Arise

I stared at the two of them. Emily, worry in her eyes, bit her lip and looked up at Ryder. He narrowed his eyes and put his hand on her, pushing her behind him.

"How can we trust you?" His voice had a hint of an accent. Southern maybe?

I scoffed. "I should be the one asking that." I eyed the two of them then crossed my arms over my chest.

"Rosetta, please. We need your help." Emily's head poked out from behind her mate.

"With what?"

"Well, for you to understand, we would have to start from the beginning." Ryder took a seat on the fallen tree; Emily beside him. I followed but sat on a tree stump across from them.

Seemed convenient, the placement of these trees.

"We aren't a harmful group. There's only seventeen of us."

I tilted my head. "You're not from here."

"Texas."

"You're a long way from home." I waved my hand nonchalantly. "Out with it then. I don't care much for where you came from, only how you got here."

His eyed glided over to Emily who then returned with a subtle nod. He rolled his shoulders and began. "We were gone for so long, our tether to the pack fell apart."

They had been traveling around the country looking for their mates. Some of them had found their mates in packs kind enough to let them pass through. Others were not so nice.

He picked off a twig from the ground and snapped it before chucking it. "Parents would rather not have their child be mated to a rogue. They kicked her out as soon as they found out. It started a small dispute and the name stuck. We've had issues entering packs after that."

"When we got here, we figured we would be non-confrontational and pass-by, but she ran straight into me," he stopped to kiss Emily's forehead. "We've stayed here ever since."

"Where," I asked.

"The city is a couple miles out. We stay there most of the time."

"They were outside the territory and stayed silent. But my parents started noticing a shortage of a couple supplies like food and clothing." Emily sighed. "Patrol saw someone run out the territory. We've been on lock down ever since.

"I wrote her dad a letter and she dropped it in his office." He shook his head. "They don't trust us. They want us out."

Emily stood up. "There's an empty land just north of here. My pack hasn't claimed it and some of the Dissents have stayed there to shift. But, my dad has ordered patrol to attack whenever they spot an Dissent."

I frowned. "If it's not your pack's land, then why are they attacking."

She shrugged. "Everyone hates rogues."

I realized too soon that this wouldn't end well. She clearly hadn't revealed to anyone that she, the future Alpha, was mated to a rogue. She was asking me to help her upstage the Alpha. An Alpha we were trying to remain in good pack relations.

I stood up and dusted the dirt off my jeans. "You're asking a lot from me." Her face fell."But, I get where you're coming from. I will help, but only if Logan agree--"

She engulfed me into a hug and squeezed hard enough for me to lose my breath. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She let go of me and ran to her mate. Grabbing his face, she pulled him closed and kissed him once. "We can finally be together, Ry."

Emily walked me back to the room. Before I opened the door she grabbed my wrist.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. I need to talk to Logan first."

She nodded. "Whether you decide to or not, both of you meet us at the same post half past midnight. Not a minute early or late. The patrol changes stations. As soon as you go in, change your clothes and take a shower," she hesitated. "Rogue scent can linger."

I nodded and entered the room. Without waiting a second longer, I grabbed some clothes and went to shower.

"I thought I was the only who did the pacing?" The smile on his face didn't reach his eyes.

I couldn't possibly think of a way to tell him. "You were practically gone all day. Did you eat anything?"

He pulled off his tie and took off his suit. "They had food brought into the office." He looked at me wearily. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course. What was the final verdict?" They had only been here a day. Surely, Logan and the Alpha hadn't thought of a resolution yet. Maybe there was a way to get around it without involving Logan, but I couldn't hide it from him.

"Alpha Crescent said they've only counted roughly fifteen rogues in the area and the city. I need to contact Caleb to send our Trackers. Interrogate one to lead us to the others. Find them and their fate is up to Crescent."

That didn't sound good.

"What if they're peaceful. We saw they weren't attacking the pack. The one dispute was over supplies and it wasn't a brawl. They don't need to resort to killing them."

He came closer and hesitantly put his arms on my waist. Heat spread everywhere. "If that's what he wants, we have to follow through. We're here to build a stronger relationship. It's not our pack, Doll."

That damn nickname would be my undoing.

I had to focus.

If the plan was already in motion, Emily and Ryder wouldn't even have a chance before tomorrow night. I shook my head. "Logan, they can't kill them. They haven't done anything wrong. They aren't like Defiance."

He sighed. He placed his thumb on my chin, lifting my face so my eyes would meet his. "I thought you would be all for killing rogues."

"They just want to find a home."

"How would you know that?"

I laughed nervously before folding my arms over my chest and sitting on the edge of the bed. "Because I met them, and they want to meet you."