The Predator

Chapter 9

Cassian's POV

I couldn't feel her tremble as I hovered over her. Her pheromones slowly turned sour.

"Y-You have no right to insult him! You don't even know him!" She stuttered out.

This kid amused me. I've seen others literally piss in their pants in my presence. None of the rogues has dared to speak up against me. Ever. So where did she get the guts from?

Have I been too soft on her?

"Listen, kid," I gritted out, releasing my alpha pheromones to force her into submission. I saw her take in a shaky breath as her hands searched for something to hold. I'm sure her knees are weak. They should be. She should submit. "I've been too kind to you and your mother. If you try to get too cocky with me, I'll throw you out in the blink of an eye. Got it?" I asked.

She didn't reply. Her eyes were cast down, face tilted to the side as she exposed her neck in front of me. Her knuckles were white from gripping the clothes too tight and her pheromones were turning too sour.

It irked me.

My wolf was restless from the scent. He felt the need to comfort her for some reason.

I don't know why but her pheromones annoy me. She's an omega still not of age then why are her pheromones so strong? This should only happen after she turns eighteen. And why the fuck does it have an effect on me?

Is it how omegas are? Maybe I failed to notice this before?

Her lack of response made me grit my teeth. "Can't you hear me, omega?" I asked again, my voice sharp and demanding. She flinched before slowly nodding. "Words!" I barked out.

"Y-Yes, alpha…" Her reply came out in a trembling voice.

I let out a satisfied hum before leaning back. "Always know your place before you run your mouth." My gaze burned into the side of her face. She didn't dare to meet my eyes.

I saw a bead of sweat roll down her face. I should be feeling proud now. I've always felt that whenever a rogue submitted to me. The knowledge that they're always beneath me and afraid of me made me and my wolf proud.

But I didn't feel that right now. It was something else. My wolf was bothered. I could feel him pacing around in the back of my mind restlessly.

I stepped back and frowned. I silently watched her regain her composure as I toned down my pheromones. The sour, bitter smell of her pheromones slowly disappeared and I noticed the soft smell of rosewater and turmeric return to the air. It was faint but it was slowly coming back.

"Go to your room," I ordered.

The kid looked like she wanted to refuse or talk back but she bit her lips and looked down at the ground before wordlessly walking away.

I knew her pride was hurt from submitting to me but I don't like anyone disrespecting me. This is my pack and territory. She should be grateful that I even let her step in here.

I sighed and walked towards my study. Taking in these rogues is a headache. Fuck Keiran for pulling me into this shit. I'll get back at that bastard later.

"Dude, where were you? I've been waiting here for half an hour." Ryder greeted me as soon as I entered the study.

"Hey man," I grinned. "How was training?"

"Freaking hard. Those kids won't listen to me at all. You've got to find a good teacher for them, Cass. I'm not cut out for this teaching shit." He groaned, leaning back on the chair to stretch his limbs.

"Come on, Ry. You need to be more commanding. You're the beta of this pack."

Ryder rolled his eyes before turning towards me. I tidied my desk and put the books back on the shelf. "Why did you call me here all of a sudden? You could've texted." He raised a brow.

"I need your help, Ry," I turned towards him.

"What is it?" He frowned, his expression getting serious.

"I need you to go to the Redglow pack. Keiran brought in some rogues. There are these two rogues that I'm highly suspicious of. I need you to investigate something about them?"

"Who are they? Did they do something?"

"They haven't done anything yet…. It's a beta and an omega—a mother and daughter. At first glance, they seem harmless. But I'm still not convinced. We've found out that the mate of the beta was a traitor. He was banished from Redglow pack for it. They had their kid, while they were living in the forest as rogues. He was killed by the hunters. Or at least that's what they claim to have happened." I shrugged.

Ryder nodded in understanding. "So what do you want me to find out?"

"I want to know what his offence was. I want to know what made them ruthlessly banish him with his mate." I said and gave him their profiles that had their details.

Ryder looked at me confused. "This is an old woman and a girl…"

"Yes."

"When did her mate die?"

"About….two months ago or something. I don't really remember. I think she's gonna die soon. All of the symptoms are there."

"Damn. That kid's gonna have a hard time dealing with that… Has she found her mate yet?" Ryder looked at me.

"She's not of age yet. She said it's going to be soon. I don't know when."

"Oh,"

"What?" I raised a brow.

Ryder pursed his lips. "Cass, don't be too harsh on them. I know you don't like rogues but that lady is going to die soon and that girl doesn't even have a mate to support her through all that. I don't think they're going to cause any—"

"Ryder," I said sternly. "I won't let some stupid sympathetic emotions get in my way of protecting my pack. You know how it ended in the past. I will not spare anyone. My priority is the safety of my pack and I will hunt down everyone who tries to break it."

"Cass, she's just a teenager—"

"No, Ry. She might not be of age but she's daring. She even dared to talk back to me. She's stronger than most of the omegas I've seen. She has a mature mindset and she's fierce, it's like someone trained her. She did not submit to me easily. I had to use my pheromones for that. I'm sure she's here for some reason."

"Dude, really? You forced that girl to submit?" Ryder shook his head as if he was disappointed in me. I rolled my eyes and turned away. "I think you're being paranoid, Cass. But I'll go to Redglow pack and investigate about them. Don't worry." He sighed and took the profiles of the rogues before walking out of the door.

I threaded a hand through my hair.

Even if it's a teenager or an old woman, rogues aren't trustworthy.

Especially a traitor's family.