Chapter 9

Rachel's POV

Clayton was pulling on my hand, practically dragging me towards the backdoor. My feet just wouldn't go. I pulled back, dropping my hands to my side and looked at Clayton.

"We need to help Joyce." I said loudly. I knew she needed us. Well, she needed Clayton.

"She will make it. But you won't! Rachel, you can't shift on demand. You are vulnerable! I promised your dad I would get you out of here. So I'm getting you out of here." He ordered back at me as he yanked me forward towards the backdoor.

Can't shift on demand? I thought to myself. What did he mean? I can't shift at all. Why is he talking to me as if I was a normal she wolf. As if I was like everyone here. I am broken. I am an outcast.

I was about to tell him all those things when the female voice whispered to me again.

"They are here." She stated.

"They are here!" I repeated.

"Rachel, they aren't here yet. They are...." His voice stopped. He sniffed the air and locked eyes with me. I felt chill bumps roll across my body as if the weather had dropped 20 degrees.

"RUN!" He screamed as he ran to open the backdoor for us.

I was about to break into a full sprint after him when the front door was kicked in. I watched it tilt crookedly in its frame before seeing someone step forward.

Pushing the door to the side, a thick man dipped through and let it swing loosely behind him.

I could smell him before I ever really saw him. His odor filled the air around me, making me want to gag.

Rogues are disgusting creatures. They have zero personal hygiene.

This man looked to be in his late forties. He was less than 6 feet and had a potbelly hanging from his stained, ripped white shirt. He had brown hair and brown eyes, and his teeth were broken and jagged.

I watched in terror as he spotted me. A heinous smile spread across his lips. He eyed me up and down before licking those chapped and crusted lips that still held his smile.

"My, My. Look at the prize I found. Tell me baby, do you know how to have a good time?" his raspy voice made my skin crawl.

He took another step towards me. While I took two more steps back.

"Hey boys! I found another one!" He laughed out.

He was mid turned and I assumed he was waiting on his comrades to join him when Clayton body slammed him to the floor.

"RUN RACHEL!" Clayton screamed at me again.

This time, I listened! With every bit of my strength, I sprinted for my life out the backdoor. I yanked it open with force I didn't know I had. The cold air hit my face. I took a deep breath, forgetting the wind was carrying smoke, and I almost began to cough.

With Clayton's word in my mind to be quiet and not cause attention to myself,I did my best to muffle the cough and choke it down as I took off.

I made it about 50 feet from the house when I heard Joyce screaming in pain nearby. It was dark, and I struggled to see where she was until I spotted her crawling through the grass.