Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

10. Rogues

We hurry back to the village, sending Emily and Paige to Paige's room for the night. Alerting Clyde, he pulls everyone in the patrol unit from the hunt to stand on guard while the rest of the pack can continue hunting.

However, the commotion has announced our intentions to the forest dwellers tonight, so most groups saw fewer kills after that.

Once the hunt is over, and the meat is tallied up, our group came in last, and it's determined that there won't be enough meat to feed everyone for the feast tomorrow.

"We'll worry about that in the morning," Clyde tells our group, as he grips Keith's shoulder firmly in his large weathered hand. "In the mean time, thanks for bringing more rogues to our attention. There must be a group of them passing through."

"It was Zara who smelled their presence," Evan says next to me. "I couldn't pick them up until they came closer to us."

My heart pounds with everyone's attention on me. Taking a deep breath and holding my head steady, I maintain a fixed gaze on Clyde's cheekbones despite the heat rising off my own.

"She must have a stronger sense of smell, like Ali," Keith says, studying me carefully with his hazel-brown eyes.

Alicia nods in agreement. "As soon as I got close to Zara and Evan, I could smell the rogues too. It's a good thing Zara was able to catch them. Who knows what they were up to tonight."

Owen is standing next to his father and silently fuming. His mother tries to calm him to no avail. Sighing, she shakes her head and says to no one in particular, "Why is this happening all of a sudden? We've lived in peace with neighboring packs for decades, and all of a sudden there are rogues appearing out of thin air. How could no one warn us about them?"

"Maybe no one's noticed them? Maybe they are just passing through?" Tamara says, a hopeful note in her voice.

"I don't want to chance it," Owen says through gritted teeth. "I want everyone over twenty in the pack to take turns patrolling the border in pairs. We should amp up security to ensure everyone's protection until we know for certain that the rogues will pass us by. We cannot risk lives at the possibility that they are just passing through."

Clyde nods, silently taking in his son's concern as he crosses his arms over his chest. His eyes pass over Evan and I, landing on Rick standing just a few feet away from us.

Rick, likewise, has his arms crossed and is watching the alpha and alpha-to-be's reaction to the rogues. Once Clyde's eyes fall on him, everyone else's eyes follow. Rick's not blind, but he looks uncomfortable as he sets his jaw firmly in place. "I agree with Owen. Can't be too careful when it comes to pack safety. Evan, Keith, Ali, and I will take turns patrolling the southern border while we're here."

My cheeks flare when Rick doesn't include me. He doesn't consider me too weak, does he? I lower my eyes to the ground as my hands ball into fists at my sides. I don't like the thought of being singled out. I'm a member of his pack too!

Clyde nods in acceptance of Rick's offer, while Owen exhales in an attempt to compose himself. Turning, Owen says before leaving, "I'll gather some volunteers for the next patrol."

I look up as Clyde rubs his face with his big weathered hand. His tired eyes follow his son as he departs before turning back to us. "You should all get some rest. If you'd like to patrol in the morning, meet me back here at oh-seven-hundred. Goodnight."

Heidi, Tamara, Marcus, and Brianna say goodnight before following Clyde to their houses.

Alicia sighs, massaging small circles on her temples with her fingers. "This is a disaster."