With only two choices at hand, the group didn't have long to decide what to do.
Titan was nearly gone, and if he disappeared completely, it would be almost impossible to follow him.
The group could continue with the forbidden part of the forest, the option that Orion's men would never expect them to take, or go back the way they came.
Taking the way Orion's men least expected meant following Titan through the Burgundy thicket and hoping the witch was truly helping them.
With Titan disappearing, they were all running out of time to make a choice.
Ayla's bite bond was pulling her to chase after him, which was really leaving her no choice.
When it was down to his tail being the only thing left visible, she took off running after him without thinking a second longer, shifting along the way.
Seconds later, the rest of their little pack shook their heads, shifted, and followed after her.
Whether it was the right choice or not, they made it.
If anything, they could always leave the Burgundy thicket at any point if it started looking like they made the wrong choice, right?
The only person Titan was truly worried about not going with him was the only person Orion's men were truly hunting.
Ayla.
Now, not only would the witches know that she was traveling through the woods at that point, because of her trip to Moonlight Shifters, but she had a team of wolves after her, too.
It didn't escape him that they could be headed to a trap, either.
As much as he loved his witch friend, she was still a witch, and he was still traveling with Ayla.
The mysterious cloaked witch was right about one thing, though: he couldn't take her to his home.
His pack and family would want to get their hands on her just as badly as everyone else.
If Orion sent a team to his pack, then they would be aware of who she was at that point, right?
Or would they want to conceal who they were looking for to keep her for themselves?
He had learned over the years just how sneaky and snake-like that pack had moved.
Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to take her home.
He could protect her there.
Was the witch telling him not to go home to trick them into a trap?
After running for a short while, they would be coming up on the split that would take them toward either the ocean line, or in other words, Scarlet Crest, and Dominic.
If they went to the right, it would take Titan home.
He would have to guide them one way or the other.
Not far from them, in Crescent Moon territory, the smaller team of Orion's pack was just getting into the surrounding area.
They were checking every path they could think of to see if the fugitive wolf had ventured home with Ayla and her fleeing wolf friends.
It just so happened that his guards caught wind of the four special teams' wolves and waited for them to get just inside the border before encircling them and closing in.
Shifting into human form as they cut them off, or half of them did anyway, the largest and second to largest stood directly in front of the four special forces wolves who had now shifted too.
"Just what do you think you're doing in our borders. You don't belong here. This is an act of war. There was no warning of your arrival. Scouting is illegal between our packs," the largest of the Crescent Moon guards growled.
For them, it had been a long time since they had seen war of any kind, and their instincts were itching to fight anyone.
Typically, they were a peaceful pack, but they were still wolves with others encroaching on their land.
A second Crescent Moon wolf chimed in, "Yeah, what brings a group of guards hunting on our territory anyway. Who sent you?"
At that point, the four misplaced wolves were surrounded by ten very large wolves.
Stoic and proud, the leader of the group responded, "We are not here to cause problems. I am a friend of Titans. I was only coming to see if he wanted to join us for a hunt. Nothing more."
The Luna had been direct in making sure that the other packs didn't know about Ayla, or that they were looking for her or Titan.
Unfortunately, the Crescent Moon wolves felt disrespected, as the second largest one nearly barked at the trespassers.
"That's Future Alpha Titan to you. If you guys don't respect him in your pack, that is on you. In this pack, you will show him respect. That being said, last we heard, he was headed to see you guys. Is he not there?"
The four trapped wolves bowed their heads as a sign of respect.
"We did not mean it that way, only that he left. As far as we knew, he came home. It appears we were informed incorrectly by our Alpha in waiting. Please accept our apologies."
As they spoke, they showed their necks to allow the others to see they meant what they said.
A sign of real respect and submission.
They had been wrong to cross the borders and enter unannounced as they had.
"Allow us to make it up to you. Give our regards to the Next Alpha when he returns. Tell him we meant no harm and will send word next time we wish to see him. If you allow us to leave with our necks unharmed, that is."
The guards of the Crescent Moon pack didn't trust what the four incoming wolves said or their motives.
It appeared they had gotten what they came for and were eager to leave and report back.
Something wasn't sitting right with the largest of the ten, though.
'Why did they only want to know if Next Alpha Titan was here. I don't like it' he thought to the group.
'I don't like it either,' the one next to him agreed.
'Then we keep them until he returns and we figure out what it is all about,' one from the back said as his wolf nearly smiled.
He was one of the five guards still in wolf form.
The four Moonlight Shifters wolves could tell something was about to happen that wasn't in their favor.
"Well, guys. Why don't the four of you join us for a late-night snack? We were just about to change shift, so you all can head into town with us."
The four men looked at each other, and one of the men asked sarcastically, "Is it really an invite?"
"Nope," One the men who hadn't spoken yet said, as he came closer to them from the side.
They were now all closing in the circle as the men walked as a large group toward the hidden homes of one of the most elusive, hidden packs of them all.
As thrilled as they were to finally be invited inside, they had a feeling they wouldn't be seeing much.
This pack lay deep in the mountain and stayed a mystery to most packs.
Their closest allies were the other two mountain packs, but mainly the Moonlight Shifters pack.
Even though these men knew they were being taken to the secret pack, they also knew it wouldn't be anywhere close to the inner portions.
It would only ever be the outskirts of the pack if that.
The superficial outer portions were designed for prisoners or guests.
With a little walking and then hiking, they eventually made it to the destination that the guards had intended.
There was indeed a late-night snack, as mentioned, it just so happened to be in a cell in the middle-sized mountain.
The Crescent Moon guards didn't even hesitate.
A slight hint of something being off, and they just arrested the men until Titan came home.
"When our Next Alpha returns home, and we know what is happening, then maybe you will be released," the smallest of the bunch said as he smiled and walked away with his head held high.
None of the guards knew where Titan was, but they hoped he was okay and that he would be home soon.
If anything, they were loyal to a fault.
The largest of the group decided to reach out to him and inform him of what was happening.
Since he was the leader, he had a direct connection that he was allowed to use in these situations.
"Next Alpha Titan. We have arrested four Moonlight Shifter guards who crossed onto our land looking for you. Just wanted to let you know. If you are on your way here, be careful."
This was exactly why Titan allowed Sylvie to form such a connection between the two of them.
To keep him up to speed when he was away, which was often.
Only the two of them and the witch who did the ritual were aware of the connection.
Titan knew instantly that that was what the witch was referring to when she warned him not to take the wolves to his home.
It had to be.
Luna Alina had sent patrols to his pack to look for them.
If her spies had been locked up, then the rest of the men had to be on the other side of the thicket, headed to Scarlet Crest.
That meant that the only safe choice had to be to go home.
Right?
It was the only option he could think of to give them food, rest, and hopefully some safety and shelter.
When it came time to go left or right at the split, he took a deep breath and leaned right, sending them to Crescent Moon.
Home!
Not sure he made the right choice, and going against the witch's advice, he was going full force with his decision.
"Silas, I'm on my way. I can't tell you where I am. Just know that I'm on my way. Have four rooms in my pack house made up and ready. The ones closest to my room. Warm baths and food waiting in them. Keep the prisoners isolated. Don't tell them or anyone in the pack I'm coming home."
Silas looked at the other guards, who were now all sitting in a large sitting room, with huge wood-carved comfortable chairs and large plush pillows on top, "We were right to follow our instincts. Something is very wrong. They are to stay isolated, no contact with anyone. He is on his way and doesn't want them or anyone to know. Send word to have four rooms near his made ready with warm baths and food."
He had a curious look on his face as he finished, which was reflected back to him.
The others didn't hesitate as they got to their feet and contacted the members of the staff who now had a job to do and came back to join Silas.
"Who do you think he is bringing with him? He has never brought anyone before. Not even those greedy status chasers, Orion and Shaw. Makes you wonder who is so important to cause all of this. No?" the smallest of the guards said and smirked.
Silas glared at him.
"That is not our business. We don't gossip. We guard. If you want to make it to his special team, you have to learn your place. I do hope it's a girl finally, though," he smirked, "Go on, Warg, you can go join the rest of the pack now. But son, remember. You cannot say anything about any of this."
"Yes, father. What's to stop them from just talking to the others in their pack? Can't they talk to them like we can talk to each other?"
Silas started shaking his head.
"Regularly, yes. Our cells, however, are made into the mountain. The walls themselves are made of argentite and Lapis Lazuli. We never had it removed. Have you ever noticed we can't channel thoughts to each other in the cells? Those stones work against wolves, like poison to us. They won't be calling out to anyone."
Warg started nodding his head.
"Very clever. The things that continue to blow my mind. Call me if you need me. I'll be on the other side of the mountain at the fire. We are celebrating a mating match. I wish we had more of those."
The youngest guard wasted no time disappearing after that.
"He doesn't know, does he?" one of the other guards asked Silas.
"No. He doesn't. It would break his heart if he knew it wasn't a mate match. One day we will have another one again."
"Does he know that is why Titan is always gone? Looking for a real mate so his mother doesn't join the hunt for the prized wolf. Whatever her name is?"
Silas sighed.
"No. The less he knows, the better. If it comes down to it and we have to hunt her, then I'll tell him. Until then, let him be one of the few young wolves that gets to be happy. I'm just happy Titan is keeping the Luna from joining the hunt for Ayla. Her name is Ayla."
Just then, Titan and the group were coming to the edge of the thicket.
He slowed down his pace and shifted.
Raising a hand, he urged the others to stop.
"I need you all to shift so we can talk before we cross this space and head through the mountain pass."
The others looked to each other and then shifted.
"We are going to my pack."
Ayla looked at him with confusion, "But the witch said not to."
Titan nodded his head.
"She did, but the pack that was sent after us there have been caught and are in my dungeon. Trust me, they aren't talking to anyone. I went with my instinct, and I don't fully trust crossing through the forest right now. I know there are more wolves and witches out there. Waiting for us to travel. I think it's safest for us here at the moment, at Crescent Moon."
Phoenix looked at Raphael and then back to Titan.
"What about Ayla? We can't hide her in your pack. They will know who she is, won't they?"
"Maybe not, I have a plan for that too," he said as he smiled.