THE ROGUE’S LAIR
Mable had tracked Isabelle's scent through the woods and out onto the South highway.
"Isabelle's scent is strong here so she was unharmed at up to this point, Mike's scent however is weaker and there is a small scent of his blood." Jake tensed and the head warriors of the Beta and Charlie battalions who were leading the warriors gasped. " Calm down" Mable turned to draw them a glare muttering drama queens under her breath," I said small scent it is most likely caused by a minor injury that he received when being knocked unconscious- that explains why his scent is faded." Jake nodded at her appraisal while several of the warriors sighed in relief.
"It would also explain why there was no sign of a struggle, Isabelle no doubt could have taken most of them in a fight or at least hold them off long enough for help to arrive but if they used Mikey as a hostage she would of went quietly. " Mable continued.
"Yes, she would of." Jake agreed thinking of his mate and her kind loving nature she would never let harm come to anyone never mind an innocent pup. " Can you tell how many there where and what direction they went in next" Jake asked trying not to let his anxiousness slip into his voice.
"By the marks over here there was approximately 10 or 11 heavy 4x4 vehicles and by the depth of the tyre imprints I would say they were full to capacity 5 large werewolf's in each one so at a guess 50 to 55 Rogues." Mable declared as she combed the area searching the ground for clues, clues only she was able to spot closely followed by Jake and the leaders of the warrior battalions who were impressed by her skills.
" How could we have not noticed that many Rogues" the leader of Charlie group asked stunned.
"Their scents are not noticeable but if you smell the air hard enough you can smell a strong metallic scent yes" Mable asked.
Jake and his warrior leaders walked a few paces as did a few warriors behind them and sniffed quickly picking up a near overpowering metallic scent. They looked at each other in astonishment before nodding to Mable.
"That metallic scent is called a witches essence, it's the scent that lingers in the air when a witch or warlock casts a spell usually a powerful one." Mable looked at Jake pointedly.
"As in a spell powerful enough to cloak a whole packs scent and general presence like the spell cast when the Rogue Alpha attacked the Golden Moon pack" Jake asked but already knowing the answer.
"Yes, the exact same. " Mable replied solemnly.
Jake knew that the Rogue Alpha could perform magic as Isabelle had told him about the cuff he spelt to try and control her but he had no idea the Rogue Alpha was powerful enough to cast such a spell. After the Golden Moon massacre the King had investigated and found out a spell had been cast to cloak the Rogue Alpha's scent so he and his pack could attack silently in the night slaughtering the pack without resistance, however the King and his advisers had assumed that history was repeating itself and the warlock King had risen and he had allied with the Rogue Alpha to try and spread fear and unrest through the werewolf kingdom so he could invade the kingdom easier and take King Soreen's crown.
Jake took a brief moment to take the news in that the Rogue Alpha was actually a bigger threat than he suspected. The news was indeed a shock but no matter how powerful he was Jake vowed he would rescue Isabelle no matter what even if he had to give his last breath to do it.
"Alpha....?" Mable questioned looking to him for his next instructions.
"Good job Mable, I am glad to see there is life in the old enforcer yet." He smiled at her affectionately lightening the mood with his joke hoping it would hide his worry from her.
"Less of the old you cheeky pup.... you're still not too old for me to bend me over my knee" Mable snapped back returning his affectionate gaze. " She will be okay Jake she is tough." Mable whispered reaching out to squeeze his hand reassuringly sensing his fear for his mate underneath his banter.
Jake nodded at her grateful for her motherly concern. " And what direction did they go in"
"By the direction of the tire marks, I would say Southeast Alpha." Mable said inspecting the ground closely.
Jake mind-linked Carl to update him quickly and then addressed the warriors that were with him" I have updated Carl he is sending cars round for us, the plan is to travel down the highway Carl will update our allies and they will get their pack remembers to search their territories for sightings of them and they will pass any information they might have to us. If we don't get any leads by sundown we will head towards the suspected location of the Rogues lair and intercept them there on their arrival. Rest up we leave shortly."
"Yes Alpha!" the warriors chorus before Jake turned his back to dismiss them.
They had been driving down the highway for a few hours, several Alpha's of their neighbouring Allies had called Jake directly none with any leads but all offering their support and vowing to use all of their resources to help find Isabelle and Mike. Jake appreciated their support he knew he was lucky to have such good friends and strong allies but very time they called with no leads to offer he felt himself become more and more annoyed.
The sun had gone down a while ago and they were now heading in the direction of the Rogues suspected lair when Carl phoned " What!" Jake snapped frustrated by several more pointless calls from his allies before Carl's call. " Jake! It's Mikey he called he has escaped" Jake's breath caught.
"When? Is he okay? Is Isabelle okay? Where is he" Jake demanded as questions spilt out his mouth. Carl explained everything to Jake who as he listened to the information began to calm down- his mate was alive and she told Mikey to tell him she loved him. He listened to the last of the information and took a deep breath.
" ake...? What's your orders what should we do next" Carl asked.
"We know Mikey is safe and the warriors you sent will retrieve him and bring him home safe, Isabelle is also safe the Rogue Alpha may hurt her but he will not kill her she is too valuable to him. Isabelle told Mikey to tell us she thinks the Rogue Alpha will take her back to his lair so that's where we will head. We will head there quickly and hope they haven't discovered Mikey is missing yet and they are still lounging lazily at the safe house this will give us the advantage of arriving first being able to find its exact location, scout the area and claim the best vantage points so when they do arrive we can ambush them effectively." Jake replied not only to Carl on the phone but to all the warriors who were with him on the mission via mind-link to update them.
"Sounds like a solid plan it has the best chance of success but Jake are you sure you don't want me and Alpha group to join you? " Carl asked over the phone.
Jake closed the mind link with the rest of the pack and replied to Carl privately. " Carl I appreciate the offer but we don't know if the Rogue Alpha will send a group of his Rogues back to attack the pack I can't concentrate on rescuing Isabelle if I am worried about the pack. I need you my friend to update the king when he arrives and look after the pack, okay"
Carl hesitated before replying he didn't know why but he felt like Jake was saying goodbye " Jake what aren't you telling me" he asked worriedly.
"I haven't got time for your over protectiveness right now, just promise me" Jake roared in his Alpha voice.
The line went silent before Carl replied " I promise. "
"I knew I could rely on you Carl, thank you my friend. " Jake said emotionally before he hung up.
They had a plan and they would find the Rogue Alpha's lair and no matter what Jake vowed he would take the Rogue Alpha down and free Isabelle even if it meant he would go down with him like Jake's wolf was warning him he would.