Chapter 3 Rogues

"We've been wandering about for a few days now, Athena. Let's find a real bed to sleep in tonight"

I inform Athena as I log my tired body across the sea of trees in my path. I feel my muscles turn to jelly. I'm exhausted. I haven't had real food in days or slept in a real bed.

Hunt. Kill. Eat. Find a warm cave to sleep then repeat. Athena has been my only company in days. Sometimes, I talk out loud to her rather than use my mind. I haven't seen a single soul ever since I left the moonstone pack.

*Snap. The sound of twigs breaking in the far distance catches my attention. My hearing has become sharper the last few days due to hunting. I moved to that location.

"What's a little girl like you doing out here all alone?"

The man bends at waist length to speak to the child. He's a rogue and so were his companions. I would know. I am one too

"I was playing hide and go seek with my daddy"

The little girl answers like the gravity of the situation hasn't dawned on her yet. She hasn't witnessed the horrors of the world yet. She's too young.

"I was hiding with Mr. chuckles and I got lost"

Her eyes started to swell with tears. She's terrified. Not because of those people, because she may never see her Daddy again. I want to walk over there and hug her. Tell her everything is going to be fine and assure her I will find her Dad for her.

I stay put. If I walk over now, it will be me against three and I can't shift into my wolf. the beads will prevent it. If I lose, I'll be putting myself and the little girl in danger. I had to think this through.

I saw an opening and dropped my duffle bag as quietly as I could. I move stealthily behind one of them and quickly snap his neck.

"Hi baby. Can you close your eyes for me"

I tell the little girl without breaking eye contact with the ringleader. She obliged.

"aarrgghh Why are you trying to be a martyr. trust me. It's not worth it."

"I'm not gonna watch you maul a little girl to death for sports"

"You are a rogue like us but don't smell the same way. What are you?"

The second one sniffed the air. I also realised I smelt differently than normal rogues. Something's different about me.

"Since you want to be a hero so bad, why don't you die with her huh"

He throws a jab at me. I barely dodge. The second one moves to stand at the back of the little one. It's a silent threat and a warning.

I wish I could shift at that moment.

"Athena I'm gonna need to you lend me a little of your strength"

This time I launched the attack first. Our fist flew at each other. I may be taller and stronger than most female werewolves but I am no match for a male with apparent training. In no time I'm thrown on the ground.

"Ahhhh"

The little one's cry draws my attention. I find blood trailing down her neck. I look at the second rogue. He smirks.

"I got bored watching you both fight"

Athena snaps the sight of the blood. She takes over and for the first time. I shift in front of another.

Athena is bigger than most wolves. She is huge. As big as an Alpha wolf. I realised that was not normal when I saw the female wolf's of the moonstone pack. All the more reason why I didn't force the shift in front of them.

All Athena saw at that moment was red. She wanted to protect the little cub.

She turns her eyes first to the one who drew the little cub's blood and went in for the kill.

She spared none of his body parts as she bites, claws and dismembers him. The putrid smell of piss enters my nostrils. I snap my head in the direction of the source. The ringleader was shaking in his boots.

"Pl- pl- please sp-spare m-m-e"

His tears and snort mix together and run down his face. Too bad. There will be no Mercy. He's seen my wolf form. I can't leave a witness.

I growl as I walk slowly towards him. I hear his heart race with each step I take. I smell his fear in the air. He knows he's not going to escape my wrath.

He stops pleading and prepares to shift into his wolf. I growl at him to stop his movement. He manages to shift in record time. Fear of death is a strong motivation. I bite him in his hind leg as he completes his transformation.

His wolf growls and bares his teeth at me. That's a sign of challenge. Athena is in her berserk mode. She's not going to let it go.

We launch at each other at the same time. He manages to nip at my shoulders and Athena lets out a whimper before she gains advantage in size. She's bigger than him. She mauls his shoulders, dislocating his joints totally.

He lets out a whimper. Now his wolf is struggling to stand erect on his shaky paws. He's lost. He tries to distract me in order to escape. Athena doesn't give him a chance.

She goes for his neck and bites down. She doesn't stop, not even after she's drawn blood. She only stops when she hears the dull thudding of his heart as it comes to a stop before she drops him.

She walked towards the little cub and licked her neck. She licks until the blood is wiped clean and the wound heals.

She hears the sound of twig snapping and stands in front of the little one in a protective manner.

"Adriana!!"

The voice in the distance shouts.

"Daddy"

I hear the little one say. All I could sense was the looming threat. I was already weak. I had no idea how many were coming. I don't think I can fight them all.

I don't register what she says. All I saw was the threat.

"Adriana"

The voice was closer now. I get ready. My front to the ground, ready to pounce at the intruder.

I see him as he enters my line of vision. He pauses and sniffs the air. He turns to me and takes a step closer.

**Grrrrrr. I growl protectively. No one was going to hurt her.

"Hi beautiful. It's okay. She's safe now"

"Daddy"

The little one took one step in his direction. She trusts him. I let down my guard a little. I still bare my teeth though as I stand to my full height.

*Snap. I hear more footsteps and go back to my protective stance. I look in the direction of the footsteps.

"Hey it's okay. It's okay"

He whispers. I don't notice when the stranger comes closer. I see him lifting his hands and I growl at him in warning.

"It's okay beautiful"

He whispers as he touches my fur. Sparks. I feel sparks. Like electric current running through me at his touch. I don't hear the footsteps anymore, too distracted by what his touch was doing to me.

He hugs me to himself. Athena gives me back control of my body. I felt so weak and exhausted.

"You are safe with me"

I did feel safe in his arms and I passed out. He wastes no time hugging me to his body.