The True Alpha {2}

Chapter 7

Finley

Everybody's eyes grew wide with shock, all except River. He already knew that Boulder knew, but nobody else did.

Kelly looked concerned. "If Boulder already knew without you telling him, doesn't that mean that other rogues could have recognized you too?"

"No." River answered for me. "Boulder and I were the only two who knew. I honestly don't know how we knew, I think we just sorta sensed that she was different. But he and I never told another soul. There's no way anyone else in the pack could know that Finn isn't who she said she was. And even if they did find out nobody would dare try to attack her."

"How can you be so sure?" Holly challenged.

"Because they're all too scared of her!" Sunny piped up while at the same time River mumbled "Because I won't let them."

At first I thought I was the only one who caught what River said and my face went beet red. Everyone else started snickering. Great, so I wasn't the only one who heard that.

River's face also went red as he realized what he had said. "I-I mean, none of us will let anyone hurt her. That's what I meant!" He said defensively.

"Suure." Sunny and Daisy said at the same time in a sing-song voice.

"Of course it is dear." Gwen added, though she too was fighting back a smile.

River's face flushed as he tried to think of a comeback but he was at a loss for words. Kelly looked between the two of us her face that of one beyond confusion.

'What's going on between you two?' Kelly asked me. It feels good to be able to speak through mind-link again, although this really isn't the first conversation I'd pictured us having.

'Nothing!' I responded. I could tell my response was too defensive though as she started laughing at me. 'Shut up!' I snapped.

Kelly stopped laughing, but the smirk still lingered on her face. As much as I hate her right now for teasing me it feels really good to see her smile again.

Clearly whatever is going on between River and I has not gone unnoticed as I may have hoped. Mainly because I still don't really know what's going on between us! Until I figure out what's going on I don't want anyone else asking questions that I don't know the answers to.

River still looks uncomfortable and is looking at his feet. I don't even know what to do right now. I don't really know what else to tell Kelly and Holly.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "You may have noticed the rogue patrols being more thorough," Kelly and Holly nodded, they'd noticed it. "I'm not sure when exactly, but whatever 'final strike' the rogues have planned it's going to happen soon."

Kelly and Holly's eyes widened. "Final strike?" Kelly whispered.

"The rogues want to throw out all of the packs and clans. They don't care who, they want them all gone. They want all of the territories for themselves." I explained.

"Well then why don't they just organize a meeting, a talk of sorts, to consider some of the territory that belongs to the packs going to the rogues?" Holly suggested.

"When have you ever known a pack leader to just give up territory willingly?" I challenged. "No pack would even consider wanting to give away territory, which leaves the rogues with what they think is the only other option."

"But they don't have to drive all of us out!" Holly insisted.

"It doesn't matter." I shook my head. "As far as the rogues are concerned the packs have greatly wronged them. They don't just want territory now, they want revenge." Holly and Kelly both looked terrified. "I do have some potentially good news." Both faces turned to me hopefully. "Your packmates are alive." I told Holly.

Holly's mouth gaped and Kelly slapped her on the back cheerfully. "Are you serious?!" Holly cried out.

"I am." I smiled at her. "When the rogues attacked they took all of your packmates hostage but killed none. Alpha is hoping that they will join the rogue pack but none have. Alpha is frustrated, but not so frustrated that he would harm them. He wants them recruited so that he has more soldiers for the final strike."

"He wants them to turn against their alpha?!" Holly pressed.

"Yes, but none of them have." I told her firmly. "As Beta Alpha has allowed me to accompany him on these missions to attempt to gain their loyalty. Not one of them even wavered. Not on the prospect of better conditions or more food. Nothing he said would sway them."

"What do you mean better conditions?" Kelly asked hesitantly.

"Your packmates aren't being held in the greatest of conditions." I explained softly. "They are sheltered and are each given a certain amount of food every day. Water they have unlimited access to, at least."

"Where are they being held?" Holly queried.

"In the basements. It's cold but dry where they are. And they have access to a faucet that spouts clean water." I informed her.

"That's something at least." Holly muttered.

"I know it isn't the greatest," Gwen cut in. "Believe me, I would love nothing more than to release your pack, but it would raise suspicion with Alpha. Finn showing up not long after that territory is taken over, her gaining some power, and then prisoners going missing. There would be too much suggestion that she had something to do with it."

"I understand." Holly said reluctantly.

I looked up at the sky, shocked to see that the sun was nearly directly overhead. "We've been here too long..." I murmured.

Immediately everyone turned to look at me. I nodded to the sun silently. Gwen, Sunny, Daisy, and River looked at each other and at me with concern.

"We need to go. Now." Daisy growled. "If Alpha realized that we did not simply patrol and report back immediately..."

"Then we need to make sure we get back before he realizes it moron." Sunny snapped. Sunny only snaps when she's tense.

"We need to go." I ordered sharply. "If Alpha points out that we took too long we tell him we were following a track that turned out to lead to nothing. Got it?"

Four heads nodded at me. I nodded sharply and turned. I started running before I could hesitate.

'Good luck, Skye...' Kelly whispered through our mind link.