LEGACY OF THE SILVER WOLF

Broken Wings

Aria's POV

Rough hands grabbed me before I could even scream. The rogue's fingers dug into my arms like claws, dragging me through the forest as branches tore at my skin and clothes. I thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but I was too weak from the rejection. My wolf Luna whimpered helplessly in my mind, still too damaged to help me shift.

"Let me go!" I screamed, but my voice only echoed through the empty woods. No one would hear me. No one would come.

"Shut up!" The scarred rogue backhanded me across the face. Stars exploded behind my eyes and blood filled my mouth from my split lip. "Save your energy, little pup. You'll need it."

They dragged me for what felt like hours until we reached their camp, a collection of dirty tents and makeshift shelters hidden deep in the mountains. The smell hit me first: unwashed bodies, rotting food, and death. My stomach churned as they threw me to the ground in the center of the camp.

Other rogues emerged from the shadows, circling me like vultures. Their eyes gleamed with cruel hunger as they looked at me over and over again. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to make myself smaller, but there was nowhere to hide.

"Look what we found wandering alone in our territory," the scarred rogue announced. "A rejected little omega, fresh from her first heartbreak."

They laughed, harsh, ugly sounds that made my skin crawl. One of them kicked dirt at me, and I flinched, tears already streaming down my cheeks.

"Please," I whispered. "I didn't know this was your territory. I'll leave, I promise.."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere," a female rogue with missing teeth sneered. She grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked my head back. "We haven't had this much fun in months."

What followed was a nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. They took turns hitting me, kicking me, pulling my hair until I screamed. When I tried to curl into a ball to protect myself, they grabbed my arms and legs, stretching me out so I couldn't defend myself.

"Stop, please!" I sobbed, but they only laughed harder.

One rogue burned me with a hot poker from their fire. The smell of my own flesh burning filled the air as I screamed until my throat was raw. Another carved shallow cuts into my arms with a dirty knife, watching with sick pleasure as blood ran down my skin.

"Cry louder," the female rogue taunted, slapping me across the face again and again. "I love the sound of a broken wolf."

I lost track of time. Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like days. My body was on fire with pain, covered in bruises, cuts, and burns. My clothes were torn to shreds. I couldn't stop crying, great, heaving sobs that shook my entire body.

I want to die,I thought desperately. Please, moon goddess, just let me die.

Luna was silent in my mind, too traumatized to even whimper anymore. I felt completely alone, more broken than when Kade rejected me. At least that had been quick. This was torture, designed to break my spirit piece by piece.

Just as I thought I couldn't take anymore, a deep, commanding voice cut through the laughter.

"ENOUGH!"

The rogues immediately stepped back, their heads bowed in submission. I looked up through swollen, tear-filled eyes to see a massive man approaching. He was easily seven feet tall with long black hair and scars covering his muscular arms. His eyes were the color of steel, cold and calculating.

This had to be their Alpha.

"What did I tell you about bringing me damaged goods?" he growled, his voice making the other rogues cower. "Look at her, she's half dead."

"Sorry, Alpha Marcus," the scarred rogue stammered. "We just wanted to have some fun.."

"Fun?" Marcus's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Get out of my sight before I decide to have some fun with you."

The rogues scattered like leaves in the wind, leaving me alone with their terrifying leader. I tried to crawl away, but my body was too broken to move properly. Every breath sent sharp pain through my ribs.

Marcus crouched down beside me, studying me like I was an interesting specimen. His presence made my skin crawl, but at least he wasn't actively hurting me.

"What's your name, little wolf?" he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer. I might be broken, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of cooperation.

He chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Strong-willed. I like that. It makes breaking you so much more satisfying."

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "I'll ask again. What's your name?"

When I still didn't answer, he squeezed harder until I gasped in pain. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, little wolf. Trust me, you don't want the hard way."

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks, but I kept my mouth shut. He could torture me all he wanted, I wouldn't give him anything.

"Fine," Marcus said, releasing my chin. "We'll try a different approach. What pack are you from?"

Silence.

"Who rejected you? Because I can smell the severed mate bond all over you."

My heart clenched at the reminder of Kade's rejection, but I still said nothing.

Marcus sighed dramatically. "You know, I was hoping we could be civilized about this. I have some very important questions, and you're going to answer them whether you want to or not."

He stood up and walked to a nearby tent, returning with a silver chain. My eyes widened in horror, silver burned werewolves on contact, a weakness we all shared.

"This belonged to the last stubborn wolf who refused to cooperate," he said, letting the chain dangle from his fingers. "She lasted three days before she told me everything I wanted to know. Shall we see how long you last?"

The silver touched my wrist and I screamed. It felt like liquid fire burning through my skin, down to the bone. The smell of burning flesh filled the air again as Marcus wrapped the chain around both my wrists.

"Now," he said calmly, as if he wasn't torturing me. "Let's start simple. What's your name?"

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood, but I wouldn't speak. I couldn't. If I start talking, I might tell him about the pack, about their weaknesses, about where they were vulnerable. I couldn't betray them, even after what Kade did to me.

"No?" Marcus seemed almost impressed. "Well, this is going to be interesting."

He stood up and walked toward another tent. "Don't go anywhere," he called over his shoulder with a cruel laugh. "We'll continue our conversation in the morning. I have some special tools I think you'll find very persuasive."

As he disappeared into the tent, I collapsed onto the cold ground, the silver chains burning deeper into my wrists with every movement. My body was broken, my spirit shattered, but somehow I was still alive.

The question was: would I want to be here by tomorrow?

A new scent drifted through the camp then, familiar and terrifying. More wolves were coming. A lot of them. And they didn't smell like rogues..