Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(8)
Rogue wasn’t a fan of the word pet, but he was dying to feel his mate’s hands on him. If the only way that could happen for now was as a wolf, he’d happily take it. He wasn’t sure how to convey that it was okay though, damn this sucked major hairy asshole.
“You know this really sucks hairy asshole. I wish I could communicate with you since you’re stubborn and won’t shift to talk to me. Why is that anyway?”
Did his mate just use the exact same words he’d been thinking? Was it a coincidence or did he somehow hear his thoughts on some level? Could they be building a bond based on a few meetings? In the next instance, his mind emptied of everything but the feel of Valac’s hand as it ran through his fur. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined it would feel this incredible.
“I hope that big sigh means you’re enjoying this,” Valac said with a laugh. “I gotta admit when I woke up this morning I didn’t think I’d be petting a wolf, let alone have one practically sitting in my lap.”
“This is not a sight I expected to see.”
Rogue huffed at Cadence’s annoyed tone. “He needed comforting. I’m offering it the only way I can.”
“I can see that. Just don’t forget what I said. There’s a time and place for everything.”
“I’m sorry what?” Valac asked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Cadence blushed much to Rogues amusement. “Sorry, I was talking to your wolf there. He’s a stubborn one.”
Serves you right, Rogue thought as he suddenly became aware of someone in the woods not too far away. His heightened sense of hearing gave him their exact location. He bounded to his feet and raced off, calling back to Cadence as he went. “Someone’s close by in the woods.”
“Hey, what happened,” Valac called.
Rogue didn’t have time to explain not that he could have anyway, but he was sure Cadence would do that for him. In the meantime, he had more important things to figure out. Like who was in the trees and what their intentions were this close to the house.
As he approached the area he slowed down and began to pick his way through the fallen leaves and sticks. The element of surprise was on his side. A few more feet and he started to hear the soft voices of teenagers. He stopped a few dozen steps away and watched.
“Who’s there?” One of the teens asked in a trembling voice.
Rogue cocked his head and waited as he processed the smells and sounds coming from them. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He snarled as he stepped out from behind the tree he was using as coverage and approached them. “What are you two doing sneaking around out here?”
“Rogue.” They exclaimed in surprise. “We … ah … were … um ….”
“You both know you’re on Cadence’s property, right? Or has your hormones confused your sense of direction?”
“Shit.” The boy exclaimed with a wince. “I guess we weren’t paying attention. Don’t tell Alpha, please. We promise we’ll be more careful next time and we didn’t mean any harm.”
The girl nodded vigorously, “Right. What he said. We’re sorry Rogue, we didn’t mean too.”
“Where are you two headed? It’s got to be close to nine o’clock on a school night. Kind of late for you two to be out in the middle of the forest, don’t you think?”
“No school tomorrow and some of the kids from town are having a party. We were headed out there to check it out. It’s not on the Mother’s land, we just got sidetracked.” The boy quickly explained in a rush.
“Yeah, and we’ll make sure none of them come on it either. We know about your mate and the patrols.”
“I’m going to follow you discreetly. I want to know who’s there and how many of them. Plus, where this is so I can warn everyone in case anyone wanders off for some alone time. We don’t need to be chasing them down when we have real predators to watch for.”
The kids nodded and started off again, this time paying more attention to where they were going instead of each other. Rogue couldn’t really be mad, they were harmless kids and he’d been the same way at their age. When your hormones kicked in they kicked in and that’s all there was too it. Add in shifter hormones and goodbye all logical thought processes.
Within a few minutes, the teens waved bye and moved into the circle of light from the campfire. Rogue watched and counted about thirty teenagers. He saw no alcohol or drugs, just kids milling all over the place laughing and having a good time. He had no doubt the alcohol would come out soon. He wasn’t an idiot, but he figured as long as there wasn’t shifter alcohol there, things shouldn’t get bad. But he made a mental note to let West and Brogan know so they could keep an eye out while on patrol.
Chapter Seven
Valac wasn’t sure why he was worried about the wolf but he was. He’d run off without a backward glance leaving him feeling alone and bereft. It made no sense considering they really didn’t even talk. There was something so comforting about having him close.
He’d waited hours for the wolf to return without any sign of him. Valac had finally given up and gone inside to catch a few hours sleep. Jericho was supposed to come by at some point and he really wanted to be alert enough to carry on a halfway normal conversation.