95

"You do NOT want to go there right now!" Hardin bares his canines, eyes ablaze with the fury I haven't seen in a while.

Kind of hot.

"No, I don't! But if you refuse to just trust me on this, then I don't have another choice." I argue in a calmer tone than his.

"Don't talk to me about choices...you just brought a rogue onto our land, INTO OUR HOME. There are families! Mothers, children, newborn pups!" Hardin breathes heavily, his entire body trembling as he fights off the urge to shift and maul the girl.

I felt the change, the bloodlust inside of me coming forth. Hardin is a reasonable man, just not when it comes to rogues. I felt hurt that he doesn't trust me to know what I'm doing.

"You knew I was going to help her-"

"I made it clear that it was staying in the cells!" He snarls.

My ears ring, and the entire mansion quakes with the sheer power of his beast. I immediately felt threatened, mate or not, my wolf wouldn't allow him to speak to me in such a way. Not after the way we were raised.

"You lay a hand on that girl, and I will make your life hell." My voice small, yet the determination, and ferocity to my words so real that I felt my eyes burn blood red with promise.

I'm his wife, making his life hell will be easy.

Hardin's searing crimson orbs narrow into slits, his beast snarling at my threat.

"It is not your pup." He spits.

In a brief moment of numbing pain, my anger lashes out and I slap him hard across the face. The instant regret, the shock on both of our faces...I feel my palm stinging harshly, the force I'd hit him with turning his cheek a bright angry red. The silhouette of my hand burned onto his skin.

Tears prick my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.

Hardin knows he made a mistake, I could see it on his face, in his eyes. I have never laid a hand on him, I wouldn't ever dream of it...but to say something like that to me when all I am doing is helping a young she-wolf, is beyond cruel.

"She's not an it, and like it or not she's staying. I don't care that she's dangerous, Hardin...we all are, you should worry more about the strain your distrust puts on our relationship, than the child you feel threatened by." I say softly.

Briskly exiting the bedroom, I head into the girls room next door ensuring she hasn't gone anywhere. I can't imagine how she must feel, hearing us argue about her.

"Sorry you had to hear that." I immediately apologise.

The girl huddles in the corner of the room on the floor, blankets and pillows surrounding her. I know it's because she's used to sleeping in the woods, and not on a bed.

"He's right...I shouldn't be here." She whispers, legs tucked tightly to her chest.

Joining her on the floor, I sit Indian style.

"Alpha males are simple, and yet complex. Hardin is a very intelligent man, and sometimes his Alpha traits tend to overpower that. Just because something is different, doesn't mean it's wrong." I assure her as best as I can, offering a gentle smile.

She gazes at me with large weary green eyes, not quite so frightened with just me.

"If he wanted control over every decision, why mate with the Alpha Female?" She quizzes, confused by this. I like that she asks questions so boldly, the things that pack wolves would never dare question their Alpha.

I couldn't help but smile.

"He's not afraid of a woman questioning him, and unlike most males he is happy to allow me the free will to be who I am. We challenge each other, push each other in ways that no one else can." I say, nodding my head lightly with a small smile.

"I'm causing problems with you and him, aren't I." She says lowly, eyes cast on the floor in shame, perhaps guilt.

"A disagreement, yes, but a problem? No. Hardin is overprotective sometimes, and his reasons for not agreeing with me about you are understandable. But sometimes he has to realise the hard way that I know what I'm doing." I sigh.

"We're going to be fine, Hardin never stays angry for long." I assure her, seeing the look on her face.

For a few silent seconds, the rogue just stares at me. Eyes almost blank, but I know she's deep in thought, you just have to pay closer attention to notice it.

"My name is Winter." She mumbles so quietly that I almost miss it.

"Kali." I give her a half smile, happy that she trusts me enough to give me her identity.

"I won't hurt anyone." Is all she says in response, as if to help ease the tension between Hardin and I.

I just smile. "Don't worry too much about that, alright? I learnt the hard way that when things get jumbled up in here-"

I point to my head.

"-holding onto that fear of control makes it ten times worse, and we lash out, and we mangle someone up in some attempt to fix ourselves." I say softly.

"Just...let's make a deal." I say.

Winter nods slightly, staring at me cautiously.

"If you feel agitated, confused, distant, or even just kind of withdrawn from yourself...you come and talk to me, and I will help you." I tell her.

"Why?" She whispers. I could hear the complete confusion behind her question, like no one has ever offered to help her before now.

"I wish someone had helped me when I was your age." I admit softly, smiling faintly.

Winter doesn't say anything, just nods and rests her head on her arms, but I know it's a deal. She's very reserved like all rogues, and given she's only fifteen, she's bottling everything up.

"I'm going to bring you some food, what's your favourite?" I ask, already standing up.

"...Do you have cheeseburger? Or pizza?" Her voice is barely audible, yet more confident that I've heard since her arrival.

"I'll bring both, do you want any sauces, or salad?" I offer.

"I'll eat anything that's on it." She says without care.

Half smiling, I nod my head and exit the bedroom. Practically running downstairs to get her food, just happy that she's at least eating. When was the last time she actually ate?

"Is that for the rogue?" Becks disapproving tone takes me a tad by surprise as I'm filling a plate with food.

"She has to eat." I exhale, not wanting to argue with him too.

"What's wrong with you? Do you think that rogues just chase little rabbits around, and live a perfectly happy free life?" Beck mocks, scoffing.

"No, Beck, what's wrong with you?" I snap, turning to face him.

"Me?" He scoffs.

"What kind of fifteen year old girl deserves to be dragged into the woods, bound by ropes drenched in wolfsbane for three days, and raped countless times by five grown men?" My tone lethal with anger.

Becks attitude shifts immediately, whether at the sight of my anger, or the realisation that the girl is in deep need of help right now.

"Rogue, Alpha, Beta, Omega...titles shouldn't matter! She's a teenage girl...and this entire pack is treating her like she deserved what they did." I glare.

Beck lowers his eyes in shame, unable to even look at me right now. Did he not know about Winter being raped?

"They're not all rogues by choice, Beck. By birth, or by circumstance...some of them deserve a chance at a better life." I softly say, shaking my head in disappointment at him.

Taking the tray I head back upstairs, letting the girl eat before deciding to run a bath for her.

"Why do you have that when you can use the river?" She voices after a minute, frowning at the tub of warm water, eyes weary.

"What, a bath?" I ask, raising my eyebrows slightly in question.

"Bath?" She repeats with a head tilt.

"It's warm, and helps relax the body, soothe pain." I explain, running my hand through the water and turning off the cold tap.

"It takes away pain?" She asks quietly, slowly moving closer, arms wrapped around herself.

I smile gently. "Sometimes."

"Do you want to try it?" I offer.

Naturally she isn't so sure, instantly glaring at the tub like it's going to drown her. So I lower my arm into the water and sway it around a little.

"It feels nice." I assure her.

With a slow cautious nod, she takes off the clothes and hesitantly climbs into the tub. Despite adverting my eyes for her sake, I let her hold onto my hand, her grip so tight that it makes me realise just how frightened she is.

"Do you want me to wash your hair? I have this new banana stuff, it smells amazing." I say quietly after a few minutes of her sitting in the water.

Knees tucked under her chin, and arms drawn tightly around her legs, I could only imagine how vulnerable she feels right now.

"Ok." She murmurs, nodding her head slightly.

Smiling slightly, I grab my shampoo and conditioner from the side, along with soap and a new body sponge. Setting the sponge and soap aside for now, I use the water faucet extender and make sure she's fine with it, before wetting her hair.

"It feels nice." I hear her mutter appreciatively as I'm washing the shampoo out.

I didn't have to look at her face to know she's half asleep. The first time Hardin washed my hair was easily the most relaxing thing I'd ever experienced, it still is.

I just smile and lather in the conditioner, getting the few lugs out with my fingers. As the conditioner soaks in, I give her the soap and sponge, and of course privacy before washing the conditioner out for her.

By the time I return to her room with supper, she's fully dressed and curled up in the corner of the room with blankets and covers off the bed. Personally I don't care that she chooses the floor, as long as she feels safe.

"I'll bring you some clothes in the morning, we can go shopping if you want?" I offer, placing the toast and hot chocolate next to her.

"I'm ok-"

"My treat, I don't want anything in return." I immediately say, knowing that with rogues you don't give something unless you're benefiting from it.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden." Winter says quietly with shame, staring at her hands as she picks up a slice of toast.

"You're not a burden, alright? I'll see you in the morning." I offer a warm smile as I exit her room, leaving her to pick at the toast.

Walking the few steps to my bedroom, I inhale deeply before opening the door. Of course the second I actually think about Hardin, I know in my gut he isn't in the bedroom. The guilt of slapping him gnaws at me, and to be honest I don't know how to fix it because apologising isn't enough.

I hit him. What kind of mate does that to the other?

He has every right to be pissed, and disappointed, and hurt right now. I just don't know if I can handle seeing him disappointed in me, he's always been the one that made me feel strong, and confident in my choices.

Until I brought home a rogue.

Like the stubborn Alpha Female I've become, I shower and head to bed like I've done nothing wrong. Except my guilty conscious refuses to allow me the satisfaction of sleep, reminding me that I have indeed done wrong.

For what feels like hours I toss and turn back and forth, incapable of getting comfortable in a bed that feels so empty and cold. And then when I finally settle, I feel the tears spring to my eyes.

So I kick the covers off me and exit the bedroom in only panties and one of Hardin's huge t-shirts. Tracking him down is easy, I could sense the distance between us, and I know in my soul that he's not in the gym, or office, or anywhere remotely close to the house.

So I walk out into the woods, in the middle of the night without a flicker of fear hitting me. As I walk I could sense him, his impatience and anger as he paces back and forth on the border. I hate that I keep causing problems between us, I know it's bound to happen but it doesn't make it any less stressful.

It takes me a little near an hour to finally reach him, just as he's on his way back from patrol.

The second he notices me through the trees his eyes darken, that anger rising so fast that I almost felt a little scared.

"Can we talk? And I mean actually talk, without shouting?" I ask softly, knowing he'll hear me perfectly fine despite the distance between us.

Hardin doesn't utter a word, staring at me as I walk closer to the stubborn male. His silence tells me to start talking, and I do.

"First of all I should never have slapped you, no matter how angry or upset I am...and I'm so sorry. I get that you don't want a rogue here, I completely understand." I whisper.

"But I really need you to just trust me, Hardin. This rogue, this girl...I know the risk of having her here, I do, and I hate that you're angry with me right now. I don't enjoy fighting with you or the pack...and I couldn't leave her there." I exhale heavily, staring at him with pleading eyes.

Hardin just stares down at me, expression almost as blank as his emotions.

"Say something." I whisper.

"She reminds you of yourself, doesn't she." Hardin's tone is firm, knowing it to be true.

"If you didn't choose me...I'd still be the abused abomination cowering in my own shadow. And I know you'll disagree but it's the truth...they'd have used me up and tossed me aside, and I'd of been a rogue too." I tell him with a small nod.

"What's your point, Kali?" Hardin grunts, not pleased with lowering myself to the standards of a mere rogue.

"Do you remember the first time I mated with you?" I ask him, my voice low, gentle.

"Like I'd forget." He retorts, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"I got this feeling...I took a leap of faith, and when I looked at you I knew I could trust you completely. That even without any bond or bite, we had this connection...an understanding." I explain, sliding my hands onto his chest and stepping closer.

"Winter needs help, Hardin...I feel it, I understand where she is right now because I have been in her position. It's only a matter of time before she snaps, just like I did...except she has no one to pull her back, no one to help her, no one she can trust." I tell him.

"I would give you the world, Katalayha." Hardin's tone is low, unyielding despite his words.

He's not budging on his decision. I realise, and knowing that makes me feel defeated. I made Winter a promise, I made myself a promise...how can I just turn her away? I don't want to be at war with Hardin about this, I can't.

"I know." I whisper gently with understanding.

What now? Where do we go from here?

"If we allow one, more will follow. The attacks would be infinite, and by numbers that we cannot survive." Hardin says in a softer tone, exhaling as he gently grasps my face in his warm hands.

While I know he's right, it doesn't make me feel any better.

"Do you think the elders will help her?" I ask softly, my eyes flickering over his silver ones.

"If they find out she is on pack land, they'll kill her." Hardin murmurs to me, his thumbs brushing across my cheekbones.

They'll just kill her without even considering she's not a danger?

"Give her a few more days, please...I can't just send her away." I sigh heavily, placing my hands over his larger ones.

Hardin exhales shortly, glancing around the forest as his eyes fill with debate. The fact that he's considering my words means a lot to me, but I don't have much faith in him agreeing. He's as stubborn as they come when he's decided on something.

"Three days, after that she's-" He grunts as I yank him down, my lips clashing against his. God I've missed kissing him. Is that unhealthy? I mean, it's only been a day.

"I know." I whisper against his slightly chapped full lips.

Hardin just sighs, dragging me closer so he can cuddle me. As powerful and dangerous as he is, the man is a baby at times. It's one of the reasons I hate disagreeing with him, because I know how much it troubles him to tell me I'm wrong.

"Let's go to bed, hmm?" He murmurs, my face buried into his chest.

Faintly nodding my head, I reluctantly pull away and we head home. Going to sleep cuddled up against him never felt so right.