Elegantly Rogue

C H A P T E R 8

Blair

     “Come on, Blair! Faster!” 

I clenched my jaw in an attempt to block out his voice while pushing myself to hit the tree waster than I already was. The bandages I had wrapped around my knuckles weren’t doing much to soften the impact that the blows had on my hands. My arms were protesting, feeling heavy as they burned from the exertion. I wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor and cradle my hands against my chest, maybe cry if my eyes allowed me to. 

But I knew better than to do that. 

     “You’re punching like a human. Do you think a human stands a chance against us? No. At this rate, you won’t either.”

I let a growl build up in my throat as I applied more force, the impact of my punches nearly causing my arm to go limp. I forced the pain to the back of my mind and focused on my anger and the burning feeling spreading through my body. 

I was vaguely aware of the blood that was starting to smear against the tree trunk. Clearly the bandages hadn’t served me as well as I thought they would. I let out a frustrated sound when my father grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me away from the tree. 

     “Enough.” 

Enough? So it was only enough once I was bleeding? 

I ripped my arm out of his hold and stared up at him with narrowed eyes. It felt as if there was fire pumping through my veins. The fact that I could feel his anger seeping into the air wasn’t making me feel any beter. I forced myself to stay composed as I made a show of looking down at the bloodied bandages. 

     “I think I should go and get myself cleaned up.” 

I didn’t bother waiting for his reaction before I set off in the direction of the river. 

~•°•~

     “Ms. Carmichael?” 

I opened my eyes, only to shut them immediately to block out the brightness of my surroundings. I opened them once more, blinking rapidly in order to get my eyes to adjust. I could feel myself tending up once more as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings. I sat upright and growled lowly at the two women who were staring at me with cautious eyes. 

It felt as if my head was hit by a rock when I started remembering what had happened yesterday. The growl died down as I recalled where I was, but my anger didn’t dissipate. I glared at the two women, waiting for them to state their business. 

     “The Al-pha requests for you to do see him.” 

My eyes focused on the younger woman, mentally scoffing at her lack of composure. The catch in her voice had clearly been from her fear. My attention turned to the older woman when she moved towards me and out the clothes she was holding on the edge of the bed. 

     “Sam, why don’t you do yourself a favor and go have your lunch? You look a little pale. Some food should get the color back in your face. I’ll take care of Ms. Carmichael.” 

A smile covered her features, but even I could tell that it wasn’t a genuine one. I watched Sam leave the room, her steps as unsteady as her voice had been and I had to resist the urge to laugh at her. My eyes snapped back to the older woman when she cleared her throat and I couldn’t help but feel as if I had seen her somewhere before. There was a familiarity amongst her features that I couldn’t quite place. 

     “My name is Genevieve, but you can call me Gigi. I’m here to help you get ready if that’s what you need.” 

I flinched away from her hand when she moved it towards me and I felt my face pull into a sneer. She was holding her hand close to me, and all I did was stare at it. I didn’t know how long we stayed like that before I lifted my hand and laid it in hers.

She helped me out of the bed and I mentally cursed when my legs started trembling beneath my weight. Gigi folded an arm around my waist and helped stabilize me as I waited for the strength to return to my limbs. 

     “Do you know what’s wrong with me?” 

The question slipped out and I turned my head to the side so that I could look at her. A small smile covered her features before she started leading me towards a door at the opposite side of the room. Earlier when I had noticed it, I had wondered if perhaps it was a way out. Turns out that I may be right. 

     “Believe it or not, there isn’t actually anything wrong with you, love. You’re perfectly fine. You just haven’t had the chance to move around as much as you usually do so your limbs are asleep in a way of sorts.” 

I was slightly confused by her explanation but I didn’t bother saying so. It was pointless for me to draw out this encounter. When I reached out and opened the door I felt another wave of confusion collide with me and I turned to Gigi once more, expecting an explanation from her. 

     “This is called a bathroom, love. You clean yourself up in here. This is soap. You put it on his scrunch is and then it’ll clean—”

     “I’m not entirely stupid.” 

I mentally cursed myself for allowing my annoyance to get the best of me. It seemed as if I was somehow inferior when compared to her and I disliked the feeling. 

     “What I don’t know how to use is all of these other things.”

I stared at her expectantly, but she kept quite as she continued to observe me.

     “On second thought, I have an even better idea. You should all just let me go. I’ve survived for the past nineteen years with none of your, so I should be capable of surviving some more.” 

My anger and irritation was starting to build up and I my body tensed as Gigi pulled me aside and pushed me down onto something that looked like a chair. She stared into my eyes and I felt my mouth pull down as I recognized the sympathy in her gaze. There was something else swirling in the depths of her eyes, but it was much harder to define. 

     “I admire your strength, Blair. You’re unlike any other rogue that I’ve ever come across. You’re witty. Naturally confident. And brave in ways that a pack wolf isn’t.” 

I looked down at my hands as she spoke to me and I noticed the dried blood caked beneath my nails. I forced down the nausea as I lifted my eyes back up to Gigi who had also looked down at my hands for a moment. It wouldn’t surprise me if she knew what I had done to that wolf. 

     “You don’t strike me as the type of person to back down from a challenge. And I’m not sure about you, but I think this chance to be a part of the pack is a challenge. So, I don’t see why you’re backing down from it.” 

I looked back down at my hands, remaining silent. It took a moment or two for her to realize that I wasn’t planning on saying anything back to her and she let out a sigh before she continued explaining.

     “Well, this is a shower and these are faucets...” 

Matthew

I found myself staring at Shane and yet not hearing a word that he was saying. No matter how much I tried to concentrate on what he was saying, I found my thoughts traveling to memories of the dark haired raven that I could call my mate. 

We were sitting in my office and my eyes snapped towards the door when I heard a light knock against it. I felt myself smile and I leaned back in my chair.

     “Come in.” 

It came as no surprise when Ivy and Ana came in. My eyes focused on Ana, noticing the smile she seemed to plaster onto her face as she turned around to close the door. I kept my composure and waited patiently for them to come to me. 

Ivy was beside me first, which came as no surprise since Ana always took the time to close the door before coming this way. I payed careful attention to Ivy as she launched into the story of everything that happened at school. I made sure to deliver a comment when it was needed so that she knew I was indeed listening. 

But after a while, I could feel my attention start to weaver as I registered that Ana was silently looking at the picture frames hanging on the walls. Usually she would talk to Shane whenever she was waiting for Ivy to finish up her stories. 

I couldn’t help but feel relief when Ivy said her goodbyes and kissed me on the cheek before she rushed out the door, uncaring of the schoolbag that she had left by my feet. I didn’t miss the look she gave Ana before she actually left the office and that was all it took for me to know what there was indeed something bothering my daughter.

     “Ana?” 

I knew from where she was standing that she was looking at an old Christmas picture of Louella and I. My prompt for her attention had done the job and she turned around to look at me but didn’t dare move closer. 

I felt myself frown and I stood up, starting to make my way towards her. Her eyes darted to Shane for barely a moment before I crouched down so that it would be easier for her to look at me. 

     “I’ll wait until you’re done talking to Uncle Shane.” 

She didn’t bother waiting for me to say anything before she skipped over to the couch and sat down in the very centre. I turned to look at Shane, who had already realized what was going on and was collecting his things. 

     “Actually I was just about to leave. We finished up our business before you got back from school. I’ll see you around, Champ.” 

She smiled when he used the nickname, but she didn’t bother to wave a goodbye as he left. I went to her once the door had shut behind him and crouched down in front of the space where she was sitting. 

     “Is everything alright, Princess? Why do those eyes look so sad?” 

As if on cue, her eyes welled up with tears and I stood up and sat down beside her, pulling her into my lap so that I could cradle her against my chest. My mind was trying to conjure up reasons for the way she was feeling but it was failing miserably. 

     “You lied.”

I watched her bottom lip tremble as a tear slipped down her cheek and I frowned as I turned to look at her. 

     “Baby, what do you mean I lied?” 

     “You said you would take me to see the lady. But you didn’t. You lied.” 

She wiped at her tears and pushed away from me but I sighed before I pulled her back against my chest and started to stroke her hair. I hadn’t realized how important it was for her to see Blair again. 

     “Her name is Blair, Princess. It’s quite pretty, don’t you think?” 

I tried distracting her from her original request. Whatever was bothering her needed to come out. If it was because I lied or because I still hadn’t allowed her to meet with Blair needed to be clarified. I mind linked my mother, knowing this was something serious. 

     ‘How long before you get here with Blair?’

I couldn’t have been more relieved when my mothers voice filled my mind a few moments later. 

     ‘We're already walking home, love. Why? Is there a problem?’ 

     ‘I'll explain what’s happening as soon as you get here.’ 

"Daddy, I want Blair!” 

Ana had barely finished choking out her sentence before the tears started flowing down her cheeks at full force and her shoulders started to shake. I gathered her up in my arms and started walking around the room while cradling her. She needed to calm down.