Chapter 4

CALIFF

“I’m going in.” I walked out of the room.

“It’s not a good idea, Cal.”

“Don’t question my authority.” My voice came strong and stern.

“My apology, Alpha. I didn’t mean it like that, but she’s a rogue.”

“I know. I want to know what she knows. She wants to speak with someone who has a fucking authority. Then she gets it.”

“Alpha.” Kindra met us outside the confinement room as Duke wrapped his arms around his mate and kissed her on the lips. She was our pack nurse and good at her job.

“What’s the status?” I ignored their PDA.

“I was able to check her vitals before she woke up. She’s stable.”

“Open the door.”

She pressed the code, and the door unlocked. I pushed it open. My chest hammered, just like when I felt threats and danger close, but this time it was different. Her scent was stronger and alluring, making my head spin.

There were days when I felt like the most powerful Alpha in the world because I took control. I nurtured fear in my members. I earned respect from everyone, and I purposely ensured my words were my command. And one of those days was today.

I inwardly growled, ignoring the newfound raw hunger surging through me and the growing restlessness of my wolf as I stepped inside. Letting my self-control rule, I blocked out her intoxicating smell and irresistible presence.

She froze in her place the moment she sensed me, but she remained tough in her stance. As our gazes locked, I saw fear. I also saw defiance, and she had the audacity to look me in the eye for someone rogue like herself.

“You wanna talk to the authority? Here I am, but you don’t talk until I tell you.”

“Wow.” She shrugged off with a chuckle. Her full lips, though pure carnal, spread into a mocky grin. Her bushy eyebrow arched. “Should I vow, Your Majesty? Tell you what. Let me go, and I won’t keep grudges.”

“That’s unfortunate because you’re not getting out of here alive.” I showed no emotions even if my wolf had been bugging me, and my stomach had twisted in knots since I walked in. What was with this woman that had my senses heightened?

She gulped, showing a little frailty, and I whiffed a stench of fear in the air, but that was all. She became feisty again. Her eyes narrowed, almost glowing into silvery. Interesting. “Then go ahead. Be my guest.”

“What were you doing in that hotel?”

“What do you do in the hotel? Pickup whores?”

“Answer my damn questions.” I roared. My voice made her gasp. “If you want your head intact for the last five seconds, answer my questions. Do you understand me?”

She sighed shakily as she stepped back and sat on the bed. “I was there with my adopted father. He would be worried if he didn’t hear from me in a few hours. Can we make this fast? I need to get back to LA.”

“Don’t fucking lie.”

She lifted her gaze, locking with mine. “I’m not lying. Do you want a polygraph? Go ahead. Or if you have Lasso of Truth, please, feel free.”

“Don’t waste my time. What pack are you from?”

Her eyes narrowed. Her face reddened in anger. “Are you kidding me? You can’t sniff a—”

“Answer the fucking question, or I will walk out, and you won’t get another chance. Do you know what’s that for?” I pointed at the sprinkler. “The water from that system is filled with wolfsbane, and you do such things that I don’t like.” I pointed up. “The iron bars with silver plating will be dropped and cage you until your skin burns. So trade carefully, rogue.”

“I told you, I was there with my adopted father. You can see it on the CCTV if you don’t believe me. We were there for a business meeting.” You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I just proved everything right. The intel was correct.

“Then why were you with other werewolves.”

Her brows furrowed. “You mean your pack members who kidnapped me? I mean, what did I do wrong? Do you always kidnap werewolves, particularly women, because you can?”

I snorted. “You mean, my men, saving your life from those who tried to kidnap you?”

Her frown deepened as she shook her head. “Why would someone kidnap me?”

“Good question. I want you to answer that.” I crossed my arms over my chest. ”And lower your fucking voice when you talk to me.”

“I’ve been rogue since those savages murdered my parents. I joined a pack once in college, but he wanted a whore instead of a pack member, so I left. I have no interest in becoming one, an Alpha’s slave.” She snorted. “No offense.”

“When someone says no offense, that’s what she exactly means. Here’s what I can offer you to prolong your worthless life. Be my pack member—”

“Let me guess. I will be omega. No thanks. Hard pass.” She just rolled her eyes. Unfuckingbelievable.

“Then you just punched your ticket.” I walked out of the room. The door locked behind me.

“Fine out everything about her,” I told Duke.

“Consider it done.”

“Shadow. Pretty name for a pretty lady,” Kindra commented.

If I was being honest, she was indeed pretty and had the body of a goddess, but her attitude was as stinks as the rogue wolf.

“What are you gonna do about her?”

I looked at him. “No one will come to see her unless I say so. No food. No water. Turn the lights off. She will spill everything in no time if she still values her life and her adopted father.”

“What if she won’t say anything, or she’s telling the truth?” Kindra asked.

“If she doesn’t submit, I’ll burn her alive.”