Warriors of Blue moon

One week later

I had eventually left that night but every day for a week I have been coming back and so have they, however they haven’t been staying as long. But they had a plan… of course they did. I wish I could just march through the boarders and communicate with the Alpha and Luna here, but I know that I must smell like a rogue just as much as these idiots did, I’d most likely be caught, arrested and left in a cell to rot or killed before I even got to speak a word.

My old pack was a lot more merciful to lone rogues than other packs that I had heard about. We’d always show restraint and give the rogue a chance to speak before their fate was decided. Most of the ones that crossed our boarder were scared and desperate to escape the forest and have a safe home, but some packs weren’t as lenient. I might be able to take on and kill a handful of rogues by myself, but I didn’t know my chances against skilled, trained warriors and I didn’t particularly want to take my chances.

What was their plan? why are they coming back every day only to walk around, whisper then leave again? Are they waiting for back up? or are they just weighing up their chances of survival against the unknown past those trees.

I waited patiently just as I did every day, watching them… waiting for anything… something!

As the sun was now setting, I became alerted to the fact that they were still here, and now they weren’t talking in hushed whispers as much but laughing every now and then in a menacingly way, jumping around, throwing punches in the air as if they were warming up and readying themselves. I could smell it in the air, the eagerness, but also a touch of fear. maybe it was coming from one of the men, the one that was staying quiet, less enthusiastic.

One of the bigger men started charging over to the quiet man that wasn’t quite as tall but looked like he had a bit more muscle, however the taller man seemed to have more cockiness and attitude about him as he started to square up to the smaller man and gave him a shove. The smaller man barely moved as he shoved the taller man back… they started to get into a heated argument as their voices started to raise so I perked my ears up to listen.

“STOP BEING SUCH A FUCKIN PUSSY” the tall man sneered, practically shoving his face into the other man’s face!

"IM NOT A FUCKIN PUSSY" he shouted as he pushed the man away ”I JUST THINK THIS IS BULLSHIT, WERE HERE TO TAKE THE HIT... IF THEY REALLY WANTED THIS PACK TAKEN DOWN, THEY WOULD SEND EVERYONE.WE’RE HERE JUST TO TAKE THE FUCKIN FALL, WERE BEING USED AS FUCKIN BAIT”

"YOU FUCKIN DUMB TWIT” the tall man spoke up ”THEY SENT US CAUSE THEY KNOW WE’D GET THE JOB DONE, THEIR SENDING US BACKUP. WE’RE DOING THIS AND WE DOING THIS SHIT TONIGHT, SO FIND YOUR FUCKIN BACK BONE MAN CAUSE WE GOTTA TAKE DOWN AS MANY AS WE FUCKIN CAN AND I DONT WANT SOME MOTHA FUCKIN PUSSY BY MY SIDE”

The other man started shaking his head as he chuckled ”YOU ARE SUCH A FUCKING PUPPET, JUST THEIR TOY AND YOUR HAPPY TO RUN INTO YOUR DEATH TONIGHT AND FOR WHAT??? FOR FUCKING WHAT?? WE DONT EVEN KNOW WHY WE’RE FUCKING HERE, THIS PACK LAND GOES ON FOR FUCKING MILES AND WE HAVE NO FUCKING CHANCE AGAINST THEIR FIGHTERS, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST AND ALL WE HAVE ARE A HANDFUL OF BARELY TRAINED FUCKING ROGUES. AND IM NO FUCKING PUSSY, IM JUST DONE WITH BEING A FUCKING PUPPET”

he pushed the taller man and threw a punch so hard the man flew off his feet and slammed back down onto the ground ”stay and be their fucking bait” he said then he turned on his feet, transformed into his big brown wolf and ran fast through the trees and back into the deep forest.

The other two rogues that had stood by and watched the whole argument barely flinched and told the taller man to get up and get prepared “the rest will be here soon” the woman said.

Ok… so that’s it then? they’ll have more coming and attack tonight! I can only hope it’s not more than I can handle and that not far past the tree line are warriors at the ready!

The sun had long gone, and the bright moon was hovering over us as the three rogues stood still facing the tree line, they just stood in stance and waited, looking ahead into the dark boarder. Time passed as I watched in confusion at the fact that nothing was happening, hours just kept slipping by and eventually birds started to chirp and the darkness around us was suddenly lifting as the sun was beginning to greet us again.

The sound of footsteps, twigs snapping, grass swishing came from behind me as I remained quietly tucked away in the high tree. I slightly turned and investigated the forest as silhouettes of bodies were coming closer on the ground until they all became clear in my view. shit...shit..shit..shit.. I whispered to myself as I saw at least thirty rogues approaching as they jogged closer to the three rogues already waiting. They all got to the boarder and divided themselves between the three rogues.

One whispered to the taller man, the tall man nodded back in reply ”WE RUN, WE ATTACK, TAKE DOWN AS MANY AS YOU CAN, IF YOU GET PAST WARRIORS, KILL AS MANY PACK MEMBERS AS YOU CAN..WE’RE HERE TO ATTACK AND KILL... ATTACK AND KILL”

they all copied and started chanting with him ”attack and kill”.

My heart thumped in my chest and my breathing got deeper as I crouched on my feet, readying myself to follow them in without being seen, hopefully they’ll be too busy with their ruthless mission to notice me and with the overwhelming scent of the pack ahead they won’t catch mine.

As they finished chanting, the tall guy shouted to them all ”NOWWWW” he yelled as he set off in a run, the others yelled defiantly as they followed suit. I waited until they were just passed the boarder as I dropped down from the tree and ran to the boarder trees, I climbed up one and started jumping from one to the other, following their direction, keeping enough distance for them not to see or hear me.

I stopped high in a tree as masculine strong aura’s hit my senses, I could tell it was coming from further ahead but quickly getting closer and closer as every second passed… the group of rogues stopped a few yards ahead of me holding their ground as they too could smell what I had. It was powerful, intimidating, I could see figures emerging from the trees ahead, about six of them, big muscular men, their feet pounding hard onto the ground. I couldn’t quite make out their faces from my position, but I could see from here they wouldn’t go down easy. The rogues charged ahead, and the six men drew closer.

Like a crash all of their bodies collided into a battle on the ground below me, within seconds the smell of metallic blood flooded the air, and I could hear the screams of men and women being wounded and killed, the sound of flesh tearing and ripping. Blood splattering against the trees and the leaves under their feet. So far it seems as though the six pack men were winning but I could see a few slight wound marks on their arms and torso’s Afterall it was six of them against 30.

My eyeline shot to one of the six men as two rogues had him pinned when another was charging to take the kill. I pulled over my hood tied on my mask and darted from my tree to the next and the next till I was just above them, I dropped down and landed firmly on my feet, I pulled out my sword and before the rogue could even stop himself, I swiped it across his throat. Turning on my feet I swiped the torso of another, I jumped, and slam kicked the other, till the warrior was free from their hold, he looked at me in surprise and confusion, but I ran into the fight to kill more. The rest of the men were now quite bloodied, so I knew I had to act fast.

I moved quickly on my feet, moving right, left, slicing flesh so deep their bodies would crumple right to the floor. As one grabbed me from behind, I swung my head back, hitting him in the face, hearing the crack of his nose, I broke free from his hold, I swung around just as he was trying to steady himself on his feet, I grabbed a dagger and threw it at his heart. I ran to the ones that were left as the six men were still taking them down.

I ran and pulled out another dagger and as I reached a rogue from behind, I grabbed hold of his head and sliced his neck. I ran behind another and ducked as I cut the back of his thighs and then drew my sword down his spine, making him reel back and scream in pain as he fell to the floor. Just as a rogue went to lunge at one of the warriors, I jumped on his back tackling him to the floor and slammed my dagger in his back, then grabbing his head I slammed it into the ground knocking him out.

The fight grew quieter and as my sword sliced through the stomach of a rogue, his body hit the floor, then everything around me fell silent. I glanced to my left and then to my right, nothing but dead bodies and blood in my view. I could still smell the masculine aura behind me, and I knew it was the six men all with their eyes on me. I placed my sword and dagger back into my sheath to show I meant them no harm.

"Who are you?" a strong deep voice broke the silence, a voice that sent a shiver right through me, it sounded so familiar, that my stomach started to flip. I slowly turned round to face them, but my eyes shot to the tallest man there, the one stood slightly in front of the others and my heart skipped a beat, as my brows rose in shock.

“Heath?” I replied in a shocked whisper

His eyes squinted and he stepped forward curiously ”I’m sorry… I didn’t hear you, what did you say?”

I shook my head in disbelief at him standing right there in front of me. I lowered my hood and untied my mask. As soon as my mask was off, his eyes widened in surprise.

"What the fuck” he spoke hoarsely ”Lelanna... it’s you...how?” A wide smile took over his face as he darted toward me and picked me up in a tight hug. I wanted to hug him back, but I didn’t, I was still in shock. He laughed as he placed me back onto the floor.

All of a sudden, I felt another pair of arms wrap around me and a deep laugh resonate against my chest. It wasn’t until he let me go that I saw it was Trey. I gasped and smiled as he gave me a bright smile.

“Lelanna” Heath spoke happily as he held my face in his hands. ”What the hell are you doing here and where is everyone else?”

I looked at him awkwardly, unsure of what to say. But they both seemed too shocked and excited to see me I don’t think they noticed as Heath turned round to his men ”don’t worry men this is a great friend of mine, from The Blue moon pack” they all nodded in acceptance and Heath turned back to me “why are you all the way down here? did you know were going to be attacked or something?”

I stuttered as I tried to speak ”uh..I..well it’s not as simple as that actually”. I smiled nervously

Something must have clicked in his head as he looked into my eyes, trying to read what I’d meant, he looked around and maybe realising I was alone, he turned to Trey ”Beta, you and the men get these bodies buried, if there are any alive have them taken to the cells for questioning, I want to know why they attacked”

"Yes Alpha" Trey bowed his head respectfully then looked to me “It was amazing to see you again Lelanna… and by the way you are one hell of a fighter”

I smiled shyly at the compliment ”thanks Trey, I’ll catch up with you again”

“You better” he smiled then he turned to the men, and they got to work.

"Come let’s take a walk" I said to Heath as I walked away from their boarders and back to the forest but being sure to stay close by to his pack line, I knew he probably wouldn’t feel too comfortable to be far from his men especially with the threat of rogues still out there.

“ok” he agreed as he walked beside me...

We walked a few yards in silence as we reached an overhanging rock that overlooked a small flowing stream. I sat down and Heath sat down next to me. He nudged my arm playfully with his as he looked at me with a wide, genuine smile, which made me smile back.

"So, tell me, how did I get so lucky to have you appear out of nowhere and most likely saved the lives of some of my men, you helped us win that fight”

A tingle went through me, it’s been so long since I’ve had a conversation let alone with someone I had shared a part of my life with. My whole body was reacting, tingles, shakes, nervous gulps! ”Well first of all, I’m not here with anyone, it’s just me”

“What?” he asked, his brows furrowing in confusion ”you’ve come all this way all on your own, and why are you hovering around in the woods? you didn’t even say you were down this way!”

I cleared my throat and slightly nodded “That’ssss because well...I live here”

“I’m sorry what? what the fuck is going on Lelanna?”

"You remember that girl called Zara, the one that would always pick arguments?”

"Yes, the skinny blonde with the sour face!”

I nodded ”that’s the one… well one day, I was out with Layton and Sam came to find us, he was all flustered and looked...well scared. he said we had to go back, I thought he meant just Layton at first, but he said I had too as well. When we got to the Palace, this big crowd was there and everyone was shouting. Layton tried to calm the situation but as soon as Zara’s Parents saw me, they started shouting at me, calling me a madwoman a violent animal.

Then I saw Zara and she had all these cuts and bruises on her with blood on her face and her clothes. Anyway, she started claiming I had attacked her that morning in an attempt to kill her. Next thing I know I was being arrested and hauled off to the cells. I was there for two days! Then I was taken to the Palace court and that’s when I was told I was to be banished for two years. If I lived out my sentence away from the pack then I’d be allowed back”

It went silent for a few moments as Heath tried to process everything I had just said.

"I... I....wow... I don’t know what to say! that is just madness... it’s unbelievable I mean surely they knew she was lying?”

I just shrugged and shook my head at his question

“sssooo when did all this happen?”

"pftt nearly three years ago I think… well I know it’s something like that”

"Wait! if your banishment was only two, then what are you doing here? didn’t you go back?”

I shook my head again ”no… I didn’t. Two years came round, I knew the exact day and I can remember I spent that whole day just sat in one spot thinking… should I go back or stay?”

"And you chose to stay?”

I nodded

“But why? I mean surely you’re missing everyone, and I can’t imagine how much they’re missing you, especially your family”

"I know… I just… It felt so hard to go back, too daunting! it felt as if it wasn’t really home anymore. Or at least it might not be. I didn’t know what I was going back to and so I decided it didn’t matter anymore, everyone would have moved on and I was better off just being out here now”.

“Wow…. just wow” he shook his head ”I just can’t get my head around it, I mean you were so close to so many people in your pack, you had an amazing bond with your family, they alone should make you want to go back”

"But how would I fit in now? I mean I’ve changed, and their lives would have changed. I’d go back and feel as if their worlds had moved on but mine had stood still, my life there would have remained the same. Look it doesn’t matter I made the decision, and I chose to stay”

"ok… ok” he nodded trying to understand “I’m sorry I’m just shocked I guess. I never in a million years thought I’d see you here or at least not in this way”.

"I know, trust me I never would have expected to run into you after all this time... it’s so crazy” I chuckled

He looked at me as his brows furrowed “Lelanna?”

“Yes?”

“Have you had anyone out here?... I mean any companionship at all?”

I shook my head ”no, no one, just me and my wolf. We kept each other going. I’ve given her courage and she’s given it to me”.

“So, three years? Three whole years all by yourself?”

“yes”

It fell silent, nothing but the noise of the flowing stream beneath us as the sun shone brightly on our skin. I knew I must have smelt like a rogue and now blood too.

“I’m sorry" he said in more than just a whisper

“What? why are you sorry?”

“I just.... I’m sorry for all that you’ve had to endure on your own, I can’t imagine how tough it’s been out here. Even the thought of being out here alone for three years would scare even the toughest of Alphas, I’d hate to think how it’s been for you”.

I gave him a small smile and a chuckle... I could definitely agree, I know even the strongest of warriors or Alphas would hate to be out here alone and honestly, I don’t know how I’ve survived all this time, I just had too!

“Hey” he nudged me lightly with his shoulder ”why don’t you come back to my pack with me? I must get back and sort things out and figure what’s been going on “but I don’t want to leave you so come with me”

I blinked quickly as I hesitated. The thought of being surrounded by people all of a sudden had my body reacting in cold sweats and I quickly shook my head ”thanks but I can’t Heath, being around lots of people so suddenly would just feel too strange I think I’d feel too claustrophobic”

He nodded as he sighed heavily ”ok… I just wish I didn’t have to go back, this is so unreal, and I don’t want to leave you out here on your own. I know that’s crazy seeing as you’ve taken care of yourself all this time, but it just feels strange to walk away knowing you’re here”

It was my turn to nudge him playfully as I gave him a little smile to put him at ease ”Its ok Heath, I understand, You’re an Alpha and what’s happened this morning is serious, I know you have a lot to take care of, but I’ll be perfectly fine, I promise”.

“I know you will be, just promise you won’t disappear, promise me, you’ll come back here tomorrow and see me, please?”

“I will”

"No, I mean it Lelanna, promise me you will be here, I have to see you again, this can’t be it... I feel as if you’re going to leave and never come back”

"Heath” I looked at him as I placed my hand on his muscular arm ”I don’t want this to be the only time we see each other either, So I promise, ok. This has all been so overwhelming and a lot to take in but...I… it feels good to see you”

He smiled a brightly ”good, I’m glad its bought you some comfort! shall we sayyyy late afternoon time, would that be ok?”

"of course," I nodded.

We both got up to our feet and walked back toward his treeline. when we got to the edge he turned and looked at me smiling as he cupped my face ”Lelanna, sweetheart, this has been incredible, and you look incredible” he pecked me on my forehead as I smiled.

I started stepping back as I smiled a little more “bye heath, I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Yes, tomorrow” he grinned

And with that I turned on my feet and ran back through the forest, feeling his gaze still on me until I was no longer in his view.

The long run did me good, it gave me a chance to just breathe, breathe out the events of the day so far. I headed straight to the hot pools and stripped off my armor and stepped into the warm water.

I completely submerged myself feeling the warmth wash away the aches and stresses of the day. As I came up for air with the rest of my body still in the water, I inhaled deeply and allowed myself to take in the calm around me. I stayed there for some time as I allowed my body and mind to relax... the fact that after all this time, as if in the middle of nowhere I had found Heath, it was just unreal. I kept shaking my head to myself as if I still couldn’t fathom that fact! Just as I was living my life, things turned again. An old face, an old flame, an old friend!

I finally got out of the pool and shifted my naked body into my wolf. She gathered up my stuff in her mouth and ran back to the cave. In our mind I told her to dump the stuff just outside and to go for a run. She agreed happily and with that I stayed at the back of her mind allowing her to take reign and run freely without me clouding her head. I could see what she was doing and feel everything she felt but I let her hunt and feast, I let her roam the forest, wherever she chose to go, while I rested.

When she was finally done, we headed back and shifted into my human form. As I picked up my stuff and went into our little home, with a full belly and now even more tired, we both decided to stay in for the rest of the evening. I snacked on some fruit as I smiled to myself at the thought of seeing Heath again tomorrow. I must admit it did feel incredibly good to see someone that I could trust. someone that was safe, after all this time of only dealing with rogue after rogue. It was refreshing, and as if it was a small comfort from home.

Then suddenly, a thought hit me... I could have sworn Heath once told me it took a couple of days to travel from my pack to his… so after all this time, could it be that I hadn’t travelled as far as I thought?