WINTER ROGUE

CHAPTER 10 - FIGHT - JAYLA'S POV

''Here,'' I passed Kolton some tea, but when our fingers touched, he nearly dropped the cup, before he caught it. ''What's wrong with you? Don't waste my supplies.''

''Sorry,'' He said, his voice tense.

''Are you sure you're up for this? Because I can go ahead alone while you focus on healing.''

''No, I'm fine,'' He said, and sipped his tea.

I frowned at him, he'd been acting so weird since he'd woken up. Was he feeling awkward because we were holding each other this morning? Did he think I did it on purpose?

''How's your stomach?'' I asked to change the subject.

''Good, it won't hinder me.''

''Great, drink up, and we'll head out.'' I told him, as I stood up, ''I'll be back in a second.''

I walked over to where my weapons were hidden, and pulled them out. During my little trips off the mountain, I'd collect weapons, and store them over my mountain. The daggers were sleek, their blades glinting with a shimmer of the wolfsbane embedded into the grooves. I strapped them to my side, before picking up my sword, a Fae made weapon that I loved, and strapped a smaller dagger to my thigh over my tights.

When I returned to Kolt, he watched in the entrance, his brow furrowed with confusion. ''Why do you need weapons?'' He asked, folding his arms across his muscular chest. ''Just shift and fight.''

I paused, the words hanging in the air. ''I'm not one of your pack members, don't tell me what to do.''

''I wasn't, I was just pointing out it would be safer for you.''

''I don’t shift unless I have to,'' I replied.

''Why?'' He pressed, his voice curious now, almost pleading.

''None of your business,'' I snapped. I wasn’t ready to share that I was a white Lycan. Not yet. Perhaps not ever. I adjusted the straps on my armor.

''Are you done? Let’s move.''

''Ready,'' He said, as he jumped up.

We traveled through the mountains for a few hours, but as we stepped outside, I paused and grabbed Kolts arm.

''Can you smell that?'' I whispered, and he sniffed the air.

''Men,'' He said, his eyes wide, ''The same scents as the one who took Haley. We've caught up! Lets go.''

''Wait,'' I grabbed his arm, ''Stay here.''

''Where are you going?'' He asked, but I ignored him, and made quick work of climbing the nearest tree.

Once I was perched on the top branch, I scanned the area, and suddenly, I saw them, several figures, in a grouping of trees by the river. The idi*ts must have spent the night there in the cold. I wished they'd frozen to death just for their sheer stupidity.

I swung down easily, and landed lightly on my feet in front of Kolton.

''Goddess, do you have Fae blood or something?''

''Something like that.'' I shrugged, ''They're about a mile West, let's go. Block your scent, they're down wind.''

''Okay,'' He said, and we began to run quietly through the woods. Weaving through the trees and over the small river.

Their scents grew stronger, they must have been moving slowly, most likely due to their hostages. But that benefited us, so I wasn't complaining.

''We're going too slow.'' Kolton complained, ''We need to shift.''

''You shift, I'll run.''

He growled in frustration, ''Why are you so against shifting?''

''I don't have to explain anything to you. Stop arguing and just shift. We're wasting time.''

''Fine, ride Zeke,'' She said, as he shifted, and his large black Lycan lowered himself and wagged his tail. Which confused me, there wasn't an Alpha on the planet that liked being ridden.

I rolled my eyes, and carefully jumped onto his back, and we took off, but Willow complained, because she was faster than an Alpha, and hated not being allowed in the fight.

When Zeke finally reached our targets, he lowered himself again, and I jumped back onto the ground and drew my daggers, feeling the familiar weight in my hands.

''You go left. I'll go right.'' I whispered, and Zeke bowed his head once in acknowledgment, and without hesitation, we broke through the trees and charged forward.

Zeke's muscles rippling under his thick fur, as we acted fast.

The men turned to us, surprise and alarm etched on their faces, but one of the girls, with her hands bound, looked relived, ''ZEKE!'' She screamed, but the man holding her, slapped her in the face, and Haley fell to the ground.

''ATTACK THE ALPHA!'' One man shouted, as they began to shift.

''Fools.'' Willow laughed, ''They don't think we're a threat.''

''They'll learn,'' I smiled as I twirled my daggers.

Kolton lunged at the nearest one, clawing through flesh like it was paper, and I followed his lead, my blades slicing through the air, making contact with the first brown Lycan that came at me.

I struck hard, taking down one Lycan after another. How had these men taken down Kolton's troops? They weren't that strong, though they had just spent days traveling in the snow. They were most likely exhausted already.

As I flipped over a gray Lycan, I sliced my daggers along his back, cutting into his spine, and dropping him, before I quickly spun, and thrust my foot to his skull, knocking him out. I didn't want them all dead. I needed one unconscious so I could interrogate him later.

But then, in the midst of the frenzy, I turned when I felt hot breath over my skin, and I felt a sharp pain shoot through my cheek. A Lycan had caught me off guard, its claws raking across my skin. I screamed, the sound raw and filled with fury. Blood trickled down my face, but I refused to back down.

I heard Zeke howl in concern, as he fought three large Lycans, but I ignored him, and with a swift movement, I retaliated, my dagger plunging deep into the Lycan's side. It fell, howling in agony, and I felt my skin knit together, the pain fading instantly as my body healed. Being a white Lycan was a blessing sometimes. We healed quicker than even an Alpha. A fact that I found out within the first month of my exile. I'd slipped and fallen down the mountain, breaking most of my bones, but mercifully, they healed in minutes, and prevented me from dying.

I was quick, relentless. I fought harder now, my rage at being injured fueling me. I could see Zeke tearing through the remaining men, until finally we'd taken down everyone. The forest grew quiet after the fight, the only sound our heavy breathing.

I glanced at Zeke, relief washing over me. He didn't seem too injured, and we had saved his sister and the other girl. We were bruised and bloodied, but we had triumphed.

Zeke shifted, and Kolton stood there naked for a second, but I looked away as he rushed over to me.

''Let me look,'' Kolton gently grabbed my face, but my cheek was already healed. ''How.... You're already healed.''

''I heal quick.''

''Yeah, I'll say, not even an Alpha heals that fast,'' He said, but then his sister moaned, and he got distracted, which I was grateful for.

''Haley!''

''For Goddess's sake, put on my cloak, you're naked!'' I called after him, and he quickly grabbed it from a rock where I'd tossed it before the fight.

''Kolt!'' Haley started crying as he cut her binds, and I went to the to other girl. A thin blond girl, crying softly.

''What is your name sweetheart?'' I asked, as I knelt beside her.

''Jodie.'' She whispered, her voice trembling.

''You're safe now, we'll get you home. What pack are you from?''

''Talon.'' She whispered, and I wiped her cheeks.

''We'll get you home.'' I said, as I heard Haley crying.

''Hey, it's okay, you're safe now,'' He said, as he pulled her into a tight hug.

''I knew you'd come.'' She cried.

''You should thank Jayla for that,'' He gestured towards me, ''If she hadn't saved my life, I'd be dead right now.''

''Thank you.'' She sniffed and smiled at me.

''Don't worry about it.'' I told her as I stood up, ''Kolton, you should get the girls out of here. Take them there to that mountain.'' I pointed toward the distant mountain. ''There’s a hidden cave with my supplies. We can rest and leave tomorrow.''

Kolton raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile breaking through his worry. ''How many caves do you have?'' He joked, but I could see he was desperate for any light in this darkness.

''Lots,'' I replied, my tone firm. ''Now go. I’ll deal with the bodies and catch up.''

''I can't leave you to worry about their bodies.'' He argued, but I rolled my eyes.

''Your stomach is bleeding again, just go and let yourself heal. There are bandages in the cave.'' I said. I could tell he wanted to argue, so I added, ''You have two girls here that need shelter and peace, just go. I'll join you in a few hours.''

''Okay,'' He nodded, though he seemed reluctant.

''Go towards the left of the mountain, there's a waterfall, go behind it, and down the right tunnel.''

''Sure. I'll see you later, and thank you for helping me.''

I shrugged, ''Don't worry about it.''

After I watched them disappear into the trees. I took a deep breath and turned back to the grim task at hand. The bodies of our enemies lay scattered across the clearing. I had to bury them, only I didn't have a shovel with me this time, so I'd have to use my powers, which I didn't like. It always drained me, but then I'd have to interrogate the man still alive who was still unconscious.

I started dragging all the heavy Lycans into one pile, and stepped back as I raised my hands. I took a deep breath and felt the power flow.

Dark soil rose up like a wave, swallowing the lifeless bodies of the dead. After they were completely covered, I let my hands fall, and I fell to my knees, breathing hard. My head was stinging. I should have been taught to use my powers, but as I was in exile. I had to learn alone, and it never went well.

I discovered over the years that I could manipulate the elements, heal, and use a command similar to an Alphas, but my powers always hurt me.

After a few deep breaths. I shakily got to my feet, and turned back to the man. I was freezing without my cloak, so I started a small fire and waited. Finally, after an hour, the Lycan began to stir, and I waited.

He woke up and started to struggle, but I jumped up and held my dagger to his throat. ''Listen to me.'' I said firmly, ''The daggers I cut you with, are laced with wolfsbane. I can cure you, but if you struggle, or attack. I'll let you die. Now shift back!''

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with rage and something else. Desperation? His body began to shiver, and I stepped back as he shifted, and he laid naked in the snow.

''Where's the cure?'' He asked, as he shivered, and got up on his knees, holding his stomach in pain.

''I said I can cure you, not that I will.'' I informed him, ''I'm going to ask you some questions, and you will answer me, and if I feel you've told the truth. I'll let you live, and if not. I will leave you to die. And you only have about an hour left before that wolfsbane poison's you enough that my cure won't work.''

''I'll tell you anything, as long as I can move near the fire.''

I smiled and gestured for him to come closer.

''Where's that Alpha?''

''Gone.'' I answered, and stepped to the other side of the fire, ''Let's talk.''