“Where are we?” the rogue asks as I drive us through the small mountain range that separates my pack and the Bearlay’s. I don’t know how I’m going to explain all this to Nikoli and Harper when I get a chance to talk to them. Nor do I want to leave my pack to join a pack full of bears and possible mates. Settling down has never worked out well for me, and the Forest Pack is the only place I’ve ever felt accepted in my entire life. My eyes stray back to my rogue, and I sigh, realising I never answered his question and I also don’t know a thing about him.
“What is your name? I just keep calling you rogue in my mind,” I ask, looking back in the mirror to see him sat up, staring at me. I don’t want to risk stopping the car to read his name on the file I have. I don’t usually look at what any of the people we hunt have done to deserve it. I just smell the object they give us with the person's scent on it, and we find them. It’s always the same bad stuff, and after years of reading the horrible things over and over, I just stopped wanting to know.
“When you get the guts to read my file stuck in your glove compartment, you’ll find out, won’t you?” he chuckles.
“Are you always such a pain in the ass?” I snap, and he just chuckles.
“Always, darling, always,” he laughs out, and I see him rest his head back and close his eyes. I guess that’s all the answer I’m getting out of him. Why am I saving his ass again? It’s a most silent drive for the next half an hour before we finally arrive at the gates of the Bearlay pack. Five guards stand outside, silent. I’m pretty sure they are deadly, as they let my car pull right up to them and don’t move an inch, their eyes watching my every movement. One of them breaks away, stomping over as I roll down my window.
“Who are you? This is private land,” the man with brown hair that is going grey and dark blue eyes asks. He is massive, like the rest of the guards, and well, like all bears. I don’t think I’ve seen any bear less than six foot and they always pack a hell of a lot of muscle.
“I’m Gold, beta of the Forest Pack, and I need to see your alphas,” I state, and he raises an eyebrow, standing straight. I watch as he raises a hand to open the gates and as they open he clicks a button on his radio, lifting it to his mouth.
“Alpha Cain, you won’t believe who has just turned up at your door,” I hear him say as I put my foot down and drive through the gates. I bet he won’t.
“Bears? Really?” my rogue comments from the back as we drive down the paved road.
“Yes, really. They might actually keep your ass alive, so why don’t you practise that being quiet thing you usually do?” I say, making him laugh and nod his head once at me.
“Yes, darling, whatever you say. I know getting a mate makes you lose your mind and become all loved up. I best start doing as I’m told then,” he teases, and I let out a long growl, looking away and at the pack I’m driving into, rather than playing his games. If the bears don’t kill him, I’m likely to. The road winds around in a circle, which has a water fountain in the centre. It’s full of kids splashing around, and their families are on the grass having picnics. On the other side of the road are rows of houses, all attached, and the houses go all the way down the four ways the road leads off. I look up and see three houses at the end of the road in the middle. All the houses are separate, but they look about the same size. They are nicer than the ones down here, which are nice in their own right. The three houses are made of red brick, with white windows and red tiles on the roof. As I pull into the driveway and park right outside the first house’s door, I notice that the houses look pretty new actually, and they are so close you could walk out of one door and into the other.
“Stay in the car,” I remind my rogue, who nods before closing his eyes and resting back again. I run my eyes over his bindings, which still appear in good shape, so he hasn’t tried to escape yet. I have a feeling he will at some point. I get out of the car, shutting the door behind me and resting it as I wait. Only a few seconds later the door opens and one of the alphas walks out, crossing his arms with a grin on his face.
“Cain?” I ask, because I actually don’t know their names, but I remember the guard talking to an alpha called Cain on his radio.
“Correct. Don’t worry, I know your name and all your nicknames too. See I actually give a shit about my mate,” he says, but he tempers his harsh words with a playful smile.
“I’m not your mate,” I reply coldly, and he laughs, looking through the window and seeing my tied-up rogue.
“G-G, honestly, I never thought I’d see the day you would turn up at my Pack, without being dragged here that is,” Cain says with a low chuckle as he walks down the final steps of his house. I keep still as he walks straight up to me, placing his hands on the car door that I’m resting on, boxing me in as he leans down. I growl low, which only seems to make him smile that much wider. He has such a sexy smile, too, and his scent reminds me of lemons. It’s refreshing, kind of like his personality I imagine.
“Have you finally decided to claim your mates?” he asks, moving a tiny inch closer as my breath hitches in my throat.
“No, I just need your help,” I reply as he chuckles once more, and it sends shivers through me.
“Gold?” I hear a shocked, slightly familiar voice shout in the distance, but I can’t look away from Cain’s green eyes as he leans even closer to me. His eyes have little wavy lines of light and dark green through them, swirled together with dark green flecks dotted around.
“I’ll help you with whatever trouble you’re in, but I want something in return,” he moves closer, so we are only a breath away from each other as he speaks the words I knew he would, “I want you to join my pack.”
“Ok,” I reply simply, and it shocks him so much he stumbles back, looking confused right as his brother reaches us. This alpha clearly doesn’t have personal space issues as he pulls me into a hug, his forest and pine scent surrounding me and somewhat comforting me at the same time.
“I didn’t ask for a bear hug,” I muffle into his shoulder. He laughs as he pulls away, and I am able to get a better look at him. Green, playful eyes and messy brown hair that falls into his face greet me. His skin is more tanned than his brother’s, so he must spend more time outside or something. It suits him, and he looks way hotter than I remember him being. They both are.
“I know, but you got one anyway. I’m Callum by the way,” he says, running a hand through his hair nervously.
“Right Callum, Cain, and what’s your other brother called?” I ask, knowing it’s going to start with a C.
“Chase,” Callum says, “but he is out of the pack today on business.”
“Why are you here, Gold? And who is that?” Cain asks, getting straight to the point.
“It’s a long story.”