The Rogue camp
1376 Words
Aiden POV
We know it's a matter of urgency. It isn't normal to be unable to be unable to feel the connection with our members. Something must be wrong. I just hope we aren't too late.
Our pack is sacred. We hold the responsibility of keeping our pack safe, and we will do everything we can to make sure we do.
We should be able to link our members' wolves, so it's definitely concerning that we can't.
We have split up into groups, and we all know we need to move with precision and stealth in order to not raise suspicion.
'You all know the drill, communicate through the link, and be careful,' Austin says, and we all agree.
We are getting closer. The camp is louder, but it isn't what I thought I'd hear. There's talking and laughing. Pups are playing and giggling. I give a side glance to Austin, and he gives me the same confused face.
We are just inside the tree line, looking for any sign of Lola and Cody, but I see nothing.
'Alphas, we have found Lola and Cody. They are in bad shape.' Gage sounds gutted, so it must be bad. I'm fuming, and Kyn is ready to take them down.
'Can you carry them back, take them straight to the clinic. Gage and Greyson make your way to us,' Austin replies before I can 'yes Alpha'. 'We need warriors to the north. We are at the camp.' I link our head warriors 'lets go, I've linked for some warriors,' I say, and with that, we both nod and walk out into the open. Our growls grab everyones attention. I'm pissed that our pack has been attacked. An attack on any of our members is a direct attack on us, and we will not stand for it.
The chattering and laughing stops, and the pups run to their parents.
They all look frightened, mostly the females and pups, and subtly they move behind the men.
"Can we help you?" An older rogue asked like we are trespassers, I growl at his tone, and even though he is visibly shaking and I see his adams apple bob as he gulps, he doesn't move.
"Which of you attacked our pack?" Austin growls out, ready to kill them.
Again, the older rogue speaks, "we haven't done anything of the sort," he says as his voice trembles. He looks shocked, but that could be a mask.
"What happened to our pack members?" I ask, walking forward with anger radiating from me.
I can feel kyn trying to shift at their disrespect.
The itch from his fur breaking through my skin is unmistakable, but I hold him at bay.
"We would never," he says again in disgust, but I've heard enough. My hand is around his throat, and I have him pinned against a tree.
I hear the cries and pleas around me, but I also hear the growls. The biggest growl was emitting from Austin as I know he has my back. I can also hear Gage and Greyson.
"Please, please don't... I beg you, please don't hurt my mate.." I hear a woman begging.
"DAD.. DAD.." I heard getting louder and louder. I look behind me, and I see a woman has caught hold of a girl, screaming for her dad.
It was strange that he hadn't tried to fight back. He hasn't even tried to get free.
"Which ones were it?" I growl at him, applying more pressure. His face is turning red, but still, he's not moving. It's now that I noticed he has his hands up in surrender, but it has also stopped the growls from the others.
Our warriors have surrounded the rogues. I release my hold of him, and he wheezes and coughs to catch his breath.
"SOMEONE HERE HAS ATTACKED OUR PACK MEMBERS," Austin shouts out to the crowd.
The murmurs start, but none own up to it.
"We would never do that, we came here because we would be safer closer to your pack. We would never jeopardise that" the rogues mate answers, but she would say anything to save her mate.
"Can we talk about it. We don't have violence here. Yes, we are rogues. Mostly not by choice, but we are a peaceful camp," the rogue says now he's got his breath back.
"Our scouts were attacked just outside your camp. It's not a coincidence that they came here and now they are badly injured," Aiden says, his attention fully on the man now.
"I agree it looks suspicious, but we didn't do it. I used to be a warrior for my old pack and I know it would be devastatingly bad for us if we did and why would we attack them and leave them on our doorstep, obviously we would be the first to be blamed" his explanation made me angry but nor just at them because his explanation does have a ring of truth to it, only slightly.
"We had no idea anyone was near us or that they were injured," his mate growled with a tone of disbelief and anger. Gage growled back, and she stepped back slightly. "Josey," the man whispered behind me as my full attention was now on her. I've also realised that when I turned more rogues were now gathered in the onlookers , our warriors are stood ready for a fight, things can escalate in a heartbeat so we train to be prepared at all times.
"Can I ask what they were looking for?" Another man asked."What does that matter? " Greyson asked, fuming."I know they wouldn't have attacked you as that was our order. They were attacked, and I want the ones responsible now!" Austin growled pissed at them for trying to hide the culprits responsible for 2 of our scouts being in the clinic.
"Honestly, we have no idea. We are peaceful and would never do that," another woman stated 'fuckers' Kyn growled wanted to take over and settle this but he would not listen to reason and as pissed off as I am and honestly I'd do anything to protect our pack, there is no way I'd take an innocent life, I would never forgive myself and neither would Alora.
"Who's in charge here?" I ask, looking around the crowd."Alpha, none of us are. Me and Josey started the camp and helped the others, but we are not leaders. We just know some wolves need help, not all rogues are murderous monsters." The man explained, so maybe not having a leader is why they attack without reason.
I nod my head to his mate, Josey, and back to him. With that, she let another hold her sobbing daughter and cautiously walked towards her mate. I see him watching her every move and ours. He's afraid we would hurt her, but we are not those kinds of wolves.
Once they embraced and she checked his throat, they faced me and Austin, who had moved beside me. 'They look as if they have no idea why we are here and who was hurt' he linked me confused
"Our scouts were sent to assess this camp. Being so close to our territory, it was necessary." I explained a little calmer, but my anger is simmering beneath the surface.
"We haven't had any visitors or been out of camp for 4 days." Josey explains, but I'm not sure that could be true. Wolves need food, and even if we can last longer than a human, 4 days would be too long. She must see the doubt on our faces because she continues, "we hunt once every 4-5 days, we ration our food." ok supposed that could work, but it doesn't change the fact our people were attacked here.
I look back at Gage and Greyson, watching the crowd carefully. Someone here knows who we are looking for. I give a small nod for them to start the next process.
"We need all the people who can fight to step forward." Gage says, looking around everyone.
No one wants to step forward with fear of what's to come next, and if I'm honest, they probably fear the worst as we are the biggest pack for miles.
- Writer
