Chapter 24: Checking Out The Area

-Nova-

I watched from a distance as the border control patrolled around the area. I actually had an opportunity to run right now, but I couldn’t do it, no matter how much I wanted to. I needed information for my brothers, and I knew there was no guarantee that Rhys wouldn’t be able to catch me. So far, all my escape attempts had failed, and I feared if I tried again, I would just ruin my own plans. No, I had to continue with my plan and see if I couldn’t memorize their shifts. It was clear this border control was not something to mess with. The fighters were huge and well-trained. A branch just had to snap and they were instantly on alert. No wonder my brothers didn’t want to go after Rogan. Even though if we took him down, we would be free to create as much chaos as we wanted, it was simply too dangerous to go after someone like him. He was too strong. Too smart, and so was his pack. They were well in sync, and I was starting to realize why. They seemed to like to spend a lot of time together to strengthen the bond around them, and it made it easier for them to connect and understand each other, without even speaking.

How on earth would we ever take them down? My brothers’ biggest enemy was Rogan. There was no doubt, but it just seemed impossible for us to ever get inside. This border control would take us out in no time. I sighed and leaned up against the tree that I was hiding behind. I had to figure out a different way for my brothers to get inside. A distraction perhaps … but how would I get a message to them? There were a lot of holes in my plan that I needed to fill.

I pushed away from the tree and started to walk back to the house. I had a lot to think about, but just as I was on my way back, my ears picked up the sound of someone running. I stopped and looked around confused. Who was it that was coming?

“Nova!”

Suddenly Rhys appeared further away. He had not seen me yet but was calling for me. I could almost see how scared and desperate he looked as he searched for me. Why did that make my heart beat faster? I watched him for a little while, and when he turned his head, he saw me. His eyes narrowed, and now he looked pissed. He was actually quite scary when he was pissed, but I was not afraid. No, something else happened to me. My body seemed to react to his aggressive nature, and it confused me so much.

“Where the hell have you been?” he asked, as he placed himself in front of me and grabbed my arms.

“I …”

What the hell did I say? But then Rhys started to search me, and it was clear he was not even going to listen to me. Was he checking me for wounds? I wondered as he turned my head from side to side.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” I asked.

“I …”

He seemed so damn scared, and I reached up, taking his hand without even thinking. His whole body seemed to shake, and I was so surprised that such a powerful beta could get so affected by my touch.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Yes … I was just … just …”

“Just scared someone had hurt me because I am rogue?” I asked.

He nodded again.

“Yes …”

“I’m fine,” I told him and gave him a small smile before I took a step back and let go of his hand as I held out my arms. “See?”

I turned around, so he could see all of me, and a smile spread on his lips before he came over to me and hugged me close, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply. It made goosebumps appear everywhere, and I felt almost a little giddy that he was seeking strength from me.

*Oh, I like this … I mean … No, we can’t … But we do …*

My wolf was just as confused as me. Rhys was doing strange things to us, and I knew I had to work fast before the bond completely overpowered us, and I wouldn’t be able to see anything but him.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked as he pulled back.

“Just going for a walk. I like being out here.”

I was surprised how smoothly I told that lie, and Rhys seemed to accept it.

“Tell me next time,” he said.

“You were busy, I didn’t want to interrupt you,” I told him.

When had I become this good at lying?!

“Right, but then at least tell Serena or take her with you,” he said.

“I’m a big girl. I can go for a walk on my own.”

“Nova … that’s not why …”

“Hey,” I said and wrapped my arms around his neck. It was almost like instinct. “I am used to danger.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t want to see you get hurt in what I hope will be your home one day,” he said. “I want you to feel safe here.”

“You do?”

Safe …

That was a strange word to me. A rogue was never safe. They were often forced to always be on the move because no one wanted them around. They could live on no man’s land, which were territories that no one owned, but many rogues often wanted those places for themselves. A life as a rogue was dangerous, there was no doubt. It was why my brothers were so protective of me. They knew how easily I could get into trouble.

“Of course,” he said. “It’s important to me.”

“Are you afraid this family of yours might hurt me?”

“They would never truly hurt you,” he said.

“Really?” I asked skeptically.

He nodded.

“But they might say some things or try to get you out on the other side of the territory, and you are not safe out there,” he said.

There it was again … safe.

“I know how to protect myself.”

“I am not saying that you don’t, but why tempt fate?” he asked.

I just smiled a little at him before I pulled back.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I said.

“I will always worry.”

“Why?”

“We are mates. We worry and care about each other,” he said.

His words touched my heart, and it started to beat faster. I wanted to tell it to be quiet, but I didn’t seem to be able to when he was looking at me like that. Like I was all he could see. No one had ever looked at me like that.

“You’re sure you are okay?”

I nodded.

“Completely,” I told him.

He seemed calmer now and grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and the look in his eyes changed.

“Then how about we go back to our room and continue this morning?” he suggested.

My whole body turned hotter, and I knew it wanted him, but I couldn’t allow myself to get distracted again. When he touched me, I couldn’t focus on anything else.

“I am not done with my walk,” I said.

“You would rather walk around?”

I nodded.

“Okay then,” he said and grabbed my hand before we started to walk.

“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked.

“We are walking.”

“I said *I*,” I told him.

“Now it is *we*.”

“Don’t you have work?”

“I have some time,” he said and smiled at me.

“I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

“You aren’t,” he told me.

Dammit, how was I going to get him to let me go on my own? But it was clear Rhys was not allowing me to be on my own anymore. He was going to make it very hard for me to get a message to my brothers if he was constantly watching me. What the hell did I do?