CHAPTER 2: ROGUES

ELENA'S POV,

I couldn't remember how long we stayed in the store room, hiding behind the wooden crates of dried roots. I was terrified for my daughter and worried about what the rogues might do to her. This was supposed to be her special day, one filled with joy, not fear.

She was trembling in my arms, and that made me feel helpless and weak. I was trying to hold back my tears for her, but nothing worked. It was painful to wait for help while danger hovered over our heads. I knew I needed a plan because we couldn't wait forever, but nothing came to mind.

My thoughts were paralyzed.

In the dark corner of the room, I counted each minute passing, holding Molly and whispering false promises. There wasn't anything else I could have done because I didn't know how many wolves were outside, and what they wanted with us.

I tried looking for something that could be used as a weapon when I heard them.

At first, the footsteps were of a single wolf that started getting closer and closer, and then we heard the snarling. It left a print in our hearts, and in my desperate attempt, once again, I tried to reach Julian.

‘They found us. Julian, please, we need you!’

Molly jumped when she heard something crashing against the door. They were trying to break in, and I soon figured there was more than one wolf outside. I smelled their malicious intentions and turned towards Molly. She was a child and couldn't protect herself, I knew I had to be her shield.

“Mommy?!” she whimpered, holding my hand tightly. “Where is Daddy? Is he not coming to save us?”

“He is… he is coming, dear.” I kissed her on the forehead quickly. “But for now, you've got to run, baby. Run as fast as you can to Uncle Kai's house. Mommy will stop them.”

“But, mom—”

“Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.” She hesitated, shaking her head with tear-filled eyes. “I promise nothing will happen to me, you go protect yourself.”

I gave her a small push toward the back exit when she didn't make any effort to leave. My heart was pounding in my chest, but for a different reason from before. I knew I was the only wall separating her from the beasts, so I stood up, facing the door just as it crashed open.

Three rogues came in, howling and growling.

Looking in their eyes, I realized it wasn't another rogue attack… no, it was more than that. Those wolves weren’t in our house by chance. Their eyes were shining with purpose and rage. They were there for us. For the Alpha's family.

“Don't look back,” I screamed, keeping my eyes on the three of them, and standing like a mountain to cover Molly’s scent.

I shifted before they could pounce at me, and they howled again. They were probably letting the others know about the situation. My wolf lunged, giving them no time to react, and I managed to sink my teeth into one’s throat, killing her.

The wolf cried, and while I felt sorry for hurting her, I knew I couldn't empathize with them when my daughter was in danger. The second wolf rounded me and then jumped at me, thinking I was tired, but I was able to slam him against the shelves.

And the third one—

Molly's scream pierced through my ears. I turned in horror to see the third rogue chasing after her. Molly was faster than the kids her age, but she wasn't a match for a wolf. I tried to make my way towards her when the second rogue jumped at me, taking advantage of the situation.

I tried to push it away, but he was on top of me and bit me in the shoulder. I screamed in pain.

‘Julian, please help!’

I tried to link with him again, but no response came from his side. My eyes were getting heavy, and I could see Molly trying to fight the rogue with a stick near the exit. He was playing with her, jumping around, and growling.

‘Julian, Molly's in danger. They are going to kill her.’

Once again, there was no response, so I used whatever little energy I had to push the wolf off me and then clawed his face. He fell to the ground, whining, and when the third rogue saw that, he stopped playing. Molly tried to hit him with the stick, but he snatched it and clawed Molly across her face.

“DADDY!” she screamed, falling to the ground.

"Molly,” the word came out of my mouth like a whisper. I abandoned the fight to run towards her. “Leave her, you coward. Fight me!”

I didn't care that I was exhausted and hurt; I only cared about my little angel who was on the ground, crying. Her little hands covered her face as the rogue attacked her again. The second wolf jumped on my back from behind, stopping me from going to her. He still had some fight in him.

“Daddy! Mommy! Help me!”

I begged Julian, through the link, over and over again, to help us. I told him what was going on as I fought the second wolf, but no response came. My body was covered in wounds, but I didn't give up. I couldn't. I reverted to my human form, and taking advantage of the smaller build, I slipped away from him.

He tried to catch me, but my claws were ready to attack. As he turned towards me, I pushed my hand, cutting through his chest, and pulled his heart out. He fell to the ground, and I fell on top of him. I had no energy left in me. The adrenaline was gone.

‘Please, Julian. Please. She needs you. I can’t—I can’t do this alone.’

Once again, nothing. No answer came from him. Not even a whisper.

I couldn't see because my eyes were covered with tears, yet I crawled on the floor to get to her. She wasn't screaming anymore, and all I smelled was blood, her blood. But then, like a sudden burst of fresh air, I got a whiff of a familiar scent—Beta Kai.

I don't know what happened, but I heard the screams of the rogue who was tormenting my daughter. I pried my eyes open to see Beta Kai tear through the rogue holding Molly, scooping her up in one swift motion. While the others broke the rogue's bones.

I crawled towards them, gasping and bleeding. I needed to know if she was okay, that's all I cared about.

“Luna!” Kai looked at me, alarmed. It was the first time he noticed me, and he had his eyes wide in horror. “W-we have to take you to the hospital.”

“No—”

“Theo, get the car. FAST! Luna is badly hurt,” he ordered, trying to help me sit.

“S-stop! Get Molly to the hospital,” I mumbled through my heavy breathing.

“Scott took her to the hospital, she'll be fine,” Kai said, sitting next to me. “You’re hurt. You need treatment, too."

I shook my head.

“Where’s Julian?” My voice was barely above a whisper. “Molly’s hurt. She needs to see him. I can't link, I don't have enough energy. Tell him to go to her.”

Kai’s expression flickered. He linked Julian while I waited.

Finally, after a few seconds, Kai looked at me, eyes filled with guilt and embarrassment. “Alpha Julian is at the hospital too... with Lauren. He said... he can’t come right now.”

I couldn't believe my ears. My heart didn’t just break hearing that. It froze.