Chapter 7: “Never touch what is mine.”

Lyra POV

I was exhausted.

My feet ached from walking for miles, and I needed a break. But I would rather let my legs break than utter a word to the Rogue King.

I could feel his gaze on me, burning through the back of my head. He was a short distance behind, but I refused to look back.

Suddenly, my knees gave out, and I fell to the floor with a loud cry. There was a small pause among the rogues as everyone stopped for a moment.

I grunted softly, nursing the pain in my leg.

“You need rest.” I suddenly heard the Rogue King say beside me.

I shook my head. “I'm fine.”

He didn't listen.

“Let's take a rest!” He called out, and his army of rogue wolves halted. He turned to me and pointed to a tree stump by the side. “Sit.”

It was more of a command than a request.

Despite the tickle of irritation that crawled in me at his action, I found myself moving toward the stump and sat down.

A soft sigh left my lips, and my shoulders slumped from relief.

We've been traveling for quite a distance. I looked around. Maybe because they were all warriors, they seemed fine, not tired.

The Rogue King left my side and went back to stand with the others. For a moment, our eyes met, and I shivered.

Suddenly, memories of what had happened in the Moonveil pack rushed through me again.

He frightened me.

This man, this demon Rogue.

He was everything I should run away from, yet I had willingly given myself up to him just to save a man that couldn't care less if I died.

What was I thinking when I threw myself in front of him? What if he didn't stop? He could have killed me too for interfering with his fight.

I felt my chest squeeze just thinking about my father.

I turned my face away, hiding my tears from everyone.

A part of me felt angry that I didn't let the rogues destroy the MoonVeil pack, especially when my father didn't even bat an eye when their king asked for my life in exchange for his.

I had always known my father never loved me, but nothing prepared me for how insignificant he saw me.

Things are different now.

I left it behind.

The hate and pain that once brewed in me towards Alpha Cedric and the pack members, I left it all behind the moment I took their king’s hand.

In a way the Rogue King has done justice to my pain. The MoonVeil pack has suffered a loss that they will not be able to recover from in a long time.

I saw the rage that the Rogue King had in him, and I knew that if I hadn't intervened in time, he would have killed Alpha Cedric, and his men would have razed the pack to the ground.

“Let’s keep moving.” I heard the him bark out a command again.

The rogues were up in a second, and I joined. My legs felt better.

The rest of the journey to our destination was short.

Soon, we arrived at the rogue territory. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I was surprised to see that it was more organized than I imagined it would be.

Before I knew what was happening, a woman held me by my arm and led me through the pack until we got to an open shed.

She shoved me inside, and I  stumbled slightly, catching my balance before I looked back and glared at her.

She rolled her eyes at me, her expression bitter and cold.

I looked around and scrunched my nose in distaste. The place smelled of herbs and potions. She walked to a clustered table full of herbs and books and picked up a small bottle.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Mira.” She said simply. She walked back to me and handed me the bottle. “Drink it.” She said, referring to the liquid in it.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Something to ease your pain.” She said, nodding towards my leg. “The King saw you limping and asked me to take care of it.”

I frowned. “You are not a wolf.”

Mira rolled her eyes at me. It was obvious she had no affection towards me.

“I'm a healer. Not a wolf. And you are here only because of the king's favor.” She bit out, her cold eyes boring into me.

I took the bottle from her hand. A rogue healer?

Mira sighed and moved away, muttering her next words, but I heard them. “The king has been acting strange since he met you. It would have been better if he killed you along with every member of that pack.”

Before I could say a word, a rogue wolf entered. He looked at me with a low growl.

“Follow me,” he said.

I was tired and needed a break, so I didn't answer immediately. The wolf was by my side in a minute; he grabbed me by the arm and pushed me forward.

Outraged, I felt something snap in me, and I threw myself at him, trying to attack. But he was quick and held me by my neck, choking me. I grew weak against him as he threw a punch at my face, letting me fall to the floor.

I tasted blood running down my nose. Unable to move, the Rogue took my hand and pulled me out, my body dragging against the hard ground until we got outside. There was a small crowd gathered.

“This prisoner dared to attack me.” The rogue said. “She would be punished just like how every other prisoner who acted out of place was punished.”

There was a small cheer in the crowd.

The Wolf picked me up and pulled my hair backward, baring my face to his.

“You are dead.” He said, smiling.

He raised his hand to hit me, and I closed my eyes, anticipating the pain, when a loud roar tore through the air.

Next thing I knew, I was released from the wolf's grasp. I looked up to see the Rogue King sinking his claws into the rogue wolf that had attacked me as he growled.

“Never touch what is mine.”