The rogue pounced, its jaws snapping inches from Talia's face. She threw herself sideways, narrowly avoiding the lethal bite. The growl that followed echoed through the clinic, making the hair on her neck stand on end.
For years, Talia had buried her wolf, locking it away to escape the pain of rejection and the sting of her banishment. But now, survival demanded that she unleash what she had buried so deeply.
The rogue circled her, its glowing amber eyes filled with a primal hunger. Talia clenched her fists, feeling her wolf stir for the first time in years, clawing at the surface.
"Let me out," the wolf growled inside her mind. "You need me now, Talia. Let me protect us."
She hesitated, her breath hitching. Her wolf wasn't just a part of her—it was the part she had sworn never to rely on again. But the rogue lunged again, giving her no choice.
"Fine," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Take over."
Her body erupted in pain. Bones cracked and shifted, muscles tore and reformed. Her skin burned as fur emerged from every pore. The transformation was agonizing but quick—a brutal reminder of how long she'd suppressed her wolf.
When it was over, she stood on four legs, her heightened senses bringing the world into sharp focus. The rogue didn't wait; it launched itself at her with a feral growl. But this time, Talia was ready. She met the attack with a vicious snarl, her teeth sinking into its shoulder.
The rogue howled and thrashed, but she held firm. Summoning all her strength, she hurled it against the wall, leaving a bloodstain on the cracked plaster. The rogue slumped to the floor but struggled to its feet, its growl weaker but no less dangerous.
Before she could finish it off, another growl rumbled through the clinic. Talia turned to see a second rogue emerge from the shadows. It was larger, its eyes burning with an unnatural red light.
Her wolf bristled, ready to fight, but Talia hesitated. She was outnumbered, and exhaustion was already creeping into her limbs. She couldn't hold out much longer.
The sound of shattering glass snapped her attention to the window. A massive black wolf crashed through, landing with a heavy thud. Kael.
His presence filled the room, his commanding aura momentarily freezing the rogues in their tracks. Without hesitation, Kael lunged at the larger rogue, his teeth sinking into its neck. The rogue yelped and thrashed, but Kael held firm, dragging it to the ground.
Talia turned back to the first rogue just as it charged her again. Their bodies collided in a violent clash of fur and claws, the force of the impact knocking over a shelf of supplies. The rogue clawed at her side, drawing blood, but Talia retaliated with a slash across its face. It howled in pain and staggered back.
Kael finished off the larger rogue with a brutal bite to its throat, its lifeless body collapsing at his feet. He turned to Talia, his wolf's golden eyes locking onto hers. Together, they overpowered the remaining rogue, their combined strength leaving it no chance of escape.
When the last rogue fell, the clinic fell silent. The only sounds were their labored breaths and the faint whimpers of the injured animals.
Kael shifted back to his human form, his chest heaving as he surveyed the damage. His sharp features were marred by cuts and bruises, but his eyes were steady as they landed on Talia.
She stayed in her wolf form, reluctant to face him.
"You can shift back now," Kael said, his voice firm but gentle.
Talia growled low in her throat, a warning to keep his distance.
Kael sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Talia, I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to protect you."
Her wolf stirred at his words, but Talia fought the instinct to trust him. Slowly, reluctantly, she shifted back to her human form, her body trembling as the transformation completed. She stood, bloodied and defiant, refusing to meet his gaze.
Kael's expression softened as he took in her disheveled appearance. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," she snapped, brushing past him to check on the animals. Most were shaken but alive, though a few had suffered injuries. She busied herself tending to a wounded dog, ignoring Kael's presence.
"Talia," he said, his voice firmer now. "We need to talk."
"I don't have anything to say to you," she replied coldly, not looking up.
Kael stepped closer, his frustration evident. "This attack wasn't random. They were here for you."
Talia froze, her hand hovering over the dog's fur. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "I figured that out on my own, thanks."
Kael's jaw tightened. "You need to come back to the pack. It's the only way to keep you safe."
Talia let out a bitter laugh. "Safe? Don't make me laugh. The last time I trusted you, I ended up banished and rejected. Why would I ever go back?"
Kael's expression darkened, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Because you're in danger," he said, his voice low. "And whether you like it or not, I'm still your mate. It's my responsibility to protect you."
Her anger flared. "You lost the right to call yourself my mate the day you rejected me."
Kael flinched as if she'd struck him, her words cutting deeper than any wound. "I made a mistake," he admitted quietly, "But I'm trying to fix it."
Talia shook her head, her voice trembling with rage. "You can't just walk back into my life and expect me to forgive you. It doesn't work that way, Kael."
"I know, " he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But please, Talia , just come back to the pack. If not for me, then for yourself."
Talia hesitated, her resolve wavering. She hates him for what he had done, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. The rogues wouldn't stop coming, and she couldn't fight them alone.
"Fine," she said finally, "But don't think for a second that this changes anything between us."
Kael nodded, relief flashing across his face. "I'll make the arrangements. We leave tomorrow."
Talia watched him leave, her emotions a tangled mess. She didn't trust him, but for now, she had no other choice.
As she turned back to the wounded animals, one thought lingered in her mind:
What else is he not telling me?