Rogue Heart (Wolf Series #3)

Rogue Heart 4

Fifteen years old Thanatos groaned in pain while he kept tossing and turning around his bed in a small room located at the pack's warehouse. He was burning with fever.

Last night, he had received a fair of beatings from his stepbrothers because he broke the plate accidentally when the Alpha's family was eating. Thanatos was neglected and maltreated because he was the product of a one-night mistake of the Lionheart pack leader.

The wounds from his body throbbed, and he couldn't do anything but endure it until it heals on its own. Thanatos gritted his teeth and gripped the thin sheets tightly as he could.

The rattling sound in the metal door snapped him out. Dizzy from the high fever, Thanatos slowly looked in front of him while clutching his stomach. Aside from cold, he's also famished because he didn't get to eat.

"Hey, trash! Don't think that we are done with you because we are not!" the voice yelled outside. Thanatos flinched and glared. He recognized the voice. It was one of the twins the Alpha had.

"Open this f*****g door, Thanatos, or I will force it down," he yelled and banged the door loud that it hurt Thanatos' ears. He slowly got up from the bed and weakly walked to the door. Thanatos pulled the door open and was greeted by a hand around his neck, strangling him hard.

"What took you so f*****g long, huh?" his stepbrother said while glaring at him. Thanatos swatted his hand away, trying to breathe for air.

"Jasper, you're going to kill him," another man said. Jasper smirked and let go of Thanatos' neck. Thanatos slumped on the ground, holding his bruised neck while coughing.

"You ruined the fun, Jacob," Jasper said and lit his cigarette. He stared at Thanatos and puffed the smoke out of his mouth.

"Hey, if you kill him, then we will lose our toy," Jacob said, which made Jasper roll his eyes.

"I have an idea," Jasper said. Thanatos kept coughing when Jasper grabbed his thin arms and dragged him out of the warehouse. Jacob followed behind them while crossing his arms on his chest.

"What are you going to do?" Jacob asked when they arrived at the field.

"Just watch," Jasper said and harshly pushed Thanatos to the ground. Thanatos groaned when his back hit a rock. He tried to look at the twins, but the light was blinding his sight. He's also dizzy because of the headache and fever.

"Trash, you see that pole over there?" Jasper said and pointed the pole in the center of the field. He squatted down and grabbed his hair. Thanatos grunted.

"Race with me, and if you win, we'll stop torturing you," Jasper whispered cunningly. He knew Thanatos was unwell and wasn't fit to race with him, but he still insisted. Thanatos couldn't do anything but nod his head weakly.

"Alright," Jasper said. Jacob chuckled when he saw his twin stretched. Thanatos tried to get up but stumble on the first try. He tried once again until he's up on his feet while panting hardly.

"Jacob, you count, okay?" Jasper said and transformed into his wolf form. Thanatos did the same and looked ahead. He's getting dizzy every minute. He just wanted to lie on his mattress and sleep.

"Fine, you fucker," Jacob muttered. "One...two …three!" he yelled. Jasper rushed forward, leaving Thanatos, who was struggling behind him. Thanatos ran, but he felt heavy. He felt like the world was spinning. Thanatos heard Jasper shouted triumphantly. He laid on the ground, already back to his human form.

"You know the drill, trash. You lost," Jasper said while grinning evilly. "Let the fun begin," he added and began to drag Thanatos' body to the torture room.

-

Thanatos snapped out of his daydreaming when a knock on the door interrupted him. Santi entered his office and sat in the chair in front of him.

"Are you alright?" Santi asked.

"What the f**k is that question? Of course, I am," he said. The events that had happened earlier shocked him. He never expected to see his fated mate among the she-wolves he intends to give to the vampires.

The initial reaction he received from his mate was fear knowing she paired with the notorious rogue and criminal of the North. The scared looked on the woman's face, and her little cries echoed throughout the house, infuriated him.

"Where is she?" Thanatos asked. His beast wouldn't calm down until he sees the woman, but he refuses to do so.

"Where else? You said to put her to prison, and I did," Santi answered, which earned a glare from Thanatos. He rubbed his temple and groaned. He had perfectly planned everything, but why does it happen to him? Why now? He doesn't want a mate. It will only hinder his plans to get his revenge, but he couldn't reject her because of his beast. The bond was strong even without his mate bearing his mark.

"Separate her from the she-wolves we will give," he ordered.

"I already did," Santi replied immediately. Thanatos nodded his head and closed his eyes as he can feel the headache coming.

"What will you do, Than? Will you send her to the Boudelaires?" Santi asked. He wanted to know Thanatos' plan. Thanatos emitted a loud growl and slammed his fist on the table.

"I will not!" Thanatos yelled. His expression darkened, and his pupils dilated because of anger. Santi knowingly looked at him and raised his eyebrows.

"And? What will you do with her?" Santi asked once again. Thanatos leaned on the chair's headrest and heaved a sigh.

"Just leave her be...for now," Thanatos said. He doesn't know what to do. His heart beats erratically at the mention of his mate being handed to the hands of Boudelaires. It terrifies him, and he doesn't want this feeling.

"I will make a decision later. For now, let's do our job," Thanatos said. "Make sure the goods are well taken care of before we send them to the Boudelaires," he added. Santi nodded his head and left his office, leaving him staring into space with many things and a woman in his mind.