. A drop that would break my legs if I wasn't careful. But below, I could see the edge of the forest. Freedom. If I could just reach those trees...

My wolf stirred weakly, a faint pulse of approval. But he was still too tired, too broken to help me shift. I was on my own.

I turned away from the window and went on with drying myself. The towel was rough against my skin, but I didn't care. I just needed to get dressed, to find clothes, to figure out my next move before they locked the window or put more guards.

I had just bent to dry my legs when the door slammed open hard enough to bounce off the wall.

I quickly jerked upright, towel clutched low around my hips and heart slamming against my ribs.

It wasn’t the Beta.

It wasn’t Asher.

It was a woman.

She stood in the doorway, one hand still on the handle. She was young and beautiful with long cascading dark hair, sharp features, the same cold intensity I had seen in Asher’s face but softer somehow. She froze the second she saw me and her eyes went wide as she took me in, frozen mid-motion, the towel barely covering me as water still dripped from my hair.

"Oh my....." She clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "I didn't .... I didn't know you were drying yourself! The guards didn't say you were .... I thought you'd be still in the shower by now!", She added, voice caught between surprise and embarrassment.

“Clearly.” I stared at her, my jaw tight, my body still tense and ready to fight or flee. "Who are you?", I asked.

She blinked, recovering from her initial shock then straightened her shoulders.

“I’m Rhea. Asher’s sister. He sent me to bring you these.” She spoke as she stepped fully into the room, kicking the door shut behind her with one heel, and held up a folded stack of clothes.

I didn’t move. Didn’t take the clothes. I just stared at her, towel still clenched in one fist, water still running down the back of my neck.

“I didn’t ask for clothes,” I said flatly. “And I didn’t ask for a personal delivery.”

Rhea’s brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t leave. She set the clothes on the edge of the bed with a snort.

“You’re welcome to stay naked if you prefer. I’m sure my brother would love that.” Her tone stayed even, but there was a flicker of something cold underneath. “He said you needed something to wear. I’m just the messenger.”

“Then deliver the message and get out.” I snapped but she didn’t flinch. Instead she studied me for a moment longer, eyes flicking over the bruises on my ribs and the way I still held the towel like a shield.

“You’re the rogue he brought in,” she said. Not a question. “The one the bond attached itself to.” She added. I didn't bother replying her. I just turned my back on her and kept drying, movements rougher now.

“I don’t care what the bond did. I don’t care who you are. And I definitely don’t care what your brother wants. I'm a prisoner here, and once I figure out how, I'm leaving.” I spoke.

Silence stretched for a few seconds. Then I heard her quiet exhale.

"Of course you going to try. Every prisoner says that."

"I mean it." I hissed.

"I'm sure you do. But for now, you're stuck here. And you'll need clothes. Unless you plan on walking around like that." She spoke and I heard her turn to leave, I also turned.

She walked but then she paused at the door.  "The guards will be right outside. Don't try anything stupid. Asher might be an idiot sometimes, but he's a very good hunter. If you run, he'll find you." She added over her shoulder.

I didn't respond. I just watched her leave, my jaw tight until the door clicked shut behind her.