Chapter 6 : Captured by Rogues

Serena’s Pov

I had always prided myself on my keen senses and quick reflexes, but tonight, they had failed me miserably. I crouched low behind a thick clump of bushes, trying to steady my breath as the howls of the rogues echoed through the forest. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a deafening reminder of my peril. I now understood the warning the captain of the storm pack was trying to say to me before I jumped into the river. He was trying to warn me not to head in this direction. I had washed up directly in the center of Rogue Wolf territory.

The forest seemed to close in around me, shadows stretching and twisting like the hands of the rogues themselves. I tried to stay perfectly still so I could mask my presence, anything that might lead them to me. But I knew it was futile. Rogues had a terrifyingly acute sense of smell and hearing. It was only a matter of time before they found me.

Suddenly, a twig snapped behind me. I bolted, adrenaline surging through my veins. The forest blurred around me as I ran, branches clawing at my skin and clothes again. The rogues were on my trail; I could practically feel their hungry growls at the back of my neck. I could hear their footsteps pounding the earth, gaining on me. Panic surged, but I forced myself to keep running.

My lungs burned, and my legs screamed in protest, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not until I was safe. The forest opened up ahead of me, and I found myself at the edge of a cliff. I skidded to a halt, pebbles tumbling into the abyss below. I was trapped. I turned slowly, my heart hammering in my chest as the rogues emerged from the trees. There were six of them. There was no way to escape. I could either give myself to the void behind me or let them tear me to pieces.

They circled me, snarling and snapping their jaws. I felt my heart plummet. This was it. I was going to die here. I took a few steps closer to the edge, ready to jump the moment any of them came for me, But the rogues didn’t attack. Instead, one of them shifted back into human form and walked toward me.

“Look at you,” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Cornered like a scared little rabbit. Did you really think you could escape us?"

I glared at him, refusing to show any fear. "I'll jump before I let you take me," I spat back, my voice trembling despite my bravado.

He laughed, a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down my spine. "Oh, you won't die just yet, sweet thing. We have so much more planned for you."

His words made my blood run cold. Did he think I wouldn't jump? I turned my head to look at the cliff behind me; it was probably a 200-foot drop onto hard rocks and stones. I gulped. The moment I turned my head from the edge, the rogue lunged at me. Before I could even react, he grabbed me by the arm. His grip was insanely strong.

"I told you, little rabbit, you're not going anywhere." his voice was thick with wicked intentions.

The rest of the rogues joined him to pin my arms and legs. I tried to struggle, but I knew it was a futile attempt. They were just too strong. They dragged me back through the forest. I could only imagine the horrific things they were going to do to me.

When we arrived at the rogue encampment, my heart sank further. The ground was littered with blood and bones, a gruesome testament to the rogues’ savagery. I had heard stories of rogues eating other werewolves, but seeing the evidence before me was a different kind of horror. I was thrown to the ground, and the head rogue approached, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

“What do we have here?” he sneered, gripping my chin and forcing my head to turn and look at him. “Such a pretty face. It would be a shame to waste it.”

I recoiled, but he held me firm. “We’ll keep you around for a while. I think you’ll make a fine addition to our little family.”

The other rogues laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. The head rogue waved his hand, and some rogues grabbed me and tied me to a wooden pole in the center of their encampment; after they were done tying me up, they began tearing my clothes.

"Stop it! No..." My protest was silenced almost immediately when one of them smacked me across the face. Pain spread like fire on my skin, and I could feel warm blood flow down the side of my mouth. Still, I shed no tears.

In a matter of seconds, they had ripped away most of my clothing, exposing me to the cold night air. I fought back tears, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

The head rogue stepped closer, his eyes dark with twisted pleasure. He ran his fingers over my exposed skin, trailing them slowly, as if savoring the moment. “You’re ours now, little rabbit,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. “We’re going to have so much fun with you.”

I shuddered, my revulsion evident. “You’re disgusting,” I spat, my voice trembling with fury.

He only chuckled, a deep, sinister sound. “Oh, I know. But you’ll learn to appreciate it. Or maybe you won’t. Either way, it doesn’t matter to me.”

His hand slid down my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. He gripped my wrist tightly, his nails digging into my skin. “You know,” he said conversationally, “I once thought about having a pet. But then I realized pets need to be cared for. Fed. Kept safe. And I’m not one for caretaking.”

He yanked me closer, his eyes boring into mine. “But you, you’ll learn to obey. Or you’ll suffer.”

I struggled against his grip, but he was too strong. His cruel smile widened as he watched me. “Let’s give you a taste of what happens to those who disobey,” he said, motioning to one of his men.

The rogue disappeared into a nearby shack and emerged dragging a young female werewolf, battered and barely alive. My heart sank as I saw the poor creature, her eyes pleading for mercy.

The head rogue leaned in close to me, his voice a cold whisper. “Watch closely, little rabbit. This is your future if you don’t behave.”

He snapped his fingers, and the rogues descended on the werewolf. I screamed as they tore her apart right in front of me, the sound of ripping flesh and the werewolf’s agonized cries filling the air. They fought over pieces of her flesh as they devoured her remains.

I tried to look away, but the head rogue held my chin up so I could witness everything in gruesome detail.

The head rogue seemed to revel in my terror. And while his men were busy feasting, He toyed with me, running his hands over my naked body, lingering at all the worst places. I felt so helpless and violated, and worse of all, I couldn't stop him, couldn't even scream, because I was afraid, afraid they'd tear me to pieces too.

When he grew bored with exploring every inch of my exposed body, he pulled out a slender whip; its tip was a different shade of black, probably from all the dried blood. He struck me with the whip. My body spasmed violently from the intense pain. After I stilled, he whipped me again, even harder. He seemed to enjoy seeing me squirm. He whipped me again and again. Each lash cut deeper than the last, and soon my body was covered in wounds. The pain was unbearable, but I refused to beg for mercy. I couldn't even.

The pain was so intense; my mind wandered from my body, making everything that was happening feel like a dream. While in this state, all I could feel was Regret. I had been foolish to think I could be strong, to think I could lead an expedition into a place where even the bravest werewolves thought twice before entering. If I had just accepted my father's decision, my fate, I wouldn’t be here now, suffering at the hands of these monsters.

I pushed the thoughts aside; I hadn't come this far just to end it all here; I was going to keep fighting until the very end. I pretended to lose consciousness, no longer reacting to the whip. The head rogue's whip stopped mid-stroke as he realized I was no longer moving; he grabbed me by the hair and raised my head so that our eyes were level. Luckily for me, I was good at playing dead. The head rogue ordered his men to untie me. He couldn’t let me die yet. He wasn't done having his fun.

They left me untied at the foot of the pole, thinking I had passed out from exhaustion. I played my part well until midnight. The rogues eventually fell asleep. I waited, heart pounding, until the camp was silent. Slowly, I began to make my way through the camp, careful not to make a sound. While sneaking out, I found a worn-out cloak in a pile of loot the rogues kept in their camp; the pile was almost as high as I was tall. How many innocent victims had these savages claimed?

I moved silently, slipping past the sleeping rogues, and made my way back into the forest. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to get away. The forest was dark and foreboding, but I pressed on, driven by the fear of being caught again.

My escape didn’t go unnoticed for long. The rogues woke to find me missing and quickly gave chase. I could hear them crashing through the underbrush behind me, their leader’s enraged roars filling the night. I ran till I made it to the clearing; in front of me was a smooth rock face that seemed to stretch endlessly into the night sky. There was nowhere left to go. I was shuffling in the bushes behind me, and I turned immediately, my back to the rock face.

The rogues emerged from the buses shortly after, their eyes gleaming with fury and hunger. I braced myself for the end, pressing my back against the rough stone wall of the cliff. The leader of the rogues, the one who had tormented me the most, stepped forward, his eyes burning with a sinister light.

“Thought you could run from me, little rabbit?” he sneered, his voice a low growl. “Did you really think you could escape?”

I glared at him, trying to muster every ounce of defiance I had left. “I’ll never be your pet,” I spat, my voice hoarse from the pain and exhaustion.

He laughed, a dark, chilling sound that echoed through the forest. “Oh, you’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery won’t save you now.”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine with a predatory intensity. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble tonight, little rabbit. I should make you pay for that. But I like your spirit. It’s almost... entertaining.”

I shuddered, pressing myself harder against the cliff, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. “You’re sick,” I whispered, my voice trembling with disgust and fear.

He only smiled a cruel, twisted grin. “Perhaps. But here, I am the hunter, and you are my prey. It's the way things are.”

I felt a surge of hopelessness wash over me, but I forced myself to stand tall, to meet his gaze without flinching. “You may have me now, but I will never stop fighting. You’ll never break me.”

His smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. “We’ll see about that,” he said softly, his voice like ice. “We’ll see how long that fire of yours lasts.”

As he reached out to grab me again, a deep growl resonated through the clearing. The leader of the rogues froze, his eyes widening in shock and fury. Out of nowhere, a massive wolf barreled into the clearing, knocking some rogues aside. I immediately recognized the Werewolf. It was the captain of the Storm pack's patrol team.