Rogue

This can't be happening, Rose thought, staring up at the mountain of a man inches from her.

She inhaled his masculine scent and forced her racing heart to slow. He's not going to hurt me. She kept

silently repeating that inside her head until her body relaxed. It wasn't the easiest thing to do. Instincts

screamed at her to fight to get away from the big, deadly werewolf.

"I'm not going to stay with you."

"I'm not leaving you here alone. They will come back." Klaus eased his hold but didn't release

her.

"I haven't done anything wrong."

"I'm aware of that but they don't seem to care what you are past how you smell and you're

living on the edge of werewolf territory. The nearest pride is a good thirty miles from here. That means

you're easy prey to my kind."

"Just tell them the truth about me."

"That won't help. That would just announce that you can't fight back. I purposely left out how

human, you truly are when I ordered the pack to leave you alone."

"You made a mistake. If you told them―"

"It wouldn't change a thing," he grumbled, released her, and stepped away. "If they won't listen

when I say you're off-limits, do you believe they will give a shit if you can't shift? I don't want to

frighten you more but some of the wolves who did this aren't members of my pack. It means another

pack is aware of you, or worse, they could be rogues. That means they answer to no one and don't live

by any rules a pack has established. Do I need to spell out how much danger you're in?"

"I'll leave." Rose blinked back more tears. "I guess moving a few blocks won't fix this. My

mom lives in Greenville. I could go home to her." She dreaded doing that. Her mom had remarried to a man

she couldn't stand. He gave her the creeps by leering at her sometimes and she always had to keep very

aware of everything she did to avoid giving him any hints that she wasn't quite normal. "I have no

choice."

"You're going home with me. No one would dare invade my den to go after you."

The blood drained from her face. "You live in the ground?"

"No." He shook his head, shot her a frustrated look, and his fingers rose to comb through his

hair, pulling some of the thick strands free from the ponytail. "It's just a saying. It's an apartment over a

bar. It's nice. Wolves don't usually live in actual dens. Wild ones prefer caves."

"That's good to know."

He shrugged. "Let's go, kitten."

"Stop calling me that."

He frowned at her again, took a step closer, and his eyes narrowed. "Let's set something straight

now. I'm in charge. I'm the one who will be protecting you because you need it. Stop arguing with me, it

pisses me off, and just do what you're told. Otherwise, I'll have someone bring me a duffle bag, toss you

in it, and take you out of here the way I would a cat with raised hackles."

Disbelief held Shannon silent for a few erratic heartbeats. "I didn't ask for your help and I don't

want it. Leave my apartment."

"You are an enemy to werewolves."

"I'm not a shifter."

He closed the distance between them and Rose cried out in fear when he grabbed her. Her

back hit the wall, bumping it painlessly. He pinned her between it and his big, powerful body. She stared

into his angry gaze.

"Do you want me to tell you what those pups would have done to you if you'd been here when

they came? You'd have been lucky if they just tore you apart with their teeth and claws while they killed

you. They were male and you're attractive. I smell at least five of them in total. Do I need to spell it out for

you?"

"No." Her voice shook, her body trembled, and horror spread through her at what he implied.

"Good." He blew out air, released her as quickly as he'd grabbed her, and backed up. "I'm going

to make sure no one lays a hand, fang, or claw on you. I'll stop calling you kitten when you stop acting so

naïve. I'm trying to do what I promised. Work with me."

"I don't know you," she stated honestly. "My instincts tell me not to trust you and I've been

warned my entire life how dangerous shifters are."

He hesitated and something in his expression softened. "I always keep my word and you're safe

with me. I won't hurt you. I may growl and snarl a bit when I'm angry but I've never killed a woman in

my life."

She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. "I don't know what to do." It made her feel

vulnerable to admit that.

His hand lifted slowly until his fingers lightly caressed her cheek. "I understand." He brushed her

hair away from her cheek before he dropped his hand to his side, taking another step back, to put more

space between them. "If it helps, I'm determined to keep you safe whether you allow me to or not. You

can fight but you won't win. The decision isn't yours any longer. I couldn't look in a mirror if I just stood

by doing nothing while I knew you were in danger. My pups did this and you've become my

responsibility now."

Something clicked in Rose's mind. "You have called them your pups before." Her tongue

darted out to lick her dry lips. "Are you their alpha?" Please say no, she thought. Alphas were supposed

to be the most brutal werewolves of any pack.

He shook his head. "No."

The tension eased from her body and it gave her hope that he just happened to be a nice guy

after all, albeit still a werewolf. His next words dashed that feeling as if he'd dumped cold water on her.

"I'm the son of their alpha and I'm the first in line to take over the pack when he steps down or

dies."

Her knees threatened to collapse but she fought the fear that surged as she locked her legs too

remain standing. They watched each other silently for long moments before he glanced around her room.

"Let's go."

"My clothes―"

"Are all destroyed." He stopped at the door. "Stop wasting time. The faster I get you where I

know I can leave you safely alone, the quicker I can go handle this mess by tracking them down. I've got

clothing you can borrow until we're able to buy you new stuff."

Rose hesitated but then moved, stepping over the destroyed pillow in her path. She tried

not to flinch as she took in the damage to her living room again. His pups were methodical to their

destruction, not leaving anything untouched.

The apartment manager stood talking to the neighbours as they left. She opened her mouth to

speak to the man but she never got the chance.

"I'm Klaus, a family friend of Rose's." He directed an intimidating scowl at the

manager. "I'm taking her to a safe location until they catch these punks. I expect you to have that door

fixed immediately and guard her property until it is. I'm holding you personally responsible if anything

else happens."

Her mouth dropped open and she intended to apologize but Klaus chose that moment to reach

back, grab hold of her limp hand, and gently lead her away from everyone. He walked her to the curb

where a big black motorcycle was parked, released her, and climbed on the beast of a bike. He straddled

the machine and arched an eyebrow at her.

"I know you can hold on tight." He leaned over a little, his hand reaching for something on the

another side of the bike, and then held out a helmet.

"Close your mouth and climb on behind me."

Rose considered refusing to leave with him. She could make a scene and he wouldn't dare

force her onto his bike with so many witnesses around. He'd flashed his license at the cop, giving away his identity. She stared into his eyes while he held out the helmet and made a decision. He hadn't hurt

her so far and someone had it out for her, as her poor apartment, full of damaged

possessions, could attest.

"Okay, but I'm holding you to your word."

"Good." He gave her a tight smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm the only chance you have of

staying safe. You've got nothing to fear from me."

She didn't totally believe that but accepted the protective headgear and carefully put it on. It

startled her as Klaus reached up to secure the strap under her chin. Their gazes met and held until he

finished.

"Ever ridden a motorcycle before?"

"No."

Amusement flashed on his handsome, rugged features. "You'll enjoy it a hell of a lot. Just wrap

around me, don't let go, and trust me."

Rose hesitated. "The only person I could ever trust has been my mother."

He looked away, his gaze flickering anywhere but at her. "Sorry to hear it. Get on, kitten."

Irritation flashed at his nickname for her. She had asked him to stop but he refused. She stepped

off the curb and lifted a leg, awkwardly climbing onto the wide, long seat, grateful her loose skirt was

easy to tuck firmly around her legs. It felt surprisingly comfortable to straddle the bike.

Klaus turned his

head to peer at her over his shoulder while he lifted a second helmet.

"Stop calling me that."

"I told you why I do it."

"What the hell does that mean?"

He hesitated, tightening the strap under his chin, but never looking away from her while he did

it. "I'm attracted to you and I think you're cute. It would be flat-out stupid if I didn't remind myself of

that every time I feel my body respond to yours, considering that, by blood, we're sworn, enemies."

His brutal honestly left her speechless. He winked and turned away. The motorcycle started, the

loud engine stopped whatever conversation they could have had. She reached forward, hesitated, and

then wrapped her arms around his waist. She had to press her body firmly against his broad back to lock

her fingers together. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and clung when he pulled away from the curb

"Let's go."

"My clothes―"

"Are all destroyed." He stopped at the door. "Stop wasting time. The faster I get you where I

know I can leave you safely alone, the quicker I can go handle this mess by tracking them down. I've got

clothing you can borrow until we're able to buy you new stuff."

Shannon hesitated but then moved, stepping over the destroyed pillow in her path. She tried

not to flinch as she took in the damage to her living room again. His pups were methodical to their

destruction, not leaving anything untouched.

The apartment manager stood talking to the neighbours as they left. She opened her mouth to

speak to the man but she never got the chance.

"I'm Klaus, a family friend of Rose's." He directed an intimidating scowl at the

manager. "I'm taking her to a safe location until they catch these punks. I expect you to have that door

fixed immediately and guard her property until it is. I'm holding you personally responsible if anything

else happens."

Her mouth dropped open and she intended to apologize but Klaus chose that moment to reach

back, grab hold of her limp hand, and gently lead her away from everyone. He walked her to the curb

where a big black motorcycle was parked, released her, and climbed on the beast of a bike. He straddled

the machine and arched an eyebrow at her.

"I know you can hold on tight." He leaned over a little, his hand reaching for something on the

another side of the bike, and then held out a helmet.

"Close your mouth and climb on behind me."

Rose considered refusing to leave with him. She could make a scene and he wouldn't dare

force her onto his bike with so many witnesses around. He'd flashed his license at the cop, giving away his identity. She stared into his eyes while he held out the helmet and made a decision. He hadn't hurt

her so far and someone had it out for her, as her poor apartment, full of damaged

possessions, could attest.

"Okay, but I'm holding you to your word."

"Good." He gave her a tight smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm the only chance you have of

staying safe. You've got nothing to fear from me."

She didn't totally believe that but accepted the protective headgear and carefully put it on. It

startled her as Klaus reached up to secure the strap under her chin. Their gazes met and held until he

finished.

"Ever ridden a motorcycle before?"

"No."

Amusement flashed on his handsome, rugged features. "You'll enjoy it a hell of a lot. Just wrap

around me, don't let go, and trust me."

Rose hesitated. "The only person I could ever trust has been my mother."

He looked away, his gaze flickering anywhere but at her. "Sorry to hear it. Get on, kitten."

Irritation flashed at his nickname for her. She had asked him to stop but he refused. She stepped

off the curb and lifted a leg, awkwardly climbing onto the wide, long seat, grateful her loose skirt was

easy to tuck firmly around her legs. It felt surprisingly comfortable to straddle the bike.

Klaus turned his

head to peer at her over his shoulder while he lifted a second helmet.

"Stop calling me that."

"I told you why I do it."

"What the hell does that mean?"

He hesitated, tightening the strap under his chin, but never looking away from her while he did

it. "I'm attracted to you and I think you're cute. It would be flat-out stupid if I didn't remind myself of

that every time I feel my body respond to yours, considering that, by blood, we're sworn, enemies."

His brutal honestly left her speechless. He winked and turned away. The motorcycle started, the

loud engine stopped whatever conversation they could have had. She reached forward, hesitated, and

then wrapped her arms around his waist. She had to press her body firmly against his broad back to lock

her fingers together. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and clung when he pulled away from the curb.