Page 63 of Fated to the Rogue

“Punch my nose,” I repeated, louder, staring straight at Malin.

“What the fuck, man?” My friend’s eyes widened in horror.

“Just fucking do it, damn it!” I snapped in distress.

Malin continued to look at me as if I was insane for a good five seconds before his confusion turned into realization. Heslowly unfurrowed his brows, blinking a few times to process if I was being serious.

“Dude, even if I did break your nose, it’d heal in less than an hour.”

“Not if you punch me again before it does.” Judging by the way he raised an eyebrow at me, remaining silent, I took it he wasn’t willing to help me. “Fine!” I scoffed.

The ride had been long enough for me to calculate more than one way to minimize my chances of finding my mate. A broken nose was my first option as it would make me physically unable to scent other she-wolves, but I did have a plan B. It was less painful, though not as effective, and it would make me look stupid. Well, I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. Without giving it a second thought, I slid my hand into my pocket to fish for the one thing that would keep Talon from sniffing his fated partner.

“You can’t be serious.” I heard Malin state in disbelief as I placed the nose clip on top of my nose. “Where did you even get that?!”

“Forewarned is forearmed,” I replied, my voice sounding nasally. I turned my head to stare through the window, hoping it would be enough to put an end to our conversation.

“Leave him be,” Amaya whispered to him, although I could tell she was trying to hold her laughter.

“No way! This is an important business meeting,” he argued. “I’m sorry, Zach, but I won’t let you make us look like fools in front of two other Alphas.”

Distracted, I didn’t see what was coming until it was too late. Malin jumped on me, and I screeched helplessly as I tried to stop him from plucking the clip from my nose. All poor Amaya could do was yell at us to stop, as if we would ever listen. Engrossed in our individual missions, neither of us noticed the car come to a stop until the driver opened the door for us.

“We’re here, Betas and…Gamma?” The man’s smile immediately faded as his eyes landed on us, the Elite members, all over each other. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

Malin glared at me one last time before removing himself off me to straighten his clothes, officially giving up. “Thank you, Oscar.” He forced a smile. The driver nodded in response, moving out of our way.

Saved by the bell.

“Come on.” The Beta pulled me by the collar of my shirt, throwing me out of the car. The next second, he stretched his hand out to his mate, helping her out. Such a gentleman.

As soon as I set foot in the new territory, I took a quick glance around to scan my surroundings. I had never been here before, but I had seen pictures of these lands in books back when I was studying about every wolf pack in the Integrated Nations. With around eighty members, Sapphire Pond was a relatively new pack. They weren’t famous for any particular battle strategy, but their hunters were known for being great bird catchers.

It didn’t take long for the Omega who would lead us to the pack house to appear. As we followed him through the cottages into the main part of the territory, I was relieved to realize my nose clip was working; I couldn’t smell a thing. Now, I’d just have to wear it until the next morning, when we would finally be out of here.

“Take that shit off already!” Talon growled angrily inside my head. “Wolves need their noses to identify new places.”

“And she-wolves, huh?” I pointed out, making him squint his eyes furiously. “I know what you want, and I won’t let you have it! Not on my watch, Talon!” Not pleased at all, he retreated to the back of my mind.

“This place is adorable.” Amaya’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts. Her eyes were locked on the simple wooden pack house. It wasn’t nearly as big as ours, which was expected, anddefinitely more rustic. “The village kinda reminds me of my home.”

“Missing us already?” A voice I had never heard echoed through the woods. I soon realized it belonged to a tall man standing right at the door.

“Ruben!” the Beta Female exclaimed, running into her former leader’s arms. Malin had a bent nose as he watched his mate share a hug with another male, and I couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement. So pathetic.

“Welcome to Sapphire Pond Pack,” another man, standing next to Alpha Ruben, stepped forward to greet us. He had onyx hair, light blue eyes, and pale white skin. “I’m Alpha Sanders. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” He shook Malin’s hand, then his mate’s, before turning to me.

“I assume you’re Gamma Zachari,” Alpha Ruben guessed.

“Precisely. It’s an honor to meet you, Alpha Ruben. Alpha Sanders.” I bowed my head at both men. When I lifted my gaze again, I realized they were staring weirdly at my face.

Shit! The nose clip!

“Please, forgive the Gamma. He has a very sensitive nose, which can be quite overwhelming for him at times,” Malin chimed in.

“Oh. I see.” Sanders nodded at me, but his light chuckle made it obvious he didn’t buy it.

“Thanks, dude,”I mindlinked.

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