Chapter 15-Albot the Rogue

“So why can’t we go into the garage?”

Blake asks, his bright eyes shifting to the door that leads to the garage. I sigh, scooping a large portion of rice and steak slices into a bowl for the new guest in my home before scooping out some food for Blake and Alice.

“Because Crystalline decided to save a Rogue used in a dog fighting operation last night.”

Atticus chimes in, his fingers flying across his laptop. Since returning home and spending all night last night and most of the day, my uncle has not left his seat at the breakfast bar while I tended to the Rogue, making sure he made it through the night alive. He is relentlessly trying to get to the bottom of the illegal wolf-fighting ring and help save those Rogues being abused for the amusement of Hunters. I glare at him, not liking the monotone voice he uses to answer Blake, before turning to smile at the pups and bringing a glass of orange juice each to them.

“You both already know I am the Lost Princess, I explained it to you on our drive to Toronto.”

I start, watching them both nod.

“So because of this, it is my duty to help the wolves in need. The Rogue needed me to help him, and so I helped him.”

I explain, watching as Alice accepts my answer while Blake mulls it over before eventually accepting my explanation as well. Smiling, I ruffle his hair, happy with the progress Blake and I have made. I hope that soon he will come to trust me without having to second guess if my words are honest or not.

“Uncle Atti, keep the kids away from the garage, please.”

I ask as I collect the food and a few cold water bottles for the Rogue in my garage, my uncle just waving his hand dismissively.

“You know I will, darling. They listen better than you do, anyway.”

He answers with a sigh. I roll my eyes at his words, deciding that I will have to play the cute niece card later for not listening to him and going near that Rogue last night. But I just had to get that silver collar off of him so the healing process could start.

Making sure that the pups promise to stay in the house, I leave them in the kitchen to eat and make my way to the garage door just inside the entry way, dodging a few boxes that still need to be carried upstairs. Opening the door slowly, I pause when a low warning growl greets me.

“It’s me. I brought food and water.”

I call out gently, waiting for the growling to stop before entering. With the door firmly shut behind me, I lock it so that the pups can’t follow and slowly walk towards the injured black wolf, his brown eyes following my every step.

“It’s not much, just some rice and steak but I don’t want you to over eat while you are healing.”

I explain, settling the bowl of food in front of him. He sniffs it, giving me a curious look before taking a tentative bite. I smile, glad to see this wolf trusting me as I sit on the cold concrete, placing the second bowl down and filling it with fresh water from the unopened water bottles. He watches me as he eats, letting me push the water towards him as he takes a deep sip.

“I hope you are feeling a little bit better. It took me all night to make sure you didn’t die. You have some nasty wounds on you that made helping you hard.”

I sigh out, brining my knees to my chest and waiting for the wolf to finish. I want to take a brush to his fur, to help smooth it out and comb out the knots for him. To take him for a bath and help clean all the wounds. But I need to gain his trust first.

“Would you mind if I shift?”

I ask, wondering if having another wolf lay near him will help quicken the healing process. He eyes me, his distrust evident as he thinks over my words. After a few moments pass, he nods his approval and I smile. Slowly getting up, I make my way towards the other side of the garage behind a few boxes, removing my clothes including my necklace and placing them just outside the protection of this makeshift wall so that the Rogue can see.

Then I shift. My bones realign themselves quickly and within seconds I re-emerge and carefully trot towards the Rogue. A look of shock is on his face as he realizes I am a runt, barely four feet in length compared to his six feet long wolf, and I can see him softening towards me. Once I am three feet away, I slowly lie down, careful to inch my way forward until I feel his tongue flick across my forehead.

Looking up in surprise, I see his deep brown eyes studying me for a moment, before he motions me to come closer, and so I do. I carefully move until I am lying beside him, his large fluffy tail coming to cover my body as he settles his head across my neck.

The Rogue accepted me and I can’t help the happy feeling that has my tail wagging gently. Feeling content, I close my eyes.

◆◆◆

The feeling of someone grooming me wakes me from my slumber and I open my eyes to see the Rogue move his head just in time to avoid an accidental head but from me. Wagging my tail, I move my muzzle to gently lick his cheek, seeing him look away quickly. I have a feeling that he is blushing.

Carefully untangling myself from him, I stretch, motioning to my clothes to indicate I am going to shift, before running behind my makeshift wall again and allowing my body to change back into my skin form and quickly dress. Returning to the Rogue, I see he is standing, his legs a little shaky but smile as I realize he almost reaches my five-foot-five frame with the tip of his ears just below my chin.

“Do you want to go for a shower and clean your wounds?”

I ask, walking over and gently scratching behind his left ear. He closes his eyes and lets out a noise of content before nodding his head and I smile.

[Are the pups in bed?] I link my uncle.

[Yes, why?] Atticus replies quickly.

[I am bringing the Rogue inside for a shower.] I can tell my uncle wants to protest, but I shut off the connection before he can go on lecturing me and slowly walk towards the garage door, unlocking it and opening the wooden door to see an extremely disappointed vampire staring at me.

“Hi.”

I cheerfully greet, feeling the rogue behind me look past my body.

“Don’t “hi” me, young wolf! You know I disapprove of this.”

My uncle hisses, his burgundy eyes set in a grim stare. I sigh, motioning to the Rogue to calm down when he starts to bare his teeth before looking back at my uncle.

“His wounds are dirty and he needs to be cleaned up to heal. He trusts me and I trust him.”

I state. Silence passes over us and I wait as my hard headed uncle stares between the rogue and I before finally sighing and backing away.

“Fine. But he uses the guest room down here, and I will be outside the door in case he tries anything.”

Atticus relents and I smile, rushing forwards and giving him a hug.

“Thank you for trusting me, Uncle Atti.”

He sighs, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me back, placing a quick kiss on my temple.

“Go help clean that Rogue. I will find some clothes for him.”

With that, my uncle zips away and I motion for the black wolf to follow me to the guest room.

Opening the door, I walk towards the attached bath and for once am happy I have a large tub for this room, knowing that the wolf might have a hard time fitting into anything smaller than the jacuzzi in the guest room or in my room – I did not want him in my room.

The wolf watches my movements as I set the temperature, making sure to keep it warm before motioning him forward as I fill the tub for him to soak in.

“I am going to give you some privacy so that you can shift and take the time to clean yourself. I have some medicine that I can apply to your wounds when you are ready.”

I see him staring at me, appreciation in his eyes as he walks forward and nuzzles my body in thanks.

I smile, gently running my fingers through his fur, wondering what this wolf will look like, happy that I had rescued him last night. With a gentle movements, I give the wolf a hug, mentioning that my uncle will be back with clothes soon, and make my way out of the room and to the kitchen where I get started on preparing food and taking out some medicinal tonics Ira sent me last week to help heal this wolf.

I listen intently to the room down the hall, wincing as the wolf shifts painfully and as he tries to hold back his screams. It seems like he has not shifted for years and my heart breaks for him.

“I thought you were going to help him bathe.”

Atticus says quietly, leaning against the entrance with a bag in his hand.

“He needs some privacy and I am in no mood of cleaning a fully grown man.”

I state, taking a cool bag of blood from the mini fridge and throwing it at my uncle. He chuckles, taking a straw and stabbing it into the bag like a juice box before taking a sip and looking down the hall.

“You just didn’t want to wash his man bits.”

He teases, making me blush while I focus on making a medicinal meal with vegetables, rice and the tonics.

“You’re wrong.”

Is the only argument I can come up with.

“I am right.”

He counters before zipping away, most likely to bring the clothes to the rogue. I sigh, my hand reaching to clasp the moonstone around my neck as I think about what he said. How I did not want to touch the wolf intimately.

The truth is he is right. Being rejected made me realize I am not ready to face any males. Minutes pass, and with the meal ready, I make my way towards the guest room to see how my uncle and the Rogue are, making it to the door just as a stabbing pain runs through me.

Falling to my knees, I suppress a scream and tears run down my eyes and wonder what this is. Wonder how I can be feeling this pain when I have not been injured.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Strong arms scoop me close to a sturdy chest, the scent of pine and snow calming my mind.

“She was rejected by her mate. That bastard must be fucking some whore.”

Atticus replies with a hiss, tucking his hand under my chin and having me look into his eyes.

“Make it stop!”

I plead through teary eyes, feeling like death is clawing at me.

“Rogue-”

He starts, looking away.

“Albot. My name is Albot.”

“Fine, Albot. I am going to compel her. So don’t go attacking me.”

Atticus sighs out before retuning his gaze to mine. I bite down on my lip, the pain growing and making me want to scream but I have the pups to worry about. I can’t scare them.

“Crystalline, look into my eyes.”

His voice is smooth, silky and his burgundy eyes glow a bright red. He captures my attention, the scream dying as my mind goes blank.

“Good. You are going to sleep, Young One, allow your body to rest. When the pain is gone, you will awaken.”

As if on cue, my eyes close and darkness takes over as the pain fades away.