Surviving My Fate

Chapter Twenty-Five Confessions and a Gamma

I refused to have our discussion until Alex had eaten and was safely playing in his room. This is not something his little ears need to hear and he has already heard too much of the previous argument. I had come here to take him away from those things not to bring them with us.

We’re now sitting at the kitchen bar a cup of coffee warming my hands as I sip it unconsciously.

“So?” I say looking up.

“So?” Carter replies.

“Are you going to be honest with me now?”

“Yes.”

“Then speak Carter.” I roll my eyes all he’s doing is talking in circles and prolonging this conversation.

“As you know patrols have been out non-stop since your attack.” I nod. “They switch routes daily and that’s been of great benefit to us.” I nod again. That was the idea after all. “We’ve had a lot more rogue sightings because of this, catching them in places we shouldn’t have been at the time.”

“You think that has to do with Ashley?”

“Can’t be positive but that's what we’re thinking.” He stops talking like that’s everything. I know it’s not.

“So that’s it? An increase in rogue spottings?”

He runs a hand through his hair releasing a deep breath. “Yep, I told the men to inform me when they find anything. That’s why I’ve been gone so much. I’ve been investigating all rogue-related incidents.”

I stand gather my coffee cup and sit it in the sink. Placing my hands on the counter I lean forward dropping my head. This is it. He’s still hiding the full truth. I turn around walking to my purse, I sling it over my shoulder and stride toward Alex’s room.

“Wait where are you going?” Carter stops me.

“I’m leaving Carter. I asked you to be completely honest and you’re not.” I sigh rubbing my hand over my face.

“Cassie I told you everything what more do you want?”

“You told me what you thought I wanted to hear Carter. But I heard so much more, I just wanted to hear it from your mouth.” I meet his eyes and realization swirls in their mossy depths.

“You’re talking about Arielle?”

“I am.”

“How much did you hear?”

“Enough to know rogues are gathering close by.”

He walks to the couch pulling me with him. “They’re in Big Piney, far enough to stay out of our territory but too close for comfort.” Finally, some information I wasn’t aware of.

“Why hide it from me, Carter?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve been through so much you deserved to feel safe and happy.” A sad smile plants itself on his handsome face. “I guess I did the opposite of that huh?”

“You did. I’m not a weak, incapable woman. I want to help you, be your partner, your equal. This is something we’re in together.”

“Cassandra Knight, I promise you I will never leave you in the dark about anything ever again.” He takes my hands in his looking deep into my grey eyes as he makes his promise.

“That’s a start.” I give a wane smile breaking our eye contact.

***

I agreed to go back to the pack house with Carter knowing it is undoubtedly safer than my cabin.

With the course of events, it would be stupid to believe Ian didn’t play some part in this, and in that case, I would be the ultimate target, Alex second. I would put as many people between us and Ian as I can.

***

Ian’s POV

Kyle has proven to be quite the beta, his fighting skills as well as his extensive knowledge of battle strategies gave me some hope that my rogue army could actually achieve my goals.

I had given Kyle free reign in training my men and I could already see a substantial difference in their form each time I returned with a new rogue.

I have managed to bring twelve more into the army over the weeks. I’m hot on the trail of another now.

This one is fast weaving through the trees at a rapid pace pushing me harder than the others had. Flashes of the golden blond fur peeking through the overgrown forest during the chase. “Let me out” Ivan growls ready to end the hunt. He is always impatient. Not wanting to argue with him I relent in my control and fall back into the shadows of our mind. He pushes his body leaping through the air with each step. It’s mere seconds before we tackle the rogue to the ground knocking the smaller wolf into a tree. This rogue is a female. She doesn’t stay down long instantly retaliating her deadly precision leaving blood dripping from our belly as her body glides between our legs. If not for our alpha blood giving us stronger forms she would have gutted us. Ivan growls releasing his power but she isn’t fazed. She attacks again and once again cuts appear. Her speed makes her a real opponent. Matching her attack for attack Ivan puts her down, his power overwhelming her smaller wolf.

She is forced to shift. In seconds a beautiful tanned, green-eyed, golden-haired female appears under us. I take control immediately shifting, my body pressing into hers.

“You’re an alpha” she spits venom lacing each word.

“I am and I’m creating a rogue army.” This catches her by surprise though she quickly masks it. The reaction of hatred concealing her beautiful face once again.

“Might as well kill me because I will never bow to any alpha.”

***

After lots of negotiating, I was able to add her to my ranks. I ended up promising Raya a position as my gamma. Damn, she would make a fine one though. We finally make it to the motel and the men all stare at the new addition a few throwing catcalls. One reaches out to touch Raya and she twists his arm kicking him to the ground her foot placed firmly between his shoulder blades. From this position she could break his arm. “You will not touch me and you will show me respect.” She growls.

“Get off me bitch.” He yells.

The word doesn’t fully leave his lips when she twists further and the crack can be heard by everyone who has gathered to watch the scene unfold.

“Ahhhhhhh” he screams.

“I told you, you will respect me.”

“I’m going to kill you.” He growls unable to get up.

I take it as my cue to step in. “Raya is your gamma and as she said you will respect her, defy that order” my alpha aura pulses over them “and I will allow her to kill you.” With that she releases him and we turn to walk away.

We don’t make it far a few steps at most when the rogue tries to attack Raya again. As if she expected this turn of events she plunges her hand through his chest. Blood trickles from his mouth the dark liquid seeping around the wound and her arm which sticks in his chest. When she pulls her hand out his heart comes with it her claws digging into the soft muscle.