Alpha Caleb and the Blessed Wolf

14.

NIKITA

Red eyes, mangy matted fur, the stench of filth and rot greeted us as the rogues leapt from behind the tree line. Their sharp teeth snapped and growls echoed. I was frozen as around 20 of them circled around us our backs to the icy river there was no where to run.

They attacked in pairs. Acting only on instinct while my mind just wanted to run away and hide. Training vs a real fight is very different.

Ducking and rolling into a crouch position as one leapt towards me. It's buddy came from the side as I turned elbowing it's jaw. The rogues movements were unrefined and wild with viciousness and a determination to kill. I dodged and deflected using whatever little training I had.

Harnessing some of my wolf's strength in a partial shift, sharp claws extended and fangs elongated I slashed the belly of one rogue and quickly kicked and slashed away another. But the attacks kept coming in waves with little time for reprieve before the next strike.

I managed to kill a few, my first ever kills and I wanted to be sick. I was overwhelmed fighting for my life my body was scratched, bleeding and sore I didn't know how much more I could handle. Looking over to Ryker for help, but he was taking on a lot more than I. Watching as he expertly slashed, punched and kicked almost half a dozen rogues like in a dance of death. He was elegant and powerful, a great warrior.

The momentary pause left me unprotected as sharp fangs took me by surprise biting into my already injured leg. The pain was excruciating, making something inside snap.

It was like diving into white hot lava, drawing on more power than I had ever felt before. Time stopped. My wolf's growl melded with my scream. We felt as one, felt the earth ripple beneath my feet, and the wind billow. I could sense the night and the moon.

I was powerful.

Grabbing the rogue before it could rip a chunk of flesh off my thigh. One hand on the top of its snout and the other gripped the underside of its jaw then with one pull I ripped its jaw right off the joint bone letting it fall to the ground dead.

Bright red bood gushed down my leg. I wasn't sure were my blood started and the rogues blood ended. The bite must have punctured an artery, I was losing blood quickly. s**t.

My beast focused, sensing the fear and uncertainty oozing from them, at my display of power. I could feel the soul of each wolf, could feel the push and pull of the moon's power. Claws digging into the earth my wolf called on the more of the moon goddess.

Taking a backseat in my mind letting my wolf take control, somehow she knew what to do. We could almost reach into their minds feel the connection between human and wolf, feel their life threads on the web of fate, see their memories and how they became this way. They had all stopped their advances and their red eyes now clouded pure white like my own as I delved into their minds controlling and twisting their thoughts. I created a form of madness in their heads. Lunacy.

Some tore at their skulls in agony becoming erratic as if trying to claw away the pain inside their head. One ran head first into a tree, a few others fled and some lay down whimpering in sorrow for it to end. The ones left whimpering were begging for freedom, for death, for peace, for the release of a broken mate bond. My heartached at their pain, their reason for becoming rogues. I didn't blame them for wanting release from Selene's mate bond, to not feel lost anymore. I couldn't stop their memories from flooding into my own head it was starting to hurt me and I was weakening. One day when I learnt to control my power maybe I would find them and try help them.

Ryker who had shifted into his wolf at some point was becoming affected by the strange power too. I didn't know how to release it, to stop it, and quite frankly right now I was just freaking the f**k out.

Scarlet red blood ran down leg. Black spots danced in front of my eyes and I welcomed the heavy blackness overtaking my senses. With my body going numb, my knees felt weak giving out and with no energy left to protect my fall. Expecting the impact, I flinched at the thought of hitting the hard ground but the ground never came.

Instead strong arms wrapped around my waist. Relaxing into Ryker's embrace. Always my protector, always my best friend, he was my last piece of home and in that moment I knew why I should choose him over the mate bond.

"Don't worry sweetheart. I'll save you from the rogues." A deep, husky voice whispered in my ear, behind the scent of blood was peppermint and sandlewood. His breath tickled the hairs on my neck and his warmth was devine. It wasn't Ryker's arms holding me but the arms of my nightmare, Prince Caleb.

CALEB

"Sir, what is happening?" Valentina said. Even for a hard ass Gamma she was struggling with the pain inside her skull. Many of my squad warriors were already on their knees as we approached the river. The scent of blood and the sound of piercing cries guided us to our target.

"Hendrix, take the one's who can't handle it back to the trucks and wait for us there. Val gather a small group to wait here for my signal." She and Hendrix nodded.

"I'm going ahead"

"Sir, it's not safe. I'm coming with you." Valentina said before ordering the small squadron to be positioned ready and wait. There was never any point to argue with Val she was fierce and loyal and when she doesn't get her way down right scary.

Rogues clawed at their heads, some running around crashing into trees and tripping over other wolves to get away from the pain. I saw others running away howling and then there were some lying on the ground at Nikita's feet whimpering with pleading eyes. Nikita herself once again looking like a flaming Goddess in the moon light. Eyes pure white and glowing half shifted with claws and fangs extended.

My own wolf was in pain, memories of my mother playing, laughing with me then becoming an empty shell after my brother died. My father who was always cold becaming abusive punishing me until my wolf became an Alpha. Flashes of my childhood searing my skull. But I had hardend my heart closed myself off to emotions long ago the memories couldn't hurt me anymore. The visions reminded me why I needed to get to her not for the mate bond but she was revenge for my brother and mom.

She hadn't seen me yet as I approached from behind. Concern flashed inside me at the sight of blood gushing from her leg, the same one that had been shot. Swaying unsteadily on her feet as her power started to wane. Pushing forward to get to her when a growl caught my attention. That f*****g boy.

I could tell it was him in wolf form because of his golden brown pretty boy wolf and his protective stance. As much as I wanted to kill this little s**t I wanted to get to Nikita more.

The boy ran toward her and pounced. It was in those seconds Nikita's energy finally gave out, knees buckled and I wrapped my hands around her small waist.

"Don't worry sweetheart. I'll save you from the rogues." I whispered in her ear. I hadn't even noticed when Valentina tackled the fucker mid pounce, I was too focused on the fiery little angel in my arms. s**t, did I really just think that I meant my fiery prey.

Valentina anf the boy were now rolling, snapping and clawing at each other on the ice covered river. At that moment I didn't care about killing him myself. Val is one tough nut she could handle him. All I cared about right then was making sure this girl came with me.

Scooping her into my arms I ran back to the trucks barking orders at the squadron Val had kept close as backup. They were to stay and wait for Val the rest of us would move out and return to pack grounds.

Thankfully back with Hendrix's team we had warriors that were trained as field medics. I just had to make it back to them in time. Tugging on my wolf strength I ran quickly back to the waiting trucks.