Go Rogue

CHAPTER 7: IS LITTLE WOLF REBELLING?

-RAGNAR-

I snap my fingers in the air, and the men resume their training. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I turn around, heading down the mountain.

Now I was certain that the little wolf wouldn't go running away, I was free to do the more important things.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ryker change form, his muscles flexing, fingers extending into claws till a wolf stood where he was and bounded down the mountain, catching up with me at the foot.

I close my eyes briefly, shifting the silver scythe from one hand to the other. The weapon of death was getting even heavier in my hands the longer I went without killing. It didn't appreciate being carried around like a staff when it was meant for killing. So was the restraint I was struggling to keep.

"You don't have to follow me, Ryker," I say after a while.

The huge white wolf had fallen into step beside me. His thoughts filter into my head. Ryker sometimes spent more time as a wolf than a human. He was one of the few shifters left. He didn't experience pain when shifting like other wolves. And through the time we spent together, I learnt how to read him, knowing what he was thinking whenever he was in wolf form.

"The girl can't be trusted right now," Ryker the wolf gave a low growl, airing his displeasure.

We start down a wide clearing that leads back to the main city.

"She's a crucial part of my mission, Ryker," I say as patiently as I can. "I need you to understand that. I don't know how yet, but she plays a part in my victory or downfall."

Ryker growls something about not believing in prophecies and instincts.

I chuckle. A fighter is what I need right now. I've seen Zoya fight with modern yet underhanded techniques, the kind of skills that make people like me interested. If I was right about her, then I wanted her to be on my side.

We walk through a small village in the red fang pack. The streets are mostly empty—no kids or women on the street as dusk falls on the village, tinting the sky with warm orange. Windows open and shut as we walk past. Some people stare out of their houses in curiosity. And yet, there was an unmistakable gloom over the place: traces of dry blood on the ground, a roof bent out of place, broken chairs and doors of a restaurant.

My eyes sweep over the place in an instant, guessing that there had been a rogue attack.

I clench my fist.

It was always like this, one attack after the other. It was only rogues that would attack a small, helpless village and leave it so lifeless.

"Wait here," I instruct Ryker, stopping in front of a damaged door. I knock cautiously.

There is no reply.

The door creaks loudly as I push it open, leading into a small, dark room where a middle-aged lady sits on the couch, staring into the distance.

"Excuse me," I dust my boots and rest my scythe on the door frame before stepping inside.

"There've been rogue attacks in this district. I'm here to help," I'm straightforward enough, bending my head slightly, silently cursing at the low roof.

Her head snaps up at the mention of rogues. I catch the way her hand fidgets on her lap. She fiddles with the small handset on her lap. "Bad, bad rogues..." she mutters.

They must have attacked her, I guess, seeing as she was in a state of after shock.

I look around the small room. The only other furniture was broken tables. The cracked stone ground and shattered windows confirm what I need to know.

I walk forward, crouching down next to the woman. "Tell me everything you know about them, and I promise to go after them immediately."

She looks up, her eyes meeting mine. "They come in the dead of night. Sometimes they kidnap children. The red fang Alpha rallied his forces around the stronger towns, leaving the villages populated by omegas to suffer." She takes a shaky breath.

"The East hollows village has been reduced to a skeleton. They're heading for the Iron clad village next."

I rise to my feet, my eyes going cold. "And I'll be ready for them."

I'm about to go when I turn back, glancing at the phone on her lap. "There's a phone booth somewhere, right?" I fish out some notes from my pocket. "Let me borrow your handset."

She looks at me again, perhaps seeing that everything is already lost, and hands it over wordlessly.

"Iron clad village, we plan an ambush and clash head-on with the rogues tonight." I grab my scythe and walk down the path, leaving the village behind.

Ryker bounds after me, excitement radiating off his white fur.

His wolf thoughts are uncoordinated. The only words filtering into my head are "fight, blood, fight, blood."

We get back to the castle just as the moon starts to come out.

I leave Ryker to rally everybody and get Zoya down. It was time to see if she was worth the trouble I took in recruiting her.

Ten minutes later, a small army gathers at the front hall, all kinds of weapons glinting wickedly in the light.

"Split into two. Once the rogues start to show up, Ryker leads the first half to attack. The other half secures the perimeter, making sure no one escapes."

I scan the sea of faces. There's no reply, only golden eyes that stare back at me as the men clutch their weapons tighter. I pause, sensing something amiss.

Ryker leans at the doorway, a rare moment when he's actually human. I raise an eyebrow in a "where is Zoya" way.

He stands straight, looking around the room in equal shock.

I frown. "Lead the men. I'll meet you at the village."

Everyone marches out, while I use the corridor at the left, taking the spiral stairs up.

I take the left side without bothering to think, because I didn't. The castle was almost like an extension of myself. When I reach Zoya's room, I don't bother to knock, throwing the door open and walking in.

She was right there, sitting at the vanity table, in a floral black gown, slipping deadly little pins into her hair.

"What is the meaning of this?" I growl, my frown deepening.

She stands up, spinning to face me, her nose wrinkling up in disgust. "You know, the doctor was much nicer... didn't forget to knock and all."

I step closer, invading her personal space. She doesn't back down this time, staring up at me with a fierce fire.

"Ryker called you down," I said slowly, every word carefully punctuated.

"Oh, the wolf boy? Didn't knock either. Is it some kind of culture here? Because where I come from, there's this thing called privacy." Zoya must have been really trying to infuriate me because she turned back to the mirror, picking another pin from the table and holding her hair up.

I caught her hand, tugging her closer with such force that she stumbled over the chair with a gasp, landing hard on my chest.

"We're about to go on a fierce battle against rogues. I sent my right-hand man to get you. Not only did you ignore him, but you're up here playing dress up."

I leaned down, lips brushing against her ear, and whisper, my voice low and dangerous. "Is this some kind of rebellion, little wolf?"