Ignite [Wattys 2024 Shortlist] | ✔

08

Burning Bridges

HADEN

        The morning came too quickly.

The sunlight spilled into my office from the corner window, erasing the events of last night. After I returned to the pack house last night, I buried myself under paperwork, reviewing the documents for the new rogue locked up in the cells downstairs.

It was necessary, I had convinced myself last night, because the pack needed its safety and stability. It was the best thing to do and, most importantly, it was my only escape from marching up to that bedroom and trying to claim the woman as my own.

This fucking mate bond was becoming unbearable.

As I leaned up from the couch, the stiffness in my muscles served as a tangible consequence of the uncomfortable position I had fallen asleep in. Wincing, I twisted my head, attempting to shake off the residual discomfort before rising to my feet and heading to the adjoined bathroom.

Freshly showered and clothed, I sat behind my desk, taking note of the disarray of papers scattered across my desk with the early morning light erasing the shadows above it. Almost wished it would wipe away the last few days. How the fuck was I supposed to lead a pack with a rogue by my side?

Cursing under my breath, I began to sort through the papers on my desk and willed my mind to focus. The rogue problems were becoming out of control. Two rogue attacks in the same week weren't a coincidence. Then there's the matter of the break-in attempt, no doubt caused by a rogue. Something was going on and I wasn't going to stop until I got to the bottom of it.

My chair creaked as I leaned back, contemplating the looming tasks ahead. I knew the rogue that we managed to capture last night would need to be interrogated. I could only hope that he would be able to give me some answers on what the hell was going on. That would be first, then I'd talk to the woman who had been bonded to me.

I forced myself to accept what she was – a rogue – but her mere presence in this house pulled at the animalistic urge to mark her. Her captivating blue eyes, like diamonds, continued to haunt my thoughts. It was fucking frustrating. I couldn't admire the way she stood her ground. I couldn't lose myself in her intoxicating scent. I couldn't crave the feeling of her skin against mine. I couldn't be attracted to her.

I couldn't.

My wolf led the charge in my head, wanting to be as close to this woman as physically possible; wanting to claim her as his. Internally, I fought through the chains of control and conflicting emotions knowing that things had to be the way they were until I got some answers.

The knock on my office doors brought me back to this reality and, before I could say anything, James walked in with his his hands tied behind his back. He glanced at where I sat then at the couch before his narrowed eyes turned to look at me.

"You slept in here, didn't you?" he asked.

"My sleeping arrangements should be the least of your concerns," I muttered, my eyes refocusing on the documents before me. "Did you interrogate the rogue?"

The detached tone in my voice didn't come as a surprise to my Beta as he stood in front of my office desk. I didn't look up at him as I asked, my eyes focused on the massive pile of paperwork on my desk.

"Of course, Alpha," James answered confidently.

"What did you find out?" I followed up, this time glancing up at him. Styled in a classic white T-shirt and ripped jeans, with his hand clasped in front of him, he met my gaze with no hesitation or fear.