Yvonne looked around the stream in confusion. Why wasn't she here? This was the night before. She should be here. She hadn't left without saying goodbye, had she? She clutched the ring in her hand tightly. No, she had to see her one more time.
"Sorry," Phoenix ran up to the stream and leaped gracefully across it. Putting her hands on her knees she took a few deep breaths. "I had to argue with a stupid, overprotective male. It took forever to get away." She looked up with a smile. Her eyebrows rose at Yvonne's intense look. "What?"
"Would that stupid over protective male be The Alpha Rogue?"
"Well. you know Alpha's, they're the worst of the lot," she acknowledged, her smile growing.
"Phoenix!"
Her smile faded. "What?"
"That's cheating."
"Yvonne, I love you, I do. But you don't seem to get it. I'm a rogue. Cheating is a legitimate option to me. And it was me cheating, not you. Plus, Alpha Scott needed a good beating. And if it could also help you, why not have it happen tonight? He'll still be able to fight, he'll still be stronger than you. I just metaphorically tied one of his hands behind his back."
Yvonne blinked back tears, "Phoenix, thank you. I love you, too."
"I know you do."
"I hope The Alpha Rogue and his men are okay?"
"Men?"
"Yes, the six who helped beat up Alpha Scott."
Phoenix began laughing. "Is that what he's saying? Oh gosh, I can't breathe! What a putz! No one helped Warren. And yeah, he looks a lot better than the pitiful excuse he sent back to you. My Alpha's level is on that of your brother's. Let's just say, way out of Scott's league."
"Warren?"
Phoenix's smile vanished. "You didn't hear that. Promise me you didn't. He's like me, he's good, and he didn't choose this life."
"The stories?"
"Ask your brothers about 'The Phoenix'."
Yvonne's eyes widened and she shook her head. "I didn't hear you say anything. And from now on I won't listen to idle tongues. If you say he's good. He's good. I brought you your ring." She held out a platinum ring studded with diamonds around a signet with a bell and a moon on it.
"Oh. That is defiantly not the one you tried to give last time."
"But it's the one you deserve. You'd said you'd take it."
Phoenix gave her a hard look, "And I will. But... Sorry, but I will only take it if you agree to not tell anyone you gave it to me unless I use it to claim help from your pack or I say you can. I can't take it if anyone knows I have it."
"You know you could just come home with me and forget about the ring. I know my brothers would love to have you in our pack." Yvonne felt tears fill her eyes, and blinking, saw Phoenix was similarly affected.
Phoenix slowly shook her head, "There is a reason I'm a rogue. I would if I could."
"But you can't."
"So I won't. Thank you, Yvonne. Thank you for reminding me there is more good than bad out there. I needed that and I didn't even know it. I'll miss you."
"Can I give you a hug?"
Phoenix just nodded. Yvonne wrapped her in a tight hug. "I promise not to tell about the ring. I'll feel better if you take it. And I will always miss you." She pulled back and went to offer her the ring only to find it not in her hand. She looked down at her feet and didn't see it. Looking back up, she saw Phoenix grinning, holding up a tiny hand where the diamonds glinted in the moonlight.
Yvonne gave a slight laugh. "I have one for him, too." She gulped at Phoenix's shocked face. "He helped me. My brother says that the Moon Goddess is looking down on me. But I know it was you. And now him. I don't know what good my ring will do for The Alpha Rogue, but I own him a dept. And will pay it if ever there's a need. And until there is a need, I won't tell anyone about it." She pulled a much larger platinum signet ring out.
Phoenix with narrowed eyes took it. "I can't wait to see his face." she grinned.
Yvonne felt her tension leave her. "I'd like to see it, too."
They shared a laugh before sadness began to weigh heavily on their shoulders. And they tried their best to memorize the face of the girl they'd just met six days ago across the way.
Phoenix tilted her head. "Before I go. One more thing about that law that you should spread around and make sure everyone knows. Before it was enacted. Before we lost say in our mates. Before males were able to point at the prettiest or strongest of us and claim us like the human's cavemen caricature, and in marking us, force the mate's bond. Before all that, the Moon Goddess made true soulmates. They say she still does."
"How can you tell the difference?" Yvonne heard a pleading note in her voice.
"I've been told that to the male the true soulmate's scent is intoxicating. Like ten times better then any smell he's ever smelled. And when he looks in her eyes everything inside him, especially his wolf, screams at him to claim her. The word 'Mine' is apparently a thing. But for us? It's in the touch. Our true soulmate's touch. It's supposed to be the best feeling. Like with him is where we belong. Like coming home or something. The touch of those that aren't our true mate can be anything from nice to nothing to terrible."
"When Alpha Scott touches me it feels like there are spiders crawling all over me."
Phoenix face went white. "That's awful."
"Yeah."
"And that's why you're going to kick his ass tomorrow. Now go get some sleep. You're ready. You can do this. And I'm going to enjoy watching it through my binoculars so very much. Goodbye, my friend."