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Healer Rhea's POV

With all to uncover, Rhea hadn't managed to leave the table until well after the tea had gone cold. But between the two of them, Stephan could not move from his seat until he heard everything.

Everything from the sell-out of an Alpha to a deranged Alpha King that truly believed that he was acting in the Goddess' will to make things right. To uncover something in the mountain.

It felt like every time she spoke, another layer was released. And it didn't matter how much hardship or betrayal the people following her felt, they held just enough trust in Rhea—Amory—To make the preparations to come here, on the whim that it is allowed.

"Rhea...How do you possibly believe this will work? Sixty-five more pack members will dwindle resources quickly. And with the new hunting regimens?" Rhea didn't want to think this way, but it was difficult not to.
As the Healer for both kinds, it was impossible not to place this as a factor.

"The humans within the group have been starved for most of their stay, they are just now getting used to decent-sized servings. It will not be a problem, not when there is a risk to their health factor in eating any more than they are."

"And then? After they have regained their stomach? I doubt they will settle on broth every night."

"No. The plan is to start growing products as well, the witch has a few tricks up her sleeve to get things jumpstarted. Besides, we can place orders to other packs and split things evenly." With every concern, Rhea met it with two or more possible solutions to settle his worries.
Granted, that came with immense difficulty as he didn't want to upset the crowd waiting for his response.

Even the little female sitting before him was ready to squirm about if he stalled any longer.

"Do you think your Beta and Delta would agree? Or am I just hoping on the wrong star?"

"No, it's not right to place up your hope or downplay it. But I can't settle this itch that there is more than just allowing these escapists out. They look at you for a leader and have felt betrayed by their previous Alpha. Are you sure they are truly ready to follow another wolf again?" Rhea perked her lips and inhaled deeply.
He was right, this was a pointless back-and-forth.

"You're right—" She whispered, her chin picking up from what it was and swallowing down the rest of her insecurities. Considering there was one last piece of information that he was missing.

She knew he knew it, too.

There was no denying that Alpha Stephan was a talented wolf, both in caring for his pack and training them as he saw fit. It didn't occur to Rhea until she left for a neighboring pack, the difference between not only the leadership but the way the pack members responded and acted in their daily lives. "—You're right. So why don't we meet them?"

The question had startled the male instantly and she smiled lightly, not wanting to impose at all as it was simply a suggestion. But what better way to gauge the situation if he didn't give it his all?

He owed them this much considering they protected and provided for Rhea—But little did he know, Rhea did just as much for them as they did for her.

So he rose to his feet without another word and offered out his hand. "Well, let's get going. We'll bring lunch." The expression on her face had started to glow, and he couldn't remember a time before when she allowed herself this glimpse of peace.

"I wish I could offer most to the males who protected you from a dangerous Alpha King... Let's get an order settled first." She nodded, eagerly getting to her cane that had fallen to the floor—Too far for her to reach.

Stephan had waved away her attempts in trying to get it back, but he kneeled down to the floor and held it. "This is very finely crafted."

"Well, you'll meet the maker. Nelo is a very skilled young wolf. I have it under good conscious that he doesn't have a violent bone in his body." The comment had caused the male's mind to grow fuzzy.
What had she meant by that?
Had all that the pup experience taken the fight out of him?

As Stephan escorted Rhea to the private kitchens, it did not take long to order enough food for eight hungry escapists. It was managing the transport that truly did Rhea in, as she couldn't help much before her capture—But now she truly couldn't help.

Instead, she stood beside the carriage, taking the time to reacquaint herself with her old pal. Yet a chuckle found its way just behind her.

"Huh, he's usually not this calm around strangers."

"I'm not that much of a stranger, am I?" Rhea questioned as she uncovered herself from her hood. How could she possibly hide away from Cedric, the male who had become such a great friend during the countless rides and guard duties he was given?

"R-Rhea...?" He gasped, choking on his next thought as he pulled her forward and into his embrace—Only for a small moan of pain had alerted Stephan of her predicament.

"Cedric, you release her this instant. She's hurt!" The order had come with a fair warning, one that the former guard had started to find warranted as per the cane and the expression that seemed to materialize on Rhea's face.

"Goddess, are you alright?"

"Immortal wound. It's just something that I have to live with from now on." She explained, only for the Alpha to growl his denial as he wouldn't believe that this injury could not be healed.

With the travels all set, Cedric had taken the liberty to drive, which left Rhea stuck in the middle between him and the Alpha. Though that had worked in Stephan's favor as he made it abundantly clear that Rhea was a taken female.

As per the scent lingering on her figure and his hand strictly on her thigh.

Once Cedric had managed to paint the full picture, his wolf howled in pleasure and he smiled all the bit brighter. "I'm glad you're back, Rhea. The pack's missed you terribly."

"And my pupils? I took a peek in the infirmary, they seemed to be getting on alright from what I could see."

"They're doing fairly well, Alpha asked the surrounding packs for a few more lessons and they managed from there." It gave Rhea the necessary relief, but what didn't was the aggravated bumps in the road that jostled her—Going to the point where Stephan had locked his arm over her as though she were a pup in the carriage when parents would strap their children with a tight rope.

"Are you planning to stay, ma'am?" Rhea held back her bit her amusement, as Cedric hadn't dared speak to her like this following their first ride together. It was all potentially a show since the Alpha was just beside her.

"Yes, and you'll be the first to know that I've taken the Alpha up on his offer." She resided, and the males titled their heads in curiosity—And Rhea could only pull Stephan down to reach her for a small kiss on his cheek.

"What—"

"We're courting." He confirmed, though the words were mixed within a growl that Rhea had to double back in decipher it.
"C-courting? Congratulations!" Whyever it had stumped her for her guard's excitement and approval, it was heartwarming, to say the least.

"Thank you, Cedric, and you've been reinstated as her guard—Granted, you might be fighting to keep that position...If all goes well." Rhea smiled at the possibility of smoothing things over. Though it hadn't occurred to Cedric that his job may be up in the air, as the Alpha said, as he was focused more on the courtship.

As they continued down the road, the male stilled and questioned it, and Rhea only smiled.

"This is only for your ears right now, Ced—But I trust you will have good judgment on it as well. I didn't come back alone, I have a few males with me right now that are looking for a home."

"I—I have an extra room that I don't use in my cabin, my mate and I wouldn't mind housing one or two for the time being." Alpha Stephan's eyes had grown wide with curiosity, how was it that the guard he assigned to Rhea was so very much trusting her and her words—Yet he himself couldn't?

Perhaps it was his position and worry of downfall that would result badly not only in the pack, but to himself.

"That is very kind, but we plan to build on my property as of right now. Given that I have a few months of taxes to pay first—"

"They've been nulled." Rhea frowned up at Stephan with determination to argue on that front, but the male had squeezed her thigh just a little tighter this time and huffed. His final word on the matter.

"Right then—My property has so much wasted space, I'm hoping that within time that they will turn into rentals then split up into their own. Isn't that what you were worried about, Steph? That I wouldn't be able to afford it in the coming years."

"If I am to be your male, Rhea, then you shouldn't worry about those things regardless." She bobbed her head, pretending to contemplate the world where she could sit back and let another face her own battles or worries—But nowhere would she concede.

Rhea would figure out a way to work through it, as she always did.

"You might be worrying about my well-being—Though I'm sure you always have. I need to make sure that they know that someone is looking after them as well." Offering one last smile before she turned her attention back to the road ahead of them and pulled her hood up. Feeling the threatening energy in the air that was only collecting until it couldn't possibly hold the rain any longer.

Yet in the midst of her concern for her males and the weather, Cedric had turned to his Alpha and the highest-ranking wolf had caught the fear crackling in his gaze.

She does not know about the King's request in turning her in.

But sir, how could you possibly think to hide this from her?!

The King asked for Queen Amory, I do not see her that way and never will. She wants to remain as Rhea and confided in me. His orders do not mix well. We will be fine.

Cedric wanted to argue, but there was little room for it when they were nearing the Healer's property—Granted, it was an unfair stance to begin with, as Cedric was simply a guard.

His admission to tell Rhea the truth was set on following his Alpha's word. But what good would that do for Rhea herself? Living in fear of being caught by the King.

That was no life anyone should live.

The excitement had rushed through Rhea entirely, knowing that her males would appreciate the service and food they would be getting in the next couple of moments. Or would have, had she not caught Nelo jumping in front of the carriage with his snoot in the air.

"Oh for goddess sake, Nelo! This is a road!" She shouted, rising in the carriage just after it halted to scold the pup, but both his nose and tail had faulted down to the ground in a sign of apology.

"No need to scold the boy, Rhea...How about you guide us, Nelo?" Stephan called out, and that instantly perked up Nico's attitude and she turned back around with a yip and pranced forward at a steady pace to guard the Queen.

"This is the one who crafted your cane?" Rhea hardly needed to answer when Nico barked his approval and jumped, and she knew right there that the males were most likely anxious for her return.

Making her curse herself internally at the fact that she was late from what she might've told them. But there was the hope that they hard the oncoming carriage—Rhea knew firsthand that she could tell when Cedric was approaching for a few good minutes before he arrived.

Yet it was pure agony to wait, even if Stephan was trying to soothe her with his touch. The mere comfort was new for her to experience, after all that time, she was the one offering it instead.

When Cedric had finally made the turn into the territory, Rhea's small one-room house—Shack—was already in the midst of receiving a makeover. And she groaned in seeing that her males couldn't take the night to rest after their travels.

"Hey! She's back!" A voice called out, and she smirked to see that Nelo had darted farther ahead and shifted just before a bundle of clothes.

"I linked the others."

"They went hunting off West, might take them a bit to get back. And we've sent another to the other camp. Rhea?" She smiled off towards Rolf to see that he was already doing the job for her and she nodded. "I hope you had a decent night..."

"How in gods name did you sleep in that thing? We thought the wind was going to take it out." He claimed, and Dane moved forward, sporting a bare chest and already working up a sweat. "Thought? Lost a few shingles last night alone. We'll get it sorted by the evening." Cedric had taken one look towards Alpha Stephan and knew, without a doubt, that these males would most certainly be able to join the pack.

Yet Stephan was impressed with how these four males seemed to progress as well as wolves, seeing them work so fluently—It was bizarre, to say the least.

"When I first left, I managed to find a Rogue camp and burned it. These four were chained together and I—"

"Made the dumbest decision in history that benefited six bound men, no offense..." Gilroy joined, with another bundle of wood in his arms. Only for him to take into account both Alpha Stephan and Cedric.

"Six?"

"We lost two..." Rhea said, her head falling down as she didn't want to think about Clive and Ray—Not when it was still fresh in her mind after returning to the pack. Something that she promised them so long ago.

"Well, we've brought some lunch. Got a place where I can unload it?" Hawes had stopped his shoveling to lean on the tool, his eyes glancing at either male with the intent of judging.

"I think I have a table in the barn, it's—"

"I got!" Hawes claimed, and that was it for the introduction. Though Rhea turned her head down and explained that Hawes had his tongue removed before they met, and the tension between man and wolf had grown that much thicker.

Stephan felt the eyes lingering on him as he helped Rhea down onto the ground and made sure she was steady on her feet before letting go. But it was his offering of a hand to Rolf that truly surprised the men.

"I'm Alpha Stephan, welcome to the Red Moon pack. I see you've already tackled a job that I've been wanting to do for years. Just without half the complaining—"

"Hey! It was only myself living in it, I didn't need much else." Rhea defended, only for Gilroy to itch the back of his head in preparation for his defense of the act.
"Ma'am, it really needs an upgrade. It's bound to happen before we start to build or after...I-if that is acceptable, Alpha?"

This caused the male to inhale for a moment and nod. "We're talking about the plans, I am looking for my Beta and Delta's opinions on the matter beforehand, though. But I do approve of this rebuild. Hell, tear it down."

"No! Steph, it's still has a good base to work with!" She managed, and that seemed to be the only good thing about the damn shack. It was the property that truly spoke volumes. As Nelo mentioned that he had already unweeded her garden and planted a few dozen seeds and such.

It was bizzare, sure, to hear of a wolf farming when it is usually left to the humans. But upon seeing the freshly killed deer, of course, they would leave the pup to safeguard the humans.

"Seems like we came too late." Stephan laughed, perking the attention of the rest of the males whose fur had risen at the prospect of danger.
Especially when they could so clearly smell Rhea's return.

"We can start drying it...Better to be prepared." She managed, and her voice settled the worry right away. Though Stephan wasn't sure how he felt about the nature of these males being so open with a female like Rhea.

There was some level of decency when it came to nudity, though he suppose he could put it off considering she most likely suffered worse than a few exposed cocks.

"Please get dressed, we have a few things we need to talk about." It was then that Hawes had uncovered a good chunk of the bench Rhea had mentioned, but the others combined their efforts to set it up as well as get the food from the carriage and hang the deer for skinning.

It was rather uncomfortable to be sitting so crossed at the bench, but she did her best and leveled herself—Though it was the effort her males had gone through to get a kettle of tea ready for her, and she smiled at them in thanks.

Dane was always prepared like that.

"So...You four were saved from the fire?" Stephan questioned, though he allowed them a few moments to enjoy the meal set before them before they even thought about answering any questions.

"Yes sir, as Rhea said. We were chained together by our ankles. She didn't think for a second to help us. Completely suicidal, but we aren't going to complain...Too much." Dane offered, having been the only one who wasn't currently shoveling food down their throats to offer the Alpha a response.

"And the wolves...?"
"Alpha Stephan, sir...If I may? A portion of us were Rogues in our own right, I was born into it. The King offered us safety for loyalty, and at the time it was better than being alone." The male spoke, and Rhea knew outright that Torin was a very dutiful and kind male. He was never abusive towards humans, and if anything, strayed away from them entirely.

He didn't want anything to do with the bloodshed resulting in the end of the camp.

"Who are you loyal to now, then?"

"Mistress Rhea and Osmin. He is at the camp with the rest of our numbers. We were mostly his wolves, if anything." It was difficult for Stephan to understand the term factions in this sense, but the Rogue King had played on those who slipped through the cracks.

The established packs were not doing what they were designed to do, and upon further investigation, these wolves had tried to integrate themselves into these packs but no Alpha they asked would show them mercy.

And none had bothered in the following years due to the hatred that followed the name of a Rogue. Leaving Alpha Stephan in a bind, as he wanted to help these males and the rest of the group—Wherever the farmland was located, but it was going to be a project that he wasn't sure he was prepared for.

He wasn't sure Rhea was prepared for either, not with the way she was limping here to there.

"What was your initial plan? So that I can share this with my higher tiers in the meeting." Now it was Wesly's turn to grin as he dug into his satchel to find the very plans he drew up with Rhea in their last few days at the Rogue camp.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir. I'm Wesly...My family used to construct buildings back in—Doesn't matter now, anyway. Mistress Rhea and I sketched our plans for the property. I scouted around, and we do have to make a few adjustments. It should be fairly easy to put together. The group isn't a stranger to hard labor." That was an understatement, seeing as how these males were working up an appetite already.

"You want to put how many buildings on this property?"
"Fourteen, give or take how far we manage in the next season. Our main objective is to construct a large enough barn that will act as a sleeping area for all. We need stability, Alpha. We need something to call our own and Mistress Rhea has offered her lands." It was difficult to say no, but just as dangerous to say yes as well.

Yet it blinded him, the way that Rhea had vouched for them and what she planned to do. So he inhaled and took hold of all the papers to bundle them up. "I will need to borrow this for the meeting, as a basis. I cannot promise anything, but for right now, I cannot stop you from fixing Rhea's shack."
"Oh sir, by the time we're done with it—It'll be the best shack in the pack!" Gilroy cheered, and the wolves chuckled in support, though their attention was still fixated on the deer.

______

Date: 05/03/23

Time: 9:44

Words: 3662

Author's Note:

It looks like things are looking up for the group, and Rhea has found a bit of happiness to confide in.

Romulus seems to be too caught up in the trials of being King.
With false leads and an unfaithful Alpha not coming forth with the truth about Rhea/Amory's whereabouts, it'll be silent on his end until a time jump.