#9 The Lonely Rogue

Junie

“Why are you doing this?” I wrestled with the silver bindings that held my arms around my back and tied my legs together in front of me.

“You know why.” Constance looked bored, rolling her eyes.

“Shut up, girl.” Corbin shoved me to the side and I yelped, falling over and hitting the ground, unable to brace myself.

“Don’t! Cohen wants her unharmed.” Constance said, grabbing Corbin’s arm.

“You listen to me, you don’t give me orders.” Corbin slapped Constance across the face.

“I was only telling you what Cohen said.” Constance argued defiantly.

“I know what Cohen wants, I don’t need you to tell me!” Corbin spat in his mate’s face.

I struggled to sit up while they argued, but it was no use. Reid walked into the room then and shoved his hand into my shoulder, pushing me over again. I grumbled angrily at him under my breath.

I couldn’t believe it when Cohen dumped me off at this house with my parents and Reid; all under the same roof again, like one big happy, albeit dysfunctional, family. Cohen left me alone with these idiots and I had no idea what the plan was now; and apparently neither did they.

After the witch declared that I was pregnant, Cohen looked positively gleeful and he rushed into action, launching all of us through the portal and back to my childhood home. Corbin and Reid were already waiting for us there when he left me with Constance. I wasn’t sure how they managed to escape from Cypress and I wasn’t about to ask. My only comfort was knowing that none of them knew about my baby, if there really even was a baby.

“There’s a pup, I can tell, we’re going to have a pup!” Violet was wagging her tail, giddy with excitement.

“How can you tell? If there even is a pup, it’s only been a few days.” I argued.

“I can just tell!” She said, sounding offended.

“Well, I hope that there isn’t.” I mumbled.

“Why?” Violet pouted.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, Violet, but we’re currently being held captive by my psycho family and being used as bait for our mate. Cohen wants to kill us, just like he killed Sabrina and Caspian’s first child; he won’t spare us just because we’re pregnant.” I replied stubbornly.

“Caspian will save us.”

“And, say he does, it still leaves the fact that I’m a Cooper and Cooper’s are notorious for being piss poor parents; murderous betrayers, actually.” I huffed.

“Don’t say that, you’re not like them, we’re not like them.” Violet argued.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” Corbin shouted, slapping his hand across my face. I blinked, his face coming into focus.

“Oh, did you say something?” I said, sounding bored. Corbin snarled in my face,

“I can’t believe you brought her back into our lives.” He grumbled, glaring towards Constance.

“It’s Cohen’s bidding!” Constance said.

It seemed to me that Constance’s loyalties had shifted from her mate to Cohen, and Corbin wasn’t very happy about it. No one in this house was on the same page about anything and it was a timebomb waiting to happen.

An hour later, there was a knock at the door and Constance answered. She led the three she-wolves from hell into the kitchen where the rest of us were waiting. I was cowering in the corner, trying to stay as still as possible to avoid rubbing the silver shackles against my skin while Cohen paced the kitchen impatiently and Reid sat at the table.

“What does he want?” Corbin grunted, glaring at Ruth, Amelia, and Maggie James. The girls looked expectantly towards Constance.

“It would seem that your dear mate has decided to trade his life for yours.” Constance cackled, looking towards me instead of answering Corbin; that only enraged him more.

“You tell me Cohen’s messages, not this woman.” Corbin grabbed Amelia’s arm and shook her violently. Amelia snarled at Corbin and the other two mistresses yanked her away from my deranged father. I ignored all of them,

“What?” I shouted as the fear began to sink in.

“The king will make a blood oath to ensure your life. A blood oath that will ensure Cohen rules the realm, with the help of your child, your child’s child, and, well, you get the picture.” Constance answered bitterly, shooting her own glare towards her mate.

So, now everyone knows about the possibility of a pup. Great.

“No, no, he can’t do that!” I shouted, but I knew that he would. For my life, for our child’s life, Caspian would do anything.

“Cohen is taking over the realm? I thought he wanted to destroy the kingdom?” Reid asked. I had almost forgotten he was even here.

“Cohen wants to rule the kingdom.” Constance smirked.

“No, Cohen and Reagon’s mission was to end it and reinstate the Council.” Corbin argued.

“That’s not his bidding anymore.” Ruth said.

“He has no desire to follow someone else’s command when he’s done all the work. He will sit upon the throne and he will command the Royal pack.” Maggie James added.

“You don’t know what he wants. He doesn’t trust any of you with the truth.” Corbin growled, painting a stubby finger at each of the four women.

“No, you are the one who he doesn’t trust anymore. He says you have lost sight of the bigger picture, you’ve truly gone feral.” Constance spat in his face, standing in front of the mistresses.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, you hag! I’ve been a part of this my entire life.” Cohen was pissed, shaking Constance from side to side. The mistresses scurried away from the bickering couple.

“And that’s how he knows how useless you are!” Constance shrieked back. Cohen slapped her, hard, so hard that she collapsed to the ground. Reid stared down at her, frozen in place at the table.

“Maybe Cohen’s changed his mind, Dad.” Reid said hesitantly, looking at our mother on the floor who now had blood pouring from her busted lip, and then back up at the mistresses who were pale faced and wide eyed.

“He would have told me!” Corbin shouted, coming completely undone, “We have to go to him. Where is he?” He yanked Constance up from the ground and continued to shake her.

“I won’t tell you!” She yelled, spitting in his face.

Well, that was a mistake.

Corbin snarled and shifted his hand into a claw, slicing it across her throat. I screamed as she crumbled to the ground, blood gushing from her slit throat. She made a gurgling sound before all the life left her face. I was immediately transported back to the castle where I was forced to watch Ally’s death and my head spun with the vivid memories. Even Reid looked horrified.

“You….you killed her.” Reid stammered.

“Oh, you didn’t even know her. She’s just the bitch that birthed you.” Corbin rolled his eyes, “Now, we need to find Cohen.” He said before turning his attention to the mistresses.

“You three, with me, now!” He shouted, grabbing Maggie James’ by the arm and hauling her out of the room. Ruth and Amelia followed after her on shaky legs. I watched them go and, a small, evil part of me, hoped they never came back.

“He’s lost his mind.” I said as Reid and I were left alone in the kitchen.

“Shut up.” Reid’s voice lacked conviction.

“You know it’s only a matter of time until you piss him off and he turns on you, too.” I said and Reid’s eyes snapped towards me.

“Once Cohen explains his plan, he’ll be better.” Reid said, mostly trying to convince himself.

“No he won’t, because Cohen’s plan has nothing to do with our father or you, anymore. Think about it, he hasn’t included the two of you in his plan for quite some time now. He’s been using Constance and the girls to do his work. ” I said sternly and I saw Reid’s mind begin to work.

“We’ve been loyal to him, those whores just came alone out of jealousy! Cohen is a fool to trust them.” Reid snapped.

“He wants the crown, not the Council nor does he want to share it. Constance and the others are too stupid to move against him, but he knows you and Corbin would stand a chance. If you can stop Caspian from making the blood oath, free him and help him stop Cohen, he won’t be able to take over the realm. Then, you and father can work with the rogues as he originally planned. You and Corbin can be in charge, not Cohen.”

“You just want to save your own skin.” Reid said, but his voice was quiet and lacking.

“And don’t you want to save yours? Corbin will kill you out of spite if he doesn’t get what he wants. But, he’ll worship you, be proud of you if you’re able to take down Cohen and give your father leadership of the rogues.” I enticed him.

“We don’t know where Cohen or your precious king are.” Reid said,

“I can find him, he’s my mate, I can find him anywhere.” I answered in a hurry.

Reid studied me for a long time, so long that I thought for sure Corbin or one of those psycho she-wolves would definitely come back and my efforts would be in vain. Finally, he knelt down on the floor and undid my chain with a gloved hand. He grabbed my chin and forcibly yanked my face towards his,

“If you betray me, I will hunt you down, and kill you and your brat, that’s a promise.” He said in a voice that actually sounded threatening.

“Trust me, I want you and Corbin out of my life as much as you want me out of yours. I’ll give you Cohen.” I snarled in response, yanking my chin from his grip. I stood up and rubbed my raw wrists,

“Hurry up before father gets back.”

“Don’t you want me to make it look like I escaped?” I asked.

“How?” Reid cocked an eyebrow and I smirked before rearing back with all my might and slamming my fist into his face. Silently, I thanked Malcolm for the lesson on how to use my anger.

I ran out of the house, leaving Reid cursing in the kitchen. I don’t know if I believed the witch, and Violet, about the baby or not but I wasn’t willing to risk it. Instead of shifting, I ran as fast I could to the main street and hailed a taxi. I went to the only place I could think of, the Lion’s Den.

I was surprised to see that Caspian, or probably more accurately, Jett had wolves stationed outside the Lion’s Den. They recognized me immediately and dove into action, making sure that I wasn’t hurt and trying to mindlink their Alpha.

“I can’t explain it, Luna, but we can’t reach him.” One of the men said,

“It’s like there’s something blocking the link.” Another one added.

“Cohen has a witch working with him. She’s probably responsible for that. Do you know where they went?” I asked as we walked through the bar and up to the apartment where Vivian was.

“All I know is that the queen’s friend is somehow involved and they were heading to her house.”

“The queen’s friend? Constance Oxford?” I asked in a harsh tone.

“Yes, Luna, I believe so.” The guard didn’t seem to notice, or didn’t care.

“Get her address.” I ordered the man and he nodded quickly. I pushed open the door to my apartment after greeting Simon who was standing guard.

“Junie!” Vivian shrieked, throwing herself across the living room to tackle me, “They said you were kidnapped!”

“I was, by my parents, Reid, and a psycho rogue leader.” I grumbled.

“Your parents?” Viv pulled away with wide eyes.

“It’s a long story.” I looked around Viv and smiled lamely at the pair sitting on the couch, “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Ryan.” I waved.

“They know everything and they just saw those four storming the bar as werewolves.” Viv whispered, pointing towards the two wolves who followed me in and the two who were on guard inside the apartment.

“I think Jett probably sent them in case Cohen or my parents came after you to get to me.” I said.

“Yeah, we’ll, they’re freaking my parents out.” Viv looked worried.

“Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” I sighed, squeezing Viv’s arm and walking around her. Her parents were sitting close to each other on the couch looking terrified and confused.

“You’re involved in this too, Junie?” Mrs. Ryan asked in a shaky voice. I looked back at Vivian and cocked an eyebrow in question.

“I told you that Junie is a werewolf, mom.” Viv sighed in frustration.

“I’ve been a werewolf my whole life, Mrs. Ryan.” I added so she knew that I’ve always been a werewolf and her daughter’s best friend, proving that I was still me despite what I could change into.

“You’re father and brother?” Mr. Ryan questioned.

“Yes, them, too. They’re involved with a group of werewolves who aren’t loyal to any pack and are against our leaders. That’s why they’ve always been so vial, I disagreed with their ideology.” I tried to explain.

“Vivian said these….these rogues are after you?” Mrs. Ryan stammered.

“They’re actually after my ma…..boyfriend. He’s the king. The leader of the rogues wants to overthrow his family. They’re using me as leverage.” I said.

“You have a boyfriend?”

“Dad, I told you about mates. He’s Junie’s mate.” Viv said.

“Right, soulmates.” Mr. Ryan scoffed.

“I know it’s a lot to understand, especially now with all that’s going on. I promise I’ll help explain everything later. Right now, I have to stop Caspian from doing something really stupid.” I said, speaking loudly to the room.

“I know where he is, Luna, I have the location of Constance Oxford’s home.” The man from earlier said.

“Why are they calling her Luna?” I heard Mrs. Ryan mumble from behind me, but I ignored her.

“Great, let’s go.” I started walking towards the door, but no one else was moving.

“Luna, you should stay here where it’s safe.” The wolf argued.

“Unless you want Cohen to be your new king, I can’t do that.” I narrowed my eyes on him, “Are you coming with me or am I going alone?” I threatened and they all quickly unfroze.

“Simon and Jake, stay here.” I ordered, taking the other four wolves with me, “Viv, don’t leave the apartment. Lock the doors and don’t open them for anyone. I know the code.” I ordered and she nodded, hovering near her parents.

“Be careful, Junebug.” She said and I smiled encouragingly before leaving the apartment.