Runaway Rogue

Chapter Eight: Indigo's POV

Indigo knew it was him immediately. She knew it just from being around him, just from seeing the back of his head, from feeling the way her body slackened for him. The relief of seeing a head of golden copper hair had been immense. It wasn't Andrew. Her mate wasn't the man who had purchased her.

But he had been fixed on Paris.

Now, she was on top of him, holding his strange blade towards his throat.

She refused to look at him, keeping her eyes locked on the pack member who held Paris. The little brown wolf had stopped screaming, her entire body going limp with shock. Indigo had a thousand feelings right now, but ignored every single one of them.

"Let her go," Indigo snarled at the man still clinging to Paris. He just gawked at her, wide eyed, glancing down at the large man she currently straddled. Fine, she would make him take her seriously. The weapon inched closer to the man's throat. "Let her go now or I'll kill him."

Could she really do it? Did she actually want to hurt this man? She doubted it. Mate bonds were unbelievably strong, so much so that causing him any harm would likely cripple her just the same. But, for all they knew, she was a heartless rogue who might just have it in her. It's not like they knew that she had just found her mate anyway.

They all remained at a stand-still. The man beneath her was alive. Someone still held on to Paris.

Warm hands brushed against her thighs. Indigo bit down on her lower lip hard enough that she could taste blood. Having a man barely touch her and having her body respond so readily was a goddamn sin. Did her wolf have no shame? This was a life and death situation and there were people all around her.

But, clearly threatening to kill this man did nothing. And if he was feeling the mate bond as strongly as she was, then she knew how to rattle him.

"Let her go," she ordered again, this time lowering her gaze to the face of the man beneath her.

Fucking perfection. It was her only thought. He had been made for her. Emerald green eyes that sung with intelligence, full lips, tanned skin, stubble on his jaw. The blade automatically moved away from his throat. Bodily harm was no longer an option. But she saw the shock on his face and she knew what would be. "Let her go or I'll make sure you never see me again."

"If you're going to threaten me with that, I feel like I should tell you that I'm a pretty accomplished tracker." Hell, his voice was low and rough, making her feel like she was wrapped in it, sweet as honey. He must have known what he was doing when his mouth curled into a cocky smirk, revealing white teeth.

Paris gave out a feeble whimper.

"Is that so?" Indigo taunted. "From what I remember, you couldn't even find me while I was in heat and my body was calling for you. It's your choice really. You either let her go or you run the risk of never seeing me again."

He watched her, his gaze searching for any sign of weakness, any sign that she might have been bluffing. There was none to be found. Indigo might have had an animal inside her, but she still knew her values. She knew who she could trust and the man beneath her was not on that list.

"Let her go," he finally agreed.

"But the alpha--" another began.

"Let her go, I will deal with the alpha," he grunted.

"And if anyone tries to follow her or track her, I will test your so-called tracking skills," Indigo warned.

"No one will go after her," the man vowed, his hands squeezing her thighs where they rested. "I swear."

"I will find out," she warned.

He didn't move his hands off her and his touch was all she could think about. "I don't doubt it. Now, if you would kindly set aside my axe."

Indigo did one better. She climbed off him entirely, rising to her feet and turning to the group who had been watching in silence. "No one moves until she is off the packlands," Indigo ordered.

"Who the fuck are you?" one of the men snarled. "You don't give orders here. You're a rogue. You're scum. Killing you where you stand would be a mercy to us all."

For a brief second, Indigo thought he might do it. She had no chance. Paris was a fast wolf, that was for sure, but she was relearning her body in wolf form, having spent so little time in it. And Paris could never claim to be a fighter. Indigo had no chance to save Paris and herself if this became physical.

"She goes free," the man, her mate, stated.

"And this one?" replied the other, nodding his head towards Indigo.

"She stays with me."

The words were a handcuff closing around Indigo's wrist. The person holding Paris slowly released her and the little wolf paused. It was amazing how much Paris shone through the creature, watching Indigo intently, searching for a sign. When Indigo nodded, she took off at a sprint, going back the way they had come on to the land. Indigo stayed, watching the others, making sure no one even considered following.

And once Paris was gone, it hit her like a freight train.

Paris had shifted. And through chasing her, the two of them had ended up in werewolf territory that had not been marked on the map. They were less than six kilometers from the town where they just moved to in an effort to escape werewolves, specifically the one who had ignited her heat, and now she was literally in their backyard.

Andrew was not her mate. She had been sold to a cruel alpha who had traumatized her and he wasn't even the one she was meant for. Had her parents known that he was lying? Did they even care with that kind of money on the table?

Would this man crumple if Andrew put an amount in front of him? How much money would it take?

At some point, she must have dropped the strange axe. Her mate swooped down to pick it up. The others just stared at her. Or maybe they were staring at him, wondering why he denied the clear wishes of their alpha.

When the man rose again, it was clear he didn't know how to proceed. In fairness, she didn't either. Her first instinct was to flee, that's what she had become very good at. Unfortunately, she was at a significant disadvantage. She had already run here, was tired and dehydrated, and her fleeing could mean that they would also go after Paris. Plus, she didn't really want to test her mate's claim that he was a decent hunter.

"You got any alcohol in this place?" she asked. "I think I could use a drink."

Her handsome mate nodded mutely, acting like his mouth was unable to form words.

And she would have a drink. Maybe she would stay a while. But she certainly was not going to stay forever.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

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