"What do you mean you want them to come back with us?" Rafe asked trying to keep his voice calm and quiet.

I had pulled him off to the side to talk without the others listening in. It was true, I wanted the rogues to come back with us. I just didn't feel right leaving them out there all alone. Sure they had been getting along just fine by themselves, but it still felt wrong to just leave them.

"Rafe, they helped me. It's the least I can do, to offer them a place to call home."

"We don't know anything about them Katarina, you haven't even known them that long."

"Maybe not, but they welcomed me in right away. They didn't hesitate to bring me into their home, to call me one of their own. I can at least do this for them."

"How do you know they even want to leave here and join a pack? They're rogues, don't you think that might be for a reason."

I just shrugged. I had thought of that, only briefly though. There were very few things that resulted in rogues living on their own. I still refused to think the worst of them.

"They may not want to, but I think they should at least get the opportunity to turn it down. Come on Rafe, who knows what would have happened to me if I had been out here all by myself these past weeks. There may not have even been a me to find."

I knew that wasn't true. I had the skills necessary to survive on my own, but I needed something to make him see my way.

"Fine," Rafe sighed. You can offer them acceptance into the pack, just don't be upset if they turn you down.

"Thank you," I said smiling and throwing my arms around him.

I quickly made my way back to the others, sharing the news. They seemed thrilled with the idea, or at least most of them did. Nolan didn't seem as convinced as the others were.

"You don't want to go," I said as we walked through the woods.

"That's not it. I just don't know if I can."

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"Kat, I may have said what needed saying, and believe me, I meant it all. But I don't know if I can go back there and see you every day with him."

I frowned slightly. I had been so wrapped up in my own emotions that I had almost forgotten his feelings for me. I understood where he was coming from, hell, I had seen the after affect of Rafe with Aphrodite. It wasn't fair of me to ask him to see that.

But if he didn't come with, I would truly miss him. Within the short time we had together, I had really grown close to Nolan. He was the first real friend I had formed and to leave him behind would hurt.

"I understand, but I would be glad if you did. It's not right of me to ask you to, it's quite selfish of me really. I would just really miss you. You've been an amazing person from day one and I wouldn't be here now if it weren't for you."

I looked down as I started to make my way back toward the campsite. Darkness had fallen and Rafe had said we were going to head out first thing in the morning.

"Kat, wait," Nolan called out.

I stopped in my tracks, feeling Nolan reach out grabbing my hand. He held it firmly in his, squeezing slightly.

"I'll come with."

"Nolan, I don't want to make you do anything you don't wan-"

"I do want to, Kat. As hard as it might be to see you with someone else every day, It would be worse not to see you at all. I'll just get over it," he said with a light smile. But I could see it in his eyes, getting over it wasn't going to be easy for him. "Who knows, I may even find my own mate." He didn't sound very convinced with that, but I hoped that he would.

There were so many people within the territory that it was as good a shot as any that he would find that person. Then he would see that what he had felt with me was nothing compared to what he felt with them. I knew it from experience, the mate bond was able to do incredible things. It had brought Rafe back to me, it had helped to start our healing. It could do almost anything.

I kept my hand in Nolan's as we made our way back to camp. Everyone settling in for the night, preparing for the early journey. Rafe believed that if we started at sunrise we would be back by this time the next evening.

~~~~~~

In the morning, waking with the early call of the birds, we set out for Rafe's land. The trek was a long one, I could hardly believe how far we had gone away from his pack. Then again, I had made the journey in a few days, we were trying to fit it into one.

Luckily we were all healthy enough, we were able to keep stops to a minimum, stopping only when absolutely necessary. Rafe had been right, not too long after nightfall we crossed the threshold into his territory.

I could feel the shift as we stepped onto familiar, claimed soil. We all went straight for Rafe's office, not bothering to make any other stops.

Rafe unlocked the door and flipped the light switch on and started rummaging through papers on his desk.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

"I need your documents," he said as he searched through everything looking frustrated.

"What documents?"

"The day you mentioned becoming a member of this pack, I pulled out the papers that needed to be completed. After you left I saved them for when you returned."

I smiled slightly. He had never given up the hope that I was going to return.

Rafe finally found the papers, uncovering them and making his way to the copy machine. He scanned each sheet, printing off multiple copies before bringing the original over to me.

"If you would sign these papers please, Katarina."

I saw Rafe's eyes rake over me and I knew exactly what he was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing too. However we were in front of people and we had already been a source of too much PDA.

When the papers were finished printing, Rafe gathered them up and dispersed them between the group of rogues.

"Once you sign these papers, you take up residency with us. You will live among us, you will follow our rules, and if necessary, you will fight beside us. If you choose to accept all responsibilities that come with membership, then please sign the front page, initial in the two places on the second and third, and finally sign the fourth."

I signed and initialed the paper immediately without a second thought. The others however carefully read over each part of the document making sure everything was in order before marking their names.

Rafe looked each document over carefully before nodding in approval. "Congratulations and welcome to the pack," he said.

"I'm sorry I can't give you the official tour tonight, it's very late. I will show you each to your temporary rooms for the evening. Tomorrow you will be shown around and given your permanent residence. There will also be an official announcement tomorrow evening just before sundown introducing you to the rest of the pack.

"I'm glad you decided to join us, and if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask."

He waited a moment, but when no one spoke up he just nodded and motioned for them to follow him.

I watched Rafe and the rest of them disappear into the hall and I turned to look at my papers one last time. I had done it. I had signed my name and officially become a member of Rafe's pack. There was no turning back now, no running away from my uncertainty. From now on, I was going to have to face it head on, but I knew one thing; I wouldn't be in it alone.

I shut the light off and closed the door to Rafe's office going toward my room. I stopped just outside the door, my hand resting on the knob. I looked over my shoulder to the very end. I saw the closed door, the door I hadn't set foot past since that fateful day.

I warred with my mind. Should I or shouldn't I? That room contained one horrible memory, it contained the deed that had nearly broken Rafe and I apart. But if this was going to work, then we needed to get past it.

But was I ready to get past it right this second?

*********************

They're back home and now Katarina is officially a member of Rafe's pack. And so are the rogues!!!

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

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