3. Rogue Rescue

A loud growl pulls me out of my head making me I look around to find myself lost in the dark in part of the forest I don’t recognize.

I instantly freeze when hearing footsteps crunching in the snow circling me staying just out of sight.

I back myself into a tree for cover hoping nothing could attack me from behind.

“Daddy!” I try to link my father as I can smell the rancid rogue wolf who reeks of rage and death.

I know I am too small to fight when my eyes start darting everywhere trying to find a clear path knowing speed was my only chance.

The menacing growl grows louder and closer as I whimper crying out to my parents unable to find my connection to them.

The moment I see the puff of hot breath from the brown and gray wolf from the corner of my eye I bolt towards the creek bed that naturally flows downhill.

“Help!” I scream connecting to the only link I can find as the brown wolf tears after me growling dangerously close.

“Please don’t,” I cry getting hit from behind feeling teeth sinking into my ribs slamming me into a tree, so I kick out hoping to be released.

“Alpha Osric!” I scream holding onto his link for dear life feeling pain rip through me as my flesh tears from my ribs.

I begin to panic when I feel Osric fear bleed into me through the link as he attempts to find me.

“Get off!” I snarl at the wolf biting at his neck and face kicking him back while taking a defensive position the second I’m on my feet.

I know I can’t run anymore; I will be far to exposed, my only chance is for Alpha Osric to find me or I will die.

“Where are you?!” I hear Osric’s voice panic through the link; my ears move down and back against my head when I howl signaling my position while bracing myself to be hit.

My only hope is for Osric to find me in time as breathing is becoming more and more difficult making the idea of running impossible.

The moment I howl I open myself up to the attack instantly feeling the wind being knocked out of me.

I roll through the snow downhill stopping when I hit rocks, I lay there frozen unable to move broken and battered.

I feel the rogue’s teeth come down round my thigh crushing the bone making me scream out in pain signaling anyone close I am hurt and in agonizing pain.

I try getting up as fast as I can even though I can hardly breathe as my back leg feels like it wants to fall away.

I still have to manage to protect myself so I force myself up and do my best to back myself away from the wolf stalking towards me as my leg drags limply through the snow.

“Run!” I hear a deep voice I don’t recognize in the link when a giant dark silver wolf barrels into the brown rogue knocking it away from me.

“I can’t,” I whimper collapsing now focusing on staying in wolf form knowing I have no chance as a human.

“Get her out of here!” He growls into the link when I feel my body force me to shift back to human collapsing into the cold snow.

I open my eyes to see Osric’s black wolf running to me frantically then instantly starts checking me over.

I wrap my arm around him feeling like I am suffocating while hold my skin to my ribs because my body is torn apart and broken.

Osric instantly shifts into a very large man then scoops me up into his arms running from the fighting wolves.

Osric holds me firmly against his chest letting his aura wash over me easing my pain.

I relax into his warm chest feeling small and vulnerable yet safe in his arms like nothing can touch me.

“I’m right here Raven, you’re going to be ok,” Osric reassures running through the trees as I notice we are getting closer to home when I begin recognizing some of the area.

“I…” I whimper unable to take a breath when blood pools at the corners of my mouth as every part of me hurts.

I feel that my right leg is broken as are my right ribs, and left shoulder, not to mention the bites deep into my side and hip.

“Raven stay with me!” Osric panics nearly dropping me in the snow making me groan as he instantly shifts into his beast of a wolf.

I whimper feeling terrified never feeling the cold, not like this. I feel Osric gently press his giant fury head against me and I cry out in pain.

He begins to lick my side making me flinch and whimper at the pain feeling his tongue gently run over the jagged bleeding wounds.

“Breathe and relax,” I hear him through the link making me stare into his hazel green eyes finding comfort in his gaze.

“How?” I pant still unable to catch my breath as the wounds start healing with a warm calming sensation rushing over me.

“I’m an Alpha it is why my aura eases your pain, just rest let me heal you,” Osric answers pressing his nose to my thigh that is shattered and bleeding from the bite wound.

“Thank you,” I cry still afraid to go home knowing my mother will be even more afraid and angry.

“Just rest,” Osric growls looking into the trees hearing something coming closer.

I sit up crawling under him hiding when hearing paws in snow getting closer.

Osric’s growl deepens like he will rip apart whoever it is without as second thought.

“It's just me,” I hear the silver wolf’s voice flit through the link and Osric relaxes completely when the wolf, that is covered in blood and seems unhurt, comes into view.

“It's ok, that’s Beta Embry he would never hurt you, he would die protecting you,” Osric reassures hearing me growling very aggressively.

I freeze not realizing I am growling then feel my claws and canines growing ready to defend Osric and myself.

“How is she still alert?” Embry questions as I slowly sink into the snow feeling exhaustion roll over me and like I am fading into the dark.

“She’s not,” I hear and feel Osric’s panic through the link as he continues to lick me again and again over my injuries.

I feel his energy draining as he is healing me with his Beta continuing to watch over us unwilling to leave his Alpha vulnerable.

“Just sleep, I won’t leave you,” Osric reassures when my eyes close as I feel him lay beside me covering me and keeping me warm.

I can’t even say anything as I begin to pass out feeling safe and confused with Osric and his Beta saving me.

I stay passed out, barely feeling Osric carry me home into the barn to rest until I wake up all the way.

I don’t understand why his presence is so comforting I am just a child and not even related to him, but I feel safer with him than anyone.

“Raven!” I hear Liliana yelling from outside making me wake up surprisingly warm. I sit up slightly and look behind me to see Osric laying close watching over me as I close my eyes.

“Why are you here?” I question wincing trying to sit up more feeling all my muscles hurting.

“Lay back down you’ll be sore,” Osric softly speaks while pulling a heavy fur blanket back over me as I notice he is dressed in black sweat pants.

“What happened how long was I out?” I question while curling up under the blanket as I hear my parents outside calling out for me now.

“You were attacked when you ran home. I took care of you, healing you the best I could. Do you want me to take you to your parents?” Osric asks while kneeling down next to me seeming like a giant.

He is very tall, broad, and muscular with smooth caramel colored skin covered in tattoo’s that looked like armor similar to Native Hawaiians.

His face and eyes are friendly and warming which surprised me considering my mother’s fear.

“I don’t know,” I whimper when Rebecca screams my name as Osric gently picks me up holding me against his bare chest.

“It's ok come on,” he softly speaks and begins to carry me towards the door when it opens revealing Liliana standing in front of us in shock.

“Daddy she’s here!” Liliana calls out looking up at me in Osric’s arms unafraid of the giant man in front of her.

“Liliana, get back!” Rebecca snaps running up with our dad as Osric carries me outside where it is snowing and everyone looks worried.

“Raven, what are you doing and where have you been it is morning?” Dad nearly panics while picking me up out of Osric’s arms and holds me close as I feel Osric rub my back.

“She’s ok, I found her hurt last night. I took care of her and watched over her while she slept,” Osric reassures as I watch him when Rebecca is sending my sister inside.

“I’m sorry,” I cry into our dad’s shoulder afraid of how angry they are.

“It's ok Raven, we were so scared something worse happened… Thank you,” Dad said with a nod to Osric as Rebecca hugs Dad and I.

“You’re welcome, I’ll see you around,” Osric replies then begins to walk away.

I watch him as Dad carries me into the house taking me upstairs with Rebecca following.