Chapter 11 +25 BONUS Sage I'm not sure why I feel more homesick with every step we take away from Blackthorn . My life has been nothing but abuse and misery in that pack . But that's all I've ever known . At least there , I knew what to expect . I should be thrilled about the new adventure ahead of me . I'm moving to a new pack . And not just any pack , I'm going to be living in the Royal pack ! Surely I'll be safe there , at least . But no matter how exciting that prospect may be , it doesn't erase this gnawing pain in my heart . I had a mate ! But he didn't want me , loathed me so much he was willing to watch me die after stripping the flesh from my back with his belt . How could someone do that to the one person the Goddess created especially for them ? If that's what it's like to have a mate , then I don't want one ! Not that it matters , no one would ever choose a wolfless girl like me anyway . I thought Cassius was my friend . Now I realize I can't trust anyone . Even my handsome stranger lied to me , let me think he was like me , weak and alone . He must think I'm a total idiot ! I can't even recognize royalty when I see it . I thought this man was my friend . But he wasn't my friend at all . He's a king . Kings don't have wolfless omegas for friends . I was so terrified when he came back for me , I couldn't help but cling to him for the safety he provided . But now that the danger has passed , all I feel is anger at his betrayal , at the secrets he kept from me . Being this close to him is irritating me . " You can put me down . I can walk ! " I insist with more confidence than I feel . " No ! " He barks in his signature gruff tone which only infuriates me further . " Yes ! I don't want you to touch me ! I don't even know you ! " I argue , refusing to acknowledge the little voice in my head telling me that his touch is the best thing I've ever felt in my life . He takes a deep , put - upon breath . " I'm Alaric . Alaric Sterling . And you're Sage . Now we know each other so stop fighting me ! " " Well , Alaric , you're a liar and I've had enough of liars ! You're no better than him , letting me believe you're one thing when you're someone else completely ! " I try to wiggle free of his arms but he only holds me tighter , the muscles in his arms like iron vices , immovable . " I never lied to you ! " His chest rumbles in a warning growl . " You never asked , so your assumptions are your own . Don't ever compare me to Cassius Sloane ! " Just the mention of his name sends a searing pain rippling through me . It feels like my heart breaking all over again . How can I feel so much loss , so much longing for someone who treated me so cruelly ? I push against his chest in another attempt to get free but I'm tired and the effort is weak . " You're injured . " His voice softens and I see a flash of vulnerability in his eyes before his walls go back up . " You'll only slow me down . I'm an important man with important things to take care of . I don't have time to wait for you . " " Ugh ! " I throw up my hands in frustration . " Why did you even come back for me if you're in such a bloody hurry ? " " I- , " he sighs , " it doesn't matter . All that matters is I did come back and now you're safe . " He speaks with a tone of finality that tells me I shouldn't push it . Chapter 11 +25 BONUS Well , he may be the King , but he wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me . I won't be bossed around by a man who's slept on my lumpy cot , hovering on the brink of death , while I nursed him back to health . So I grab his nipple and twist it hard . " Ow ! Fuck ! " He loosens his grip enough for me to slide free . " What the fuck did you do that for ? " He growls , stomping toward me as I shuffle backward , a little more off balance than I'd like given I'd told him I was fine . I grit my teeth against the pain and turn to run . But my tattered shirt , encrusted in the blood from my wounds , pulls free with the movement , ripping scabs open . The pain is so intense it sucks the air from my lungs , leaving me breathless . His eyes soften when he sees my agony . He pulls his shirt off and covers me with it , as if he's just realizing for the first time that my own has been reduced to rags . Then he puts his hands on my hips to steady me . " Better ? " He asks gently . " Yes , thank you . " I answer breathily , albeit begrudgingly . We're standing so close , I can feel his warm breath on my face . The way he's looking at me makes my heart gallop in my chest and butterflies flutter in my belly . No one's ever looked at me like that before . I like it and that makes me even angrier . He betrayed me and I can't trust him not to do it again . There's no more room in my heart for men I can't trust . " Do you have a last name ? " He practically purrs my name and it turns my already weak knees to jelly against my will . Why does he have this irritating effect on me ? " No , " I shake my head , slightly embarrassed . " Not one I know of . I'm just Sage . ' 1 " Well , just Sage , " he pulls my hips until there's no space between us , something long and thick , and very hard pressing into my pelvis . My face heats as he bends to murmur in my ear and wetness pools between my legs at the proximity . " The next time you try to run from me , I will chase you . And make no mistake , I will catch you and when I do , I won't hesitate to put you over my knee and spank you . Do you understand ? " " Y - yes , sir . " I stutter , not understanding why I suddenly feel hot all over just because he threatened to punish me . " Alpha . " He corrects me . " I may be a lycan and a king , but I still have a pack and I'm still an Alpha . Your Alpha now . " His chest rumbles on the last part and I think I might spontaneously combust . But before I can , the sound of jagged howls rends the air , breaking the moment . " Fuck ! " He curses , turning toward the sound . " What ? What is it ? " I can't hide the panic in my tone . " Don't fight me this time ! " He orders , lifting me so my legs wrap around his waist and my arms cling to his neck . " Hold on tight and no matter what happens , do exactly as I say ! " " Why ? " He huffs at my refusal to blindly obey his command but I ask again anyway . " What's happening ? " " Rogues ! " Is all he says as he takes off running while I hold on for dear life .