One month later
Logan stood at the edge of the clearing, his piercing blue eyes scanning the gathered pack. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silvery light over their tense faces. His voice, calm but commanding, cut through the silence.
“We’ve been lucky so far,” he began, his gaze hardening as it swept over us. “But that luck won’t last. The rogues are moving closer every night. They’ve made their intentions clear-they won’t stop until they’ve claimed this territory.”
A murmur rippled through the group, unease spreading like wildfire. I glanced at Mal, standing a few paces away. Her jaw was set, her golden eyes filled with a mixture of determination and guilt. Since her outburst a month ago, she’d been trying to regain control, but moments like this always seemed to unnerve her.
“We’re not just defending ourselves anymore,” Logan continued, his tone sharpening. “This is about survival-ours, and anyone caught in the crossfire. If they break through, they’ll tear apart everything we’ve worked to protect.”
“They’re outnumbered,” Liam said, stepping forward, his voice brimming with confidence. “And unorganized. We can take them.”
Logan shook his head, his expression grim. “Don’t underestimate desperation. They’ve been pushed out of their own lands-they’ve got nothing to lose. That makes them dangerous.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. The weight of what was coming pressed heavily on my chest. The rogues weren’t just mindless wolves; they were calculating, ruthless. And if Logan was right, the pack wasn’t ready for what lay ahead.
“Tonight,” Logan said, his voice dropping to a low growl, “they’ll make their move. I can feel it. We need to be ready for anything. Stick to your patrols, stay alert, and above all-watch each other’s backs.” His gaze landed on me for a brief moment, and my heart skipped a beat. “Audrey, you’ll stay close to Mal.”
I nodded, glancing at her again. She shifted uncomfortably, her arms crossed over her chest. “I can hold my own,” she muttered, but the tension in her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
“I’m not questioning your strength,” Logan said firmly. “But control is everything. If you lose it, they’ll exploit it. Stay with Audrey-she’ll keep you grounded.”
Mal’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue.
“Everyone knows their role,” Logan finished, stepping back and letting his wolf rise to the surface. His towering form cast an imposing shadow over the pack, his eyes glowing fiercely. This is our home, his voice echoed in our minds, strong and resolute. We fight to protect it. No one gets past us.
A collective howl tore through the clearing as the pack shifted, one by one, until only wolves remained. My own transformation was slower, less fluid than the others, but when I finally stood on four legs, I felt the power thrumming in my veins. Mal shifted beside me, her golden fur gleaming under the moonlight.
The first sign of trouble came with the wind-a sharp, acrid scent that sent every wolf’s ears twitching. Logan growled low, his nose lifting to the breeze. They’re here.
Without warning, the trees erupted with movement. Shadows darted between the trunks, snarls and growls tearing through the air. The rogues surged forward, their eyes glinting with malice, their forms lean and ragged but undeniably powerful.
The fight began in an instant. Logan was the first to charge, colliding with a massive rogue in a flurry of claws and teeth. Liam and two others flanked him, their movements seamless as they worked to drive the attackers back.
Mal let out a fierce snarl, launching herself at a rogue who’d broken through the line. I followed close behind, cutting off another that tried to flank her. My wolf instincts took over, every strike and dodge feeling like second nature.
“Mal, stay close!” I barked, but she was already moving ahead, her focus singular as she took on another rogue. Her ferocity was unmatched, but it bordered on reckless.
A blur of dark fur blindsided me, knocking me off my feet. Pain lanced through my side as claws dug into my ribs, but I twisted, snapping at the rogue’s leg. It yelped and backed off, giving me just enough time to get back on my feet.
Logan’s voice thundered through the bond. Don’t let them separate us! Hold the line!
I scrambled to obey, my eyes darting through the chaos to find Mal. She was locked in a vicious fight with two rogues, her movements desperate but effective. I sprinted toward her, my heart pounding as one of them managed to sink its teeth into her shoulder.
“Mal!” I roared, slamming into her attacker with all my weight. The rogue yelped and stumbled backward, its teeth releasing Mal’s shoulder. I stood protectively in front of her, baring my teeth at the rogue, my growl low and menacing. It hesitated, assessing me, before lunging again.
I dodged to the side and countered with a swipe of my claws, catching it across the muzzle. Blood sprayed into the air, and the rogue howled in pain, retreating
momentarily. But there was no time to rest.
Behind me, Mal was still struggling to regain her footing, her golden fur matted with blood and dirt.
Stay down, Mal, I said through the bond, my voice firm but not unkind. She glared at me, her golden eyes flashing with defiance, but she didn’t argue.
The rogue lunged again, its movements erratic and desperate. I met it head-on, using its own momentum to flip it onto its back. My teeth found its throat, and I held firm, waiting for the frantic thrashing to stop.
It didn’t take long. The rogue slumped beneath me, its body still.
I stepped back, panting, my eyes scanning the battlefield. Logan’s massive black form was a blur of movement as he fought off two rogues at once. Liam was nearby, his white fur streaked with blood, but he held his ground, snapping and snarling at any rogue that came near.
Mal struggled to her feet behind me, her movements slow but determined. I’m fine, she insisted, though her shaking legs said otherwise.
I turned to face her, my voice softer now.
You’re hurt. Let me-
Before I could finish, a rogue leapt from the shadows, its teeth aiming for Mal’s throat.
She reacted instinctively, slashing out with her claws, but it wasn’t enough. I lunged, slamming into the rogue midair, the force of the impact sending us both crashing to the ground.
The rogue was stronger than the last, its jaws snapping dangerously close to my neck. I fought back with everything I had, my claws tearing at its sides, but it wouldn’t relent. My strength was waning, and the rogue sensed it, pressing its weight against me.
Then, with a furious snarl, Mal was there.
She launched herself at the rogue, her teeth sinking into its shoulder and dragging it off me. The rogue howled, thrashing violently, but Mal didn’t let go. She drove it back, her ferocity overwhelming.
I scrambled to my feet, ready to help, but Mal didn’t need it. With one final, brutal snap of her jaws, the rogue went limp. She released it, breathing heavily, her golden eyes wild and unfocused.
“Mal,” | said softly, stepping closer. She turned to me, her body trembling, and for a moment, I thought she might lose herself again. But then she blinked, and her gaze cleared.
“I’ve got this,” she said aloud, her voice hoarse but steady.
Before I could respond, Logan’s voice roared through the bond. Regroup! Push them back to the trees!
I turned to see him standing over the bodies of two fallen rogues, his fur matted with blood. He looked at me, his blue eyes fierce.
Now!
Mal and I moved together, falling into step with the rest of the pack as we drove the remaining rogues back. The tide was turning.
The rogues, realizing they were outmatched, began to retreat, their snarls fading as they disappeared into the trees.
When the clearing was finally silent, Logan shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving as he surveyed the scene. “Is everyone accounted for?” he asked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
Liam nodded, limping slightly as he approached. “A few injuries, but nothing fatal.”
I shifted back as well, the cool night air biting at my skin. Mal remained in her wolf form, her golden eyes scanning the trees as if expecting another attack.
“You did good,” Logan said, his gaze landing on her. “But you need to listen when you’re told to stay back.”
Mal growled low in her throat, but it wasn’t aggressive. She shifted back, her expression guarded. “I can’t just stand by while others fight. I won’t.”
Logan stepped closer, his tone softening.
“It’s not about standing by. It’s about knowing when to fight and when to fall back.
You’re strong, Mal, but you can’t let your emotions control you. Not in a fight like this.”
Mal’s shoulders slumped, and she nodded reluctantly. “I’ll work on it.”
“We all will,” I said, stepping forward. “This was just the beginning. They’ll be back, and we need to be ready.”
Logan’s jaw tightened, and he looked toward the forest, his expression unreadable.
“They’ll come back stronger. Next time, we won’t just defend-we’ll end this.”
The pack gathered around him, their resolve evident despite their weariness. The fight wasn’t over, but for now, we had won.