Chapter 5
_Lisa’s POV_ I heard a sound. My heart jumped. I spun around, my bag clutched to my chest. Footsteps. I panicked and quickly hid behind the tall wooden cabinet near the end of the hallway. My body pressed against the wall. I held my breath. Please don’t see me. Please don’t hear me. I peered out slowly from the side of the cabinet. It was my mother. She looked sleepy. Her hair was messy. She held an empty jug in her hand. She didn’t even look my way. She walked past me, heading straight toward the kitchen. I stayed completely still, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. She disappeared into the kitchen. I waited, counting in my head. One… two… three… A few minutes later, she walked back toward her room, refilling her jug with water. She didn’t even notice me hiding there. Her eyes looked half-closed. When I was sure she was gone, I slowly crept forward. I reached the staircase and tiptoed down one step at a time. Each creak of the wood felt like a thunderclap. But I kept moving, slow and careful. I reached the front door and twisted the handle. It opened with a quiet click. I slipped outside and gently closed it behind me. The night air hit my face. It was cold and sharp. The sky was cloudy. The moon was hidden behind the thick clouds. Shadows covered everything. I pulled my hoodie over my head and stayed close to the wall, trying to blend into the darkness. The guards. I had to avoid them. They patrolled the area at night. They were always alert. If anyone saw me, they would drag me back. No. I wasn’t going back. I had to choose a direction. East led to the river. South was too close to town. West was rocky and open. Too easy to get caught. North. The northern forest was dense and quiet. Most rogues stayed away from that path. It was said to be cursed, but I didn’t care. It was safer than facing Kael again. I moved along the edge of the trees, staying low. Every step made my heart beat faster. I was almost at the northern border of the pack when I heard footsteps. A flashlight beam swept across the ground. “Stop!” a voice shouted. My blood froze. I turned and saw a tall figure running toward me. It was one of the guards. He must have seen my shadow. “Who goes there? Show yourself!” I bolted. I didn’t wait to think. I ran straight into the trees, darting between the trunks. Branches scratched my face. Thorns tore at my clothes. “Stop! Rogue! There’s a rogue at the border!” the guard shouted behind me. But I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. I ran until my lungs burned. When I was far enough, I dove behind a thick tree and crouched low. I stayed still. I was barely breathing. Voices shouted behind me. The guards were calling out to each other. But I had already crossed the boundary. I was out of their land. I was a rogue now. The forest grew darker the deeper I went. The moon peeked through the trees, casting a thin light. Branches snapped under my feet. The wind howled in the distance. I kept walking. “I don’t know where to go,” I whispered. Keep going north, Sierra said softly. The Opal Pack is that way. They might help us. I nodded. “I’ll ask them for shelter. For safety.” It was our only hope. The trees closed in around me. It felt like the forest was watching me. Then I heard something. A rustle. A low growl. My body froze. “Sierra?” I whispered. We’re not alone, she said. Hide. Now. I dropped into the bushes and held my breath. I tried to stay quiet. But it was too late. They had my scent. Voices came from the shadows. “Smell that?” “Yeah. Something’s here.” “I smell a wolf.” I saw them step into the clearing. Five men. Their eyes glowed faintly. Rogues. They were tall, dirty and rough-looking. Their clothes were torn. Their skin was covered in scars. One of them sniffed the air and grinned. “There you are,” he said, his voice low and creepy. I tried to crawl backwards but it was no use. He reached into the bushes and yanked me out by the arm. “Let me go!” I cried. “Please! I don’t want trouble!” He laughed. “Oh, we’re not looking for trouble, darling. Just a little fun.” “Please,” I begged. “I’m just passing through. I’m not part of any pack anymore.” “You smell too clean to be a rogue,” one said, circling me. “Too soft,” another added. “Like a spoiled pup who ran away from home.” “She’s cute,” the first one grinned, brushing hair from my face. “Haven’t had something this pretty in a long time.” I struggled. “Let me go! Don’t touch me!” They didn’t listen. One of them grabbed both my arms and twisted them behind my back. I cried out in pain. “Stop it! Please!” “Why?” he sneered. “You’re all alone out here. No one’s coming to save you.” I was shaking. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. They laughed and pulled me to the ground. They were going to hurt me. No one’s coming. No one cares. Sierra growled deep inside me. No more. I’m done being weak. Suddenly, fire rushed through me. My bones snapped. My skin burned. My vision blurred. I shifted. Sierra took control. I leaped forward, slashing one across the chest. He screamed. Another rogue kicked me hard in the face. I fell. They swarmed me. Claws tore into my fur. Teeth bit into my side. Kicks landed on my ribs. My legs. There were too many. I couldn’t win. I was going to die. I whispered into the dark. “Moon Goddess… please… help me…” Then— A loud growl tore through the trees. Everything stopped. I looked up through the blood and pain. A giant black wolf stood on a rock above us. His fur was thick and dark as midnight. His golden eyes burned with rage. He leaped into the middle of the fight, slamming into the rogues with a fury I had never seen before. They tried to fight back, but he was faster and stronger. Other wolves followed him. I didn’t know how many. Fangs flashed. Claws ripped. Growls filled the air. The rogues screamed. And then they ran. All of them. I collapsed onto the ground. Blood soaked the dirt beneath me. I was too weak to move. The black wolf padded over to me. He lowered his head, sniffed me gently and then shifted. He became a man. He was tall and broad-shouldered. His black hair fell into his eyes. His brown eyes were soft as he looked at me. He knelt beside me and touched my fur with warm hands. “Don’t worry,” he said gently. “I’ve got you now. You’re safe.” His voice was deep and calm. I wanted to answer. To thank him. But the pain was too much. Everything faded into darkness. I was bleeding too fast. This was the end. Even he couldn’t save me now.
