CHAPTER SIX: THE ROGUE'S FANGS.

SELENE'S POV.

The shout tore through the silence like a blade. My heart leaped into my throat, pounding so violently. I thought it would give me away. For a moment, I froze. I was torn between instinct and fear. I wanted to run in that direction because I knew that whoever that must have let out that shout must be in danger but another part of me refused it because it could be a setup.

I've always been like that. Very compassionate, even when my parents were alive. I'm the kind of person who would walk into a burning house if I heard someone cry for help. But tonight wasn't just any night. This forest was crawling with danger, and Caelum's men weren't exactly known for mercy.

Still, I crouched lower behind the oak, straining to listen..

"Argh! I stepped on something!" someone shouted again...

My breath caught. That voice wasn't a woman's voice. It was one of them.

"Idiot," another voice barked.

"You've stepped into a trap!"

I pressed my palm to my mouth to keep me from gasping aloud. The metallic scent of blood soon filled the air, drifting through the night breeze.

"Pull him out!" someone else ordered.

There was a grunt, then a cry of pain. The sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs echoed as they struggled to free the trapped man.

I closed my eyes for a moment, silently thanking the moon goddess. Whoever set that trap just saved my life.

"Stop the bleeding!" I heard their leader snarl.

"If we go back to Caelum without her, we're as good as dead. We'll leave the forest and hang around till dawn and continue the search. Move!"

My stomach turned. Even his men feared him that much.

They moved farther away, their growls fading until only the crickets dared to sing again. I waited, one minute...five.... ten....twenty until I could no longer hear their boots crushing leaves or smell their foul scent in the air.

When I was gone, that was when I moved.

Slowly, silently, I crawled out from behind the oak tree where I was hiding. My legs trembled from hours of crouching, but I ignored the pain. Once I was sure I was alone, I ran again, faster than I'd ever run before, deeper into the forest.

Branches tore at my dress, slicing my skin but I didn't care. I just needed to get away. Away from Caelum. Away from Darius. Away from everything that had ruined my life.

I had barely gone deeper into the forest when the moonlight became brighter. Every shadow looked like a beast waiting to pounce and every sound made my heart skip. But I couldn't stop because my mind was made up.

Then I heard it. A low, rumbling growl. I stopped walking, my breath catching. It wasn't human. It wasn't even close.

My pulse thundered in my ears as I scanned the darkness around me.

"No, no, no..."I whispered. "Not now."

Another growl, closer this time. I knew this could be a rogue. When my mother was alive, she had told me about rogues and how dangerous they were. From her description, I deduced that this must be a rogue. She would always say:

"Selene, beware of the rogues. They are wolves who have lost their place in their pack because of one reason or another, most especially because of rebellion and rage.

Before I could even react, something massive lunged from the shadows.

Its eyes glowed like crimson, its fur matted with dried blood and its teeth gleamed under the moonlight.

This is a rogue and this one was looking so dangerous.

I screamed and barely dodged as it swiped at me, claws grazing my arm. Pain burned through me, but fear was stronger. My wolf stirred inside, weak but determined. 

Fight, Selene!

I grabbed a fallen branch, swinging it with every ounce of strength I had. It snapped in half against the beast's thick hide, but it bought me seconds, seconds I desperately needed.

The rogue snarled, snapping its jaws inches from my face. I ducked and rolled, feeling its hot breath scorch my skin. The smell of decay made my stomach twist. I kicked at its chest, hard, but it barely flinched.

"Moon goddess, help me," I gasped, stumbling backward.

The rogue lunged again. I managed to grab a sharp rock from the ground and drove it straight into its shoulder. It howled in pain, staggering for a moment. That was all the opening I got. I turned and ran.

But I wasn't fast enough as I was losing my energy because I hadn't eaten well for days.

It pounced on me again, slamming me to the ground. My head hit the earth hard, and stars burst out of my eyes. Its claws raked across my neck, very hot. A searing pain exploded through me. I screamed, thrashing beneath its weight, my hands clawing desperately at the dirt.

I could feel my strength fading, my vision blurring. But something primal took over as the battle became intense, my wolf, weak, broken, and cursed, rose within me and the next thing that happened sent shivers down my spine.