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I wasn’t really sure how it would happen, but it did. The plan was already in motion. Emily would take her father out for a walk towards the unclaimed territory. The guards were not allowed to be stationed near it, but they were close enough to pick any scent that seemed off. Emily just had to walk with her father far enough that the guards wouldn’t pick up on anything. We would also have to trust that Alpha Crescent wouldn’t mind-link them.

The only thing that made this plan hopeful enough was that Beta Stiles wouldn’t be present at all. His daughter just so happened to need help with her kids. Logan and I were sitting next to Ryder, awaiting Emily’s signal.

“Do you think it’ll work?” Ryder had been doubtful and hopeful all at once and had been asking the same question for the past twenty minutes.

I sighed. “If it doesn’t, Emily knows what to do.”

Logan had been quiet since yesterday. After meeting Ryder, he came up with a plan to execute but remained quiet on the matter there after. Even when we went to bed, he hadn’t said a word. He only answered my questions with concise answers and mostly kept to himself.

Whatever was going through his head, I hoped it would be good.

I saw Emily and her father between the trees. It was time.

“Emily, honey, we have talked about this. There is no rush in assuming the Alpha position. When you feel ready, you tell me. But, we have been preparing you since you were little. You will never feel ready, but I know you are.”

The three of us slowly got to our feet and watched as they came toward us.

“That’s your cue.” Logan looked at me. “Don’t forget to smile.”

Her father scented our presence and looked up at us. They were still at a distance but I could hear Emily’s voice travel through the wind.

“I am ready. Are you?”

Alpha Crescent skeptically followed his daughter to us, but stilled when his eyes locked onto Ryder. His face hardened. “I knew something smelled off.” He looked between us. “What is going on?”

“Just hear us out, Dad.”

I mustered up a smile. “Alpha Crescent, we have a solution to your rogue problem. We would like for you to hear us without outside influences.”

He smirked. “You mean without Beta Stiles and my guards.”

I chuckled nervously. “You said it not me.”

“We discussed this before and after my mate was in the meeting. Your issue with rogues is anything but. They aren’t here to cause trouble.” Logan gestured to Ryder. “He’s here on behalf of his family. I think it would be fair if you would hear his out for once.”

“Excuse me? I am the Alpha of this pack, and I will not have--”

“Just here him out!” Emily cut him off. His only response was to blink before folding his arms over his chest.

Ryder opened his mouth and began his story.

By the end, I couldn’t tell whether Alpha Crescent believed it or even cared to. Logan and I would be leaving tomorrow morning. This needed to be done now.

Crescent stayed silent for a moment.

His voice was quiet when he started, but quickly rose. “You think that I would just hear your story and instantly pity your “family” is it?” His eyes slid over to his daughter. “I have taught you better than this. The first sign of a wolf with his tail tucked between his legs, and you want to build him a home?

He eyes Ryder in disgust. “He is a filthy rogue. I will not have him or his dissent brothers and sisters infiltrate ours. They’ve done enough as it is.”

I had a feeling this would happen. Beta Stiles had got to him before us. There was no way of convincing him otherwise.

“Dad.”

“I will not hear this.”

“Please--” Ryder stepped forward but Crescent had snarled hard enough to make all of us drop our heads to the ground.

“Stay away from my pack and stay the hell away from my daughter, mutt.”

Ryder bared his teeth.

Logan swore and was instantly between them.

From prior knowledge, I had learned that nothing could get in the way of mates being together except themselves.

The Alpha was taking Emily away causing Ryder’s primal instincts to kick in.

He would fight for her and do whatever it took to keep her by his side.

Emily must’ve realized it too because too soon she said, “I can’t leave him like this.”

Crescent narrowed his eyes, unappreciative of the refusal to submit. “And why is that?”

She sighed then revealed, “he’s my mate.”

He dropped the hand he had on her arm, disbelief his eyes. “What?”

“I found out a couple months ago. In fact, I was the one who stole the supplies for the rogues.”

Hurt and confusion replaced the disbelief. “Emily. . .”

“Alpha Crescent?” The sound of Logan’s voice didn’t remove his attention from his daughter but we all knew he was listening. “The way I see it: you have two options.”

I spoke calmly with reassurance. “You can either let Dissent take this territory as their own and let your daughter leave to be their Luna--”

He shook his head, eyes still on Emily who refused to look back at him. “No, my pack needs an Alpha.” At those words, Emily glanced up at him, tears threatening to spill.

So there was hope.

I smiled softly. “Or, you can allow them to be a part of your pack and nothing has to change.”

“Everything will change.”

“Daddy, I want to be Alpha of my home, but not without my mate and his family.” Ryder had somehow manage to be by her side and held her hand tightly. “Don’t make me choose.”

The third option was one Emily had brought up as a last-ditch effort to save her mate. If her father were to have refused either option we presented, she would challenge him for the Alpha position in front of her entire pack. Something we all hoped we could avoid.

A fight to the death wasn’t in our plans anyway.

Crescent rubbed his hand over his face, eyes defeated.

I spoke before I could stop myself. “You can try to pretend they aren’t meant for each other. Try to keep them apart, but you can’t. Rogue isn’t permanent and it shouldn’t define the type of person they are.” I felt Logan’s eyes on me, but carried on. “Don’t stop your daughter from being able to experience life with her mate like you've had."

AHHHH we are down to the wire. I suspect three maybe four more chapters!! Definitely trying to finish this before school starts. Let me know what you think!