“Let us apprehend that individual,” he rasped.
“Agreed,” Caelan responded. Alex and Cole were mentally connected with the information, and all four of them are now pursuing that individual. Caelan sensed the moment John went rogue, coinciding with the arrival of Alex and Cole to join him and Mason. It was also the moment he sensed John exit the pack’s territory. A prudent decision; to act independently within pack territory would render him a distinctly malodorous and repugnant entity, triggering a series of alerts as he traversed the pack. Any warriors, regardless of their status, within proximity to detect his scent would promptly report the presence of a rogue to their Alpha and pursue him immediately thereafter.
The individual was a border patrol officer. He understood the pack’s approach to rogues. Immediate and lethal measures would be enacted against him, irrespective of whom he encountered during his escape to rogue territory.
The deceased eastern border patrolman was discovered, explaining his unimpeded departure from the pack. Or why Caelan had not been notified of John’s attempt to escape. John would likely have recognised the man; had he been in human form, he could have approached him to greet him before launching an attack.
Indeed, that is precisely how it appeared, as Cole informed him. He was an adept tracker. His Delta had a father who was the former Delta, while his mother was a tracker from a different pack. Caelan’s comprehension caused Cole’s father considerable distress in his attempts to secure her as his Mate. The man was sedated and departed, which, to Caelan’s knowledge, did not deter him in the slightest. He was incited to pursue her with fervent animosity. Awakened all his fundamental instincts to pursue and assert ownership of what belonged to him.
John transformed into his wolf form the moment he went rogue, neglecting to remove his clothing, which was subsequently torn apart. The man possessed a favourable 20-minute advantage, yet that would not suffice to ensure his escape. He and his unit removed their clothing; no one in his group could outpace him and his Alpha Unit.
The pursuit appeared poised to extend into uncharted territory. The individual in question would not evade capture, regardless of the duration required to track down a malodorous rogue within hostile territory. Although he now reeked like the other contaminated creatures, they possessed a significant advantage. They were familiar with the appearance of his wolf. Thus, concealing himself among a cohort of rogues would not provide him with safety.
The sole additional issue they faced was their inability to eliminate him. They had to corner him in the mountainous terrain, which proved more challenging than anticipated. Caelan was unable to command him to transform into his human form, despite exerting all his efforts.
The situation was exacerbated by the necessity to defend against a wandering pack of four additional rogues, allowing the man to escape once again, necessitating a complete restart of the pursuit. Ultimately encountered his wolf for a second time, thirty minutes after they had to fend off additional rogues.
Wesson was an exceptionally agile wolf, a necessity given his frequent encounters with rogue wolves. His role within the pack involved regularly confronting and subduing these rogues, which heightened his vigilance against potential attacks.
Ultimately, Caelan commanded them to launch a simultaneous assault, as they would never be able to confront him individually without resulting in his death. His wolf was unwilling to be captured, and presumably, neither was John. Both individuals were aware of the impending circumstances. The four of them had formed an affinity for him, and he was unable to resist them all. He sustained injuries severe enough that his wolf could no longer maintain its form, resulting in his reversion to human form.
They were required to transport his unconscious body back to the pack across Mount Rainier, which took several hours. Deposited his unconscious body in the cells to facilitate recovery for subsequent interrogation, securing both his ankles to the rear wall and abandoning him there.
Night had descended, and he and Mason proceeded to the pack’s hospital. He departed, leaving Alex and Cole to commence the documentation of their expedition.
Daisy lay on the bed in Luna’s hospital suite, as she had numerous times previously. The breathing tube remained in her neck, and she was under mild sedation after having awoken in a state of panic and removing it, with Amelia yet to return to heal her. It required Maurice and two of his nurses to restrain her for sedation prior to the reinsertion of the tube to facilitate her breathing.
To his astonishment, his mother was present in the room, engrossed in a book. He had not disclosed to her what transpired. Maurice, he recognised, was highly probable. She raised her head and gazed directly at him. “Did you apprehend him?””
“Affirmative, within the cells.”
“Excellent, I wish to speak with him personally.” “Do not proceed with his elimination just yet.” Her gaze shifted from Caelan to Mason. “This applies to you as well, Joe.”
MASON remained silent, merely gazing at her, while she reciprocated his stare. It was evident that the two would engage in a private discussion regarding this matter. The atmosphere was palpably tense.
“No killing will occur.” Until Daisy approves it, or I disclose the truth about the man, in the hope that she will acquiesce once she is informed of the reality.
His mother acknowledged him with a nod. “If it is unnecessary, it is preferable to abstain.” Discovering the truth may cause her greater distress. She was bound by blood to him, thus he is her father in her perspective.
Caelan exhaled audibly, yet remained silent. That action was entirely typical for them.
Even he would have acted as the Alpha in command, with an infant scarcely days old.
He observed Mason exit the room following his mother, leaving them alone. He was aware of the narrative. Mason’s possessiveness over Daisy was evident; even at the tender age of four, he exhibited an extraordinary level of protectiveness towards her. His mother had removed Daisy from him and entrusted her to John. The impending argument was likely to occur within Luna’s office. Confidential, not for public disclosure.
