In humanoid forms, feral growls and protracting claws, the rogue wolves slowly spread out the hall in a circle of imminent danger. Their very existence poses an immediate threat to the sanctity of the Coming of Age Ceremony and safety of everyone.
The unspoken question on the lips of everyone is finally uttered by Alpha Ethan in a loud outburst of rage.
“Damon, how dare you bring rogues to the ceremony?!” Ethan roared out, fisting his hands as he stomps his way between the two Alphas.
“What?” Damon frowns in return, looking around. “These are not my men.”
The weight of his sheer denial slams hard into everyone. It is impossible to believe that Damon would be here and these rogues do not answer to him. I take a quick look around and see that I am not the only one with this thought.
“What?” Damon’s frown deepens. “None of this would have happened if you just let me leave earlier.”
“So you brought battle ready rogues here?” Conan finds his tongue, his eyebrows forming a tight knit, as his fists form.
“I didn’t say that.” Damon barked, looking around.
“For the last time, Damon, take your rogues and leave.” Ethan growls lowly.
“I said, I know nothing about them.” Damon maintains, looking around at the rogues.
They are closer more than ever, inching towards us in a semicircle. Most guests huddle away, to the edges of the hall, stricken with fear of their lives. A few others remain standing in their previous spots, as their eyes faintly glow red — Alphas of their invited respective packs.
It will be a bloodbath here if the rogues try anything. There are quite a handful of Alphas here ready to support Alpha Ethan against the rogues.
It is foolhardy for Damon to make such a bold move, which only begs the question why? Why would Damon do this?
“Damon…” Ethan growls again but Conan places a hand on his shoulder.
“Do not stain your hands with this filth, Alpha Ethan.” Conan says as he takes his glasses off, and neatly fixes it into his breast pocket.
The silence of the guests and the growling of the rogues as they advance has rooted me to the ground. Indecision and fright makes my heart double in beat, knowing the imminent danger.
If these two Alphas clash within these walls, nobody is quite safe. Not with the rogues around.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Damon sneers, jabbing a palm into Conan’s chest. “Taking off your glasses like you’re what?”
The next second, time quickens as Conan suddenly swings a fist. It lands faster than I can register, as the corresponding thud sends Damon reeling back some steps.
“Oh, you’ve got moves, eh?” Damon growls,
“Take your rogues and go.” Conan c***s his neck.
“Not without my mate.” Damon cracks his knuckles.
“Don’t you dare say…” Conan’s eyes flash at this moment.
His body blurs as the distance between himself and Damon vanishes in an instant. I hear a frightening bone wreaking punch, and I wince, as Conan is sent staggering backwards.
“I am denied many things.” Damon says as he begins to walk forward. “Even an invite here. But the last thing I’d take is you denying me my mate.”
“She is not your mate!!” Conan growls back.
And they dash at each other. Straining, their muscles tense within their tuxedos as they slam blows. Each punch perfectly ramming into the fists of their opponents while shockwaves ring out. The sheer viciousness of the exchange pushes the dinner table away and throws me off my feet.
“She is not your mate!”
“She is mine. I will not be denied.”
“You will not sully my mate with your filth.”
Their barrages of blows continue as I quiver on the ground. The fierceness of the shockwaves erupt above my head as they trade blows and words while I realize that their battle is personal.
They fight to claim me, as their mate. It is actually sweet, to be the center of attention. To be seen, for the first time. It sends my heart into a flutter but more importantly, I yearn for them to put their differences aside. With rogues around, this is neither the place nor time.
And why is nobody even kicking out the rogues? Alpha Ethan’s Pack warriors should be here anytime now, right?
A lot of things do not make sense. But there is hardly time to seek answers. If they fight over me, the best I can do is get away.
With this in my mind, I begin to crawl as I realize both the rogues, Alpha Ethan and everyone else is interested in the battle between the two Alphas.
Just when I think I am in the clear, wind brushes against my skin. The next instant, the roots of my hair tingle in agonizing pain as I am yanked upwards.
Before I can register anything, I am spun in the air and hoisted on a shoulder, while the rogues begin to run after whoever got me.
“Ahhhhh… help!!” I scream out in panic and pain.
A rogue has me on his shoulder, and in his battle ready humanoid form, he is as fast as the wind. He tears through a window, shattering glass as his feet thumps down on the ground.
“Where are you taking me to? Let me go!” I scream out, panic stricken at how determined he is, that even the other rogues don’t meet up.
“Let me go!” I yell out, slamming fists against his back.
All that only motivates him to run faster into the gardens. Mixed feelings wash over me.
What is he going to do with me? Where is he taking me to? Moon goddess, help me!
My mind is in turmoil, as he races on. Panicstricken, I feel every inch of myself tensing up in a state of fright and fear. My heart beats faster till I can literally hear it thumping against my chest. My whole body heaves in terror as the pack’s mansion begins to get farther and farther from me.
“No. No. No. Noooooo…”
With everything in me, I yell out, slamming my hand against his back with a wearied but determined attack. As I do this, my chest contacts for lack of air as my visions neatly blacken out.
In that second, I feel an ephemeral presence glow over me just as bright yellow light explodes outwards. I hit my back against the ground, as the rogue wolf stumbles, rolling as he howls painfully face down.
Breathing heavily, I quickly scramble to my knees as I watch him. My survival instincts kick in as I look around for anything to wield as a weapon but it’s all plain grass here and a tree at my back.
Maybe I should hide behind the tree!
With that thought, I crawl hurriedly, unable to find strength to stand. Just as I get to its thick boughs, the rogue wolf stands with a stagger.
His feral expresion is gone, the madness of his power vanishes. All I see is just a confused rogue, with widened eyes of panic.
“What have you done to me?” He cries, holding out his hands before him. “What have you done to my wolf?”