CHAPTER 114: ROGUES PT 2

~THIRD PERSON POV~

"Welcome, to the kingdom of rogues." The deep voice said

When Micca stepped out of the snow and into the caves mouth, he could feel the warmth of fire and hear chit chat among people.

The chatter died down when they saw Micca enter the cave. Groups of warriors sat in small circles around small campfires. The smoke in the cave kept the air warm and thick.

Micca was able to get a better view of everything once his eyes adjusted to the light.

Warriors bowed and greeted the man who had been speaking. "My King."

Micca looked at the man stunned. King?

He looked like a regular pack member, no one of specific status. Humble. Wearing furs and animal skins. No flashy armor, no jewelry, nothing to show his status.

Micca bowed his head "Apologies rogue king, I didn’t know I was speaking with the man in charge."

"And that’s how I prefer it. I don’t throw my authority and status around. I handle move and act in the shadows." The Rogue King admitted.

"Brilliant, your majesty. A stroke of genius, truly." Micca flattered the Rogue King.

Micca sensed the wolf in him. The Rogue King wasn’t even an Alpha wolf. He was a half breed. And something about that bothered Micca. The idea of serving a weaker wolf irked him. Maybe he could take over the pack and become the next rogue king. A smile crept up his face. Carefully hidden behind a façade of pleasantries.

"I know what you might be thinking, how can a shifter with a lower wolf rule? Because I’m more than just a wolf, I’m a hybrid. Part vampire, part witch, and part shifter. My wolf doesn’t have to be strong to keep my people in line." A warning was carried with the weight of his words.

"A hybrid, I didn’t know that was possible." Micca was surprised by this revelation. He’s never heard of a hybrid between vampires and shifters.

"Now you do." He said with a finality that silenced Micca. With moving through the caves winding halls, he noticed the cave was massive on the inside. Tall ceiling, and torches lit along the halls.

He wondered why they didn’t use magic to light the cave but used such primitive means instead.

As if sensing his question or reading his mind, he explained, "We use fire to light the halls inside the cave system because it helps us remain undetected. Magic can be traced, tracked, followed. For us, it’s an unnecessary risk."

So, this is how they were able to stay hidden despite their many search attempts in these mountains, they’d always come back with nothing. Like the rogues came and went as if they were ghosts themselves.

Micca chuckled inwardly, these rogues were much smarter than he’d given them credit.

The deeper they got in the mountain, the colder the air got.

Micca discovered the cave was a maze of corridors and no doubt many dead ends. It would be nearly impossible to navigate these caves without a guide; how did they know which hall led where?

"That’s smart, no wonder you’ve been able to stay off the radar, you were literally off it. This explains why all my scouting missions and search parties came back empty handed." Micca admitted.

"Yes." The Rogue King said with a cocky undertone. Like he knew he had outsmarted the recognized pack shifters.

His attitude rubbed Micca the wrong way, but he remained silent, completely aware of the delicate situation he was in and how carefully he needed to navigate things so they would turn out in his favor.

Arriving to a closed off section far away from the caves entrance. A dark wooden door stood alone at the end of the hall.

Micca gulped before nervously entering the room. The spear still pressed against his back. They weren’t taking any chances. Despite how calm and unconcerned the rogue king was, his warriors weren’t so easily swayed.

Inside the room the lighting was dim and the air smelled stale. It was simple. A few bookshelves, some chairs for sitting, a desk with a lamp sitting on it.

"Take a seat a less discuss semantics." The rogue king said taking a seat behind the desk.

Micca walked over to the chair, the spear behind him guiding his way.

The warrior removed the spear but stood firmly behind the seat, readied to stab right through the chair at wrong movement.

"You wish to exchange intel for refuge. Why should I risk my pack for a cowardly ex alpha? What information could you possibly provide that would allow me to overlook these facts?" The rogue king questioned. His facial expression remained hardened, cold and indifferent.

Micca, usually the face of strength and confidence fidgeted nervously in the seat.

"You have a mole in your ranks, and I know who it is. I know where he and the mole meet up. I know how you can get a mole into his own kingdom. I think that could be considered invaluable intel." Micca tried to sound strong, but the rogue king saw right through his masked emotions.

"That could prove to be very valuable intel. If the information about the mole in my pack turns out to be true, I will grant you asylum in our pack, and if you successfully help implant a mole of our own in his ranks, I will personally offer you a spot in the council alpha." The rogue king spoke with unquestionable control and carried the weight of 10,000 men. "But I will warn you. Rogues aren’t bound by the same rules and ethics recognized packs are. If we find you to be lying or that you betray us. I won’t hesitate to personally rip you, limb from limb. My wolf may not be an alpha wolf, but I have my own ways of making up for that single short coming. Remember, I wouldn’t be able to rule over and organize packs of rogues if I didn’t have my ways of maintaining order and authority."

"Your message is hear loud and clear. I swear the information I have to offer will be worth every ounce of protection you provide. I will not disappoint you, my king."