Claimed by a Stranger

Chapter Nineteen

It was getting late and everyone seemed to be asleep, which was the perfect time to sneak out. There were kids lined up in sleeping bags on the floor, some softly snoring. I walked by them and made my way through the door. Freedom was mine. I sighed as a hand grabbed my arm. I froze mid-step.

“You’re taking me with you,” Zack whispered.

Relief washed over me as I turned to face him. “You scared the crap out of me.”

He chuckled and said, “Sorry, let’s go.”

I nodded and we left.

“What’s the plan?” He asked.

“Plan? I was just going to wing it.” I chuckled with a small smile on my lips.

“Seriously?” He almost sounded nervous.

“No, we’re going to go to the war ground and when the fight starts, we’ll jump in. My dad can’t send me home then,” I said.

“Sounds well thought out.” He chuckled.

“I had plenty of time to think of one today,” I said. It was kind of on the spot, but he didn’t have to know that.

“I say we beat them there and warn them when the rogues are coming.”

“Only one problem with that plan.”

“What’s that?” He smirked at me.

“They are already there, so genius, any other plans?”

“We could still warn them when the rogues were coming,” he said.

“Fine. We’ll wing it,” I said as I walked to the backyard after I made sure no one was there. I stopped at the back door and poked my head out. I didn’t smell anyone.

“What are you doing?” Zack asked.

“Better safe than sorry.” He shrugged and walked out into the backyard.

I rolled my eyes and followed him out into the woods where we shifted into our wolves. I shook my body, which yearned for a run; I ignored that feeling and headed deeper into the woods with Zack on my tail.

“Okay now what’s your plan let’s not ‘wing it’,” he chuckled at my words.

“You think you’re funny?” I playfully growled. “Anyway, we’re going to scout for rogues.”

“You’re going with my idea?” He barked.

“Maybe.”

“Sweet.” He sounded like a child.

“Focus,” I warned.

We jogged for a while before I picked up a scent.

“Rogues,” I said.

“And our pack,” he said. “Do you think they’ve already started?”

“Smells like it,” I answered.

Soon I picked up the smell of blood mixed with many wolves, “So much for your plan”.

“Let’s hurry and find them,” he said. I nodded as we both picked up our pace.

Running through the woods, the scents grew stronger. Soon I found wolves littering the ground, so far none that I recognized. Every time we found one, I hoped it wasn’t from our pack and so far I have been lucky. Then I caught a scent I recognized. I walked over to the dark blood stained wolf, it was Sam, the new guard.

“Isn’t that Sam?” Zack’s voice rang through my head.

“Yeah.” He was so young. I touched my nose to his before continuing on our hunt for the others.

“What was that about?” Zack asked

“It’s something we do when a pack member passes in their wolf form, it’s a way of saying good-bye” I answered.

“Oh,” was all he said. I was a little bit surprised he didn’t know. He was at the age where he was taught the rules and rituals.

“We’re getting closer.” I could hear the wolves fighting in the distance.

They were getting louder; I heard a deep howl, dad. Then two wolves barrelled in front of me. It was Grant and a rogue. I grabbed the back of the rogue’s neck and pulled him off a blood stained Grant; Grant quickly ended the rogue.

“What are you doing here,” Grants voice boomed in my head.

“You really expected me to stay there,” I growled.

“No, but your dad is not going to be pleased,” he growled.

“I am going to help whether or not he likes it. I am the next Alpha.”

“Fine, but go straight to your dad,” he said. Who died and made him boss? I decided not to fight him on this one.

“Take me to him,” I ordered.

He nodded in reply. We crept along the edge of the woods just before the battle grounds. Another loud howl pierced through the night air. Suddenly Grant burst through the woods and ran straight for dad; Zack and I followed close behind.

“Grant I thought I had lost y-“ he stopped talking when he saw me. “What on earth are you doing here?” He growled.

“I am not staying in that safe room while my pack is here fighting,” I said, feeling the rage build in the put of my stomach.

“Grant, take her and him back, now,” dad howled.

“No. I came to help, please, I am already here,” I said.

“You disobeyed a direct order.”

“Dad arguing isn’t going to solve anything, let me stay.” A rogue rushed at us, but Grant leaped at him.

“He needs hel-“ before I could finish my sentence, Zack leapt over and helped Grant.

“You can’t do it all on your own.”

“There will be consequences when you get home.” I nodded, glad he let me stay. “You are not to leave my side,” he growled.

I followed my dad into the woods; we were running the rogues back. I started to recognize where we were from last night, we were heading in the right direction.

“You got to stay?” Jason’s voice boomed in my head.

“Yeah. I thought he was going to kill me when he saw me,” I replied. “But I can’t leave his side.”

“I would have guessed something like that.” Jason was now running alongside me.

“Focus you two,” dad snapped.

The stench of rogues filled my nose, we were getting closer.

“We’re getting close,” dad said before stopping. “They’re out of our border.”

“We have to go farther,” I said. “We have to get Samuel.” I missed him so much, not being with him literally felt like I was being stabbed over and over again. “And we need to drive them out for good,” I added, covering up my whole Samuel thing up.

“Yes. I think that is a wise decision,” Lucas said in agreement. Am I dreaming? Did, Lucas Cross, just agree with me? “Can you stop with the “I’m about to faint look,” Lucas growled.

“It does seem like a wise idea,” dad said before he looked over at Lucas and blocked everyone else out.

Private planning. I wanted to join them. I wanted to be in on all the plans. I have been getting used to the idea of being next in line, but its hard when dad doesn’t let me in on anything. How am I supposed to learn if I can’t listen in?

A few minutes later rogues began to appear, leaping out from the bushes and attacking our pack. We re-grouped and had back-to-back support.

“Ambush,” Lucas howled as more rogues leaped out of the bushes.

A loud howl sounded from behind us, it was was back-up. More pack members ran to our side.

“I have your back,” Jason said me.

“Watch your left,” I shouted as voices filled my head.

“There are more on the way,” our scout yelled.

I looked at the direction we were heading in. Oh no. Tons of wolves came running at us, baring their teeth.