***Conlan's POV***

"It will be fine. She's just right over there. If anything happens we'll be there." James tried to reason.

There was this restlessness that welled up inside the moment Zara was out of sight. My skin burned with the effort of Karr pushing for release.

'What is happening? Why are we reacting this way to this rogue?' I asked my wolf. All pretending that she didn't affect me as much as she affected Karr was gone. 'We know that she isn't our mate. So why?'

Only feral barks answered. Wind from the mountains breezed past giving me a momentary relief from Zara's heartbreaking sobs. I took the opportunity to try to center myself and to steadily breathe in and out. Hours had elapsed. Each minute of hearing her wails caused this. She was so totally broken, but somehow she still had a sense of strength. 'So beautiful.'

"Hey, Alpha is calling." Theo said, handing me my phone. The vibrations must have woken him up. His face had improved, but he still had a slight shine to his left eye and a minor cut to his cheek.

"Alpha Bryce." I greeted while trying not to hint towards my current turbulent mental state.

"Why have you been at the witch's house for so long?" He questioned. "Your GPS location hasn't moved in hours."

"A protection spell needs to be taken down before we can finish our mission."

"Beta." His voice was deadly low. "Are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? Protection spells don't take that long. Even if it was performed by the strongest of witches you'd make short work of it." He paused. "You must have a pretty good excuse to lie to me." For the first time I felt what it was like to be on the receiving end of Alpha Bryce's bad side. "Tell me."

"Alpha. We are dealing with a new type of witch. One that I've never heard or seen before." Bryce didn't respond. "From the little information we've gathered about these 'white' witches is that their magic is fundamentally different from that of the others we know of."

"How are you going to remove the protection spell then? Now that our training is no longer valid to remove it." Impatience leaked from his tone, but at least he wasn't giving of a threatening vibe through my phone.

"The rogue and her aunt are helping."

"What? Are you saying that the rogue and her aunt are privy to a type of witchcraft that we don't even know about?" He was fuming. "What kind of wolves are they? Are they in bed with the Rogue King that employees witches? Is this rogue even telling the truth? Maybe she's also working for the witches and the usurper."

Karr was so riled up and ready to fight a man we looked up to like a father figure. I threw the phone at James. Rage filled every crevice. My clothes were already off by the time James managed to answer the phone. On the other end I was able to hear how utterly displeased my Alpha was with me easily with my heightened werewolf hearing. Every word against Zara was fueling my fury.

"Go after him!" I could hear James order Theo.

***

Darkness slowly ate away at the forest. In Karr's gigantic wolf form we ran and ran with my shadow, Theo, on my heels. Every now and then Ash would let out a whine. Eventually I slowed down enough for him to pad beside me. Ash was silent after that. No matter how far we ran or what obstacles we encountered, Zara was still there. She haunted our mind.

"It's time to go back." He said without any emotion.

His demeanor was one of the reasons why I wanted him on my team in the first place. Theo was still young, but he had tremendous potential as a witch hunter on my team. The kid knew when to be serious and when to be a supportive member. He didn't seek fame or fortune, but rather to be a part of something greater than himself. In many ways he was a better man than me. I wanted to join The Sacred Moon Pack with only one goal in mind; to destroy all witches. It was hate and revenge that drove me, and with Theo it was just different. His difference was also what drew me to him. I needed him and James to keep me level. In the field I was their Alpha, James my Beta, and Theo my Gamma.

"I need back up." James stated to Theo and I. "Members from The Veiled Moon Pack are here."

"Which ones?" I asked, trying to not panic.

"I'm not sure. I've shifted to try to intercept them in case they go after Zara. When I left they were chanting to a tree." Confusion was at the tip of his statement, but he remained somewhat impartial to their odd act.

"Location?"

"South on the highway near the border of their pack lands." He sighs. "I'm almost there."

"Theo. Go back to the white witch's house and protect Zara. I'll go help James at the border." I command. "This time don't get distracted." I warn him.

"Yes. Al- Beta Conlan."

"Or lost." I growl out as he sprints away in a hurry to get back to the house.

'Why can't anything be as simple as it used to be.' Everything was one difficult cluster storm after another. Reflecting back on this goddess forsaken mission I tried to work out how I could have improved the outcome. I realize that my temper has been a problem. It was never a problem before I met Zara, but for some reason she makes me feel things. Crazy things. I feel crazy.

The smell of pine and wild berries flood my sensitive nose. It's the collective scent of The Veiled Moon Pack. There were many of them gathered by the strength of the smell. I slowed my gait. I didn't want them to feel threatened if it looked like I was going to charge them. James's life might be in danger. Neither did I want them to see me as weak. A slow and even trott over to James was the best way to handle the situation.

All of my assumptions were true. Around twenty or so wolves had gathered and formed at least three rows. Teagon sat stoically against the pack; waiting.

One wolf stepped forward. The grey wolf with black facial markings transformed into the Gamma Rolland.

"Beta Conlan." He addressed me with his glowing yellow eyes of his wolf. "My pack members and I have decided to follow and pledge protection to our Alpha Luna." Rolland bowed with his arm across his chest. One of his knees came down in a knightly gesture. "We swear on the Moon Goddess." His head raised slightly, unflinching as I snarled in his face. My hot breath misting the cold fall air. As much as I wanted to see him give me any sort of weakness to my prowess I felt like his words were true. In Karr's form I stood above them all. The advantage was that I could look them all in the eye. Some of the wolves cower slightly while others just avoided my gaze. Taking in as much as their scent as possible in one deep inhale I jutted out a deafening howl. Their wolves bowed to the ground, noses touching the dirt in a full submitted display to my dominance. Satisfied with their reaction I barked once. Teagon started barking and snapping at them to follow shortly after. He gave a short howl to let me know that he was bringing up the rear as I led them to where I longed to be. Or rather who I longed to see.

"Are they done with removing the protection spell?" I asked Theo in the mindlink.

"I think so. I can see them by the truck. By our clothes." He groaned. "Why couldn't mister neat and tidy put them by a bush or tree? Why the tail gate?" He complained further. "I mean Zara has already seen me naked, but I don't want the old lady to get any funny ideas."

"THEO!" I yelled. 'Here I go again losing my temper because of her.' "What the hell. Why were you naked in front of her?!" I question a little more calmly. It was hard suppressing the picture of her and Theo naked as the forbidden emotion of jealousy snaked its way into my thoughts.

"What is up with you?" Theo questions. "You've been like this since long before. What's the difference between her and all the other she-wolves that have seen me naked. We're wolves. You're acting like she's your ma-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I threaten.

"Yes. Beta." Theo retorts with a hint of frustration.

"What's wrong? Did something happen with Theo?" James asks. "Alpha waves are riding off of you in full force. And quite frankly it's putting this pack and myself on edge."

"It's nothing. Let's pick up the pace. I just want this mission to end already."

Around the curve of the grassy roadside I saw Theo shift and grab his clothes in haste. I do the same, and followed by James. Inside the house I can hear Zara talking. My blood boils.

"Stop trying to find me. I don't want you to get wrapped up in this. Please trust me." She says sadly as I try to get my pants on. I'm unable to hear what the other person is saying but I can tell it's a man. An image of that blonde biker from Tilly's comes to mind. "I know. Thank you, and I love you too."

A monstrous snarl explodes out of my chest. If that human was here now I'd have ripped his heart out of his chest with my bare hands. Shouts from the speaker of the old rotary phone get tuned out as I focus on her stunned face. Her eyes and nose were red from crying. Dark hair fell wildly down past her shoulders. She trembled slightly. By the time I reach her she's shaking harder. I reach down to the curly cord and hang up the call.

"Why?" I ask her. Her gaze fixed on the floor. "Why?" Still no response. Slowly she looked me in the eye.

"He wouldn't have stopped looking for me." A tear rolled down her stained cheek. "He would have never given up." She straightened herself out to her full height.

"You ignored a command." I state. "I specifically told you to cut ties, and I didn't say tie the loose ends."

"Maybe I don't want to cut ties." She defied me. Her eyes glowed with vindication. "Two weeks ago I had five people that I would have died for. So, maybe I didn't want one of the two people left to waste their time looking for me." Zara looked down and tried to walk past in a dignified manner. "Let go. You've won. I know that I need to go with you." I let her shove herself past.

"Willow, Frederick, and your father." I said quietly when she reached the door. Her sure steps faltered to a complete stop in the door frame. Step by step I carefully walked to her like I was sneaking up on a doe. I was afraid she'd make a run for it if I didn't act gingerly. "I'm sorry Zara." She slowly turned to face me. So close, her warm breath fanned my bare torso. In any other situation besides the one we were in now I would have loved this feeling.

"Who are you referring to? Patrick?" Her brows furrowed together in frustration. "Why does everyone think that?" She sighed. "Newsflash. He's. Not. My. Father."

"But-"

"But what? Huh? A few wolves that don't know what they are saying said so? What proof do they have? Was it the same proof that outcast my mother from her own pack? The same proof that was good enough to make a rogue of her and me before I was even born?" Anger rolled off her.

Curiosity got the better of me. "Do you know who your father is? If you could have proved it then you would have accepted back into the pack."

"Edith. She would never have allowed that. She hated my mother. We had the proof the whole time." Zara pulled out her steel locket I saw earlier that morning. "But still I would rather be a rogue then be in a pack that looked down on my mother." She opened it up. "I would have killed them for even looking at her wrong." She half smiled. I found myself wanting to smile along with her until I saw the picture inside. "She said that I shouldn't be ashamed of who I am because I was made out of love. Her mate though. He was an alpha from a different pack, but had already chosen a mate." Slim fingers trailed over the rim of the locket as she looked warmly at the picture of her mother and father.

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This was a long chapter!

Over 2,150 words!

I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it. :D