The Alpha's Little Rogue| ✓

4| adieu

"Call me." Patricia had been hugging me, or rather resting her chin on my shoulder for the last five minutes, murmuring instructions into my ear and telling me random things she had heard about my mate. I don't know why because the only thing it did was make me more guarded around him. I did not want to be tied to a tree upside down.

"I will." I said for the hundredth time, rolling my eyes and patting her back sympathetically. Despite multiple goodbyes before Patty didn't make this one any shorter. Julia had already taken her turn before as she knew Patricia was a time hog.

"No you won't! You'll be too busy making gorgeous babies with your gorgeous mate in your gorgeous home with fabulous pack mates!" She whined.

"Woah, who said anything about staying there? Aren't you getting a little carried away?" I asked her with a smile.

"He's your mate." She stated the obvious.

"I know that."

"You aren't planning on staying with him?" She looked shocked. Julia who was picking blades of grass from the ground stood up and looked at me shaking her head.

"Did you mention that little detail to him?" Julia asked me.

"I don't see the need to." I shrugged. "I'll check out the scene, maybe stay a month till my leg heals and go out again."

"But, he's your mate and haven't you heard? Your home is where your heart is!" Patty exclaimed.

"This is my home." I pointed out to her. "I love you, Jules and James more than anyone in this world, doesn't mean I stay here do I?"

"I'm afraid that's not how a mate bond works Rose." Jules interrupted. "I know how much you want to preserve your wild spirit but he's your mate, and an Αlpha none the less, he won't let you out of his sight for long."

I pondered over that for a short while, simultaneously thinking about how little Jules and Patty really knew about me. James and his parents were the only ones who knew my true reasons for continuing to stay a rogue despite their readiness at accepting me as a part of their loving pack.

A mate bond was strong, but surely Alpha Jackson would understand my reasons, if not then too bad. I made a mental note to remind myself to bring up this topic as soon as possible, as being on the receiving end of a temper well known wasn't a part of my bucket list.

"We'll see." I replied pursing my lips. From my peripheral vision I could see Alpha Jackson standing close enough to see me but far enough to give me enough privacy to say my goodbyes.

His rigid posture and flickering eyes made a small smile slide into my face. He probably felt my state, for at the exact moment that I looked at his face, his eyes met mine. He nodded once and started to make his way towards me.

Jules and Patricia were still talking about me so I quietly murmured "Αlpha alert" under my breath which caused them to shut up instantaneously.

"Are you ready to leave?" He asked in q gruff voice. I was tempted to pull his cheeks and coo at him but I had a feeling that he wouldn't appreciate the gesture. Instead I pat his arm awkwardly.

"Just a minute. Where is James?" I asked Jules. She was about to reply but I heard Jamss running upto me with sweat dripping down his face.

"Sorry I was late, there were a few things I had to do." He said smiling.

"What's more important than telling me good bye?" I asked him with a pout.

"Getting you this." He waved a dusty box in the air that looked pretty old.

"What's that?" I asked curiously while idea's popped into my head, while some were normal, the others were rather absurd.

"Something that dad told me to give you when you found your mate." I felt tears well up in my eyes when I heard James talk about his father, who I came to love as my own despite the rarity with which I met him.

Last year in a rogue attack Henry passed away and his wife died of depression a few weeks later. That's when I truly felt like an orphan. Henry and Margo had a heart of gold, and when I received the news it was too late as they had already been buried and I couldn't say goodbye.

I took the box in my hand gingerly and opened it to see the contents inside it.

There was a white gold necklace and a letter. I kept the letter in my jacket pocket to read later privately and removed the necklace.

It was a locket and when I opened the pendant there was a picture of Henry, Margo, James, Pat, Jules and I on one side, all of us were laughing. It was clicked a year before they died, I wasn't sure how they actually got so many people to fit in such a tiny frame. The other side was empty.

I held it out to James who placed it on my neck. I heard low growls coming from my mate but I ignored it and hugged James tightly.

Arden came to my side and gave another, more forceful growl and James reluctantly let go of me.

"Take care."

"I love all of you!" I said one last time. I rolled my eyes at my own theatrics, it wasn't like it was the last time I was seeing them, but it sure felt like it.

"We love you too." Arden growled again.

"Oh shut up!" I told him annoyed and made my way towards the black Prado that was parked a little distance from where we were standing. I opened the back door and got in, waiting for Arden to get in but I was surprised to see him holding open the door for someone who I was presuming was supposed to be me.

"Sorry." I sheepishly rubbed my neck. "I don't think people do that anymore."

"First impressions matter Little Rogue." He smirked and got into the car finally. The door closed and we started our journey towards his pack, a place I could finally strike off my list.

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Any re-readers? Notice anything different?

Sending lots of love from across the ocean! Wish you a great day!