CHAPTER TEN
TINY'S POV
Aspen and Akila attack at the same time. Both manage to use their victims' blindsides and sink their canines into bare necks. Mage runs to Aspen's aid. Nipping and snarling at the wolf he thought he had an advantage.
Akila's victim manages to throw her off as he spins to face her. The sound of yipping is replaced by a rich horn that rings through the soul. Silver Crest is aware of the rogues, and the elders are protecting the young right now. Soon enough, Gahiji will send out a patrol unit to assist. But everyone knows we'll only need help with the clean-up by then.
A series of flashing fur and blood spurt the air. The three she-wolves are ravenous, and they clamp their jaws on any opening of flesh. I wince when Aspen breaks the wolf's neck. His body falls limp and spazzes among them. His member's confidence is now replaced with fear.
The once-littered graveyard among the wolves' spirits is slowly waning. My eyes fell on the little girl as the dead gathered to watch the end. The sounds of pleading and screams consume me followed by disgust. The spirits are revealing their last moments.
"Please— she's just a girl."
"Protect the young—"
"Take our lands, but spare my family."
"Moon goddess, save us."
"Save us!"
I've learned that the more I ignore the sightings, the more innocent wolves are killed. Their purpose for drawing attention is to receive passing. Because a spirit cannot rest if it carries a bearing. And any spirit that manages to whisper the word king means only one thing.
They're direct victims of the Rogue King. An entire family— a pack— mutilated by the hands of a man who hasn't shown his face for over a decade.
A loud rich howl brings me back to my surroundings. I recognize that howl. A tinge of happiness fills me knowing that Cyrus is on his way. In a way, Cyrus has been the only father figure I can stand by. While he is an arse, he always means well. And he was one of the few who never deemed me as worthless.
Akila throws her weight on the remaining wolf who is overpowered by his three opponents. The she-wolves snip at his legs while Akila punctures his side. The rogue begins to snap back into his skin form. He'll bleed out within an hour if he remains in his human condition, but his wolf was battered and in no shape to hold.
Once Akila was satisfied with his defeat, she shifted as well. Her toned figure snapped into place. Akila has never been discouraged by the bare transition of shifting and doesn't bother covering herself. Instead, she immersed herself in his open wounds.
"Come on, little wolf," Akila hissed, "tell us what you're doing on our land. Here to collect another victim?"
"Like I'd ever tell you anything--"
"You think I'm going to beg for an answer?" Akila snaps, "I'm a tall bitch with a small team. All I want is your head at my feet."
The man coughs blood, chuckling, "then bring me death."
Aspen circles around the lifeless intruder while his comrade lays at Akila's feet. His chest slowly falls when he accepts his death. Akila slams her fist into the man's torn chest. Dipping her hands into the crimson liquid that spills slowly. I watch the three pile the corpses and mark the hillside with our symbol. Mage is the one who came up with the idea of calling ourselves Vultures. It was meant to be a joke, but word spread quickly about us. It's stuck ever since. Because like vultures, we feed on the passion of cleansing our lands from the dead soulless spites.
The ground around me vibrates as wolves spill into the forest. Cyrus must be nearby, but I can't see him past my coat. Nor can I smell him or anything around me. I can't use my ability either. Panic rises in my chest at the thought of being compromised. Without a wolf and a remaining rogue, I'm powerless without my practice.
Four sets of large grey paws block my view and I only have a split second to react before my cover is blown. If I'm discovered, the girls won't be able to come to my rescue in time. I'll end up looking like the deer carcass at the hillside.
I quietly reach into my bag and pull out an opium poppy sedative. Without the herb foxglove, the worst the serum will do is set a fever and high in the body. It'll immobilize the ability to shift into a wolf for a few hours, but that'd be the last thing on their mind while tripping.
I watch as a gray snout dipped into the ground. If I'm not quick, the wolf can pick up the scent of opium poppy and become suspicious. There's still a chance he could spot me or step on me.
I pull my knees off the soil and raise myself using my palms. Using all the force I could summon, I launched myself into the wolf's chest. Toppling over the large beast, I noticed two things.
One: I'm surrounded by a pack. Not rogues.
Two: I just stabbed a stranger with a needle and Cyrus is watching.
I've made a grave mistake.