Rejected By One Alpha, Claimed By Four

CH 10: The Wrong Prey

Nishi

‘I can't shift, dear.’ Moon whispers in her mind.

‘Don't worry, I know how to fight. Joshua teaches me fights.’ Nishi said in mind.

Nishi stepped backward slowly, her breathing uneven as her eyes locked onto the man standing in front of her.

The rogue leader watched her with quiet interest, as if her fate had already been decided the moment he found her.

“You should not have come this far into the forest alone,” he said calmly.

Nishi’s fingers curled into fists despite the tremble running through her body.

“I did not come here by choice.” Nishi said confidently.

The man tilted his head slightly, studying her more carefully.

“No, look like you were running from somewhere.” He said after a moment.

“And now you are failing.” His gaze shifted to the blood staining her arm and clothes.

Nishi forced herself to stand straighter, ignoring the sharp pain spreading through her body.

“I am not as weak as you think.” Nishi said.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

“Every prey says that.” He chuckles.

“I am not prey.” Nishi’s jaw tightened.

“She can barely stand.” One of the rogues behind him laughed loudly.

“She will not last long.” Another added with amusement,

The leader raised his hand slightly, silencing them without taking his eyes off Nishi.

“Your scent is unusual, strong, something I never smell.” he said.

Nishi stilled.

“Do you know how much someone would pay for that?” He continued.

Her stomach twisted in fear and anger.

“I am not going anywhere with you.” Nishi snapped him.

The leader’s expression did not change.

“That is not your decision.” He chuckles.

Nishi took a slow breath, forcing her body to respond despite the weakness threatening to collapse her.

“Then come and take me.” She said challenging tone.

A brief silence followed.

“Interesting.” The leader smiled.

Without warning, one of the rogues lunged toward her.

Nishi reacted instantly.

She stepped aside and drove her elbow into his throat with sharp precision. The rogue choked and staggered backward, clutching his neck.

Another rushed her from the side.

Nishi turned and struck his knee with force. The joint bent unnaturally, and the rogue collapsed with a cry of pain.

A third rogue grabbed her injured arm.

Pain exploded through her shoulder.

Nishi gasped, but she forced herself to move.

She twisted sharply and slammed her forehead into his face. Blood burst from his nose as he stumbled back.

For a brief moment, the forest filled with chaos.

Then it stopped.

Nishi stood in the center of them, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her body trembled violently.

“I told you,” she said breathlessly.

“I am not weak.”

The rogue leader’s eyes darkened slightly.

“No, You are not weak. But you are still outmatched.” His voice lowered.

He moved blink of eyes.

This time, Nishi could not react in time.

His hand struck her wrist, twisting it painfully before she could pull away. Her body turned with the force, and his other hand slammed brutally into her stomach.

The air exploded from her lungs.

Nishi dropped to her knees instantly.

Her vision blurred. Still, she tried to rise again.

“I will not…” Nishi struggle.

The leader grabbed her shoulder and forced her back down.

“You have spirit. But spirit does not win against power.” He said with cold smile.

Nishi tried to push him away, but her strength was fading too quickly.

'I cannot help…' Inside her mind, her wolf’s voice flickered weakly.

“I know…” Nishi’s breath shook.

The leader studied her for a long moment. Then his expression shifted. Cold calculation replaced everything else.

“Do not kill her.” He stood slowly.

The other rogues paused.

“She fought back. Why keep her?” One of them frowned.

The leader did not look away from Nishi.

“Because she is valuable.” The leader said.

He stepped closer again, crouching slightly in front of her.

“Your scent alone will bring a fortune. My Rogue King will like you. Maybe, I get big amount from your beautful body and blood.” He said with meaningful tone.

Nishi’s heart dropped.

“No…” she whispered weakly.

The leader ignored her.

“Tied her carefully.” He told other rogue.

“The boss will like this one.” Another rogue smirked.

Nishi tried to stand again, but her legs failed her completely. Her body swayed.

“Enough! sweet dreams.” The leader exhaled lightly. He struck the side of her head.

The world spun violently. Darkness rushed into her vision.

The last thing she heard was his voice.

“Move fast. We leave before anyone tracks us.”

****

Elsewhere

Far from the clearing, something shifted. The bond snapped sharply.

Adrian stopped instantly.

Mikhail stepped forward.

'My King?' He use mindlink.

'She is in danger.' Adrian’s voice dropped, cold and dangerous.

'What happened?' Darius turned sharply.

“She is losing consciousness.”

Lucian’s eyes darkened.

“She is not alone. I smell rogues around.” Cole focused deeply, tracking the bond.

“There are multiple presences around her.” Daniel said.

“Rogues. Looking for death.' Ryder’s body tensed.

Darius stepped forward immediately.

'Direction?' He asked.

'She is ahead.' Adrian lifted his head slightly, locking onto the bond.

His voice turned lethal.

“No one touches her.” His wolf growled dangarus.

Without another word, all eight of them moved.

The Hunt began.

Eight wolves tore through the forest like a storm.

Adrian led them, his massive silver wolf moving with terrifying speed, driven by the burning pull of the mate bond.

Every emotion Nishi felt slammed into them again and again.

Darius ran beside him, his growl constant and filled with fury.

Lucian moved silently, his sharp gaze scanning every shadow.

Ryder followed close behind, his power barely contained.

Behind them, their Betas moved in perfect coordination.

Mikhail tracked distance and speed.

Daniel analyzed terrain and threats.

Cole monitored the bond’s fluctuations.

Marcus secured their formation.

Then Adrian stopped. The others halted instantly.

Adrian’s gaze snapped toward a clearing ahead. Five rogues aee dragging an unconscious body.

His mate.

Something inside him broke. His wolf surged forward without hesitation.

The first rogue died instantly.

Adrian’s silver wolf crashed into him, jaws tearing through his throat as blood sprayed across the ground.

The second rogue turned in shock, but Darius was already upon him. His jaws crushed bone, ending him in seconds.

The third rogue tried to shift.

Lucian moved faster. His claws struck with precision, crushing the rogue’s neck.

Ryder slammed into the fourth rogue with overwhelming force, sending his body crashing into a tree.

Only the leader remained. He stumbled backward, fear finally breaking through his expression.

“You do not understand...” The leader tried to say.

Darius stepped forward slowly, his eyes filled with death.

“We did not know she was yours....”His words turned into a scream as Ryder slammed him to the ground.

“NOW YOU KNOW SHE IS OURS!” Ryder roared.

The rogue trembled. But Adrian suddenly growled sharply. Darius froze. Lucian lifted his head.

That single moment allowed the rogue to escape into the darkness.

Ryder moved to chase him.

'Let him go.' Adrian stopped him.

Their attention shifted to her.

Nishi lay motionless on the ground. Her body was pale. Blood covered the white fabric wrapped around her.

Adrian shifted into human form instantly.

His hands were steady, but something deeper trembled beneath as he lifted her carefully into his arms.

Her skin felt cold. Too cold.

Darius shifted beside him, fury burning in his eyes.

“They touched her…” Darius's blood boiled.

Lucian knelt beside them, his voice calm but urgent.

“She is alive, but barely. We must move now.” Lucian suggest with heavy breaths.

Ryder shifted last, his expression dark and dangerous. Adrian pulled Nishi closer against his chest.

The bond pulsed painfully between them. But its become less when they feel Nishi closer.

They snuff her scnets to vlam down.

“She has lost too much blood.Victor, prepare the royal doctor.” Lucian voice dropped into quiet command.

“I have already informed him, my King.” Victor stepped forward immediately.

Darius looked toward the forest where the rogue had escaped.

“That one will bring trouble.” Darius said.

"Lwt him." Lucian’s gaze darkened slightly.

Cole spoke quietly.

“We are ready.”

“We always are.” Marcus nodded once.

"Good. I'm ready to snapped some ungly necks." Ryder’s expression hardened.

Adrian stood carefully, holding Nishi as though she were the most fragile thing in the world.

“We are taking her home.” Adrian said.

And in that moment, every man standing in that clearing understood one truth.

Anyone who touched their mate again.

Would start a war.