The Final Star (Book Four: The Star Series)

Chapter 5

My head shoots up and I stare at the bushes. The growling gets louder. I straighten up. I slowly slide to the left so I won't hit the tree I'm leaning against and take a step backwards. I don't take my eyes off of the bush. Then I see a pair of glowing eyes and I take another step backwards just to hit against something hard.

I slowly turn around when I'm hit suddenly across the face. I fall to the ground and all I can think is Jared has found me. I look up and see Lily standing there with a smirk on her face. "Lily." I say and quickly stand up. A wolf slowly walks out of the bushes from behind me and starts pacing around. I slowly side step to my left so that I can turn to keep both Lily and the wolf in my line of sight.

"Look what we found Lou. A rogue." Lily says smiling. The wolf, who I know know is Lou, Lilys best friend, growls again. "What do we do with rogues that are on our territory?" Lily asks and Lou jumps towards me and clamps her jaws together. I jump back.

"I don't want any trouble. I'm just passing through. Please. I need to go before they notice I'm gone." I say taking another step back. "Who, your uncle's? Those filthy vampires? Maybe we just keep you here and when they come looking for you we can take care of them too. Maybe if we take care of them Charlie would see how useful I am." Lily says smiling to herself.

"No, you don't understand. No offense but your no match for them. They are hybrids. Vampire and Warlock. You'll never be able to take them alone. Please just let me go." I say. "I'll tell you what rogue." Lily starts. "You go ahead. I'll give you a little head start. I love hunting down my next meal." She finishes menacingly and then she shifts into a tan wolf with brown spots. She barks and growls and so does Lou. I turn and run as fast as I can.

After about a minute I can hear them behind me. Well that wasn't a very good head start. I think to myself. But I keep running. I head towards the river. If I can get to the water I can disguise my scent and lose them. I suddenly get a sharp pain in my side. I don't stop I keep running. I can see the river ahead.

Next thing I know I'm knocked to the ground from behind. I hear a loud growl in my ear. I use all my strength the roll over. It's Lily. I take my leg and kick her as hard as I can in the stomach. She stumbles back just far enough for me to get to my feet. She growls and lunges forward with her jaw open and tries to bite me. I step to the side just to be met by Lous front paw. She slices her claws at me and they rip down my shoulder.

Then suddenly the pain I felt in my side returns and it's radiating through the whole middle of my body. I fall to my knees and scream out in pain. I look up and see Lily and Lou have both shifted back to human form. I feel like my body is on fire. I scream again and reach out towards Lily. "Oh, what's wrong little rogue? Can't take a little scratch?" She says mockingly and her and Lou both start laughing. "Please, something's wrong. Please help me." I say through my teeth.

Lily steps forward and I think she's going to help me when she swiftly kicks me in the stomach. "Maybe you'll learn to stay away from Charlie. He's mine." She growls and kicks me again. I fall to my side and scream in pain. I hear a c***k and then another. I don't see Lily or Lou and I don't feel any hits but I feel my bones breaking. I can't help but scream. It feels like every bone in my body is breaking. Why are they doing this to me? I think to myself as the pain is almost unbearable.

"Holy s**t Lil, I think she's shifting." I hear Lou say. "She's only a sophomore. She's not old enough to shift." Lily says. "I'm out of here. I thought we were just going to mess with her. This is too much. Charlie gave us an order." Lou says. "Fine you can go I'll take care of this pathetic rogue myself." I hear Lily say.

I can't be shifting. I'm only fourteen. I think to myself but the pain is so unbearable I can't think about it foe another second. My head gets pulled back by my hair. I open my eyes to see Lily. "I can't believe Charlie hangs out with something like you." She says and her first comes down across my jaw. I fall back onto my knees and the next thing I know the pain is completely gone. I turn around quickly to fave Lily and when I do I see she has a terrified look on her face.

"What is your problem? What have I ever done to you?" I scream. But no words come out. All I hear is the most ferocious growl I have ever heard. Lily shifts and lunges at me. Suddenly I hear a voice inside my head. "I got this. Just relax." Im shocked that a voice I've never heard is in my head. And suddenly I'm moving without even doing anything. And I notice that Lou was right. I've shifted. I'm in wolf form. How could this be.

And I'm shocked when I look up and its almost like I'm watching a movie. I see Lily biting and swiping her claws. And I am flawlessly side stepping her every time. Then I go for her neck. She ia pinned the the ground hee neck in my jaws. One bite and shes done. I growl, or my wolf does I guess. I'm still really confused. And I'm shocked when Lily arcs her head in submission. I back away from her and she gets up and instantly runs away.

I walk over to the river. It's different walking with four feet so I stumble for a second. I look down into my reflection and see a beautiful white wolf with bright glowing green eyes.