Brodie's POV.

Finally, it's time, time for us to move, attack and retrieve Stella. I've managed 3 hours of sleep before Leo couldn't stay settled any longer. Wet paws pound through the dewey morning forest. I'm leading my army into unknown territory, up against unknown forces.

Rogues are unpredictable. They fight for themselves always. Life and death battle is a daily occurrence for them. We train, but that kind of hostility and experience is a formidable weapon. This is the first time anyone has rallied them together to fight for a common cause. What that common cause is, remains to be determined. If I could figure out what hold Regan has over them or what they want, then I might be able to bargain them away from him.

First things first, I need my mate back and safely in my arms to think clearly enough to sort this mess out. It's going to be bloody, but I'm going to get it done!

The first rays of the daybreak through the trees left just before dawn and are making good ground.

Stella, baby, can you hear me yet? Nothing, I keep sending out messages every mile we get closer to where my mate is being held. I'm almost numb to the familiar gut-wrenching disappointment of no response, having tried her so many times.

Leo's paws continue to claw through the forest's decaying debris. I can't get to her fasts enough. It's been agony not knowing where or how she is.

You feel that Josh's mind links me. I turn to see he's only a few paces behind me. I do feel what he's sensed, too, wolves and lots of them up ahead. Looks like we won't be taking Regan by surprise. Once again, he's a step ahead of us, knowing we're coming. Our only hope is that he's underestimated, Stella. He has to make a mistake; at some point, nobody is perfect.

Yeah, I feel them, looks like we're fighting our way through to her. I reply.

We were outnumbered, but we should be able to push through amongst the chaos. Relief that my beta doesn't ask me to turn back floods my veins. He's right. We are outnumbered. My senses tell me it will be at least a two-to-one fight. Turning back now is not an option for me. We're too close to Stella. Yes, turning back and rallying more wolves is possible, but Regan could just increase his numbers in that same amount of time. It's now or never!

Either that or I die trying, I'm not turning back now. I cut the mind link off as I smell Stella; the wind blows my little mate's delicious scent over me.

Stella, I'm here. It's ok, we're coming. Pure joy fills me as her voice ripples through my mind. She's alive, she's here, either Regan stupidly brought her here, or my intelligent little mate found her way out of whatever prison he had her held in.

No, Brodie, don't! He just wants to use you against me! Of course, she'd panic about my safety. If we hadn't just broken the line of trees to a clearing full of hostile-looking wolves already pounding towards us, I would have rolled my eyes at her. Regan won't get a hold of me, I'll die before he does that, I'll never let him use me against Stella. I won't be getting captured or dying today. I'm here for my little mate, and getting her Is what I will do no matter what it takes.

You are here. I will get to you! Don't fret, little mate. He has to catch me first! I cut the mind link off, focusing as I sink my teeth into the first rogue lunging for my throat. I search the clearing for her, but I can't get a visual of Stella.  

Two wolves jump me at once, teeth tearing into my fur. I roll, flicking them off me and lunging for their exposed weak spots. It's more than a two to one battle, but that's three gone already.

We get Stella, and then we retreat out! Stay alive until then! I send the mind link out to every available wolf in my line. There will be losses, and those will hurt me dearly. I need to find Stella and find her fast.

Josh intercepts one wolf lunging for me, and I tackle another, slicing with my canines, blood covers, and clots my fur already, but I keep moving forward, taking down wolves in my way.

I still don't know where my little mate is. Her smell is more potent, but I have no idea if she's being held or fighting amongst the chaos.

Pain sliced through me as fangs sink into my left flank. I spin but am immediately thrown back into another snapping enemy. After ending him, I turn to see Regan's wolf waiting to attack. The other wolves surrounding us separately, giving us room to fight it out as two Alphas would. Looks like Regan is loyal to at least some war traditions.

I strike, taking my own chunk out of his flank. He howls with more anger than pain, swiping at me with his claws. I manage to dodge most of his counter-attack, but he grazes my shoulder, taking my fur and flesh down to the muscle. Immediately we lunge, and jaws snap and crash together as claws sink into whatever they can find ripping and tearing. Minutes pass, and we are both left circling and catching our breath, blood dripping from our open wounds. The battle rages on around us. When I hear her scream, I snap my head in the direction it came from as the high-pitched noise is cut off by a sizzling snap. What the hell was that?  Stellas close and someone hurting her. Why hasn't she shifted?

Regan takes advantage of my momentary distraction lunging for me, teeth sinking into the back of my neck as I narrowly managed to avoid his mouth finding my jugular. I howl in pain as a huge chunk of my muscle is ripped from the bone. I'm thrown from Regan's mouth, landing painfully on a nearby rock. Stars litter my vision as I watch Regan stalk towards me with blurry and now darkened eyes. I can't move to defend myself, best he finishes me off now rather than capture me to use against Stella. I bare my teeth in defiance, egging him on to finish me off.

Another scream and sizzling snap, but this time the scream is less pain and more anger. I strain my eyes just wanting to get one final look at my beautiful mate, just any part of her, Josh, will get her out after my demise. We talked about how he would stay close to me and use my death as a distraction to get Stella out. If she's this packed and In human form, he will get her out, I have to believe it.

Regan reaches me, baring his teeth, his eyes are overcome with rage, and I can tell his wolf has taken over, perfect his wolf will spill my blood and ruin Regans plans to contain me.

My vision is more precise, and the blood pooling from my neck has already slowed. We might heal faster in our wolf forms, but It isn't fast enough to prevent Regan's final blow. I prepare myself to move, bearing my teeth for what I know will be my last attempt to strike this asshole down.

As he's about to lunge, a burning orange rope lashes out, wrapping itself around Regan's neck. Immediately smoke, and the burning smell of fur and flesh fill the air. Regan howls in anguish, and I sit up enough to see her, my little mate, covered in blood and dirt, scratches littering her body. A huge burning whip extends out, strangling Regan. The other lashes out behind her to prevent another from attacking her from behind.

Josh help her!

Right here, Alpha Josh launches himself behind Stella and earns himself a burn across his hind limb for surprising her, Immediately she throws the second whip around Regan's neck, and a sickening sizzle causes another howl and the burning smells to intensify. My little mate is seriously impressive, and I'm stunned watching her weiled her power like she was born to do. She is indeed a formidable weapon no wonder Regan was after her.

I manage to stand, having healed enough to get to my feet. I'm not sure if my mate even needs my help, but I won't let anything happen to Stella now I can stand again. She sways on her feet, and a growl rips from her throat. Regan pulls, dragging her and causing her to stumble. She's exhausted from fighting.

I prepare to launch myself at Regan if Stella loses her grip. A wolf lunges for me, sensing the rules of one on one battle have been broken already by Stella's attack. I snap his neck, ending him quickly, feeling my strength returning.

A half scream, half growl comes from my mate, the whips pulse growing more prominent as she pours what I can only guess is the last of her power supply. Blazing flames burst off of the lashes, and all that can be used to describe her is magnificent. She pulls with all her remaining strength, and with a sizzling snap, Reagan's head hits the ground severed from his body, which slumps now disconnected and dead.

Stella collapses, and her whips slither back, fading to nothing. I launch myself over her fallen body, ready to defend her with everything I have left.

All fighting stops as Reagan's demise is noticed. A path is cleared, and a large, Alpha-looking wolf approaches us. My wolves rally behind me, and Josh comes to stand by my side, ready to defend me if need be.

His fawn-colored fur is streaked with crimson and pools of matted black hair, knotted from bleeding wounds or the blood of his victims. I feel the pressing on my mind, indicating this wolf wants me to allow a mind link exchange.

If I can figure out what Regans hold over the rogues, I might be able to convince them to let us live and leave peacefully. Only Alpha's have the power to open a mindlink with another Alpha. Usually, this is restricted to pack members only. The fact he wants to talk gives me some hope we might get out of this alive.

Your leader Is dead. Where do you stand now? I open my mind to accepting the link exchange.

We stand for no one. We only want what was promised to us.

And what was that?

This land, free of your laws. We want to remain in ownership of this land.

As rogues? Why not form a new pack if they clearly follow you? I can't understand why this wolf doesn't create a new pack here. Living here law-free and forming a group-like lifestyle will not sit well with the other Alpha's. They will want order and alliances to be included like all the other packs.

That is not what was promised to us. We will take this land now, whether you allow us to or not. If you agree to accept the existing pack and re-distribute them elsewhere, we will let you live.

Well shit! Those pack members have homes and jobs here, families raised here. Moving them out is not going to sit well with them. But their Alpha is dead.

Agreed! Another voice enters our mindlink, causing me to wince with the uncomfortable force it places on my brain.

Zorrick?

This land was mine until this got out of control. He flicks his muzzle at Regans disfigured body.

You can claim this land for the time being, and I will safely move my people to my other lands. As far as living as a rogue pack free from laws, this will need more discussion and negotiation. For today you have a deal If you choose to accept. Zorrick now stands beside me.

So what will it be? I stare at the clearly brassed-off rogue Alpha. He's not happy with Zorrick's half acceptance, the half threat of repercussions to come, but I hope this will be enough to get us out of here without a fight.

Fine, but we keep the fire she-wolf. The rogue licks his lips as he looks over my little mate's unconscious body.

No fucking way I growl through the mind link causing Zorrick to snap me a warning look.

We take the girl in exchange for your kind living two years free of negotiations. You are allowed to live peacefully. Any attack on law-abiding packs or us will be classed as instant war and a break of this agreement. Any attacks on human settlements will also be declared as war.

Agreed, you have two days to clear the lands! Growls through our mind link, and then we are cut off. The rogue wolves turn, retreating into the forest. We all stand ready for a counter-attack until the last rogue disappears behind the tree line.

Relief crashes through me, but a gnawing feeling settles in my gut that this won't be the last we see of the Rogue Alpha.

I bend my head, running my nuzzle of my little mate's limp body, scratches and bruises covering her skin, but her heartbeat is strong. I lean, scooping her over my neck, the blood-soaked material of the clothing, push the cover of my fur, conceals her enough for us to travel back to our camp.

I want a medical professional to examine her as soon as possible, so I start to move.

"Wait! Please!" I hear a female scream come from the nearby tree line. A young frail-looking she-wolf appears, dragging what looks like Stella's brother's body. A growl rips from my throat as the image of him nearly drowning Stella to death comes to the forefront of my mind.

The female stops, shocked by my growl, she stands protectively over Brad's limp body. They must be mates.

Her eyes travel up to my neck, where Stella lay amongst my blood-soaked pelt. Recognition forms on her face and she sways on her feet. Poor woman looks emaciated.

"You're Brodie. Stella, she broke us free. We all escaped together. Brads not what you think, he had to do what Regan said because of me." she speaks with hurried, panicked breaths picking up on my hostility towards her mate.

I turn to find Josh already shifted into human form.

Tell her we will take them with us. But until Stella confirms their loyalty, they will be held like prisoners.

Josh relays my message, and the girl nods, informing him she's too weak to shift. I walk away, allowing my beta to work out the logistics of containing and transporting them back to our camp.

I let my senses run over my mate, listening to her heartbeat and breathing. Breaking into a slow run, I can't wait to shift and hold her safely in my arms.

We did it, Leo. We got her back.