Only then did she notice the second man enter from the balcony, the very door she'd forgotten to lock when she'd went to bed last night.

The noise she heard hadn't been the construction workers.

Wide-awake now, she recognized the man on the bed as the same rogue that Griffin had nearly killed for daring to touch her.

"If you value your life, you'll leave now." The power that all but glowed last night had dissipated. Her animals were in full force, the moon's call having lured them out while she'd slept.

As if he hadn't heard her, the second man strode around the bed toward her. Raven pushed away from the wall to give herself room to fight.

Two against one.

She might have been able to take them if she had her power available to her. Without it, she didn't stand a chance in hand-to-hand combat.

She widened her stance as London had taught her, kept her body loose, and managed to dodge the first punch. She weaved down and landed two light blows before dancing away.

"Don't mess her up too much. I want a piece of that before we kill her." The Pig crawled off her bed, angling to come up behind her and trap her between them.

When the Pig grabbed for her, she gave a quick jab to his weak arm, the one broken last night.

He screamed and grabbed his wrist.

Raven spun, kicking the other man directly between his legs.

He immediately dropped.

The Pig grabbed her from behind in a bear hug, his hands groping her breasts. His arousal was like a weapon pressed against her lower spine. She gritted her teeth and threw back her head, hoping to knock him out cold.

Only she hadn't counted on his head being harder than her own. Pain wrapped around her skull, stunning her. He laughed at her attempt, his hold tightening as she wiggled to break his grip.

Breathing became difficult.

The wolf at her core growled in outrage, rising toward the surface.

The man at her feet struggled to stand, cupping his balls. "Bitch. I was going to kill you quick, but I've changed my mind."

"Raven?" Taggert stepped into the doorway, taking in the scene at a glance. Without hesitation, he threw himself at Blue Balls. She slammed her elbow back and was rewarded with a wave of bad breath. It smacked her in the face with enough potency to set her coughing.

London's training kicked in. She switched her footing and threw her weight forward. The move was so unexpected, his hold loosened. He tottered for balance and fought to keep his grip on her at the same time.

She grabbed the arm still around her chest and, with some help from her wolf, heaved him over her shoulder. The man landed on his back with a solid whoosh of air. Without giving herself time to hesitate, she slammed her foot down on his throat.

At the last second, he lifted his arm to deflect her blow. What should've crushed his windpipe only bruised him instead. He grabbed her foot and yanked, neatly pulling her off her feet. Her shoulders hit the carpeting, cushioning the blow.

The commotion drew attention, and the bathroom door opened. One of the workers peered out, the younger one, and his eyes widened at the scene. He cast a look at her, but no shifter would dare interrupt an alpha fight. Raven gave a silent prayer for those asinine rules when he charged through the door and grabbed the man struggling with Taggert.

Struggling but winning.

Then she had no time to worry as the Pig dragged her closer. Sweaty hands tugged her wrists down to her sides, leaving her defenseless. He crawled over her prone body, and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist.

It immediately halted his forward motion.

The expression on his face would've been comical in any other situation. He released one hand to pry away her leg.

Raven thrust her hand forward, her palm striking his nose.

Bones crunched.

Blood gushed down his face.

Then she had both arms free.

Then she was presented with a dilemma. If she dropped her legs, he could easily overpower her. If she didn't get her ass moving, he would beat the crap out of her, and she doubted she would be able to stop him again.

A shadow fell over them, and they both looked up.

"It's about time that you arrived. I can use a little help here." Pig's voice came out as a nasal whine as he held his nose.

"You." Raven saw the rogue from the club gaze down at them. Her heart sank, and the fantastical notion she'd harbored that he was one of the good guys deflated.

The knowledge hurt.

Even if he were only following orders, he would die for this. Then she hardened her emotions when he reached down. She flinched, his actions more painful than the bruises the other two men had inflicted.

Only the pain never arrived.

The weight pinning her lifted. Her lungs greedily sucked in air, and Raven rolled to her hands and knees to keep them in view.

"Hey, stop." The Pig wiggled frantically, his feet clear off the ground. "What are you doing? We were ordered to kill her."

Raven surged to her feet. The rogue gazed at her, then with a very deliberate twist, snapped the Pig's neck.

He dropped the body at her feet and raised his hands, never once removing his gaze from hers. The men from the construction crew stepped next to her and reached for him.

"Don't." She jumped in front of her unlikely savior. "He's a friend."

Maybe she was stupid to trust him enough to give him her back, but she didn't think he'd hurt her. The workers gave her varying looks of disbelief.

When no one objected, she glanced at the two dead rogues sprawled across her floor. Pig lay in a heap at her feet, the other looked like he'd gotten mixed up in a blender. Blood saturated the floor in an ever-increasing circle. "I don't suppose you do carpets?"

The innocuous question caused the youngest, the one who had helped Taggert, to come forward. "We will have the mess cleaned by the end of the day." He paused, flashing a look behind her at the remaining rogue still standing. "I would suggest that you allow us to clean up everything."

The meaning was clear, but she shook her head. "He's come to my aid on two separate occasions. He didn't have to enter the house. He came to save me. I won't have him killed for that."

Then she eyed the three workers who'd come to her rescue. "What do I owe you?"

She would not have them demand a favor from her later.

The eldest waved away her question. "They are rogues. It's the duty of any pack member to put down those who have grown unstable. That they'd dare enter your house, a single alpha female...that's proof enough."

Their words were both comforting and disturbing. She shifted to keep them all in view. The rogue appeared impassive, not giving anything away. He might have noted the workers, but it was her that he watched.

Like he hadn't expected her to stand up for him.

Besides Durant, he was the biggest shifter she'd ever seen. Maybe it was because of his size that he didn't watch the other men for attack. He was large enough, strong enough to take them.

Or more disturbing, maybe he just didn't care if he survived.

Taggert came to her side and gently tugged on her arm. She opened her mouth to argue when she looked up. Blood was smeared around his nose, his eyes had already started to blacken, and his lip was split and swollen.

"Oh, Taggert." He easily caught her hand when she reached for him, maneuvering her toward the door. When she would've protested, he spoke.

"I came to tell you that Durant is waiting for you downstairs. Why don't you go and let us take care of this mess?"

"Not you, too."

Taggert didn't look away, didn't hide. "You risk yourself too recklessly. There are reasons they are rogues."

Last night came to mind, how the rogues turned on one another. As if might was right and brutality the only way to survive.

"He's right."

Raven's head snapped up, and she met the rogue's stare. That's the last thing she expected him to say.

"It would be better if I left."

Though she hated to admit it, Raven agreed with him. She wasn't sure she could keep him safe. But was that the right thing to do or just the easier way out? She owed him. When he saw her not quite winning the battle with the rogue, he intervened. He had to know that coming to her rescue would be his death sentence.

He came anyway.

"Will you be punished for failing to do your job?"

He only shrugged as if it were unimportant. "There is more going on than what you can see. If I don't return, the truly innocent will suffer."

The words could be taken as a threat or warning, but she knew. "You're protecting them."

He studied the tree line. "There is little that I can do anymore. I'm the second in charge and can't openly defy the alpha without consequences."

"But you try anyway." She knew she shouldn't offer, but she couldn't turn away from innocents. "What can I do?"

A slight smile tipped his lips then vanished in the next second. "Stay away from the woods."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Raven saw the hesitation in his eyes and waited. "Ask."

"There are three kids in the group without a pack. Their first moon is coming up on them."

One of the workers heaved sigh, and she glanced over. Him and another man lifting the first body. At her stare, he spoke. "Wolves only shift as they mature. First shifts are hard. The pack is usually there to guide them through the process."

Her rescuer leaned his shoulder against the balcony door. "They aren't completely rogue yet. Two didn't even know they were shifters until the darker urges of their animals presented themselves. As soon as they figured it out, they came to us for help. We're all that they have."

Raven was appalled things were allowed to progress so far. They were children. "Does that happen a lot?"

The first two workers had vanished through the bathroom with the body. A third had collected a tarp so not to trail blood over the floor. He was the one who spoke. "Children of the pack are precious. They wouldn't be given up willingly. Their parents were most likely rogues unable to care for them. The very few who manage to conceive are either abandoned or out-right killed."

Raven faced the rogue. "How many?"

"Two teenagers. I'm hoping being around pack will slow down the change and give them more time to learn. The other kid is older, but in worse shape. He's been fighting the change for years."

"He's going feral?"

He didn't say more, didn't ask or plead with her. They were used to relying on themselves for everything.

Raven took a different track. "Why fight the change?"

"They are worthless now. Once they change, they will have to fight for their place in the pack and prove themselves useful."

Raven closed her eyes, took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "If I do this, you will owe me."

"Agreed." He didn't hesitate to commit himself.

When she opened her eyes, his face was alive with an emotion she couldn't name. Swallowing hard, she turned away. "Fine. Bring them to the house. I'll meet them and decide. I won't take them if they pose a threat to mine."

"That's all I can ask. I'll send them before sunset." He backed toward the balcony. "Lock your doors. Post more guards. And stay away from the forest."

"Wait! Tell me your name."

"You may call me Jamie." With that, he bolted over the railing and disappeared over the side before she could ask more questions.

Like why they wanted to kill her.

Silence descended until the eldest worker spoke in a deferential tone, as if her decision had meant something to them. "We'll have your room ready for you before tonight."

Raven grabbed a change of clothes, dressing haphazardly before heading down stairs. This was not how she imagined her very first date, but she'd already been too long. She couldn't have Durant investigate until the rogue had enough time to make good his escape.

A tiny flutter of nerves struck, and she slowed before she reached the kitchen. She eyed her clothes. They matched everything else in her closet, and she almost wished she had something nicer, something womanly, to wear.

She grabbed the mess of her hair and pinned it up, futzing with herself. She tugged her gloves up then stopped. She hated the barrier between her and others. For most of her life, her greatest wish had been to touch others without the fear she'd kill them hanging over her.

With the moon calling her animals, she was being granted the chance of a lifetime. Slowly, ever so slowly, she peeled off her gloves and shoved them into her back pocket. Her hands felt exposed, sensitive to the slightest caress of air. She rubbed her fingers, marveling at the textures and wondered at her own daring. But if she didn't grab this chance, she would hate herself for missing the opportunity to be free.

Taking a deep breath for courage, she pushed open the door to the kitchen. She wasn't sure what to expect, but finding Jackson and Aaron eating at the table wasn't it. Dina bustled around the kitchen.

Her shoulders drooped in disappointment. "Dina, we're going to have three guests staying with us. Young teenagers."

"Shifters?" Interest brightened her eyes.

"Yes. Can you get the rooms ready?"

She was already bouncing on her feet before Raven finished speaking. "Of course."