Chapter 7: The Rogue Attack

KILLIAN’S POV

The drive back to Crescent Moon Pack should have cleared my head. It didn’t.

My grip tightened around the steering wheel as her face refused to leave my mind. Candice Miller. Even her name felt wrong—like something that didn’t quite belong.

I exhaled slowly. “Candice Miller…” I muttered, testing the name again. It still felt wrong. And yet, she didn’t feel like a stranger.

My brows furrowed as my wolf stirred faintly inside me. That alone was enough to irritate me. For years, it had been nothing but a shadow—silent, distant and barely present unless absolutely necessary.

But now? After meeting one woman, he suddenly wanted to wake up? My jaw clenched.

I already knew I couldn’t shift. I hadn’t been able to for years. The moment I rejected Sara, something inside me broke and the backlash had never left. My wolf never fully recovered.

So whatever this was, it made no sense. “I’ve never seen her before,” I muttered. “So why does she feel so familiar?”

I didn't have an answer for myself. Before I could think any further, something shifted in the air. My head snapped up.

The wind carried it first. Then the scent hit me fully. Blood. My heart slammed violently against my chest. “No…”

In the distance, I saw it. There was smoke rising just above the trees that surrounded my pack lands. My stomach dropped.

“No. Not again.” My foot slammed on the accelerator. The car surged forward as panic tightened its grip around my chest.

My people were getting attacked again. By the time I reached the pack, chaos had already taken over.

The moment I stepped out of the car, the sounds hit me—screams, growls, the violent clash of bodies tearing into each other.

“ALPHA!” Heads turned immediately. Even weakened, my aura rolled through the battlefield. It wasn’t what it used to be, but it was still enough to command attention.

“Protect the non-combatants!” I barked, my voice cutting through the chaos. “Get the children and the mothers to the inner grounds! Move!”

My eyes scanned the battlefield. There were rogues, not too many but enough to cause problems. And they weren’t fighting blindly.

They were coordinated. That realization sent something cold down my spine. I didn’t hesitate.

I moved. Fast. My claws came out immediately as I lunged.

The first rogue came at me—I sidestepped and drove my claws straight through his throat and he dropped instantly.

Another lunged but I ducked, turned, and struck again. But I could feel the difference. My body wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. My movements weren’t as clean. My instincts felt dulled.

And my wolf? He was still silent. Of course he was.

I didn’t even try to shift because there was no point. He wouldn't come out no matter how much I tried.

A sudden movement to my right caught my attention. A small child was there and he was frozen and I could sense the fear in his eyes through the pack bond.

And behind him was a rogue wolf, eyeing the child like a prize. No. My eyes widened. Before I knew it, the rogue lunged. I didn’t think about anything else.

I just moved, desperate to protect the child. I reached him in seconds, grabbing him and pulling him back as I turned my body to shield him completely.

The attack came instantly. Claws tore into my side.

Pain exploded through me as the rogue’s strike ripped through flesh.

A sharp grunt escaped me as blood soaked through my shirt. Before it could attack again, a massive brown wolf slammed into it.

Claude. He tore into the rogue without hesitation, ripping it apart brutally. The fight ended for that one just as quickly as it began.

I exhaled slowly, still standing over the child. For a second, everything blurred. Then the boy’s mother rushed forward, her face pale with fear. She grabbed her son tightly, pulling him into her arms.

“Thank you, Alpha,” she said quickly, her voice shaking before she ran off with him. I watched them go for a brief moment.

Then I turned back. The fight wasn’t over. I pushed forward again, forcing my body to keep up despite the pain burning at my side.

One by one, the rogues began to retreat. That alone was enough to put me on edge. Rogues didn’t retreat like that.

Not unless they were being controlled. “Don’t let them escape!” someone shouted. But it was too late. Most of them disappeared into the forest.

But my men managed to capture and subdue one of them. He was wounded and barely breathing.

Claude stood beside him in human form, breathing heavily.

I walked toward them slowly. “Who sent you?” I asked.

The rogue laughed weakly, blood spilling from his mouth. “Look at you,” he rasped. “The great Alpha Killian Blackwood. You're a disgrace.”

Claude’s fist slammed into his face. “Show some respect,” Claude growled.

The rogue laughed again. “Respect?” he repeated. “For him?” His eyes locked onto mine. “You can’t even protect your own people.”

My jaw tightened. “Who is behind this?” I asked again, colder this time. His smile widened.

“You should start preparing,” he whispered. “More of them will die.”

I stepped closer. “Answer me.”

But instead, he moved fast and swallowed contents from a vial and then his body jerked. Claude’s eyes widened. “Wait—!”

But it was too late. The rogue convulsed violently before going still. He was dead. Frustration surged through me.

“Damn it!” I snapped, kicking the body away. Silence settled slowly over the battlefield.

Claude stepped closer. “Alpha—” Then he stopped. His gaze dropped to my side. “Your wound, we need to treat it.”

I looked down. Blood still seeped through the torn fabric but the wound was healing too slowly. My expression darkened.

Of course. My healing ability wasn't what it used to be anymore. Not since the rejection. “I’m fine,” I said.

The words felt hollow even to me. Claude didn’t look convinced. But he didn’t argue. “Get the injured to the hospital,” I ordered. “Now.”

The pack hospital filled quickly. There were wounded wolves, panicked voices and mothers who had lost their children and husbands.

The smell of blood was thick in the air. I moved through it all, giving orders without hesitation.

“No one is to be left untreated,” I said firmly. “Make sure everyone is taken care of.”

“Yes, Alpha.” The doctors bowed and got to work.

Only when I was sure things were under control did I step away.

I walked to the balcony, the cool air hitting my face. It didn’t help. Nothing did. Claude joined me moments later.

For a while, neither of us spoke. Then, “How did it go?” he asked quietly.

I exhaled slowly. “She refused to help us at first.”

Claude cursed under his breath. “She gave me five days to give her a good reason why she should help us,” I added.

He let out a dry breath. “Five days? With everything happening?”

My gaze stayed fixed ahead. “I’ll convince her.”

Claude looked at me carefully. “And if you don’t?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I will.” Silence stretched between us. Then Claude spoke again.

“The council has already requested a meeting.”

My jaw tightened slightly. “With this attack, they won’t stay calm,” he added. “They’ll want answers.”

I said nothing. My gaze drifted over the pack.

Five days. That was all I had. Five days to save them or lose everything.

Claude turned fully toward me. “What are you going to tell them, Alpha?” My fists clenched slowly at my sides. Because for the first time, I didn’t have an answer.