My chest tightened at the thought of those people being injured.
Even though I didn’t care much about the people of the Night claw pack who tortured before, so were innocent.
So, I replied to the person who comnted about the missing people being injured.
"They are still alive."
I wanted to believe this more than anyone else.
Suddenly, Andrew raised his hand and we all ca to an abrupt stop.
The place was so quiet so when I heard a low growl, I knew there was no mistake.
My pulse quickened at that sound.
I wasn’t sure whether it’s the missing people or so rogues but we had to be more careful.
"Get into position." Andrew whispered.
The warriors shifted imdiately ,forming a loose defensive circle.
I was instantly surrounded by them and I couldn’t tell whether it’s because they wanted to observe everything or because they thought I was weak and needed protection.
However, I didn’t dwell on the reason for long because another growl followed. And this ti, it was closer.
Moreover, I could detect movent coming our way.
Suddenly, four rogues stepped out of the shadows.
Their eyes glowed with hunger.
Their bodies were lean, scarred, and they looked dangerous.
And behind them were the missing mbers of our pack.
They were battered and bruised. Tied together with ropes.
However, the most important thing was that they were alive.
Relief hit so hard it almost made dizzy.
"They’re alive," I whispered.
"For now," Andrew replied grimly.
I knew he was right. The rogues must want sothing from us, otherwise, they wouldn’t have kept these people alive.
One of the rogues stepped forward.
She was a woman with a twisted smile.
"Look what we have here," she said. "Pack dogs co to fetch their lost toys."
My jaw tightened.
"Let them go," I said.
She laughed.
"Or what?"
I had the urge to tear her to pieces with that condescending look of hers. But I couldn’t be so impatient, otherwise, it would only harm the hostages.
However, I wasn’t in a hurry but others were.
One of our warriors lunged forward.
"Wait...!" I started.
But it was too late.
Chaos erupted soon after.
The fight was brutal.
Claws and teeth clashed so fast it nearly made dizzy.
Blood soon flowed like a fountain from those who were wounded.
I moved instinctively, dodging a rogue that lunged at from the side.
I wasn’t the helpless slave they thought I was.
I grabbed a fallen branch and swung it hard, hitting the rogue across the face.
It staggered back snarling, but that gave the ti to draw my silver dagger.
Andrew was already engaged with two others, holding his ground.
But sothing was wrong.
We weren’t coordinated.
Everyone was fighting individually.
This was the result of the warriors challenging my leadership. We were fighting worse than the rogues.
We would lose like this.
"Form up!" I shouted. "Stay together!"
No one listened.
Or maybe...
They didn’t trust enough to listen.
I felt my chest tighten again when one of our warriors was slapped away with a paw from the rogues, hitting a tree nearby.
At that mont, I noticed one of the rogues heading straight for the captives.
I could tell what it was going to do. But if the captives were killed at this mont, then the whole rescue mission would beco pointless.
My body moved faster than my brain as I rushed forward, intercepting the rogue just before it reached them
It snarled, lunging at .
I barely dodged, its claws grazing my arm.
Pain shot through .
But I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t.
I swang my daggers at it aiming straight for the head.
The first cut made it stop moving, probably from the pain.
I was using silver daggers, a nesis of werewolves right after wolfsbane.
Without stopping or giving it a chance to react, I slashed my dagger across its throat without much confidence, but the next mont, the rogue fell to the ground and stopped moving.
Breathing hard from such an intense fight, I turned around and suddenly realized that the fighting had slowed down.
Most of the pack warriors were staring at like a monkey in a zoo.
This ti, they weren’t looking at with doubt or disrespect like before.
There was a touch of respect in their eyes as they watched .
"Protect the captives!" I ordered, my voice steady despite the chaos. "Let two people stay here! The rest, let’s finish this!"
I ordered and to my surprise, Andrew didn’t need to repeat the order for them to listen.
They obeyed imdiately.
The fight ended quickly after that.
With coordination, the rogues were quickly defeated.
The captives were quickly freed and dicine applied on their wounds.
Andrew walked up beside , blood on his arm, but his posture steady.
"You did great," he said.
I exhaled slowly.
"I did what I had to."
He shook his head slightly.
"Don’t shortchange yourself. Getting them to show such respect can only be earned through winning such battles. Moreover, you contributed in both power and strategy." I couldn’t tell whether Andrew was serious or just comforting , but that didn’t matter.
The journey back should have felt like a victory.
We had found the missing people and saved them.
But sothing didn’t sit right with .
The forest...still felt wrong.
"They weren’t acting alone," I said quietly.
My thoughts weren’t baseless. After all, what did those rogues kidnap people for?
Andrew glanced at .
"You think there’s more to this?"
"I know there is more." I said with utmost certainty.
"Let’s move faster and stay alert. We need to get out of this forest as soon as possible." Andrew ordered and so of the uninjured warriors moved to help those who had suffered from injuries.
We were halfway back to the pack when a loud howl ca from a distance.
It felt like a signal soone was sending to hunt us down.
My blood ran cold.
"Stop," I whispered.
But it was too late.
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