Chapter 2

Chapter Two: The Rogue King

Elara's POV

The rogue took another step toward me, and I instinctively moved back.

My wolf was still restless inside me, certain of what I was desperately trying to deny. Mate.

I had barely survived the shock of discovering three mates at the ceremony. Now the Moon Goddess had apparently decided that three wasn't enough.

The rogue's eyes traveled over me, and for the first time, I became aware of how ridiculous I must have looked. My once-perfect dress was torn at the hem, the silk stained from running through the forest, and the silver embroidery around my waist was still visible despite the dirt covering it.

His gaze stopped on the crest sewn into the fabric. “Are you a princess?”

I clasped my hands together and lowered my head. I wasn't answering that.

He waited a moment before stepping closer. “Where are you from?”

I kept my mouth shut.

His brows lifted. “You don't talk?”

“I don't know you.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “And yet you're standing in my forest.”

“Your forest?”

“Everything around here belongs to me.”

I almost rolled my eyes, but the sound of voices carrying through the trees stopped me.

“Is she there?”

“Search the area!”

I turned toward the voices, and the rogue noticed the change in my expression. “Expecting someone?”

I didn't answer. I had already recognized the voices. They were the palace guards. I gathered my dress and ran.

“Wait!” His footsteps followed behind me, but I pushed myself harder. Branches caught at my hair and scratched my arms as I forced my way through the trees. I couldn't let the guards find me. Not after three impossible bonds had been awakened before the entire kingdom.

A thick wall of bushes appeared ahead, and I dropped behind it, crouching low as I pressed one hand over my mouth and tried to quiet my breathing.

For a few seconds, I heard nothing. Then a twig snapped behind me. I spun around and found the rogue standing there.

I nearly screamed, but I quickly pressed a finger to my lips. “Get down.”

He glanced at the bushes and then back at me. “Why?”

“The guards are looking for me.”

“And?”

“Hide before they see you.”

He crossed his arms. “Why would I hide?”

“Because they're coming.”

His mouth curved into an irritating smile. “I don't hide from anybody.”

“Why?”

“I'm a king.”

I almost laughed as I looked him up and down. “You're a rogue.”

His smile widened. “Both.”

I blinked. He didn't look as though he were joking.

“A rogue and a king?”

“Yes.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It doesn't have to.”

Despite myself, I let out a quiet laugh.

His expression softened for a moment, but then his eyes returned to my face. “Now tell me who you are.”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Fine.”

He turned and started walking away.

Panic made me reach for his arm. “Where are you going?”

“To find the people looking for you.”

“For what?”

He glanced down at my hand before looking back at me. “And tell them you are here hiding.”

I released him. “Are you insane?”

His expression turned cold. “Sometimes.”

Something flickered across his face, but he said nothing. He only shrugged and continued walking.

“Wait.” I hurried after him before he could get any farther.

He stopped and glanced back at me.

I swallowed hard. “Please don't tell them I'm here.”

A crooked smile appeared on his face. “That's the first polite thing you've said to me.”

I glared at him, but before I could say anything else, the sound of approaching footsteps reached us through the trees.

“There!”

The guards burst through the trees.

“Princess Elara!”

My heart lurched at the sound of my name.

Two guards rushed toward me, and I immediately backed away. “Don't touch me.”

One grabbed my arm. “By order of Queen Seraphina, you're under arrest.”

“I said, don’t touch me!” I screamed, jerking against his grip.

“You're being taken to the kingdom priest.”

“I won't go.”

The second guard seized my other arm. “Your three-mate bond has been declared forbidden.”

My eyes burned. “That isn't your decision.”

“The Luna Queen has ordered us to bring you back.”

They pulled me forward.

“Let me go!” I twisted against their grip, but they only tightened their hold.

“Stop fighting.”

“I said let me go!”

I drove my heel into one guard's foot. He cursed and loosened his grip, giving me just enough room to wrench my arm free.

I shoved him backward, but the second guard caught me before I could run.

“Hold her!”

I kicked and struggled, clawing at his hand as he dragged me back.

Across the clearing, the rogue stood with his arms folded, watching as though the whole thing were nothing more than entertainment.

Then one of the guards jerked my arm hard enough to make me cry out, but I kept fighting, twisting against his grip.

The guard tightened his hold, dragging me backward.

I kicked at his legs, but he barely moved. Then suddenly, something slammed into him from the side and his grip vanished.

I stumbled forward and nearly fell, catching myself against a tree as the guard went flying across the clearing.

For a second, I couldn't understand what had happened. Then a violent snarl ripped through the forest and I turned sharply.

A massive black wolf stood where the rogue had been moments ago.

My breath caught as I stared at it.

The wolf’s crimson-brown eyes locked onto the guards, its lips pulling back to reveal sharp fangs.

The guards barely had time to react before it lunged.

The rogue met the first one head-on, but another struck from the side.

He staggered, and I spotted a thick branch near my feet.

I grabbed it and swung at the wolf coming toward me. The branch struck its shoulder, forcing it back.

It snarled and lunged again.

I ducked beneath its jaws and scrambled toward a tree, then kicked a loose stone into its path. The wolf stumbled over it, giving me enough time to move away.

Across the clearing, the rogue was fighting two wolves at once.

He tore one away and threw it to the ground, but another immediately attacked from the side.

He turned just in time to avoid its jaws, but the wolf's claws raked across his shoulder.

Blood stained his dark fur.

My chest tightened as another wolf rushed toward me. I grabbed the broken branch and held it in front of me as it lunged.

I swung with everything I had. The branch struck its muzzle, and it recoiled.

I ran toward the rogue, but the wolves had already regrouped. Then I noticed two more figures moving between the trees.

More guards were coming. They had split up.

“There's more of them!” I shouted.

The rogue turned toward me for half a second. That was all it took and a wolf launched itself at him from behind.

He twisted, but another struck his injured side at the same time and he crashed to the ground.

“Get her!”

The guards rushed me.

I fought with everything I had, kicking, twisting, and clawing at their hands, but there were too many.

One grabbed my waist while another pinned my arms behind me.

“No!”

They dragged me backward.

I fought harder, reaching toward the rogue as he struggled to push himself up.

“Let me go!”

He finally got one knee beneath him, blood running down his shoulder.

His eyes found mine. For a second, everything else disappeared.

Then the guards pulled me deeper into the forest. I kicked and screamed until my throat burned, but their grip never loosened.

The last thing I saw was the rogue trying to stand as they dragged me away.