Chapter 1

They were marked for death. All five of them.

All female. Dressed in black sackcloth with tight ropes bounding their legs and their hands. They were surrounded by ten heavily armed guards – one reckless move from any of them and one of the guards would be more than happy to slice their heads into halves.

The Skull Rogues were a menace to the Blue Moon Pack, and after so much effort, Alpha Winston and his sons were able to capture five of them. They wouldn't want any of their 'precious catch' to suddenly wiggle out of their nets.

After all, The Skull Rogues were known for surprise attacks; striking without warning and leaving a hard and brutal mark where they hit.

However, there were no surprises in store from these ladies. There wasn't much you could do when death had reared its ugly head at you, staring at you eye–to–eye.

Today, they were going to be executed, and Alpha Knox – one of Alpha Winston's twin sons, wore a proud smile on his face as he stared at the tied–up delinquents.

It was only a matter of time before he would be able to capture all of the Skull Rogues, and then gain delight in watching them die.

"We are gathered here today to witness the execution of these five, who belong to the Notorious Skull Rogues. The Rogues that have terrorized our Pack for so long, Today, they meet their deaths!" Alpha Kylian, Knox's twin brother, announced in front of the onlooking crowd. A large cheer erupted afterwards and they clapped in elation.

Zena clenched her fists in anger as she watched everything playout from a nearby cluster of bushes. She was the Second–In–Command of The Skull Rogues, and Mate to Aster, Commander In Chief.

It annoyed her deeply that all she could do was hide and spectate as her own people were about to be killed.

However, she knew launching an attack would be risky, especially considering the fact that she would be immediately outnumbered since she had no backup.

Her teeth gritted in anger as she stared at the wide gallow that stood tall in the middle of the execution ground. All five of them were going to be hanged to death.

The thought of it irritated Zena, her anger intensified and her palms stung as her fists clenched harder, her fingers biting painfully into her skin.

The members of the Skull Rogues came from a bloodline called the Nirvens.

For multiple generations, they were cast aside, not being included in Pack affairs for they were deemed as outcasts, taboos and associating with them past a certain boundary would be considered an abomination, something that could make one unclean.

But at least, they were allowed to live amidst the others, even though they were constantly discriminated against and looked down upon.

However, things changed for the worse when Alpha Winston's cruel reign began. He passed a rule that none of the Nirvens should live amongst them anymore, that they were contaminating their land.

He ordered that they move out and live in the forests and wilderness. This angered them so much and they decided to seek revenge and fight against Winston's decree. Their main aim was to ensure the downfall of Winston and his leadership.

Aster led the revolution, and Zena supported alongside the rest. They waged war against him and attacked ruthlessly, causing trouble to the Blue Moon Pack.

But after a few months of their terrorist operations, Winston ordered that they be banished from his territory and we're banished from the pack and its environs.

There and then, they became known as The Skull Rogues. And Winston's banishment didn't cause them to relent –  they struck even harder, despite their exile.

They increased in strength, vigour and hatred and made it their foremost mandate to make sure Winston and his people paid for all they had done.

"Guards! Take them to the gallows, wear the nooses on their necks. It is time!" Alpha Knox's command roared, knocking Zena out of her angered thoughts.

She stared as the guards immediately moved to their assigned tasks; they moved the ladies – or rather, kicked and pushed them towards the direction of the gallows.

The ladies remained unmoved; they did not plead or beg, their faces were stoic and expressionless, their eyes were void of tears.

Display of weakness was forbidden from a true member of the skull rogues. A true member must face all challenges, including death, with his head up–high. They feared nothing. They would face this without cowering like cowards as was expected by these people. No, that was not who they were.

Alpha Kylian and Knox's wife, Lydia, alongside Winston, came to stand beside Knox. All four of them watched as the nooses were fastened around the necks of the five ladies.

Lydia clung unto Knox as he crossed his arm, grinning triumphantly, Kylian's eyes sparkled with smug delight while Winston basked in an air of superiority, obviously proud about what his sons had done.

The muscles in Zena's neck tensed, a vein pulsed visibly as she tried to contain her fury. Ironically, the crowd in front of her were overjoyed for their impending deaths; they cheered, clapped and celebrated as these women were about to be put to death.

Zena tore her gaze away from the excecution ground, she fumed silently, her nostrils flared as she let out a low growl of irritation.

She wouldn't be able to witness their killing. It would cause a sting far too great in her heart. Those were her own people, who were treated unjustly and now we're about to be put to death.

Nevertheless, she wasn't going to let their deaths slide – over her dead body.  She wore the hood of her cloak over her head and as she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of Lydia, rubbing her protruding tummy.

She was pregnant.

The corner of Zena's lips lifted in a sly smirk upon sighting that.

And as she followed the path in the rustling bushes back to their hideout, she swore in her life to avenge their deaths and teach Winston and his family that The Skull Rogues were not one to he messed with.