Page 32 of Rejected Sold Mate (Crystal Creek Wolves #4)

The morning light dappled the forest in golden splotches, and it all looked serene from where I was hiding. But the birdsong was gone, a clear sign that the rogues were near, and my mate was just ahead, out of sight…acting as bait.

I’d refused her over and over again when she told me the plan, but we both knew we had to act fast if we were going to catch them before they fled the area.

Rhie had proven herself to be a powerful magic user, and someone like her would be an invaluable tool for a group of rogues looking to take over a pack.

She was right. They’d come for her if she made herself known. It could have been our only chance, but letting her stand out there alone made me feel like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.

I loved her. How could I risk her?

Because alongside love came trust. And I trusted Rhie, even if doing so was the most difficult thing I’d ever done.

My mate wasn’t the only person I’d learned to trust, either.

Positioned behind a small hill, I couldn’t see Rhie, but I could still feel her, clear and bright through the bond.

Crouched beside me were Samson, Scott, and Joe, just as still and serious as I was.

Every time I looked over at them, I felt a wash of gratitude.

This was what the alliance was for, even if it had been hard to admit what I’d done wrong.

They weren’t surprised to hear about the rogues—their own scouts had noticed disturbances too—but they weren’t thrilled that I’d hidden their existence and the first confrontation I’d had.

The only thing that worked in my favor was my fresh mating bond with Rhie.

They’d told me, somewhat sheepishly, that they had all done some stupid things when they’d first bonded with their Omegas, too.

Before I agreed to Rhie’s plan, I’d called all the Alphas to my home and we’d fine-tuned everything until we had the attack plan down to a science.

They agreed Rhie was the best bait we had, but they also understood my hesitation to let her act as such.

So we implemented as many safety measures as we could.

It still wasn’t enough for me, but nothing ever would be. At least the final plan had turned out safer than Rhie’s idea of going out unguarded.

The plan was simple. We’d cleared the traps from the northeast perimeter of my territory, somewhere they’d paid little mind to before, and Rhie waited there, her power glowing softly around her. She was like a flame, and the rogues were meant to be the moths.

Little did they know they were about to burn.

Around us, wolves from all four packs waited in their wolf forms, lying low, each of them hidden with a spell Kiera had cast earlier. Everything hinged on Rhie luring them in, but it twisted my insides into knots.

I felt Joe’s hand land on my shoulder, “It will be okay, brother.”

I blew out a breath. “It better be.”

***

We all felt the shift in the air as Rhie stoked her magic higher. A small twinge of alarm came down the bond, and we all scented the foul, dirty smell as it washed over the area.

The rogues had arrived.

I could hear Rhie talking and the answering voice of the leader, but I couldn't make out exactly what they were saying. She was meant to tell them she’d join their group as long as they left the four packs alone.

We expected that they’d try to take her without making any such deal, but she was supposed to warn us before anything happened.

All four of us were vibrating with tension, just waiting for her to give us the sign—

And there it was.

Rhie’s magic flashed over us like a miniature sun, and we sprang into action. I rushed forward, grabbing my mate around the waist, not even looking at the rogues as they jumped back in shock. Scott and Joe leapt out, rushing the rogues to the side of the leader, clearing the way.

The leader was our main target. Every other rogue that went down would just be a bonus.

Rhie knew I was meant to grab her, but she still gasped when I hit her, clinging to me with all her strength. We had to get a certain distance away before the final few parts of the plan could begin.

Once Rhie and I were clear, Samson triggered the crossbow trap. From three different locations, the crossbows fired from where we’d hidden them in the trees, and all three struck the rogue leader in the chest. Rhie had lured him to the perfect spot, right where we’d marked with a stone.

He was dead before he hit the ground, and triumph roared through me. With the battle raging around us, I gathered my glowing mate to me and crushed my mouth against hers. She cupped my face in her hands, still shimmering, showing everyone around us that she belonged to me and me alone.

The rest of the rogues turned to run, but our wolves exploded from the treeline, biting and snapping and howling. They took a few of the rogues down, but we called them off as the last three fled in pure terror, the blood of their leader soaking into the deadfall.

“Let them go,” I commanded, and they all stood down. Rhie curled against me, refusing to look at the dead bodies, but smiling in relief nonetheless. “Let them spread the word that death awaits anyone who wants to fuck with the tri-pack alliance.”

“The quad- pack alliance,” Samson corrected, the other three Alphas coming up beside me. “You’re one of us now, Blacktide.”

I looked at all of them, and I desperately wanted to respond, but for some strange reason, my throat was tight. They all clapped me on the back anyway as I rolled the words over in my mind again and again, The quad-pack alliance.