Chapter 145

Chapter 145
Autumn’s POV

I thought the sneaking person was just another one of those spies who always tried to sneak into the mansion. My heart was calm because I felt I could handle it. But when the shadow moved closer and closer, I realized it was not an ordinary spy. The person suddenly turned directly towards my room, steps slow but deliberate. My heart jumped in my chest. Whoever it was wasn’t here to spy, they were here to kill me.

I rushed forward and locked the door quickly, pressing my back against it, trying to steady my breath. My palms felt sweaty, and the air suddenly grew heavy. Why here? They couldn't wait anymore and they wanted to get rid of me by all means?

Then the noise grew louder outside. It wasn’t just one person. There were many. Before I could gather myself, I heard the screams, the howls, and the sound of bodies crashing against walls. My blood ran cold. It was the rogues. They weren’t just spying anymore, they were invading.

I ran to the window and pulled the curtain slightly. What I saw shocked me to the core. The pack was swarmed. Rogues in large numbers had broken into the grounds. They were everywhere—scaling the walls, ripping through guards, breaking doors and windows. I had expected an attack someday, but not like this, not so many at once.

My throat felt tight. We were supposed to attack them. We were supposed to surprise them at the festival in George’s pack. How did they know?

The realization hit me hard. It must have been Agatha. She must have heard us planning. She must have seen through everything, and now she had told the rogues. It explained why she had disappeared for days. She wasn’t just searching for whatever she was told to search. She was plotting against us, and they were here probably because they never got what they wanted. 

I knew I couldn’t hide in my room forever. If they were here for me, they wouldn’t stop until they tore through the door. I sent a message to George. Then, I grabbed the dagger on my table, ready to leave. I needed to fight. I needed to protect the pack.

But as soon as I opened the door, I bumped into Dante. His chest rose and fell fast, his face tense, sweat dripping from his hairline. His eyes were dark, full of fury, but also fear.

“Stay inside,” he growled, grabbing my shoulders firmly. “Do not come out, Autumn. They’re here for you. They want to take you. They want to destroy this pack by taking you first.”

His grip tightened, his voice trembling though he tried to hide it. “Don’t make this harder for us. Stay here!”

But I shook my head. “No, Dante. I can’t stay here while all of you fight out there. I won’t just sit and wait for them to kill you one by one.”

His eyes flashed with anger. “Autumn!”

“I already sent a message to George,” I cut him off quickly. “I asked for reinforcements. But if he doesn’t reply in time, then we are alone. I won’t let you fight alone.”

Before he could stop me again, I pulled free from his hands and ran down the hallway. My feet pounded against the floor, and the air was thick with smoke and blood. Rogues burst through broken windows, their eyes glowing with hunger and madness. Some lunged at me immediately.

I didn’t hesitate. My dagger sliced through the first rogue’s throat, my body moving fast, instincts sharper than ever. Another one came, snarling. I kicked him in the chest, grabbed his arm, and drove the blade straight through his ribs. Their growls filled the air, but so did the thud of their bodies as they hit the ground.

I fought my way through the corridor, killing, dodging, surviving. But in the back of my mind, fear twisted deeper. George had not replied. The message I sent, there was no answer. That could only mean one thing. He was either surrounded, or already in danger himself.

The thought made my chest burn, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn’t break down now.

I knew I had to shift. My wolf form was stronger and faster so maybe I could stall them for a while. My bones cracked, my body stretched, fur sprouting across my skin. In seconds, my powerful silver wolf stood in the hallway, growling with fury.

The rogues hissed when they saw me shift. They knew my wolf form was not ordinary. They charged, but I was quicker. My claws tore through their flesh, my teeth ripped into their necks. Blood sprayed against the walls, the floor, but I didn’t care. I kept fighting. I killed them one after another, never giving them time to regroup.

The hallway cleared, but outside, the fight raged louder. I sprinted through the shattered doors, my paws pounding the ground.

When I reached the courtyard, my heart sank. The brothers were out there, surrounded. Knox fought with sheer strength, but his swings had slowed. Adonis had blood dripping down his arm, his movements less sharp. Dante was wild with rage, but even he stumbled from exhaustion. They were all tired, and I could see why.

They had been ambushed. The rogues had planned this well. The brothers were already weakened before the fight even began.

I ran to their side, claws slashing, teeth tearing, adding my strength to theirs. We fought back-to-back, pushing against the endless flood of rogues. But for every one that fell, three more seemed to appear.

In the middle of all of this, someone started laughing like a mad person and I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was. We all looked at each other until she confidently appeared. I guess she wasn't so scared anymore. 

I turned, and there she was. Agatha. She stepped out proudly from the shadows, her face twisted with triumph. She looked at me with eyes full of hate, her lips curved in a smile that made my stomach turn.

“You really thought you could win?” she mocked, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “You really thought you could outsmart me?”

Her laugh echoed across the courtyard. The rogues seemed to pause, listening to her. Even the brothers froze for a second, glaring at her with pure rage.

“I told you,” Agatha continued, her voice shaking with delight. “I told you I would win. And tonight, I will prove it. Tonight, I will kill you, Autumn. Once and for all!”

I growled, my silver fur bristling, my body tensed and ready. I could feel the brothers shifting closer to me, their breaths rough, their bodies weak but still ready to stand with me.

But the rogues spread out again, circling us, waiting for her command. And Agatha kept laughing, her eyes locked on mine, certain that victory was already hers. She was way beyond the redeemable now. The only way she would ever survive this is if we don't win tonight or else she would be in trouble.