FIFTY TWO

FIFTY TWO
Anna
“I asked for only Luth. Why did you tag along, Jean?” The twins stared at me without blinking.
Luth comes forward, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder. “Forgive us, Anna, but you need protection, and that’s what Jean is here for”
“I picked only you cause I wanted to be discreet. If I were after protection i would have taken the scouts,” I snapped. I was very capable of protecting myself, and they both knew that.
“My apologies, but I suggest we leave now. Words would have gotten to Vallore by now”
I hated that he was right. I gave a sharp look at Jean, who didn’t twitch. His voice expression was unreadable. Sighing, I disregarded him. He was amongst the council for a reason. And he rarely speaks for whatever reasons known to him alone.
“Shift. We have a long journey ahead of us. And if you come in contact with any of the crimson twins, I permit you to kill,” I say that because there's a slim chance we’d come into contact with them. And I was not letting that chance slip away.
As if in agreement with my word, the trees moved as a breeze passed through them. There was howling from the far end of the forest. They were close. I didn’t need to say too much to the twins. They understood without any fussing. Bones began to crack and separate in the background. I don’t look back as I begin to shift.
The process of shifting was painful, but you’d soon get used to it. My back bent in proportions it never had before. Bones cracking. Spine elongated. Nails tearing through skin. You can feel each hair grow out on your body to make fur for your wolf. Beautiful process.
I intended to be stealth. In and out immediately. “Mask your scent and follow me” I said, masking my scent and beginning to move through the woods.
My breath is uneven as I run at speed like never before. I need to get to Vallore and come back to my sister before the twins get to her. Nobody was taking her away from me this time. Nobody.
“Luth go east” I growled. Giving out orders.
He moves east. His brother followed right behind him. Deep down into the mountains, I heard that howl again. I didn’t stop running. I didn’t look back. No time. I said in my head. Soon we’d be at the crimson borders, and I’d be over and out in no time.
We arrived at the spot where we usually meet with Vallore. Normally, we wouldn’t have taken this route, but I had a feeling Vallore was aware of our coming, and as truth may have it turned out, he was standing there with two guards. Wolf form and baring their teeth, obviously showing hostility. One second, I watched them and realized they were rogues. Nothing was worse than violent rogues.
Vallore tries to hold out his hands to one of them, but they growled at him. He turned to me and smiled, “They don’t bite,” liar.
Switching forms, Luth and Jean came to stand beside me immediately. I watched Vallore watch them.
“New dogs?” I asked, frowning.
“Yeah. Just got them yesterday”
I looked at the two wolves. No sign of humanity in them. That’s what happens to rogues. Their wolf takes over their body. Mind and soul. No coherent thoughts whatsoever, just pure animal instinct. Terrible way to live.
“I didn’t come here for formalities, vallore. Keep your side of the bargain just as we talked about”
He shifts from one leg to another. Didn’t look scared or intimidated. Just bored. I hated that look on his face. It was the same one he wore when he promised to allow me to steal Lyra from the crimson territory. The only reason he is still alive.
“I did keep my side. I let you go in and out unnoticed”
I made a move towards him, and the rogues snarled at me, and I paused. “You conniving piece of shit. The plan was for you to give me time. Time for Lyra to wake up fully, but instead, you send them right our way so I can carry out your dirty work for you”
“No. This is my work as much as it is yours. You’re the one who wants them dead. They killed your family, remember”
“Their parents did,” I interjected, and he scowled.
“Same thing. We both know what will happen if they find you. They don’t know you took her, but if they find you, they’d kill you. What wonderful thoughts. I wonder who would kill who first”
I hated this man with everything. “You are also a member of his family. I think killing you will also count as revenge. And fun”
Jean and Luth moved toward. Vallore didn’t look a bit unfazed until they shifted. Guess he was seeing them properly now. Their wolf form is magnificent and much bigger than the rogues'. Guess he was weighing his chances of survival with the way his eyes went calculating.
“Stay out of my business, Vallore. I won’t warn you again,” I said, then shifted.
“Kill the rogues,” I ordered, and immediately it became a bloodbath.
Vallore ran with his tail behind his legs while Jean and Luth licked their fur clean from the blood of the rogues. That was too easy. But it would teach Vallore a lesson that I wasn’t to be toyed with.
“Let’s return now. My sister is waiting for me,” the thought of going back to her made my chest flutter. It felt light, and something that I haven’t felt in years rushed through my veins. Anticipation.
I couldn’t wait to get back to her. Hopefully, I get there before Kade’s army. The idea of them getting there before me and finishing off my entire pack and taking Lyra burned fury inside me. Hunt. Kill. Dismember. Revenge.
I repeat those words in my head as we run back in the direction we came.