I arrived at the eastern forest front in less than five minutes. Closing my eyes, I focused my mind. Over one thousand wolves running at each other through the trees and I listened to them.

Hundreds of warriors were emitting scents and thoughts of hatred and war and fear.

Something was off, though. I knew there were rogues here, but their thoughts were different. They had no pony in this race. They didn’t want to be here.

I listened for a few more minutes and realized what was happening.

There were 397 rogues present in the forest. They held hate in their hearts only for Alpha Martin of Moon Blood Pack. Every last one of them had been exiled from Martin’s pack over the years for unjustifiable reasons.

All they wanted was a pack - a home - safety for their families.

Telepathically, I ordered our pack and Clovis’s to stop running and wait for direction.

I reached out to the most powerful rogue I could find - a former Beta - and I entered his mind.

“Beta Wolf, what is your name?” I called into his mind.

Who are you? he answered gruffly.

“I am the vampire Gabriel, an elder of Alpha Tristan of First Montana Pack. Why do you fight for Martin? You don’t want to be here,” I questioned.

“Gabriel! This is Homer Anders. Help us! Martin is holding our mates and children hostage. If he loses the battle, he will have them slaughtered.”

I knew this wolf. He was Martin’s beta fifteen years ago. I met with him a handful of times back then to negotiate trade between Martin’s pack and me.

“Homer, I’m going to help you. Are you able to link the other rogues?”

“We have no pack. There is no mind-link,” he answered desperately.

“It’s ok! I will reach out to the ones furthest from you first. Scent out the ones you can find and try to pull them away towards the south. I’ll link Alpha Tristan. We will fix this, Homer. You have my word.”

“Thank you, Gabriel,” he communicated back and then was on the move.

I mind linked Tristan, “Alpha, we have good news and bad news.”

“Yep, let’s hear it,” he linked back as he ran towards the west.

“The rogues to the east aren’t here of their own free will. They don’t want to be here. They are wolves who were rogued from your father’s pack for unjustifiable reasons. He’s currently holding their mates and children hostage and forcing them to fight,” I revealed.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“We have to take my father down,” Tristan replied.

“Yes, but here’s the bad news,” I started.

“You mean that wasn’t the bad news?”

“Not even close. Martin is keeping their families somewhere with instructions to kill them all if they lose the battle.”

“What do you recommend?” he asked me.

I hesitated.

“Tell me, Gabriel,” he pressed.

“Alpha pack leadership automatically transfers to whoever challenges and kills the Alpha,” I reminded him.

“The only way to rescue their families is for me to challenge and kill my father. The hostage keepers will obey me as their new Alpha,” he replied grimly.

“It doesn’t have to be you. It just has to be an Alpha. Clovis could do it,” I suggested but I knew he wouldn’t accept that answer.

“It has to be me, and you know it,” came his response.

“I’ll enter the rogues’ minds and send them a message, but it will take some time. I’m telling them to continue to move towards us discreetly. They won’t be able to keep MacKenzie in the dark for long. He’ll start to realize something is wrong.”

“Do it. Clovis will handle the others. I’m on my way,” he linked back.

I stepped into the forest behind our pack and Clovis’s. First blood had yet to be shed on the eastern battlefield.

The rogues were at the front of Alpha Martin’s army. He was sending them to slaughter first to preserve his warriors’ lives. He was the worst kind of creature: a beast of no redemption.

I could smell Avery a couple of minutes before she appeared at my side in wolf form covered in the blood of other wolves.

“The north is clear,” she linked to me.

I mind-linked her the situation. She yelped at me in acknowledgment and linked me, Tristan, Jane and the First Montana pack members currently before her in the east forest.

“The rogues are being forced to fight. Let them pass you by. Do not attack,” she linked.

I understood what she was saying. This was a more strategic plan than sending them off in another direction. It would take longer to detect the deviation from Martin’s orders.

I focused my mind. My ability to enter the minds of multiple wolves at once - ones outside the pack - was sharp and empowered by the blood of the witch I had drained.

I reached out to every rogue nearest us and spoke into their minds: “This is the vampire, Gabriel. We know your families are hostages. We’re going to help, but you have to follow our plan. Run towards us as if you were going to attack. Run through and past us to the edge of the forest. Wait there for further instructions.”

The minds erupted in response.

“Gabriel! Thank the goddess!”

“Please save my mate!”

“I’ll do anything just save my pups.”

I quickly moved on and sought out more rogues, repeating my message into their minds.

I did this again and again until I had reached everyone. By the time the last was told, the first set of rogues was speeding past me and out of the trees. It would take time for them all to get through. They couldn’t go too quickly or MacKenzie would catch on.

I stepped out of the forest and called out to the rogues, “Shed some blood the Alpha can scent. We have to keep him in the dark as long as possible!”

The rogues started biting into their own legs and paws, causing them to bleed. They loped in circles with the liquid flowing down their bodies so that the wind could blow the aromas through the air.

I could smell Tristan nearing us and so could the rogues. They bowed down, their eyes to the ground as he raced past us and into the woods.