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❝Stand up and fight.
If you run, you'll die tired.❞
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Chapter 19
Avalynn Johnson

        Feeling the breeze of the forest, my eyes snapped open when I heard the muffled, cracking of branches. Instead of feeling calmness, dread ran through my body like a wave.

"Who's there?" I called out. My wolf started growling.

What's wrong? I asked her. She's acting weird and extra defensive today.

'I'm sorry. I just have a bad feeling about this.' She states. I couldn't blame her for I also felt the same.

My eyes were searching and observing the dark landscape with intent. Something was just not right to be honest. Even my wolf notices it. A harsh wave of wind blew across my face but still, there was no sign, no movement of anything. It was just an unpleasant chill of coldness.

How strange. I couldn't help but be cautious. Things have been off lately and I have started to doubt some things. Especially, when half of our male pack members weren't here to protect us.

Hearing those rustling sounds, I stood up immediately. I can't help but be fearful. Someone was here. I might not see it nor scent it but I could feel it. And let me tell you, it wasn't a good feeling at all.

After hearing those peculiar sounds, I felt anxious. My wolf was acting up and stirring inside of me. Her behavior was very unusual today.

'Stay still and be alert, someone is here watching us.' She tells me. This is why I stayed silent to observe the forest. It was strangely quiet for a few minutes till the rustling sounds were heard again. This time, it was loud and accompanied by growls.

Then, out of nowhere, I spot a pair of glowing red eyes. They look haunting and demonic if I must say. This is anything but normal. It focuses its gaze on me and I would be lying if i said that it didn't scare me.

What the devil?

It narrowed its eyes and suddenly, a huge wolf emerged from the darkness and ran towards me. They were quite far from me but being a werewolf, I question, is this one of Nolan's pack members?

I sniffed the air for confirmation. When I realized that the wolf wasn't from Nolan's pack, my eyes have widened and it dawned to me that we were all in danger.

"Rogues." I whispered to myself, scrambling on to my feet. Should I run and escape or fight?

Feeling scared and out of my mind, I immediately went inside the pack house, startling the people present here.

"We've got company!" I screamed. They all looked at me as if I was crazy.

"Who?" Someone asks. Before I could reply, a pack warrior came in barging one word that made my blood run cold. "Rogues!"

I looked at my shocked mother, telling her, "We need to get everyone safe! The children!" She snaps out of her surprised state. As a Luna, my mother nods her head and immediately sprints to protect them. Hoping she was safe, I pray to the moon goddess of our pack's state. It's all in her hands now.

I, on the other hand, will try to hold those vicious monsters off and attack with all my might. The training that I attended will not go to waste. I am preparing for this my whole life. I'd rather fight than run away to die tired.

Crouching low, I watch as a few rogues entered the house. I observe them like I am observing my prey. Still hiding, I watch as the older pack members that stayed here, fought the monsters. Fearful of them hurting the younger pack members, I grabbed the first rogue I could see and flung him to the wall. The loud noise it created must have been a painful impact on him. He passed out then and there. How weak.

Moving on, I grabbed another rogue with my sharp claws. My wolf was coming out, taking control. She wanted to kill these measly rogues for attacking her pack.

She growls loudly causing her to shift and take over me. The rogue watches with wide eyes as my wolf, twice as big as his, wanted to kill him. My wolf immediately circled the rogue, snarling viciously. The adrenaline pumping in my veins got the best of me so I pounced on him, ripping his flesh off. I enjoyed hearing the tearing sound as I ripped away an important part. Soon, Benjamin, when I've killed all your men, I will come for you and kill you. The rogue that I fought then whimpers and dies immediately.

Trying to observe where they came from, I have noticed that a lot of rogues were still entering. I have also realized that this might be part of Benjamin's plan to run both packs to the ground. Can we even win this war? I hope so. It's a good thing we trained for I could see other members of the pack, fighting and defending their territory.

Then I heard my mother's howl to my right. I was just in time to see the children were assisted out by none other than Evangeline while my mother was trapped. Clearly, seeing as she was surrounded by rogues when she was getting the kids to safety. She growls at them not to come closer but when one horrid rogue tried to hit her with his claws, it sent me and my wolf to bloodlust. We sprinted out as quickly as wind and purposely hitting his back so he could divert his attention to me instead.

'How dare he hurt our mother?' My wolf growls at him in a low, threathening manner whilst I agreed with her. The rogue bares his sharp teeth at me with anger in his eyes. One goal of his, is to kill me and my pack. My wolf snarls at this and sprang forward to attack him; ripping his head off in the process.

Still crouching in a defensive position, I eyed the other rogue. I could see fear in his eyes as he looked at his dead friends head, detached from his body. Then he looked at me with those coward, angry eyes, determined not to faze him. He pounced on me and attacked me, biting my shoulder harshly.

My wolf whimpered in pain but still continued to fight. It lasted for how many minutes, and she was getting tired. The wolf noticed it too and continued to push harder but my wolf had enough. This is one of the fights that she will not lose. She growled loudly, pushing him off and biting his neck until I heard it snapped. Once the rogue was dead, it sagged and his breathing stopped.

Another one dead. They deserve it. As I tried to stand up, I gazed at my mother. She looked at me with those thankful yet hopeful eyes. It does not matter, all we should value is that she's safe for now. But suddenly, her eyes flashed, widening to an extent that even I was confused.

Before I could mindlink her what was wrong, I felt a soaring pain pierce my right side causing me to fall down. Damn rogue got me good. I thought. My mother growled and pounced on the rogue that attacked me. This hurt so much, I tried to stand up in my wolf form but I couldn't.

Looking down, I reached for my side and realized that there was a blade pierced through it. Reaching to pull it out, I growled in pain as the spiteful knife was removed from my body. I threw it away to the side and watched as my mother scrambled around to get closer to me.

Why does it hurt so much? I asked my wolf. Yet, there was something wrong. She was becoming weaker on my watch. It wasn't suppose to be this way. I will not be weakened by a measly blade.

'S-silver' She says. My wolf had a hard time speaking for a bit causing me to worry.

With that, my eyes have widened. I concluded that I was stabbed with silver. No, I will not get killed immediately unless it went straight to my heart. But right now, it stabbed my neck. Yes, my wolf wouldn't die, but that doesn't mean everything is normal. No, this means that I will not be able to shift for a couple of days.

But goddamn I can't afford to not shift!

How will I help the pack now? There is nothing I can do now but watch from the sidelines. I shifted back to my human form and watched as the pack doctor ran to me. Where's my mother now?

She then cleaned up my bleeding wound by bandaging it quicky. I winced when she ties it a little to tight but I couldn't complain. It may not be pretty but at least there will be enough pressure to stop the bleeding.

I was still feeling a bit dizzy but then I managed to recover now. By the time that I returned to my normal state, I observed that people were no longer fighting and all the rogues were dead. I turned to the pack doctor. "Are the rogues truly dead?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yes. They weren't really that many you know, but enough to scare us and maybe kill us too. I must say, you were really brave to defend your mother like that." She spoke, sounding amazed.

"Of course, she's my mother." I calmly said. Werewolves value our mothers of course since they nurtured us and brought us into this world.

"Where are the others?" I asked once again. There was no one in the broken, messed up living room.

"They're in a safe room, one that Alpha built for times like this. You were just too busy fighting that you didn't notice them leave."

"Did anyone get hurt?" I asked, wanting to know the answer.

"Yes, a lot of pack members got injured during the fight, some has worse injuries than you, but they're doing okay." She informs while I sigh in relief.

Then it hit me, "Oh goddess, I need to inform Nolan what happened!" I gasped, scrambling to go get up.

Hey, can you hear me? I said to my wolf an I's connection. Crossing my fingers, I hoped that she wouldn't leave me hanging. When I heard her voice, I mentally sighed.

'Y-yes, I can. I am just too weak at the moment.' She says, obviously lacking her physical strength or any strength at all.

Do you still have my back? Even if you don't have your strength? Because we must inform Nolan what happened. We needed to inform him because who knows, he might surrender in war and go straight to this pack out of anxiousness. I told her for I am so worried about the things that occured a while ago.

'Of course, I have your back. I am not dead you know.'

I rolled my eyes at her words. Even in a weak state, she is still sassy and sarcastic as ever.

Back to my current situation, I think the pack doctor knew my plan. I felt like she can read my mind.

"No, no, no, I don't advice that! If I'm not mistaken, you plan to tell the Alpha of the Black Stealth pack? I don't advice that since it's too dangerous! Plus, you can't shift! You'll just be offering your life to the grim reaper once you go out there!" She exclaims, worriedly.

"But I have to! He, my father, and brother must be scared to death once that bad man, Benjamin, informs him. So please, I need to fight even if I can't shift. My wolf is worried about her ex-mate and pack."

Her brows rose up to confusion. "You have a mate?" Uh-oh. I forgot nobody knows that I have one.

"Yes." She opens her mouth to speak but I cut her off saying, "Most of the pack doesn't know about this, so don't ask who." Raising my hand as a sign for her to stop.

The pack doctor was having a hard time deciding but whatever her decision will be, I will still go there.

"F-fine, I'll allow you because I know the feeling of wanting to keep your mate safe.-"

Ex-mate.

"-I lost my mate once but you still have yours so I am giving you this opportunity to leave. You are quite stubborn, you know that?"

"Thank you. I am going now." I say turning my back to leave. I can't afford to waste time.

"Wait, are you going out like that?" She says, looking puzzled. I looked down and realized that I was naked. It's not an issue but there are times like these that I feel conservative. I blushed when I realized that now. It was a good thing our pack doctor was a woman!

She chuckles at my red face, giving me clothes. "Here, take this. Since you're not going to shift, might as well wear clothes right?" Oh my, she was a life saver as well.

"Thank you again, so much!" I grabbed the clothes from her hands and embraced her quickly. I put on the given garments as fast as I could; which consists of underwear, loose shirt, and black sweats. I do not care what I have on for I've got no time to impress.

Then I forgot, shoes. I grabbed my old boots that left my feet when I shifted. Thank god it wasn't destroyed or anything. Then I saw my personal dagger on the floor, which I grabbed immediately.

Moon goddess please give me strength to go through this and please watch over both packs. I silently prayed. She might be the only one to guide the werewolf race right now.

Heading over to the door, I turned around to look at the pack doctor. Giving her a small smile, I spoke. "Thank you again. I appreciate it. Please look after the pack while I am gone."

She gives me a playful salute and speaks out, "Of course, I will. Goodluck on your journey and stay safe!"0

With that, I spun around and exited the house. Checking my surroundings, the wind blew across my face as I took a step closer to the forest. I guess it's time to go now.

'Are you ready?' I whispered to her, my wolf.

'Ready as I could ever be. Let's kick some ass.' She speaks softly.

'Then help me.' I told her. She's the only who has my back as of the moment. I needed her to fight with me for we are one.

With that, I felt her come closer to the edge. Yes, we wouldn't be able to shift but she could still control me and of course help me with speed. She was after all a part of me. We push through the forest together, going deeper, with my wolf helping me with her super speed, I did my best to cooperate. Giving her all my best as she did hers, we followed the scent of Nolan together.

As we got closer to them, I could smell the blood flowing from a mile away. Some pack members might have died today.

I am worried right now. After all, we were in the midst of war. I just hope everything will be okay in the end, I'll try my best to make sure of it.

Plus, I've made a promise to Nolan; I will not let anyone harm Easton. Even if I die today, it was a vow that I just couldn't break. I can stay true to this. Maybe, just maybe, Nolan would be even proud of me then.

All I have to do now is take care of Benjamin.

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L.E. 2.25.16 • 9:55 pm