The Rogue

XXXX

Just finally got around to posting a new chapter! Hope it's good, albeit short. For any U.K. readers, I love this place! We visited Wales today and I was enchanted:)

*Rian*

The streets of Pendleton had fallen asleep by the time we started the stroll back to the bed and breakfast. I wound my arm around Faye's waist and nestled my cheek against her neck. Her skin was warm, especially around my mark.

"How was that burger?" I asked.

"Delicious," she answered, turning to peck my lips with hers.

A woman not much older than us passed by on the opposite site of the road and took notice of the way we were holding each other as we walked. Faye shied into me, always so self-conscious, but a small smile tilted the corners of her lips. I wondered how often Faye had walked through streets like this one alone while watching other couples pass by. The first twenty years of my life had been spent alone, but I had my pack to keep me occupied. I was never truly alone.

My arms tightened around her as I coaxed a kiss from her. The woman passing by blushed and hurried on. When Faye pushed away for air, she smiled at me.

"You're naughty," she playfully scolded.

"I can be," I allowed with a smirk.

Chuckling, she grabbed my hand and dragged me down the lonesome avenue. To anyone else, we would look like a normal couple. I wished I could give that to Faye. Maybe I could now. The pack rejected me, which stole my sense of purpose and pride, but perhaps I should look at it differently. Now we could go wherever, be whoever we wanted to be.

"You know," I told her, "I've been thinking."

She checked me with a quirked brow.

"I think we should get away from here and start somewhere new." My eyes nervously scanned her, afraid of how she would take a fresh beginning.

"Start somewhere new? Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere. Anywhere with you."

Smiling, she rolled her eyes. "I would follow you anywhere. I think I've made that clear. Surely there's a place you've always wanted to go?"

"Well..." I thought about it. "There's always Iceland."

"Iceland?" she choked out, inciting a laugh from me.

"Why not? It's supposed to be beautiful."

"You forget that I don't have a fur coat to keep me warm."

"I'll keep you warm, babe. No worries."

As expected, her cheeks reddened. "Okay. Iceland it is. How are we going to afford to get there?"

"My family has money stored away. During Alpha training, Rosco told me where it was hidden."

"Would that be stealing?"

"No," I said. "It belongs to my family. The way my father is going, he'll probably blow through it. Although I wonder if he even knows where it is. He never underwent training."

"I don't know," she admitted, "but don't you think we should let it go, if we're putting the pack behind us?"

"They shunned us, Faye. It was my right to be Alpha, even if no one understood it. Call it revenge or my right, but I think we deserve at least that much from them."

Her face softened. "We should be careful not to feel entitled to anything."

"Think of how my father and pack wronged me. I went from being Alpha of a well-renowned pack to a Rogue. That is beyond the worst shame one can fathom."

We stopped outside the bed and breakfast to finish the conversation. Sighing, Faye placed her palms on my chest. I could tell she was struggling to say whatever was on her mind.

"Come out with it," I demanded.

"I...I can't imagine how these last few weeks have been for you. You've been through so much in such a short span of time." Her fingers curled into my shirt. "I'm with you no matter what. I just want us to think about this first."

Turning my glare to the house, I shook my head. "Iceland was a stupid idea anyway. It's too far away."

"It never hurts to dream," she whispered as one hand guided my face back to hers. "We've had our dreams snatched away, so I think it's time we make new ones. What do you think?"

Her optimism was something I had missed. No one ever supported me to the extent she did.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead and nodded. "A new dream sounds nice."