Chapter 6: The Rogue Threat

The cold night air sliced through the tension like a blade, but inside, the room still felt too small, too suffocating. I could barely process what Xander had just said rogues knew about the bond. They'd been watching me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Every instinct in my body screamed to run, to hide, but I knew there was no escaping this. Not now.

Xander was pacing beside the window, his jaw clenched, his eyes ablaze with anger. He was angry, but not only at the rogues; he was angry at the situation, the fact that I was in danger, the fact that I hadn't fully accepted our bond. His protectiveness was overwhelming, almost too much to handle.

Aiden was, however, right next to me. Tense, yet composed. Processing and calculating. Ever the strategist. His hand was close to mine but I never touched it- only an inch away to allow an offer of sorts of comfort in quiet I could tell the questions were there, the ones he didn't ask. The ones he waited for me to answer and explain what was happening, but, once more, too shaken I was to find the words.

The silence in the room was thick as the low growl rumbled from Xander's chest while he continued to watch the window, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond the pane of glass.

Finally, I found my voice. "What do we do now?"

Xander stopped pacing, turning toward me, his eyes still blazing. "We fight.

My stomach twisted at the intensity in his voice. Of course, that was his answer. Xander was an Alpha through and through. Fighting, that was in his blood. But something about his certainty made my chest tighten with fear.

Aiden stepped forward, his brow furrowed in concern. "We don't even know what they want yet. Rushing into a fight could make things worse.

Xander's eyes flashed to Aiden, the edges of his face flirting with irritation. "They've been watching her. That's enough to make them a threat."

"But why now?" Aiden asked, his voice low and controlled. "Why would rogues suddenly target Lena after all this time? What's changed?

The question hung in the air, and I watched Xander's frustration grow. He didn't like being questioned, least of all by a Beta. But Aiden was right: this wasn't random. Something had triggered this sudden attention from the rogues.

"They know," Xander said again, his voice low and growl. "About the mate bond. About her being bound to both of us.

My heart thundered against my chest. The concept that these rogues knew of my impossible situation, of my fragile state-sent a wave of pure panic coursing through me. I wasn't in danger only because of the bond, but also because they thought me weak, fragile. A prize to be taken.

"But how?" Aiden pressed. "How would they know of something this specific?"

Xander's jaw clamped shut and his eyes narrowed as he turned back to the window. "Someone must have told them."

It was like a kick in the gut. Someone in one of the packs had betrayed us. Someone who knew about the bond-about me, Xander and Aiden-had told the rogues. But who would? And why?

I swallowed hard; my mind was racing with what this could mean. "Who… who could do that?

Aiden's hand found mine, his touch anchoring me as I felt my panic spiraling up. "We don't know yet. But we'll find out.".

Xander said nothing. Still staring out into the night, his body was unyielding and tightly coiled, muscles flexed. I knew he was barely hanging onto his temper, as his Alpha instincts roared loudly to protect, to attack, to eliminate the threat. But Aiden was right-we needed more information before we acted.

Rushing into a fight won't help," Aiden said, his firm voice unwavering but on an even keel. "We need to first find out what they're after. We need to know who we are dealing with."

Xander shot him a pointed glance, and for one moment, his exasperation was palpable. "And what do you propose we do while that's happening? We just sit around and wait for them to make the first move?

"I think we should be smart about it," Aiden returned, his voice still calm but with a whole lot of authority laced within his tone. "We don't know how many rogues exist, nor do we know what their plan is. If we are going to protect Lena, at least we have to know what we're up against."

My eyes darted between the two, my heart racing, as the tension in the room started thickening the moment they both spoke. They were both right, in their way. Xander wanted to strike first, to protect me with force, but Aiden's cautious approach did make sense. We couldn't afford to make a mistake, not when the stakes were this high.

"Maybe…" My voice shook hard, my nerves trying to settle. "Maybe I can help.

Xander turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Help how?"

I hesitated. I had no idea how to explain what was running through my mind, but I had to try. "The rogues… if they're after me because of the bond, maybe I can draw them out. Make them show their hand."

Xander's face hardened, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. "Absolutely not."

Aiden turned to me, his brow furrowed. "Lena, that's too dangerous.

"I know," I said quickly, before they could shut me down completely. "But if I stay hidden, if we just wait for them to make the first move, we'll always be one step behind. We need to know what they want. And if I'm the target… maybe I can get close enough to find out."

Xander shook his head, his expression darkening. "I'm not putting you at risk."

"I'm already at risk," I argued, frustration raising my tone. "They know about me. They know about the bond. Hiding isn't going to change that."

Xander's jaw clenched, but I saw the battle behind his gaze. He refused to concede to me, yet he knew I was right. We can't just sit and wait for the rogues to make their move.

Aiden's hand closed over mine, a soft but serious grasp. "There must be another way, Lena. We can find out what they want without putting your life in jeopardy."

I looked back at him, my heart panging at the mirrored concern in his eyes. "I don't want to play into their hands, Aiden. If they want me, I'm the one that has control, not them.

Neither of them spoke for a long moment. The silence yawned between us, thick and heavy, the weight of my words settling over the room. Xander's eyes flicked toward Aiden, waiting, it seemed, for him to argue further. But Aiden remained silent. He looked pained, but in his eyes, I saw the resignation. He knew, just as I did, we couldn't afford to sit idly by.

Finally, Xander growled low in his throat. His eyes were black as coal with frustration. "Fine. But we do this on my terms."

I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my throat. "What does that mean?" 

"It means," Xander said, his tone brooking no argument, "you don't go anywhere without one of us. We control when and how this happens. The moment things get out of hand, you're out."

I nodded quickly, a mix of relief and fear swirling in my chest. "Agreed."

Aiden's face gentled, but I could still see the line of concern etched across his features. "This is dangerous, Lena. You're putting yourself right in the middle of something that will get you killed."

"I know," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But we don't have a choice."

---

**The Rogue Encounter**

The plan was set by the following evening. Xander and Aiden agreed with great reluctance that I was going to be the bait in drawing the rogues out, but they wouldn't let me out of their sight. I wasn't exactly pleased with being at the center of attention in such a risky situation, but it was the only way. Since the rogues wanted me because of the mate bond, we were going to have to face them head on.

We set the meet in a small clearing just over the edge of the pack's borders. Xander and Aiden were hidden but within view, waiting for the rogues to make their move. The air was thick with tension, my heart racing with every step I took into the middle of the clearing. I felt both bonds tugging at me-one fierce and protective, the other steady-but I did my best to keep my calm.

This was the only way.

The clearing was silent, the forest eerily still around me. I waited there in a nervous fix, my senses heightened as I scanned the treeline for any sign of movement.

And then, I saw them.

A clique of wolves emerged from the dark, their eyes shone in the dim light. There must have been at least five of them, their dark fur melting into the night's darkness, their stance tense and ready for battle. My heart surged, but I didn't back down.

The leader-a tall, scarred wolf with cold eyes-took one step forward, his gaze fixed on me. "You are the one we have been looking for."

I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak. "Why? What do you want from me?"

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with cruel intent. "You're the key to breaking the balance between the packs. The Alpha, the Beta-you're bound to both. That kind of power… it's something we can use."

I felt a chill run down my spine. He knew. He knew about the bond, and he was planning on using it.

to destabilize everything. But before I could respond, a low growl rumbled from the trees behind me, and I knew Xander and Aiden had heard enough.

The fight was about to begin.

The rogue leader's smirk broadened as he looked toward the trees. "Looks like your protectors are here."

Chaos exploded into the clearing before I could react. Xander and Aiden charged forward, their wolves moving with deadliness, but the rogues were ready.

And I was in the middle of it all.