“Not a lot to tell. My pack was attacked a couple years ago, only a few of us survived. We met up with a few others who had the same issue. We have been traveling around not staying anywhere too long. Mike’s older brother came out here to go to school and said it was nice and no one really messed with rogues up here so we all came up. A few kids started school right away, some of us got jobs. We’re doing alright now.” He doesn’t look at us while he’s talking, just stares into the fire.
“Didn’t anyone come to help your pack? Check on the survivors? I ask, remembering a conversation with Alpha Reggie during one of our training sessions.
“No one came.” A dark look crosses his face. It’s almost like he filled with hatred at the memory. “We waited for days for rescue or help or anything, but no one came. We buried our own and did the best we could for about a month, but supplies were low and there was so much destruction that leaving became our only option.” He stopped and took a deep breath. When I thought he was going to go on with his story he shook his head and placed a smile on his face before looking at me. “Why forestry?”
“Osiston? Nickolas? Did you guys get all of that?” Mina asks over the link as I divide my attention talking about how much I love being outside and the warriors discussing next steps.
“You strike me as an outdoors kind of girl. I’m actually surprised you made it through lectures. You look like you are going to crawl out of your skin just sitting there.”
“I do not! I actually enjoy classes and learning, but you’re right, I prefer being out here.”
We banter like that for hours, but we never circle back to the topic of his pack and I don’t know how to work it in to ask the name of his pack. When Robbie walks over with a girl snaked around him like she might lose him if she lets go, I notice the crowd has thinned out. Significantly.
“We’re headed out, you good here?” Robbie grumbles his words, not like he’s mad, more annoyed that he had to walk all the way over to us.
“All good. Are Jay and Seth set to close up”
“Yep. You should probably pack it up, they are looking a little antsy, like they have somewhere to be and you remember what happened the last time they rushed their duties.” Robbie laughs deep in his chest and it isn’t a pleasant sound to my ears. Something about this guy sets off every red flag radar in my body, but I can’t figure out why.
“Sounds like our cue to leave. Thanks for the run guys. Do you do this every week, or do we need another invite?” I ask, looking right at Tyler as I stand up stretching my legs.
I’m a little sore, but it is the best kind of sore and I smile at
the pull on my muscles. “I actually really enjoyed that. It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to run full tilt like that.”
“You’ve been invited so now you’re in whenever you can make it.” He smiles back at me and steps closer. “Later man.” He says, not taking his eyes off of me.
I blink a few times confused then look around to see Robbie and his girl walking off. I have no idea where Mike disappeared to. A few of the other guys came over to talk to Mina a bit, but no one came near Tyler and I. I wonder if that was on purpose.
I pull back from his personal space. “I’ll see you tomorrow and we will definitely run again.” I start to turn to walk away when he grabs my wrist and pulls me back so quickly I barely have time to react and on instinct I turn my head to the side as my chest collides with his and his lips connect with the top of my cheek.
I was stunned for a minute, not really sure what to do. I just kind of clung to his shirt at his sides and waited for him to pull away from me. He finally huffs a laugh, kisses my temple and then pulls back. “I have some work to do I see, that’s okay, I’m patient.” He gives me a wink and then turns around to walk away.
“Damn, that was hot and you two didn’t even do anything.”
Mina laughs at me.
“Stop! That was weird and I felt nothing. I’m already awkward. Now I’m awkward with no feelings.” I slap myself in the forehead while my friend continues to laugh.
We walk down a trail and follow the scents back to campus, not moving slowly, but not in any kind of hurry either.
Osiston and Nickolas give us a play by play of what happened around them while we were hanging out and we Started to analyze and strategize the information that we are finally getting that we can take action on.
Many of the guys that were with us came and went from the party, but were never gone for more than ten minutes and they all went in different directions, so that is something we would need to look into further to see if they are just taking strategic pee breaks, hooking up, or if they are up to something. None of the girls left, ever. Which at a party you would think the opposite would be true.
We also needed to look into Tyler’s pack’s attack. Thatis a method we believe the rogues were using to recruit members. What if they were attacking packs and taking prisoners? And why did no one come to their aide? Did Alpha Reggie know about the attack and ignore a need for help? That doesn’t sound like him, but I don’t understand how they went so much time without help at all. No supplies in or out of their pack, no people coming or going? That doesn’t sound right. We stay pretty remote from humans, but we still have modern needs that require us to interact with them. How do grocery suppliers and gas suppliers just stop showing up? How did no one notice?
We definitely don’t have the whole story and it’s going to take time to get those answers. I don’t know if Tyler is just omitting things that are painful to talk about or if the story is false and he’s using something generic to draw us in to trust him.
We make it back to Mina’s SUV without any problems, and the team is still flanking us out of sight and they continue like that the whole drive back to the house.
“Too many questions, and yet we did get a bit of info. The rumors appear to be true and the Rogue King’s group is attacking and taking on prisoners. The question now is, do your new friends know they have been recruited or are they acting of their own free will? They also could have just escaped and not known where to go so they teamed up with whoever was in the vicinity.” Mina says out loud to me as we drive
