Revolting

By the time they arrived in the wilderness area near the Rebel Moon boundaries, everyone in the car was stiff and sore, or at the very least numb. They opened up the doors and rolled out like a bunch of stiff circus clowns. Only William was comfortably bouncing on the balls of his feet as he watched the rogues stretch themselves.

"I've mind-linked my Alpha," William said, looking at Michael. "You sure you want to stick around?"

Michael straightened up and squared his shoulders. "I said, she's not going anywhere without me."

Hannah seemed anxious, as she alternately paced around, sniffed the air, touched the trees, and then went back to lean against Michael. Heath was watching her with a strained expression.

William opened up the trunk and unloaded the rogue's scant belongings. "You can camp here. Rebel Moon is a friendly pack." He cast a meaningful glance at Michael. "Most of our members were once rogues themselves. The Alpha and Luna may come to talk to you, but don't be afraid, they're cool." He motioned back to the car and looked at Heath, and then Michael. "Ready?"

Michael looked like he was about to face his executioner, which was a very real possibility. Heath had a grim expression, and Hannah just seemed confused. When Michael slid back into the front seat, she climbed back on top of his lap, even though there was now plenty of room in the back seat. William drove the rest of the way up the winding country road. Woods morphed into overgrown farmland, and finally the pack house came into view. It was a large, old sprawling farmhouse sitting in a large yard. Down the hill and slightly behind it was a big old barn, built in the 1800's, with a partially collapsed roof.

When they pulled up in front of the sagging porch, the alpha and luna were already standing outside waiting for them. Shane had a neutral expression, but the woman beside him seemed to be brimming over with emotion. When she saw Michael climb out of the car after Hannah, her expression turned frosty. Her lips pursed and she glanced up at her mate to gauge his reaction.

Hannah shifted uneasily and hid herself slightly behind Michael's bulk.

The alpha crossed his arms over his sculpted chest. "Explain."

Michael stared the alpha straight in the eye. No matter how long he had been running wild, he was still an alpha, and he would be damned if he was going to submit to anyone. "I've been searching for her since I escaped from your barn." Michael said in his deep baritone voice. "But by the time I found her," his hand reached for her and curled around her shoulder protectively. "She's been alone too long."

"Oh," the Luna's hand went to her mouth. "Oh no." She stepped down the stairs and approached Hannah.

"Hannah, dear? Do you remember me?" When she got too close, Hannah took a step back. Her face was a mixture of confusion and wariness. "I'm Nina. I'm your friend, do you remember?"

Hannah's only response was to take another step backwards.

"She doesn't talk," Michael said, watching his mate carefully in case she decided to make a run for it. "But sometimes I know she understands."

"How do I know you haven't taken advantage of her in her vulnerable state?" Heath blurted out. It was obviously something that had been gnawing at him since he found his sister with the big man. Michael growled deep in his throat, but did not dignify the accusation with an answer.

"Look at her, Heath. It's obvious that she trusts him," William pointed out diplomatically. William had as much reason to hate Michael as anyone. One of his best friends was dead because of Michael. But he was making an effort to be fair. "I can't believe you just thought you would show up back here," the Luna snapped. "You realize we are supposed to arrest you?"

Michael stared down at the Luna. "I know. But I had to bring her back." He slid a resentful look at Heath. "I hoped that if she was around familiar people, it might help her recover." He reached behind his neck with his good arm and rubbed at his hairline. "I also thought maybe if you brought her to Eudora Carrole..."

Nina considered him, and then looked back at her husband who was still standing on the porch. "What do we do now?"

"I think you should put him back in the barn!" Heath growled.

"If you act aggressively toward me," Michael warned, "She will think you are the enemy. I don't think that will help the situation."

Alpha Shane walked slowly down the steps and stopped in front of Michael. Michael was both taller and broader than the Alpha, but Shane was an expert fighter and he had no fear of the bigger man. "You brought her here in good faith. I respect your intentions. But we can't forget that you caused the death of one of our packmates."

Michael ground his teeth together, but he nodded his head in agreement.

"I suggest we put you under house arrest."

"No!" the Luna shook her head, "you can't put him in the pack house. Not with Daisy."

"Not to mention, I don't think she'll stay in the pack house if there are a lot of strangers there," Michael added. Already all of the new people around her were making her anxious.

"They can stay in my house," Heath finally said with a bitter sigh. "I'll stay in the pack house with William." He poked a finger at Michael, "But if you hurt my sister, so help me god, I will tear your head off."

Shane considered the situation carefully. He watched the small woman ease herself back behind Michael, shifting her weight back and forth nervously. "I think it's an acceptable solution, temporarily. But you aren't to leave pack lands, and if you step out of line..." Shane gave him a cool, threatening look. "I will have to prioritize the safety of the pack."

"There is one more thing," Michael said. "There are five rogues just outside your boundaries. They are friends. Without their assistance, I could not have brought her this far."

"You know very well that we have a non-aggressive, nonviolent policy towards all loners and rogue wolves. As long as they respect our boundaries, they have nothing to fear from us." Shane gave Michael one last stare before he reached for his wife. "Why don't you take Hannah down to the bungalow, Heath? Let's give them a chance to relax, then we'll see what we can do for Hannah."

Through the mind-link he told his beta, "Double all the patrols, and make sure someone is watching the bungalow at all times. I don't trust him."