No Wolf's End (Book 3 Of Mckayla Series)

Chapter 25

Nina

   I swept my fingers through the entanglement of Rogue's hair. Sitting alongside her, she laid soundless on the couch. The grim expresssion she had for the last hour soften overtime.

   Lifting off the couch Rogue's hand caught my wrist. "Go back to sleep." I whispered soft and soothing.

   "Are they gone?" She was referring to the vampires who attacked her.

   "Yes." I smiled once her eyes opened to me. "Karen was the hero of the night."

   Rogue laughed, grunting when she triggered the pain from her wounds. "What about my part?"

   My eyes wondered around pretending to evaluate her actions in considering her an additional hero. "It would have been a whole lot easier if you staid inside."

   Rogue nodded. "I guess Karen took the whole hero trophy than."

   "I would say so." We sat quiet, a comfortable silence brewing between us. I stared down at the carpet getting lost in my thoughts of how Mckayla was doing.

  "Hey..."

   A few heartbeats passed when I gave Rogue my attention. "Hmm?"

   Lifting her head up, Rogue winced forgetting her unhealed injuries. "Shit." She tried repositioning to a new comfortable posture. I gave her another pilow, placing it under her head. Rogue grabbed my hand and I looked down unsure of how to respond. "It will always be Mckayla...?"

Was she asking me a question? I sat straighter, twisting my head away in awkwardness from her question. It was clear how Rogue felt. In many ways I liked Rogue. I liked what she stood for and her strength. But then there was Mckayla. I sighed, facing Rogue with new bravery and honesty. "Yes."

   Rogue nodded shutting her eyes. "I see that. I really do. It just feels rewarding having someone like you...see me."

   My expression skewed, perplexed by her statement.

   "Your heart. Sweet and kind. Everyone loved you. I've seen you run into danger for Mckayla. It is clear now that you would never do that for me. Not for the reasons you would do for her."

   "Rogue"--

   --"It's okay." Rogue smiled genuinely. "You have to follow your heart and your wolf." Looking me directly in my eyes, I turned way submissive and Rogue squeezed my hand tighter, making me face her again. "You will never have her if you don't accept all that comes with Mckayla."

   "I know," I said defensively.

   "You say that, but do you mean it?"

   I stopped myself from answering too quickly. Taking her words seriously I thought of all that would come with Mckayla. Her being hybrid, her past, a missed opportunity in having cubs of our own, and Elena. With a long sigh I said, "I love Mckayla and I rather accept all of her than have none of her."

   Rogue smiled and went back to running my fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes and I could hear her heartbeat slowing.

   The concept of me losing Mckayla to Elena or no one at all, set off a new ambition in proving to Mckayla that we were meant to be together. The how, in showing her that was a bit hazy but by the end of this she would know. Either she loved me still or she didn't. At the end, at least I would give it my all.

   I watched Rogue drift to sleep and smiled. "You will find your mate. She's closer than you may think." If Rogue was truly my mate her wolf would desire me stronger than her words could. The fact that her wolf was quiet was a sure sign Rogue wasn't supposed to be with me.