Phoenix looked into the cracked mirror of the dingy bathroom. The hard beat of music that played in the club moving the floor beneath her feet. She did a quick check to make sure she still looked perfect. Her brown hair was still pulled away from her face and allowed to fall in thick curls down her back. Her makeup was too heavy, but still flawless. Large earrings touched her shoulders. Her tight, shimmery dress, showed too much leg. She sighed, but she'd achieved everything she'd set out too, so it turned into a smile.
"Warren?" She reached for him with the mind link they'd established by exchanging blood.
"What's taking you so long?"
"I'm ahead of schedule! Stop worrying, I've got it." She placed her hand on the thick black leather belt settled low around her hips. "The idiot gave me the combo to the safe himself. Now all I have to do is get out."
"Well, hurry up! I've aged ten years."
"Yes, Mom." She smiled at his growl. Straightening her shoulders, she put the vapid, sexy smile back on her face and, turning on her seven inch platform heels, strolled back into the club. He looked over at her with a predatory smile. She was taking a step towards him when her sensitive ears caught a conversation that had her stopping.
"The Alpha is going to kill us." A young sounding male's voice stated with panic edging it.
"We're going to be dead way before he gets to us! Why did we think this was a good idea? This place is crawling with Rogues." Another voice shot back.
She pulled her phone out, held up one long fingernail at him, with a wink, while trying to catch more of those words. Breathing deep of the terrible smells, stale beer, body order, and worst as she searched for their scent. Finding it she wanted to groan. Their base scent was of Belcourt lands.
She glanced casually at them and with an effort, kept her eyes from narrowing. Packed male werewolves? Here? Did they have a death wish? It was at times like these she wished she was truly a rogue and could leave them to the fate they chose.
She smiled back at him and went to get her lip gloss in a move he knew and that had his eyes darkening with lust. She pretended not to find it and looked back at the bathroom, then sent him a silent "Sorry," with her lips. His eyes glinted with amusement and he looked back at the man he was talking to. She turned around. Reaching for Warren.
"There's a problem."
"What?"
"Three young packed males seem to have thought it would be an adventure to come here."
"Phoenix, no!"
"That's not an option. Make me a disturbance, will you?"
"Damn it."
"Tell me when?"
He didn't need to tell her, instead she watched him and a few of his most trusted stalk into the club. Claiming all the Males' attention from her or anything else. Her escort bristled and stalked forward to meet him.
"What the hell are you doing on my property?" She appeared beside the boys. Three scared sets of eyes swung her way. "Follow me!"
One set narrowed at her. "I'm not following a rogue anywhere."
She rolled her eyes, of course one would have Beta blood. Pulling the chain around her neck up until the rings were in her hand, she flashed them at the boys. Their eyes looked like they hurt they grew so wide. "Follow me, now!" With that she hurried to the back of the club. The fight Warren was in the middle of getting louder, making perfect cover as they dashed after her. She pushed out the back door and bumped into one of the bouncers. This night had been going so well she thought annoyed, as she tried to smiled at him, but instead was sent stumbling forward by one of the nitwits behind her. He turned and his eyes darkened. Shoving her to the side, he began to lunge at them, only to be caught in the temple by a well-placed high kick. Phoenix pulled her skirts down and glared at the gawking boys. "Come." And with that sprinted away, cursing her shoes, but not willing to take them off in this dirty area.
They stopped two blocks away. They started to talk. She glared them into silence. "I do not care why you were there. That's something you'll have to explain to your Alpha. But my friends are probably going to be bloody because I needed a diversion. Stand there and be quiet!" She pulled out her phone and sent a text.
'Missing some pups?'
***
Yvonne watched as Theo paced. His brother and two friends were missing and unreachable by pack link, so either unconscious or miles away, or, no, she couldn't think that. Their land had been searched. No sign of them had been found. André was on the phone with a neighboring Alpha. His third such call. So far, no luck. Theo's mother was crying into her mate's chest. The other couple whose twin boys were missing sat in silence. They had begun to fear the worst. She blinked back tears.
Her cell vibrated. She glanced at it casually, only to have her attention sharpen to only seeing it. It was Phoenix's number and it said simply: 'Missing some pups?' She drew in a deep breath and texted back.
'Yes!'
'I picked up three. At a club, about an hour to the north of your lands. Is there any safe place in this city I can drop them?'
Yvonne closed her eyes in relief. Thanking the Moon Goddess again for placing Phoenix in her life.
'There's an all-night Diner called 'Ring the Bell'. It's one of ours.'
'I know where that is. They'll be waiting for you. Got to go.'
'Thank you so much!'
'Don't mention it.'
Yvonne looked up to see André shake his head and Theo crumple. She took a deep breath. "I know where they are."
Both he and Theo spun to her.
André's eye bore into hers. "How?"
"My friend, the one we don't talk about? Found them at a club. They'll be at the 'Ring the Bell' by the time we get there.
André's jaw tightened. "Let's go." He growled before pulling out a cell phone to call the wolf who owned the diner.
***
Phoenix looked up from her phone. "Come on. We've got six blocks to walk."
The Beta blood looked at her in confusion, "Where are we going?"
She smiled. "I've been informed that 'Ring the Bell' is one of yours. So until your Alpha and Beta of a brother arrive, it's the safest place." With that she started off at a fast lope, again cursing her shoes.
"How'd you know we belonged to the Bell Moon Pack? How'd you know my brother is the Beta? Where'd you get those rings? Who were you texting? Who told you about 'Ring the Bell'? Who are you?" Followed an inquisitive boy and his silent friends.
She kept walking. He caught her hand. She snatched it away. "Listen, Pup," she growled, "I'm helping you. I don't have to explain myself. So stop asking questions." She sped up a tiny bit, only to stop at the sight of the flashing sign. She wanted to leave them there, but had to be sure, so with a sigh escorted them in.
The diner was quaint. It's décor deliberately stuck in the fifties. It even had little jukeboxes on the tables. A tall woman whose outfit and hair also belonged in the past, while tattoos and piercings fit into the here and now, hurried forward to wrap all three boys in a tight hug. "What are you doing in the city? And what club were you at? Do you know how worried you've made everyone?" She looked with glare at Phoenix. "Who are you?"
Phoenix smile, already planning on teasing Yvonne for her pack's lack of manners. She held up her hands. "Just dropping them off. They're your problem now." She turned to go.
"Wait."
She turned back to see the Beta blood duck behind the counter and grab a box before hurrying back over. "Here. One for each of us." He held out three gold rings. Each glittering with a different colored stone. Phoenix raised her brows at him and he flushed. "It's a matter of honor." he said stiffly. She sighed and took them. "You Bell Moon's and your honor," she shook her head, "have gotten me quite a collection of rings." She looked hard at each boy. "Next time you feel like being adventurous, think 'would I like to have a tiny female have to come save me?' and then don't." With that she exited the diner and booked it back towards the club.
"Warren?" she reached for him silently.
"I'm fine. The cops came and dragged most of the patrons off. Meet you at home?"
"Can you come get me? These heels are killing me."
His laughter sounded loud in her mind. "Sure."
***
The car ride was very quiet. André was fighting his wolf as he drove at a speed humans wouldn't be able to handle. The two sets of parents sat in a state of shocked relief. Theo was also trying to calm down, relief having turned into anger. Yvonne knew Phoenix would be gone. But still a part of her hoped with the speed André was pushing, maybe they'd make it in time.
They walked into the diner to see the boys with a large basket of fries in front of them and each with a different flavored milk shake, talking animatedly.
Noticing the adults, they jumped to their feet and showed their necks in submission. Their parents hung back, longing to have them in their arms, but knowing they needed to deal with the Alpha first.
André crossed his arms and glared. "Explain yourselves."
And they did. When they got to what club they were at, every adult growled, their wolf flashing in their eyes. Then they gave a description of their rescuer.
"The tiniest, most beautiful angel we've ever seen." chimed the boys.
And, "a little club hopper in a skin tight dress and platform shoes that weren't fooling anybody." added Billy-Jane, the owner of the diner.
André sent Yvonne a shocked look. She smiled slightly.
Her having two stoned palatium rings, that she knew one of the boys had Beta blood, and the kick to the bouncer's head had all the adults eyes widening.
"She then dropped them off here. Took three gold rings. Told them not to be stupid again and left." Billy-Jane finished.
André nodded his thanks. "Get into the car." he said grimly. The drive back was just as quiet.
***
"We'll discuss your punishment tomorrow," André announced. "For now. Go home." He nodded to Theo, who then followed them out. "Yvonne, office."
She followed him into his office, sat in a chair, and watched him pace. Taking a deep breath, he turned to her.
"A female rogue?"
She nodded.
"A tiny female rogue?"
She nodded again.
"A beautiful. tiny female rogue?"
A last nod.
"If you are her friend, why isn't she here? Safe?" he roared.
"Because she didn't want to be here. Safe. And as much as I'd like to pretend it to be different, she doesn't need to be. My winning, the law, the dart, all of that and more was her. And she took out a bouncer in platform heels." They glared at each other. "I did ask her. She knows she can come to us whenever she wants. André, she now has five rings. She knew I was coming to get the boys, but she didn't stay until we got there. She doesn't want to be here, safe. I wish she did."
He rolled his neck on his shoulder. "I've imagined so many different types of friends. At one point I was afraid it was the Alpha Rogue, himself. But I never come close to who it really was. I'm sorry, Yvonne. Can I know about her now?"
"I'm sorry. I don't have permission to tell you."
"What else is there?"
"I'm sorry."
"Fine. Can I at least know her name?"
Yvonne smile sadly. "That's what I can't tell you."
He groaned. "Please tell her she will be welcome on my lands with open arms anytime."
"I will."
Later that night she pulled out her new computer and started an email. Telling Phoenix that the boys thought her an angel. Asking what she was doing in that sleazy club? Extending André's invitation. She ended with this.
'Just tell me: Are you safe?'
Phoenix replied.
'Yes. And tell those boys they need to rethink their definition of an angel.'