Diana’s POV
I was wide awake and my body felt like I was hit by a truck, every part of me was sore. My eyelids weighed a ton and I pushed myself to open them to see a dark open room that felt as eerie as it looked. The smell of lavender and roses was really overwhelming that so I knew instantly I was in Benjamin's room. That wasn’t the only giveaway, the feel of silk sheets tangled around my bare legs was a clear indication was not home anymore. What kind of guy owns silk sheets? I also knew it was him pressed firmly onto my back, one arm over my stomach. I quickly got my heart rate under control and tried to fake that I was asleep so I could try to escape him when he wasn't around. I’m dealing with someone who can do magic, there is no fighting that physically. I feared what he did to Angelo's bond with me because I could no longer feel anything coming from his side. A numb sensation took its spot leaving me alone and secluded from my pack as well. Goosebumps arose on my arms and I tried to not let this fear overcome me completely. This was serious and it made me realized how much I underestimated what he could do. Who kidnaps someone's mate without asking for a death wish?
"I know you're awake. Your whole body just tensed up." Damn it. I sighed out in frustration that he picked up that up easily.
"Get your hands off me then," I growled at him, my voice raspy due to dehydration. He did what I said and even put a glass cup of water under my lips as I sat up from the bed.
I was drinking like I've been in a hot desert for days and he pulled away, "Slowly, Diana."
I glared at him but did as he said because I could feel my body want to throw it back up by how fast I was drinking it so I took my time. My whole body felt like they weighed a ton. Benjamin smiled at my glare which irked me even more. Once I was done, he turned and laid the empty cup on the wooden bedside table.
Out of all the things I wanted to say I ended up saying, "What are you?"
Benjamin chuckled, turning to face me again, to look me straight in the eyes. "What are you talking about? I'm a werewolf like you, Diana." Even that sounded like a lie. I’m not a lie detector and I could still see right through that.
"Don't be coy, Benjamin. You're not good at it." I said rolling my eyes.
He stopped smiling and turned serious and crossing his arms over his bare chest. "Alright, I'm part werewolf part witch. I'm also an alpha of rogues."
"Part witch and werewolf, is that even possible? And what the hell do you mean you're an alpha of rogues?" I asked stunned that even existed.
Benjamin smiled and shook his head at me like I was the most entertaining thing ever. "You look adorable when you're confused."
I couldn't help the fiery anger that leaped through me when his fingers were reaching to a graze of my skin, "Don't touch me!"
He left his hand fall, his clear blue eyes still looking into mine. "My mother was a werewolf, and my father was a witch. It's rare to have a human mate, and even extremely rare to have a witch as a mate, and the pack didn't approve. They cast out my mother and father harshly when they heard she was pregnant and made them fend for themselves. My father's family didn't want to take them in because the child growing inside of her. They believe werewolves are the devil's dogs and that the child was a product of evil. My father's coven thought of themselves as God's right hand when it came to magic. They helped people and never involved themselves in evil... that is what they believe they are meant to do on earth."
Benjamin's eyes were cold and distant like he wasn't with me at the moment.
"My father tried to get a job and fed my mom's crazy cravings but word got out that my mother was rogue and my father was a witch without a coven. Finding a job when most of them are owned by werewolves is hard. Surely being one of them or part of them gets you the job but it wasn't the case this time. When you are kicked out of one pack you are kicked out almost all of them. Everywhere he went they rejected him although he was a great man just trying to provide for his family. They had no choice but to go to no man's land (an abandoned town I heard scary stories about) and try to survive there.” I didn’t know what to say after he fell quiet. No man’s land was out of control and dangerous last time I checked. Not many can survive there.
“How did you guys survive?” I questioned seeing the flash of pain flee his face as soon as it came. I’m guessing it didn't come without a price.
“By building a community out of people who were cast out. People who were forced to use their wolf side to fend for themselves for a little too long. They aren’t friendly but it’s mostly because of the people who made them like that.” Benjamin said looking back into my eyes, his blue eyes had turned hard around the edges. This was a touchy subject for him, he was serious about rouges being his family. It made him look crazier than I thought.
“No one can stay human when you’re in wolf form for too long. The curse of being a werewolf is that you can never be a wolf for too long before becoming mad.” I could hear the judgment in my voice yet, I couldn’t stop myself from stating the obvious. After losing my brother to a house fire caused by rogues, I would get a bad taste in my mouth from even thinking of them as something else but killers.
“I look at the dark side of being a rogue from a different angle. See you don’t let your fear of losing your humanity destroy you. I’ve taught people how to get back to being human. How to walk again on two feet. How to smile and express themselves after being stuck as a wolf for too long. Rogues have become the bad image every pack member has made to be.” Benjamin’s voice grew as he saw the hate on my face with the mere mention of rogues. He was getting nowhere with me and he knew it.
Benjamin muttered something and his blue eyes started glowing red. I knew that was not a good sign but couldn't do anything about it as my body was too weak. Suddenly I was forced into a memory of his before I could blink. I tried to grab at strings but it was too late, I was in too far in the black hole that was his memory.