Chapter 4

Kaelen's POV

The walk back to the car would be unfavourable to us. From their footsteps, they were ready for an ambush on that path. Corvina must have set this up. I wasn't sure why. 

There was only one place we could try to evade them. It was dangerous, but they were not as much over there. “Go!” I yelled as we moved, running into the bushes.

I took out my dagger, the only weapon I had with me. The rogues dropped from the trees. Hazel slashed him with her claws and I stabbed another at our sides, taking to our heels.

I looked over my shoulder and found the rogues seemingly unharmed. We fought as much as we could, but they kept flooding in nonstop.

“They are too many!” Hazel yelled from a distance.

I looked around, my chest rising and falling from exhaustion. The longer we fought, the more I realized it wasn't Corvina. It couldn't be. She couldn't command these many rogues.

My grip on my dagger was steady, with my gaze locked on the rogues around me. I knew the war did not eliminate them all, but I didn't think they were still this much.

Their eyes were blood red, a sign of how much their wolf instinct had taken over. I stood ready as they jumped at me. With one swipe, I slit the throat of two. They staggered back, holding on to their bleed-

There was no blood!

A knot formed in my stomach as my eyes widened in realization. It was worse than I imagined. What are they?!

I didn't have enough time to process it as more trooped in. I fought with my might, exhaustion slipping into my bones, but I didn't give up. I couldn't. My body was slowly giving out on me, but it wasn't going to stop me.

I gave a hard stab to one of the rogues and tried to pull my dagger, but it remained stuck. In front of my eyes, I saw the broken skin regenerate, covering up my blade.

Shit!

I moved backwards and took to my heels. We couldn't defeat them. With my hands, I pushed the branches blocking my path. They only slowed me down.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw them close. Some ran in their human form, barely able to keep to it, others ran in their wolf form, jumping on trees so effortlessly.

With another jump from them, the tree snapped in two, heading for me. I moved to the side, a piece of it bruising my arm. That caused a little distraction for them as I kept going.

“My lady,” Hazel whispered from a dry ditch. I hurried over, laying down to avoid being spotted. I covered my mouth to stop my breathing from being too loud. Once we heard them walk past us, we sat up, heaving a sigh.

“They are-ah!” Hazel yelled as she was pulled by the arm backwards.

“Hazel!” I called out, rushing out towards her.

There were over five of them. I extracted my claws, an act I knew would drain me faster.

My only weakness. But I was a General and I wasn't going to go down without a good fight.

I rushed forward, clawing at the rogues, who dared to come near me.

I grabbed a rogue by the arm, tore through his neck with my claws, broke both arms, and tossed him to the side. It felt like a futile march as they kept getting back up, their bones healing too quickly.

Then it hit me.

A scent.

My head spun and my claws forcefully went in. Holding my head, I staggered back. A rogue ran into me, knocking me down. They came at me once more, but I forced myself up, pushing them back.

Another scent hit me again.

Stronger. Closer.

I spun around, trying to know where it was coming from. Why was it affecting me so much? My ears picked up arrows and in seconds, it knocked down most of the rogues.

I wasn't sure where those came from, but I was grateful. I heaved a sigh of relief and an arrow connected to my arm. Dragging my gaze to my arm, the darkness soon came calling.

“Kaelen!” I heard Sterling.

He rushed to me, stopping my body from meeting the ground. Staring into his worried eyes as he held my face, another scent hit me.

Or maybe not just one.

I didn't have the time to process it as the darkness enveloped me.

*****

I opened my eyes to the smell of antibiotics and spirits. It took me a moment to realize where I was. The hospital.

The door opened and Sterling walked in.

“You're awake,” he took a seat. I tried to sit up, but he stopped me. “Stay. You need as much rest as possible.”

I placed my head down on the pillow, letting my muscles relax. “How's Hazel?”

“The ward next door. She has minor injuries. You don't have to worry,” Sterling replied.

“How did you find me?”

He sighed. “Your guard, George, I met him on the way. He told me where to find you.”

I hummed. The room remained quiet for a while. I tilted my head to the side, staring at my cousin. He was different than I remember. Older and seemingly more mature. However, there was something in his eyes. Worry? Fear? It was unclear.

“What is it?” I found myself asking. He raised a brow, then forced a smile.

“Just missed you,” he responded, but I didn't buy it… completely.

There was something else.

“Am I dying?” I joked.

Sterling chuckled, rising. “I'll get the doctor. Rest up.”

I watched him leave the ward, but his silence made me uneasy. And for some reason even death seemed better than what I realized those scents meant.

And I knew I wasn't ready.