The Rogue King's Mate

KELLYThe smell of frosting and balloons filled the kitchen, all pinks and sparkles for Nevaeh’s fourth birthday.She twirled in her socks, hair full of glitter and questions.“Mommy, is Daddy coming soon?”I kept my smile steady, though my hands were trembling over the knife I used to trim the cake.“Of course he is,” I lied lightly. “He wouldn’t miss your big day.”She grinned, trusting, and ran off to check on her new dress again. I wished I had her certainty.Ezekiel had been… elsewhere lately. Not gone, just gone from me. Calls unanswered. Eyes glazed when I spoke. Even his scent felt distant, like smoke thinning in cold air.I told myself not to ruin today. Not her day.But when the clock struck an hour past his promised arrival and the pack members that were invited for the party began whispering among themselves, something in me cracked.I told the beta to stall the guests and made my way to the Alpha’s office, which was a few buildings away from the pack house.The door wa

KELLYThe room had grown colder, though Nevaeh burned like a star in my arms.Her breath came in shallow gasps, her skin slick with sweat. I pressed a damp cloth to her forehead, but it was useless. The fever wasn’t ordinary. It pulsed beneath her skin like something alive.“Stay with me, baby,” I whispered, brushing her hair from her face. “Please.”Her little hand clutched at my wrist, too weak to hold on.I called for help, once, twice, until my throat went raw. My voice bounced off the stone walls and died in the dark.No answer. “Call me a healer….” I screamed at the top of my voice.When footsteps finally came, I almost wept. A guard appeared in the doorway, avoiding my eyes.“The healers can’t come, Luna,” he muttered. “Lady Eve has taken ill. They’re attending to her.”I froze. “Ill?” I hissed. “She’s pretending!”He didn’t meet my gaze. “Alpha’s orders.”The door shut again, and the silence that followed was unbearable.My sister’s deceit, Ezekiel’s cruelty, none of it mat

KELLY I didn’t think much about that, cutting my hands off. What I was worried about at the moment wasn’t really about my leg but Kayden, who was still in my cell. I knew that would cause a lot of trouble. I doubted Ezekiel knew that his brother was already out of the cell and seeing us together would confirm Eve’s lies against me. “Hide!” I said with a low voice. That was the only thing I could think of. I needed him to hide. Luckily, the room was dark enough for Ezekiel not to find Kayden if he hid properly. And it seemed the moon goddess was with me. Ezekiel's guards were taking time to get him his knife, giving Kayden enough time to scamper around the musty cell to find the best place to hide. “I told you, moron, to give me my knife!” Ezekiel shrieked outside the door. I looked at Kayden, who was finding it hard to find a proper place to hide. “This is it, Alpha.” Ezekiel’s guards passed him his knife, and I shivered. Ezekiel was really going to chop off my hand? My h

KELLY Hearing Ezekiel's voice gave me courage and determination. If he doesn't want me again, someone else wants me: My daughter needs me alive and for her, I should be. I grabbed Kayden's hand and squeezed it hard, like I was granting him his wish, giving me permission to take me away from here. He in return, gave me the most beautiful smile, one I never knew I missed. The heavy footsteps of Ezekiel made me unsettled. What if he catches us here? This would be deadly, for Kayden especially. “Let's go.” He breathed down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. I nodded in response and he covered my eyes with his palm. Whatever means he's going to use in getting us out of here involves something I'd probably not like to see. Kayden lifted me from the ground, like I weighed nothing and I placed my head on his chest, like it wasn't a big deal. When I was younger, it was my wish to be seen, known, not by everyone but by someone and now, maybe it's too late to grant that wish but m

KELLY “Oh, she's still sleeping.” Mummy Gold’s voice slipped into my dream. My mind was awake already and I could hear the conversation going on between Mummy Gold and Abby. “Yeah. She slept pretty late.” Abby agreed with what Mummy had said. I couldn't go back to sleep, I was already awake and trying to sleep now was futile. Besides, my daughter. My Daughter! It dawned on me that if a list of unworthy mother's came out today, I definitely would be at the top of the list as I seemed to have neglected my daughter. I stood up, unsure of the direction to move as my legs were still wobbly, tired from sleeping if that made any sense. I glanced at the wall clock and I couldn't even be surprised at the time. Thirty minutes past six? In the evening? Wow. That's the end of the day, the time when people retire home, tired from the day's activities and here I am, tired also, from sleeping. My lazy feet carried me to the door and I opened it reluctantly or maybe a part of me was excited