Nina continued her war path on nature, as I tried my best to forget and let go. Letting go of the way he smelled after working out or taking a shower, the way his hands combed through my kinky hair, the way he holds me like he never wants to let go, and that night. Oh Goddess that night will forever be imprinted in my brain. This was harder than I thought and the more I thought about that the angrier I got. I needed someone to blame other than him. I needed someone to feel my pain. I wanted something, no, someone to punch.
Then a growl disrupted our thoughts. Nina turned around and came face to face with the dark eyes of a rogue. The rogue shifted and stood before me as a naked man. He was huge, maybe 6’5, pure muscle, and scars all over his body. He had one distinct scar across his face from ear to ear. He was smiling, sniffing the air.
“What is a she-wolf like yourself doing so far from home,” he asked, circling Nina. He started to swirl what looked like a switchblade. Where the hell did that come from? I wondered.
He feels so sure of himself. I want to play Zira, Nina asked me.
I don't know, Nina. He's a pretty big I said, making Nina moved back a little.
Come on. We're leaving this pack soon. We have to be able to take care of ourselves in these situations. We can take him. I can feel it.
She was right. I forgot about my original plans of leaving. Now I have a good excuse and Isaiah will have to sign them now, but before that I had to get rid of this rogue. I wasn’t planning on it but I had feelings to release too. Apparently they were strong enough to make me shift.
What are you doing, Nina asked.
I have no idea. It just happened, I said back.
You do realize you’re naked in front of a stranger, Nina reminded me.
The rogue whistled, grabbing my attention. "Well, aren't you a looker?"
I quickly stood up and did my best to fold my arms over my chest without backing down. I'm a little aware of how I looked but I can't turn back now. I was beyond that point and it’s not like there's a crowd.
“That’s not any of your concern, rogue. You shouldn’t be here so I suggest you leave while you have the chance.”
He grinned, clearly not intimidated by my 5’5 stature, but I kept my stance firm. This anger was clearly a power boost. He slowly tried to close the distance. Every step forward was a step back for me. He flicked open the blade that turned out to be a comb and started to comb his hair.
“Oh, you are definitely my concern. It looks like you pissed off the wrong person which is good for me. Not so much for you.”
I was confused. I didn’t know what the heck he was talking about, but at this moment it doesn’t matter. Rogues were the reason I was taken from my home. They were the reason I came here and met Isaiah. They were the reason I was feeling this way. It was a cheap reason to start a fight but what the hell. I watched as he stopped only a few feet away from me.
“Who? You?”
He laughed while putting away his comb someplace I probably don’t want to know. “Why would I want to get rid of a sweet piece of ass like yours? Now that I think about it. It would be a shame to let this moment pass. So why don’t we have a little fun first.”
He lunged towards me and I hesitated for a moment seeing this was my first real battle. He grabbed both of my arms and we both went barreling towards the ground. I hit the ground hard enough to lose my breath for a second. His full weight held me to the ground making me fully realize how naked we were. He sniffed my neck and I could almost choke on the cheap whiskey smell seething through his pores. Pair that with his signature rotten rogue smell, I could literally die from the scent alone. I wish my wolf senses could shut down right now.
“Well I didn’t expect this to happen so fast but I’ll take what I can get,” he said, grinding hard against me. The gall of this man only fueled my anger.
“Then let me make this harder,” I said as I head butted him, breaking his nose in the process.
I head butt him and used this moment to push my hips up and rolled us to the side so I was on top. His grip tightened so I twisted my wrists around the break free. I sent a few fast punches to his face before jumping off. I wanted to take my time with this. The rogue stood up with a bloody face. Now he was angry and I was glad my training was paying off.
“You little bitch. I was gonna give you a good time but now you’re dead,” he spat at me.
I smiled and signaled him to bring it. He dived towards me, sending a flurry of punches. I moved like water dodging every punch waiting for the right opportunity. I grabbed one of his outstretched wrist and used his momentum to slam him into a tree. An audible crack echoed through the forest, but that didn’t stop him. He got to feet quickly and shifted.
I wasn’t prepared for the quick change, so when he lunged at me his paw caught my shoulder. His claw dug into my skin as I went backwards. I used that momentum and my legs to throw him over me. It was enough to push him a few feet away from me. He quickly recovered and started to circle me, apparently satisfied with what he did. I took a fighting stance waiting for him to attack. I felt the blood slowly dripping down the side of my body. Okay maybe I wasn’t as confident as I thought.
Let me out, Nina snapped.
I wanted to. I really wanted to but something was keeping me here. Something didn't want Nina to protect us. I think I was preparing to die.
Something's wrong. I can't give you control, I said, keeping my distance from the crazed rogue in front of me.
What are you talking about, just shift, Nina growled.
I’m trying, Nina but nothing is happening, I snapped back, dodging another attack.
You’re right. Someone is messing with us. I can feel something holding me back.
I could see Nina in the back of my mind, constraint against an invisible wall. I didn’t have time to focus on shifting. He was faster in his wolf. I needed a way to get him to shift back. I looked around for a solution. The trees.
Wolves can’t climb trees well. So that could be a solution until we figure something out I told her
I dodged another attack and quickly ran to the nearest tree. Right when I lunged for a branch to grip on, I felt him swipe at my back. The movement was enough to knock me back to the ground. The rogue growled as he walked closer to me.
I’m sorry, Nina. I never wanted us to go out like this, I sighed.
Well it was a fun ride. Now let’s go down swinging.
While talking to Nina, the rogue lunged towards me. Out of nowhere a large wolf appeared and knocked the rogue back. Standing in front of me was a large dark gray wolf. His scent was not of our pack but his size was that of an Alpha. I stumbled forward as the pain of my wounds became more apparent and the wolf used his body to keep me from falling. His fur was so soft and I almost lost myself in it. He growled at me to get my attention and motioned towards the bushes with his head. I nodded and hurried as fast as I could to the bushes. I watched my savior and the rogue square off. I was surprised to see the rogue holding his ground. The aura of the gray wolf was palpable and I could barely breathe in his presence.
The gray wolf snapped at the rogue giving him a warning but the rogue refused to back down. Without hesitation, the gray wolf charged the rogue in the blink of an eye. The rogue stood on his hind legs to counter the attack which was the wrong move. The gray wolf turned and used his hind legs to push the rogue into a tree. Before the rogue could recover, the gray stood in front of him and slashed him a few times over his chest. I thought it was purposely matching my wounds. A smile crept across my face.
The rogue swiped to push the gray wolf back. The gray wolf backed out a little before returning and grabbing the rogue by his neck. The gray wolf clamped down harder onto the rogue’s neck while he was struggling to get free. It was the first time I saw the gray wolf’s intense copper eyes and they were staring me down. My breath was caught in my throat as I was trying to remember to breathe.
The scene in front of me was straight out of a horror scene. Blood was dripping down the side of the gray wolf’s mouth. The sound of choking was coming from the rogue while he was trying to get free. The gray wolf threw the rogue into a tree. The rogue shifted back to a man, holding his neck. The gray wolf stood between us blocking my view.
“This..is-not-over,” the rogue spit out before dropping something and disappearing from sight.
The gray wolf howled and immediately I jumped out of the bushes to stop him. I wasn’t ready for the others to find me. Especially bloodied with a stranger and a dead rogue. The gray wolf growled at me and I stepped back preparing to run. The wolf transformed and I was staring at the back of a muscular tattooed man.
The hieroglyphic tattoos covered his entire back from his shoulders to his butt. His hard as stone butt. I quickly looked away and tried my best to cover myself realizing I was still naked.
“Thank you for saving me but I have to go.” I turned to run again but a strong hand grabbed my arm. I turned and stared at his dark brown eyes hiding behind his shaggy black hair. “Alpha Zack.”
“Zira, right? You’re hurt.” He pulled me in closer to access my wounds. I was still shocked that at first he remembered my name but he was completely unaffected by our nakedness. “We need to get you back.”
“No,” I yelled, trying to pull away from him but he held on tighter. “I can’t go back, please.”
Zack looked at me confused. “Why are you running away? They seem worried.”
“You won’t understand.”
“Try me,” Zack said, pulling me close.
I could feel the tears ready to spill out. “We-we-were just getting started, Then you brought HER here and she took him away.” Well there goes the tears.
It took him a minute to realize what I was saying. He sighed and without saying anything he pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry, Zira,” he whispered.
I was shocked. I thought he would be happy his sister found her mate but here he was apologizing to me and he meant it. There were so many emotions stirring in me that I immediately threw up. Right in front of him.
“Goddess, Zira, you need help. Please let me take you back,” Zack said, pulling us away from the mess.
Before I could object, we heard a melody of howls and I tensed up. I can feel them getting closer. I can feel HIM getting closer. I was starting to panic. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want him to see me like this. Like a mess. Zack looked back at me worried for a second as I tried to pull away from him.
“Please.” I pleaded with my eyes.
He hesitated for a second, then nodded and let me go. Without hesitation, I left without looking back. I could smell him. I could smell Isaiah’s scent like it was air itself. I shifted into Nina giving her full control. She ran as fast as her feet would take her. I didn’t know where we were going but I needed to put some distance between those howls. There was only one place that could help. One place that could make me feel calm.