Her Return As An Alpha

Chapter 11 : A Rogue Attack

A few days later, the morning air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine and earth as Liana jogged through the town. The sun had barely begun to rise, casting long shadows across the deserted streets. The few early risers who were out and about waved at her, their greetings friendly, but brief. Liana nodded in response, her thoughts elsewhere.

The itch at her collarbone had started a few months ago, right after she left the Silver Star pack. Not only did it remind her of Drew's painful rejection, it was a persistent irritation that seemed to burrow under her skin. She had tried to ignore it, to push it to the back of her mind, but it was relentless. The sensation had only grown worse since she had met the travelers. It gnawed at her, a constant reminder that something was not right.

Liana often found herself wondering if the enchantment Ethan had given her was to blame. She had considered the possibility that it was harmful, but she always dismissed the thought. Ethan had no reason to trick her, she reasoned. She wasn’t important enough to warrant such deceit. Still, the itch and the accompanying restlessness refused to fade, leaving her feeling on edge.

As she jogged, Liana let her mind wander. She had reached a point where she couldn’t progress any further in her training. The bottleneck was frustrating, a barrier she couldn’t seem to break through. She needed to release the pent-up energy, to find some way to alleviate the growing tension within her. She was physically stronger as a human, but her wolf just didn't seem to show much progress.

She continued jogging until she reached the outskirts of town, where the dense forest awaited. Without breaking her stride, she entered the woods, moving deeper until she found an isolated clearing. She paused, glancing around to ensure she was alone. Satisfied, she retrieved a stack of training equipment camouflaged in the branches of a tree and began her routine.

The familiar exercises offered a brief respite from her troubled thoughts. She stretched and strengthened her muscles, her movements fluid and controlled. Once she was sufficiently warmed up, she shifted into her wolf form. Her transformation was almost seamless, her human body melting away to reveal a regal, silver wolf with golden-tipped fur.

Liana reveled in the power of her wolf form. She might not be very strong, but it was definitely much better than her state back in the Silver Star pack. There, she could barely transform into her wolf, for fear of getting humiliated for being weak. It had been years since her wolf had been so free.

She ran laps around the clearing, her paws barely making a sound on the forest floor. She practiced agility moves, weaving between trees and leaping over obstacles with ease. Despite the physical exertion, the frustration within her only grew. She had reached her limit, unable to push past the invisible barrier that held her back.

“Come on, Liana,” she muttered to herself, shifting back into human form for a moment to catch her breath. “You have to get stronger.”

Her mind drifted back to the travelers and the enchantment. Her thoughts lingered on Drew and the heartbreak she had witnessed in his eyes, on the apologetic wince he gave when he said that she wouldn't be able to handle the life of his Luna. The anger and sorrow spurred her on, yet her wolf felt imprisoned, similar to being locked up in the attic everyday. It almost felt...nostalgic. Like she was away from a home that she couldn't remember.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that the itch was more than just a physical irritation. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, and resumed her training. After an hour, she finished and made her way back to town. The morning was beautiful, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting a warm glow on the forest floor. It lightened her mood, if only a little.

Suddenly, three large wolves emerged from the trees, their massive bodies blocking her path. Their brown fur rippled with muscles, and they growled menacingly.

Werewolves, Liana thought, instinctively crouching low. They smelt of earth and nothing else, with a slight undertone of burnt leaves. None of them had anything unique to garnish their scent of set them apart. Rogues.

“What do you want?” Liana demanded, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

The lead wolf, a scarred brute with a sneer, prowled forward. “A human, all alone in the woods? What a meal we’ll have today, boys.”

Liana’s eyes narrowed. She pulled her hunting knife from her belt, ready to defend herself. “If you dare to come closer, I will skin you myself and feed your rotting flesh to the animals.”

"Feisty!" The wolves chuckled darkly.

"The fighters are always the tastiest. They have a spicy palatte. Although, such humans are rare these days."

“We’ll see about that,” the scarred one said. “Get her!”

The wolves lunged at her, their teeth bared and eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Liana's reflexes kicked in instantly. With a swift motion, she sidestepped the first wolf’s attack and slashed at it with her knife. The blade glinted in the early morning light as it found its mark, cutting through fur and flesh. The wolf yelped in pain but quickly recovered, its eyes now filled with fury.

Liana knew she couldn’t let them corner her. She spun around, dodging the second wolf’s attempt to grab her from behind. She ducked under its jaws and drove her knife upwards, grazing its neck. Blood spattered, but the wound wasn’t deep enough to slow it down. The third wolf tried to circle around to her left, but she was quicker. She kicked out, her boot connecting with its snout, causing it to stumble back momentarily.

“Stay focused,” she muttered to herself, her heart pounding. She couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.

She darted between the trees, her movements a blur of speed and precision. Her senses were heightened, every sound and movement in the forest registering in her mind. She could hear the heavy breathing of the wolves, the rustle of leaves as they pursued her, and the pounding of her own heart. She had to use her agility and knowledge of the terrain to her advantage.

As she ran, she led the wolves deeper into the forest, hoping to lose them in the dense underbrush. She vaulted over fallen logs and ducked under low-hanging branches, her every move calculated to gain precious seconds. The wolves were relentless, their growls echoing through the trees as they closed in on her.

Liana’s mind raced as she strategized her next move. She spotted a narrow path between two large boulders and sprinted towards it. She knew the wolves would have a harder time navigating the tight space. She squeezed through the gap, her knife at the ready in case they tried to follow.

The first wolf lunged after her, but its bulky frame got caught between the rocks. It snarled in frustration, struggling to free itself. Liana took the opportunity to strike, slashing at its exposed side. The wolf yelped and thrashed, but she was already moving again, not waiting to see if her attack had incapacitated it.

The second and third wolves were smarter. They circled around the boulders, anticipating her next move. Liana had to think fast. She spotted a steep incline to her right and scrambled up it, her hands and feet finding stubs on the rough terrain. She reached the top just as the wolves appeared below, their eyes locked onto her.

She took a deep breath and leaped down the other side, landing in a crouch and immediately taking off again. The wolves followed, their snarls growing louder as they realized she was trying to outmaneuver them. They split up, attempting to flank her from both sides.

Liana’s lungs burned and her muscles ached, but she couldn’t stop. She pushed herself harder, her mind focused on survival. She could see a dense thicket ahead, a perfect place to lose her pursuers. She sprinted towards it, her legs pumping furiously.

She emerged on the other side of the thicket and found herself in a small clearing. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and she knew she couldn’t keep this up much longer. The wolves would catch her eventually if she didn’t come up with a plan.

The clearing had a small stream running through it, and she quickly formulated an idea. She splashed into the water, moving upstream to mask her scent. She hoped the sound of the running water would confuse the wolves and buy her some time.

She found a large tree with low-hanging branches and climbed up, her movements quick but silent. From her vantage point, she could see the wolves entering the clearing, their noses to the ground as they tried to pick up her trail. They seemed momentarily confused, their heads snapping up as they looked around.

Liana held her breath, her eyes fixed on the wolves below. She needed to act while she still had the element of surprise. She spotted a thick branch above her and carefully positioned herself. If she timed it right, she could use the branch to swing down and attack one of the wolves.

The scarred wolf, the leader, growled and barked orders to the others. They fanned out, searching for any sign of her. Liana steadied herself, her knife gripped tightly in her hand. She watched the scarred wolf approach the stream, its head lowered as it sniffed the ground.

Now or never, she thought.

She swung down from the branch, her knife aimed at the scarred wolf. She landed on its back, driving the blade into its side. The wolf howled in pain and tried to shake her off, but she held on, twisting the knife deeper. The other two wolves turned, their eyes wide with shock and rage.

Liana knew she had only a moment before they attacked. She pulled the knife out and jumped off the scarred wolf, landing in a crouch. The other wolves lunged at her, but she was ready. She slashed at them, her movements a blur of speed and precision.

She managed to wound one of them, a deep gash across its flank, but the other wolf was quicker. It tackled her, knocking her to the ground. Her knife skittered out of her hand, and she struggled to free herself from its grasp. The wolf’s jaws snapped inches from her face, its hot breath and sharp teeth a terrifying reminder of how close she was to death.

Summoning all her strength, Liana twisted her body and kicked the wolf in the stomach. It yelped and released its grip on her. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her knife just in time to face the scarred wolf, which had recovered from her earlier attack.

“You’re a fighter, I’ll give you that,” the scarred wolf growled, blood dripping from its wounds. “But you’re outnumbered.”

Liana’s eyes blazed with determination. “I’ve faced worse odds.”

It was a lie. Had she not been pumping with adrenaline, she would have been crying in despair. Everything she did and every move she used while fighting them had come from night of movie marathons with Sarah and diligent practice of the fight scenes in the movies during her training in the woods. But the wolves didn't know that.

She lunged at the scarred wolf, her knife flashing in the sunlight. They clashed, a whirlwind of fur and steel. She fought with everything she had, her movements fueled by desperation and adrenaline. She managed to land several blows, but the wolves were relentless.

The scarred wolf’s claws raked across her arm, and she cried out in pain. She staggered back, blood dripping from the wound. The other wolves circled her, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“We’ll enjoy you before we devour you,” one of them sneered, its voice filled with cruel delight.

Panic surged through Liana. She couldn’t let them take her. She closed her eyes and focused on the shift, feeling her body transform. When she opened her eyes again, she was in her wolf form, her silver fur bristling.

The rogues were taken by surprise. “She is one of us!” the scarred wolf exclaimed.

Using the element of surprise, Liana bolted, darting through the trees with all the speed she could muster. Her heart pounded in her chest as she heard the wolves crashing through the underbrush behind her. She managed to evade them for a while, but they soon caught up, their superior size and strength closing the distance.

They cornered her again, this time with no escape. “We know what you are now,” the lead wolf said, his voice dripping with malice. “You’ll make a fine gift for Azriel.”

Liana growled, baring her teeth. Her human form might be strong, but her wolf was extremely weak and docile compared to the rogues. One of the wolves slashed at her stomach with his claws, and she collapsed, blood pouring from the wound.

The pain was excruciating, and her vision blurred. The last thing she saw was the wolves dragging her body away. As her consciousness faded, she dreamt of Drew. He was saving her, kissing her, apologizing as he held her in his arms.

“Stay with me, Liana,” Drew whispered, his voice filled with regret and longing. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Her last thought before darkness claimed her was a silent plea. “Drew, please find me.”