The Alpha's Vengeful Mate

Zoey’s POV

Who would have thought that the salvation I was desperately yearning for earlier, would come from a rogue?

All my life, I thought rogues lived like cavemen, with rocks for a pillow and cold ground for a bed. But after meeting Parker, my views about them totally changed.

Rogues had a very bad reputation in our society. Most of them were plunderers, thieves, and murderers. They were known to have committed the worst crimes you could possibly imagine. To be called one was not only derogatory but a curse to many as well.

In werewolf laws, the worst possible punishment you could receive was not the death penalty. Rather, it was banishment from your own pack. To live alone in a world where staying in solitude would mean danger. It wasn’t surprising that most of the rogues die young. If not murdered, they mostly pass away due to hunger.

So once you became one, it was almost certain that you would lose your sanity. They were men of discord and haters of peace. Nothing nice could be brought out of them.

But Parker Thompson was different. His life as a rouge was one of a kind, almost like a far-fetched dream if I were to ask.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

I scanned the place as Parker guided me inside. The log cabin was not as big as ours yet enough to make at least three people comfortable.

Seated in the heart of the Crestwood Mountain forest, the cabin that extended in length was illuminated with yellow lights. This created a warm atmosphere that drew me inside. In short, the ambiance was both cozy and welcoming. As weird as it sounds, it felt like home.

I continued to feast my eyes, as I scanned the whole place. Lighter shades of color made everything fresh while the outside was dominated by dark, shiny woods. Truly, the house was a masterpiece. No, it was an art.

“Did you…Is this house made by you?” I asked as Parker guided me to the table while he worked his way to the countertop kitchen.

“Hmmm…Yap. Why?” He answered while serving me a cup of freshly brewed coffee in a brown mug.

“Hmmm…Nothing. I just found this house too perfect for—”

“For a rogue?” he uttered. I flinched, as I was afraid to have offended him with my words. But as they say on a lot of occasions, just be yourself and everything will be fine.

“Well, yeah. I am just in awe of seeing your beautiful home. I never imagined a werewolf living alone could possibly pull off something like this in the middle of the jungle.”

Parker smiled. “Well, you have a point. I was just lucky that my pack was full of skilled carpenters and craftsmen. I learned how to work with wood at such a young age.”

My mouth formed an ‘o’ afterward. Well, cut the crap about stereotyping rogues. Truly, Parker Thompson was something else.

Parker turned his back and went to one of the rooms. When he came back, he was carrying a set of female clothing.

“I think you should take a shower first while I am cooking our food. The bathroom was on the left wing,” he said while handing over the wardrobes.

I looked at the clothes and man! I never expected to be this excited seeing this warm, neatly pressed shirt and shorts. “Thank you.”

I wasted no time and went straight to the shower room. When I opened the wooden door, I was dumbfounded at how simple yet grandiose the design was.

The bathroom sink was carved through a trunk of a tree. A tiny, square-shaped mirror was sitting on top of it. On the left, a space was dedicated to the shower with curtains circling the sides of it. On its right, a back-to-wall toilet type was sitting. It was not the usual type of toilet I was used to seeing, yet it was a perfect addition to a log cabin sitting in the middle of the forest.

I took off my dirty, damp clothes and went under the shower. The water was not hot but way better than the cold outside.

As the water washed off the dirt from my body, I noticed that my shoulders began to tense. Without any warning, tears started rolling down my face. A lot had happened in the span of twenty-four hours. It was too much to bear for an eighteen-year-old girl. Worst of all, everything happened on my birthday.

My date of birth was supposed to be a celebration.    But alas, it turned out to be the worst!

Minutes later, I was done. I took the white towel from the little wooden stool on the side of the sink and dried myself with it. I rushed to put on the clothing that Parker gave me earlier. Then, I looked at myself in the vanity mirror.    I smiled when I saw the wardrobe he gave to me was a perfect fit.

My eyes were a bit red and puffy but fine. As I combed my hair, I heard a faint grumble on my stomach. Wow! I was really that hungry!

After I fixed everything that I used, I went back to the dining area. I didn’t have a hard time looking for it because the smell of the food became my guide. On my way there, I noticed that wooden bookshelves were covering most of the wall area. Needless to say, the dwellers of this house were fond of reading.

“Wow! Shane’s clothing fits you well,” Parker uttered when he saw me. I guided myself to the wooden chair and drank the glass of water before talking again.

“Yeah, it was a shock for me too. Where is she? I’d like to thank her for letting me borrow her stuff.”

The smile written on Parker’s face faded. I noticed that and became nervous. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

He smiled but was full of bitterness. “Don’t be. My sister was gone and we both had nothing to do with it.”

Parker took some plates and other tableware from the cupboard. Seconds later, he was holding two plates of fish and chips served on top of the table.

I smelled the aroma of the hot meal. “Thank you for this.”

“Don’t mention it. You can start eating now.”

And I did. The meal was delicious! No other words could sum up how happy and satisfied I was.

We were both quiet as we started to empty our plates. And right when I was about to take the final bite, I felt Parker’s stare piercing through me.

"You know, you could stay here as long as you want. The forested mountain of Crestwood was such a big place. Why don't you just stay here? We could use some help around here. ”

“Doing what?” I asked.   

“Hunting down rogues. This place had become their lair and spoiling the woods with the blood of their innocent victims. A lot of wolves who lost their way fell victim to their murderous act.”

I flinched. A vigilante job for a wolf who just turned of age? Could I even sign up for that?

“I-I don’t know how to fight,” I admitted. “I might become a nuisance to your job more than the help you seek.”

“Well that’s easy,” he scoffed dismissing my objection. “I will train you. I will help you master your ability. The moon goddess blessed you with a very special gift. It would be a bummer if you will put that to waste.”

His words pierced through my soul. For the first time, someone had seen my worth and potential other than my mother. Someone was willing to see me for who I was and not for the exceptional siblings I was born with.

“So….What do you say?” He asked once again, trying to read what I was thinking.

Chinned up, I gave him a reassuring smile. “Then let’s do it. Let’s hunt those rogues down.”