Chapter 398
Four Hundred
Emma POV
Anita let go of me and wiped her face with the back of her hand. She took my wrist and led me down the hallway, pushing the bedroom door open quietly
Haley was already lying on her side, facing the wall. Her slow breathing filled the dark room.
Anita and I sat side by side on the mattress and pulled our legs up. She stared at the floor, her fingers moving against her knees.
“This is a disaster,” Anita whispered, her voice barely carrying across the bed. “A rogue. Not just any rogue, Emma. Their leader p>
All the panic I had been holding back came pouring out at once.
“What am I supposed to do? What will my parents say? Our family? Everyone knows who we are, Anita. I don’t belong in his world, and he can’t step into ours. Both sides will destroy us p>
Anita understood my fear. She reached for my hands and squeezed them, keeping her voice low.
“Calm down. We need to think p>
“I have to break it,” I said, leaning closer. “There’s no other choice. But when I told him, he chuckled and said a verbal rejection wouldn’t work anymore p>
Anita frowned. “What do you mean p>
“Because we slept together on the island,” I whispered, shame burning across my face. “The bond was sealed physically. Now it takes a full severance rite to break it p>
Anita stared at me, her eyes widening. “What the fuck? A formal severance p>
“Yes,” I said, my voice trembling. “Which means everyone will find out p>
“You can’t hide something like that,” Anita whispered. “Wesley has to acknowledge it as Alpha. Your parents and my dad will have to stand there while the pack elders perform the ceremony p>
“You can’t tell them,” I begged, gripping her arms. “Promise me, Anita. Don’t tell my parents or yours. Promise me no one else ever finds out p>
Anita opened her mouth to argue, then hesitated. Finally, she sighed and nodded.
“Okay. I won’t tell them. But Emma, you need to understand what a severance means. It isn’t just a ceremony. You slept with him, so the attraction is already in your blood. What happens when you go into heat? How will you fight that pull? And if you break a sealed bond, can you handle what comes after? People who go through a severance spend the rest of their lives feeling empty. Some never find love again p>
I looked down at our joined hands and couldn’t answer.
She wasn’t wrong. The bond wasn’t easy to ignore. Even tipsy on the island, the moment his skin touched mine, a pull ripped through me so strong I wanted to give him everything without hesitation. I had never felt anything like it. But accepting the bond meant accepting a life in the dirt with criminals.
“I can’t disappoint my parents like this,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t do that to them p>
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“Stop thinking about your parents for a second,” Anita said firmly. Her voice rose, and I quickly checked that Haley was still asleep. I glared at her, and she mumbled an apology.
“All I’m saying is, stop worrying about public opinion and what the pack expects from you. This is your life. You didn’t choose this bond. You didn’t even ask for it. Put yourself first before you make a choice you can’t undo p>
“I don’t want this life,” I said, tears falling to my lap. “I’m not equipped to be mated to a rogue p>
“Then let me talk to him,” Anita suggested.
“What’s the point p>
“Emma, listen to me,” Anita said, leaning closer. “He’s holding us captive, but he’s your mate. That means he won’t let anyone hurt us. We have an advantage. Before you break a bond that could affect you for life, we need to know what he plans to do. Has he said anything about rejecting you? Is he willing to let you go p>
“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered. “It’s inevitable. We have to break it p>
“Don’t rush into a permanent decision,” Anita said softly. “I won’t let you destroy yourself because you’re scared. He may scare everyone else, but I’m not afraid of him. We need to talk to him and find out what he wants before we do anything drastic p>
Every time boots scraped against the floorboards outside our door, Anita jumped up to peek through the tiny crack at the bottom. But Alexander never showed up.
I forced my eyes shut, but sleep felt like torture. I kept waking in the dark, my skin burning, my mind spinning in endless circles about the severance rite, my family, and the rogue who held my fate in his hands.
Morning came with a dull grey light filtering through the window curtains. The door unlocked softly, and Cherry walked in carrying a plastic basket. She went straight into the bathroom and stocked the counter with fresh towels, soap, and tubes of toothpaste.
Anita stood by the door with her arms crossed, watching Cherry.
“Tell your cowardly brother to come down here,” she said sharply. Cherry flinched and set the toothbrush down.” Clean towels and hot meals won’t change what he is. He’s hiding like a coward, and I want to talk to him p>
Cherry said nothing. She walked past Anita toward the bedroom.
Before she got there, her phone chimed. She took it out and looked at the screen.
I frowned when I saw it. I had asked her for a charger the day before, but she’d told me she couldn’t help. I knew that if I mentioned it again, Anita would snap at her, so I signed to Cherry instead.
Please. Can I borrow your phone or get a charger? I just need to tell my parents I’m alive. They’re old, and they’re probably worried sick.
Cherry watched my fingers, then signed back: I told you already, nobody is going to hurt you here. The people at the other camp are the ones in danger. You are safe in this house.
I signed back: If we’re so safe, why can’t we make one quick phone call?
Cherry paused and looked at me before signing, “I’ll ask my brother p>
When she walked out, Haley turned to me, surprised.
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“You know sign language p>
Anita laughed. “Emma is full of strange surprises. She watches all kinds of weird things online. The only normal thing about her is her boring accountant job. Other than that, she has the strangest habits p>
I smiled. It was the first light moment we had shared since we were taken.
Anita crossed her arms and looked at me. “What were you two saying with your hands p>
“I asked her for a charger or to borrow her phone,” I said quietly.
Anita rolled her eyes. “What did you expect? You think they’d really give you a working phone? The moment it connects to a cell tower, our fathers will send strike teams. They’re not going to take that risk p>
The rest of the day dragged, with nothing to do. Haley, Anita, and I sat on the beds, sleeping or staring at the walls. The front doors and gates stayed locked, and guards watched every exit. Trying to escape through the compound would only get someone hurt.
Haley was terrified. Anita stayed calm and reminded her that our fathers must be searching for us. I was drifting off to sleep when a scent reached me.
Mate.
My wolf snapped alert, and I sat up.
Haley moved beside me, startled. “Are you okay p>
I nodded, unable to speak. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. Anita stood and walked toward the door.
“He’s here p>
The door opened, and Alexander walked in. I felt the bond between us instantly. My skin grew warm, and my heart pounded faster. I hated how easily my body reacted to him. I straightened up and stared at him with a hard look, refusing to look away or show any weakness.
Anita stepped in front of him with a bitter smile. “Well, well. Look who finally remembered he has prisoners. The grand leader of the rogues himself. Should we feel honored p>
Alexander ignored her.
He looked across the room at the three of us. “Which one of you belongs to Kieran p>
Anita raised her chin. “That would be me. So, what’s the plan? I’d hate to ruin whatever brilliant scheme you’ve cooked up p>
Alexander looked down at her with cold eyes. “His corporation decides how long you stay in this room. I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you.” 1
Anita laughed and slowly clapped her hands, mocking him.
Haley spoke from the bed, her voice shaking. “What about me? What does your pack want from my father p>
“One signature giving up some land, and you’re free p>
Anita scoffed. “Of course. You just need our Alphas’ signatures so you can crawl your way onto the High Council. Because apparently stealing your way to a seat is easier than earning one p>
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Haley looked at Anita in fear, silently begging her not to anger him. I stayed quiet on the bed, staring at Alexander.
He pointed at me, “You. Come with me p>
“Not happening,” Anita snapped, gripping my hand before I could stand. “If you have something to say to her, say it here. Or is the great leader of the rogues only brave when he can corner someone alone p>
“Anita?” Haley whispered in panic. “You’re acting crazy p>
Anita ignored her. She pulled me past Alexander and into the hallway before he could turn around.
“We’re waiting,” Anita called over her shoulder. “Come on. Unless you’re too much of a coward to face me p>
Alexander stepped into the hallway. “Watch your mouth, brat. You’re alive because I allowed it p>
“Spare me the tough act,” Anita said, holding her ground. “We know why you moved us to a house with clean beds. Emma is your mate, and you’re too proud to admit how much it messes with your head p>
Alexander reached into his jacket, pulled out a cigar, and lit it. A stream of fruity smoke filled the air. He blew it directly toward Anita’s face.
“Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?” He sneered, shifting his eyes to me. “I would have thought someone who acts like the bond is a pathetic stain on her family name would keep it to herself p>
“Anita is my cousin,” I snapped. “Why would I keep it from her? Did you expect me to carry your dirty secret alone p>
He shut down like a brick wall, and it angered Anita even more.
“What’s your plan, tough guy? You act like the bond is only her problem and think your mind won’t burn when the severance rite happens? You stare at her like a lost pup, yet you stand there pretending you feel nothing p>
Alexander took a slow drag from his cigar. “She doesn’t want me. I don’t beg p>
“Because you’re a criminal!” Anita yelled. “If the roles were reversed, would you run to a rogue? Would you throw away a safe home and a loving family to live in the dirt? She has a life back home and an Alpha who wants a future with her p>
Alexander turned a cold smile toward me. His eyes swept over me, sending a shiver down my spine.
“If she has an Alpha who loves her so much, why did she crawl into my bed on the island p>
My blood boiled. The sheer arrogance in his voice curled my hands into fists.
“You think you’re so intimidating,” Anita said. “You’re doing a terrible job hiding how much she affects you! And I can’t wait to see you grovel, crash, and fucking burn p>
Two armed guards stepped out from the far corner of the hallway, hands on their weapons, glaring at Anita. They looked ready to grab her and throw her down. Alexander raised a hand and gave them a sign. The guards stopped and stepped back out of sight. I glanced past his shoulder and spotted Cherry standing near the stairs. When my eyes met hers, she turned her head away.
Alexander looked at me, his voice dropping into a low threat. “Get your cousin out of my face before I lose my temper p>
The look in his eyes said he was close to snapping. I leaned toward Anita and whispered under my breath.
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“Give me a minute, let me hear what he has to say. You said we needed to find out his plan p>
Anita glared at Alexander one last time. “You hide behind that pride because you’re terrified of being rejected. Beneath all that arrogance is a lost little boy, still desperate to be chosen p>
She turned on her heel, walked back into the bedroom, and slammed the door shut, leaving me alone with Alexander, who didn’t take his gaze off her retreating figure.
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.