51 - Secrets

His eyes widened almost imperceptibly. He knew. He knew I wasn’t just some random Omega. He didn’t recognize my face, but something in my voice, in my eyes, in the way I said his name.... it struck a chord of fear. “I...I don’t know what you mean,” he stammered, his gaze darting around nervously. “Oh, I think you do,” I purred, taking a step closer. My smile didn’t waver. “I think you remember every knot you tied, every stone you hefted. Details, Dante. Details matter, don’t they?” I let my gaze drop to his hands, then back to his terrified face. “And I have a very, very good memory for details.” He was pale now, trembling slightly. He knew. He might not know WHO I was, but he knew I was someone who remembered his specific cruelties. “The river....it gives back its secrets sometimes, doesn’t it?” I continued, my voice a silken threat. “And those secrets can be quite vengeful.” I leaned in a little closer, my smile widening, becoming almost beatific. Psychotic, Austin might have c

Last Updated : 2025-07-07

52 - Camouflage

The hiding spot Austin had secured for us was a damp, forgotten storage cave carved deep into the lower levels of the pack’s warren, not far from the Omega sector I knew so well. It smelled of old roots and desperation. It wasn’t the luxurious prison of his mansion, but it felt more real. More like the precipice of a war. We’d been here two days now, moving only under the deepest cover of night, Austin vanishing for hours at a time to meet with his contacts or, as he vaguely put it, ‘rearrange some of Henry’s furniture’ I knew that meant something far more sinister. “You’re thinking too loud, Freckles,” Austin’s voice rumbled from the shadows near the cave entrance. He’d been gone most of the previous night, and the faint, metallic scent of old blood clung to him, quickly masked by the earthy smell of the cave. He never elaborated on where he went or what he did, and I never asked. Our bargain was clear : he handled the overt destruction; I handled the subtle infiltration. “Jus

Last Updated : 2025-07-16

53 - Past Self

The hours until evening crawled by .I moved through the Omega sector, my old stomping grounds. The fear and despair were palpable, thicker than the ever-present dampness. I saw faces I remembered – old Nina, who used to give me sweet berries, now looked frail and broken.Young ones, their eyes already dull with hopelessness. And Dante....I saw Dante scurrying through a passageway, his face pale and haunted. He didn’t see me. Good. His fear was a tool I’d use later. I listened. To the hushed whispers in the food lines. To the muttered complaints in the mending caves.the discontent was there, a simmering pot threatening to boil over. But so was the fear. Henry and Valerius had a tight grip. As dusk settled, casting the cavern city into even deeper shadow, I made my way to the moss garden. It was as Lisa had described , overgrown, a little sad, but still holding a whisper of its former peace. She was already there, a small, anxious figure huddled on a stone bench. “Thank you for com

Last Updated : 2025-07-18

54 - Our Image

A supply convoy ambushed, its guards vanished without a trace. Small acts of sabotage, creating chaos, sowing fear among Henry’s loyalists. Austin was a master at psychological warfare, dismantling Henry’s power base one terrified whisper, one “unfortunate accident” at a time. One evening, he returned to our cave later than usual. He looked. tired. A rare sight. There was a fresh scratch on his cheekbone, already healing. “Rough night?” I asked, handing him a waterskin. He took a long drink, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Let’s just say one of Valerius’s lieutenants won’t be reporting for duty tomorrow.” He met my gaze, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something raw, something ancient and predatory in his eyes. “The fear is spreading, Freckles. They’re starting to feel the noose tighten.” “Good,” I said, my own cold satisfaction mirroring his. “Lisa has made contact with a few more Omegas. They’re scared, but they’re willing to help. They’re tired of living

Last Updated : 2025-07-19

All Chapters of The Rogue's Reluctant Mate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 54

51 - Secrets

52 - Camouflage

53 - Past Self

54 - Our Image