To Rule Them All

A rogue

I was almost out of breath when heard the boys at the tree. Every time they meet up here they had a race to the top of the tallest oak and every year I had been last.

This year finally, I could feel my wolf and my strength and speed had been improving so this year I was determined to win or at least beat Oliver as he was the meanest to me.

“Looks like we managed to ditch squirt for once.” Laughed Oliver at the base of the tree.

I ground to a halt, when I realised he hadn’t noticed me.

“Don’t be mean Oli,” chastised Ruben “You know she hates all that girly stuff, and it’s not like she means to get into trouble”

“I know,” he replied. “But she always does and then it’s our fault and you know she is everyone’s favourite pain in the ass”

“Tell me about it,” Added Ruben “She races you up the tree, falls and breaks her arm and I get grounded for the week, not princess Iris”

Oliver was never as keen as the others to let me join in and he has never let me forgot the first time I got to the top of the tree I was so exhausted I fell coming back down and broke my arm.

I never thought think my brothers minded me tagging along as they let me do everything with them at home and Jackson had always been so patient with me as a younger child trying to keep up.

“You should be honoured really guys, she thinks of you lot as hero’s, always away of having fun together while we are left here” Moaned Bodhi.

“Honoured ? I’d be honoured if she would go play princesses with Thea so we didn’t have to entertain her as well.” Oliver continued to grumble.

Not wanting to hear anymore I turned away before they noticed me and headed into the woods. I was hurt that they found me annoying. I didn’t expect anything less from Oliver but it still hurt. Not really wanting to head back for a pamper session I decided to explore the woods some more. Clearly in a daydream I hadn’t realised how far I had wandered until a strange smell appeared.

Looking up I realised I didn’t recognise this area. I had overheard mum and dad taking about strange rogue attacks occurring at smaller packs. Suddenly my heart started to race as I heard a twig, too close for my liking, snap.

Something inside my head told me to run, and I as I turned to go back in the direction I came three thoughts entered my head. I had no clue where I was or which way lead to safety and I was staring into the eyes of a wolf. A scream froze in my mouth as the wolf shifted before my eyes.

Suddenly a very dirty, very naked man stood before me. He licked his lips and grinned a crooked smile, all the while staring at me with eyes that looked like the soul had left long ago.

My…my…my look at you, my pretty, I think I’ll have some fun before my dinner” he growled as he started to walk towards me. Finally the scream left my mouth, as my legs started to work and I ran in what I hoped was the right direction as fast as my legs could carry me.

“Lachlan, Ruben, Bodhi help me” I tried to scream through the mid link. I was fast I knew that so naively thought I could outrun the rogue when suddenly I was slammed sideways into a tree. Rolling in the grass with a mouthful of leaves I saw the rogue peering down at me from above.

Head spinning I sprang to my feet and took off, with no idea in which direction I was travelling. I could hear my brothers screaming at me down the mind link but my thoughts where too scrambled to reply. A sharp pain radiated from my shoulder and suddenly my momentum stopped. I looked to see a claw embedded in my shoulder. Next, I was propelled forward, face first into the dirt with the rogue landing on top of me.

I felt the air knocked out of my lungs, to the point I couldn’t even scream as the rogue removed his claw from my shoulder. “Help me” I sent weakly down the mind link to my brothers.

Tears fell from my eyes as I was roughly turned around to face my attacker. An evil grin adjourned his face.

“Turns out you aren’t dinner, someone else has plans for you, but he didn’t say I couldn’t enjoy you first” as he licked lips and ran his hand up my side squeezing my breast. Still breathless I tried to push him away with my one good arm. Laughing he pinned me with his legs and stuck his fingers in my shoulder wound, causing me to scream with pain.

Fury burned in my chest, and as I finally sucked in a deep breath I twisted my head up and smashed him in the face. Taken by surprise he fell backwards just enough that I could leap to my feet but before I could set off his hand clasped around my ankle. I turned to kick his hand away but he held on tight.

Next thing I knew I was flying though the air as a massive wolf tore through the arm of the rogue ripping me from its grasp. A second wolf appeared and I recognised Lachlan as he pounced onto the rogue, pinning him underneath. I was thrown sideways and Oliver appeared catching me before I fell as sharp jolt of pain ripping through my shoulder.

Ruben arrived behind him and pulled me into a tight hug, concern etched all over his face. “Are you ok ?”

I could only nod as tears threatened to fall. I took a shaky breath and replied “I’m fine, thank you for finding me”

Jackson and Lachlan had shifted back and Jackson was dragging the rogue away from Lachlan who had murder in his eyes. Bodhi arrived and my brothers were arguing with Lachlan to let them kill the rogue.

“He must be taken for questioning, I know you are upset but we need to know who is behind this” snarls Jackson as Lachlan threatened to shift back into his massive black wolf Obsidian.

“Jackson is right, Lachlan tell Obsidian to back down” interrupts Oliver as he looks over at me, concern evident on his eyes as he scanned me for injuries.

From nowhere the world starts to spin and I try to step towards Ruben but as the blood rushes to my ears all I see is darkness as before I crash to the floor I felt Oliver’s arms catch once again.