Aidan and Alex continued to explore each other bodies well into the night. Each could not get enough of the other. It was only when the sun light started peaking in through the blinds that Aidan suggested they get a few hours sleep. Alex agreed somewhat begrudgingly before being wrapped in Aidan's enormous arms. She fell asleep almost immediately into the most restful night's sleep she ever had.

It was nearly lunchtime when she roused herself the next day, skipping towards the bathroom before Aidan could grab her and pull her back into bed. She stayed longer than usual in the hot shower, running her hands over her body. She was tender everywhere, particularly between her legs, after Aidan's campaign of pleasure on her. She enjoyed reliving each orgasm for a few minutes until the reality started setting in. Nothing had been resolved between them. And now the bond was deeper than ever before. They hadn't marked each other, thankfully, which would have meant no going back.

More confused than ever, she dried and dressed herself in a pair of hot pink skinny jeans, tucking a white strap top into the waistline. They were due to meet her family shortly for a late lunch. She was just coming out of the bathroom when she heard Nolan shouting up the stairs to her. Aidan hastened out of bed too and started looking for trousers to pull on, hearing the distress in Nolan's voice. Alex was downstairs in a second, meeting Nolan as he was about to climb the stairs.

'Rogues attacked the East River pack this morning,' he hastened to tell her. 'Over two hundred rogues set upon their outer southside patrol.'

'How many dead? she asked, dreading the answer. She knew some great warriors at East River.

Nolan exhaled angrily. 'Twenty eight. Lenny and Sarah didn't make it.'

Alex gasped, covering her mouth. Sarah was the Luna of East River and Lenny had trained with Alex frequently over the years and was a very accomplished warrior.

'But they went down fighting,' Nolan continued, sounding hollow. 'Brought down twenty rogues each before they were killed by the sounds of it. Thirteen others are injured but nothing life threatening.'

'And the rogues', Aidan asked, pulling a t-shirt over his head as he joined them.

'They're still counting but at least 150 are dead. About 10 escaped and three are being questioned as we speak,' Nolan's face was hard and Alex knew he was thinking about his own team and the losses that might have been suffered if the attack had been on them. She put her arms around him. His tense body relaxed a little at the contact and he wrapped an arm around his friend appreciatively.

'Those bastards will pay,' she whispered into his ear.

'Will you come to the War Room? Ronan has called for an assembly.' Nolan asked her, breaking the hug and looking into her face.

'Let's go,' Alex said, grabbing a pair of white trainers as she headed for he door. Aidan followed behind.

Alex went over patrol plans and outlines with Nolan as they walked, making sure they had gone over every contingency.

'An attack by two hundred rogues is unheard of', Aidan said, horrified at the thoughts of such a move. 'They never group together, they're too chaotic to make a credible plan of attack. Something else must be going on.'

This was true. Rogues tended to act alone. They were werewolves that never shifted back from wolf form and so, lost the human side of themselves over time. They were aggressive and showed no empathy, living only to kill, maim and destroy. There were times when rogues came together in pairs or threes, but never in a group formation. They had to figure this out, and fast.

'Update Marcus,' Alex said, turning to Aidan, 'make sure he's prepared just in case.' Aidan nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket as they walked.

The War Room was at capacity when they arrived. People were printing reports, others were assessing drone footage on their screens while Ronan, Hank, Robbie and Theo were in the centre of the room, discussing tactics and pointing at the maps on the table-screen. This was not the post-wedding day that Ronan and Alice had planned.

'What can I do Ronan?' Alex asked, as she hugged her brother, father, Robbie and Theo in turn.

'Tell me what you think or if there's anything we missed', Ronan turned the maps towards her, and outlined what they knew so far from the interrogations of the captured rogues. The search party at East River concluded that the rogues had been waiting for a period of time, just out of eyeline and down wind from the patrols, but not too far from the perimeter. The attack had been loud and savage but the huge group hadn't moved inwards towards the inhabited parts of the pack lands. Meanwhile, they had only been able to force one of the detainees to shift to human form. He had repeated 'Luna' over and over again.

'Where is Alice now?' Alex asked first.

'Here', Alice answered weakly from a corner of the room where Alex had not noticed her before. Alex smiled in relief then came straight back to business.

'It's a diversion for something bigger,' Alex had reasoned. 'Why would rogues ever wait to attack? For some other purpose. They keep us looking over here while something else is happening elsewhere.'

Aidan watched the scene unfold, as his mate commanded the attention of every person at the table. They hung on her every word, as she questioned procedures and pointed areas out on the maps, outlining various theories and putting together plans. She was clearly highly regarded here and very capable. But even as he watched her, he couldn't help but think that if it was she, his Luna, who was being targeted by rogues, he would want to lock her away protect her at all costs. He suddenly realised that he didn't want his mate to remain here, if there was going to be more rogue attacks. He had to get her back to Lunar Ridge where she would be safe. After last night, he felt the bond more than ever and her protection was his only concern. He wouldn't let her be taken from him like his sister and his mother were. He had failed to keep them safe and he wouldn't fail her.

'There's a meeting in a few minutes with the Council members and Alpha's that are still here from the wedding', Ronan said, checking his watch. 'They're coming here with information from their own packs and anything else anyone might have heard. If we are assuming a bigger attack is imminent, we are closest and might be the next pack hit', Ronan reasoned.

Aidan took Alex by the arm and led her out of earshot of the group. 'Kit will drive you back to Lunar Ridge now,' he said, much to the surprise and disgust of his mate.

'Absolutely not, I'm staying here,' Alex spat angrily. 'I have to help protect the pack.'

'You have to go and help protect our pack', Aidan leaned into the lie. 'I have to stay for this meeting but you can get on the road now and be back to make sure everything is in place and ready.'

Alex was slightly taken aback with this. 'You want me to make sure the warriors are ready?'

Aidan nodded, feeling sick as he saw the delight on her face, as she thought, incorrectly, that he wanted her assistance in protecting the pack. He would have to deal with the fallout of his lies at a later time but right now, it was important to get her out of Black Mountain.

Although not happy to be leaving, Alex was at least, very confident that every possible scenario had been discussed and covered and that the warriors were more than ready for anything that might come their way. Ronan, Hank, Nolan and Theo confirmed this again to her as she bade them goodbye, heading back to her house to pack quickly and get on the road.

Alex changed into her go-to comfort clothes of a black tank top and shorts for the journey back to Lunar Ridge. She was dreading having to be in such close proximity to Kit for such a long drive but maybe she would take a nap to pass the time. Kit was standing on the jeep's driver side when she came outside, carrying her suitcase and a few small items from the house. He looked at her reproachfully and climbed into his seat without speaking to her. Alex rolled her eyes at the unnecessary hostility.

The goodbye between Alex and Aidan was a little awkward. It had only been a few short hours since they had been feasting on each other's naked bodies, they were still no further to reconciling their differences. Aidan felt the added awkwardness of the lie to his mate to exit her from Black Mountain. In truth, he had informed Kit and Marcus that Alex was to be kept at the pack house, guarded by a team of warriors until his return.

'See you later then,' Alex said, as she patted Aidan on the arm uncomfortably. She looked back at him, waiting for a response. He nodded curtly and opened the passenger door for her. 'You better get going,' he said to both her and Kit, 'Let me know when you arrive.'

Aidan rubbed the back of his neck. As he watched the car disappear into the tree line, he mildly regretted his decision not to let Alex stay with him. But she would be safer the further away she is from here, he reasoned to himself as he turned to job back towards the pack house.