Chapter 1 Attacked by the rogues
Tasha Deva Pov:
“Rhett, where are you today?” I heaved a sigh and asked the empty room as I stepped back from my canvas.
The paint on my fingers had already dried, leaving faint blue stains along my skin. The piece of art I created in front of me showed a city swallowed by a stormy sky. I didn’t plan to paint something dark, yet scenes like this kept showing up in my work. My magic had been restless for weeks, and it leaked into everything I touched. Even my wolf felt unsettled. She pushed at the surface at strange times, eager to take control before I was ready. Being a half-warlock, half-lycan hybrid meant my strength was unpredictable, which was exactly why both packs watched me with caution.
My phone buzzed on the shelf gaining my attention.
Beth: “Warehouse tonight! Everyone is coming. Get here soon, babe.”
I smiled at her message. Beth always dragged me into plans before I could form an excuse. The warehouse she meant sat outside town, near Snowpack’s border. Our Emerald Pack elders had banned us from going there years ago, yet we broke that rule more times than I could count.
Another message popped up before I could reply.
Beth: “Don’t ditch. I’ll be mad.”
I let out a small laugh and grabbed the phone, but before I could reply, it rang.
Rhett was calling.
I answered at once. “You calling to drag me there too?” I asked right away.
“I was actually on my way to get you,” he said. His voice always had a warm, steady tone that settled me as soon as I heard it. “Everyone’s gathering. They said you’d need help sneaking out.”
“I don’t sneak,” I said, even though we both knew I sometimes did.
“You do when the Emerald elders think you’re asleep. Just get ready. I’ll be outside in ten.”
“I thought you were at the packhouse.” I inquired instead.
“Left early. Wanted to see you first.”
A soft warmth filled my chest at his response. Rhett Varyn…. my twenty-seven year old alpha of Stoneclaw Pack….my fiance. Our bond was supposed to tie our packs together after years of tension. He had the calm confidence of a leader, and somehow that matched the chaos inside me. I always felt steadier when he was near.
“Alright,” I said. “I’ll be down.”
I put the phone aside, cleaned the paint from my hands, and checked the mirror. My braid had loosened, raven wavy strands falling around my face. There were faint smudges of color near my cheek. My expression looked tense for a moment, like I was bracing for something I couldn’t name.
I forced the worry away and got ready to leave.
\---
Rhett waited outside, leaning against his car. Moonlight touched the edges of his hair and outlined the sharp lines of his face. When he saw me, he straightened and opened the door.
“There she is,” he said. “Ready?”
“Only if you’re ready to get yelled at later.” I joked.
“I’ll take full blame,” he replied with a small grin.
We drove through quiet streets until the road turned rough and the forest thickened. The night air drifted through the half-open window and brushed across my face. My magic stirred beneath my skin again, faint but noticeable. My wolf responded too, restless but alert. I tsked and focused on the road above.
Rhett glanced at me. “You alright?”
I heaved a sigh,“Yeah. My wolf feels unsettled tonight, that’s all.”
“You’ve been overworking your powers. If you want, we can leave early.” He assured me in his soothing voice.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it.
\---
We reached the warehouse soon after. It stood tall and rusted in the clearing, but the loud music gave it life. Lights flashed through broken windows. Laughter spilled into the night.
Rhett parked near the entrance, and before we even stepped fully out of the car, Beth rushed toward us.
“There you are!” she said and wrapped her arms around me. “I told you she’d come, Rhett.”
Rhett chuckled. “She didn’t have a choice.”
Beth linked her arm through mine. “Come on. Everyone’s inside.”
She dragged me inside before I could even utter a word.
The warehouse looked brighter than usual. Someone had hung strings of lights across the beams, giving the place a warm glow. A portable speaker blasted music. A few friends danced near the half-built bonfire. It looked harmless and familiar, like every gathering we had here before.
For a moment, I let myself relax.
Beth spoke quickly, pointing at crates and bags scattered on the ground. “We brought snacks and drinks, but half the stuff is still outside. I’ll grab it.”
“I’ll come with you,” I offered.
“No, no,” she said. “We need you to set up the snacks first. Rhett, go get the firewood you promised.”
Rhett brushed a hand over my shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed my forehead a bit too long then left.
One friend left after another, going out to fetch stuff one by one as they stepped outside….forgotten boxes, missing drinks, firewood, music cables. Their voices faded with the music as they moved farther away. I didn’t question any of it. They were always this disorganized.
I opened a bag of chips and started arranging things on the table. The lights above flickered, casting long shadows across the floor. The cool night breeze slipped in through the open doors. It wasn’t unusual, but for some reason the air felt heavier now, like the room was holding its breath.
A soft crunch echoed behind me.
I froze.
“Beth?” I asked.
No answer.
I turned toward the entrance. The warehouse door stood open wider than before. The night outside looked darker than it should. The music still played, yet the room felt empty.
Another sound came from the shadows. Low and steady. Then I heard a growl.
My heartbeat picked up. I stepped back slowly as a shape moved near the door. Yellow eyes appeared first. Then a large wolf stepped into the light. Two more followed, their eyes fixed on me.
Rogues.
My throat tightened. I hadn’t seen rogues this close to town in years. That’s exactly why our elders don’t let us be on this side of the town. Too late to understand anyway!
I reached for my phone, but one wolf moved forward, blocking the table.
“Back,” I whispered to myself as I shifted my stance.
My wolf rose inside me, pushing hard, ready to come out. I tried to shift, but my magic surged instead. It pulsed up my arms in a burning rush. The timing wasn’t right. My wolf slipped, unable to take full control.
“Not now,” I muttered. I forced my breathing steady, but the wolves did not wait.
The first one lunged.
I lifted my hand on instinct, and a blast of blue-white energy shot forward. It struck the wolf in the chest and sent him crashing into a crate. The magic drained me instantly. My legs felt weaker.
Two more rogues charged at once.
I grabbed a metal rod from the floor and swung it with all the strength I had. The magic flickered again, lighting the rod for a heartbeat before fading. Pain shot up my shoulder as another wolf grazed me with its claws. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay upright.
“Where are you guys…” I whispered under my breath.
Another wolf snapped at my side. I hit it with a quick burst of magic. The blast worked, but it burned through more of my energy. My vision blurred for a moment. The magic was unpredictable, and using it too fast chipped away at my stamina.
My bones trembled. I tried to shift again, but my body refused. The change stayed incomplete. My wolf pushed, but she could not take over, not with my magic fighting against her.
“Come on,” I whispered. “Shift… please.”
Sweat rolled down my temple as my knees wobbled. The wolves closed in, circling me in steady steps. Their growls blended into the loud music in the background, the sound twisting into something sharp.
Another wave of dizziness hit me. I planted my feet, refusing to fall.
I lifted my hand and tried one more spell. Only small sparks appeared. They faded before they reached the nearest wolf.
My breathing grew shallow. My arm throbbed from the cut. My heartbeat pulsed in my ears.
Then I heard something faint. My friends’ voices.
From far away they were muffled but familiar to me.
“....there…”
“....hurry…..”
“….don’t let….”
I couldn’t catch the rest of the words. My head felt too heavy. My vision swayed.
The wolves stepped closer, their shadows stretching across the ground as they prepared to strike. I stayed awake, though my body felt heavier with each passing second. My wolf pushed inside me, desperate, but she could not break through.
The voices in the distance grew louder, yet I still couldn’t understand what they were saying.
I kept my eyes open as the rogues advanced. My breathing slowed. My pulse hammered hard and uneven.
The last thing I saw was the pack of wolves surrounding me while the lights flickered above.
The final thing I heard was the distant sound of someone calling my name and I was ready with the last and final hit….
Everything else went quiet.