Chapter Five

Through the darkness and pain, Laura saw something move behind the rogues, a shape hidden in the night. At first, she thought death had come for her.

Her heart stopped. Was this it? The end of everything?

Then a deep, scary growl cut through the air, louder and stronger than any sound the rogues could make. The growl shook the forest, making everything tremble. The leaves rustled, and the very ground seemed to shake beneath them.

The rogues stopped, their heads turning quickly toward the sound.

"What was that?" one whispered, fear making his voice shake.

Laura felt Vex's fingers loosen around her throat. Just a bit, but enough to draw in a painful breath. His eyes darted around the darkness, no longer focused on her.

"Who's there?" he shouted, his voice not as strong as before. "This is our land! You hear me? Our territory!"

Another growl answered him, closer now. The sound made Laura's skin tingle. The rogues holding her arms glanced at each other, their grips becoming weak as they looked around nervously.

"I don't like this," the one with the missing ear muttered. "Something's out there."

"Shut up," Vex snapped, but Laura could smell his fear.

Then the shadow moved, jumping from the trees with perfect timing.

Fear and a rush of energy sharpened Laura's senses. The pain was still there, crushing her from inside, but something else was growing stronger.

*I won't die like this*, she thought. *Not afraid. Not giving up.*

Though her body shook with tiredness, she pulled free from the distracted rogues and showed her fangs. The cool night air touched her throat where Vex's hand had been.

"I am not prey," she growled, her voice rough and broken. Her wolf rose inside her, giving her strength she didn't know she still had. It burned through her veins like fire.

The first rogue, with the missing ear, jumped at her with claws out. "You'll pay for that!"

Laura's fighter instincts, buried for so long under her Luna role, came alive. She moved aside, slow but just enough to dodge his claws. As he stumbled past, she cut her own claws down his arm, making him yell in pain.

"The bitch cut me!" he cried, holding his bleeding arm. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the blood running between his fingers.

"Then rip her apart," Vex ordered, watching both Laura and the unknown threat in the shadows. His eyes kept moving from her back to the darkness.

Another rogue, the one with ugly scars crossing his face, moved behind her. "With pleasure," he said, voice thick with hunger. "Been waiting for a taste."

Laura tried to turn, to keep both attackers in sight, but her moves were slow from her broken bond pain. Every movement felt like moving through water. The scarred rogue kicked her legs out, making her fall hard to the ground. She gasped as pain shot through her ribs, knocking all air from her lungs.

For a moment, her vision swarm as she fought to keep her consciousness.

"Is this the best a Luna can do?" the scarred rogue mocked, walking around her like she was already dead meat. He nudged her side with his foot. "No wonder your Alpha threw you away. Useless."

His words lit a fire in her chest. Laura rolled away from his foot and pushed herself up to her hands and knees. Blood dripped from her lip onto the forest floor.

"He didn't throw me away," she panted, each word burning her throat. "I left him. There's a fucking difference you idiot."

The scarred rogue laughed, showing yellow teeth. "Got spirit, I'll give you that."

"Doesn't matter now," Vex said, coming closer as his courage returned. His shadow fell over her. "You're still going to die alone in these woods. No pack. No mate. Nobody to hear you scream."

Laura pushed herself to her feet, swaying badly. Her body felt like stone, every move taking huge effort. Still, she lifted her claws, swinging wildly at the rogues who circled her like wolves around wounded prey.

"Stay back," she warned, but her voice shook.

She was outnumbered and tired, her strength fading fast. The bond pain ate at her from inside, making each breath harder than the last.

The rogue with black hair rushed in, faking left before hitting her hard in the gut. "This is how it ends for you, Luna."

The blow took her last breath, bending her over in pain. Her knees hit the ground as her legs finally gave out. Dirt and small rocks dug into her skin.

"Pathetic," the black-haired rogue spat. "And to think you were once a Luna. What kind of Alpha would want such a weak mate?"

Each word stung worse than her wounds. Laura tried to stand again, but her body failed her. She stayed on her knees, one arm around her middle, the other against the ground to keep from falling flat. Blood ran from a cut on her head where she'd hit a rock when she fell, warm and sticky as it dripped into her eye. Her vision blurred, the world spinning around her.

The trees. The sky. The sneering faces. Everything mixed together.

Vex walked up, victory on his scarred face. He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back hard to show her throat. The pain made tears spring to her eyes, but she wouldn't cry out. His red eyes gleamed with joy as he looked down at her.

"What a shame," he said, running a claw down her throat. A thin line of blood appeared, but Laura didn't flinch. "You could have been useful. Too bad I like my prey broken."

Laura stared back at him, even as tears of pain filled her eyes. If these were her last moments, she would face them with what pride she had left.

"Do it then you fucker," she whispered. "Finish what he fucking started."

Something flashed in Vex's eyes, maybe confusion, or a moment of respect. Then his face hardened again. "As you wish, Luna." He said as he raised his clawed hand to strike—

Then everything stopped.