Chapter 39

Winter POV It’s been a few weeks now and both Sabriel and I are growing weary of being outdoors all the time and continually looking over our shoulders. Not to mention avoiding packs and traveling solo.

Please, let’s go to the next territory, even if it’s just to eat and rest. I’m tired of sleeping outdoors.

You’re a wolf, Sabriel, all wolves do is sleep outside for heaven’s sake.

Just because I’m a wolf doesn’t mean/can’t appreciate a soft mattress once in a while.

You’re so spoiled.

I’m a princess Winter and princesses deserve to be pampered.

I’ll think about it.

The more I think about it, the more tempting it becomes. The pack’s not that far and to be honest, it would be nice to eat something different for a change instead of hunting my food down. Then I feel Sabriel in the back of my mind, tentatively sniffing. My blood runs cold. I can smell the scent of rotten meat and eggs and there’s only one thing that I can think of that makes that kind of smell. Rogues, several of them approaching. That’s worse than just one lonely rogue. I’m extremely f****d.

I warned you, you should have killed that rogue back there.

Leave it alone, Sabriel, besides there’s more than one coming towards us.

It’s a whole group Winter. We stand no chance against them. Not with so many.

I guess we’re going to the nearby pack after all then, we have no choice.

Well duh, I kind of want to live, you know. It’s not like I have a death wish.

I can hear the crashing sounds behind me. Thank god, I’m already in wolf form, because several rogues step out from behind me and circle me, snarling, their red eyes glowing brightly in the sunlight. I gulp. There’s at least half a dozen of them and they all look mangy and thin, as though they are starving. Their jaws are pulled back and they’re frothing at the mouth. One leaps at me and I roll, neatly avoiding them, taking advantage of the small opening to run.

I feel canines piercing my back leg and let out a howl at the pain, shaking them off as I continue to run.

I’m small and agile, but they are easily able to keep up with me and it’s going to be a battle to get to the pack in one piece.

Duck I duck and a rogue goes flying overhead. It turns and I stop in my tracks as it lets out a ferocious growl, snapping its jaws. Great. The others behind me are catching up. He tackles me to the ground and we roll over and over, scratching, clawing and biting me in a desperate attempt to get free. God, the pain is excruciating and I finally threw him off me. Sabriel is impressed despite herself.

The pack is really close girl. You need to haul your ass before we become dinner for these morons.

What do you think I’m trying to do, Sabriel?

Well, to be fair, you’re not doing a very good job of it.

I’m doing the best I can. Are you Winter? Are you really? over him or maybe it’s her. I’m not entirely sure and I’m not about to look at their private parts to find out, running as though my skinny ass depends on it. Which it does.

I can sense the pack’s territory coming up and I run even faster, pumping my little legs for all they are worth. I jump, several wolves from that side growling, launching themselves at the rogues and, thankfully, leaving my sorry ass behind. I watch wide-eyed as the fight turns into chaos, wolves everywhere, springing and jumping, clawing and biting. It’s a bloodbath. I feel sorry for the rogues. In the end, they were still shifters, just ones without homes and extremely hungry.

Winter you really need to stop being so damn nice.

I’m not ashamed of being Kind Sabriel.

Well I’m just saying it wouldn’t hurt to be nasty once in a while, you know, maybe be a little bloodthirsty.

Sabriel. I’m not that kind of person. I can’t be.

I could be that kind of woliif you’d let me.

No. I’m not going to say it again.

You’re no fun.

Sabriel begins to sulk in the background while I roll my eyes. This wolf is so damn irritating at times, but she’s also my best friend. I can’t stay mad at her. I watch as the rogues get taken one by one, keeping myself way back from the fighting. I feel like a coward but I’d only get injured in the chaos. As it is, I can still feel pain in my back leg where a rogue has bitten me.

It finally ends, blood everywhere and dead rogues scattered along the ground. One of the shifter’s shifts back into their human form and l eye them warily. Something tells me this isn’t going to be a warm welcome, but I can’t really blame them. I’m the one who’s brought rogues to their front doors, literally. I’d be pissed too. Still, I couldn’t help looking at the man. He’s completely naked, which makes me blush. Can wolves blush? I’m not sure. He’s got the most stunning blonde hair and pierc