I walked all the way across town for so many hours before getting on a bus. I had no idea where it was heading to, but I knew it was far away from here and that was where I needed to be. Away from the Crests so they couldn’t find me.
I wondered if they had realized I was gone by now. They had to. The bus started to move and I said a small prayer of protection to the moon goddess to oversee Jane. I’d realized by now that my family did not care about me. In fact, I had a small suspicion that Alison was glad I was gone. That way, she could marry my mate without having to deal with me.
The bus ride was over ten hours. I sat at a secluded corner at the back, pressing a cheek to the window as trees flew past me with speed. My mind was racing with different possibilities. No matter where I went, I still didn’t have a wolf. There was no point in joining a pack.
Jane had given me enough money to see me settled for a while but what was I to do when it got exhausted? What if I couldn’t find a job?
I was still lost in my thoughts when the bus pulled to a stop. One by one, everyone alighted from the bus. Uncertain, I followed behind them, jumping off the bus. I had no idea where I was. I was scared and cold and when everyone began to disperse in different directions, I was reminded of how completely alone I was.
I felt the urge to cry but I would not. The moon hung low in the ink-black sky, casting feeble rays through the dense canopy of ancient trees that lined both sides of the narrow road. Tree branches rustled their leaves in the night breeze and I hugged my arms around my body, my eyes roaming the dark road. The bus had already left and I was the only person around.
Shit. What if there were rogue wolves or bad men that might try to take advantage of me?
I edged closer to one side of the road, momentarily losing my footing and I yelped as I fell sideways. But I did not land on the ground like I expected. Instead, I kept rolling. I kept my eyes shut because I didn’t want dirt to get in. By the time I came to a stop, my entire body ached and I winced. Groaning, I got to my feet, looking around the dark forest then gasped as a magnificent door hidden beneath leaves came into view.
Inching forward, I pressed my hands to the door and pushed forward with all my strength. Surprisingly, the doors caved, their hinges protesting as they opened up.
“State your name and purpose,” a voice suddenly said.
My heart was beating fiercely against my ribcage. Two guards were in front of me, both holding spears close to their chests. Their hair gazes were fixed on me. “My name is Arya,” I said, debating whether to include my last name. I had left the Crests to start over, after all. “Just Arya. Where am I?”
“This is the Rogue City,” one of the guards said. “What business do you have here?”
I looked around. “I’m not sure. I’m looking for a place to stay.”
The guards exchanged looks before fixing their gazes back on me. “Follow me.” One of them said and swiftly turned on his heel, not bothering to look back to check if I was following him.
We walked for quite a distance and I took the opportunity to look around the city. It was a small city but felt oddly homely. Every single person we walked past smiled in greeting at us, causing me to smile in return, though I knew they were all wondering who I was.
When we came to a stop in front of a big house. “Wait here,” the guard said, speaking into the telecom at the front gate. His words were muffled and I couldn’t hear much but when he turned around, he gestured for me to go in.
The gate opened and I walked forward until I came to the front door. I wondered who was behind the door. Maybe the king here? Rapping my knuckles on the door, it opened almost immediately.
Terrified, I moved forward. Like the speed of lightning, I felt my body pull towards something like a magnet with a force that nearly toppled me over. It felt similar to what I felt when I saw Ethan that morning playing the piano, but this one was a stronger, more violent force.
“You feel it too, don’t you?”
My eyes snapped up to see the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. He was tall, almost a foot taller than me. His body was well sculpted and even under his shirt I could see the hard lines of his abs. Thick dark hair rested on his head like a lion’s mane, and under them were perfectly carved brows of the same color. Gray eyes stared back at me. His nose was straight, sitting proudly in the middle of his face, followed by full pink lips that looked like he spent a lot of time taking care of them. On his jaw was a five o’clock shadow that looked so good on him.
He had to be a Greek god. It was illegal to be this beautiful.
“What?” I echoed, blinking. Did he notice that I’d just been staring shamelessly at him?
“The attraction between us.”
I blinked some more because I was a bit disconcerted. What was he saying about attraction? “I’m sorry. I’m confused.”
He stalked towards me with a determined stare, so intently that I had to take several steps back until my back hit the door and I was cornered.
“What’s your name?”
“Arya.”
He raised a brow. There was something about him that commanded respect. I didn’t know if it was in the way he carried himself like nothing could touch him. “Family name?”
I raised my chin defiantly. “It’s just Arya.”
He was silent for a few seconds before nodding, lowering so we were at eye level. “Alright, Just Arya. I asked if you feel the connection between us.”
He was so close to me now that I could feel his breath fanning my face. I could feel it pulsing through my veins, settling warmly at a spot inside my chest. He seemed familiar like we had met before, somewhere in another lifetime. It couldn’t possibly be this one. I would have never forgotten this face. But yes, I did feel it. It was like a rush of adrenaline spreading through my body, so attuned to him. Every pore on my skin seemed to open up to the sound of his voice, every hair stood at attention as he hovered over me.
Wait a damn minute. Ethan had made me feel something very similar to this but it had ended the second I’d heard of his plans to marry my sister. My eyes widened a tiny fraction and I watched as recognition dawned in this man’s eyes.
“Welcome to Rogue City, Arya. My name is Tyler Lockhart, Alpha of the Rogues, and you are my mate.”