The Rogue King's Mate

KELLY The torches along the corridor burned low, the smoke curling through the air like whispers of judgment.I could still taste the bitter tang of betrayal in my mouth, as if Ezekiel’s words had poisoned me more thoroughly than any assassin’s blade ever could.“You really have no remorse, do you? I've bled for you. I’ve defended your name before the Elders when they said you’d never be fit to lead.” I said.He didn’t even look away. “Your years as Luna have been payment enough. You’ve lived in comfort. You’ve eaten from the Alpha’s table. What more do you want?”The words struck harder than his palm ever could, if only I had not married him, if only I had met his brother, Kayden that night.I wanted my mate back, my family, the man I thought I knew, but that man had long since turned to ash.Eve came out from the other room behind him, arms folded, her silk robe brushing the floor. The same robe embroidered with my pack’s crest, mine.She smiled that practiced smile of hers, the o

KELLYThe council hall smelled of ash and incense, a cruel perfume for judgment.I stood in the center, wrists bound by silver thread, while my husband and my sister performed their twisted theatre of righteousness. Ever since I collapsed, Nevaeh has been taken away from my side.I didn't even know if she was still alive.Ezekiel’s face was carved from stone. Eve stood just behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder like a poisonous crown. Her lips trembled in a show of fragility that only made my stomach turn.“Kelly,” Ezekiel said, voice low but sharp enough to draw blood. “You’ve brought shame to my name and to this pack.”I almost laughed. Shame? The word tasted foreign in my mouth. I’d lived my whole life trying to cleanse him.“What are you talking about?” My voice cracked, the sound echoing off the cold marble walls. “My daughter is dying, Ezekiel. That’s what we should be talking about.”Eve stepped forward before he could answer, holding a bundle of papers tied with red st

KAYDENThe forest whispered secrets in my ear, the wind rustling through the leaves like a chorus of hushed voices. I moved swiftly, my feet silent on the damp earth, as I tracked the scent of blood, Kelly's blood. My heart was a heavy stone in my chest, weighed down by the burden of my past and the power that now coursed through my veins like a living storm.I'd waited years for this moment, planned and schemed, gathering my strength and my allies. The power I'd once feared, the magic that had terrified me as a child, now flowed through me with a force that was both exhilarating and terrifying. I'd learned to harness it, to bend it to my will, but the cost had been high.As I pushed through the underbrush, I caught sight of Kelly, lying on the forest floor, her body weak and broken. My heart stuttered, my breath catching in my throat. I'd seen her like this before, battered and bruised, but this time was different. This time, I was here to set her free.I approached her slowly,

KAYDENThe sun bled out behind the trees, turning the sky a deep, angry red. leaned against the cabin wall, watching the light die and wondering how many times I’d done this, watched a day end, half expecting it to be my last.Every shadow in the forest looked like a threat. Maybe it was paranoia. Or maybe it was instinct refusing to let me rest. I’d lived in hiding for years, but this time, the silence felt different. Heavier.Because now, I wasn’t alone. Her scent still clung to the air, smoke, rain, and something I could never shake, no matter how far I ran. Kelly. Just thinking her name made my chest tighten. I’d told myself I buried that part of me. Clearly, I lied.“Still standing guard like a statue?”Rune’s voice came from behind me, calm as ever. The kid had a way of showing up when I least wanted company.I didn’t turn. “If you’re here to nag, you can save your breath.”He stepped closer, arms folded, eyes flicking toward the treeline. “I’d save it if you ever actually l

KELLYThat night, sleep didn’t come. The fire had burned down to a slow, steady glow, just enough light to paint the walls in amber and shadow. I sat near it, my knees pulled close, pretending the heat was enough to keep the cold away.Kayden sat across from me, sharpening his blade like the night wasn’t pressing in from all sides. The rhythmic scrape of steel on stone filled the silence. It was maddening. Comforting. Both.I kept watching him. Couldn’t help it.The years had changed him, more scars, more stillness. His hair was longer now, darkened by time and dirt, and his shoulders carried the kind of weight you don’t just put down. But his eyes… his eyes were exactly the same. Steady. Careful. Haunted.“I can feel you staring,” he said finally, voice low, not looking up.I blinked. “You could at least pretend you’re not so sure of yourself.”He smirked faintly. “I stopped pretending a long time ago.”“Clearly.” I hesitated, tracing the edge of the blanket around Nevaeh. She was