Rogue. Beta

10. INDIE

He had so much love to give, it made me ache that I would hurt him so much. He loved his family. He loved his pack. He was better than I deserved and I knew he would hate me very soon. Oh, he would loath my existence. It made me sick just thinking of him not being affectionate with me.

Stop being so sentimental, Cosima. You’re on a mission. Think of father. You don’t want to disappoint him, do you?

That thought made fear slam into me. I shook my head. I would not disappoint Papa.

“Are you alright?” He asked with a frown.

We stood before my door, right before I got in. He started work in full swing the next day so he would need quality rest. He put up a lot of trouble as to my returning to my room, but I wasn’t going to stay in his. If I had to keep a clear head, I would have to do it while spending minimum time with him.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I looked up to give him a grin and not for the first time, I was captivated by his beauty.

‘Goodness gracious,’ I thought. ‘This is one incredibly fine man!’

“Why, thank you. That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me all week,” He said out loud, a smirk pulling up his lips. My heart slammed.

No. No. No way!

I didn’t know much about mates but I knew mated wolves could hear each other’s thoughts after a few weeks of mating. That would be detrimental to my mission. It would destroy it.

Did he just read my mind?

“No, Indigo. I didn’t read your mind. You said that out loud.” He answered with a smirk.

‘Oh, thank god. But that’s still embarrassing though!’ I thought again.

“It’s not. I am an incredibly fine man. Nothing to be ashamed of,” He teased.

“Get out of my head!” I exclaimed. He burst into loud, rich laughter.

“I’m not in your head. You just aren’t thinking quietly.”

A pause.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come up to my suite with me?”

“Yeah. I’m still trying to get that online degree,” I lied.

“I can help with that. I graduated top of my class. You sure you don’t need help?”

“Positive. Your eyes are red rimmed. You start work tomorrow. You should take a bath and fall into bed. I’ll be here being a little nerd. Good night.” I rose on my tip toes to kiss his cheeks before freezing, drawing back.

“Want something?” Amusement danced in his eyes, making me pout.

I pulled my lips back into a neutral position when I realized what I was doing. Cosima Luciano, pouting!?

“Looks like baby wants a kiss.” He leaned forward and my eyes drifted shut, waiting for the slow burn of passion. It never came. I opened my eyes to glare at his mocking face.

“Are you going to kiss me goodnight or not?” He asked, one thick brow raising in question.

For the second time, I rose on my tip toes to kiss his cheeks but –

“Not fair!” I exclaimed as he straightened to his full height again. Being short was a curse sometimes.

“Want a kiss, shortie?” He purred from up above.

“Yes,” I almost exclaimed. “Am I getting one or not? “ I resisted a pout.

“Anything for my baby.” He winked.

Two girls passing before my door cooed but they didn’t exist to me in that moment.

And because he could, he lifted me off the ground.

“Better?” He asked

“Much.” And finally, I had my lips on his. I tugged at his hands, enjoying his sharp intake of breath. It was a trick I discovered on our first night together. It made him really hot. It made me hotter.

One of his hands splayed on my back, holding me to him while the other squeezed my thigh. A few minutes later, I drew up for breath. His lips peppered kisses from my lips down to my neck. I felt the moment he reached his mark. My body zinged and his heart skipped.

“Guys, you’re right in front of her door. You could just – you know... Get inside the room! “ My next door neighbour exclaimed, poking her head through her door. We ignored her at first. At least, that’s what I wanted us to do but Mason had other ideas.

“She’s right,” He mumbled against my lips, pushing open my door.

We stumbled into the dark room but there was no need to turn on the lights. Our wolves were so close to the surface we didn’t need to wait for them to sharpen our vision.

“If Armstrong will not go to the moon then the moon will come to Armstrong, hmmm?”

“Seriously, Mason. Just kiss me. Please,” I answered in a hoarse voice.

“As you wish, Princess.”

°°

A week later and I knew I was royally f****d. Totally, incredibly f****d. Screwed over. It was bad. Terrible. Nightmarish. I wouldn’t wish this kind of dilemma on my ex. I wouldn’t wish it on Ashley. Heck, I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy.

Growing up as the rogue lord’s daughter, things are expected of you. Being a Luciano meant danger. Then more danger and more f*****g danger. But never like this.

My duty was simple. Spy on the Silver Day pack. It was my choice to befriend them and get so involved with their activities. I chose to befriend them first because it was easier to backstab a friend. After all, no one watches their back amongst friends.

Nowhere in my small plan was I supposed to fall for anyone, especially not someone as sweet as Mason Hanson. I was in a dilemma. A big freaking dilemma. How the heck was I supposed to get out?

The more he kissed me, the more my heart threatened to explode. It wasn’t only the desire there. There was also guilt.

This man, this fine man with his dimpled smile and coffee scent with a hint of lavender was going to be a problem. My father would eliminate every single person standing as a problem to this mission. It made my heart clench knowing I could lose him. I would lose him.

His lips brushed against my eyelids, one after the other.

“Morning, Princess.” His husky voice said, sending shivers throughout my body.

Princess. I was the princess to my father’s empire. His quest for power was my quest for power because ultimately, the rogue mafia was my legacy too. My heritage.

Did I want to risk that? Was I ready to lose that? No. No f*****g way.

All my life, I had had people outside of dad’s crime group look at me like I was nothing. This was my chance to get everything.

You wouldn’t be getting everything if you lose Mason, though.

My subconscious was right.

How was I going to keep Mason with me and still get everything else I wanted? I wanted Mason Hanson. In a few days, he had wormed his way into my life to become a central part of it. Oh, I wanted to keep Mason Hanson but would he still want me when he finds out? Would he still look at me with soft eyes if he knew what I was plotting with my father?

No. No, he wouldn’t.

He was sworn to protect those I was ready to destroy.

He looked at me and saw a fragile girl with a traumatic past. A girl he thought he had to protect. I didn’t need protecting. He would floor me in hand combat but no one could handle a firearm as well as I could. Like the firearm in my dresser. The one my father got me for my fifteenth birthday.

He didn’t know me so he couldn’t love me. If he ever figured out who I was, he would surely hate me. My heart clenched again.

He placed a final kiss on my chin before rolling out of bed.

My eyes flew open at that. It had been a few days but we had a morning ritual already. Whoever woke up first kissed the other awake then we had a little sexy time. We would go to his bathroom and waste more time and water. Sometimes, we just splashed each other. Other times we pressed so hard against each other like we were trying to mould into one.

Today, he was already stepping out of the bathroom, pulling on jeans as he went.

Checking the time, I saw it was only a few minutes past seven.

“Where are you going? “ I asked, snuggling into a pillow. The room was still dark and my body was tired.

“Dylan called a meeting.” He pulled on a black shirt.

“At this god awful hour?”

“Yeah. Must be serious. Something about a rogue attack.” My heartbeat skyrocketed. How could they know?

“A-are under attack?”

“No.” He pressed a kiss to my lips, tasting like mint toothpaste. “An infiltration in Canada. Culprit stabbed himself to avoid questioning. Now we have to do some paper works and more boring stuff. We’re safe, babe.”

How? Was it another gang moving in on my father’s kill? Not possible. We were the only ones of our kind. Except... Lone wolves! Still not possible. No werewolf crime group was big enough to go against the Silver Day pack. None except us.

“Are you sure? “

“Yes, now sleep. Don’t be scared. No one is getting to you. I’ll protect you. “

“My big bad wolf,” I muttered with a silly smile.

Gods, my heart was full. It threatened to burst out of its place. I didn’t need protecting. But the fact that no one except my father had ever spoken about looking out for me made me warm.

Mason Hanson was an entire package and I did not want to drop him. He was a package I hadn’t known I needed. He was perfect. The most perfect mate a girl could ever have. I was lucky. My heart ached again. Was it possible to fall in love in such a short time?

“Auuuuhh,” He howled playfully, raising his head to the ceiling. “Don’t miss me too much. I’ll be back soon.” He kissed me for the umpteenth time while grabbing his phone.

“I’ll try not to,” I answered with a big, goofy grin.

“Also, don’t move your cute butt out of that bed. I like seeing you in my clothes, sprawled on my bed.”

“More than seeing me nude in bed?” I teased, grinning as his pupils dilated.

“Come on, now. You know I don’t have time to play. Don’t put ideas in my he – Indigo, don’t you dare take off – Oh goddess...”

“Like what you see?” I asked, taking off his oversized T-shirt as I sat up on the bed, baring myself to him.

“Babe –“ He choked out.

I grinned again, loving how fast he reacted to me. It sent a shot of pride to my head knowing I had this man –this powerful man – wrapped around my fingers.

“Come on, you know you want a taste of this,” I taunted, cupping my breasts.

“You know I do – f**k. Dylan’s going to have my head,” He said before rushing back to my side.

His head dipped and I made sure to moan extra sultrily as he punished my moves with a breath-taking kiss, pushing my hands away from my chest.

And because I was in a peculiar mood that day, I pushed him off as he started to slide into bed.

“You have a meeting to attend, darling,” I said, dashing to the bathroom.

I laughed loudly as he cussed from where I left him, cheeks hurting and body burning. Man, I was tormenting myself along with him but it felt so good!

“Not fair!” He shouted and I giggled some more.

A while later, I heard the door to the suite close, but not before he told me to “Wear something nice. We’re going out for breakfast! Byeee.”