It was an intense moment.
Zarion promised me peace. And yet…”He allowed himself to be persuaded by Brandon’s offer of war.” I felt betrayed, my legs felt weak from running.
As I ran away from Zarion and Brandon, I found myself in the foggy embrace of the Misty Forest. Rage consumed me like wildfire. It was my reason to take a backseat to the fury burning in my veins.
Someone graced through the thick fog like a Queen walking the red carpet to her palace. The sight of Hestia now leading a group of Rogues as if they are her pack and they are their Alpha and showing signs of madness was enough to push me over the edge. No blood flowed from her. No wounds marred her skin. She was as clean as one just went for a quick bath, still sane and smiling.
Except this bitch is a psycho too like Brandon.
Was she driven mad or had she turned against Brandon of her own volition?
Beta Bridgette, who was immediately beside me even before I could draw my next breath, grabbed my wrist when I turned to fully face the Rogues. “Cassidy…” she whispered, shaking her head. “What a pity you are.”
I think Luna Hestia has become one of the Rogues themselves. It's clear as the sky that she's not in her right state of mind now. Or maybe Alpha Brandon kicked her out of their pack out of spite?
And the fact that it was also Hestia who wounded Brandon’s pride…I don't know what else to think.
What I know is I fucking want to kill both of them right now.
“Cassidy! We can't fight them..” Bridgette's voice was a desperate whisper, a plea to pull me back from the brink of what might be our own demise.
“Why not?” I began to retort, but the words died on my lips as I saw five pairs of red eyes emerge from Luna Hestia's back. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and the reality of our dire predicament sank in. “What the actual fuck?!” I growled, gritting my teeth while locking eyes with the formidable Rogues. We were outnumbered—just me and my Beta against the pack of crazed wolves.
Zarion and Brandon are on their own.
“What are we going to do, Luna? We're going to get killed!” Bridgette's voice trembled with fear behind me. I watched Hestia laugh at our vulnerability, her eyes gleaming with malicious glee. “What? You still want to continue to fight us, Luna Cassidy?”
Her accomplice, Aneliesse Cavitt, joined in, taunting us with a twisted grin of her own. “You can't kill us, Cassidy. Both of you are outnumbered.”
“Oh yeah? How's sweet sister by the way?” I looked behind them and pretended to be looking for someone. I snickered. “I don’t see Vereena though.”
The audacity of my words coupled with disrespect, as I casually burped in front of her, earned me a punch in the stomach. Laughing, I unleashed a storm of anger inside me. I’ve put on a perfect set of ten iron nails and lashed out at her face. Valerie’s once white face is now a bright feast of flowing red.
“Ah!” She spat at my boot. “Your grandmother's bones were so delicious, you know. Thanks to her flesh, I'm in the mood for a fun fight.”
The mention of my Grandmama lit a fuse deep within me. My wolf's instincts took over, and without a second thought, I shifted into my intimidating wolf form, ready to confront that wretched creature named Aneliesse.
“Luna—” Bridgette's scream pierced through the air like a desperate plea. “No!”
The leaves rustled nervously, as if the very earth sensed the impending clash. I left my heart pounding in my chest and focused on the enemy across. My senses were razor-sharp, picking up every sound, every scent. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, preparing me for the fight of my life. A fight for the pack.
Her eyes are already citrine but Aneliesse's eyes burned with a wild malevolent fire. The secondary bitch’s sinister grin only fueled my determination. Hestia will always be the number one bitch. “Come on, the oh-so-famous lover of Alpha Zarion. Show me what you got.”
I switched back to human form. “Well, I got a lover and an Alpha. The two things the two of you seemed to be missing.” I never knew my voice could be a haunting melody especially when paired with a saccharine smile.
“Whatever.”
And when Hestia’s glare began to bother my human skin, I shifted back. Just a second after completing my transformation, she lunged at me, claws outstretched. She has this lethal force intent on my demise. But I am not here to die today.
I dodged just in time, her claws grazing my side, leaving a searing pain in their wake. The fight was on, and we circled each other like two predators vying for dominance. Our fangs then clashed as we snapped at each other, each trying to gain the upper paw. Aneliesse was stronger than me, fueled by the dark energy that coursed through her veins.
But I am wise. I knew I had to be smart. I have to find her weakness then exploit it just in time. I also knew that I couldn't win over her because her wolf is twice my size.
I don’t know wh Rogues, except for Hestia, have such gigantic size. Maybe that’s why they became Rogues—their pack doesn’t like them due to them being enormous other than the Alpha so they are just ostracized. And they all have to fend themselves from the elements, nature, and of course, enemies. Lots of enemies.
As we grappled, I spotted an opening—a momentary distraction when Beta Bridgette attempted to intervene. Aneliesse's attention flickered for just a second, but it was enough. I twisted out of her grip and lunged for her flank, aiming to disarm her.
But fate had other plans. In the heat of the moment, Beta Bridgette had gotten too close. So, so close. Aneliesse's claws found their mark—not on me, but on Bridgette.
A gut-wrenching cry pierced the air as Bridgette stumbled backward, clutching her side. The dark magic that tainted Aneliesse's claws had taken its toll. Poison, some sort of deadly ointment. I don’t know what kind of shadowy element that clings to Anneliese.
I just have to kill her.
My heart sank at the sight of my Beta, rage and sorrow choking me. I couldn’t even cry. I failed to protect my grandmother... and now, my best friend, my Beta. My Bridgette.
Grief turned my silent whisper into a scream. And in a heartbeat, I found myself channeling all my strength into one final assault. With a howl that echoed through the night, I launched myself at Aneliesse, finally catching her off guard.
Our bodies collided. Our struggle was fierce but I managed to overpower her, pinning her to the ground.
“Die! Die! Die!” I repeated like a prayer while blocking the air from her lungs. I was choking her, yes, and my heart ached of the tragedy of my Mamita. I knew what had to be done. With a heavy heart, I delivered the final blow that would send Analiesse to the afterlife.
When I made sure she’s no longer breathing, I wasted no time and went back to Bridgette who was still whimpering on the forest floor.
Hestia was nowhere but I don't care where the number one bitch is.
“Come on!” I beckoned, putting her on my back. I ran as fast as I could away from that cold forest to escape from the raging Rogues.
I need to find a healer real quick.
***
“Healer? Healer!”
When I returned to the pack after that gruesome encounter, I couldn't hold back the urgency. The first thing on my mind was Bridgette's well-being.
My Beta, my dear friend, had been hurt, and I needed the pack’s mighty healers to check on her immediately.
Bright blood stained my palms. I want to cry until I can fill a damn whole river. But, no tears cascaded from these eyes. It only yielded sorrow and…defeat.
“Cassidy!” Alpha Zarion's voice carried both relief and concern in the air as he pulled me into a warm hug. I could feel his worried eyes scanning me from head to toe. No anger lingered on those eyes. “Are you okay? What happened?” Trying to make sense of the situation, he shook my shoulders softly. Gently.
I wanted to respond, to tell him what had transpired in the woods, but the images of Bridgette's pain and suffering haunted me, leaving me speechless. I kept my focus on her as the Healers tended to her wounds, praying for her swift recovery.
“Will Bridgette be okay?” were the only words that came from my mouth.