Chapter 3 - THREE - THE ROGUE

Darius ! Darius paced the hallway, chewing on his lip absentmindedly, the metallic tang of blood threatening to break through. Behind him, a well-built man stood with arms crossed, a head shorter than Darius. His steady gaze betrayed no emotion, though his furrowed brow hinted at shared unease. "It's been a week," Darius began, his voice laced with frustration. "Why hasn't Emmett returned?" He turned to his subordinate, who could only respond with a shake of his head, offering no answers. Running a hand through his hair in a futile attempt to calm his frayed nerves, Darius felt the sting of sweat slicking his palm. He had entrusted Emmett, the best scout in the IronShade pack, with an essential mission, updating their maps and scouting for potential pack expansion sites. It had seemed like a straightforward mission. Emmett had taken his daughter and a young boy under his wing, hoping the journey would be both educational and safe. The letters had come steadily at first, delivered by ravens, they were brief but reliable updates. Eight days ago, the last letter had arrived, describing their approach to Lupine Hollow. The route was the fastest to the pack's borders but also notorious for its dangers. Rogues prowled the dense woods, and malevolent spirits whispered curses that sent even the bravest shifters fleeing. Darius clenched his teeth, slamming his fist into the nearest wall in frustration. He couldn't afford to lose Emett, a trusted advisor and an invaluable tutor for the younger generations. Pain shot through his knuckles, grounding him momentarily, though it did little to curb his frustration. "Damn it, Emmett," he muttered under his breath, his voice low but thick with worry. "Alpha, I would suggest sending out a party to search for them. I believe that's for the best. We can not leave one of our own," Ryker, his beta suggested. "Not yet," he said after a tense pause. "Give him two more days. Emmett wouldn't abandon the pack unless something-" His voice faltered, though his expression remained resolute. "We'll prepare for the worst, but I won't act on fear alone." — Darius tapped his chin thoughtfully as he watched the passing scenery. The houses had become sparse, replaced by towering leafy oak trees as they neared the pack's borders. For the past three months, Ironshade had been in a precarious position. Rogue raids had grown bolder, their incursions creeping dangerously close to the pack borders. Each attack brought new fears and fresh questions about the pack's strength under his leadership. The weight of it pressed down on Darius, tightening with each passing day. The sudden jolt of the carriage pulled him from his thoughts, his hand instinctively bracing against the worn leather seat. His dull reflection in the carriage window stared back at him, tired eyes and a knotted brows that betrayed the worry he refused to voice. The last thing he needed was for rumors of Emett's disappearance to fan the flames of unrest. If the pack's best scout could vanish without a trace, what did that say about the rest of them? No, that wouldn't do at all. Darius had made his choice: he would find Emett himself, or at the very least, uncover the truth of what had happened. Ryker followed close behind, taking a different route for safety. Darius knew that whatever needed to be done, they would do it, whether it meant bringing Emett back alive or retrieving his body from the depths of the forest. The bleak thought made Darius grimace, but he steeled himself for whatever lay ahead. — "Ryker, be prepared to shift," Darius whispered, his sharp ears catching a disturbance in the distance. They were still an hour away from the last security checkpoint at the borders. As they continued walking, each step felt heavier. Darius's jaw tightened as doubt crept in, uninvited and persistent. He silently cursed his own recklessness. An Alpha and his Beta, alone in rogue territory, it was the kind of decision his father would have called foolish bravado. He had no authority here, and if something happened to both of them, the consequences would be dire. Shaking his head, he pushed away the grim thoughts. "Darius," Ryker said cautiously, "I think we should turn back." Darius considered the suggestion. Darius hesitated, his will power wavering. Coming this far without reinforcements had been a gamble, one he now realized might cost them dearly. A search party would have been the safer option. His father's words echoed in his mind: You're too kind and impulsive, boy. He exhaled sharply, "We're too far out now," his voice heavy with resolve. "Let's finish this. Just a little more, and then we'll return... and plan a funeral, if necessary." The man walked farther, the sounds of leaves being crushed under his boots. Ryker spotted the figure before Darius, immediately leaping in front of him, crouching low in a defensive stance. "Wait," Darius instructed, his voice calm. "Don't shift, not yet." Darius stilled, his eyes narrowing as the figure drew closer. Their gait was unsteady, faltering with each step, but something about the way they moved piqued his curiosity rather than his alarm. As the figure drew closer, he first noticed the blonde hair, disheveled and worn. Then their eyes met. Her bright green eyes, vivid like his mother's cherished emeralds, held his gaze. She was carrying someone. A woman, unconscious and slumped over her shoulder. Her scent reached him next. Wild and unfamiliar, like pine needles crushed underfoot after a storm. There was no mistaking it: she wasn't from IronShade. "A rogue," Ryker muttered, the word dripping with disdain as he sprang forward. But his advance was stopped when another figure stepped out from behind the woman. Darius's eyes widened in shock, it was Emmett, bald-headed and very much alive. Behind him, the young man he had taken under his wing limped, struggling to keep up. Before anyone could speak, the rogue woman collapsed, unconscious.