Alpha Kane & His Rogue Luna *TEASER ONLY!*

7

Willow

I wake with a start, practically jumping up and out of bed. After a few blinks, my surroundings come into focus. His room.

Daylight does little to improve its gloomy outlook. Grey paint covers the wall, though it looks long neglected, with chips and cracks here and there. Slate grey curtains hang heavy on the windows, barely contrasting with the coal sheets and matching furniture.

Hundreds of colours in the world and the man chose ever depressing one of them...

I turn my attention inward to Snow and feel her curled up in the back of my mind. Her sorrow guts me. All she's ever wanted was her other half... for so many years we clung to the idea that once we found our mate, everything would change.

So stupid of me to still believe in fairy tales... there are no princes, just evil villains.

A knock on the door draws my attention to it and I find myself hoping to see him. The door cracks open and Nex pokes his head through, offering me a smile when he sees me.

"Slept like the dead," he says, walking in and shutting the door behind him. "How are you feeling?"

I tilt my head and study the mad man. There's no doubt there's something off about him, but he doesn't feel evil like the men that held me captive.

"Gonna sit there studying me like an alien? Or gonna ask me whatever's on your mind?" Nex leans against the wall near the doorway and crosses his arms over his chest. "Is it about the guy you were with?"

I nod, suddenly needing to know for sure he's okay. "You said you found his tracks, that he was okay? Will Kane go after him?" I whisper.

Nex shakes his head. "Na, I think Kane will leave him alone so long as he doesn't come here." Nex pauses and cringes. "You do know that pushing him over the cliff was the only way to save his life, right?"

My eyes widen, wondering what kind of killer the Mood Goddess has paired me with. "Is he going to kill me?" I ask, barely a whisper.

He sighs and pushes off the wall, then sits next to me. "No, kiddo, contrary to what he looks like, Kane couldn't hurt you if he tried."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "But he kills rogues, everyone knows that..."

Nex tilts his head. "He protects his pack. It's usually from rogues... Willow, I know it's hard to believe, but you're safe here."

I focus on my fidgeting fingers and shrug. "For now... he doesn't want me." The second I look up, I wish I hadn't. The pity in his eyes is all the confirmation I need.

"Sorry kiddo, I can't speak for him or his plans." Nex gets up and walks over to the far side of the room to open a door. "Come on."

I slip out of bed and follow him to the doorway. Inside is a large bathroom with an even bigger shower.

"When's the last time you had one of those?" He wiggles his brows, no doubt having a good guess.

"Way too long." I take a step forward and pause, looking for permission.

Nex nods in then walks over to another door, returning a moment later with a small stack of clothes. He opens the shower and sets a towel and washcloth down for me.

"There should be soap and shampoo in there. We can get you something girly after." He slips out and shuts the door, leaving me in a bathroom bigger than the shacks I grew up in.

I look in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. My time in the camp didn't do me any favors. I bring a trembling hand to my cheek, tracing the sickly pale skin. No wonder why he doesn't want me. I look like death warmed over with my dark circles and sunken eyes... I half look like a skeleton.

'A nice hot shower might help... or a bath?' Snow muses. Growing up, we spent so much time in the river momma called me a fish.

I close the shower door and turn the bath on instead. My body still aches from the abuse I've put it through over the last... well, it's been a while. Even a short soak would do me a world of good.

There's no bubble bath, so I use some of his body wash. The bathroom fills with the scent, reminding me of him and making my chest tighten, but I push those thoughts away.

I slip off his shirt and quickly slip into the warm, soapy embrace that the tub offers. A content sigh slips past my lips as I sink down to my chin. The bath tub is so big that I can't even reach the other end.

As I soak, I feel my weary, tight muscles relax. I've been surviving for so long that this luxury feels so foreign. My eyelids get heavy and I relax my head against the edge of the tub.

I'll just rest my eyes for a moment...

Sparks dancing across my cheek draws me from my deep sleep as I lean into it. I smile and twist towards the source, my eyes fluttering open as the sleep clears.

Kane crouched next to me, his expression unreadable as he watches me. We stay frozen, just staring at each other for a moment, then he swipes his thumb across my cheek. The contact making my eyes flutter shut.

"You worried me, Little one," he murmurs, his voice deep and gravelly. "You didn't answer when Nex knocked... then I found you like this... I thought..."

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I know he said shower. It had just been so long... I didn't think."

Kane pulls away, leaving me gripping the side of the tub. He reaches for something on the floor and holds it out for me.

I look at the two purple bottles and tilt my head. Kane gestures for me to take them, so I sit up slightly, my chest barely below the shrinking bubbles, and read them. Wild berry shampoo and conditioner.

"For me?" I mumble, furrowing my brows. "But why?"

Kane stands and shrugs. "Figured you'd want something more girly." He rubs his neck and starts to pace.

"Thank you." I clutch them to my chest with one hand and pull the plug with the other. In record speed, the tub drains and Kane stands there, frozen.

Moments like this, he doesn't quite fit the picture of the bloodthirsty alpha that I had in mind.

I get up from the tub and cross the bathroom, no doubt making a mess as I slip into the shower. If he's here, he must want or need something, so I shouldn't keep him waiting.

Maybe he's come to turn me loose? The thought leaves my stomach twisting. I know it's coming, but at the same time, a sliver of me hopes it doesn't...

Kane coughs to clear his throat as I pop the top and pour out some of the shampoo. "I came to see if you were hungry? You need to eat and get your strength back up..."

Is he trying to get rid of me so soon?

"When you're done, I'll be waiting in the room." Kane sighs. "We need to talk."

My stomach drops, but I manage to force out an "okay."

The bathroom door closes a moment later, leaving me in unbearable silence. I go through the motions, almost mechanically working to detangle my rat's nest of hair.

When I turn off the shower and step out, I see the towel he left for me and wrap up in it. There's another crumpled towel on the floor where he wiped up the water I spilled...

An alpha that cleans?

My attention shifts to the counter where Nex left the clothes for me, but they've multiplied and a hairbrush and basket of stuff has joined them.

A sweater, leggings, even underwear are on top of Kane's clothes that Nex grabbed for me.

Why go through all this trouble if he's just going to get rid of me?

Not wanting to let my mind race, I quickly brush my teeth, comb my hair and pull on clothes. In the end, I go with leggings but pick his sweater.

I crack the door and peek out. My jaw drops at the sight in front of me.

"Sit."