Chapter 10

Rogues. I rapidly searched my brain for any recognition of the word, however I came back empty.

"What are rogues?" I shouted to Asher as he was storming through the house, me following closely behind.

"Werewolves that don't belong to any pack, they are untamed,violent and currently closing in on the pack" He growled, not being able to contain his anger.

In a flash, we stopped. We were outside a large, heavy looking metal door that completely contrasted to the historical features of the house.

"Get in. I don't have time for this, you are not a werewolf and you can't protect yourself against them. Stay In here until I come and collect you" He began pushing me into the room which was thankfully,  furnished with a bookshelf and a bed.

"No" the word flew out of my mouth before I knew it, yet I didn't regret saying it.

"I know I can't protect myself, but take me to the pack house! I'm the Luna of the pack, take me to the pack house where I can help calm the children down and help with any injuries. I don't want people to die knowing I could of saved them-"

"-We have pack doctors, and" he interrupted, his jaw clenched,"you need to be protected. We don't have time to fucking talk!"

"God help me I will punch the glass until it shatters, I am coming whether that's with you or without you" I shouted angrily, " the pack will never accept me if I don't help and if anyone gets harmed and I could of helped I'll never forgive myself"

Asher growled lowly and ferociously in acquiescence, "Fine, but if you die that's your fault. Listen to me carefully, once I turn, jump onto my back and hold on tight, understand?"

I didn't have time to affirm before Asher's body rippled and distorted, black fur rapidly sprouting until an obsidian beast glared at me impatiently.

Sucking in a deep breath, I moved closer, having to jump onto its large frame and twist my body on. I latched onto its thick tufts of fur, and for the briefest of moments, it turned and softly pressed it's snout into my hands, sparks bursting and swirling through my body at the contact.

Before I could comprehend, it surged into a sprint down the corridor,within those few seconds realisation dawned on me. We were going too fast to round the corner, too fast to stop in front of the large window that was edging closer and closer with every passing heartbeat.

Suddenly we crashed through the glass, shattering it into a million pieces. I pushed my head into its neck, the fur muffling my screams as we fell rather ungraciously to the forest floor below.

My landing wasn't as painful as Asher's was as the wolf saved me from the worst of the fall, but i didn't have time to ponder or self-pity as Asher soared forward once more, sprinting through the moonlit forest.

An earsplitting howl erupted and echoed through the woodland causing me to tighten my grip on Asher's soft fur and close my eyes to attempt to block out the horrifying screams that followed the howl.

"Hurry Asher" I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes at the thought of innocent children and pack members being killed, but I read some where that this pack, my pack were the most feared , brutal and powerful pack in the world. I prayed that everyone could protect themselves.

Taking in my words, Asher surged forward reaching an impossibly fast pace and we flew through the silhouetted forest. Blackness surrounded us and I could barely see my own hands.

Lights materialised in the distance, my hope increasing as we drew closer and closer to the pack.

Within a flash, we were outside the pack house. Pushing myself off Asher's warm body, legs shaking and trembling, i opened the door. But before I entered, the bond tugged inside me, forcing me to look back. The wolf was staring at me intently as if memorising each feature. Lowering onto my knees, I planted my face in Asher's neck, whispering in his ear,    "Be careful" before lifting my head, and planting a soft kiss on his forehead.

Asher looked at me one last time, an unknown emotion glinting in his eyes, before running into the woods, his obsidian fur combining with the darkness of the night.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly ran into the pack house, it's familiar surroundings somewhat comforting.

When I entered, the only word to describe what I saw was utter chaos.

Mothers and their children huddled together in the spaces, cuddling yet nervous. The dining room was being used by the pack doctors, treating the injured and bleeding pack members.

Asher's mother appeared from behind me a first aid kit in hand looking flustered and nervous.

"Rose, darling thank god your ok, I don't know what Asher would do if you were ever hurt"

Oh really? I thought ironically. Like when he marked me without my consent?

"I'm here to help in whatever way I can. I wanted to be a doctor when I was older, before, well, all of this, so I'll help with the pack doctors" I blatantly ignored what she said about Asher, and just as I was leaving to go towards the doctors, Asher's mother pulled on my arm, firmly yet not painfully.

"Don't give up on him" She said ,sympathetically, before running back into the living room as more children rapidly entered the house, their mothers shifting into wolf form to protect their pups.

Screams tore me away from the scene and I quickly turned around, running to the dining room area where I saw 5 children and 3 men bleeding and injured.

There were 4 pack doctors here, not enough to get through the casualties at a fast enough pace.

"I'll help with the children" I announced as the other doctors were focusing their attention more on the warriors.

Their heads snapped forward and suddenly they all turned their necks, speaking in unison, " Yes Luna"

Even though the ceremony hadn't occurred, they still had to treat me with the upmost respect.

I ran over to the children and rapidly surveyed their injuries, prioritising the ones with the most severe casualties.

The boy that needed my help the most had a deep gash, most likely from a dagger or knife , running down his left leg. His face was paling and sweat dropped off his small, innocent face.

"What's your name?" I asked softly.

"Luca" he whispered back to me, his voice small and thick with fright.

"Be a brace boy for me Luca" I said whilst grabbing an antiseptic, ailments and bandages.

He was the first of many patients that night.

*****

Sunlight began to ascend, blue and pale white hues lighting up the house. As the sun ventured up, the chaos and commotion died down.

I'd heard some of the pack members whispering, saying that they weren't prepared for the rogues. I could read their underlying tones. Asher wasn't being as careful as he was, well, before me. Finding his mate has made him momentarily throw some of his attention off his pack, and it resulted in this.

"Rose,darling, can you come and help me with breakfast?" Asher's mother yelled sweetly.

I stood from my comfortable seat reluctantly, my muscles aching.

We began making a variety of food,and lots of it. Once the final plate was laid out on the crammed table, I finally began attempting to relax again.

I'd lost my appetite. I blamed the mate bond, it made me anxious and on edge, worried about Asher's safety. I wish there was a way I could just turn it off, it was suffocating and consuming.

People were milling around, waiting for their warrior sons, husbands and fathers to return. It was tradition that only men would fight battles and have violent roles within the pack. When I become Luna, as much as I reject that fact, I could make some big changes to this man-dominated world, the only person standing in my way would be Asher.

Suddenly, the front door clicked open.

Everything seemed to follow in slow motion, as cheesy as that sounds.

Men trailed in, wearing only boxer shorts, dirt sticking to their sweat ridden bodies.

Their families ran over to them as they hugged and made sure they weren't injured, however they already knew the wellbeing of their mates through the mate bond. Once the mating is complete, they can communicate with each other telepathically.

Abruptly, My whole body began to tingle, and my eyes moved on their own accord, surveying the room until latching onto their target.

Asher. He was staring directly at me, looking me up and down to make sure I wasn't injured. I noticed many bruises and cuts marring his skin but then my eyes caught on a large slice through his stomach, blood was spewing out at a fast rate.

I gasped and sprinted over to him, my heart beating erratically, fearfully.

"Asher" I looked up at his paling face.

"Quick, can you walk? Go lie down on the table" I ordered him. It was then I noticed the quietness of the house. It was serious, their alpha was injured.

"I'm fine to walk, it's barely a scratch, I'll heal soon enough"

I tutted at him as he climbed onto the table, wincing in pain.

My hands were trembling as I reached for bandages and healing ailments.

I basically poured the disinfectant over his wound, using pads to rapidly clean away the masses of blood leaking from his lower torso.

His blood was covering my hands, crimson and sticky. I felt sick, right down to my core. But if he died, I was free from this whole ordeal, I could go home to my family and forget. The only problem is that I don't think I would ever forget. I'd read in a book  that if one mate dies, the other will be faced with sorrow and heartbreak, worse than any pain.

This urged me forward as I started bandaging his lower torso, but blood seeped through each layer I wrapped on.

Sobs began to form in my throat, but I wouldn't give up on him, even if I hated him, I couldn't have his death on my conscience.

His cold hand lightly touched my clammy, trembling one, and I stopped in my tracks as sparks danced through my body, calming me .

I looked down to Asher's face and noticed him staring at me, almost sadly. His face had never displayed so much emotion as it did in that moment, and it made the tears pooling in my eyes begin to flow down my cheeks.

I didn't bother wiping them away. All I concentrated on was him. A part of me ached, pain and sorrow arising.

"Don't leave me" I whispered,. A part of me did dislike him, but right then, in that moment, the mate bond controlled me.

Asher didn't say anything but the corners of his mouth twitched into a smile, not the sadistic smirk I was used to, but a softer, emotional one.

Asher whispered something to me but I couldn't hear him, my eyesight was blurry and I felt extremely dizzy and unstable. I felt weightless, like a feather.

As I drew into a helpless unconsciousness, I looked at Asher who was still smiling at me.

He was making me unconscious, controlling my senses through the mate bond. How is this possible?

I angrily mustered up all my energy just to whisper to him;

"No..No Asher!"

But then I was drawn into oblivion and blackness consumed me.