Making The Rounds

It's been about two weeks since the first Feral member of my pack showed up. Yes the first. I know the implication. Yes, there have been more. Three more to be exact. Neither I nor Ashton can figure out how they're turning. Only one more alpha has gone missing and he's yet to turn back up. In the meantime, an allied alpha has taken temporary custody of his pack in a way. Standing in what was originally a ballroom, now redone to serve as a meeting room, I pore over maps and charts, trying to find a pattern and praying it isn't anything to do with my pack specifically.

"We may need to bring in any and all rogues around our area in and keep them here," I say. I really don't want to, but if it means less Ferals and more wolves in the pack, so be it. When Ashton doesn't reply, I look up to see him balking at me. "What," I sigh. "D, we don't have the capacity nor do we have the resources to sustain that many additions at once," he says. "And do you know what forcing them into the pack would do? You've worked hard to form some sort of peace with these Rogues. They're happy as they are. Forcing them into this lifestyle would be taken as an act of hostility." I sigh, dropping my head between my shoulders. "I know that. But if we phrase it right, it will come across as exactly what it is; for their protection and to ensure that whatever is happening doesn't happen to them," I reply. "I say call some we have the best relationship with. Ask them to come and spread the word to any others they may come across. That way, it's still their choice and we aren't just marching on them like the freaking Romans did. Make the announcement to the pack and ask for volunteers to house them until we can get more places built up and more supplies readied," Julianna pipes up. I look at Ashton, both of us contemplating. I include him because it would be his men we send out as envoys to do it. "Sure. I'll get a group of about a dozen. We can give written notes for each one to deliver. Along with a bundle of additional ones for others they may cross paths with. Keep it simple and quick but diplomatic. Don't force it. I know that's what your mind is screaming to do but we can't," he says. I nod in agreement. "I'll print out a list for your scouts to go down and have it to you by early morning," I say. He nods and smiles before glancing at his watch. "Speaking of, I'm late for evening training. I'll get that list from you in the morning and send my twelve out," Ashton says, kissing my cheek as he rushes past me. I chuckles softly and turn back to my maps. "He genuinely loves you, y'know," Julianna says.

"Neither of us can afford to love the other. We can't be together in that capacity and you know it," I say calmly without looking up. And it's true. Our laws prohibit interspecies mating for fear of creating a hybrid too powerful to contain. To break the law is punishable by death. So, Ashton and I have only ever had a physical relationship. Neither of us claiming the other in public or in private. "I should get started on that list," I say absently. Jules sighs but nods, hearing the dismissal but knowing I won't force her to leave. Instead she gives me a tight hug and walks out.

I pull up my computer, waiting for it to boot up as I pull files on what few Rogues we know around us. After the attack, my pack kind of became reclusive. Some packs even assume we're a myth. Their alphas are well aware of our existence, but in keeping their packs in the dark, it keeps us safe. It also helps if we get attacked again to narrow down potential traitors. And I plan to keep it that way as long as possible. The more people think we dont exist, the safer we are. In theory anyway. In practice, not so much. When the pinging of my computer draws my attention, I notice I have missed emails from allied alphas. And some betas. I go through each one individually, combing through the urgent ones first and responding to them before replying to the more social ones. As I pull up the list of known Rogues, my heart clenches when I come across one name in particular. Vlad Silus. When I was in high school and newly turned, I found my mate. My human best friend, Bear. I was training to be an alpha and no human should be forced into our lifestyle. So instead, I dated Vlad. He was human too but single. No emotional attachments he spoke of. He let me turn him and we claimed one another as mates. Or at least I claimed him. But he was a year above me. And like all things in life, our relationship had an expiration date. He went to university where I rarely heard from him. When I did, it was brief. When I finally got to Skype him, he had someone asleep in his bed behind him. She was fully clothed, but nonetheless it hurt. He swore, and still does, nothing happened. But when he came home he was different. More distant. We went to my prom. He couldn't keep his hands off me. Looking back, it makes me think of the lyrics to All You Wanna Do from the musical Six. Eventually he got so distant I only heard from him every couple of days. When confronted, he said he couldn't give me the time and attention I needed. But I knew the truth. His gaming and friends came first and he wasnt willing to put either aside. I thought Wynter would die from the pain we felt.

But she didn't. We didn't. We survived and grew. We kept him around off and on but ultimately decided he would never change. And I was tired if being let down and hurt. Last time I heard he had left whatever pack he was with to roam as a Rogue. We can't let him become a Feral. No matter how much it hurts, he needs to come just like the rest of them, Wynter says softly. I nod, knowing she's right. And that I will inevitably somehow regret this. Let's just hope I don't commit homicide in the process. Ashton is here to keep me sane. Jules and Misty are always good at being protective and aggressive when need be. Taking a deep breath, I steady myself. We will be fine, Wynter says gently. I hope so, I reply. I feel a warmth spread through my body and can feel her comforting me. So many humans and their wolves fight it argue and it weakens them. But Wynter and I are almost always on the same page. We're always thinking of our pack first. There are some days she seems more wild than other wolves and barely forms a full sentence. Then there are the days our power radiates from her and nobody dares mess with us or cross us.

Is it wrong to hope he declines the invitation, I ask Wynter softly. I feel her sadness as she brushes against my mind. No, it's not wrong. But we both know he won't, she replies gently. I sigh but stay quiet. Ashton comes in, closing the door gently behind him. He comes around the desk, crouching in front of me and placing one hand on my knee while the other one gently pulls my face up. "What are you thinking, little wolf?" His tone is soft and gentle like you would use on a scared child. Is that how he sees me? As a scared child?

I squeeze my eyes shut, taking a shaky breath before answering. "What if we're wrong? What if bringing all of these Rogues in is a mistake and our pack falls apart from the inside this time?" Panic creeps into my voice with every question, but he silences me with his lips on my own. He stands up, pulling me to him gently and wrapping his arms around my waist. "We aren't wrong and our pack will be fine. You are a great Alpha, Dawn. Even if you don't see it yourself, the rest of us do. You're by no means perfect, but you're imperfections are what make you you. And if you weren't you, you wouldn't be our alpha. The pack trusts you and they know you'll do what's best for everybody in the long run." He moves a stray curl off of my face gently as he speaks, smiling down at me. At six foot four, he towers over my short five foot five self. His blue-black hair falls in shaggy curls across his forehead and his bright golden eyes seem like they can all but see what I'm thinking at any given time.

His dark lips pull up in a wry smile as he leans down, whispering in my ear. "You're staring at me again." A blush crawls up my neck, staining my face. He chuckles softly and sits down on the couch in my office, pulling me into his lap. "Where do you go when you escape into your mind like that," he questions softly. I frown, unaware he even noticed me spacing out. "Nowhere good," I reply simply. He sighs and pulls me so I'm leaning against his muscular frame. Resting his chin on the crown of my head, he strokes my arm absently.

"Sooner or later you'll have to call Bear and tell him you're his mate you know," he says at random. I groan, knowing where this is going. "Why? You and I are good with what we have and last I heard he was dating some she-wolf warrior from his pack." He chuckles and makes me face him, looking into my eyes. "Because as much fun as we have, I can never make you feel as happy or fulfilled as your own mate can and you know it," he says sternly. I roll my eyes, smiling when he crashes his lips against my own. His fingers skim the exposed skin of my waist, moving me so I'm straddling his lap. I slowly wrap my arms around his neck loosely, losing myself in the kiss and letting everything else fade away. This is what I need; what I want. The security and unconditional love he gives me. The connection I feel to him, despite him not being a wolf. Wynter harbors a great deal of aggression towards most people not in our pack but there are days I catch even her swooning over him. Our best friend and lover. The man that has stood by our side regardless of what happened. There have been many days that he catches me in a foul mood or even just feeling cruel. Those are the worst days and even then, he let's me spit my venomous words at him and then does little more than hold me. He deepens the kiss, pulling my body closer to him as one of his hands gets lost in my golden tresses.

I twine my own fingers in his dark locks, not wanting to lose this. To lose him. I stand up, pulling him up with me, and dash to my bedroom, pulling him with me. I kick the door shut as I pull him back down to meet his lips with my own. He presses his large frame against me, backing me against the door as he does. Reaching behind me, I lock the door before pushing him down onto the bed and climbing on top of him. I jerk my shirt over my head, tossing it aside before leaning down to kiss him deeply again. I once again surrender myself to him as I have so many times before, and we continue through the night. Giving him my everything and him making me forget every single concern that's haunted me.