Chapter 68: Storms rolling in

STORM

~In the midst of storms and darkness, there’s a strength greater than your own…~

In the midst of everything that was happening, I was still very much aware that there was a crazed madman on the loose, planning to take over the world with enough dark magic to level it.

And yet all the wolves cared about was a female in the alpha position, something I will never understand.

~People’s lives are at stake here.~

As I sat on one of the many hills on the castle grounds, I thought about everything that had happened since my parents died.

When I first came there, I was just a scared wanderer looking for a place to lay low after the attack on the Blood Moon Pack. I wasn’t sure I could trust wolves again.

Yet here I was mated to one, willing to go into battle to protect them because they were my family now.

Life had changed so much for me in a matter of months. I went from being an orphan to having a family. So why did I feel like this particular storm was only picking up speed?

Keir was evil, sure, but was he the only driving force behind this? Would there be others? Would this ever end?

As a witch, you hope to be able to heal, teach, and protect. But lately, I felt like all I was doing was attempting to protect but not really getting anywhere with it.

I couldn’t even keep the alpha of the pack alive.

~Axel’s father.~

I stared off into the distance, watching the sun set behind the mountains, feeling the chill as the wind bustled around me. I should really have headed back to the castle, as it was getting dark.

I just wanted to spend more time outside in nature. As a witch, it’s good for us to be in the elements from time to time to use nature to recharge our souls, so our magic is stronger.

Standing to my feet, I wandered toward the forest, heading toward the border, allowing my eyes to lead the way through the darkness. The guards on patrol nodded their heads to me as I walked past.

As I walked through the forest, I got this eerie feeling like something was out there, something dangerous.

Yet the Blue Moon Pack was heavily guarded by some of the best warriors, so there was no real danger there. At least there shouldn’t be.

After walking a couple of miles, I came to a stop at a stream, bending down to place my hand in the water and enjoy the coolness of the rushing water. A snapping twig to my right caught my attention.

My heart beat quickly as I stood up and stared out into the darkness. “Hello?” My voice came out as a croak, giving away my rising fear and building heart rate.

~So stupid!~

~Why did you wander out here alone?~

I snuck quietly toward where the sound came from, ducking into the shadows. I masked my scent and reflected the light away from me, blending into the trees and bushes so as not to be seen.

I walked further, my ears straining to hear anything, not that I could hear much with human ears and not wolf ones.

I was about to turn back, thinking it was an animal, when something made me stop in my tracks, my eyes widening in shock.

~Rogues.~

The same ones that wiped out my parents, at least the same group that did. Some of them might be different, but some looked familiar.

They sat around a campfire, laughing and joking, some skinning rabbits that were clearly going to be food.

They laughed and joked over the fire, making my stomach turn, these vile creatures just living like they hadn’t a care in the world.

~I should kill them where they sit.~

A rustling and snapping of twigs behind me made me spin around, a foul smell wafting up my nostrils. I stepped deeper into the bushes in the hopes I wouldn’t be noticed.

The rogue walking past me was gigantic, nothing short of a mountain of a man. He walked up to the group, thankfully walking right past me.

I let out a small sigh of relief and gazed cautiously toward the makeshift camp.

~I have to warn the others.~

~They’re too close to the border. In a matter of hours, they could be on us.~

I turned around and took off at a run back to the castle, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest as I ran as fast as I could.

I fell at the feet of the border guards, panting heavily, gasping for air.

“Ma’am? Ma’am? Are you all right?” One of the guards reached down for me. I waved his hand away, breathing heavily.

“Rogues,” I panted. “Rogues two miles south of here.” I pointed behind me wildly, my eyes threatening to come out of my head.

The guards helped me to my feet.

“Mind-link the prince and let him know. We need to be prepared for an attack. I will help her back to the castle,” one of the guards barked at the others leading me across the castle grounds.

Just as we got to the doors, Axel burst through them. “Storm, are you all right? Thank you, Roland.” He took me from the guard’s arms, who nodded silently.

“Rogues,” I panted again, my heart still beating wildly.

Diego met us at the entrance, Barking orders at wolves as they raced around.

“Gather the warriors!”

“Are you deaf? All women children in the bunkers!”

“Rogues two miles south! Get a hunting party together!”

“Get me my armor!”

“Where is the pack beta?!”

“Jordan!”

“Someone get me the alpha!”

“Reign!”

“Storm, how many of them were there?” Diego took a firm grip of my shoulders, shaking me slightly to get my attention. I blinked at him, my mind still reeling.

~Get a grip, Storm!~

“There were at least twenty.” My voice came out as a croak, the faces of the rogues who slaughtered my parents still dancing in my mind, making my blood boil with fury.

“Okay, you head to the bunkers with the women and children.” Diego let me go, but I shook my head.

“No, I want to fight these rogues. They killed my parents. I want my revenge.” I stared Diego down.

Reign shook her head, coming to a stop beside Diego.

“No, Storm, we need you to protect the women and children in case there are more or any get past us.”

I glared at her furiously. “They murdered my parents, Reign. They ~slaughtered~ them like ~animals~.”

“I understand, Storm.”

“Do you?”

“~Yes~, Storm, I do, but I am ~commanding~ you to stay here with the women and children.”

“~Commanding ~me? Who do ~you~ think you are? I am not a ~wolf~ you can bark orders at. I am a witch, and these ~beasts ~slaughtered my parents. I am going, and I dare you to try and stop me.”

I took a step toward her, my eyes dancing with electric fury. She gulped slightly but nodded reluctantly. “Fine, but you let us take charge, understood?”

“The ones who killed my parents are mine,” I demanded.

She rolled her eyes but nodded.

I squared my shoulders, not making eye contact with Axel. I needed to do this, to avenge my parents’ death. They deserved this. I intended to do to these rogues what they did to my parents.

A slow, painful death. Merciless.