Chapter 17

(Chapter song ‘How Villains Are Made’ by Madelan Duke)

OLIVER I tap the keys of my keyboard harder than I intend, but I can’t get the kiss off my mind.

I shouldn’t of done it. I know. I just…I didn’t want to knock her out again. I needed to change her energy. It was the only thing I could think of. It’s not that I didn’t want to, but I know there’s a line I shouldn’t cross.

Until I figure exactly what this is, I need to not do that again.

I’m searching for all the information I can on rogue sickness and what it does. There’s information. Tons of it. I just can’t make heads nor tails and there’s no mention of a cure.

I flip to a screen and see a lecture advertisement.

‘Phoenix University The Eternal Rogue Mind Professor Graham Mitchell’

“Monday, 8pm.” I lean on my desk and rub my chin. To understand Ezra, I might need an expert on this. I can try to figure out the girl inside, but the thoughts are scrambled.

It's also the reason I need to stay away from her. She may not understand what I just did. I feel like a fucking douche. I’ve never been sorry for anything in my life and this woman is making be feel bad left and right. I’m not liking this at all.

“I need to run.”

I look to the door and Ezra is standing in black shorts and tank top. She shuffles her sneakers on my carpet.

“No.” I look her over and turn back.

“I need to run.” She says again.

I roll my head to her. “And I said no.”

“Am I caged?” She asks.

I lower my eyes. That’s the last thing I want to do. I slightly nod. “Come here.” I wave her to my desk.

She slowly walks over. I pull out my territory map. She stands in front of my desk and I spin the map around. “See these trees?”

She nods. “Do not go beyond those trees, understand?”

She nods.

“2 hour run and come back. Past that and I’ll be searching for you.” I arch a brow. “Promise. I don’t want you outside all the time.”

“OK.” She gives me a little half smile.

I motion to the door. “Go. Enjoy your run.”

“Thank you.” She whips around and blows past Ian.

He looks over his shoulder and back at me. “You’re letting her out?”

“Why not?” I say, getting back to my computer.

He leans on my desk. “Hello, deadly, crazed animal? Any of this ringing a bell?”

I whip my head to him. “Stop putting fingerprints on my desk and keep Ezra out of your fucking mouth!” I growl.

He points at me. “You have a responsibility to keep this pack safe. She’s a goddamn killing machine that you’re just allowing to run free.”

“One. She killed them because they tried to hurt her. If no one tries to hurt her, they’ll be safe. Two. She’s not my prisoner. I don’t kidnap people. She has just as much right to run as you do. She maybe confused, but she still has a mind of her own. You need to start respecting that.” I glare at him as I stand and walk to my printer.

“Ollie, do you hear yourself?” He follows me. “You’re rationalizing Rogue Sickness, man. A month ago you would have killed her.”

I take the paper out of the tray and read it.

‘The only outcome for a wolf suffering from Rogue Sickness is death.’

The word hit my heart hard. My chest felt tight. I refuse to believe it.

“She’s different.” I mumble as I stare at the word.

He steps up behind me. “Look. I get it. She looks and sounds alright. She looks like there’s hope. Ollie, you’ve been fighting them for how long now? When have you ever seen a rogue cured?”

“Once. A long time ago. He wasn’t as far gone, but we cured him. He’s a hardworking guy now in William’s pack. Mica’s brother in law.” I say in tone that’s lost in thought.

Everyone thought Eric wouldn’t make it, but he did. I know I can help Ezra. I can feel it in my gut.

“Brother, you know I love you.” His voice was low and filled with deep concern. I can understand why, but he doesn’t know what I feel. “He was one…in thousands…The chances of…”

I spin around and glare. “I will cure her.” I enunciated every word to make it very clear, I won’t give up.

I push past him and head for the door.

“Oliver…”

I shake my head as I head into my studio on the other side of my office. My place of solitude. The studio of a sculptor with lots of mental anguish of his own. The white room is filled with blocks of marble and wet clay. Finished and unfinished statues of pain and regret.

I slam the paper on my work table, roll up sleeves and grab a chunk of clay.

I kneed the soft, white material in my fingers.

With a frustrated growl, I throw it on my table, shaking the tools needed to create art that's supposed to calm me.

I peel it off the table and throw it again.

The word ‘death’ pounds on my brain.

I slam the clay onto the table top again and again as word assaults my mind.

It hits faster and harder as my anger and frustration builds until I let it all out.

I throw the ball of clay at a shelf filled with small sculptures. It hits the side and several statues fall to the floor and smash.

I slam my elbows on the table and hold my hair. I slide my clay covered hand to my chin and consider.

Death is not an option.

I can’t kill her. I won’t kill her.

And if they even think of touching Ezra, I’ll end every mother fucking last one of them.

****

Time to test her loyalty and obedience.

I sit at the treeline at the back of my pack house and wait. It’s almost 2 hours and this will determine if I have even a sliver of a chance of saving her.

I watch my shoe toe the grass when I hear the brush rustle.

I raise my head and I see her in the dark. I want to smile, but I want to make sure she feels my authority.

She steps into the sun and I hold my breath. She’s dirty, but so goddamn sexy.

She walks up to me and pauses. “Thanks.” She grumbles.

I nod. “Shower and change for dinner.” I grumble back.

She glances up at me then walks into house.

I really think that the fact that she came back shows she is at least trainable. Technically, she wouldn’t be worth a damn to Michael if she wasn’t, but I’m not training her for my own sick agenda. I want her to be functional and decent. To be as self aware as she can be given the disease that ravages her brain.

I hear glass smash and whip my head to the house.

“LET GO!!” I hear Ian choke out a yell.

I run through the sitting room into the common room. Ezra is on top of Ian on the floor. She has her clawed hand around Ian’s neck and he's struggling against her grip.

“NO! YOU DON’T DESERVE IT!!” She growls loud, lifts her other clawed hand and threatens to gouge his face.

“EZRA!!” I throw out my loudest Alpha and she doesn’t flinch.

I take big steps, grab her by the back of the neck and rip her off my brother. I throw her over one of the couches and she lands on the floor.

He chokes and grabs his neck as he rolls to a sit. He scowls at me as he stands.

Ezra slowly stands with her head lowered. She’s still targeting Ian. I stand in her line of sight. I tilt my head to her. “Stand…down…” I grind.

Her lip curls. “No.”

“I will drop you again. Is that what you want? You want me to hurt you?” I stare into her glowing red eyes.

Her eyes flick past me then back.

“Put…your wolf…away.” I command.

I see her eyes fade and her claws retract.

I slowly nod. “Good.” I point to the couch. “Sit!”

She climbs over the back of the couch. Her dirty shoes step on my cushion and I cringe. One battle at a time, Oliver.

She sits and places her hands on the cushion.

I walk up to her and hold a finger up. “Stay.”

She blinks at me and I turn. “You…my office.” I direct Ian down the hall.

I walk in behind him and slide my door closed. Turning, I cross my arms. “What happened?”

He rubs his neck and checks for blood. “WHAT HAPPENED? SHE’S A PSYCHO BITCH! THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED!”

I jut my chin out and get in his space. “What happened?!” I growl.

He raises his chin in a challenge. “I told her I know what she is and to not get too comfortable.”

“You upset her.” I glare at him.

“I told the truth, Oliver. She is a monster and she can’t stay here.” He grits.

I felt it before I dealt it. Without thinking, I haul back and slam a fist right to the side of my brothers head.

He hits the floor, holding his head and whining I look around my office and squat down to him as he groans. “I will tell you…for the final time. Leave her alone. Fail to do that and I will kill you.” I say low. “Am I clear?”

He lifts his swelling eye to me. “Loud and clear…Brother.” He clenches. He stands up with me and pushes past me.

“KEEP YOUR FUCKING DOG AWAY FROM ME!” He growls as he throws open the doors and storms out.

I walk through the house to the common room. She hasn’t moved. She stiff as a board as I grab a chair and sit in front of her.

She’s staring out a window. She so locked on it, she didn’t react to my presence.

“Ezra.” I say sternly.

She slowly meets my eyes.

I lean on my knees. “What happened?”

She shrugs and looks out the window again.

I close my eyes. “Ezra!” I bark.

She meets my eyes again.

“Answer.” I order.

“He was mean. He doesn’t deserve it.” She says.

“Doesn’t deserve what?” I ask as I study her.

Her mouth falls. “You. He doesn’t deserve you.”

I lower my head to hide the appreciation I have for her saying that. I can’t show it or she’ll not know the seriousness of her situation.

I put my palms together. “You can not hurt Ian when he makes you angry. I won’t allow it. If he bothers you, you need to find me. I will take care of him for you. You are not in the right frame of mind to deal with your anger.”

Her lip turns down. “I’m not sick.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Baby bird. You’re a rogue. You are sick.”

Her chin quivers and her eyes well. “No, I’m not.”

It boils in my chest, but to start this she has to know what she is and what she’s capable of. “I know it feels bad. Ezra, you have severe brain damage. What’s known as Rogue Sickness. You and your wolf are dangerous…”

“No…” She sobs shaking her head.

I cup her cheek. “Baby, I’m going to help you…”

“I'M NOT SICK! SHE’S SICK! NOT ME!!” She cries and thumps her chest.

“EZRA! I KNOW! YOU NEED TO TRUST…”

Her cheeks are soaked and her face is beat red. She can barely breathe. I hit her with something hard and she can’t deal.

“NO! YOU THINK I’M SICK!!” She screams at me and shoves me back. She runs out of the common room for the stairs.

“EZRA!”

I chase after her up the stairs. I can hear her wailing as I stop at her room. She’s on the floor by her bed.

She’s holding her head, shaking it. “I’m not sick…I’m not sick…” She hitches as she grips her head.

I watch her breakdown on the floor and my heart breaks. Her mental state may be worse than I thought.

I walk over to her as she slams her fist into her forehead repeatedly.

I sit in front of her and grab her hand.

She looks at me with slit eyes. “I’m not…”

I pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her. She cries into my shirt as I hold her.

“I’ll fix it…Ezra, I swear on my life…”