Chapter 9
Sneaking through the dense woods toward the Springlake pack, I could hear nothing but the soft crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The moon. was our only light, but that didn’t bother me. Stealth was key, and we were all good at it. Jake and I had one mission. Get in, free the
prisoners, and get out before the rogues even notice. Damon‘ s team would launch the attack and keep them distracted.
I could feel the tension in the air as Jake and I exchanged a glance. Neither of us spoke, but we didn’t need to. The plan was simple, but that didn’t make it easy. My senses were on high alert as we approached the dungeon, hidden deep within the pack’s territory. This wasn’t just a rescue mission–it was personal. Those rogues had decimated an entire pack, and they were going to pay for it.
We slipped into the dungeon, moving like shadows. The prisoners were weak, but their eyes lit up with hope when they saw us. Our small team worked fast, breaking chains and quietly leading them out. Most of them could barely stand, let alone fight, but we weren‘ t leaving anyone behind.
“Let’s move,” I whispered, urging the survivors toward the forest.
We had almost made it to the treeline when the sound of low growls. froze us in our tracks. A couple dozens of rogues emerged from the shadows, surrounding us. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my face calm. Jake and I quickly counted. There were only five fighters among the survivors–definitely not ideal against a pack of
bloodthirsty rogues.
“This is going to get messy,” Jake muttered, his hand already reaching for his weapon.
“No kidding,” I replied, eyes locked on the rogues closing in. We couldn’t let them take us. We had to fight.
I stepped forward, tightening my grip on my blade. “Jake, lead the others out. I‘
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“What? No, Daphne-”
“Go!” I snapped. “I’ll buy you time. You have to get them to safety.”
Jake hesitated, but he knew I was right. With a clenched jaw, he started guiding the prisoners away, leaving me to face the rogues
alone.
I exhaled, focusing. If this was how it had to be, so be it.
The first rogue lunged at me, but I was ready. I sidestepped, slicing through its side, and spun to face the next one. My adrenaline kicked. in, sharpening my senses, I fought hard, pushing myself to the limit as more rogues charged in. Each movement was precise, each strike brutal, I was outnumbered, but I wasn’t going to let them break me. But as the minutes stretched on, my body started to betray me. Exhaustion crept in, slowing my movements. One rogue’s claw grazed my arm. Another knocked the wind out of me with a well–placed hit. I was losing ground.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org: ©.
Damn it! I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold them off.
Just when I thought I might be overwhelmed, a thunderous growl filled the air. I turned, and my breath caught in my throat. A large, familiar wolf barreled through the line of rogues, taking them down with terrifying force.
Jasper.
He moved like a force of nature, cutting through the rogues with deadly precision. For a moment, all I could do was watch, too stunned. to react. He was fighting for me. After everything, Jasper was here.
Once the rogues were dealt with, he shifted back to his human form, chest heaving from exertion. His eyes found mine, concern flickering in those familiar depths. He didn’t say a word as he helped me to my feet, and I could feel the awkwardness settle between us. Still, I was too drained to care.
“Come on,” he murmured, his tone softer than I expected. “You‘ re not dying today.”
I grunted in response, allowing him to help me walk, my body too
tired to protest.
Later, I found myself in the infirmary, my wounds being patched up by a medic. The sharp sting of antiseptic grounded me, keeping me from drifting off into exhaustion completely. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.
The door creaked open, and I didn’t have to look to know who it was.
Jasper stepped into the room, standing awkwardly near the foot of the bed. We hadn’t spoken since he’d come to my rescue, and now that the adrenaline had faded, the weight of our history settled between us. like a heavy fog.
He cleared his throat. “You alright?
“Yeah,” I muttered, glancing at him. “Thanks. For, you know… saving my life.”
He nodded, shifting uncomfortably. “I couldn’t just leave you out there.”
Silence hung in the air again. It was strange seeing him like this–civil, even kind. Not the Jasper I had left behind, not the one who had broken me.
“I didn’t know Moonlake volunteered to help with the rescue,” I said, trying to break the tension.
“We did,” Jasper replied, his voice low. “When we heard what happened to Spring Lake… Well, it wasn‘ t just an option.”
I studied his face, and for the first time in a long while, I saw something different in his eyes. He wasn‘ t the cocky, entitled alpha–to–be I had known. There was something almost vulnerable about him now.
“I never wanted things to end the way they did,” Jasper finally said, his gaze lingering on me as if he were searching for the right words.
I swallowed, feeling a pang in my chest. “Yeah, well, they did. And we both have to move on.”
He nodded, but I could see regret in his eyes. There were things he wasn‘ t saying, things I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear.
“Take care, Daphne,” Jasper said softly, turning to leave.
I watched him go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Relief, sadness, maybe even a bit of closure. But before I could dwell on it too much, the door creaked open again.
Damon stood there, a weary smile tugging at his lips.
“Well, Stone,” he said, his voice teasing, “ready for round two?” but it was obvious he didn’t feel like cracking jokes.