The Rogue Lycan Princess

CALIFF

　　　I heard and saw everything. I was supposed to be impressed that she could take care of herself, but she was showing off to my people, which was not a good impression on her part. And Shadow wasn’t a member yet, but she was already showing the dark side in her.

　　　“In my office. Now!”

　　　She dropped her gaze. Without a word, she walked past me to my office.

　　　“Zack, you too.” I gestured with my finger.

　　　“But, Alpha. I was merely reminding her of her place.”

　　　“That is not your job and decision, and cornering a woman in front of everyone isn’t right. Get the fuck in my office.” I was mad at what he did. Something snapped deep inside me, wanting to crash his skull, and I showed everyone what I would do if someone touched Shadow again.

　　　When Zack went to my office, I looked at everyone who didn’t meet my gaze anymore.

　　　“She’s a rogue, and I get it. This is not her territory, but she will take a challenge, like everyone wishes to join our pack, to prove she has a place here. Give her a chance, but what she did was wrong, and she will get her punishment from me. Do you understand?” I left when they agreed.

　　　My possessiveness almost ruined my reputation as a fair Alpha to my pack. I almost lost control watching her press against the wall with Zack’s arm against her throat. Thankfully, she took care of it effortlessly.

　　　I admitted she played dirty, but that served Zack right. I joined Shadow and Zack in my office. They were standing on the opposite side of the room.

　　　“That was irresponsible,” I said firmly at Shadow, whose gaze was on the floor. “And you, Zack. Since when did you mind a woman in this pack?”

　　　“She’s not one of us, Alpha,” he said factly.

　　　“She will be if she has proven her value and loyalty through a challenge. If she’s not, I will be the first to kick her out or shoot her with a silver bullet through her thick skull.” I ignored the blazing glare from her shooting at me.

　　　“I’m sorry, Alpha.”

　　　“Me too. I was just defending myself.”

　　　“You defended yourself too much.” I shifted my gaze to Shadow. “And I don’t tolerate such disrespect to my enforcers. This is your last and final warning. Don’t make me regret my decision to set you free from that cage. One more wrong move I hear or see, I won’t hesitate to throw you back down there. Do you understand?”

　　　“Yes.” She gulped. “Alpha.”

　　　I hated doing this, but I couldn’t be lenient when there were witnesses. “Zack, you will be on 12-hour duty for three days. Lyon will report to me if you did your job or escaped.”

　　　“Yes, Alpha.”

　　　“And you. You will clean the kitchen spotless after breakfast, lunch, and dinner for three days. You will not use the dishwashers.” I watched her body stiffen, her eyes narrowed, but I wouldn’t give her a chance to defy me again. “Or you can choose between another three days in confinement.”

　　　“I’ll clean the kitchen.” She cleared her throat. “Will I also be working with you?”

　　　I met her blazing eyes, and it was like seeing right through her soul. “Yes.”

　　　She nodded subtly but did not say a word anymore.

　　　“You’re dismissed, Zack.”

　　　“Thank you, Alpha.”

　　　Once Zack left the office, Shadow sighed and relaxed a bit. “What should I do here?”

　　　“Arranged some files in the drawers. I want it in Alphabetical order. Start with A from the top drawer. You answer some calls and arrange meetings. I’ll give you access to the computer, but you won’t reply or send emails to anyone without my permission.”

　　　“I can do that.” She quickly went to the drawer in the corner and started lining files on the floor.

　　　I watched her work for a while. There was something about her, something off, that everything I threw at her, she could do with flying colors. At the same time, I had every instinct in my body warning me to proceed with caution.

　　　I was already awake early in the morning to hear her scream. I knew she had a bad dream, but I chose not to approach her in her room. She could be naked for hell, I knew. Once she left for a run, I waited until she came back. Her scent drew much attention to my wolf.

　　　Her wolf, though, was an impressively big white wolf that glowed in the moonlight. The black spot on her forehead and the purple eyes made my suspicions clearer and clearer.

　　　My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I inwardly groaned to see the caller ID. “Shadow, can I have a room alone?” I couldn’t let her hear the phone conversation. She could easily block it off, but I’d rather not take any chances.

　　　“Yes, Alpha.” She left her work and walked outside.

　　　I answered the call. I hadn’t said a word. She already used her sexy voice on me in the middle of the day. “Hey, Alpha.”

　　　“Everlee, what can I help you with?” Everlee was from Midnight Storm Pack, one of my allies. She hadn’t found her mate yet, or what she believed was that we had a connection beyond sex, which I doubted since she became my beck and call. And lately, it had just proven me right.

　　　“I missed you.” She purred. ”When am I going to see you again?”

　　　I sighed.

　　　“That doesn’t sound good.”

　　　“I’m swamped with work. I’m working on an important task, so we speak.” More like, I wanted you to leave me alone.

　　　I could see her pursing her lips in dismay as she looked at her newly painted fingernails. “I can come to your place for a night. I promise you won’t forget it for the rest of your life. I wanna show you how good I can make you feel, Alpha.”

　　　I shut my eyes close. Sometimes, she could be so dumb and clingy. I already banned her from my pack if she wasn’t a good lay, and her father wasn’t my ally. “I can’t. I will call you if I’m available.”

　　　“You know, you can’t make me wait, Cal.”

　　　“Then don’t. Find someone who deserves you. I’m not that person, Everlee.”

　　　“But I love you.” I cursed inwardly. For the love of ever-loving Mother Earth.

　　　“That’s not a real feeling. What we had was just sex. You know that. One day, you will meet your mate and feel real love.” I let go of a heavy breath. “Look, I have to go.”

　　　“But I want you, Cal.”

　　　“Listen to me, Everlee.” I used my alpha voice for her to understand that we had to end now. “Don’t call me again. I want you to forget about me and what happened between us.”

　　　“Cal.” She was dramatic and emotional. Now, she began to cry.

　　　“It’s Alpha Cal to you. Have a good day.” I hung up the call. If there was one thing I regretted doing, it was sleeping with her, but I had a rule that I would never break. I would not sleep with a woman in my pack unless she was my mate.

　　　I let go of a breath as I got up from the chair. Before I could walk towards the door, I heard a knock, which definitely didn’t come from Shadow.

　　　I sat back in my chair. “Come in.”

　　　“Good morning, Alpha.” It was Kindra, smiling.

　　　“Morning. What can I do for you?” I noticed Shadow come in and go to her files.

　　　“I have the medical report.” She offered the file to me.

　　　“Thank you. How’s your patient?” I stole a glance at Shadow, but she seemed not to be listening to my conversation with Kindra.

　　　“He’s recovering. The antibiotics work on his wound. He can go home in two days.”

　　　“That’s good news.”

　　　She tipped her head in Shadow’s direction.

　　　“She’s temporarily working with me in the office.”

　　　“I see.” She smiled. There was a meaning hidden in it. She turned to Shadow. “I introduced myself to her outside the office.”

　　　I nodded.

　　　“I should go. Do you need anything else?”

　　　“That’s all. Thank you.”

　　　”You’re welcome, Alpha.” She went to Shadow, filing the files separately. “Hey. Join me over lunch. I’m sure you have a break, right?”

　　　“I’m sorry, I can’t.” She bit her bottom lip.

　　　“Why?”

　　　“I have to clean the kitchen for three days.”

　　　“But you’re already working here.”

　　　“That’s her punishment,” I interrupted Kindra.

　　　“Oh.” Kindra turned to me with a curious look.

　　　“I was a naughty dog.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone, and I knew it was intended for me.

　　　“She had a headbutt with Zack and kneed him in the groin.”

　　　“I was just—” She stopped abruptly and muttered an apology as soon as I raised a finger.

　　　“Zack will do a border patrol for twelve hours in three days.”

　　　“Wow. Well, I’d like to take you on a coffee date once you have paid off your punishment. My treat.”

　　　Shadow smiled. “If I pass the challenge, my treat. That, if the Alpha will allow me to go outside the compound.” I bet she intentionally let me hear the last part.

　　　“Oh, you will. And I bet my twenty with Duke.”

　　　“I wish I shared your confidence, and I don’t wanna lose your twenty bucks.” She chuckled.

　　　“See you later, Shadow.”

　　　“See you later.” She went back to the file aligned on the floor.

　　　I wanted to ask her where she learned self-defense because I was confident she could win the challenge.

　　　“Do you want me to bring you your lunch, Alpha?”

　　　“No. I’m going out, but you will stay. Finish your task here and in the kitchen.”

　　　“Can I see Kent before he leaves for California?”

　　　“You just misbehaved. You lost that chance.” I instantly saw the pain in her eyes.

　　　Shit.

　　　Ignoring the knot in my stomach, I rose to my feet and took my jacket from the rack. “You will behave while I’m out. You will answer calls and take note of everything you receive from the other line.”

　　　“Got it. I was an intern at Cornelius Marks & Co. Finance.”

　　　“Good.” That made sense. I walked to the door, but I had to stop to look at her one more time before I headed out. I bit my lip to fight back the smile.

　　　Fuck.