Rogues Attacks
1260 Words
Aria’s POV
“Nightfang brings out ugly instincts in people.”
The words settled heavily in the room.
Ronan’s gaze stayed on mine a second longer before he finally lifted the whiskey glass to his lips.
And just like that, the spell broke.
Conversations slowly resumed around us. Low voices. Soft laughter. The crackling of firewood burning inside the massive stone fireplace.
But my heartbeat still hadn’t recovered.
Eva bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. “See? You survived.”
Barely.
I forced myself to look away from Ronan before I embarrassed myself completely.
“Come on,” Eva whispered. “The ceremony’s about to start.”
I followed her out of the Alpha lounge on shaky legs.
The second the doors shut behind us, I exhaled deeply like I had been holding my breath the entire time.
Eva noticed immediately.
“Oh, wow,” she said dramatically. “You’re actually sweating.”
“I hate this place.”
“That’s not true,” she said.
“You know that I can’t shift, and most of these werewolves despise me,” I replied.
“The healer said there’s nothing wrong with you and that, in due time, you will shift,” she reassured me.
“Maybe if you spent more time around the pack, you would have shifted. But it’s a pity you prefer hanging around humans,” she complained.
Unfortunately… she was right.
The deeper we moved into the manor, the louder everything became again. Music echoed through the halls while servants rushed around carrying silver trays filled with champagne and crystal glasses.
Outside, snow had started falling lightly across the estate grounds.
The Hunt ceremony always began outdoors in the woods.
And apparently the entire territory had shown up tonight.
Torches lined the massive stone courtyard behind the manor, their flames dancing against the dark winter sky. Wolves gathered in groups across the open grounds dressed in black coats, glittering gowns, and expensive jewelry like they were still going to be on after they shifted.
I scorned their love for showing off, but I had to admit everything looked beautiful.
And dangerous.
A giant bonfire burned at the center of the courtyard while low ceremonial drums echoed slowly through hidden speakers.
I immediately felt uneasy.
“You okay?” Eva asked beside me.
“Why does this suddenly feel cult-like?”
She burst out laughing.
Before I could say anything else, the crowd suddenly shifted.
People moved aside instantly with solemn looks.
The atmosphere changed so fast it felt physical.
Like pressure crashing down over the entire courtyard.
Then I saw why.
Alpha Ronan had stepped outside.
Black coat.
Dark gloves.
Snowflakes melting slowly against his shoulders.
The entire territory practically parted for him without being asked.
No shouting.
No commands.
Just pure instinctive submission.
My stomach tightened.
God.
Power looked terrifying on him. I should have been afraid like the others, but somehow I felt heat instead between my legs.
Matthew appeared nearby holding a glass of liquor. “Have you considered my proposal?” he asked.
I nearly jumped.
“What?”
He smirked lazily. “Relax. You don’t have a mate, and neither do I. We can both satisfy each other’s needs,” he spoke shamelessly while looking between my thighs.
Heat flooded my face instantly.
Before I could respond, loud drums suddenly echoed across the courtyard three times.
Every conversation stopped immediately.
An older man dressed in ceremonial black stepped toward the bonfire.
“The Hunt begins!” he announced loudly.
“May the Moon Goddess grant you all luck,” he chanted.
Cheers erupted instantly from the crowd.
Excitement spread through the territory like wildfire.
Wolves started moving toward the forest surrounding the estate while servants carried out weapons, horses, and black hunting gear.
I frowned slightly. “Wait… people actually still love and participate in this?”
Eva looked personally offended. “Obviously.”
“I thought it was symbolic!”
Matthew laughed outright.
“Oh, she’s definitely been away too long.”
“It’s a ritual,” he winked.
Eva grabbed my wrist excitedly. “Come on.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’m fine here waiting.”
“Yes, you are,” she pressed.
“I’m wearing heels!” I protested.
“You will be fine,” she insisted.
“That’s not reassuring!”
Within minutes, chaos completely exploded around me.
Some people shifted, abandoning their luxury clothing. Others disappeared into the forest laughing wildly, while some walked hand in hand with scantily dressed females toward secluded areas, their intentions very clear.
Music grew louder back in the courtyard.
Liquor flowed freely.
Someone somewhere started firing guns into the air.
“What kind of celebration is this?” I demanded.
“The fun kind,” Eva replied proudly.
A cold gust of wind swept through the courtyard suddenly.
And then—
Every wolf in the territory went silent.
The change was instant.
Violently instant.
The hairs along my arms rose immediately.
Something was wrong.
Alpha Ronan turned sharply toward the forest.
Not relaxed anymore.
Alert.
His expression cold and heavy.
The older Alphas reacted instantly too.
Matthew’s flirting expression vanished completely. Rodriguez straightened beside the bonfire. Alex lowered his drink slowly.
The atmosphere shifted from celebration to tension in seconds.
Then the first scream tore through the forest.
A woman.
High-pitched.
Terrified.
Panic exploded across the courtyard.
People started shouting.
Several more wolves shifted immediately.
Someone yelled:
“ROGUES!”
My blood went cold.
The tree line suddenly burst apart.
Three wolves came flying out of the darkness at terrifying speed.
Not normal wolves.
Massive.
Wild-eyed.
Blood covering their fur.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
People scattered instantly.
Another scream rang out.
One of the rogue wolves lunged directly into the crowd—
And headed straight toward me.
Everything happened too fast.
Someone shoved into my shoulder hard enough to send me stumbling backward onto the icy stone, and I fell to the ground.
The wolf’s snarl echoed closer.
Too close.
I looked around but couldn’t find Eva or Matthew as chaos erupted everywhere.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs as huge claws scraped across the ground barely feet away from me.
I couldn’t breathe.
Couldn’t move.
The beast launched—
And suddenly a massive giant black wolf with golden claws slashed at the rogue wolf.
The wolf’s body crashed sideways violently before it could touch me.
Gasps erupted around the crowd.
The beast rolled across the stone, whimpering violently before going still.
My ears rang.
Then I saw him.
Alpha Ronan stood several feet away, turned back into his human form.
His expression looked terrifyingly cold.
Dark.
Controlled.
Deadly.
And I thought I saw a trace of fear and worry flash through his eyes like I was someone he dreaded losing.
The rogue wolf twitched weakly near my feet.
And then—
It shifted.
My stomach dropped instantly.
Not a rogue.
A boy.
Young.
Maybe eighteen or more.
Blood spread rapidly beneath his body across the snow-covered stone.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
And that was when the dying boy looked directly at me.
His bloody lips parted weakly.
“Found…” he choked painfully.
Confusion hit me instantly.
The boy coughed violently before forcing out the final words.
“The girl with the crescent ma… we fin…ally fou…nd her,” he muttered incoherently.
My entire body froze.
The pendant around my neck suddenly burned against my skin.
And every Alpha in the courtyard turned slowly toward me.
My whole body drained of strength, and I blacked out.
- Writer
