The howl ripped through the air again, way too close this time—raw, jagged, and pissed-off as hell.
She barely blinked before the Alpha shoved her sword back at her. "You'll need it," he muttered, voice heavy like thunderclouds. No mistaking who was in charge here.
Her hands shook. Not 'cause of whatever was snarling out there, but from the way his fingers didn't quite let go—like he was promising, without saying a damn word, that he'd catch her if she fell.
And bam—shadows exploded.
Three shapes crashed through the trees, eyes lit up like headlights, jerking around all wolfed-out and hungry. Rogues.
The Alpha moved in front of her, just this big, solid wall of muscle and menace. "Stay behind me," he snapped, voice all gravel and steel.
Yeah, right. Like she was just gonna cower behind him. Something wild fired up inside her—call it pride, stubbornness, whatever. She slid in next to him, sword up and ready, her shoulder brushing his.
He shot her a look, eyes blazing, somewhere between murder and admiration. "You stubborn little—" And then, no time for anything else. Rogue number one lunged.
Metal screamed against claws.
It was chaos—blades flashing, sparks flying, fur and steel everywhere. She swung hard, barely blocking a swipe that would've ended things real quick. Panic started nibbling at her, but then the Alpha's arm wrapped her waist, yanking her in tight as he sliced straight through the rogue like it was nothing.
She sucked in a breath. All she could feel was him—his heat, his scent, the way he held her, like he was armor and danger all wrapped up together. For half a heartbeat, she forgot the fight and just felt the two of them.
"Focus," he barked, but there was a crack in his voice, something rough and unguarded.
Another rogue charged, but this time she didn't wait. She stabbed first, blade sinking in deep. Blood sprayed. She stared, shocked at herself, chest heaving.
The last rogue paced, lips curling, waiting for an opening. The Alpha's grip tightened, grounding her—maybe steadying himself, too. They moved as one, like some kind of gritty, battle-damaged dance team.
The rogue leapt—
—and they both struck.
Down it went. Dead silence crashed over the clearing.
Her heart pounded. His chest rose and fell, sweat and blood thick in the air between them. For a split second, it was just them—alive, breathless, buzzing on the edge of something dangerous and electric.
Then—another howl. Even closer this time, rattling her bones.
Yeah, this was far from over.