HIS NEMESIS, HER SALVATION

CHAPTER FOUR: THE WRONG MISSION

AYDAE POV

Jaden was more of a brother to Stanley than Landon could ever be. They were literally inseparable as young pups. Stanley had already chosen Jaden to be his Beta when he ascends the throne as the Alpha after his father. And it was through Jaden that I met Kiera, Jaden's sister. She is a kind soul who never likes violence and oppression of the lower ranks. She was also a Beta.

When Amelia, an asshole, and her goons wanted to make my life miserable just because I was among royalty without being one, Kiera stepped in and shunned them.

Of course, I can easily take on Amelia any day, anytime, and anywhere. She is strong but not as strong as I am. She will have the added advantage of her wolf being a Beta, then it will be tough for me. But rules are rules. An underling like me, worst of all, without a family name and an omega rank can't and shouldn't go up against a royalty, no matter how shitty they are. Yeah, I know, not fair, but as Jay always says, “rules are rules and it doesn't matter if we like them or not.”

So that's why Kiera stood by me, she was so kind and charming, still is. She didn't hesitate to be around me every day. She wasn't ashamed of me despite our vast difference in ranks.

“Ayd?” Her soft voice calls my name.

I forcefully open my eyes and meet her gaze.

Why is she here?

She rushes over to me, concern on her face.

“Get her down, Allen.” She orders a guard who immediately unlocks the silver chain round my wrists and lets it fall to the floor. I drop straight to her arms.

“I've got you.” She eases me onto her shoulder. She holds a bottle of water to my mouth and I gulp it down gratefully, then she helps me up to my feet.

“Why? Why are you risking your life to be here?” I whisper, as I slowly regain my strength.

“We don't have much time so I won't be diving into details.” Her voice is low, “Jaden and I believe you are not guilty of the murder. He's trying to convince the council elders and Landon that they should delay their initial judgment against you, but it's not bearing fruit as fast as he wishes. He believes that an ancient witch may have been involved and that the investigation shouldn't be concluded yet until it's indeed proven otherwise.”

An ancient witch? Were they not all dead from the great Cleansing three hundred years ago, and their powers can't be transferred to another, right? We hastily walk out of the dungeon.

She continues, “I share the same belief as Jaden. He sent me here with his trusted guards to break you out. The council elders and the soon to be Alpha, Landon, want your head as justice. Jaden believes that council elder Zimmerman may be responsible as he always opposed the late Alpha but Jaden believes he may not have acted alone to carry out the act.”

We hear noises coming from ahead which means that reinforcements are coming. Kiera stops and faces Allen.

“Take the secret route out of the pack. I'll delay them for as long as I can.” Kiera says, and then she turns to leave.

“Kiera,” I rush and embrace her tightly. She chuckles softly and hugs me back. “Thank you for this.” I whisper as I release her from the hug.

“It's alright, Ayd. We are practically sisters. Now go. They will be here soon.” She turns and hastens to the direction ahead while we take the opposite.

I promise you here and now Stan; I will not die till I kill those who are responsible for your death.

Allen leads us, three guards and myself, into the shadows. We slip past the pack guards and go through the secret route that I never knew existed. Finally, we are past the pack's borders.

Allen steps back to meet me, “Master Jaden ensured the provision of a car and a safe house just south of the border of the Moonshed pack. It is packed with resources that should sustain us for as long as we need.” He takes a quick scan of me, “Do you need help?” He asks with a concerned look on his face.

I am very tired and would really appreciate the help.

“No, I can manage just fine.Thanks, Allen.” I shoot him a fake encouraging smile. He nods, and moves ahead to the front of the group.

My heart skips a beat. Allen and the others are at alert. The thick, dark night doesn't hinder our vision so we see the figures that suddenly appear behind the woods. More growls, this time around from behind us. We are surrounded. Red eyes. I gasp and my heart begins to race. Rogues, but this close to the pack borders?

Allen turns to face me, “Stay close.”

I nod and drop my body into a fighting stance. f**k, this is bad. They may be rogues but there are still more of them in numbers than us. I quickly scan around with my eyes, probably thirty or forty of them. It is not a full moon tonight so we can't shift fully into our wolves. Allen and the others half-shift; their irises shift to a yellow shade, their fangs and claws are drawn but their human form remains.

For some unknown reason, my wolf decides for herself when she wants to assist me or not. I have never fully shifted yet but I don't always need her. But I am physically weak tonight. ‘Now would be a nice f*****g time to show up, huh? Don't you think?’

“Arrrgghhh!!”

I spin around immediately, just in time to see him put his claws into him before he looks up at me.

My eyes widen and I gasp. What the hell? I stumble back instinctively.

“Collin, what the hell are you doing?” Allen growls as he immediately shields me away from Collin.

“You really think they would let her leave alive, Allen?” Collin growls with anger, “She killed the Alpha.”

“That's not our job, Collin.” Allen growls loudly at him, “Our orders are to protect her until she's declared innocent.”

Collin smirks as his eyes gleam with something cruel, “Well, Allen.” His voice is low, “It's a shame and a pity that I was given a different mission. And that's to make sure she never sets her foot back in the NightCrow pack.”

My heart races at this point. What the f**k is happening? Betrayal, from one of the guards sworn to protect me? Did he just say he was given a different mission?

I glance at Allen. His body is tense. He looks shocked and furious.

“You traitorous bastard,” Allen fumes.

Collin's smirk widens. “You will die with her if you don't give her to us. And you too Bero, don't be an i***t. Come join us.”

Allen and Bero look at each other as words are being exchanged without the lips moving.

Bero nods at Allen and then faces Collin. “Rot in hell, bastard. You will only get her over our dead bodies,” he snarls.

Collin's smirk disappears momentarily before it returns. “Very well then, this field will be your grave.”

Collin steps backwards slowly, grinning until he joins up with the rogues.

As if on cue, the rogues charge at us, their eyes are blood-red and filled with killing intent. Our back is also blocked. Our only escape is to the left, but that would take us far off from our original destination.

“Let's outrun them,” Allen suggests.

“Nice idea, but I am too weak. I will only slow you guys down. Please go without me. It's me they want, let me go to them. Nobody else has to die, please!” My voice cracks. I am trying so damn hard not to cry.

“Go on ahead with her, Allen,” Bero says, as he takes on a fighting stance, eagerly waiting for the fight. “I will hold them off for as long as I can. I will make sure I take a bunch of these bastards with me to hell.”

Allen is also on a fighting stance and he seems buried deep in thought. His eyes remain fixed on the swarm of rogues closing in on us. ‘What are you thinking, Allen?’

Bero frowns and screams at him. “Remember our orders…”

“I will not leave you behind, Bero!!” Allen snaps at him, “you will not be dying on my watch today. As your superior officer, I order you to take Aydae and go, NOW!”

Are they risking their lives to save mine? I sniffle the tears that threaten to spill.

Suddenly, I feel as though my body is being separated from my consciousness.

I have had this feeling before.

Yes, I remember. It was the day I saved Stanley five years ago. Time had slowed down and I could hear everything and everyone. When the rogue was about to kill him, I got there within seconds even though I was a long distance away from him on the battlefield.

But this feels different, I feel—

Fuck!

“Arrrgh!!” I scream out in pain as my bones begin to break. What the hell is going on? I am slowly blacking out.

“f**k! Aydae? Are you…” Allen's voice gradually mutes.

A howl?

I drift into nothingness.