The Lycan Prince’s Defiant Mate

5. Pack of Outcasts

Ara's POV

"What pack are you from?" The rogue luna's piercing gaze held me frozen as she repeated her question.

The memory of Blue Moon flashed through my mind— Lucian's cold rejection, Bianca's triumphant smirk, the way the pack bonds had snapped like brittle twigs when I walked away. A wave of sorrow crashed over me before I could stop it, but I forced my expression neutral.

"I don't have one," I said, lifting my chin.

Her nostrils flared as she stepped closer, inhaling the air around me deeply. Then her eyes met mine again, they held something unexpected— not pity or suspicion, but... understanding? I must be imagining it!

"You don't have a wolf yet," she declared.

My breath hitched. How on earth did she find out?

“How do you…” I stammered.

"Guess what!" Amara's mocking voice cut through my shock. "You ran because you had no wolf! Typical!"

Anger surged through me.

"You know nothing about me," I snapped, my hands curling into fists. "So don't make assumptions."

Amara opened her mouth, no doubt ready with another cutting remark, but the Luna silenced her with a look.

"Enough," she said. Then she turned those stormy grey eyes back to me, “why did you leave, Ara?"

Why does it matter? I wanted to scream. Why does anyone care about a wolfless nobody?

"Why do you care?" I said instead, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kade shifted beside me.

"Be respectful," his deep voice was calm but firm.

I glanced at him— really looked at him for the first time. Towering over six feet with shoulders that could probably bench press a small car. He was handsome in one word, and he carried himself with the quiet confidence of a warrior. His aura was strong, even a wolfless like me could even sense it. Yet unlike Amara's open hostility, his energy felt... measured. Watchful. More dangerous. And welcoming at the same time.

Before I could retort, the luna closed the distance between us. Her hand, which was surprisingly warm, suddenly rested atop my head. A strange tingling sensation spread through my scalp as her eyes glowed faintly.

"She is not a threat," Celestine announced after a moment.

I blinked. That's it? One head pat and I'm cleared of all suspicion? What the hell was that!

"Understood," Kade said immediately, as if her word was law.

“You can stay here if you want, Ara," Celestine said, and suddenly her voice was different, maybe warmer, softer, like she'd peeled away a layer of ice. "This will be safer for you."

My throat tightened. Safe. When was the last time I'd felt that?

"Who are you?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "Celestine."

I glanced around at the underground stronghold— the polished stone walls, the intricate carvings. This was a civilization hidden underneath.

"Why should I stay here?" I muttered. "You're rogues."

The words hung between us, all the old prejudices I'd been taught bubbling to the surface. Rogues were dangerous. Rogues were unstable. Rogues—

Celestine's expression turned grave. "So are you. The royal army will hunt you down and kill you on sight if they find you."

A chill ran down my spine. I'd been so focused on escaping my old life that I hadn't considered the dangers of being truly packless. The rules were strict. Werewolf should always live in a pack. Living among humans was forbidden since it might endanger us as well as the humans. The royal enforcers didn't care about your reasons for leaving a pack. A rogue was a rogue, and rogues were exterminated at any cost since they were the real threat! I was the threat!

"But I won't force you to stay," Celestine continued, her voice gentler now. "The choice is yours, child."

I stood frozen, my mind racing. Could I really trust these strangers? Was any of this real, or was I about to walk into some elaborate trap? But what would they gain from a wolfless girl?

I heard Celestine again as if she could sense my turmoil, "you don't have to decide right now. Kade and Amara will show you around. Rest tonight. We can talk tomorrow or whenever you are ready."

With that, she glided away, leaving me with the two wolves who'd dragged me here.

"Come on, Ara," Kade said, jerking his head toward a corridor. "This way."

As we left the grand hall, the true scale of their underground haven became apparent. The mansion, because that's what it was, stretched deep into the earth, level after level of living quarters, training grounds, even what looked like a thriving marketplace.

"So this is where the rogues live?" I asked as we descended a wide staircase.

"Not all of them," Kade answered. "But we have a good number here."

"Sure, give her all the details," Amara muttered.

Ignoring her, I pressed on, "how many floors does this place have?"

"Five. This is our packhouse. Mostly unmated wolves live here," Kade said. "Plus separate family dwellings for those who want more privacy."

My eyebrows shot up. It was just like a pack— just buried deep enough that the human world would never stumble upon it.

What I knew about rogues were all different from what I was seeing. Maybe deep down in my heart I already knew it, just didn't realise unless it was laid bare before my eyes.

"Tell her about our defenses too, and how many warriors we have." Amara sneered. "She might show up tomorrow to destroy us."

I whirled on her. "I don't even have a wolf!"

"And?" Amara got in my face, her breath hot against my skin. "Do you think you're special?"

"What is your problem? We just met!" I demanded.

For a heartbeat, something vulnerable flickered in her eyes. Then she spun on her heel and stalked away.

"Why is she so worked up?" I asked as Kade guided me down another hallway.

He sighed. "Don't mind her. She's not a bad person."

"Oh really?" I deadpanned. "Couldn't have guessed."

Kade chuckled— a warm, rich sound that caught me off guard. His sharp jawline flexed the right amount. Come one Ara! This was the same guy who had kidnapped you a few minutes back. You couldn't possibly give into his charms!

"Let's just say she might see herself in you," Kade said.

Then he stopped before a wooden door and pushed it open, revealing a cozy bedroom, "you'll stay here."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, suspicious.

“That you can sleep here,” Kade replied, and I facepalmed myself. Did I really look that dumb?

“Ah, not that. About Amara…” I asked again.

Kade hesitated, then said quietly, "Amara's twenty-five. And she doesn't have a wolf yet."

"You're kidding," I walked in and sat on the soft bed. The room was simple but adequate. I liked it. My eyes met Kade again as I continued, "the way she moved when you captured me..."

"Celestine trained us," Kade explained, leaning against the doorframe. "All of us. Most here are outcasts— wolfless like you, or feared for being too powerful. We were forced to leave the pack, had nowhere to go, were being hunted down by the royal lycans as if capturing us would give them a prize. Celestine built this place to keep us safe."

The pieces clicked into place. This wasn't just a rogue hideout— it was a sanctuary for the broken, the unwanted. Just like me.

Kade studied my face. "So, why did you leave?"

The question should have hurt more. I could have lied. Instead, I found myself giving him the abridged version, "My husband and best friend were mates."

"That bad, huh?" He smirked.

"Yeah," I admitted, surprised by how little the words stung now. "But I'm over it."

I didn't mention the cancer. Didn't say that ‘over it’ might have an expiration date.

Kade's expression turned serious. "Ara, you should stay here. It's safer."

My traitorous heart clenched. This man… wolf… looked at me with more genuine concern than Lucian ever had in five years of marriage.

Something in his tone made my chest tighten. He wasn't just saying it, he genuinely cared. And that terrified me more than anything.

Because if I stayed... if I let these people in... I had only one year to live… Or two, max.

"I'll think about it," I said softly. I wasn’t ready for this.

Kade nodded, pushing off the doorframe. "You know what? Stay here for a few days. Give it a try."

As he turned to leave, I blurted out, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

He paused, glancing back over his shoulder with that damn smile. "Because someone was nice to me once when I had nowhere else to go."

Then the door clicked shut, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and the unsettling realization that for the first time since leaving Blue Moon, I didn't feel quite so alone.