Mated To My Sister's Killer

Reide, the alpha of the Azure Moon pack, stood on the balcony of the restaurant he was in, gazing at the full moon that adorned the sky. His thoughts were consumed by the emptiness within him, the void he had come to view as part of him.

Just then, a faint scent wafted through the air, catching his attention. What was a rogue wolf doing in his territory? His instincts flared to life and his wolf growled.

The scent became stronger, his eyes narrowed as he pinpointed the location. Jumping from the balcony, he landed gracefully on the pavement below. He followed the scent through the crowded streets, finally stopping before a small artifact shop, tucked away and almost invisible compared to the brightly lit ones surrounding it. Through the clear glass window, he spotted a young woman with a tiny physique, staring intently at the items in a display glass. Was this the rogue?

Her hair, which was a beautiful shade of brown, what one might refer to as chestnut, cascaded down to her waist. Her eyes, however, something was not quite right with them. Without thinking, he stepped into the shop. He needed to confirm it. She looked up from the display glass and then he saw it.

Her eyes were different. One of them was an emerald green that seemed so dark, it looked like forests went on and on in them. The other however was a blue so light, it was almost white. To say he was intrigued was an understatement. Never had he come across a wolf like her and mind you, he had met a great number of wolves, to say the least.

Her smooth olive skin seemed to glimmer under the yellow light illuminating the shop. She wasn't short but seemed small compared to Reide's much taller frame. Only one thing about her annoyed Reide and his wolf, she smelled of rogue.

Darina stared at the stranger in front of her. The dominant aura that surrounded him told her that he was no ordinary wolf; he was an Alpha. What she didn't know was his motive for coming here. He must know she is a rogue wolf. And Alphas didn't take kindly to having rogue wolves on their territory.

That didn't stop her from eyeing Reide down. He was big and muscular without being bulky. His strong facial features stood out attractively. His stance screamed danger and his gaze, scrutiny. She was used to people judging her based on her scent but for some reason, her wolf seemed sad that he did so too. Since when did that happen? Her train of thought was broken when Reide spoke.

"Interested in history?" Reide asked, trying to find out more about this peculiar female. She didn't seem intimidated by the dominant vibe he knew was emanating from him. Either that or she was a very good actress.

"Yes. You?" She responded, skillfully avoiding revealing any more information about herself. She had learned the hard way not to trust anyone but yourself. And that included withholding information about her and her life.

"Can't say I see the appeal," Reide said dryly. "No offense." Oh, he meant every offense but he didn't want to come across as rude, now, did he.

"That's okay. I understand that it is hard for people to be interested in something that is mentally challenging to them." 'Two can play this game,' she thought.

Reide was beyond shocked at her snarky remark. This conversation was going to be a long one. He was about to fire back with a retort of his own when his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He brought it out of his pocket. Kael.

"Hello," he said into the phone after excusing himself.

"There's a rogue in the pack territory," Kael said, worry lacing his every word.

"I know," Reide replied. He turned back - but in the mere seconds he'd looked away, she had vanished, leaving only the faintest trace of her scent behind. His beta was competent, that he knew for sure. But there were moments when he got the timing wrong. Like now.

Ending the call, he inhaled the air around him, trying to catch her scent. It was faint but it was still there. She hadn't gone too far off. He continued to walk in the direction of her scent and finally ended up in a dimly lit alleyway, the only source of lighting being the flickering light coming from a lamp that hung on a rusting pole. Dilapidated buildings were littered on either side creating an eerie atmosphere. There, he saw a small figure huddled in a corner, a burly man towering over her.

"You. Stupid. Bitch." The man yelled, punctuating each word with a kick to her abdomen. Pain lanced through Darina at the impact of his foot on her stomach but she kept her lips pressed firmly to each other. She would not give him the satisfaction of crying out. Nothing annoyed Caedmon more than not being able to draw a response from her.

Reide hovered in the shadows, every instinct screaming at him to intervene. But in her desperate gaze, he saw her silent plea. She didn't want help. So he stood and watched, every fibre of his being howling in protest. His wolf snarled and paced within him, fighting to take control, to tear apart this man who had dared lay a hand on her. His fists were clenched so tightly, he could feel the sharp sting of his claws pressing against his skin, vaguely aware of the blood that dropped from the wounds. His reaction was shocking, even to him. How could a woman, a rogue even, make him behave this way?

Eventually, the man stopped, sensing that she was no longer conscious. He huffed, and muttering something about weaklings, he turned and walked away, entering into a building that looked like a warehouse through a very inconspicuous door. It was then that Reide woke up from his trance-like state and walked towards her.

Seeing her crumpled and broken stirred memories he had long buried - the sting of his father's blows and the cold helplessness he felt afterward. His wolf growled low in his chest, aching for him to act. Without another thought, Reide knelt beside her, gathering her gently into his arms. We'll protect her, his wolf whispered. He would tend to her wounds. He would not leave her alone. He would be different from his father.

Just as Reide slid his arms under her to lift her up, her body tensed. Lightning-fast, her hand closed around his neck, claws ready to sink into his flesh. Her eyes snapped open - one emerald, one icy blue - now blazing with raw, feral rage. She growled.

"Don't touch me."