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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

One Week Later

RIVER

R iver leaned back against the plush leather chair, her body sore but her mind clear for the first time in days. Five full days of testimonies from the rogues had taken their toll, but a sense of accomplishment settled over her as she looked over the stack of files on the table.

"I can't believe we're finished.” She ran a hand through her silver hair. "Forty-three rogues interviewed."

Apollo nodded, his golden eyes scanning the final report. "And only seven left that were directly involved in the attack or your kidnapping."

"The rest were just looking for safety," River said.

Ares paced by the window, silhouetted against the afternoon light. "So now we have thirty-six rogues who need a home."

"They've chosen to stay together," Apollo noted. "Form their own pack rather than return to territories they were exiled from."

"Can you blame them?" River asked. "Would you go back to people who had abandoned you?"

"The question is." Ares turned to face them. "Where do we put them?"

River straightened in her chair, an idea taking shape. "What about Montreal?"

"Montreal?" Apollo's brow furrowed. "You want to keep them close?"

"It makes sense. We've seized all of Titan's holdings. The estate, the businesses, the accounts. We could liquidate some to help them get established."

Ares chewed his lip. "It would be a fitting use of his blood money. Using what he stole to help rogues rather than exploit them."

Apollo's jaw tightened. "I'm not comfortable with them living at Titan's compound. Too much potential for trouble."

"I wasn't thinking of the compound," River said. "What about the Wolvenguard cabins?"

Apollo stiffened. "Those cabins have been in our family for generations."

"Exactly," River said. "They're sitting empty most of the year. The town is peaceful. The locals are friendly. And there's plenty of forest for them to run."

"It would only be temporary," Ares added. "Just until we can find them a permanent settlement."

Apollo stood, his conflict evident in every line of his body. "I don't know. Those cabins are special to me."

"I know." She reached for his hand. "Me too. That's why they'd be perfect. Why not let them be special for others? Plus, having the pack there would help all the small businesses in town, such as our favorite candy store. "

Apollo's resistance wavered as he looked at their joined hands.

"Think about it," River continued. "They'd have privacy, security, a place to heal and rebuild. And we'd be close enough to help them out if needed."

"They'd need supervision," Apollo cautioned. "Rules."

"Of course," River agreed. "We're not turning them loose."

Ares stood beside them. "It could work. And it might be good for more than just these rogues."

Apollo looked up. "What do you mean?"

"What if," Ares said thoughtfully, "we used the cabins as a transition point for all rogues seeking to start over? A place where they could be evaluated and prepared to join existing packs."

River's eyes lit up. "A halfway house for outcast wolves. That's brilliant, Ares!"

Apollo still frowned. "The main house is off-limits. That's my place. My sanctuary."

"It's our place," River corrected.

Apollo's eyes met hers, a complex mixture of emotions.

He sighed. "Fine. But the main house remains locked."

River beamed, rising to her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Apollo grumbled, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "We still have to tell the Council."

"They'll support it," River said. "Mercule already offered to help however he could."

"Mercule would support you if you suggested painting the moon purple," Ares chuckled.

"The old wolf has always had a soft spot for strong females," Apollo agreed.

River smiled. "What about the seven who were involved? And Titan, Kane, Rudy, and Vanessa?"

The atmosphere shifted, the brief moment of levity evaporating.

"Their trials begin the day after tomorrow," Ares said.

"The Council will preside, with representatives from all affected territories present.

We will review all the testimony from the rogues over the next weeks and then call the Alpha to face justice as well.

" He rubbed his face. "It's going to be a long, tedious month. "

"But one worth the effort." River smiled at him, though if she was being honest, she was already exhausted from all the duties.

"Titan will face the harshest punishment," Apollo added, his voice hardening. "For the kidnapping, the deaths at our ceremony, the attempted coup. Same for Vanessa."

River nodded. The thought that Titan was still alive sent a shiver of fear through her. But she'd promised herself she would not allow him to rule her life anymore, so she swallowed hard and shook her head.

"And Kane?" she asked.

"His case is... complicated," Ares admitted. "He was Titan's second-in-command, but he also surrendered willingly and helped us capture Titan."

"He was kind to me," River said. "In his own way.

He tried to warn me when Titan…" She couldn't finish the thought.

"And he was trying to figure out a way to get me out before it all went to hell.

He never agreed to Titan taking me in the first place.

He'd always just wanted to help the other rogues. "

"While keeping you prisoner," Apollo reminded her, his voice tight.

River sighed. "I'm not saying he should go unpunished. Just that... there's more to him than we first thought. His fated mate rejected him because she was the Alpha's daughter. He's lost a lot. "

Ares nodded. "We'll take that into consideration."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation.

Zeke entered. "Forgive the interruption, Your Majesties, but a few of the rogues are asking to speak with you. All of you."

River exchanged a glance with her mates before nodding. "Send them in."

Moments later, Sarah, the young female exiled for refusing to submit to a Luna who physically abused her, entered, followed by four others. They bowed respectfully, though River noticed they directed their most profound reverence to her rather than the twins.

"High Luna, Your Majesties," Sarah began, her voice steady despite her apparent nervousness. "We've come to thank you for your mercy and fairness."

An older wolf with gray-streaked hair stepped forward. "We thank you for letting us form our own pack. We've chosen a name. If it pleases you, we'd like to be known as the White Tail Pack, in honor of the High Luna who gave us a second chance."

River's eyes widened, a lump forming in her throat. "I... I'm honored."

Her father's name would live on through a new pack.

"We also wanted to ask," Sarah continued. "If there might be some way we could repay your kindness. Some service we could provide to the Crown."

River looked to her mates, an idea forming. "Actually," she said. "There might be."

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

"What if the White Tail Pack became the first guardians of the transition program? Who better to help rogues adjust than those who've been through it?"

Ares nodded. "They could screen newcomers, teach them pack protocols, and prepare them for integration."

"And report directly to us," Apollo added. “Creating a buffer between the rogues and established packs. And mitigating some of the additional workload."

Sarah and the others exchanged hopeful glances. "We would be honored," she said. "Truly honored."

"We would just need to find them an Alpha," said Ares.

"Someone willing to be their Alpha. Someone who understands their plight and is sympathetic to what they've been through."

"It will take some thinking to find the right Alpha." She smiled, a sense of accomplishment washing through her. This was what she had fought for, what she had endured for. Not survival, but the chance to build something better from the ashes of what had been broken.

"Then it's settled," she declared. "The White Tail Pack will be established at the Wolvenguard cabins, with the mission of helping other rogues find their place in our world."

As the rogues bowed and thanked them profusely, Apollo's arm slipped around River's waist.

"You're going to change our world, aren't you?" he murmured.

River leaned into his embrace, watching Ares discuss a few details with the rogues. "Our world needs to change. And we're going to do it together."

Apollo kissed her temple. "Together." His eyes reflected pride and something that resembled hope.

The rogues filed out, already discussing their new responsibilities.

"This is the beginning," she whispered.

An older rogue with gray streaked temples stopped and turned back. "Your majesties. If I may? Before we go, I have an idea."

River rested in her room while Ares and Apollo discussed the idea brought to them by the older rogue. River thought it was a good idea, but she was done fighting for the day and had decided she was ready for a rest.

She stared at the television watching An American Werewolf in Paris. Man, it was silly. Sillier than the first one, but she liked it nonetheless.

A knock on her door pulled her attention. She muted the television.

"Come in."

Ares opened the door and entered with a tray of food.

She smiled. "Hey there."

"Hey, yourself."

"What did you bring me?"

"Nothing much. Just what your mom made Strider cook for you. A prime rib, baked potato, sautéed green beans, rolls, salad, a piece of carrot cake, and three cans of bubbly water stuff."

"Is that all?" she laughed. Now that she was at the end of her first trimester, her appetite had returned, and her nausea had all but gone, with a few exceptions in the mornings.

Ares set the tray on the bed and then slipped out of his shoes and tie.

"Your pajama pants are in your drawer," River said, cutting her meat. "Why don't you get comfortable?"

He smiled. "Sounds good to me."

She chewed the meat that melted in her mouth, making her moan.

"Where's Apollo?"