A KISS UNDER THE GOLDEN MOON

CHAPTER 16. ROGUES

LIAM'S POV

Everyone is gathered in the pack hall, listening to my father transfer the title of Alpha in to me. I can feel the connection with my pack stronger than ever, and I immediately start getting mindlinks from everyone accepting me and congratulating me. I must say it feels good to know they accept me, but for now, nobody knows about my mate. Nobody should find out until I have it all figured out with her. I am still upset, enraged that she did what she did, to erase our bond like that, without caring, to completely forget about us and make me forget, that is just unforgivable.

"I want to get to know her. What she did was awesome!" My wolf says, hopeful.

"She is a witch, a deceiving, evil witch!" I respond.

"You didn't give her enough chance, and she did risk her life for us today." He responds.

"We don't know exactly what she did. It could've been a trap. some kind of plan to get us to forgive her." All I know is she played with the bond, and I can't let it go that easily.

"That's why we need to hear her out. I bet you she is awake by now, we should go." I want to talk to her, but I don't trust me around her. After I realized what she did, I was really upset, but it went away when I saw her bleeding from the nose, weak, pale, and unconscious. That did it for me. That is when I knew I wanted her, but how could I? After what she did, I don't know if I can trust her.

"Let's just let her rest tonight. The guards I have stationed outside the house haven't reported anything. She must be tired. Amy and that prick said that what she did took a lot of her energy, and she was already weak before that. We can talk to her tomorrow." I try to bargain. I don't trust me not to do something stupid if I see her right now.

"Alpha, we have rogues on the south border. They are not aggressive." One of my warriors mindlinks me.

"Keep them there, I'm on my way." I tell him.

"Adam!" I call through the mindlink

"Alpha" He responds almost immediately.

"Daryl just reported rogues in the south. They are not aggressive, but we still need to watch our backs. Party is over, have everyone go back to their house and come join me." I command through the link. Just my luck, the first few hours on the job, and I am already dealing with problems. I shift and run as fast as I can to the south border. Rogues are usually aggressive or crazy, but Daryl said that this group wasn't.

"I don't like it. You should get Amy there. If they try something, she could help." My wolf could be right. After all, we were attacked not too long ago.

"Good idea." I respond.

"Adam, have the witch meet us there too. It could be related to the attack two days ago, or it could be a trap, I need her to assess and to let me know." I tell him as I am about to get to the border.

"Mhhh, which witch do you mean? Your mate?" f**k, what? I stop in my tracks skidding on the dirt as I do.

"Do not repeat that! I'm sure Riley told you, but this better stay between us. I don't want anyone to find out. Understood?" I threaten.

"Loud and clear, Alpha. Amy should be there right now, and I am on my way too." He says in a serious tone. If anyone found out, it will be chaos amongst the pack. Witches are not to be trusted, that's what we have known our whole lives, they can accept them as visitors who are probably helping us, but they won't welcome a Luna who is a witch.

"That's tomorrow's problem. Focus. Amy and her mate are here." My wolf makes me come back, pointing at Amy and Patrick looking at the rogues carefully. I put on a pair of shorts and run towards them.

"Alpha." Daryl says, bowing his head as he sees me and all the other warriors follow.

"What's the report?" I ask him.

"15 rogues, they claim to be from White Moon pack, they said everyone in their pack got sick and died. They are al adults, they stopped talking when the witch and the wizard showed up." He finishes.

"Thanks, Daryl. Make sure everything is secured." He just nods, and I go straight to them.

"When did it happen?" I hear Amy ask a man probably in his 50s. I look at the group. Their clothes are worn, they look like they've been running for days, the man in front of us is probably the oldest of the group, The rest look to be in their thirties and twenties.

"We don't answer to witches. We want to speak with the Alpha." The man says in a harsh tone. I would usually agree with him, but given the circumstances, he can't talk to Amy like that.

"Listen, mutt, the lady asked you a question. I don't need to use magic to subdue you. Learn to respect those who are trying to help you." Patrick intervenes, getting between the wolf and his mate. The older guy has a terrified look on his face. I better do something.

"The witch and her mate are my guests. If you want my help, you are going to answer her question." I have to side with the witch and the asshole that is her mate.

"I don't understand, Alpha, how could you trust them? Witches are....."

"Watch your words, rogue. I said these people are my guests. You best learn to respect them!" I tell him stern.

"We just want a place to be away from the sickness, it was witches who did that to our land, we can't trust them." He complains.

"We just want to help." Amy says in a moderate tone. This seems to convince the group, and their defensive demeanor relaxes.

"Alpha, maybe we should take the group somewhere. I don't think they want to attack us. We should give them some food and shelter, there is plenty of room in the Omega quarters. They are very skinny." Adam, who has been quietly paying attention suggests through the mindlink.

"You might be right. Let's take them." I agree.

We direct everyone to the pack house. The walk in human form is long, but I don't trust this group enough to shift.

"Everyone we loved is gone. It started with a fever, then hallucinations, and then a painful death. We were only safe because we were on a mission, but when we came back, everything was different. Later, a group of witches took what was left of our land. We had to run." These people went through a lot. Maybe it was the same witches who attacked us.

"Do you know the name of the coven?" Amy asks.

"Mystic Waters" Amy gets tense when she hears the name, and her mate is immediately comforting her.

"I think we have enough information. Alpha, we can continue in the morning." Patrick gets up, taking his mate's hand and blinking away. I really don't like magic!

"Is late, we can continue in the morning. accommodations have been prepared for you. Our guards will be taking you, and I will see you in the morning after breakfast." I address the group who looks relieved when they hear me.

Everyone takes their leave in silence, following the guards.

"I want to go with mate!" My wolf pleads.

"Not right now, we need to let her rest." It is a lame excuse, but I can't deal with that right now.