James and Ryder rushed over to us. "You smell that?" Ryder asked as James snatched the top from Cassandra's hands.

"Foul," I growled.

"Savannah, I need you and Cassandra to go to the car," James said.

"You can't expect me to—

"This is not the time to argue," he hissed. "Take Cassandra to the car." I didn't appreciate him sending us off to the car as if we couldn't handle ourselves. Well I couldn't talk for Cassandra, but I could handle a few rogues.

"Look, we don't need you killing them inside Walmart," Ryder whispered to me. "I know you want to tear them up, but we can't have that." Dammit, he was right. I passed them the buggy with the clothes Cassandra and I picked out, and James passed me the car keys. Cassandra took my hand and together we walked out of Walmart without looking suspicious. We rushed to the car and got inside, locking the door.

"I can't believe there are rogues here," Cassandra whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" I asked, turning in my seat to face her. "Who cares if they hear us? They can walk up on us if they want to, but it would be a dumb mistake on their part."

"Savannah, you heard what Ryder said."

"I heard him, but nothing is going to stop me if they walk up on us, Cassandra. They're probably not that bright if they came here. There's a group of packs on the edge of this no man's land who would instantly catch wind of them. It's suicide."

"It's unnatural to see them."

"It is," I agreed. Soon James and Ryder came out of Walmart with the bought items. James pulled open the car door and pulled Cassandra into his arms. He quickly kissed her, relieved to see that she was safe.

"Where are the rogues?" I asked Ryder who was putting the bags into the trunk.

"Gone," he growled.

"What?"

"Let's talk about it on our way back home," James suggested. He and Ryder finished putting the bags in the trunk, then they climbed into the truck.

"Alright, now explain," I said once James pulled out of the Walmart parking-lot.

"We walked around sniffing them," James said. "We didn't want any trouble. We just wanted to question them and maybe scare them off. We didn't need a blood bath on our hands," he reminded me to which I rolled my eyes.

"We lost them," Ryder then said. "They must have known we were onto them and bucked it."

"I feared they had followed you two out."

"Lucky for them that they didn't," I said. The car fell into silence. Ryder was brooding; I could feel it. He was steaming. He was mad that they hadn't caught them. It reminded me of a darker time. It reminded me of the days where the need for justice would keep me awake every night. Eventually all you can do is your best. There was nothing Ryder could do. He might as well let it go, but I knew that wasn't the type of wolf that he was.

David wasn't pleased when he heard the news. He radiated anger, but he couldn't do anything. He could send his trackers to the Walmart, but their scent would already be gone by now with so many humans going in and out of the place. All we could do was leave it as a freak accident and push it behind us.

That's all we could do.

A few more days passed, and Ryder remained heated. He was more of a pain in the ass than usual. He snapped at wolves for no reason. Whenever he came to Cassandra and James' cabin, it was easier for me to make him growl and snap at us. My wolf wasn't having it and would snap back at him, causing him to growl and bitch more. I even noticed him taking his frustration out on his warriors.

"Morning," James greeted from the front door, waking me up from my beautiful sleep. My wolf growled lowly at him like she did every morning when he came to wake us up. She got up and walked through the door he left open for us. I shifted into my skin and threw on a pair of leggings and a T-shirt. I kept my wardrobe basic. I got fewer shorts since it was getting colder outsider. Fall was right around the corner. The smell of food fully woke me up like usual.

"Morning," I greeted Cassandra. I walked up to her and rubbed my cheek against hers which she reciprocated.

"What you got going on today?" Cassandra asked James.

"Me and some of the men are going to go hunting." My wolf perked up and James chuckled. "I assume you want to come."

"You bet your ass I do," I said to which he laughed. "You coming, Cassandra?"

"Not my thing." I looked at her as if she told me pigs had wings.

"What do you mean hunting isn't your thing? Hunting is what we do? It is our thing."

"Cassandra isn't the violent type," James said, sipping his orange juice.

"Ha!" I laughed. "If she saw another female pushing up on you, she would become the violent type." At the mention of another woman touching James, Cassandra growled. I smirked and sipped my juice. "We're wolves, Cassandra. It's impossible for us to be nonviolent. If we're nonviolent, then we get eaten. It's how our world works."

"I know that," she said, flushed.

"Your father never took you out hunting? My father used to take me and my brother hunting with him all the time. I have plenty scars from the fun." Cassandra shook her head as she wiped down the counters.

"My parents were very overprotective. I had to convince them to let me come here with James." James grumbled into his cup.

"I wasn't leaving without you," he said.

"I know," Cassandra said, pressing her lips to his cheek.

"Two beta wolves not letting you hunt?"

"They aren't beta wolves. I don't have beta blood."

"Interesting," I said into my cup. "What rank are you then?"

"Gamma." It wasn't unusual for a gamma to be paired with betas, strong gammas. It was different for alphas. Alphas were always paired with alphas.

"Well you're a beta female now," I stated. "It's about time you learned how to hunt. James, I say we bring her."

"I don't know," James mumbled. "I mean, she's never hunted before and it isn't something you can just do." I rolled my eyes.

"We're not going after bears. She can handle this small game." James turned to Cassandra.

"Are you interested, babe?" She sighed and wrung her hands. I could see the fear in her eyes.

"You could like it," I said. "If at any time you feel uncomfortable, I'll run you home." The fear didn't leave Cassandra's eyes, but she agreed. Ryder then came through the front door. Like usual, he had a frown marring his face.

"Morning," he grumbled tiredly.

"You look terrible," Cassandra said as she placed a plate in front of him.

"Yeah, you look like shit," I commented in between bites to which he growled. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

"I'm not in the mood," he snapped at me and I rolled my eyes. He was never in the mood, but it was in my nature to bug the hell out of him. I had this need. It was the same need I felt with my brother. I shook my head, trying to stay clear of that thought.

"So Savannah and Cassandra will be joining us," James told Ryder who groaned.

"Why am I not surprised? Wait—Cassandra?" He turned to her with a shocked look. "You're coming with us? On a hunt?"

"Yes, I'm going. Geez, is it that hard to believe?"

"Well yes," he answered. "I've never seen you hunt in all the time you've been here."

"Savannah convinced me." He then looked at me and I shrugged.

"What's a wolf who can't hunt?" I asked. Breakfast continued with more bickering between Ryder and me. After breakfast was over, the four of us headed to the pack house where everyone was meeting up. James and Cassandra walked hand in hand while Ryder and I walked beside each other, throwing shots at each other here and there. The gammas waiting looked up when they heard us approaching. Who couldn't hear Ryder and me?

"Damn rogue," he growled.

"Damn arrogant male," I growled back.