chapter 5: the rouges are coming

The words hit me like a storm.

“They know she’s here.”

For a second, I couldn’t speak. The fire in my study crackled softly, and the wind outside howled through the trees.

Aria’s scent still lingered in the air — sweet and wild. Now, mixed with the word rogues, it made my chest tighten.

“Where are they now?” I asked, my voice deep and cold.

Draven stood tall, his jaw set. “Not far. A few miles east. The scouts say they’re moving fast. Maybe ten of them. Maybe more.”

Ten rogues. That many meant trouble.

And if they were looking for her…

I looked toward the hall where her room was. I could almost hear her heartbeat, slow and calm, unaware of the danger that was racing toward her.

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

Draven nodded and left quickly, his footsteps fading.

I stayed still for a moment. My hands gripped the desk until my knuckles turned white.

I didn’t understand it — this feeling burning inside me.

Why did I care so much about her safety? She was supposed to be my enemy. She was supposed to mean nothing to me.

But the thought of losing her made my wolf snarl and pace inside me.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath and left the room.

I moved fast through the halls. My pack warriors were already running outside, grabbing weapons, shifting into wolves. The air was full of tension and fear.

I stepped out into the open yard. The night sky was gray, heavy with clouds. The moon hid behind them, silent and watchful.

Draven came up to me again, shifting into his wolf form halfway. “We’ll meet them before they reach the main border.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m coming with you.”

He blinked in surprise. “Alpha, are you sure? You haven’t—”

I cut him off. “I said I’m coming.”

I shifted before he could argue. My bones cracked, my vision sharpened, my senses exploded. My black wolf burst forward, powerful and fast.

The ground thundered under my paws as I ran through the trees.

I could smell them — rogues. Their scent was foul, full of blood and death.

When we reached the edge of the border, I saw them moving like shadows through the forest. There were more than ten — maybe fifteen or twenty.

Their eyes glowed red, their bodies covered in scars.

Draven growled low beside me. They’re looking for her.

I bared my teeth. Not in my land, they’re not.

We attacked first.

The first rogue lunged at me. I met him head-on, knocking him down, claws tearing through his shoulder.

He screamed and bit back, but I dodged and slammed him into a tree.

The fight was wild — growls, roars, blood, and broken branches everywhere.

Draven and the others fought like fire. But there were too many of them. They kept coming, one after another, desperate, hungry.

Through the chaos, I caught their words — rough voices speaking fast.

“Find the girl!”

“She’s here somewhere!”

we don't have much time

My blood boiled

But even as I fought, I felt something strange — a sharp pain in my chest. My wolf’s ears twitched.

Then I realized what it was.

Fear.

Not mine — hers.

Aria.

She was awake.

And she was scared.

I turned instantly and ran back toward the house.

By the time I reached the pack house, I shifted back into human form. My body was covered in blood, but not all of it was mine.

I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Her door was open.

The room was empty.

“Aria?” I called, my voice echoing. No answer.

The bed was still warm, the window wide open. Cold air blew through the curtains.

My heart sank.

Then I heard a scream.

Far away, faint — but I knew that voice.

Without a second thought, I jumped out the window and shifted mid-air. My wolf landed hard, claws digging into the dirt, and I ran toward the sound.

She was in the forest again. I could smell her fear, her tears.

I ran faster, crashing through the bushes, following her scent.

Then I saw her — surrounded by three rogues.

She stood trembling, holding a broken stick in her hand, trying to fight even though she was weak.

Her clothes were torn, her eyes wide with panic.

One of the rogues laughed darkly. “The Alpha’s little treasure. Let’s take her back to our master.”

Something inside me snapped.

I leaped forward and slammed into the rogue before he could touch her. My claws ripped through him, blood spraying the ground.

The other two roared and charged. I met them both, rage burning through every part of me.

When it was over, they lay broken on the forest floor.

I turned toward Aria, breathing hard, my fur stained red.

She looked at me with wide, shaking eyes.

“Jason?” she whispered softly.

I shifted back slowly, standing in front of her, chest rising and falling.

Her face was pale, her body trembling.

I took a step closer. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head weakly. “No. I heard the noise outside. I thought someone was in danger. I didn’t mean to leave the house, I just—”

Her voice broke. “I was scared.”

I sighed and reached out to touch her arm, but then stopped. “I didn’t trust myself to get too close. I wasn’t supposed to get close to her. I hated her.”

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

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

Before I could answer, Draven’s voice shouted from behind. “Alpha! More rogues — from the north side!”

I turned sharply.

The forest echoed with howls — dozens of them, closer this time.

Aria’s eyes widened. “There are more?”

I nodded grimly. “Yes. And they’re coming fast.”

I took her hand without thinking. “We need to run.”

She stared at our joined hands, shock flashing across her face. “You’re helping me again.”

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

We ran through the trees together. The howls grew louder, closer, filled with hunger and hate.

Branches broke behind us, footsteps rushing nearer.

Aria stumbled once, and I caught her again. The moment I touched her, the bond burned brighter — that same fire that tied us together.

Her eyes met mine. For a second, the world around us disappeared.

Then a growl came from behind us, deep and close.

I turned just in time to see a huge rogue leap out of the shadows — bigger than any I’d seen before, his eyes glowing silver.

He wasn’t like the others.

Aria gasped. “Jason—”

I pushed her aside just as the rogue slammed into me, teeth sinking into my shoulder.

The rogue was strong, stronger than I expected.

Aria screamed my name.

“Jason!”

Aria looked around, terrified. “Jason… there are too many.”

I turned, my eyes glowing bright gold in the darkness.

“Then we fight,” I said, stepping in front of her. “No one touches my prisoner.