James's POV

After Shelby and Carli were out of hearing range, I heard Amanda's voice "Alpha, why did you send Carli?"

"Well, I figured that she would be less likely to hit Carli, but if I had sent you Shelby probably would have hit you a couple of times and I need you for an interrogation," I said and then turned around walking toward the pack's holding cells. "Eric and Darren, you are dismissed, Thomas and Amanda follow me,"

"Yes Alpha," they said in unison. Darren and Eric left toward their houses, I noticed the tension between Amanda and Eric, I made a mental note to ask Thomas for a full report later. With Thomas on my right side and Amanda on my left, we went to go interrogate the new detainees at the cells. Lucky for us the walk was not far, only a couple of miles. After a few minutes of walking, I noticed a couple of bruises on Amanda's arms, "How did you get those?" I asked her, pointing at her arm.

She looked to where I was pointing and sighed, "Eric grabbed my arms a little too tight and I guess it bruised,"

"I'm going to kill him," Thomas growled catching me off guard.

"What is going on with you two?" I asked watching both of them shift uncomfortably.

"Well, a while back when we had to give DNA samples at the hospital. We learned that I was adopted when I was an infant and that my real parents died in a rogue attack on a neighboring pack," Amanda started playing with her fingers. "I learned this when my mom called me into her office to discuss the results of the DNA test because she had found my brother. He was a high-ranking official in the pack that my adoptive family joined. He was the beta in training," Amanda finished looking up at Thomas with pride.

"Mandy?" I asked using her old nickname with caution. I was so happy for Thomas; we were all sad when his younger sister went missing. We were only 5 when the attack happened but it was etched into all of our minds, we all thought that she had been killed. I would be willing to bet that Shelby did not remember, she was too young when it happened.

"Yea," She replied sheepishly looking down at her shoes. I really did feel for Thomas, having his sister back must be amazing. "Guys it is not that big of deal. Let's go, I think that more answers are in order," Amanda said as she started toward the cells awkwardly.

"Imagine when the pack finds out," I said to Thomas.

"She is not going to like all of the attention, but don't say anything until she is ready," Thomas replied, then turned heading in the same directions as Amanda knowing that I would not say anything.

When we got to the cells, we followed the long hall to the interrogation room, where the three rouges sat and waited. "Open the door," I said to the guard standing outside the room, Thomas stiffened when as the door opened. The guard complied without a word, handing me the clipboard. "State your names and former packs," I said without looking up at the rouges.

"Why Alpha," The boy on the right spoke up.

"Watch your tone pup," I growled.

"Joseph Knight; Blood moon, Isabella Amora, and Enzo Russo; Blood Moon," Amanda spoke up. "Enzo apparently has a problem with authority,"

"Is that so?" I asked with interest. "What pack is Isabella from?"

"I have no data on her pack,"

"How did she do that?" Joseph asked.

"That is none of your concern," Thomas spoke up.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Why should—" Enzo started.

"Enzo just stop," Isabella cut him off. She looked up at Thomas and sighed "We got the job offer in a bar in the human town. Rouges often go there for the money, some of the official packs will pay rouges for dirty work. Or there will be random posts from other rouge packs that will pay to avoid getting their hands dirty," Her blue eyes focused on the table as she explained it.

"Did you ever meet the person who made the request?" I asked.

"No, everything was dealt with one of the bartenders there," She said still looking at the table.

"What bar is it and who was the bartender?"

"I don't remember her name, but the bar is Senders in town," Thomas stormed out, a tear slipped out of Isabella's eye.

"Thank you for the information," I said before heading out of the room. "Dude, what the hell? You can't just storm out of an interrogation," I scolded Thomas.

"Do you know how many members of our pack work in town? So many of the high schoolers work in that bar. What if it was one of them?" Thomas passed.

"Tell him what is really wrong," Amanda said.

"I can't,"

"If you don't I will," Amanda shoved him and got in his face.

"Not yet," he grabbed her arms and put some space between the two of them.

"Fine," Amanda turned toward me. "What are you going to do with them?" 

"If they are willing to become functioning members of the pack, they will take rehabilitation courses and will be welcomed into the pack," I explained my plan. Amanda's jaw dropped and Thomas' shoulders lost some of the tension that was in them. "I am not my  father, I refuse to kill a rogue who I think could be good given the chance,"

"I think that is great, right Thomas?"     

"Yea," Thomas said with a small smile on his face.

"What is going on? You two are acting weird," I interrupted the siblings.

"Thomas' ma..." Amanda started then Thomas covered her mouth.

"That guy Joey is Amanda's mate," Thomas said.

"But I thought that Eric was her mate. How long has he been in the pack anyway?" I asked confused.

"I don't remember, something about him is off, I don't remember much about him. What are we going to do if he is part of this?" Amanda said with a nervous look in her eye, looking up at Thomas.

"I don't know, let us not tell him for now. Without evidence we would just be making accusations and that could be dangerous, he is an expert fighter," Thomas reasoned.

"Yea, that is a good idea," I said.

Shelby's POV

When we got to the house I went straight to my room, grabbing a duffle bag I put a weeks' worth of clothes and some cash. Going over I placed my bag on my bed, opened the drawer to my nightstand to get my pistol and fake id.

"Hey if you are going to be moody don't take it out on every door," Carli said.

"I'm going to the gym, could you grab my deodorant from the bathroom?" I asked.

"Yea I guess," she said while going to the bathroom, "I am going to mind link James to make sure it is ok that you go,"

"Yea, whatever," I said putting the gun and fake Id's and the cash from under my bed into the bag.

Carli came out of the bathroom and handed me the deodorant. "Here,"

"Thanks, Carls. Did the Alpha ok my gym time?" I asked sarcastically.

"Will you stop giving him a hard time? Yes, he said it was fine," She replied.

"Cool and I am sorry," I said.

"For what?" She asked. As I hit the pressure point on her neck causing her to pass out, I lowered her body to the floor before picking her up and putting her on the bed. I put on an oversized black hoody and grabbed my car keys. I snuck out the back door and started the car heading south toward the border. I grabbed my phone and dialed a number; it rang twice before he picked it up.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I need a place to lay low for a bit. I just can not be here anymore,"
"Whatever you need I will meet you at the border do not worry. I am here,"

"Thanks, I can always rely on you," I hung up the phone.

I threw the phone on the ground, so it smashed to pieces, the next step was to get rid of the car. I got out, grabbed my bag, then put a brick on the gas. The car went forward, hit a tree, and light on fire. I took off the winged necklace feeling the added weight on my back I flew west to finish crossing the border with no interference from anyone on the ground. I made it to the border in 5 minutes and was a little hesitant to cross, was this what I wanted? It was too late for me to turn around, so I went forward. The second I crossed the border I felt burning in the back of my head, I dropped to the ground just a few yards outside of our border. Holding my head, I knew I had to go forward, I put the necklace on and ran. By the time I had reached the border I was stumbling from tree to tree, the pain was unbearable. Soon the blonde-haired Alpha came into my view. I did not know who else to go to, so I went to Trevor, he would not tell James that I was here.

"You look like hell, why do you smell like a rouge?" He asked. "SCARLETT TELL ME THAT YOU GOT PERMISSION TO BE HERE!"

"Long story," I sighed.

"I swear you don't make anyone's life easier," he sighed then pulled me in for a hug.

"Is it true?" I asked him knowing that he would know.

"Let's get you inside first," he led me to his house and to 'my room' I had always stayed in the same one when I spent the night. While I got settled, Trevor got some hot chocolate. "So, where would you like me to begin?"

"The beginning would be nice,"

"When James turned 16, he found out that you were his mate. The two of you were so happy, I remember you had a crush on him forever. You told me that you wished that he were you are mate a week earlier. You started dating, I must admit that I was a little jealous at first, but I was happy for you, I just wish that you were meant to be mine. A few weeks later the brain monkey had to change your memories. Since James's dad outranks mine, he used his command on both packs to not bring up the relationship the two of you had. I was relieved that I could pursue you again, but it felt wrong knowing that you belonged to him..."

"I don't belong to anyone" I interrupted.

"You know what I meant; you are his mate. Not to change the topic but how long are you planning on staying here?"

"I don't know,"

"You have always been a hothead, at least your temper matches your hair," He joked.

"Shut up," I laughed and gave his shoulder a shove. "I just left so quickly I don't know what to do now. Was it really James's father who made us do all of this?"

"Yea, I am sorry. How about you get some sleep and we will talk about it in the morning?" Trevor asked.

"Sounds good," I got off the bed and went to the bathroom. "Oh and Trev?" I said causing him to stop at the door and turn around.

"Yea?" he asked.

"Thank you," I gave him a soft smile.

"What are friends for?" he returned my smile then walked out the door leaving me to the solitude of my home away from home. I looked to the ground, I felt bad for Trevor, even though my brain tried to rationalize that he would be better for me. My heart did truly belong to James, even when we were children I wanted to be by his side all the time. I got jealous anytime he was with another girl, I had not known them but now knowing that he is my mate. It feels like the puzzle pieces are falling into place and I am upset because I am not upset with the picture of me by his side as his mate not just his beta.

"What am I going to do?" I asked myself, even though I knew the answer, I would wait for James to come to me. I knew I was being irrational, he is now the Alpha and has a lot on his plate. However, if I was his mate then he would do anything to find me. It is hard for mates to be apart, I knew that from when I was a child. I sighed and went to the bathroom to change into my pajamas for the night had been more than eventful. When I finally dozed off I had a dream of my mother, she was trapped in a dungeon using the last of her strength to defy those who were holding her.

"Just tell us where the child is and we will leave you alone," A dark-haired man said to my mother.

"You have destroyed 11 packs looking for her before you found me. You are a fool if you think that I would have located the girl anywhere you could find her," she laughed.

"YOU BITCH," A blond-haired man hit my mother in the gut, but all she did was laugh.

"Rot in hell mutt," she countered.

I jumped up and was painting, I wanted to believe that my mother was alive. With all my heart I wanted to save her, I would have to find the man in my dream to know for sure.

"Good morning sleepyhead," Trevor strolled into my room.

"Morning," I replied absent-mindedly.

"What is eating at you?" he handed me a mug of coffee.

"I just had a dream about my mom, I have been having them a lot lately. I know that it is not possible, but I can still feel her mind link. If she is alive, I have to find her and I know that James's father would not approve,"

"He is not the Alpha anymore, if you would like you can have access to my archives and library while you are here. How long do you plan on staying here while we are on the topic?" He offered.

"Just until James comes to find me, I would love to use the library. Could I also have access to the pack's personnel files? I know that is asking a lot but..."

"As Alpha, I think I can pull some strings," He cut me off. "But I do not think that your mother would be in any of the other packs' files. James would be willing to help you if you went to him, you do know, that right?"
"I don't know, he did have my memory altered a few months before he became Alpha, I think that I deserve more than just 'it was Alpha's orders. I am not looking for my mother, there is always this guy in the dream, he has dirty blonde hair and a strong face with a scar over his left eye. Do you know who that is?"

"There is no one that fits that description in my pack, but I think I might know what pack he may belong to. I would be happy to help with your research if you need it,"

"Trevor..." I started rejection on the tip of my tongue.

"I know, this is something that you have to do alone, right?" he knew me better than my father.

"Thank you," I said.

"Well, I know that I can not stop you, once you have made up your mind, no one on Earth could stop you. However, I can offer you some protection. When it comes time for you to go on your search, I have some new toys that you could test out for me,"

"Fine but stop referring to your weapon collection as toys. It is really creepy," I said as we went to start the day.