chapter 5: the rouges are coming

The words hit me like a storm.

“They know she’s here.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The fire crackled quietly behind me, the wind outside slicing through the trees like a warning.

Aria’s scent still lingered in my study—sweet, wild, impossible to ignore. But now, mixed with the word rogues, it made something cold coil in my stomach.

“Where are they now?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.

Draven straightened, jaw tight. “Not far. A few miles east. Scouts say they’re moving fast. Maybe ten of them… maybe more.”

Ten rogues meant blood.

Ten rogues meant they weren’t running—they were hunting.

And if they were looking for her…

My gaze dragged toward the hall where her room was. I could almost hear her steady heartbeat, soft and unaware of the death coming for her.

“Get the guards ready,” I ordered. “No one crosses the border.”

Draven nodded and disappeared down the hall.

I stayed still, gripping the desk until my knuckles went white.

I didn’t understand this feeling clawing at my chest—this sharp, burning panic.

Why the hell did I care?

She was supposed to be my enemy. She was supposed to mean nothing.

But the thought of those rogues reaching her made my wolf snarl so violently my chest hurt.

“Damn it,” I muttered and stormed out of the room.

The pack house buzzed with movement—warriors shifting into wolves, weapons clattering, the air thick with fear.

By the time I stepped outside, the sky had turned a heavy gray. The moon hid behind clouds like it knew blood would be spilled tonight.

Draven rushed toward me, halfway shifted. “We’ll intercept them before they reach the main border.”

“Good,” I growled. “I’m coming.”

He hesitated. “Alpha… you haven’t—”

“I said I’m coming.”

I shifted before he could argue. Bones cracked, senses sharpened, strength surged through me. My black wolf exploded forward.

The ground thundered beneath my paws as we raced through the forest.

I could smell them—rogues. Foul. Bloody. Hungry.

When we reached the border, they emerged from the trees like shadows, more than I expected—fifteen, maybe twenty—eyes burning red, bodies marked with scars.

Draven growled. They’re looking for her.

I bared my fangs.

Not in my land.

We attacked.

The first rogue lunged, and I slammed into him with full force, claws tearing through muscle. He shrieked and bit back, but I dodged and crushed him into a tree.

Chaos erupted—howls, snarls, blood spraying the ground.

But they kept coming. Desperate. Focused.

Through the noise, I heard their whispers:

“Find the girl!”

“She’s here!”

We don’t have much time.

My blood boiled.

Then a sudden stab of pain cut through my chest. Not physical—emotional. A pulse of fear.

Her fear.

Aria.

She was awake. And she was terrified.

I turned instantly, sprinting back toward the house.

By the time I reached the pack house steps, I shifted back, blood dripping down my arms.

I charged up the stairs.

Her door was open.

Her room—empty.

“Aria?” My voice echoed. Silence.

The bed still warm.

The window open.

Cold air whipping the curtains.

My heart dropped.

Then—a scream.

Faint, but hers.

I didn’t think. I launched through the window, shifting mid-air. My wolf landed hard, tearing across the forest floor.

Her scent led me straight to her—fear, tears, desperation.

I burst through the bushes and froze.

Three rogues circled her.

She stood trembling, clutching a broken stick like it could save her, clothes torn, eyes wide with terror.

One rogue laughed. “The Alpha’s little treasure. Let’s take her back to our master.”

Something inside me snapped in half.

I lunged, ripping into him before he could blink. Blood sprayed the ground as he fell.

The other two charged. Rage fueled me—I tore through them until the forest went still again.

I turned toward Aria, breath heaving, my fur soaked in red.

She looked at me with trembling disbelief. “Jason?”

I shifted back slowly, standing over her, chest rising and falling.

She was shaking, pale, terrified.

“Are you hurt?” I asked, stepping closer.

She shook her head weakly. “No. I heard something outside. I thought someone was in danger. I didn’t mean to leave, I just… I was scared.”

Her voice cracked.

I reached out to touch her—then stopped. I didn’t trust myself. The bond burned every time she was near.

“Next time, stay inside,” I said. “The rogues aren’t gone. And who told you to step out? You’re still a prisoner—just without chains.”

Tears slid down her face. “They won’t stop, will they?”

Before I could answer, Draven’s voice rang out behind us:

“Alpha! More rogues—from the north side!”

I spun around.

The forest roared with howls—dozens. Closer.

Aria’s face drained. “There are more?”

“Yes,” I growled. “And they’re coming fast.”

I grabbed her hand—without thinking.

She stared at our joined hands like it meant something.

It did.

“You’re helping me again,” she whispered.

“I’m protecting my land,” I said, though we both knew it wasn’t true.

We ran through the forest. The howls grew louder—hungry, vicious.

Branches snapped behind us.

Aria stumbled, and I caught her again. The bond ignited—hot, bright, consuming.

Her eyes met mine. The world stilled.

Then a deep growl ripped the silence.

A massive rogue leaped from the shadows—bigger than the others, eyes glowing silver.

Not normal.

Not natural.

Aria gasped. “Jason—”

I shoved her aside as the rogue slammed into me, fangs sinking into my shoulder.

He was strong. Too strong.

Aria screamed, “Jason!”

“There are too many,” she whispered, voice shaking.

I turned my glowing gold eyes toward her.

“Then we fight,” I growled, stepping in front of her.

“No one touches my prisoner.”