The Red Eyed Rogue

Prologue

Flashback 1

The 7-year-old boy chased his twin in their backyard. His parents stood on the porch, cozy with each other, watching their children with love; after all, they were their life. The girl tripped over a stone and fell to her knees. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she bit her lip, trying her best to show her 2-year-older brother that she was strong and held back her sob.

The older boy crouched next to her, examining her scraped knee before looking back at her face. He sighed and ruffled her hair.

"Should I tell you a secret, Ly Ly?" the boy asked, his tone conspiratorial.

The girl nodded eagerly, her curiosity sparking.

"Do you know what I do when I get hurt? I let the tears pour and then smile widely, as if I'm happy to have been hurt."

The sister tilted her head, puzzled. "Why would you smile if you're hurt, Ro Ro?"

"Because," he explained, "I believe that someone who never gets hurt lives a very scared life. But if you get hurt, it means you have no regrets."

The girl didn't entirely understand what her brother meant, but she decided then and there that if her brother believed it, so would she. After all, she adored him and always thought he was right, even if the Moon Goddess herself said otherwise.

"Rowan, Lysandra, come on in! It's starting to get dark!" their mother called, stepping inside the house.

Flashback 2

"You're no son of mine!" the Alpha of the pack roared at his 13-year-old son, who cowered in the corner of his father's study.

"I will not accept a child who likes the same gender. You are a disgrace to this pack and everything it stands for. I will no longer tolerate this. I, Jordan King, Alpha of the Red Eclipse Pack, hereby cut all ties—personal and pack-related—with Rowan King!"

The bond-breaking rippled through the pack like a tremor, a shockwave no one could ignore.

The study door burst open, and the boy's mother stood in the doorway. Her usually pristine appearance was a mess. Her blonde hair had come loose from its bun, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

"How could you!" Emily King wailed at her husband. "You promised me you would love them no matter what! Why would you do this to a boy who has done nothing but try to please you? A boy who never complained during your vigorous training?"

By now, the boy had stood up from his cowering posture, his face eerily calm. His scent shifted from one of fear to something dangerously composed.

"I accept," he said, his voice steady, silencing his mother's cries.

"If you'll excuse me, Alpha," he addressed his father, his words deliberate, "I'll go and pack. I can be gone in 15 minutes. Would that satisfy you?"

Emily turned to her son, anguish written all over her face. "What are you saying, Ro? You're still a child. Give me a few minutes—I'll talk to your father, and everything will go back to the way it was."

Rowan looked at his mother, his expression softening. He knew this would break her heart, but he also knew it had to be done. Even if his mother could calm his so-called father, this situation would only repeat itself, and the pain would be unbearable.

His eyes shone with a mixture of love, pain, and resignation as he said, "I'm sorry, Luna, but the Alpha has spoken, and the bond cannot be mended. I'll take my leave now."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the study.

In his room, he pulled two duffel bags from under his bed and began stuffing them with clothes. The door creaked open, and Lysandra stepped in, standing a few feet away.

"Why can't I feel you anymore, Ro Ro? Where are you going? Is this a surprise trip? Father never tells me these things in advance—how am I supposed to pack so quickly?" she huffed, crossing her arms in frustration.

Rowan froze, his chest tightening. He had known this moment would be harder than anything else. He had never been jealous of the fact that their parents showered Lysandra with more love and attention. If anything, he was relieved that she had been spared their father's wrath.

He took a sharp breath and pulled his sister into a tight hug, holding her as if for the last time.

"Lysandra, I need you to promise me something. Will you?" he whispered.

His sister, confused by his tone, nodded hesitantly. She knew whatever her brother was about to ask was serious because he called her by her full name, not Ly Ly.

"Promise me that you won't be angry at Father and that you'll love him no matter what. Promise me you'll take care of them... and promise me you won't look for me. You need to know that I left on my own, that no one forced me."

The girl nodded again, her heart heavy. "Where are you going?" she finally asked, her voice trembling.

Rowan let go of her and slung the duffel bags over his shoulders. "I'm leaving," he said with finality, letting her know there was no room for argument.

"What? Why? What happened?" she cried, panic creeping into her voice.

"That's for your father to explain," he replied with a sigh. His gaze swept around the room, lingering on a framed photo of him, his mother, and Lysandra. He stared at it for a moment, as if memorizing it, before turning back to his sister.

He hugged her one last time, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, Ly Ly," he whispered, and then he dashed out of the room.

Lysandra ran after him, shouting for answers, but her father's hands wrapped around her waist, holding her back.

"Rowan!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.

He didn't look back until he reached the edge of the forest. Shifting into his wolf form, his black fur glistened under the moonlight. For a fleeting moment, he glanced over his shoulder, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. Then, as if tainted by the blood of his broken bond, his eyes turned crimson—a vivid, burning red.

It was the final sign. The sign of his transformation into a rogue.