Chapter 005: The Rogue Attack
791 Words
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Lyra tightened her grip on the leather bag slung across her shoulder as she walked deeper into the Unknown Lands. Every step carried her farther from the only home she had ever known.
The cool morning breeze rustled through the trees, but instead of bringing comfort, it sent a chill down her spine.
Something wasn't right.
She stopped walking.
Her healer's instincts screamed at her.
Someone was watching.
"Who's there?" she called.
Only silence answered.
She forced herself to keep moving, refusing to let fear take control. She had survived heartbreak. She would survive this too.
A twig snapped behind her.
Lyra spun around.
Nothing.
She let out a slow breath.
"I'm just imagining things."
Suddenly—
A low growl echoed through the forest.
Another answered.
Then another.
The sound came from every direction.
Her blood ran cold.
Rogues.
Three large wolves emerged from the bushes, their fur matted with dirt and dried blood. Their yellow eyes glowed with hunger.
One shifted into human form.
A scar stretched across his face, and a cruel grin spread across his lips.
"Well, well... what do we have here?"
"A lone she-wolf."
"And a pretty one at that."
The others laughed.
Lyra took a cautious step backward.
"I don't want any trouble."
The rogue chuckled.
"But we do."
He looked her up and down.
"Judging by that dress, someone threw you away."
His companions laughed louder.
Lyra clenched her fists.
"I said... let me pass."
The rogue leader smirked.
"And if we don't?"
Without warning, he lunged.
Lyra dodged just in time, grabbing a handful of powdered herbs from her pouch and throwing them into his face.
"Agh!"
The rogue screamed as the powder burned his eyes.
She turned and ran.
Branches slapped against her arms as she sprinted through the dense forest.
Behind her came furious howls.
"Catch her!"
"Don't let her escape!"
Her lungs burned.
Her legs grew heavy.
She was a healer, not a warrior.
She couldn't outrun rogues forever.
A root caught her foot.
She crashed to the ground, her bag flying from her shoulder.
Her mother's journal spilled onto the forest floor.
"No..."
Before she could reach it, a heavy boot crushed the book beneath the rogue leader's foot.
He laughed.
"Running already?"
The other rogues surrounded her.
"There is nowhere left to go."
Lyra slowly stood.
She looked from one rogue to another.
Three against one.
No weapons.
No pack.
No hope.
The rogue leader grabbed her wrist.
"Come quietly."
She yanked her arm free and slapped him across the face.
The crack echoed through the forest.
For a heartbeat...
Everything was still.
Then his expression twisted with rage.
"You'll regret that."
He raised his hand.
Before it could strike—
A terrifying roar shook the entire forest.
The ground trembled violently.
Birds exploded into the sky.
The rogues froze.
"What... was that?"
Another roar answered.
This one was even closer.
A crushing pressure descended over the forest.
Every wolf instinctively lowered its head.
The rogue leader's face turned pale.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
From the shadows between the trees...
A gigantic black wolf stepped into the clearing.
He was unlike anything Lyra had ever seen.
His fur shimmered beneath the sunlight like polished obsidian.
His silver eyes glowed with terrifying intelligence.
Every step radiated absolute authority.
The rogues fell to their knees.
"L-Lycan..."
The black wolf's gaze shifted to Lyra.
For one brief moment...
The terrifying beast became completely still.
His silver eyes softened.
Recognition.
Relief.
Longing.
His wolf had found her.
Lyra stared back in stunned silence.
She had never seen such a magnificent creature.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
She wasn't afraid.
The rogue leader suddenly sprang to his feet.
"Attack him!"
The other rogues hesitated.
"Are you insane? That's a Lycan!"
"I said attack!"
With desperate cries, they charged.
The black wolf didn't move.
Not until the first rogue came within reach.
Then—
He disappeared.
A blur of black fur flashed across the clearing.
The first rogue was thrown several meters through the air, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.
The second rogue shifted into wolf form and lunged.
The Lycan caught him effortlessly, pinning him to the ground with one massive paw.
A single growl escaped his throat.
The rogue whimpered in terror.
The last rogue dropped to his knees.
"M-Mercy!"
The Lycan's silver eyes burned with fury.
No one threatened his mate.
No one.
Hidden among the trees, dozens of elite Lycan warriors watched in silence.
None of them dared interfere.
Their king had finally found the woman chosen by the Moon Goddess.
And anyone foolish enough to harm her...
Would answer to the most powerful ruler the werewolf world had ever known.
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