Casper turned to Louve as she made that volunteer. His eyes were narrowed and full of a suppressed danger. "What?" He whispered.

Louve turned to him curiously. "I said I want to join the patrol team. Is there something wrong with that?"

"There is everything wrong with that, Louve. Why would you even think of joining them? What's your business with the affairs of the pack?" Casper asked.

Louve shrugged. "Why shouldn't I join the men for patrol? Is there an express rule that states that I can't do that? There is the need for more members of the patrol team as we are severely depleted, so I don't see why not."

"You're not going anywhere." Casper insisted. His voice was raised now. "It's too dangerous!"

"Is it really because it's too dangerous, or because I am a woman?" Louve retorted, her hands akimbo.

Capser stalled and looked at her. "I didn't say that..."

"Yeah, but that was what you implied, was it not? That I am a woman and because of that, I am not capable of protecting the pack?"

"Well... Yeah!" Casper admitted, his voice still raised. "Yeah, that contributes to it too. You are a woman, a weaker vessel by all rights. What if the rogue wolves decide to attack the pack while you're the one on patrol? Hmm? You cannot possibly face men in battle and not get yourself killed."

Louve glowered at her mate. "I will not be just an oven for the production of your babies. I am more than that."

"How many female wolves have you heard in past histories that were allowed to go into battle?" Casper asked. "You're not fit to fight a battle on behalf of this pack. You're just a woman!"

She gave a small gasp, her eyes bulging with shock. "You cannot possibly be serious right now." She said, but Casper did not take back his words.

Logan looked at the both of them as they were engaged in their heated discussion. He knew that Casper was only acting on fear because he was scared of losing Louve in battle, but his words about a woman not being able to fight and win a battle was a little too extreme. Louve was one of the most fierce and courageous women he knew. After Aella, of course.

And Louve on the other hand was being a little too heady about it. Logan knew his cousin better than the back of his own hand. He knew that Louve would join the patrol team, no matter whatever opinion her mate has about it. She was stubborn that way.

Louve turned to him with eyes full of urgency. "Logan, tell my mate that I can going the patrol team. You've seen me in battle, right? You know what I can do, how well I can fight. I can do this, Logan. You know it."

Casper looked at Logan too. "Alpha, tell your cousin that joining the patrol team is highly dangerous. Tell her that she is a woman, that she should be here in the safety of the pack's borders. You would not want to lose your cousin to death, right?"

Logan looked at the both of them as he didn't know what to do. "Guys, I think we should calm down." He said. "We can sort this out."

"Well, I think Casper here is being stupid and misogynistic." Louve muttered, folding her arms in defiance.

"And I think Louve here is being stupid and irresponsible." Casper clapped back. "Her primary role as a she-wolf is to bear my cubs and nothing more. There is no place for her in the battle field."

Louve stared at her mate with all the disbelief in the world etched on her face. There was a strained, awkward silence before she spoke again "I cannot believe you just said that, Casper." She said in a quiet tone, her voice shaky with tears. "That is the most demeaning thing you have said to me, ever. How does my gender stop me from going into battle in any way? I was a warrior before I ever met you, before the Goddess made you my mate, and I am no less a warrior because I became your wife."

She turned to Logan. Logan could see the intense hurt in her eyes. "I will not stand by while he says these hurtful things to me. You two might not believe it but I am worth more than this."

"Louve, please wait." Logan pleaded, grabbing her arm so that she would not walk away. "Don't go, please. We really do need your contribution here, and I'm sure Casper values your contribution too."

Louve looked at Casper as though expecting him to reiterate what the alpha said. But the man only stared ahead like he hadn't heard what they just said and Louve sighed and shook her head as though she wasn't expecting less from him.

Logan frowned at his beta, wondering why the man was being so difficult and short-sighted. He could imagine that Casper was only doing this because he knew the possibilities of losing his mate if she went into battle. He knew that all the hurtful words he had said to her was for the benefit of their relationship, but he also knew that Casper was being difficult for nothing. Louve would do what she wanted with or without his consent, no matter if she was his mate or not.

"Alright, now that we have settled that, let's continue shall we?" Logan said. He walked around to sit behind the desk. Louve and Casper sat side by side on the chairs before him, each not meeting the other's eyes. Logan assumed that was cooperation enough. He could feel the tension between them, as palpable as a current of electricity. He knew that anything could trigger either one of them in this condition.

"Louve, you have every right to be angry. I don't want you to think that you are useless. You are just as important to this pack as anyone else around here." Logan reassured her.

Then he turned to Casper. "Casper, I understand your reasons for saying the things you said. You are scared of losing your mate, and trust me,I understand more than you think. But there's no point arguing like this, guys. It will only spur more bitter feelings between us. 

"Okay, so I was thinking about what next step we can take in tightening security. It seems that creating patrol teams to mann the border might not be enough. We might have to add a few other things."

"You know, I have an idea, though it's more precautionary." Louve said. "We could create underground hideouts for the women and children to wait if we eventually have to go into battle. They need to be protected, right?"

Logan nodded. "That's a very good idea, Louve. Okay, I'll look into creating underground bunkers for the women and children."

"Also, I feel like we need to inform Jesse and the rest of the Council about the tattoos and how they are connected to the former Luna." Casper added but Louve began to shake her head in disagreement.

"No." She said. "Do you know the kind of uproar it would cause among the Council, let alone the whole pack. Logan could...Logan could be overthrown as the alpha."

"Well, don't you think they have a right to know?"

"Not if it would cause more harm than good."

Casper turned to Logan. "You see why she shouldn't be allowed to join us in making strategic decisions?"

Louve stood up from the chair. "I cannot believe you right now." She said, then gave her mate one last intense look before turning and leaving the library.