Possessed by the Rogue King

Chapter 4 : Investigations

*Zander*

She dropped to the floor but before her head could hit the ground, Stephen, one of my men, caught her. Her eyes stayed trained on me and I sent a smile her way.

I could see the pain and hurt in her eyes but I didn't let my mask drop.

When her eyes finally flickered shut, I looked to the rest of my men. “Are there any survivors?"

Stephen shook his head. “No sir. We searched the entire perimeter. Reagan most likely killed the last of them."

“Fuck."

This wasn't good. This was not good at all. I had needed Carl to stand with me against Reagan. He had done this. I knew he had. We tried to stop him, but that son of a b***h had gotten here before I could.

“One more look around. Check for a pulse any sign of life. I need more than just her."

I spared my mate a quick glance.

She could not be the only survivor. She couldn't be my last hope.

“Search now!" I ordered. “Stephen, you lay her down and look too. She isn't moving anywhere any time soon."

As far as rejection went, I didn't know how long it would be for this little fainting spell to wear off. Rejection was a taboo thing for our kind but this was a necessary evil I needed to commit.

I walked into the ballroom seeing the torn down happy birthday sign. Bodies littered the floor and the metallic scent of blood wafted in the air.

Goddess.

This was a m******e. Some people were mauled beyond recognition. This man was a monster.

News would spread fairly quickly of the attack and Reagan would likely blame 'the rogue Blood Moon Pack'. So many thought of us as wild beasts, but we were a peaceful people. We didn't seek violence or try to take overpacks. That was not who my mother raised me to be.

I walked over to a familiar face; a man who had taken me in and cared for me to the best of his abilities.

I looked down at Carl's body, his eyes wide open but no life resided behind them. He had a spear embedded in his chest, blood spilled from his mouth.

I knew that spear. It had the engraving of Reagan's men. I was sure that he had been the one to even deliver the final blow. He was sadistic like that. He liked to look into the eyes of shocked people who trusted him as their prince but only to find out that he was the leader of the rogues. He was the great evil that he had warned people about.

I crouched down when I noticed a small paper sticking out of Carl's suit jacket. It was slightly torn but I managed to pluck it out and make out what it was behind the blood.

It was a picture of Carl with his late wife Hazel and a baby Eva. Hazel and Carl were smiling at the camera, their eyes wide and happy. Baby Eva, however, had her eyes set on the thing around her mother's neck.

The Philosopher's Stone.

A necklace of great significance and power. Eva clutched it with her tiny little hands, mesmerized by its beauty.

It was a necklace that had a small sapphire stone set in its pendant. The same necklace that now hung around my neck.

I placed the picture back and closed Carl's eyes.

Reagan would pay for this.

I wondered if Eva had seen her father. If she had, I was sure my men would have found her by his body. She was likely out of it. The girl had been paler than a ghost when I walked into the ballroom.

I shook my head trying to rid myself of her.

I couldn't think of Eva, she wasn't good for me. I knew that. But my wolf thought otherwise. He was drawn to her. Even from where I stood, I could still see just how effortlessly beautiful she was.

Her chest rose and fell slowly on the floor, her heart beating strong and slow.

She was fine, physically. But when she woke up again, she would go through a whirlwind of emotions and issues.

I didn't know how a rejection worked but from what I had heard, it was a terrible experience for the recipient of the rejection.

If only yesterday had not happened. If only my birthday had been delayed by just a few more days, then maybe this could have all been avoided.

Yesterday was my 18th birthday. I had turned eighteen which meant that I was able to find my mate. I had not anticipated that my mate would be Eva. I had been around her so many times and I had not felt any kind of affection toward her. But then suddenly, I smelt her scent and I was drawn to her room. I wanted her near me.

I had snuck into her room in the middle of the night, my wolf moving on his own accord. He had pushed his way to the front and wanted to claim her then and there. It had taken every ounce of my will power to regain control.

But as I hovered over her bed, I became mesmerized by her beauty. A face I had seen time and time again now looked different. It resembled one of extraordinary beauty. The kind of beauty that was rare and not many deserved to see.

Goddess. I was a goner from the moment I walked into that room that night.

For a split second, I believed in something more for us, that we could actually be... But then reality washed over me and I remembered my mother's words.

'You will fall at the hands of your mate'.

Our future had already been written and my mother had seen her. She would be my doom and I could not have that. I had people to protect.

I had my hands around her neck, like she had on mine this evening, when her eyes snapped open.

I was standing over her in the middle of the night like I was some kind of opportunist.

Safe to say I had gotten the beat down of a lifetime from the guards and a talking to from Carl. I kept quiet, and remained in the basement for the duration of the day.

With my Alpha power I could have easily overpowered them, but I had to stay hidden. I was playing the role of the poor Omega who had been taken in by the generous Alpha.

So I allowed them to beat me. I took every punch and scratch like a man until one of them delivered the final blow and knocked me out unconscious. That was when I lost communication with my men.

But the most painful part of that night wasn't the beat down I got. No. It was the fact Eva had whispered his name in her sleep. She was dreaming of him. Reagan.

But how could I blame her? She had been brainwashed into believing that he was the shining prince. The one that everyone adored. But little did they know of the demon hiding behind his mask.

I knew that this would happen. I knew that Reagan was planning an attack. He had been following me for some time and when I heard of this late birthday that my lovely little mate was throwing, I knew that he would be in attendance.

If only I had been quicker with my response. If only I hadn't gotten distracted along the way. All these innocent lives could have been spared.

Reagan would pay. It was only a matter of time before he did.

The man had fooled everyone but me. I knew who he really was.

Everything was going well until about a month ago when I had led my men to the forest to subdue a group of rogues that had cropped up.

At this time, I happened to be caught by Reagan. I tried to conceal myself, and hide my true identity from him. I'd known Reagan for almost a year at this point, meeting him when he had once offered to bring me food for Carl.

Another ploy, I'm sure, because instead of giving it to me, he ate it in front of me before calling me a 'filthy Omega.'

I wasn't sure how much Carl had told him, but If he knew that I had been leaving the basement, there was no doubt he'd find some way to use it against me, and I couldn't afford that.

But it was too late. He saw me and instantly recognized me. The look on his face when he did was sinister and vengeful; like he held a secret no one else knew. I was confused as to why he was so deep in the woods. Then I saw a rogue approach him from behind. But instead of tearing Reagan apart, he listened to his commands. And it clicked. He was their leader.

Reagan's smile vanished and he lunged for me. I dodged his attack and raced through the forest with him not far behind. Luckily, I was quick enough to throw him off my scent.

I knew then that I needed to get back to Blue Lake before Reagan had a chance to alert anyone. Once I reached the courtyard, I heard her. Then I saw her.

Eva was standing on the edge of a cliff. Her back was to it and a rogue had her trapped. There was no where for her to go.

I was terrified that her cries would attract Reagan, so I did the only thing I could. I lunged for it, taking it out from the side, then racing off before she could even see what had happened. I didn't look back, but I heard a scream and then Reagan's voice speaking to her in low, dulcit tones, soaking in the glory that came with 'saving' her.

It wasn't long after that Carl sent people to survey the area of Blue Lake. My men and I were cut off from contact. They were unable to penetrate the borders littered with men Reagan supplied, and I hadn't heard from them since. Until tonight, when the attack took place.

“What should we do with her?" Stephen's voice came through, bringing me back to reality.

I sighed and finally broke my gaze from Eva's body.

“Pick her up and bring her with us. She is now a maid for the Bloodmoon pack."