56. Territorial Obsession
This was a huge relief.
That meant when the time came Shayde could confidently leave the boundaries of his home, without being concerned about Danika. Because as long as those girls were in his territory he'd been too focused on what could be going on. Having no doubt if given half a chance all of them would happily strike out for a second attack on her. The first time around she'd been lucky. Clarissa and her friends were blooded werewolves, trained in the art of battle since early childhood. If it hadn't been for Justin arriving on the scene when he did there was no telling what could've happened to her.
He shuddered in horror at the thought, the last thing he wanted to be thinking about at the time being. Shayde didn't want to think about Danika leaving his territory, let alone being killed at someone's hands. The mere thought sent Caspar going crazy inside of his mind, growling a lethal warning for all who'd dared to try. As if the lunatic beast thought their enemies could hear him and wanted to warn all of them off from the thought of hurting his mate.
His wolf wasn't the most rational when it came to Danika and anyone who thought to bring a moment of pain to her. From day one his wolf had been irrevocably obsessed with the woman, even to the point he fought him. Shayde was a little terrified of what he'd actually do to someone, anyone, who thought to bring her a moment of pain.
Himself included.
"I'll be back," he told him.
"Where are you going?" Justin called.
Ignoring the demands of the man Shayde spun around on his heels and headed towards the trees. Despite his beta walking to talk about the demands of the Black Guard, he had other things on his mind. Namely the realization that come tomorrow he'd be forced to leave to meet them in town. Although Wolfsdale wasn't particularly far from his pack, it was further than he wanted to be. From both his pack and Danika.
It was a good three-hour drive out of the woods and another two hours to the nearby town. Meaning Shayde would be a good four to five hours away from his territory, if anything were to happen. For that reason alone he would've immediately rejected the thought of the meeting if given the option. Of course, Shayde knew better than that. Because if he thought to ignore the demands outlined by them the Black Guard would pay him a visit.
"No," Caspar rejected the thought. "Mate will be unsafe."
The animal was right. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to go to this meeting tomorrow. If he thought of ignoring the summons, then the Black Guard would simply come to pay him a visit. None of which would be in the best interest of either his pack or the woman inside the castle. If those bastards came there'd be no denying the existence of the woman or her purpose there. Shayde couldn't take the chance of any of them finding out what he was really up to or the role she played in his life.
Having a human lover was one thing. Although they tended to keep a distance from the humans, quite a few dabbled into the world. Many of his men had sought passion in the arms of humans, whose females were always up for a little experimentation. Shayde never understood the appeal these creatures held for them, but the creatures always enticed them.
Only it was so much worse for him. Danika Wolfe wasn't merely some human woman he'd taken an interest in, she was his mate. There'd be no denying the truth of their connection if the Black Guard was ever allowed the chance near her. The magic thrumming through their veins would allow them to deduce truths his own people were blind to. And the second word of her being his mate reached their ears none of them would hesitate to kill her. The mate bond between them would be enough to convince them the rogue was telling the truth. That Danika wasn't the human he claimed her to be, but was really a rogue child in hiding. It wouldn't matter what her blood said. The mate bond alongside the rogues' claims would be enough to condemn her.
No, ignoring the summons wasn't an option. Meaning that when the sun rose in the sky Shayde would take the car into town, so he might have a chance to meet with the men. But in order for him to be able to do that then he needed to ensure his territory was safe for her. Now that he'd ensured the girls didn't pose a threat to her, it was time for him to focus on the next threat. The rogues that kept gaining access to his territory, none of them would hesitate to eliminate her while wasn't around. Not on his watch.
Hence the reason he'd taken to the woods. Once concealed from sight in the boundary of the woods, he shed the clothes he was wearing. Unhooking the mental chains he'd placed on Caspar, he allowed him free reign in the world. In the blink of an eye the transformation took place, until he was a giant black wolf, flecks of color in his fur. The mighty Alpha King, the Shayde of Vaja. Caspar took off through the trees upon gaining freedom from his prison, a chance he hadn't received too often of late.
Now that he was left out of the cell in the back of Shayde's mind, it was time to fulfill his purpose. The rogues, he gnashed his teeth. The bastards kept accessing his territory, bringing danger to the lives of both his people and his beloved mate. Though it was the latter that compelled his decision today, needing to ensure she was safe from these vile creatures. Danika was all Caspar had thought about from the moment he caught her scent, needing to know she was protected in his home.
With that thought in the forefront of his mind, he focused on picking up the scent of the rogues. In a matter of a couple of minutes, he found the scent belonging to the leader of the rogue pack. The ones that'd accessed his territory today with the intention of taking his mate from him. The second he picked it up, Shayde in the form of Caspar followed the path it'd taken in his kingdom. In the vain hopes of finding out where these creatures came from, hoping to give some explanation of who they'd gotten in.
An hour later his tracking led him to a grand old oak to the south of his pack territory, recognizing the spot at once. As the scent of the beasts had led him straight into the boundaries of the Claw Moon pack. Immediately knowing that the scent led right through their territory, having passed through this way. Caspar growled at the thought, that these people would ever dare to side with the disgusting animals.
How fucking dare they?
Shayde pulled back Caspar before he could think to do anything stupid, as he was clearly in a hostile mood. Pretty confident that the pack was completely clueless as to what was really going on with the rogues. At least he hoped so. He couldn't afford to attack them without a shred of proof for their crimes, that'd only serve in creating another war. Alpha Deakon wouldn't take too kindly to being accused, especially if all his evidence was a scent trail. Shayde didn't want to take the chance of offending the honor of the man, simply because rogues were running through their territory. A complication he neither needed or wanted.
Caspar growled. "He needs to be punished."
H rolled his eyes. "There's no proof he's guilty."
"There's no proof he isn't," the animal went insane at his denials, stomping his paws against the side of his mind then. "The rogue scent is here, they've been accessing his territory."
Shayde groaned in frustration at the argument of the animal, who was determined to believe whatever he wanted. In his mindset the trail of the scent was enough to condemn the man to death, despite the obvious. "Caspar you aren't being rational. The scent here doesn't mean he's aligned themselves with them. The rogues could've run passed his land without him knowing."
"It's still here," he stated.
"Yeah well, the scent of rogues is in our territory too," Shayde counter demanded him, deciding to go a different route to convince him of his lunacy. "Does that mean we're guilty too?"
"Yes," he answered. After all, he brought her there. To the animals' way of thinking Shayde was as guilty as whoever was helping them, for placing Danika's life in danger.
Even as he agreed to the claims made of him he sensed Caspar calming down, backing up inside of his mind. Proof that despite his confidence in Alpha Deakon's guilt, he was willing to let it go for now. Pleased when the animal didn't think to press the matter further, Shayde slowly turned around. Electing to head back to his own territory before people thought to question what he was doing at Claw Moon pack. It would only serve to raise questions he really didn't want to answer, like why he was there in the first place.