6 - Warning

~Rafe’s Point of View~

“What the fuck do you mean he’s gone,” my father shouts, practically rattling the dungeon walls. 

“I don’t know how it’s possible Alpha, I came in to give him breakfast and he was gone,” the keeper says, his voice quivering. He should be scared. He and his entire crew will be interrogated and tortured for this!

I kick the shirt left on the ground, then scoop it up and begin to rip it to shreds.

“Give this to all our best trackers at once! Find this bastard,” I shout, handing the cloth to the keeper.

“Parker has just returned this morning, he’ll want to be in on the search,” Billy, the guard replies. I growl at the idea of my brother being the hero in this. But we need all paws pounding the dirt here and I’m not going out. I’ve just been gone for a week to do the raid.

“I want some damn answers,” my father continues to roar. 

I rub my face and turn away since I’m too pissed off and need air. I head out of the dungeon and step outside where people are doing chores and starting their day. While I know Hannah is safe with my sister, my wolf won’t rest until we see her. I barely slept last night and Cassandra nearly drove me to the brink of murder since she wouldn’t leave me be. I used to make up any excuse to get her in my bed … now I’m fighting to get her out of it.

*We’ll have to break up with her,* Cruz says, leaving no room for negotiation. I instantly scold him.

Yeah Cruz, let’s toss aside years … YEARS of kisses and promises we’ve made to her. Nevermind the fact that her father is the current Beta. She’s basically been groomed to be my Luna her entire life. 

All for what, for a damn rogue?? 

A female who will run away the very moment she’s capable. I’m no fool, I see the hurt and longing in her eyes. Like anyone should expect her to stay with the very people who took away everything and everyone she knew. All she had. No wonder she stole from me! She’s never had a sense of loyalty, never had a moral compass.

Nevermind that Harrison and his family made all their money off the murders of innocents. That they constantly raided villages and stole. Just like my little thief. 

*Hmmhmm, ours. Glad you’re seeing it my way though don’t compare her to Harrison,* Cruz says. I shake him off. The pack would turn against me in a heartbeat if I took a rogue thief for my Luna. They’d probably come for me in my sleep.

I still can’t fucking believe I didn’t snatch my wallet back from her last night. The family ring is gone, how am I going to face my mother?

I make my way around the building just to see my sister walking Hannah around. Seeing her up and around pleases me greatly, but when Parker approaches them both, my hands can only ball into fists. If he thinks he’s getting near her, I’ll kill him!

Something makes me stop for a second and watch the trio. It’s clear Scarlett is already quite attached to her, but she is a nurturer in that way. Hell she’s already knitting her a heavy blanket for the winter that’s months away. My eyes fall over the navy blue dress she’s wearing and how it hugs her body perfectly. Her legs have clearly never met a razor though, I could change that. She’s got an extremely feminine body but it’s clear she doesn’t see herself that way. Not like I see her.

But Parker… He’ll probably be in her pants by the end of the week and then onto the next. Then I’ll absolutely have to kill him. He’s always been the whore of the family.

“Ohh stop,” Scarlett teases, as she hits Parker’s arm. I absolutely freeze when I hear Hannah also laugh. Parker … made her laugh? After meeting her 10 seconds ago? 

I fucking SAVED HER LIFE and I don’t even get a SMILE?!

Pure rage soars through my veins as Cruz rumbles in my chest.

*Get the fuck away from her,* I snap to my twin, over mind-link.

His eyes jerk up to meet mine as I approach. He immediately gets a smug grin I’d love to punch off his face. When Hannah sees me, she takes a step back and I nearly grab her. 

*I hardly think this frail, injured little female is a threat,* Parker taunts, as I ball my fist, ready to knock his lights out. 

*I’m the threat,* I reply, stepping into his space. 

He cocks his head to the side in confusion as I close my eyes and tense, but not because of my annoying twin. It’s because Cruz literally always knows when Cassandra is near, it's like second nature. 

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over. Everyone’s all in a huff about the rogue that disappeared, who cares? Let him go … jeez! I’m sure he’s long gone, it's not like he’d stick around the pack,” she says, as she wraps her long and skinny arm around my waist.

“He… He escaped,” Hannah asks, making us all turn to look at her.

Yeah sweetheart, he’s gone. With my family ring and probably a grand in cash. Thanks a fucking lot!

*We’re not telling dad that, don’t you dare,* Cruz warns.

“It’s all anyone is talking about. You’re not going are you Rafey? Oh please tell me you’re not going out to look for him! What a waste of energy,” Cassandra whines as she reaches up to run her fingers through my hair. I groan and step back from Parker but it only pushes me into her further.

“No, I’m staying. But Parker is going, the search crew is about to leave,” I say, as my eyes stay glued on Hannah.

Scarlett hugs her carefully and I can’t tell if Hannah is happy or upset. Her face is unreadable but I’m desperate to console her either way.

And yet, I can’t. Cruz tells me we’re drawing a crowd, people are gawking, he senses it.

“Yeah, I’ll get my paws dirty so our future precious Alpha doesn’t break a claw,” Parker taunts, making me turn back to face him. Scarlett snickers.

“Anything useful you might be able to provide on where your father would go? What’s his name Hannah,” I say, point blank back to the female. 

Goddess she’s beautiful, even with a face that looks like it got mauled by a dog. Her hair is in braided pigtails and she’s barefoot, she’s clearly at home in nature. She’s so simple and yet so--

*Look what you did,* Cruz scolds, as her eyes fill with tears.

“You’ll never find him. Isaac more than knows how to hide. He can live feral too. But if he gets my brothers again… Without me there to protect them… He once threatened to sell them, I wouldn’t put it past him,” she sobs, as Parker steps to her.

Feelings of guilt and embarrassment wash over me and I don’t know what to make of it.

Though my body goes to move instinctively, Parker is already putting his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. Cassandra’s grip on me tightens and when Scarlett steps back to watch them I can’t help but do it too. My uncle Jake said Hannah was incredibly skittish, and barely let him touch her. How the fuck is she letting Parker rub all over her?!

When I see her arms go around him I nearly snap completely. I nearly shout, “I saved your life,” but thankfully don’t. It’s on the tip of my tongue.

Cruz growls and demands I tear them apart but I don’t move. There are far too many sets of eyes on us and I have to remember my place at all times. I’m not allowed to be spontaneous and careless like my siblings.

*Alpha, your father wants a meeting of the lead warriors, now,* my Beta Seth says, over mind-link. I sigh out loud.

I’ve told him for years he doesn’t need to call me Alpha yet, but he’s respectful and I can’t be mad about that. I suppose I do introduce him as my Beta all the time.

*Remind me we need to talk after, just you and me,* I reply to Seth.

I jerk myself out of Cassandra’s ninja grip and step forward. 

“The Alpha is summoning us, NOW Parker,” I snap, then spin and walk away. 

*What the hell is up your ass today,* Parker asks over mind-link, just as I reach the main door to the packhouse. I hear him on my heels and stop mid step.

“You will not ever fucking touch her again! You stay the hell away from Hannah,” I seethe, pointing into his chest for good measure. Cruz gets annoyed that I’m not doing more and I grab his shoulders and shove him against the wall so loud the thud echoes. The waft of her wildflower scent mixed with his mossy dirt odor and it only serves to piss me off further. 

When he laughs out loud, I pull my fist back, ready to bust his nose and relocate it on his face.

“Stop it this instant! What the heck has gotten into you Rafe,” I hear, and instantly freeze. 

I pinch my eyes shut and Cruz hangs his head in shame, at the only voice that could probably keep me from pummeling my twin right now.

When my mother’s warm hand runs down my arm and her fingers lace with mine, I calm right away. I draw a deep breath as Parker straightens himself and tries to look offended. 

*Stealing one female from me isn’t enough? Go back to the one you wanted so damn bad. Buy her another purse or some shit,* he taunts over mind-link. 

As if she knows what he said, my mom pulls me back and squeezes my hand.

Goddess it was six years ago that Cassandra went to the lake with Parker for a “date.” We were fourteen, same age as Scarlett is now. It seems like another lifetime ago yet Parker always brings it up when it's convenient for him.

Cassandra said there was nothing between them and she wasn’t at all interested. Yet he thought the opposite. Completely dense. 

I can’t help that he's only a whore with no real potential to keep a female long term. He’ll never settle down and mate which is all the more reason he can’t be trusted around Hannah. She will have her heart broken and he’ll move on without a care in the world.

“Not quite the welcome home I wanted you to have Parker. Head inside now, I’ll need to speak to Rafe privately,” she says, nodding at him. 

“Yes ma’am,” he replies, then flips me off when she turns away. He knows I’m her favorite and he can claim it doesn’t bother him, but ohh it does.

*Go cry to mama you big baby,* he says, over mind-link. 

Cruz rumbles in my chest but when mom puts her hand on our cheek it all fades away. She always calms me so easily. I prepare myself for the lecture about how I should be the bigger male, I should lead by example.

“Why in the world did you save that rogue’s life when Seth was ready to kill her,” she asks, completely catching me by surprise. Though I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked, her bestie is Seth’s mom. Still, I’d expect her to have more regard for a life, especially a female pup.

“What? You wanted him to shred an innocent female to pieces,” I say, not hiding my surprise.

*An innocent female who has already stolen from us and potentially helped her father escape,* Cruz whispers, nearly terrified of our mother. Disappointing her is the absolute worst.

“She was marrying Harrison! Ready to make more thief mutts! Now you’ve brought her into our sacred space, into our home? A female who would pledge to a murderer and the worst kind of male? No, I don’t have much of a heart for her and I’ve already got a spy following Scarlett around. I don’t trust the rogue for a second with my baby,” she practically spits.

I step back, a bit taken aback but understanding. Scarlett is literally everyone’s pride and joy, we’re all wrapped around her little fingers. If anything happened to her…

*Hannah would never,* Cruz says, though I don’t feel 100% confident on that statement.

“I’m not leaving with the warriors on the search. I’ll keep my eye on them,” I tell her, kissing her forehead as I go to move inside.

“I mean it Rafe. Don’t you dare be fooled by her. A rogue with nothing to lose is the worst kind of person. A pretty and innocent young face like that no less? She’ll stab you in the heart if it means money in her pocket,” she says, before turning and walking away.