Chapter 5 The Rogues Want Justice

Sasha's pov

Seeing all the males in the audience didn't interest me. Only one of them made my heart stir and that was my bunny. As I danced I did my best to give Zaika an exquisite performance.

"He has seen you dance many times. This will be no different than the several times before," Aspen, my wolf snorted in my mind. I missed a step and gritted my teeth over her comment.

"Are you purposefully trying to ruin my routine?" I inquired bluntly with a rash thought.

"Just want that asshole Gallum's blatant interest off your ass," she snarled bitterly, causing me to glance toward the prince. I swallowed uncomfortably seeing his eyes glowing slightly at my person. Moving my attention to Zaika I curled my lip in his direction.

"How will I know who my mate is, Aspen? Tell me since my mother cannot." I asked my wolf subconsciously. Whining in my head she huffed, "It doesn't matter, dear. You hold a royal Dire Wolf and will be wed to a proper equal." Creasing my brow as I twirled, I felt my heart grow heavy in my chest. I finished my routine and lowered my head to the applause of the audience. I exited the stage and was taken back to my suite since females weren't allowed to attend the event. Ruby helped me change as I chewed on my bottom lip.

"You are mated, Ruby. Can you tell me what it felt like meeting your mate?" I asked with a hope-filled gaze. Grinning slightly, she pulled me down to the couch.

"Does someone here cause your heart to race?" She asked curiously. I nodded.

"Yes, they are here all the time and make my heart beat frantically when they are near," I admitted. Smiling, Ruby patted my arm.

"They could be but your wolf would know and should tell you," she confided. Exhaling deeply I nodded. I didn't want to admit that my wolf was being tight-lipped, since I was royalty.

"I am not being tight-lipped, I am saving you from feeling heartache," Aspen growled, causing me to roll my eyes and pout.

Zaika's pov

After Sasha's stellar performance, Vossler insisted that Ivan introduce us. Shaking the elderly king's hand I felt his inner wolf's strength. Basically informing me that his age was just his outer shell. Inside, the king was still a formidable opponent.

"I told you there was something different about the young male," Bryce said softly and Vossler nodded.

"Are you a hybrid, Zaika?" Vossler inquired curiously. I was but hadn't needed to consume any blood since my teen years and told him that honestly. Rubbing his chin, his yellow eyes narrowed at me.

"Bryce wishes you to return with us to start guard training and your father has agreed to it. We will leave at dawn so be ready. Bryce will be your personal trainer," the Dire King stated firmly. I inhaled sharply and glared at my father. He looked at me with sternness so I nodded.

"I would be honored, your highness," I answered plainly. Turning myself from their direction, I gritted my teeth in irritation.

"Don't worry your pretty head, Zaika. I will keep your sister company during your absence," Gallum grinned nauseatingly. Furrowing my brow I was about to lash out at him when a group of guards came running in.

"Rogues have been spotted. A large number are heading in this direction through the forest!" They announced. Eyeing Gallum I shook my head.

"It's because you murder that child," I snapped, causing him to pfft at me. Bryce quickly took the king where my father instructed him to go. They went to the doors to the lower levels where hidden caves were built below the chateau. My only concern was for Sasha and I left to get her. Gallum followed close behind me as I rushed up the staircase to her suite.

"Why don't you get your rifle since you enjoy using it so much," I growled at him over my shoulder as I pounded on Sasha's door. Gallum ran off to retrieve it and I growled.

"Don't shoot me or any of the king's guards!" I shouted out after him. He shook his head as he ran down the hall and Ruby answered the door.

"Rogues are heading this way so gather who you can and retreat to the lower levels quickly," I announced firmly. She shrieked in a panic and rushed back into the room slamming the door in my face.

"Incompetence," my wolf growled roughly. I walked swiftly to my room and into my closet. Stripping my clothes off I lifted the golden harness and buckled it over my naked skin. The metal felt cool against my flesh.

"Hope it's large enough to fit you Einar," I joked and shifted into my Epicyon wolf. Glancing down at my black fur I trotted out the door as the chains jingled. The harness would keep the guards from thinking I was a rogue wolf I surmised. My hellfire sparked along my wolf's fur as I headed out the opened patio doors and into the night. My ears twitched at the sound of our cattle bellering in their field.

"For being rogues they sure are organized," I thought in my mind. Einar scented the air and trotted toward the broken earth spot where the young boy had been buried. The smell of blood from the cattle wafted through the air as we neared the dirt mound. I saw the young green-eyed Dire wolf digging in the ground and went to help him. He lifted his snout towards me, sniffed the air then tilted his head to continue. I wanted to apologize for what had happened to his brother but being my wolf made it difficult to communicate. Instead, I went beside him and used my large paws to help him dig up the ground. His wolf glanced up at me and whimpered. Nudging his side I continued digging until a stiff hand was exposed under the loosened dirt. Shifting back to my human form I pulled the stiff corpse out of the ground. They didn't honor the Dire wolf at all and just tossed his body in the hole they dug. I glanced at the young wolf and I pondered how he planned on carrying the deceased. Standing with the body in my arms I asked,"How are you planning on carrying your brother?" His green eyes glanced over my shoulder as a woman's voice broke the silence between us.

"Hand him to me," she said. Turning around I swallowed uncomfortably.

"That is one big bitch," Einar growled roughly causing my lip to curl at the corner. I held the body out to the obvious rogue Alpha. She was almost as tall as me and a big woman. Not fat, just muscular with long curly crimson-colored hair. Her green eyes stared down at the body I held as she breathed in sharply.

"I'm sorry about your brother. I tried rescuing them both," I mumbled sullenly. She glanced at me and shook her head.

"They are my children, sir, not my brothers but thank you for saving one of them. I will leave here if you give me the name of the one who fired the kill shot," she growled bitterly. I glanced back at the young male wolf who had shifted into his human form and shook my head.

"I'm sorry but I cannot disclose that information," I said softly and felt her clawed fingers rake against my arm. It burned my flesh briefly then the pain faded. I scowled at her and bared my fangs.

"What are you? You are not a Dire wolf!" She snarled. I grinned smugly and replied,"I am not a Dire, I am much more." Hearing wolves approaching I turned to them and waved my hands.

"Go now and head east to your pack," I stated firmly and watched her lift her living son as she carried the corpse and disappeared in a flash. Blinking my eyes several times trying to comprehend what I had just witnessed. The king's guards were calling out to me. I shifted back to my wolf and stomped on the piled dirt to cover the evidence of the rogue Alpha's tracks. As the guards surrounded me I shifted once again into my human form and gestured toward the dirt pile.

"They came for their dead, nothing more. Go inform your king that he is safe," I asserted and watched the wolves lower their heads and turn to head back to the chateau. Exhaling deeply I started toward the chateau myself. I was startled when Sasha threw herself onto me and hugged me tightly.