Evelyn’s POV
My phone buzzed. It was Jackson. "We’ve got the rest people from the town in the trucks," his voice ca through the phone. "Heading to the eting point now."
"Good," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos around us. "We’ll et you there with anyone else we find."
Chuck stared at like I’d grown a second head, wincing as he pressed his hand against his bleeding arm. "Why are you helping us? You barely know us."
I handed him a clean cloth for his wound. "Because it’s the right thing to do." I looked him in the eyes. "Now, are there others still in town?"
He nodded slowly, his face creased with worry. "The Millers. Their house is at the end of Lane. They have twin babies, just six months old."
My heart clenched at the thought of innocent children in danger.
"Eryx?" I turned to my protector.
He was already scanning our surroundings, his trained eyes picking up movent in the shadows. "If we move now, we might make it before the main group of Rogues circles back."
We helped Chuck to his feet, but before we could take a step, another howl pierced the night air—deeper and more commanding than the others. The sound made my blood run cold.
"That’s him," Eryx whispered, his face going pale."The Rogue King."
Eryx had been one of my father’s gamma warriors before, so it didn’t surprise that he knew about the Rogue King. But what was Rogue King doing here?
As if summoned by his words, five more Rogues erged from the surrounding trees like ghosts, moving silently to block our way out.
Eryx pushed behind him, his entire body tensing for a fight. I could feel the controlled violence radiating from him. "When I create an opening, you run," he muttered under his breath. "Don’t look back."
Before I could protest, a tall figure stepped through the circle of Rogues with casual confidence.
Unlike the others, this one was in human form, wearing torn dark jeans and a black leather jacket, his muscular chest visible beneath the open jacket. His dark hair was ssy and wild, framing a face that might have been handso if not for the cruel twist of his lips and the dangerous look in his eyes. His arms and chest were covered in scars from pack battles.
"Well, well," he drawled, his voice carrying a rough edge that spoke of too many cigarettes and too much whiskey. "What do we have here? Trespassers in my territory?"
I stepped forward, ignoring Eryx’s attempt to keep behind him. My heart was pounding, but I kept my chin up. "Your territory? This is a human settlent. You have no right to be here."
The Rogue King’s eyes widened slightly, taking in my appearance with obvious interest.
His gaze lingered on . "An Oga with a spine. How interesting."
He circled closer like a predator, inhaling deeply. "And no wolf scent. How curious."
I stood my ground, refusing to let him see my fear even as every instinct scread at to run. "We were just leaving. Let us pass, and there won’t be any trouble."
He laughed, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Trouble? Darling, trouble followed you the mont you stepped into my forest." His gaze traveled over slowly, appreciatively. "Though I must say, I’m inclined to forgive the trespass, given the quality of the visitor."
"Back off," Eryx growled, his hand tightening around his weapon. The threat in his voice was unmistakable.
The Rogue King barely spared him a glance. "Put that toy away before you hurt yourself, lap dog." His focus remained fixed on . "I’ve changed my mind about killing you. A beautiful, wealthy woman like you could be... useful to ."
"As what?" I asked coldly. "Your slave?"
His smile widened. "Let’s call it a companion. You’re a wolfless Oga—not quite worthy of being a Rogue King’s mate, but certainly suitable as a mistress."
Disgust rose in my throat. "I’d rather die."
"Feisty," he purred, stepping closer. "I like that. Makes breaking you so much more satisfying."
"You’re delusional if you think I’d ever submit to a flea-bitten excuse for an Alpha like you," I spat.
Instead of anger, my words seed to amuse him. "Such spirit. I wonder if you’d be this feisty in my bed. Bet I could make you scream my na instead of those insults."
Eryx tensed beside , ready to attack despite the overwhelming odds.
I placed a restraining hand on his arm, getting himself killed wouldn’t help our situation.
"The only thing I’d enjoy is seeing you get your ass kicked and run back to whatever dump you crawled out of," I shot back.
The Rogue King’s eyes darkened dangerously. "Enough gas. You’re coming with , willing or not."
He signaled to his pack, and they moved in closer.
Eryx fired two shots, dropping one Rogue imdiately, but there were too many closing in around us. I saw him take a vicious blow to the ribs that sent him stumbling backward. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to stay upright.
Chunk was fighting desperately nearby with nothing but a hunting knife, but he was completely outmatched against the supernatural strength and speed of the Rogues. One swipe from a Rogue’s claws sent him crashing into a tree.
I wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Years of self-defense training kicked in as I ducked under a Rogue’s swipe and drove my knee into his gut. He doubled over with a grunt, and I followed up with an elbow to his skull. My father had always insisted I learn to fight, wolf or no wolf.
"Careful, sweetheart," the Rogue King called out mockingly as I grappled with another attacker. "Don’t wear yourself out. Save so energy for when I’m fucking you senseless later tonight."
I grabbed a fallen branch and swung it hard at the Rogue in front of . "You better hope your dick is made of steel," I snarled, breathing hard. "Because I’m going to kick your balls so hard they’ll be lodged in your throat. Then we’ll see how much of a big man you are when you’re crying like a little bitch."
The Rogue King’s laughter was dark and predatory. "Oh, I like you more and more. Such a dirty mouth. I can’t wait to put it to better use."
That was it. He stepped forward, clearly deciding to handle personally, his eyes gleaming with sick anticipation.
Just as I was thinking we were probably going to die, a terrifying howl cut through the night—completely different from the Rogues.
Powerful. Commanding. The sound made shiver.
The Rogue King’s head shot up, his face changing from cocky to worried. Even his pack stopped moving.
Suddenly, dark shapes ca crashing through the trees—wolves moving together like a trained army.
Leading them was a huge black wolf with eyes that glowed bright blue in the darkness.
It was Calvin.
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