I Would Rather Be a Rogue [BL]
Chapter 24: Is That a Threat?

Chapter 24: Is That a Threat?

Felix’s fingers flinched, freezing just an inch away from the door handle, as his heart jumped to his throat.

He had misheard Kade just now, right? Yes, he must have. He would just go with that.

So, he schooled his expression, glancing back nonchalantly - or at least trying to appear nonchalant - and asked, "Sorry, did you say something? I didn’t quite catch that."

Kade approached slowly, step by step, until he climbed onto the porch and came within inches of Felix. "Felix Embermane. That’s your real name, isn’t it?"

Felix’s heart was thumping loudly in his chest. He could only pray that Kade didn’t hear that, as he said, trying to maintain his composure, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have the wrong person."

"Hahah, do I?" Kade chuckled. "Lex, that’s the name you gave at Crossroads. Felix, Lex. Hmm, quite similar, don’t you think?"

"Doesn’t it actually prove it wrong? If I were really this Felix, and I was trying to hide, I would have picked a completely different name!"

"How do you know ’this Felix’ is trying to hide then, hmm?"

At Kade’s question, Felix knew he messed up. However, he still tried to make up for it, coming up with a believable explanation. "You mentioned some pack, didn’t you? But we’re in a neutral territory. So isn’t it a natural assumption?"

"...Makes sense," Kade admitted. Before Felix could exhale with relief though, he added, "But that’s not the only evidence that I have." And then, he placed two fingers underneath Felix’s chin, and lifted it up.

The gesture wasn’t forceful. Rather, it was oddly gentle and affectionate. Kade wasn’t using much strength, and he didn’t even release his pheromones. But, in his panicked and terrified state, Felix had no mind to think about it any deeper. All he could do was to stare into those purple-black eyes, as he held his breath, waiting for what else Kade was going to say.

And the Alpha’s words hit him like a punch in the gut. "I have seen your recent photo. You looked exactly as you do now, except that well taken care of... And those golden eyes are very unique, you know?"

...So he was doomed. How was Felix supposed to argue with that? Say he must have had a doppelganger? As if anyone would believe that!

Kade leaned closer. Dangerously close. Any closer and Felix’s body might give in on its own, nudged by his wolf...

"Since when?" he asked plainly, as he clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms to remain clear-headed. Since the truth was out, it was better to get to the point rather than drag this pointless argument any longer, and risk losing control.

"Since when do I know?" Kade smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. "The New Year. Back at the party, one of the guests mentioned something about the missing Omega from the Moonhill Pack, so I took a look out of curiosity... And naturally, I instantly recognized my mate!"

A sigh escaped Felix’s mouth, and he closed his eyes for a second. That was a plausible explanation. Well, it didn’t really matter when and how Kade found out, all things considered. Felix only asked because he wanted to know whether the Alpha had seen through him from the start and had just been hiding it... But regardless of that, what came next was the most important.

"So, what now?" he asked, meeting Kade’s dark eyes again. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

"A... threat? How is saying your name a threat?" Kade furrowed his brows, seemingly genuinely confused.

"A threat to hand me over to the Moonhill Pack."

"What? No! Why would I do that?" The way Kade said it sounded almost offended, but...

"Isn’t that how it’s usually handled? Unless they have a bad relationship, most packs would hand over any runaway they caught to their former pack," Felix pointed out. "And as far as I know, there hasn’t been any bad blood between the Moonhill and the Bloodmoon Packs..."

"That’s true, of course, but our situation is different, isn’t it?"

"...How so?"

Kade lifted his brows, ’Do you really need to ask?’ written all over his face, but he still explained, "Why would I ever even consider sending my fated mate to a different pack? You’re mine!"

Felix’s heart skipped a beat at that last sentence. Not because he was happy to hear Kade say it, not at all! It was just a natural reaction, caused by that cursed mate bond! Distracted by his wolf, which was whining and whimpering, pacing around and waving its tail, Felix didn’t even notice when Kade’s hand sneaked around his waist, not until he was pulled closer to the Alpha.

The rational part of his brain instantly sounded in alarm as he felt his body come in contact with Kade’s, and he lifted his arms to push himself away from the Alpha’s chest, all while trying to ignore how good it felt.

"What if I’m wanted for some crimes? Are you still going to insist on keeping me then?"

Felix didn’t know whether it was a good idea, or if he was making a terrible mistake. He was just saying whatever, all to get himself out of this situation, and he would worry about the consequences later...

Kade, however, only laughed at his words. "Don’t worry! The Bloodmoon Pack is powerful, we can protect you, no matter what crimes you have committed!"

"...Are you insane? Taking a criminal rogue as your mate?"

"If it’s someone as cute as you, then why not?" Kade nodded his head with utmost seriousness. Only to burst out laughing when he saw the incredulous expression on Felix’s face. "Besides, I already know you’re not a criminal. You’re not even a rogue."

Felix blinked a few times in confusion. "I’m not?"

"Yeah! Don’t you know? You’ve been reported as missing."

Missing. It was a fairly rare occurrence for a wolf to be reported missing. It usually happened when visiting other territories, when a wolf suddenly vanished, but the pack was strongly convinced they didn’t disappear willingly. When there was a suspicion they might have suffered serious injuries, that stopped them from returning. Another option was also kidnapping. Such reports were rarely filed, however, because if it turned out that the wolf in question ran away on their own, the pack would become a laughingstock... Therefore, most preferred to file the case as ’rogue’, and eventually set the story straight later on.

Felix’s case was obvious. He fled on his own, willingly. There was no one in his pack who could have doubted it. Of course, he had a hunch as to why he was reported that way, but...

His fingers flinched, as an idea hit him all of a sudden. Wasn’t this an opportunity? A risky one, yes... But what wasn’t risky in his current circumstances?

"Do you know why is that?" Felix clenched his fists, making up his mind. Perhaps he’d regret it later... But for now... "Why they reported me as ’missing’ instead of as a ’rogue’?"

"...Why?" Kade’s frown deepened, as the Alpha was taken aback by Felix’s sudden determination.

There was a moment of silence, when Felix took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, so that he could deliver his next line in a steady voice. "Because I am the fated mate of Jared Thorne, the leader of the Moonhill Pack."

"...What?"

"So you see, I can’t be your fated mate."