A week later

I stared at the rogue that had trespassed on the territory. Stenton had called everyone to the punishing grounds to do a trial for him. I didn't see why we all had to come but then again he was still on his kick about people not taking him seriously enough after the whelp had cursed him out two weeks ago. And then me doing almost the same thing. A week in the cages had felt like a vacation. I knew it had been a thorn in Stenton's side, me not training, and at this point, not being able to do anything, made me want to cause him as much friction and irritation as I possibly could.

I didn't want to be there to watch him throw his weight around. It had been two months since Menza and Maeve had disappeared. Two full months and there had been nothing to show for it but Stenton giving lip service that he was doing his best to search for them and then turning around and Commanding everyone to stop looking.

I was getting tired of looking at Stenton's face to be perfectly honest. He never gave me anything, always promised before stabbing me in the back. No one in that group could look anymore. At all. They couldn't search the river merge, basically no one could leave the pack territory. He had us on fucking lock down. Jason and, surprisingly, Mike, kept me in the loop about them trying to figure out how to contact a pack almost two hundred and fifty miles away that was up river from the river merge and another one that was the same distance south. There was talk of 'debris' as if someone had travelled in that direction, some of the patrols clearly wiggling around the Commands as best as they could.

"You have trespassed on our territory. Your life could be forfeit. In fact I think we would all like it to be." Stenton looked over the crowd and most of the males kept silent, myself included. This was a useless power play against the pack. No one wanted to be here. The questioning of the rogue and subsequent disposal of him could have been done by the patrols. It was cold out and the entire set up was just Stenton trying to get everyone to fall into line. Cracks were starting to show in the pack and I knew it was driving him nuts. "Give me a reason to spare your life." Stenton spat it out and I crossed my arms over my chest.

The rogue kneeling in front of Stenton, Getts, and Regan wasn't nearly as rough as the ones who had attacked the pack. He was relatively clean and his clothing, while worn, weren't filthy. It made little sense as to why he even trespassed, someone dressed like that was clearly a lot smarter than to just trespass.

The rogue cleared his throat and looked up at Stenton. "I'm here for the reward money." The words were clear and even and that got everyone's attention. I just rolled my eyes, two months and now someone was coming forward for the reward money? Seemed real legitimate.

"The reward money." Stenton's voice was flat.

"Yes. You offered a ten grand reward for any information that returned a positive identification and the return of some females you lost." The male shifted his knees before sitting back on his heels. "I have some information that would more than likely aid in that. I spotted something interesting in my travels." The rogue spoke clearly as he stared up at my Alpha and my heart warred inside me. Part of me felt hope rising up inside me and the other part hissed at me to not get my hopes up because they would be crushed all over again, that Stenton could be doing another one of his power plays.

Murmurs filled the crowd and Stenton lost some of his aggressive posture as he stared down at the male almost suspiciously. "Tell me what females."

"A young white female, infant about seven to eight months old, reddish hair, travelling with a half black female, hair longish but kept pulled back in a braid or a bun. Small and timid." The rogue shifted his knees again and wiggled his shoulders as if moving against the rope he was tied in and my heart slammed against the front of my chest. It was them. He had seen them, there was no way he hadn't. "Half-shifter. Goes by the name of Menzie? Menka? I didn't pay attention all that much. All I know is they were together." The rogue looked almost lazy as he looked up at Stenton and Stenton's form was stiff and tense, much like my own.

The rogue knew them. He knew them and that meant they were out there. Not just out there, they were alive. My breathing deepened and my arms slid from their defensive position as I kept my eyes on the rogue. He had seen them, he had fucking seen them. My girls were out there, they were okay. Alive. Emotions thrashed around inside my chest and my heartbeat felt almost deafening.

"Did you lay eyes on them?" Stenton's voice was low and the rogue nodded, giving a small shrug.

"Yes, last week." He looked out over the crowd. "That little female is a pretty little thing, even the half-shifter is pretty looking, I can see why you would want her back." His words brought up that intense feeling of possessiveness and I narrowed my eyes in on him. He didn't need to be fucking saying that. He could keep his eyes to himself.

"Where?" Stenton hissed the word out, leaning over the rogue more and the male shrugged.

"I want assurance you won't kill me. I came into the territory for that reward and my life." He turned his head, looking out over the crowd again and my stomach was in knots. They were alive. He saw them last week. They were alive last week, my girls, my precious Maeve, and sweet Menza. I could see people looking at me and I fought to keep my expression hidden, my emotions in check despite how my stomach rolled and twisted.

"Getts." Stenton snapped his fingers and Getts stepped forward and yanked the rogue to his feet before the ropes were taken off his arms. He pulled them in front of himself, rubbing at his wrists. "Tell me!" Stenton's hands were in fists and I echoed the motion. I wanted to know where they were I wanted to know where she had taken my daughter.

"Altia. I stopped there last week for some general things. Spirituality and what not." He gave kind of a sardonic laugh before he shook his head and my heart thudded in my chest. Altia? That was over a thousand miles away. How the fuck had they gotten so far? It was so fucking far from home, from where they belonged. "Spotted her with the baby. Caught my eyes because she's a very pretty female. It was meal time and she was walking in front of me. Got a closer look at her in the meal hall. Tiny little thing, like a stiff breeze would blow her over. Sad looking too. Poor thing." He gave a small tsk as I stared at him hard, trying hard to see if I could see any signs of lying but he seemed genuine. I didn't want to get my hopes up but they were there anyway.

"Anyway the priest I was sitting beside told me her name, said she was dropped off to stay some weeks before. Told me not to bother her because the females in the territory don't need to be approached by males and that what we see on territory we need to leave on the territory." He tugged down his sleeves of his well worn jean jacket and scoffed lightly. "Right fucking shame it was. Then I made my way over here and heard about your informal bounty and the reward money and a male's gotta eat. Not like those in Altia will know." He gave another shrug before looking at Stenton.

"So there you are. They are in Altia, have been for a while." The rogue stood so casually and there was a still silence and I felt like I could barely breathe. Maeve and Menza were in Altia. They were alive. I hadn't failed them, I wouldn't have to bring home bones to bury next to Chrissie. They were okay.

"She didn't run off." The whelp's voice broke over the crowd. "Something happened and she must have been rescued and sent there." There was quite a bit of agreement as others called out that Altia was the heartlands and that perhaps the Hunters sent her there. That it was standard practice to send lost shifters there until their packs were found. That made the most sense. If someone had found them, if someone rescued them, they would have been sent there. That would explain why they were so far away.

"Enough!" Stenton called it out and my muscles bunched. I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave immediately. My girls were out there on Altia and I wanted to get them where it was safe. "The head bitch in Altia has no love for our ways. She had made this repeatedly known. She has even barred us from entering the heartlands. What better place to try and hide then where she can be safe and protected by someone powerful? She took that pup and she believed she would never be found and if she was, that she would be protected from retaliation. She was spiteful and vindictive!" Stenton's explanation made my skin crawl. He was still sticking with that, still trying with it. I could feel his eyes on me but I did my best to scowl, to frown like I knew he wanted me to. I had to let him believe I believed because if he didn't I wouldn't be allowed to go.

"Alpha, that's bullshit and you know it." A voice called it out over the crowd, I had hlf a mind to think it was Jason, and Stenton whirled around with a snarl.

"Who the fuck said that?" Silence followed and the males didn't state who it was or even pointed out who said it. "If you're gunna say that shit, say it to my face. Speak free!" The Command was clear but no one said anything. The males of the pack shifted on their feet but said nothing. "Was it you, you little shit?" Stenton pointed into the crowd and I could just make out the whelp's blond head.

"I said nothing and I have nothing to say, Alpha. I learned my lesson." He was clearly gritting his teeth as he said it but he kept his tone respectful and Stenton sneered.

"I will find out who said it and they will be punished." He turned back to the rogue. "You will stay in the pack jail until we can confirm your sighting. If they are found there and returned, you will get your reward and then be escorted out of the territory with our thanks." The rogue looked unbothered as Stenton gestures to Regan.

"Just remember to feed me and I don't care." He shrugged and let Regan grab his arm, leading him off the stage.

"Getts, you go and collect them." That had my heart dropping.

I surged forward, "I'll go and collect them. No one goes but me!" Growls rattled my chest and I couldn't even help it. Those were my girls. I wasn't about to trust Getts to collect them. I wouldn't trust their care to anyone but me.

Stenton stared at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That makes the most sense, Alpha." That was definitely Mike and I wanted to thank him for the assist. "They're his females, he should be allowed to collect them." I could hear the agreement from the crowd as people stared between me and Stenton. There was a rather tense standoff and I could tell Stenton didn't want to agree, he didn't want to but he could sense if he said no there could be a full blown mutiny.

"Agreed. We will give you access to the pack's general account for the trip there and give you full use of one of the SUVs. I will have someone bring it over to your house within the hour." Stenton called it out and I nodded in deference, despite how I gritted my teeth.

You will go and get them and bring them right back here. Both of them. His Command was a heavy and heated hiss in my head and I swallowed hard, my throat aching with the urge to curse at him. He didn't trust me and I knew for the fact i had to accept it. The last thing I wanted was him to send Getts with me. My hands flexed and then tightened into fists as I nodded.

"You bring that little bitch back here so you can decide a proper punishment." His voice was harsh and I narrowed my eyes. I didn't like how he said that. "We'll make sure she'll never again think twice about leaving the pack. She will get the punishment that is due for her treachery and betrayal!" He called out the words, staring out over the crowd of males and my jaw twitched as he continued to speak. "And let it serve as a warning to what happens to those who betray this pack! Now go back to your duties!" He waved his hand dismissively and I watched as Getts threw a grin at me before he followed after him. I bared my teeth once I was sure Stenton wouldn't see as I turned on my heel and stalked through the crowd.

"Brochan!" The whelp's voice had me snarling and I ignored it as continued to stalk towards my house. I had to get a bag together so I could leave as soon as the vehicle and card arrived at my house. I couldn't give Stenton time to change his mine. "Brochan! For fuck's sake!" He grabbed my shoulder and I spun around, shoving him away. He ignored it, his eyes wild. "If you bring her back here Stenton will kill her. You bring her back here and you're making sure she's as good as dead!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, as much as I hated the whelp, I understood what he was saying. "I have to bring her back." I had been Commanded. I couldn't get out of it.

"Don't do this!" His tone was damn near begging but I couldn't respond in a way he wanted me to. I had been Commanded.

"You heard Stenton. I have to bring her back." I spat the words out with heavy distaste and he shook his head, his hand tightening on my shoulder.

"Fucking stop! Listen to me!" There was a rawness to his voice that had that tugging start up all over again.

"I have to bring her back, Simon!" the words came out forceful. There was no amount of begging or negotiating that could remove the Command Stenton had put on me.

"Don't do it! Don't be like this, Brochan!"

"I have to." I pulled away from him, my expression stony. There was no amount of begging or tears that could change that. Mine or his. I didn't know what awaited Menza when she was brought back but I would protect her to the best of my abilities. She was still a female underneath my roof, I still had say over her. That couldn't change, Stenton couldn't change that.

I turned around and stalked away, feeling the eyes of many of the pack's males on my back but the whelp didn't follow me and for that I was thankful. I didn't need Stenton to take any excuse to send Getts out instead of me. I could already tell that he didn't want me to go and I wasn't going to risk it by getting into an argument with the whelp.

I moved through the trees, leaving the males and their stares behind. I was alone, nearly to my house when I realized someone had followed me. I whirled around, a snarl ripping from my chest and Jason stared at me. The snarl died in my chest and I stared at him. "I need to go, Stenton can't know you're here." He didn't want him talking to me.

"He won't." The words were slow and clipped as they came out of him and he put his hands in his pockets, walking closer to me, his dark gaze almost scanning me.

"Away from me. I can't risk it." I didn't want him anywhere near me at the moment and I couldn't risk this chance being taken away from me.

"Touchy." His mouth tugged up into a rather emotionless smirk before falling back.

"Stenton wants to take this chance away from me. I know he does. What do you want?" I hated how short the words came out but I wouldn't let Jason ruin it for me. I liked the male but not that much.

He worked his jaw back and forth before he looked at me. "Stenton took off the Command." That had me actually pausing.

"It was you telling him it was bullshit." It clicked in my head that he had gotten Stenton to remove the Command inadvertently.

He nodded before glancing around us. "Getts is a fucking liar. I was tracking those two males before that little female started screaming. I went to save her. She was screaming for her brother and she was terrified." The words were a repetition of what had been muttered around the pack and I was glad to have the confirmation that it was actually something Jason knew. "She was hurt. She was scared. And she ran towards the center of the territory. She was heading for the craft hall. Something happened after that. " He stressed the words and I nodded before wincing.

"You were in the middle of a fight. How did you know she was going that way or that something happened?" He had no ability to know. He had been fighting against the one rogue, he had no clue where she was heading or where she had gone. I just needed to know more.

"Because I went to the river after and her scent was there." The words came out of his fast and he ran a hand over his short hair. "Along with Getts, along with those two rogues. She was at the river." He stared at me. "She went into the river. Her scent ended at the river bank, she went in."

The confirmation had me closing my eyes. "So Getts lied to me, to Stenton, to everyone." A deep anger filled me. I had told Getts he better hope he wasn't lying or I was going to kill him.

"Through his fucking teeth." The was a heavy vitriol to his tone that matched the one in me.

"I fucking knew it!" I started to pace, my hands on my hip. Getts had lied, I now knew he had. I wanted to curse, to take off after him but I knew I couldn't.

"Don't let Stenton punish the little female. She doesn't deserve it. The only thing that would cause a female to choose the river is desperation." Jason stared at me hard. "Don't let him do it."

I nodded and worked my jaw back and forth. "I already told him no." That actually seemed to have Jason relaxing, his shoulders losing a bit of their tension.

"Good. Now I need to get out here. Go get your girls." He gestured through the trees with his head and I swallowed hard before nodding once more.

That tugging started again, whispering at me to go get them, to see what actually happened, to ask Menza when I saw her. I agreed, I would go get them and I would find out what actually happened, but getting them both safe was the most important thing.

That was what mattered.