Chapter 4 ROGUE WOLVES

"Imelda wake up!" Caleb kicked me and I groaned.

"I'm trying to die peacefully."

"Get up idiot, you're not dying," he kicked me harder this time and I opened my eyes to glare at him angrily.

He held on to his blood stained knife and helped me up.

"I thought I was dead."

"No you are not but you won't be lucky next time so get your shit together," he glared angrily at me.

"I can't have anything happening to you. Alpha Raiden will kill me for allowing you patrol and fight rogue wolves and war dogs with us."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

"You better be," he scoffed and walked away, going to check on the others.

I turned to see the war dog that attacked me decapitated. It's head laid at my feet with it's eyes wide open.

I really felt content when this thing wanted to kill me. At least, I was dying in an honorable way in front of battle. Though in my eyes only. To the other wolves, I was dying a revolt for engaging in a fight not meant for women.

Everyone was ok and nobody was hurt. All the war dogs were down and taken care off.

Suddenly arrows flew out in large numbers from the woods.

"Take cover!" Caleb yelled and we all took cover, using anything as a shield. I grabbed the war dog I killed and used it as a shield as the arrows flew over our heads continuously.

"Once they show themselves you shift and you attack. Show them no mercy and be safe," Caleb yelled an order and we all nodded in response.

Caleb was a good leader and he always came back with a lot of kills during each patrol and I respected him for that.

Soon the arrows stopped flying and then the rogue wolves emerged from the woods. Baring their canines at us.

"Are you ready Arla," I called my wolf and she stirred.

"Yes, I'm ready," she replied and then I shifted into my wolf, my bones cracking and readjusting themselves, taking the shape of my wolf and then I handed the reins of control to her.

I howled into the sky and the others did the same too as the rogue wolves attacked in full force. There were like eight of them while we were just six.

One of the rogue wolves slammed itself into me, pushing me against a tree. I recovered quickly and clawed it face, drawing blood out. It howled in pain, backing away. Not giving it time to recover, I kicked it in the belly with my hinge legs, sending it flying several feets away.

It laid sprawled on the ground still alive but badly injured.

"Let's make it easier for the wolf by ending it's life now," I suggested to Arla and she nodded, accepting the idea.

With one swipe of my claws, I beheaded the wolf, detaching it's head from it's body and it shifted back to a naked man.

Another wolf attacked me from behind, going for my neck but I felt it coming and side tracked it. I avoided it's attack as it landed roughly on the ground.

It recovered quickly and charged at me again, aiming at my throat. I flipped behind it and bit down on its tail. It howled loudly in pain as I swung it away, slamming it against a rock.

I heard one of it's bones snap; it seemed like he broke his spine. I approached the wolf as it watched me with fear in it's eyes, unable to attack me due to it's immobile state.

"This won't take too long," I said to him and then ripped his heart out of his chest. I ended his life for good, and watched him close his eyes in death.

"Wow, you took on two wolves, impressive," Caleb applauded me and he had a proud smile on his face as he approached me. He had shifted back to human already.

"Well what can I say. I have the best teacher," I grinned and wagged my tail happily.

"Sure you do," he rubbed my head and I purred.

"Here," he threw some clothes at me and I caught them with my fangs.

"Get changed and make sure your disguise is in place. We can't allow the others to know you're a female."

I nodded and backed away behind a big tree, going to change. I shifted back to human and wore my loose trousers and big shirt.

I also wore my mask, hiding my hair behind my mask and went to join the others.

"Nice job everyone, let's round them up and burn them," Caleb ordered and we set to work, gathering all their bodies. There were six humans and seven war dogs. I thought they were five, no wonder two attacked me at once.

We gathered the bodies together and set them ablaze watching them burn.

It was our custom to always burn the enemy's dead bodies. It was believed that when we did that, it made their spirits leave completely.

After patrolling around to be sure that there was no more pending danger, we left going back to our homes.

I left for my house after bading Caleb goodbye. I didn't know if I was going to see him again before I headed to the palace and be married off to the Prince.

I sneaked into my room through the window. I didn't want to pass through the front door because I was smeared with blood.

"Where are you coming from Imelda," I heard Scarlet's shrill voice making me land on the floor startled.

"You scared me," I glared at her trying to stabilize my breathing.

"I asked you a question young lady," she glared back at me and I rolled my eyes.

"I went for a hunt." I stood up from the ground, undressing. I dumped my clothes in my laundry basket and wrapped myself in a towel.

"Hunting are for males Imelda your work is to....."

"Stay at home, learn to be an obedient mate, bear pups and take care of them blah blah blah..." I interrupted, rolling my eyes.

"Give me a break mom," I walked into the bathroom leaving her in the room.

"What would I do with you," I heard her sigh and I scoffed, pretending not to hear her.

"Get prepared, we leave for the palace tomorrow," she said and I ignored her, soaking myself in my bathtub.

I heard I shut the door behind her and I smiled in relief, knowing that she was gone.

"This is really happening Arla," I whispered.

"Yea, I know. We'll be fine I promise," she assured me and I sighed languidly.