Page 30 of Rogue Wolf

“I didn’t think they’d be here during the day,” she said. “And I needed clothes. I needed…”

“What?”

How could she explain she needed some things of her own. That it was important to her. So she just said, “I didn’t think they’d be here.”

“Why not? It’s you they want.” The anger and coldness hurt. “Why wouldn’t they be here? Even worse, it was Amdis. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“All thanks to you.” It was getting harder to stand, her head injury a constant and painful reminder of her stupidity. “I’m an idiot.”

He didn’t refute her. “What would have happened to you if I didn’t come?”

Amdis’ words echoed through Tamaska's entire being.

Your blood… activation… Blood Opal… ancestors.

What the fuck had he been going on about?

It made Tamaska sick to her stomach that he might know more about her life than she did. She placed a hand on her belly, swallowing hard against the bile rising in her throat.

“That's why you have to do what I say. You have no idea what type of world I live in.”

“You think I’m a problem?” Tamaska squared her shoulders and faced Kodiak, ignoring the nausea building in her gut.

“Yes.” His eyes flashed and softened a small bit. “You won’t let me protect you.”

“I just came for some clothes and toiletries.”

“You want to be part of the pack, you need to behave like a pack member.”

“What the fuck do you mean by that?”

“You don’t know how to function in a pack.”

“Because you don’t fucking tell me.” She stumbled, her knees giving way.

She couldn’t stop herself from falling, but Kodiak caught her in his strong arms and drew her against him.

“You drive me crazy, Tamaska. I need to protect you, and you need to obey. The pack is struggling just to stay together. You have to trust me. Is that so hard?”

Tamaska buried her head in his chest, his musky testosterone scent soothing.

It was so hard to trust him—not because he was a wolf shifter, but because she was so used to being independent. She had put up more walls around herself than she realized. If she didn’t take control of a situation, she felt weak.

He stroked her head. “You haven't answered me.”

Tamaska nuzzled closer against his chest, trying to avoid the question.

“Tamaska, if you can’t trust me, and if you can’t let me guide you through how to behave in a pack, then they will reject you.”

“I’m trying, but it’s hard. I keep making mistakes with the pack, with you. It was day so I thought it would be fine. A few minutes and…and I fucked up. Maybe if we change me things’ll improve.”

“That won't help, not unless you start understanding things now. Changing you won’t guarantee that you'll be accepted into the pack.”

“What about all the hard work I’ve done cleaning up the clubhouse?” She closed her eyes as memories of the bloody mess filled her mind.

“You should’ve stayed in my room like I told you to. You should have stayed out of it. That was too horrific for you to experience, to process, especially since you’re new to this life.” He kissed the top of her head. “They’ll accept you if you’re obedient to me. I can’t protect you if you don’t listen to me. And if the others see you defy me, that puts my position in jeopardy, which in turn puts you at risk.”

“I messed up..” She just wasn’t the submissive type. Maybe in bed, being tied up in the name of pleasure, sure—but in day-to-day life, she wasn’t one to acquiesce. And he didn’t bend.

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