MAX
My warriors are slowly returning to the barracks, their shifts now covered by the Half Moon Pack patrol. The last two days have been a whirlwind, leaving my head spinning.
The warrior we had detained for questioning is now free, having spilled all he knew to the alpha. He had been on patrol with the guilty warrior, who had mind-linked him to meet at a different border area.
Upon his arrival, his partner simply informed him they needed to check the border because the other team was delayed. The same team showed up five minutes later, looking utterly confused, but he just went back to his duty.
He noticed his partner acting weird and constantly looking around but didnât think much of it. As it turned out, the guilty warriorâs mate was in cahoots with the rogues.
They had planned to distract the patrol so their leader could cross the borders undetected. Unfortunately, Charity ended up in the crossfire.
Jarodâs sister was involved only because she despised Charity and decided to keep her in the dark, hoping to see her heartbroken. She later overheard the guilty warrior on the phone with his mate, discussing what had happened to the alphaâs daughter.
She kept quiet, knowing she was partly to blame. I canât understand why he would let rogues onto our land, even if his mate was part of the group.
It doesnât add up. He could have simply told the alpha that he had found his mate, and she was a rogue, and asked the alpha to accept her into the pack.
The worst-case scenario would have been Damien saying no. My mind is reeling with this absurdity and the unnecessary pain it had caused.
The alpha has executed the guilty warrior, tearing him apart and leaving his body at the border where the rogues had crossed. The warriorâs mate felt his death and rushed to the border, sobbing.
This allowed the patrols to capture her. She is currently being questioned for information that could lead us to those responsible for the attack on Charity.
Jarodâs sister is a tricky case, given she is only fifteen and clearly immature. Jarod, being Derekâs best friend, is caught in a tough spot.
His parents pleaded with the alpha to forgive their daughter and show mercy. Surprisingly, he did show some mercy.
The girl was demoted in the pack, even below the omegas. She was assigned manual labor every day after school.
She was also removed from self-defense training, a decision I wasnât sure about, but it wasnât my call. Since she had wronged the alphaâs daughter, she was tasked with cleaning the pack house and helping the gardener.
Alpha Damien said he would reconsider her punishment when he was in a better state of mind. Luna Amara had a different idea for the girlâs punishment.
She beat her bloody in the cells and left her unconscious and bleeding on the floor. She seemed a bit unhinged when she suggested that the alpha arrange for the girl to be assaulted in the same way as her daughter.
But Damien just raised his eyebrows at her and told her to go rest. Charity is improving every day, attending her therapy sessions and continuing her self-defense training at a higher level.
According to Derek, her personality has done a complete one eighty. She no longer cares about dresses or her appearance.
She wears the simplest clothes, never puts on makeup, and often forgets to brush her hair. Derek regrets making fun of her princess-like tendencies in the past.
He wants his sister back, even if she had been a bit annoying. I can totally relate.
On the bright side, Charity is naturally beautiful and doesnât need makeup or fancy clothes. I have overheard many pack warriors saying they wouldnât mind if she had been deflowered.
If she was their mate, they would show her love and patience. This is a noble perspective, and I hope Charity will realize she still has value, even if she now hides behind baggy sweatshirts and her motherâs shadow.
I am sitting in the dining hall at Half Moon Pack, chatting with my warriors. We are waiting for more information before planning our return home.
My birthday is in five days and, although I am not too concerned about it, I do want to get home. My mom has planned a big celebration with a barbecue and a midnight pack run.
Just as I am about to stand, Derek comes over and puts his hand on my shoulder. âCan we talk?â he asks.
I nod, stand up, and follow him to a more secluded table in the corner. âWe have an idea of where these rogues are. The girl finally woke up from her unconscious state this morning and cracked,â he says.
I lean in, eager to hear more. âWhatâs the plan?â
Derek pulls out a map from his packet. It is covered in lines, showing routes to a secluded mountain top about ten miles from the pack lands.
âTheyâre supposed to be camped out here,â he points to a red circle on the map. âWe didnât search that far or that high before, but now we know, and weâre going after them.
The terrain is difficult and largely untraveled. Thereâs a lot of overgrowth and steep climbs, but weâre wolves, so we should be fine since itâs summer and thereâs no snow or ice to navigate.â
âSo, you want my warriors to stay and help?â I ask. Derek nods and continues to explain the plan.
We are meeting with his father and their gamma chief tonight to finalize plans, and then we will head out tomorrow morning at first light. I leave Derek to inform my men of the plan, to ensure they are well-rested for tomorrow.
After that, I call my father and assure him that I will have him on speaker tonight for the meeting. After all, his pack warriors will be in danger, and he needs to be in the loop.
***
Scouts have run ahead to confirm the location of the roguesâ camp. We are moving slowly to ensure that if we need to take an alternate route, it wonât put us too far behind.
As Derek had warned, the terrain is difficult and rocky. We have to be careful of the numerous rattlesnake dens.
The sun is now our guide, two hours into our hike. We keep to the shadows of the trees and foliage, trying to stay hidden without having to shift into our wolf forms.
Weâll shift when we know our destination, to speed up our journey. Derek signals us to halt when two scouts approach from the North.
Theyâre in their wolf forms and moving fast. As they shift back into human form, they tell us theyâve found the rogues.
The rogues have fortified the two entrances to their camp, leaving no other way in. Weâll need a strategy to attack them all at once, take out the guards before they can alert the others, and then strike without mercy.
Alpha Damien has ordered Derek to capture and bring back rogues for him to torture, to make them pay for their crimes. But it seems we might not have that chance if we have to charge in full force.
We huddle together, forming two groups, and then we split up. The two scouts lead each group to the right location.
We reach the top of a hill, rocks scattering under our feet as we sprint up. No sooner have I cleared the top than a heavy weight crashes into my side.
I roll from the impact but am instantly on my feet, my wolf ready to fight. Iâve been hit by a large, dirty, gray wolf.
He reeks of sweat and some other foul smell I canât place. His mouth is foaming as he tries to circle me, as if I would be scared.
Iâm much larger than this wolf, and clearly in better shape. I take a quick look around and see that my warriors are taking down the other guards.
As I turn my head, the rogue charges at me, thinking he has the upper hand. I turn and as he tries to collide with me, I sidestep and bite down hard on his neck.
I shake my head back and forth, tossing him from side to side before finally releasing him long enough to get a good bite on his throat. His bitter blood fills my mouth as I tear out his carotid artery, blood spraying everywhere.
After dropping him, I join my team as we storm into the rogue camp, ready for blood.