the golden wolf

Rogues

I was up at 4am and ready to start my typical day train for a few hours before the warriors got up and needed the space. After training go get cleaned up, eat breakfast, and start working on my school work. As I was heading to the field I saw my uncle and gave him a hug and told him to stay safe, then continued on my way.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Nova, Noah, and his group of friends waiting for me. I had no clue what they wanted but I wasn’t in the mood, of course I loved Nova but she hates mornings so I’m sure this is Noah’s idea. I give Nova a hug and then start to stretch and get ready to start my 10 mile run, they all start to do the same stretches. 

“What are you guys doing?” I finally break the silence.

“Well you have been doing this for years, and in 2 more we will have to start to train to get ready before we shift. And James has said your workout regimen is how the warriors train  just not the time. So we figured better give it a try now.” Noah replied with a smirk.

“Just try to keep up and no whining, and Nova don’t be stupid like the boys and push yourself to hard. Like your brother said I’ve been doing this for years and worked my way up.” And with that I took off running.

Nova being a female had the speed and was able to do 5 miles in the time it took me to do my 10. The boys were dying at 4 miles and I told them they had to do another to keep up with Nova or lose to a girl. We finished up outside workouts and then headed out the inside gym. I started my boxing skips while they took a little break, it was hilarious when they gave it a try. They kept getting tangled up and eventually gave up, when my morning workout was done I did a few warm down stretches and grabbed a bottle of water. The boys were in rough shape Noah wasn’t as bad as the others and Nova looked ready to pass out.

Come we’re done let’s head back and get clean up. I walked over to Nova and told her to hop on and gave her a piggyback ride back to the house. I turned the shower on hot for her when we made up stairs and left her to go take a shower myself. When I was done I got dressed and threw my hair up in a bun to deal with after I ate I was starving. When I made it to the dining hall they all looked ready to pass out in their breakfast. I laughed and said same time tomorrow guys, all I got in response was groans. Alpha Michael and Luna Marie looked in our direction and just shook their heads. 

I went over to talk with them seeing as now that I have 

Artemis, I would love to learn to train in wolf form. I wasn’t going to tell them I shifted. Just that with me close to finishing my high school year, since I work all year long I would like to come up with my own ideas as well. I was able to get them to agree for me to watch the wolves train as long as when the time comes I train with the pack as a unit.

After breakfast the day goes by fast. I got a lot of my school work done. And was able to go out and watch everyone training in their wolf form. Artemis seems excited for us to start training, and getting to know each other better. After watching everyone train I decided to go into the woods and let Artemis go for a run, before my friends got home from school and came looking for me.

I sniffed the air to make sure I was alone, and then quickly undressed. The sound of my bones breaking filled the air, it didn’t hurt at all this time just felt like pins and needles. I let Artemis take control so she could explore and stretch out her legs. We stayed close to the waterfall and my clothes just in case someone came. After about an hour Artemis gave me back control and I shifted back, I was getting dressed and heard someone coming.

I jumped into the water quickly to make it look like I came out for a swim. Nova, Noah, and the guys came into view and just stared at me. The guys turned around and Nova quickly gave me the towel she brought with her. They came to get me and tell me the woods have been deemed off limits, too many rogues are coming this way and it isn’t safe. I wrapped the towel around me and finished getting dressed so we could head back.

Once we got back my uncle and Alpha talked to me alone about going to my waterfall. They knew it was my spot to escape and think. They we’re working on an alternative since I was not to go out there. They ended up making a small waterfall by the edge of the woods so I could still get the same smells and feeling of being there but still be safe, they added some koi fish for the pups to watch and feed.

It’s been a couple months of just homework, training and sitting by this makeshift waterfall and no rogues have been spotted on our land. I was getting up to go inside when I saw Lucas walking the tree line crying, no doubt the kids were picking on him before training. He was the smallest of the pups in our pack right now so things weren’t as easy for him. He was heading for archery class, I started to head that way also since I had to still teach it. I was going to tell him to stay after and I would help him and to make sure what was wrong, before I made it to him a large black wolf with red eyes came out of the trees in front of him. He was grabbed and dragged into the woods.I ran to where the pups were waiting for class to start. 

“This is not a drill, go to the closest safe house now!” I yelled.

I handed the older kids bows and arrows, they knew the drill and would keep the smaller pups safe.

I turned around and started running towards the woods. I let out one long howl, to signal the warriors we were under attack. I then let out to smaller howls close together so they knew a pup was in danger. 

My senses were stronger than a normal wolf and it took me no time to pick up on Lucas’ and the rogue's scent. In no time I was right behind them I could see the fear in Lucas’ eyes as the rogue ran holding him in his mouth. I let out a loud growl and the three rogues stopped. The two on the black wolf's side charged, I easily dodged, and started to charge the black wolf. I wanted him to put Lucas down so he could run, even if it meant trying to fight all three while he ran to safety.

The black wolf did exactly what I hoped for and set him down. I was still in my human form so I could talk to Lucas, I told him to run but he was frozen in fear. The three started to circle me, the smaller of the three was a red wolf that made the first move. The wolf lunged at me, I was knocked down hard enough he knocked the wind out of me.  I jumped back up and got in a fighting stance, this wolf had to be young and inexperienced in fighting. We started to fight and he left many fatal shots open for me. I was able to send him flying into a tree knocking him out easily.

Before I could turn to Lucas the grey wolf had a hold of me in his teeth. I reached down and pulled the silver dagger out of my boot and stabbed his shoulder. He let go and howled out in pain. I quickly jumped to my feet pulling my phone out of my pocket and running to Lucas before they could come at me again.

“Don’t be afraid and hold on tight.” I said to Lucas as I handed him the dagger and my phone.

The sound of my bones breaking was heard throughout the woods. My eyes never left the two rogues in front of me. I quickly bent down after I shifted and Lucas climbed on, holding on tightly. I took off with him, with them right on my heels. I let out another long howl to help signal where we were and that we were under attack, I knew I wouldn’t make it all the way back. As I was running I saw something ahead of us and growled, I didn’t slow my pace I kept going. I came face to face with Noah, I slid to a stop. What the hell is he doing out here, he’s going to get himself killed.

I quickly kneeled down and Lucas told him to get on. He stared for a second but finally climbed on, I started running again only to be stopped by more rogues, luckily we were by a hollowed out tree. I kneeled down and they got off, I quickly pushed them with my snout. I turned guarding the opening and growled . We were surrounded by six red eyed rogues.

I started to fight them, never getting too far away from the tree, I had to protect my pack's future alpha and the pup they tried to steal. Six against one wasn’t in my favor but the cavalry should be here soon. I was able to take two down on my own when the red wolf from earlier ripped my side open. Artemis quickly pushed forward, taking control, taking him down. She stared the last 3 wolves down and was in a fighting stance. 

I was see spots and shanking from all the blood loss as they started to stalk towards me, I started to growl and snap at them. They looked like they won the lottery with us, but how? Then it dawned on my the Alphas son is behind me and I shifted to save Lucas so they have seen my wolf. This just went for what ever they were doing to something new. Artemis yelled at me to focus as one of the wolf jump for our throat. I was fed up and told her to take over and leave no survivors. Artemis killed one of the three and we started to stager, where are these damn warriors. I let out a pained howl for help, and backed closer to the tree. I knew I wasn't going to be able to take these last two down so I was going to shield them the best I could.

Then it was like music to our ears, the thundering sound of our pack's feet heading in our direction. And then they came into view charging and attacking the remaining rogues. We didn’t see much as we felt a push from behind us and we turned to see Lucas come out of the tree. The darkness consumed me and I dropped unconscious from the pain in my side.