Chapter 5

As they pulled into the driveway, Tia’s heart pounded. She half expected her dad to step out on the porch and wave, but she knew she would never see that again. Her throat ached, and tears slipped down her cheeks as the cars stopped. Duncan dropped his arm over her shoulder, giving her a quick squeeze.

Taking a deep breath, Tatiana climbed out of the car. Looking over at Duncan, his voice rang out in her head, “I will be here with you the whole time,” but his mouth didn’t move! She looked at him, startled, and then shook her head. His lips must have moved, and she was now going crazy. Tia looked back at the house and headed inside.

The house looked just as she had left it. An open bottle of beer sat on the kitchen table. Tia reached out and touched it. Her heart leaped as she thought, Dad must be home. However, the can was warm. She remembered he was gone but had to check it to make sure. Feeling Duncan’s hand on her back, she continued towards her bedroom.

Tia grabbed a bag and started stuffing clothing inside. She paused when she caught sight of the mermaid necklace dangling from her mirror. Her Dad had given it to her on her tenth birthday. Luca lifted it off the mirror and handed it to her as if he knew what she was thinking. She studied his expression as she reached out and took it from him. What she initially found comforting was now freaking her out. Who were these wolves, and why had they taken such an interest in her? Why did it feel like they knew what she wanted before she did?

Luca suddenly turned and rushed out of the door. Feeling claustrophobic, Tia needed to get outside. Her heart was pounding, and her breathing became shallow. She could feel a panic attack coming on. Wanting to get away from everyone, she bolted for the door. As she reached the porch, she picked up an unpleasant scent. Looking up, she saw Luca talking to a large guy. His posture was menacing, but Luca was the one in control. It suddenly clicked. The scent was a wolf. As she moved towards the pair, a snarl reverberated behind her. Before she could turn around, Duncan lept past her and off the porch.

The strange wolf looked at her and snarled. His piercing eyes ran up and down her body like he was savoring a piece of meat. Luca’s imposing form shifted between them, blocking his view.

“Vex, this is neutral territory. Unless you want a problem, you better move on.”

“What is that a threat, Zeta? Who is the girl?”

Duncan’s eyes were steely, and his chin jutted forward. “She is not your concern, Vex. Leave now because I won’t ask twice.”

Vex snarled, “Sure, I will leave you with your little rogue pet. She looks like she would be a wild one in the sack, but I bet ripping her throat out would taste even better!”

Duncan lunged towards the wolf, but Luca blocked him. Vex shifted and charged off into the woods.

Duncan shoved Luca off of him and growled, “What the fuck!”

Luca scowled. “Do you want to start a war?”

Duncan paced, “What now? He knows. Soon, his pack will know. How are we going to keep her safe?”

“Keep me safe from what?! That bully? I have dealt with bullies before. I can handle myself.” She huffed.

“Enough!” Luna ordered. The hair stood on Tatiana’s neck as they all snapped their attention towards her. “Vex is not just a bully. His family has a long history of hunting rogues for sport. This situation has become more tenuous for all of us. Duncan, you take Tia inside and get the rest of her things. Quickly!”

Luna Carina turned towards Luca, and they headed back to the vehicles.

Tatiana looked at Duncan wide-eyed, “What was that?” She asked as they went inside.

Duncan chuckled, “That was a demand from the Luna.”

“Yes, but I felt it.”

“We all felt it. Alpha’s and Luna’s have the power to compel submission in pack members to enforce their will.”

“What is it, a werewolf superpower?”

Duncan snorted and explained, “We are compelled through the mind link.”

“Mindlink?”

Duncan turned Tia to face him and looked into her eyes.

“Yes, mind link.”

She gasped and pulled back. There it was again. She heard Duncan’s voice, but his lips never moved.

“Are you controlling my thoughts?”

He shook his head. “No, I can not read or control your thoughts, but I can send mine to you through what is called a mind link. You can do it as well. Try it.”

“How?”

“Try to push a thought in my direction.”

Tia scrunched up her face and jutted her head forward. She then opened her eyes to find Duncan laughing.

“Are you kidding me? Can I do it, or are you just amusing yourself?” She scowled.

“You can. Try to push more from your stomach.” She looked at him skeptically but gave it another try.

“Duncan!”

She could tell by the slight flutter of his eyes that it had connected. Tia let out a squeal, “I did it!”

He smiled. You did. I am glad I was here to witness it.

Luna returned and looked at each of them impatiently, “Are we done?”

“Almost,” Tia said as she ran into the kitchen. She grabbed the coffee can from the cupboard and fished out the money. Stuffing it into her bag, she headed back to meet the others.

Vex showing up at Tia’s house was the worst of all scenarios. The Hoh River Pack’s hatred of rogues was common knowledge. When Vex was young, a rogue attack killed Naren’s mate, Vex’s mother, who was the pack Luna. Luca remembered hearing stories of it. Alpha Naren hunted down the perpetrators, disemboweled them, and hung them from trees near Rialto Rogue Village.

However, despite the name’s inference, rogues are nothing more than displaced werewolves. Most rogues are peaceful and want nothing more than to carry on with their lives. Rialto Village was an encampment of such rogues. The Village could exist because of an Inter-pack treaty. The treaty permits them to settle on the land peacefully, under the condition that they exile aggressive and destructive rogues.

Alpha Naren swore revenge on all rogues, inside and outside the Village, until the Elder Wolves stopped the slaughter. The Elder Wolves imposed two years of sanctions, banning his pack from participating in Inter-pack Events. The sanctions were the toughest in recent history, including the Werewolf Mating Hunt and Ceremony.

Hoh River Pack has rejoined the Inter-pack Alliance, but Naren’s lust for revenge bubbles below the surface. They are as good as dead whenever an unwitting rogue crosses his path. He is patient and will wait until the right moment to exact revenge legally.

Now Tatiana was in Vex’s crosshairs, and Luca knew she was in grave danger until she entered the pack. Once she was a pack member, their pack and the Inter-pack Alliance would protect Tatiana.