Chapter 6 Elara's POV
The forest was silent except for my ragged breathing. I pressed my back against a tree, trying to steady myself, but my legs wouldn't stop shaking. The bond with Kaden or what was left of it felt like a gaping wound in my chest, raw and bleeding.
“We need to run.” I told my wolf, desperate for her strength.
But she didn't answer. She was there. I could feel her, but she was weak. So weak. The rejection had done something to her, something terrible. It was like she was fading, slipping away from me bit by bit.
"Please," I whispered out loud.
"Please, I need you."
Still nothing then I heard them.
Footsteps, multiple sets, moving through the undergrowth. Not the careful, measured steps of pack warriors on patrol; these were different, aggressive, predatory.
I turned slowly and saw them emerging from between the trees. Five of them. Rogues. I knew it instantly from their appearance, filthy clothes, wild eyes, and scars covering their exposed skin. The smell hit me next, that distinctive rogue scent of unwashed bodies and madness.
"Well, well," One of them said, a tall man with a jagged scar running down his face.
"What do we have here?"
I tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. They formed a semicircle around me, cutting off any escape route.
"Please," I said, hating how my voice trembled. "Just let me pass."
The scarred one laughed. It was an ugly sound. "Let you pass? Where are your manners, sweetheart? We haven't had company in so long."
"I don't want any trouble." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm just going through."
Another rogue, shorter with matted brown hair, stepped closer. He sniffed the air. "You think you can run from us.”
"Even better," the scarred one said. "Those Blue moon wolves think they're so superior, so untouchable."
‘Shift.’ I commanded my wolf silently. 'Please, we need to shift, we need to fight.’
I felt her stir, felt her try to respond, but it was like she was trapped behind a wall. The rejection had broken something fundamental between us. Without her, I was just a human weak. vulnerable.
"I'm not with them anymore," I said quickly. "I was rejected. I'm no one."
"Rejected?" The brown-haired rogue grinned, showing yellowed teeth.
"That makes it even easier then no one will come looking for you."
My heart hammered against my ribs. I thought of the baby growing inside me, Kaden's baby, though he didn't know it. I had to protect my child and I had to survive.
"I said, let me pass," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
The scarred rogue's expression changed. The amusement vanished, replaced by cold anger. "I don't think you understand your situation, girl."
He moved fast, faster than I expected. His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, his fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. I tried to pull away, but his grip was iron.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
I swung my free hand at his face, but he caught it easily. Then he shoved me, hard. I stumbled backward and hit the ground, my shoulder slamming into a rock. Pain exploded through my body.
"Stupid bitch." He snarled.
I tried to get up, but another rogue kicked me in the side. The air rushed out of my lungs. I gasped, curling in on myself instinctively.
"Stop," I wheezed. "Please, stop."
They didn't stop.
A boot connected with my ribs then another. I heard something crack and the pain was so intense I couldn't even scream. I could only lie there, trying to protect my stomach, trying to shield my baby.
"Not the stomach." one of them said.
"Make it last."
They listened as the next blow caught me across the face. My head snapped to the side and I tasted blood. Another hit landed on my temple and the world spun. Someone grabbed my hair and yanked my head back.
"Look at me." The scarred one demanded.
I couldn't focus, everything was blurry. His fist connected with my cheekbone and I heard a sickening crunch. The pain was everywhere now, radiating through my skull, my ribs, my back.
"Please." I sobbed.
"Please, I'm pregnant, there is a baby please."
They paused for a moment, I thought maybe they would stop. Maybe they had some shred of humanity left.
Then the scarred one laughed. "Not our problem."
The beating continued with a kick to my back and another to my side. My head bounced off the ground when someone shoved me. I felt warmth spreading across my face, I realized distantly there was so much blood.
I couldn't fight anymore, I couldn't even lift my arms to protect myself. My wolf was silent, too weak to help, too broken to save us. I had never felt so alone, so helpless.
My baby. I thought desperately pPlease, let my baby be okay.
Through the haze of pain, I heard one of them speak. "Make sure she doesn't wake up."
"Should we finish her?" another asked.
"Nah, let the forest take care of it more fun that way."
I felt one last kick, this one to my head, and then everything went dark for a moment. When I came back, they were walking away. I could hear their footsteps fading, and hear their rough laughter disappearing into the distance.
I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond. Everything hurt, everything was broken.
Then I felt it rain, cold drops hitting my face, my arms, soaking into my torn clothes. The sky had opened up, and water poured down.
I was so cold I was so tired.
Stay awake.I told myself you have to stay awake for the baby.
But the darkness was pulling at me, dragging me down. My eyes wouldn't stay open. The rain kept falling, washing the blood from my face, and I felt myself slipping.
Slipping away into nothing.
‘I'm sorry.' I thought, and I didn't know if I was apologizing to my baby or to myself.
Then everything went black.