Taming the Rogue King

First Battle

Ira

Only a few years back she had been a girl troubled by bullies but today she was out there, going into the battlefield fully prepared to fight. She had to assist James!

The alliance of the werewolf clans was important. Things were going to change for the werewolves and the witches.

It was as if an unknown force was guiding her. She volunteered to fight a bunch of rogues who had attacked Kirra’s territory.

Kirra's Beta Noah was with Ira but he looked at her doubtfully. Clearly, he couldn't see Ira as a warrior. She couldn't blame him. With her tiny 5 feet 2 inch frame and delicate physique, it was impossible to believe that she could give any serious trouble to anyone.

*****

28th Jan 2018, Morning

Noah and Ira reached the Southern borders of the Blood Moon’s territory just in the nick of time.

Lately, the rogue attacks had increased tremendously and today it was one of the vicious ones. James had an intuition that it was an important fight and Ira wasn't going to let him down.

As they reached the borders, there was a full-blown fight in progress. There was a small clearing between the woods. Numerous wolves clashed with each other as they watched from the sidelines.

The bubble had helped Ira and Noah travel faster and was almost like getting teleported. While they stood, suspended just above the forest floor, inside a magical bubble, no one could see them, feel them, sense them or smell them.

They were completely concealed by the bubble, which opened a portal directly to where they wanted to reach. Such James' power.

Noah was lost in thought, as she turned to him, “quick Noah! This bubble will remain as it is until we meet James again. Once we step out it will reveal itself only to you or to me and only when we are close to it.”

He nodded in understanding as Ira continued, “I don’t have much time to explain the working. Just remember to come behind this tree and wave your hand, as if you are trying to flag a bus." She waved her small hand in front of his face to show the motion. "Come on, let's join in the battle. I will use Draco and you continue with whatever you werewolves do to win a fight.”

Noah grinned at her with the excitement of a battle shining in his eyes. “We go for the kill. Rip their necks off or tear their chests and pull their hearts out.” He proudly showed his nails to Ira and they were now replaced with sharp claws.

Ira’s eyes were as big as saucers as she said, “WOW!” in awe.

She had never come across a real, live werewolf before. She had read about them and a lot of their history. She even knew their current dealings with the ministry.

Just like witches had their soul mates, the werewolves had their mates. But werewolves were governed a lot by the physicality of the bond while the witches had a very spiritual connection with their soul mates.

They were a strong lobby. The werewolf leaders had made sure that their ancestral lands got protected status from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, thus becoming safe havens for all mysterious and magical beings.

Thanks to them, and the Regional Forest Agreements signed with the government, most territories were safe for witches too.

Just that, once Waru flipped after his mate’s death, the witches had to go into hiding and lead covert lives, just to remain safe. Waru had declared war against the witches, killing them and their families.

He had killed their grandma and funnily enough, her cousin was now mated to Waru’s granddaughter. Fate had a weird sense of humour.

She shook herself from the ramblings of her mind, “Okay, let's kill!”

Noah obviously couldn’t imagine how the beautiful fragile-looking librarian, Ira could kill. They were out here in a war.

Skeptical about her skills he tried to talk some sense into her. “....and how are you planning to kill? Since you are neither a werewolf nor a witch? You won’t last even seconds in that fierce battle!”

“I have Draco!” She proudly declared as if that explained everything. She had been able to negotiate with James to borrow Draco for this battle. It was no easy feat. James, her cousin, one of the most powerful witches of Australia was very possessive about his artefacts.

The only reason she had been able to get Draco from him was that his mate Kirra and her wolf clan was in danger. Obviously, Ira was super proud of herself! Not only that, first time in her life she was involved in a bloody battle.

She was stoked!

Noah c**k*ed an eyebrow, “Draco?”

She opened her palm gently and a small bearded dragon lizard sat perched on her palm looking at her with beady eyes.

”Hi Draco,” she cooed at the ugly creature who pranced on her hand and performed its beard display.

Noah pursed his lips and shook his head. “These lizard venoms do nothing to werewolves. You stay here in this bubble, I will go to fight. I shouldn’t have gotten you along!”

He hurriedly stepped out of the safety of the travel bubble and ran towards the battle, shifting into his wolf form as he picked up speed.

He did not give a second thought to his clothes tearing apart as he turned into his cream wolf and gave a fierce howl to indicate his war cry.

Ira looked at him go and thought stupid impatient little wolves!

She stepped out of the bubble gracefully with little Draco still perched on her palm. A group of wolves ran past her and joined the fight.

She had to be quick. Their 50 warriors had just joined the fight but the battle was raging on.

The rogue numbers were phenomenal. She could discern their weird scent. Wrinkling her nose, she sat down and placed Draco on the forest floor.

She gently rested her palm on his tiny head and said to the adorable creature, “Draco my boy, rise up and do the bidding of your master. Do what James has asked you to do. Allow me to lead you.”

Draco blinked at her and started growing in size.

***

At the clearing a few meters ahead

Rip, snap, tear… The fight raged on.

Slowly the numbers of the Blood Moon warriors started dwindling. They were getting tired and the rogues were unstoppable. If this continued, they would lose very soon and the loss would be phenomenal.

They would have to give up this border outpost and they would lose part of the pack land to the rogues.

It took some time for Draco to grow to his full potential. He was soon towering above the trees!

As the humongous dragon was ready, it started bobbing its head. It turned away from Ira and aligned the tip of its tail near her feet. Ira climbed on Draco’s back and led him towards the battle. The dragon let out a subtle hiss.

The sound reverberated through the foliage, the stones, the trees, travelling through the forest floor and everyone felt it through their skin.

Holy s**t! THAT monster is Draco? Noah couldn't believe his eyes.

'This monster is with us!' He mind linked the pack warriors who were as transfixed as he was when they saw the huge monster move past them, gliding into an effortless flight. The huge beast took to the skies, breathing fire. Noah commanded the warriors to continue to fight, letting them know that the dragon was on their side.

His commands and Draco’s dance of death injected more vigour into the tired wolves who started fighting with renewed energy.

With the Blood Moon clan's warriors fighting with new hope and Draco going through the rogues like a sledgehammer with teeth, the rogues started retreating and that’s when it hit Ira.

The strongest scent of raw masculine strength and sage struck her like a bolt of lightning. It distracted her enough for Draco to shake her off himself.

She fell down amongst the raging wolves. Like a fragile little girl, she looked around as wolves continued to lunge at each other tearing each other off. From her position, the large wolves were towering all around her.

She cursed her clumsiness, she should have held onto Draco more securely. A wolf’s huge paw struck against her face, she tasted her own blood from her broken lip. Hopefully, her teeth were intact.

She spat the blood out and felt her eye which was angrily swelling up. She had to get out of this madness quickly. She wasn’t cut out for this type of wild mindless killing.

She was just a human after all. With no witch powers like her mum and her cousin nor any werewolf super healing powers, this battlefield was a death trap for her.

She tried to crawl towards the area where there were lesser wolves. Someone ripped off the jaw of a wolf. She was right below them. The blood-drenched her as the lower half of the jaw fell next to her making her retch and puke.

She tried to get up so that she could run. The clearing wasn’t too far now, but terrible pain ripped through her delicate leg. She saw a wolf had dug its canines into her leg trying to rip it off her body. Her own screams against the pain sounded animalistic.

A loud guttural growl that drowned the sound of the battle echoed in the background stopping all movement around her. “NOOOO!!! MINE!” was the last thing she heard as she fell into blissful painless unconsciousness.

***

**** Prologue plays out ****

Liam

He was commanding his rogues. He was the gifted Rogue King but not many people knew about his existence.

When he was a toddler, his mother, the powerful, beautiful and sexy witch, had realised that he could command any rogue in their area. She was a tough trainer. She never showed her affection. Affection made people weak and her child was far from weak. He was proud of his mother.

He was 6.4 in his human form and the largest animal in his wolf form. His Alpha command could not be fought against. She believed in his powers and now he was here, fighting for his rightful land. The Blood Moon Clan was going to repay for what they had done.

He had trained his rogues well. Although they were the scums of other clans and packs, he made sure that he took care of them. The best way to use them as resources was to give them a sense of belonging.

He was the Rogue King, the mighty Liam King.

Rip, snap, tear… His wolves tore through the Blood Moon clan’s warriors.

He was tearing a wolf apart when a huge dragon soared into the sky.

What the real f**k? How did Blood Moon lay their hands on a dragon? They were the ones against the witches and yet they had found something magical that could help them?

His heart raced as he looked at the dragon being led by someone. The reason for his pulse to jump wasn’t fear, it was more primal.

An instinct that wanted to protect the dragon and its rider. The dragon swooped, breathing fire near him scalding a few of his wolves.

He admired the skill and aim of the rider. When the dragon came close to him the tropical smell of flowers hit him like a ton of bricks. How the mighty have fallen for the most inconspicuous reasons!

He knew that scent from before. He knew who that was. What the f**k was she doing here in the midst of this madness? What if she falls? What if she dies? The thought froze him.

He could not lose her. Not after living away from her for 12 years. Not after all the sacrifices he had made.

His fear just reached the highest point when he saw her slip from the crazy monster and land amongst the feral wolves.

It was as if in slow motion. He could see the wolves around her fighting. She got hurt. One of his wolves bit her leg and tried to tear it apart. The pain shooting through his own leg was unbearable.

He could feel her fear, her agony, he was losing her… “NOOOO!!! MINE!”

He jumped on one of his own fighters who was hurting her. He pulled him and slashed his throat off, ending his pathetic low-life in an instant.

His stop command stilled his rogue wolves. She had passed out with pain and blood loss. He picked her up in his arms bridal style.

The girl was as light as a feather. Her tiny petite body was soft and limp in his arms. What if she didn’t survive this blood loss?

Dread filled his every pore. He couldn’t lose her. She was the Moon Goddess’ gift to him. The only sunshine in his otherwise dark life.

***** Prologue Ends *****