Chapter 4

Caden's POV

The day couldn't get any worse.

Restless and overwhelmed, I found myself pacing incessantly in my study, my mind teetering on the brink of madness. The weight of responsibilities pressed down on me, squeezing the life out of my sanity. It was as if I were trapped in an ever-tightening vice, unable to escape the suffocating grip of my obligations.

A million tasks called for attention, yet I couldn't seem to concentrate on any of them. The more I tried to focus, the more my thoughts scattered, further fueling my frustration.

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to steady myself, to reclaim control over my racing thoughts and emotions. But the respite was short-lived, as anger and disgust at my own perceived inadequacy surged through my veins. How had I allowed myself to become ensnared in this web of stress and despair?

With clenched fists, I abruptly rose from my chair and strode toward the window, peering out into the darkness that shrouded the world. The night, a deep velvety blackness, possessed a peculiar aura that seemed to cradle the stars, coaxing them to shine brighter. But tonight, the stars were absent, swallowed by the all-encompassing void that blanketed the sky and earth alike.

My inability to mark Denise had taken a toll on me. The council, a group of high ranking men from my pack and neighboring packs, were yet another thorn in my side. Originally tasked with ensuring the pack's smooth operation, they had taken to provoking me at every turn. Perhaps they wanted to push me to the brink, to test the limits of my composure. But I refused to succumb to their manipulations; I had vowed to be nothing like my father, who had fallen victim to their insidious games, driven to madness with no hope of redemption.

"Alpha, we have a problem," Logan's voice broke the tense silence,his voice strained. "I just got word that there is a rogue on the loose and he is on the pack territory as we speak.

The irritation that had simmered within me bubbled to the surface, and I scoffed in exasperation. "Is that all you have to report, Logan? A rogue on the loose?" I retorted with a dry chuckle. "Are our pack warriors and Gammas incapable of handling such a threat? You, as my second-in-command, should be more than capable—"

"I was—" Logan began, his words cut short by the forcefulness of my interruption.

"I am not finished speaking," I thundered, causing Logan to flinch and retreat slightly. Regret flickered in my eyes, for I had never wished to invoke fear in my loyal companion. Yet, my anger surged forth, drowning out my guilt. "You should have approached me only after the rogue had been apprehended and dealt with."

"The rogue has been captured, but he refuses to shift back. That's why Gamma Raymond urgently requested your presence," he explained. "He attempted to mind link you, but you had blocked all communication. He sent me to inform you in person."

A frown etched itself on my face as Logan's words sank in. The rogue's refusal to shift back was an anomaly. Under normal circumstances, a wolf stripped of pack ties and left rogue would be weak and vulnerable, compelled to revert to their human form when faced with a superior force like Gamma Raymond.

Something was amiss.

"That's peculiar," I murmured, my mind racing to make sense of the situation. It was as if a jigsaw puzzle had been scattered before me, the pieces refusing to fit together.

"We should get going." Logan said ushering to the door.

We stepped out of my study, the weight of responsibility weighing heavily upon my shoulders. As I emerged into the open, my eyes fell upon Denise, making her way towards me with a tray in her hands. Despite her well-dressed appearance, her pallid complexion caught my attention, an unspoken frailty evident in her features. Was she unwell? A pang of concern tugged at my heart, but the stirring within my wolf that should have accompanied the sight of my mate remained absent.

She approached with a soft smile, her voice filled with warmth. "I made you some tea, Caden," she offered, her gaze hopeful. My wolf, the very essence of my being, remained eerily silent. It was as if he recoiled from her presence, an unsettling sensation that left me bewildered and concerned.

Maybe his desire at the moment was to attend to pack matters, to protect and lead our pack with unwavering dedication. Maybe that was why he wanted to be anywhere but here. "Thank you, Denise," I replied with forced calmness, attempting to shield my emotions. "I must attend to urgent issues now, but I'll return shortly."

A flicker of disappointment crossed her face.It was a delicate balance I sought to strike, between my responsibilities to the pack and my obligation to her,as her mate. At this moment, the pack's urgent needs took precedence.

We strode purposefully outside and I quickly shifted into my wolf form, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as my body transformed,my clothes ripping out. Logan followed suit, and we took off into the woods, our powerful legs propelling us forward. The adrenaline coursed through my veins,heightening my senses as we raced through the woods, bound for the location where the rogue had been apprehended.

The distant sounds of snarls and growls grew louder, mingling with the scent of blood that hung heavy in the air. My instincts sharpened, my wolf's protective nature urging me forward.

As we neared the scene, I swiftly shifted back into my human form, my eyes taking in the chaos that unfolded before me.

Gamma Raymond and his warriors lay on the ground, writhing in pain. Blood pooled beneath their battered bodies, evidence of a fierce struggle. Shock and concern washed over me as I rushed to their side, my voice laced with urgency.

"What in the world happened here?" I demanded, my tone a mixture of anger and genuine worry. The sight before me was a testament to the ferocity of the encounter and it made my wolf angry.

Gamma Raymond's strained voice reached my ears, his words laced with frustration and pain. "The rogue... he was unlike anything we've encountered before," he managed to utter, blood staining his lips. "He overpowered us, refused to shift back, and... he vanished."

The gravity of the situation settled heavily upon my shoulders, a sense of foreboding creeping into my thoughts. A lone rogue should not have been able to overpower a group of highly trained warriors, especially not under Gamma Raymond's leadership.

Logan, his eyes wide with shock, broke the tense silence. "This was no ordinary rogue. Their wounds... they should have started healing by now." Logan's words hung in the air, accentuating the lingering unease within me.

"Raymond," I addressed him with a grave tone, "tell me everything you remember about the rogue's appearance and behavior."

He winced, his body contorted with pain, yet his eyes reflected unwavering determination. "He was different, Alpha," he began, his voice strained. "His eyes... they glowed with an intensity I've never seen before. And his strength... it was far beyond what any rogue should possess. He fought with a controlled aggression, as if he had been trained for battle. But the most unsettling part was his defiance. No matter how much we pressed him, he refused to shift back."

The information gnawed at the corners of my mind, raising more questions than answers. The rogue's unusual abilities and unwavering resistance were an anomaly, challenging everything I knew about the dynamics of a rogue wolf.

We gently lifted the Gamma and the injured Pack warriors who couldn't walk onto makeshift stretchers we'd made using branches and leaves to cushion their injuries. Logan and I worked quickly, our movements fluid and coordinated as we lifted and carried the men onto the stretchers. Those strong enough helped us carry them out of the woods.

When we arrived at the hospital, the Pack's healers were waiting for us. I had mindlinked them and let them on the situation. They quickly took the injured into the hospital, their gentle hands tending to their injuries with care and precision.

"Logan, gather a team of our most skilled trackers and warriors," I commanded, my voice firm and resolute. "I want every inch of our territory scoured. Leave no stone unturned until we find this rogue."

Logan nodded, his gaze filled with a mixture of determination and concern. "We will find him, Alpha. We won't rest until we do."

The urgency of the situation weighed heavily upon me as I contemplated the implications of this rogue's existence.

What had driven him to such extraordinary strength and defiance? And what danger did he pose to the Pack?