C12. Wolf Tracker

Vee's POV:

     Hunting on a full moon meant I couldn't use any gun related weapons. It would be too risky. Even hunting in another pack's territory was bad enough. But, I felt I had to do this on the full moon. If I was going to find that rogue then it would be tonight. But, I have to be careful because this isn't my pack's territory. If I get caught I will be in serious danger. They'll have rights to kill me without asking questions. I want to make sure I find that rogue before anybody else does.

     The only thing the station gave me was a sedative I could use on the rogue if I crossed him. I strapped my own bow across my back along with a bag of arrows. I also had a change of clothes securing the sedative. The straps were spell-bound to adjust with my form. I could trasform easily while wearing the straps and they'd stay put.

     The rogue's scent lead me across the borders of Deepfur's territory. This was the lycan king's territory. It was a larger pack that allowed other species to live amongst them. The King's treaty with other species kept us from being sold into slavery by superior beings. We back inferior species and they'll back us when the time comes.

     Beta Matthew wants the rogue alive. He said he wanted to make sure the rogue is the right killer. Does that mean Matthew is suspicious of the rogue being the correct killer? Of course... Matthew has some brain cells left. He probably suspects the rogue wasn't working alone. How else would that rogue be able to come and go from our territory? Someone on border patrol is working with him. Someone is a traitor to the pack. Someone killed our alpha and thinks they'll get away with it. But, when I catch the rogue... him and whoever helped him will be executed in the town square.

     Maybe it really was April's daughter. Josephine Cromwell probably is in league with that rogue. Even though she is way too weak... Maybe that is a good enough reason to recruit help from another rogue. If she really did kill her father... she deserves way worse then death.

     Sometime past dark I found myself resting in a tree. The rogue's scent was present in the area. I took to the trees to try to musk my scent. My bow and arrow rested across my lap. I watched the ground for any movement. My heart was slow-paced. I was one with the tree. I blended like a tropical smoothie to fit the shadows surrounding the branches. He was closing in on the area. I could sense it. I sat downwind and cleched my jaws shut to prevent myself from chattering my teeth.

     Suddenly... I saw movement. Two scents surrounded me. I felt my hair stand up on my arms. I could smell two rogues. Both familiar scents. The rogue I'm after was most clear. I've been tracking his scent for so long I felt my heart increase. My patience was finally paying off. I stayed still as I couldn't afford to give myself away. The other scent was recognized as the late alpha's daughter. Josephine was here.

     So... they are in league.

     I could hear the fast paws of the two rogues running at full speed. Like something was chasing them. I moved ever so slightly to pick up my bow and prepare for war. If I had to kill to get them both alive... I would. I aimed down where I could hear them coming from. The darkness still wouldn't allow me clear vision. I finally saw something.

     A black rogue came into view. I hesitated as I aimed it down. My wolf spoke softly to me, 'That's the Cromwell daughter.' I knew it too. I never saw her as a wolf before. But, I couldn't mistake her father's signature dark coat. It was the same as hers. The dark coat was rare to this region because in dawn it would give you away. But, in the dark it was a great advantage. My eyes could see her dark figure only from the glow of her eyes. They were filled with fear. I could smell she was scared. I didn't know she's already trasformed. This will be good news to report to her mother.

     April can start trainning her daughter... if Josephine is innocent.

     Josephine was running from something. Not running with. I could tell from the sense of fear she let out. I froze still and solid. The rogue chasing her was the one I've been hunting. But, my eyes pierced his signature fur coat. The same coat only rumored to come from the rogue pack of the south. His brown fur came from that region as well as his peppered spine that was his father's look. It was a breeded odity. The rogue pack was also called pack Blackridge who held no alligeion to the lycan king. They were assasigns.

     Jossie is being chased by her father's killer!

     I aimed down the rogue and waited for Jossie to be out of the way before I shot him down. The arrow struck him in his shoulder. I promised Matthew I wouldn't kill him. I would keep him alive and report back immediantly. I'll find Jossie later. I can get local help if I have to. For now... I'll arrest this bastard. I watched Jossie run out of sight. Completely unaware of what happened.

     The rogue trasformed back to his human state. His hair was almost the same color as his fur coat, a brown. I could easily mistake the brown for black, it was so dark. His eyes were a sea foam green. This guy had god-like features. Clear skin that was smooth and creamy. He didn't spend a whole lot of time in the sun. He was fit, as most werewolves were. It was better to be fit when you had to trasform between forms. It was extra weight that made you stronger in wolf form.

     He snapped the arrow in half and looked around until his eyes met mine. I jumped down from the tree and aimed him down with a new arrow as I approached him. I took it slow. I knew Josephine was long gone and she wouldn't return.

    "Do you like chasing innocent girls?" I asked him sharply. "Does it make you feel better about yourself? Killing people? Your kind makes me sick..." I growled. "Fucking rogue. Were you going to kill her next?" I shot him a second time in his thigh to make sure he wouldn't go anywhere. I stared him down in his eyes. He held back from screaming. As if he knew better than to give our position away to the nearby pack.

     "I wasn't going to kill her," he growled out in dispeasure. His hands trembled as they touched the arrow in his thigh. I could see his wound closing on his shoulder. He was a fast healer.

     "Better not," I warned him. "Or the next shot will be aimed for your heart," I told him. He moved his hands away from his thigh. "You killed our Alpha. I just caught you chasing after his daughter."

     "What?" He asked in confusion. "I never killed anyone. And, I scared her I'll admit but I was chasing her only to protect her."

     'Lies,' my wolf whispered.

     I twisted the bow around and aimed it at his head as I struck him. He fell over in the snow. A wound formed from where I hit him and pooled out blood before healing over. "Matthew will be the judge of that," I muttered. No way was I going to report to April. At least not first. I'll report to Beta Matthew. He'll beat it out of this rogue exactly what he's been up to. I pulled out the sedative and preped the needle. I stuck his neck and slipped the sedative into his system. I fished around in my pants for my phone and sent a text to Beta Matthew.

[V] [I've captured the rogue alive.]

[M] [Good! Bring him in for questioning.]

[V] [Actually send someone to pick him up. I've found Josephine as well.]

[M] [Get to a secure location and text me your coordinates. Keep an eye on Josephine. I'll have back up on the way.]

     I put my phone away. My lips parted in a smile as I buried the empty needle under the snow. I yanked the arrow out of the rogue's leg and tossed it from me. I picked him up and threw him over my shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

     'Nyla, tell me where Josephine went.'

     'To town. Follow her scent it will lead you towards the main highway.'

     'Take lead,' I ordered.

     My wolf took off away from my body. Her scent leading towards Josephine. Her spirit was in the air all around me. I couldn't let her confuse me. I have to keep an ear out for any unwanted attention. At least where I was going was downwind.

Matthew's POV:

     I sat my phone down on the desk. The sound of it alerted a few of my pack mates as they looked my way. They were patiently awaiting for my signal they were free for the night. Usually I'd release them of their duty earler... but tonight is a full moon. I've been patiently waiting to see if Veronica will come through tonight and get us that rogue. And, she did. Not only that but she has visual on my niece. I cleared my throat and glanced around the room. Who should I send to assist Veronica?

     'Zeke,' my wolf suggested.

     My eyes landed on Zeke. He was an upcoming grad-student. First of his classes in the field of detective work. I should have thought of this sooner. Zeke was in his early twenties. With a dark almond tone for skin shade. He also had rare amber eyes. Something I haven't seen outside of wolf-forms. He was well-fit. Something that attracted people to him. He was adding his own fan-base with the female omegas of the pack.

     Zeke was my daughter's childhood best friend. I thought of him like a son. He'd be perfect for this kind of mission. I couldn't see anything going wrong if I sent him. Zeke was in the department's uniform. He sat at a desk not far from me. He was was facing his computer but his eyes drifted away to the full moon outside. Like everybody here... he wanted to go for a run.

     "Everyone," I said as I managed to grab even his attention. "You are dismissed. Zeke, see me at my desk." I tapped the phone imatiently. I watched as everyone left for the locker room. Zeke came up to my desk and gave me a friendly smile.

     "Beta Matthew," he greeted as he lowered his head out of respect. "You wanted to see me?" He'd raise his eyes to look into mine.

     "Have you met Veronica before?" I asked as I put my phone up in my pocket.

    "She's a border patrol teacher. I've met her briefly."

     "I ordered her to go after the rogue seen in our territory a few days ago. She's informed me she's captured him. But, she's also seen Josephine nearby. She can't go after Josephine until she sends the rogue back here. So, she's going to need someone to pick up the rogue. I need you to do it. Can you handle it alone?"

     "Yes sir! A rogue shouldn't be much trouble." He nodded along to my voice.

     "Take a van from out back. She's going to text me her location and I'll send it to you. You can pick up some drugs from the med-lab on my authority. The doctors will know what to give you to sedate the criminal."

     "Yes sir. Should I remain there and wait for Veronica to capture Josephine as-"

     "No. I don't think Vee will have any trouble getting Josephine to come home. The less of our pack in that area the better. We don't want to draw too much attention over there."

     "Yes sir. I'll be fast and unoticed."

     "Good. Get going," I ordered and held out a hand. We shook hands and I watched him leave for the locker room. I sat back in my desk and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Shit... Now I need to inform my sister. I pulled my phone back out and dialed her number. I wasn't sure if I could get her to pick up. Not this late on a full moon. But, I got lucky and she answered.

     "Brother, this better be good. I was about to fall asleep," my sister growled out. I could hear something playing in the back ground... violin music. She put me on speaker then. "Well... what is it?" She wondered.

     "Vee's sent word... she's got the rogue."

     "And, what about it?" She asked in a snarl. "This is what you've woken me up about?"

     "She's also found Josephine. I've sent someone out to fetch the rogue. She's got orders to bring Josephine home."

     "Well... finally some good news. I trust you know what to do. Now please... don't ever call and wake me up again! This could have waited for in the morning." I smirked as I let out a sigh.

     "Yes sister. I'll come see you in the morning."

     "Why on earth would you do that?"

     "We need to discuss what to do with the rogue. Now that we have him we shouldn't just kill him. We need to make sure he's the last one coming in and attacking our family."

     "I don't think a rogue is capable of telling the truth," she told me before hanging up. I frowned and sat back in my desk. I stuck my phone back in my pocket out of annoyance. What a bitch.

     I heard footsteps from down the hall before a familiar voice hit my ears. My heart raced as I knew instantly who she was.

     "Honey~ I brought you some stew. I wasn't sure when you're coming home," I heard my mate say. I glanced her way. She was standing at the entrance with a few containers of food. She glanced around the empty room and then at me. "What did I miss?" She asked in amusement. She came over to my desk and sat the stew down.

     "Happy full moon," I said as I stood up and gestured for her to sit down. She plopped down in my seat and looked up at me happily.

     "Did you know I was coming and asked the office to clear out?" She asked in an amused tone.

     "No, you just have good timing," I explained. "I was about to head home myself."

     "Did something happen?" She pressed.

    "Yes, the rogue has been found along with Josephine. We're working now to bring them home."

     I pulled open the container of left-over stew. It was still comfortably warm. She gave me a spoon and I dug in as I sat down on my desk. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I ate some. I was starved. I skipped lunch and dinner. Another container had bread and the last was a cheese cake slice. She was so thoughtful... this is why I love her. I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Thank you my dear."

     "Can you make time for a run tonight?" She asked as she looked into my eyes with a begging tone in her own. I smiled and nodded.

     "Let me close here and then we can go." I got down from my desk and was about to walk around and get things sorted but she grabbed my arm.

     "I can turn off everything. You just focus on finishing those left-overs." I smiled in final agreement. I couldn't say no to her. I watched her leave me to find and turn off everything as needed. This wouldn't be her first time doing it. Being a Beta family meant we were used to shifts here at the police station. It was regular for me to stay late if something big like a rogue tresspassing happened. I should have released everyone earlier... I forgot tonight is a full moon. An essential time between all wolves and the moon.

     'You should have reminded me,' I teased my wolf. 'Carol is probably silently mad at me.'

     'She doesn't mind,' he promised. 'Your mate is too sweet to be mad for long anyway.'