Royal Academy: The Red Wolf Clan

Chapter 5

Rosalie's POV

Present day

I feel my heart stop when Orion introduces himself to everyone. Those eyes are etched in my mind from our meeting all those years ago. The fact that his name stemmed from something so random on my old childhood ceiling. I look to my side and I catch my mother looking at me quizzically before turning her attention back in front of her. The old man's last name rings a bell in my head and I saw the reaction his name caused throughout the adults.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when the man suddenly screams out loud and throws his coat completely off his body.

"My son was a power hungry i***t, but he was my son nonetheless. Which of your hearts should I take in return for my son?!"

Large bat-like wings extend outward from his back and his body pushes off the ground, flying a few feet above us before letting out an ear piercing screech. The wolves flinch with the high pitched sound just as the man's body adjusts itself to plunge downward towards the crowd. I watch as Orion shifts from his position and places himself in Magnus Blaine's lines of attack. I open my mouth to protest but instead of words coming out, I felt my legs walk me forward and stop at Orion's side. I feel him shift a bit when I stop beside him but he says nothing. I grip the blade in my right hand and look up at the descending creature above us. I take a deep breath and brace myself when I suddenly feel a warmth engulf me.

A hand clasps my free one and I look down to see a yellow light surrounding our joined hands and then raise my eyes as my breath gets lodged in my throat. Orion's once blue, icy glare were now the shade of yellow like a sunflower. His eyes narrowed to slits as though he heard my thoughts about his eyes and I pinch my lips together like an i***t thief in the night. Orion breaks eye contact to look up again at Magnus Blaine whose arms were now extended forward, long talons protruding out his fingers.

"Rosa!" I heard my mother call out to me but before I could turn to her, Orion's grip tightens around my hand and gasp as I'm pulled out of the way and was now standing behind Orion, our hands still joined. I try to pry my hand out of his but he has a death grip on me and I let out a frustrated growl, earning me a soft chuckle.

"I thought you stepped up as my backup? Having second thoughts Rose?" I catch the edge of his smirk when I angle my head to look at the side of his face. Before I could utter a response, Magnus Blaine took the opportunity to let out another ear piercing screech. I turn to see uncle Luca's wolf Seth give a sign to the rest and they nod their heads as they slowly shift into a formation.

"You better leave him to my family. You can't take him on on your own" I say matter of factly and Orion huffs before finally letting go of my hand and turning to me fully. His yellow orbs were the most mesmerizing things I've ever seen and I hold my breath as he leans in close.

"Do not assume you know me pup"

His use of the word sends me off the edge as I growl at him and shove him away from me. When he maintains his stance and looks at me amused for a moment, I open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind when he suddenly shifts on his heels and runs up to my parents and family. He positions himself in front of them once again and a large burst of yellow light engulfs them completely.

Magnus Blaine's body crashes onto the shield and he staggers on his feet while shaking his head.

"Mom!" I yell out to them and I look on as Orion steps out of the shield to stand off with Magnus. His steps are strong and steady as he faces Magnus who lets out another loud screech.

"We agreed that there would be no bloodshed. You allowed your people to run about with no care for the innocent!" Orion shouts, his fists clenched at his sides.

Magnus throws his head back and cackles menacingly before taking a threatening step closer to Orion. I hear my family let out a unanimous growl and it draws Magnus's attention back to them.

"They are not innocent! They took my only child from this earth! I will not spare them! I will not!" A long talon covered finger points towards my family while Magnus's body shakes with rage.

"If you do this, our deal is off. I can no longer be a part of this. I will not just stand by and watch you harm these people" Orion glances to his side just as Gareth huffs out a breath and rest of the group bare their canines as though showing they were not threatened by their enemy.

"You would help them?! To go against me?! I saved your worthless life from that ruthless man you call a father and this is the thanks I get? Betrayal?!?" Magnus roars once again and this time, his rogue followers begin to step out and flank him in large numbers.

"Rosa, guide the children back through the path. We need them out of harm's way." My mother says to me and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Gigi standing beside me while her eyes were still set on her parents encased within the yellow halo.

"I'll help you, that way we make it back here to help them faster" Gigi says to me, her eye never wavering. I look to my mother and she nods solemnly to me before placing a hand on Gareth's fur and whispering into his ear. He turns to face me and nods his head before putting his attention back on Magnus.

Gigi tugs my hand and we shuffle to the back of the group where the rest of the kids were nestled near a tree watching everything unfold. Lance Delgado had his eyes locked on Orion and his sister Katherine was crouched next to him holding on to his arm for dear life.

"Let's get you guys out of here before Magnus decides to send his minions for you again" Gigi says to the group and a collective gasp resounds from them.

"Who died and made you the boss?" Katherine speaks up with a scowl on her face but her death on her brother's arm didn't loosen. Gigi takes a step closer to her, her face a mask of pure rage and Katherine literally shoves Lance infront of her.

Lance rolls his eyes and glances off to Orion once more before looking back and Gigi standing infront of him. A small smirk lifts at a corner of his mouth and Gigi groans softly before clearing her throat.

"Those who have a death wish can stay. Everyone else who's excited about that History exam tomorrow, follow us!" Gigi walk ahead and Katherine literally drags Lance with her as the rest of the group silently follow. I bring up the rear to make sure nobody is following us. After we make sure everyone leaves in their vehicle we both make our way back down the path when the sound of howling and roaring fill the air. We pick up the pace and stop short at the entrance for the clearing when a rogue's body is flung harshly to the ground in front of us.

I look over and see the yellow shield has been removed and my parents, Seth, Amara and Orion were circling Magnus while the rest fought off against the rogues. Liam's wolf rushes up to the body and clamps down on its jugular, tearing flesh from bone. He looks up at us before turning to rush towards another group of rogues attacking uncle Stefan's wolf Eli. Gigi pulls her blade and spins it in her hand before glancing at me with a small smile.

"Time to kick some rogue ass!" She rushes forward and I rush out right behind her as the rogues continue to come out of every corner of the forest.

"How many are there?! They keep coming!" I shout and I s***h at a rogue's neck as it comes at me. I spin around and stab my blade straight into it's stomach. The rogues let's out a soft whelp before it's body goes motionless.

"Rosalie!" Gigi's voice calls out to me and I turn slightly just as a rogue slams it's body into me. My body hits the ground hard and my breath wheezes out my mouth and I taste blood. I cough and turn to my side as the rogue comes at me again. I lie flat and roll out of the way as large canines snap at my legs. I crouch low and watch as the rogue comes again. The sound of paws hitting the ground comes from behind me and I brace myself. I feel my body being nudged hard by a cold nose and I'm suddenly on a grey wolf's back. I look at the wolf's left ear to see Caleb's signature black streak on it and I give him a thankful rub behind his ear before he takes me to Liam's wolf who has Gigi on his back as well.

"Take down positions!"

We look over as my mother's call has everyone taking their practiced position. I remember this from our training sessions we have when Gigi and her family come over. Both packs always held these combined training sessions because our packs were close to one another. My mother is a very skilled warrior and she taught us everything she learned from her days of being a part of a royal fae army.

Liam and Caleb walk over to take their positions while Gigi and I both step to their sides. Seth, Amara and Gareth are up front while Eli, Jasmine and my mother were at the back with their backs to us. We all kept a defensive stance until we got the signal.

"Now!" My mother called out and everyone pushed forward with Gareth, Seth and Amara leading out. Liam and Caleb spread out to the sides and began ploughing through the rogues at top speed. Gigi and I were in charge of making sure the fallen didn't get back up. We can through slashing throats and stabbing at the hearts of rogues until a blood curdling howl pierces the air. The remaining rogues stopped in their tracks as the lone black wolf with the ugly scar stepped up with Magnus hovering above it. The black wolf howled again and the remaining rogues rushed to stand behind him.

A movement to my side has me turning to see Orion stepping up beside Gareth and Seth, facing the wolf. I couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped me when I saw that he was unharmed. I felt someone poke me in the rib and I turn to see Gigi smirking at me. I shake my head and watch as Magnus glides down to the ground and his wings tuck back behind his back. He walks up to place a hand on the black wolf's head, a wicked grin on his face.

"How about a little one on one? Who's the ring leader here? Magnus heckles and Gareth steps further out. Seth and Amara move to follow but he shakes his head at them. Orion walks up to stand beside Gareth and he stays there even after Gareth growls at him.

"Seems to me like you're switching sides boy"

Magnus sneers and Orion shows no reaction to his words.

"Your funeral. Your father will thank me later." Magnus leans in close to the black wolf's ear and the instant he steps away, the black wolf's body begins to contort and stretch. A blood curdling howl escapes it as it's body bulges and it shifts to stand on its hind legs like a human form. Its front legs were now twice the size with razor sharp talons for claws and its canines stretched far beyond it's mouth.

"Not this sorcery again"

Gigi and I hear my mother say out loud and Magnus laughs out loud before shouting.

"Kill them all"