"I'm sorry for the way Kira treated you back there.” His calm voice trails into my thoughts, his words sounding both surprising and confusing to me at the same time. I thought he was angry. He definitely looked angry to me earlier, but now, with both our eyes now locked on each other, all I see is an alpha who is silently battling between his duty to his pack... and me? It can't be true. Of course I value myself, but to him, I won't be surprised if he thinks that I am not worth being chosen over this pack. Choosing a rogue is f*****g laughable. “I understand that Kira doesn't like me.” I speak up, regaining my voice. “You don't have to apologize for what she did. She's the one at fault, not you. Besides, I am a forbidden stranger in this pack, and staying here is not going to change that. Also, I don't think I'll be staying here for long anyway.” “And what makes you think that?” He throws the question at me, the color of his teal eyes changing into a darker shade, their calmness gone. However, both his question and his reaction does nothing to faze or deter me from speaking my mind. “Seriously, Alpha Raelin, do you expect me to believe that you’ll allow me remain here in your pack and never wish to leave? What happened this morning confirms that I'll never be accepted here. I may not have a family or anyone else that cares about me, but I have myself to take care of.” I sigh, speaking more calmly. “Aunt Gaia, Brie, Zuby, Cupcake, they all seem like nice people. They didn't treat me like trash, but they're not the only ones living in your pack. And this… this bond between us, I know that it is not as important as your duty to your pack, and I hate being a burden to anyone. I know that I am being kept here because you still don't trust me enough to let me go, and also because of this bond between us, but—” "I don't trust you.” He cuts me off sharply, stepping away from his desk. “I don't trust you, but I can't let you wander out there on your own.” “Were you even paying attention to anything that I was saying?!” I lash out, feeling like he just pushed me ten steps back. “Why do you even care?!" “You’re my mate!” he lashes back at me, “And that matters.” I scoff. “You and I know we can easily reject each other and move on with our separate lives. I refuse to—” "Watch your words, Layla.” he says softly, but the threat in his voice is loud and clear. I swallow hard, my heart beating wildly. “Or what? You’ll handle me just like you told Kira back there?” His eyes slightly widen at my retort, also blazing angry shades of teal. Suddenly, he is moving towards me fast, killing the distance between us. My heart beats harder against my ribs as I slowly take a step back, only to find myself suddenly pinned by him against the wall near the door of his office, the shock and force making me gasp out a choked breath. Great. This is so f*****g great. He is taller than me, my head barely even reaching his shoulders. I fight to free myself from his hold, my hands trying to pull off his forearm nailing me to the wall. But his wicked forearm pressing against my chest just won't budge. “Get your f*****g hands off me.” I snarl. “Or what? You're going to extract your tiny little claws and rip them through me?” He smirks, his forearm pinning me harder. I smirk back, withholding a wince from escaping my lips. “You've never seen my claws, Raelin. And I assure you, they are not tiny.” ~ ● ~ A rogue she-wolf. A possessive Alpha. A fated bond neither of them asked for. Layla Kavros is on the run, but when she is captured by the notorious BloodHounds Pack, her life takes a mysterious turn. Imprisoned and cut off from the rest of the world, Layla finds herself bonded to the cold-hearted and commanding Alpha of the BloodHounds Pack. Raelin Michaelson. Infamously known as the Midnight Alpha. Raelin is a leader who lives by strict rules, values his pack above all else, and never allows his emotions to cloud his judgment, but he met Layla. The spitfire he never imagined could turn his world upside down. With their hearts on the line, secrets will be revealed and lies will be told, but will they survive and learn to love each other? Will they succumb to the bond that binds them together in the end? Or will they be torn apart by their fears and by those who would love to see them destroyed?