Chapter 2: The Rogue King's Claim

Tehila's POV

The world tilted on its axis. Every eye in the hall turned to me, but I could only stare at Zane Darius. The Rogue King. The monster parents told their pups about to make them behave.

"That's not possible," I whispered.

He moved closer, each step deliberate and predatory. The crowd scrambled back, giving him a wide berth. Even the strongest warriors in our pack looked nervous.

"Tehila Morrison," he said my name like he was tasting it. "Age twenty-two. Daughter of beta blood. Currently unmated, despite that interesting mark on your neck."

How did he know about me? My mind raced, but I couldn't form coherent thoughts.

Alpha Thorne moved between us, protective instinct overriding caution. "She's under my protection, Darius. Whatever business you think you have—"

"Is with her, not you." Zane's voice dropped to a growl. "Stand aside, Alpha."

The tension in the room ratcheted up another notch. This was how wars started.

"Wait," I said, finding my voice. "What do you want with me?"

Zane's eyes found mine again, and something electric passed between us. My wolf stirred in a way she never had before, not even with Dalton.

"Three months ago, your pack attacked a group of rogues on the eastern border," he said. "Killed them all. Or so you thought."

My blood ran cold. I remembered that night. The attack had been brutal, swift. We'd been told they were dangerous rogues threatening our territory.

"That has nothing to do with Tehila," Dalton suddenly spoke up, moving to stand beside me. His protective stance would have been touching if it wasn't so hypocritical.

Zane's gaze shifted to him, and Dalton actually took a step back. "Doesn't it? She was there that night. She saved one of them."

My heart stopped. The injured wolf I'd found hiding in the bushes. The one I'd secretly helped escape instead of alerting the patrol.

"You," I breathed. "That was you?"

"No." His smile was sharp. "But it was my brother. My younger brother who would have died if not for you."

"Tehila," Alpha Thorne's voice was dangerous. "Is this true? Did you help a rogue escape?"

Before I could answer, Jade laughed. "Of course she did. Tehila always was too soft, too weak."

"Helping an injured wolf isn't weakness," I shot back.

"It is when that wolf is our enemy," she retorted.

"Enough." Zane's command silenced everyone. The power rolling off him made even Alpha Thorne step back. "I've come to repay a debt. Tehila Morrison saved my brother's life. In return, I offer her sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?" I echoed.

"In my territory. Under my protection." His eyes held mine. "Unless you prefer to stay here, with a mate who chose another and a sister who smiles while you bleed."

The truth of his words hit hard. I looked around the hall – at the pack members who'd watched Dalton court Jade while knowing about our bond, at my parents standing in the corner, their faces carefully neutral. At Alpha Thorne, who looked more annoyed about the interruption than concerned about my pain.

"She's not going anywhere," Dalton growled, grabbing my arm.

The moment his skin touched mine, Zane moved. One second he was ten feet away, the next he had Dalton pinned against the wall, his hand around his throat.

"Touch her again without permission," Zane said softly, "and I'll remove that hand."

"Let him go," I said quickly. Despite everything, I didn't want Dalton hurt. "Please."

Zane looked at me for a long moment, then released Dalton, who gasped for air.

"Tehila," my mother finally spoke from the crowd. "You can't seriously be considering leaving with this... this monster."

"Monster?" I laughed bitterly. "The only monsters I see are the ones who knew about my mate bond and said nothing while he publicly courted my sister."

"We thought it was for the best," my father added. "Jade and Dalton make more sense. She's stronger, more suited to being a Beta's mate."

Each word was a nail in my coffin. My own parents had known. They'd all known.

"You all knew?" My voice cracked.

The guilty looks on faces throughout the hall were answer enough.

"We were trying to protect you," my mother said. "The bond would have only hurt you. Dalton had already chosen—"

"You don't get to decide that for me!" I screamed. "It was my bond! My choice!"

"And now it's your choice again," Zane interrupted. "Come with me, or stay. But choose quickly. My patience has limits."

I looked at Dalton one last time. "Reject me. If you have any decency left, reject the bond now and let me go."

He opened his mouth, but Jade grabbed his hand. "Don't. If you reject her, it'll make you look guilty. Like you actually did something wrong."

"He did do something wrong," I said flatly.

"He fell in love," Jade said, pressing herself against his side. "That's not a crime."

"No, but lying about it is."

"I never lied," Dalton finally spoke. "I just... I couldn't hurt you."

"So you hurt me worse instead."

"Tehila—"

"I'm done." I turned to Zane. "I'll come with you."

The hall exploded into chaos. Alpha Thorne roared for silence, my parents called my name, and Dalton... Dalton just stood there, Jade's hand in his.

"You can't leave," Alpha Thorne commanded. "You're a member of this pack."

"Actually," Zane pulled out a rolled document, "according to wolf law, any wolf who saves the life of another pack's member can claim sanctuary rights. It's an old law, but still binding."

Alpha Thorne snatched the document, his face darkening as he read.

"This is legitimate," he said through gritted teeth.

"You have one hour to pack," Zane told me. "I'll wait outside."

He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Tehila? Bring only what matters. Everything else, you can leave behind." His eyes flicked to Dalton. "Especially the trash."

He walked out, leaving stunned silence in his wake.

"You're making a mistake," Jade said, but there was something in her eyes. Relief? "You don't know what he's capable of."

"No," I said, heading for the door. "The mistake was trusting any of you."

"Tehila, wait!" Dalton called out.

I stopped but didn't turn. "What?"

"I... I did love you. The bond, was real. But Jade—"

"Is your choice. And leaving is mine."

I walked out, ignoring the calls behind me. Zane waited by a black SUV, leaning against it like he had all the time in the world.

"That was brave," he said.

"That was stupid."

"Sometimes they're the same thing." He opened the passenger door. "One hour. Don't be late."

As I walked home to pack, one thought kept circling my mind: What had I just agreed to?