Differences

Greg’s POV

I hadn’t seen the arrow coming.

One moment, Anna and I were in the ruined temple, catching our breaths and talking through the storm that was Cole, and the next, an arrow tipped with a gleaming, explosive head sliced through the air and lodged itself squarely in my chest.

The impact was immediate—fire and force sent me and Anna flying across the temple, slamming us into the crumbling stone wall with bone-jarring intensity.

I hit the ground hard, feeling the searing pain spread through my torso. For a brief second, everything went white, my senses overwhelmed by the explosion, but then my body began its automatic repair, the flesh knitting back together, sealing the wound as if it had never been there. I was pissed. These rogues had just made a colossal mistake.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up, stumbling to my feet. I glanced down, noting the torn and burnt fabric of my shirt.

My skin was still smoking, and the stench of scorched flesh hung heavy in the air, but the wound was gone, the only sign of damage being the singed hole in my clothing. My healing factor had done its job, and now, all I felt was rage.

I turned to Anna, who was sprawled on the ground, still dazed from the blast. Her own healing powers were slower than mine, but I could see her wounds mending as she struggled to sit up. I rushed to her side, gripping her arm to help her stand.

“Anna, are you alright?” I asked, my voice edged with concern, but she nodded, determination flaring in her eyes.

“I’m fine, just a bit rattled,” she said, brushing off the dust and dirt. “But they’re coming. I can hear them.”

“Yeah, me too.”

The air was thick with tension, the sound of boots crunching against gravel echoing from outside. Moments later, a group of heavily armed men stormed into the temple, rifles raised, and eyes cold with murderous intent.

These weren’t ordinary rogues; they were prepared, equipped with advanced weapons that glinted menacingly in the dim light. Their leader barked orders, and in an instant, bullets began to fly.

I felt the rush of adrenaline as I activated my super speed, the world slowing down to a crawl.

Time was my ally; every movement was calculated and precise. I zipped around the temple, dodging bullets with ease as I moved like a blur.

The rogues didn’t stand a chance. I darted from one to another, landing crushing blows before they could even register my presence. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, rifles clattering uselessly beside them.

One of them tried to take aim at Anna, but I was on him before he could squeeze the trigger. I slammed him into the wall, his weapon slipping from his grasp as I knocked him unconscious.

Another rogue managed to swing a knife at me, but I sidestepped and delivered a sharp kick that sent him flying into a pile of rubble. They were quick, but I was faster. They were ruthless, but I was unstoppable.

Within moments, the chaos had ended. The temple was littered with the bodies of the rogues, all incapacitated, groaning in pain, or knocked out cold. I stood in the center, panting but unharmed, my heart racing from the thrill of battle.

Anna limped toward me, a smile on her face despite the danger we had just faced.

“That was…intense,” she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she sat down on a fallen pillar. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, still catching my breath. “Those bastards were asking for it.” I glanced at the unconscious men, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. They had underestimated me, and that had been their downfall. “But who the hell sent them? This was no random attack.”

Anna nodded, her expression turning somber. “They were armed like they knew exactly what they were up against. Whoever sent them knew about you and your abilities.”

“Or it was just a lucky guess,” I muttered before looking around.

We sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling in. I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. Everything was spiraling out of control. I had Cole breathing down my neck, rogues attacking out of nowhere, and the constant threat of betrayal lurking around every corner. But at least Anna was here with me, a constant light in all this darkness.

As I sat down beside her, trying to calm my nerves, Anna looked at me thoughtfully. “You know, when I look at all this,” she gestured to the ruined temple, “it makes me think of home. My pack wasn’t perfect, but it was beautiful in its own way.”

I glanced at her, curious. Anna rarely talked about her past, and when she did, it was often with a hint of sadness. “Tell me about it,” I said, leaning back against the cold stone. “Tell me about your pack.”

Anna’s eyes softened, her gaze distant as she delved into her memories. “My pack was different from the Wolf clan,” she began. “We were foxes—clever, agile, and deeply connected to nature. We lived in harmony with the forest, our homes built into the trees, blending seamlessly with our surroundings. It was a place where magic flowed freely, and every fox was encouraged to explore their unique talents.”

She smiled, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “There were four main differences between our clans. For one, we valued stealth over brute strength. While wolves pride themselves on power and dominance, we foxes thrived on cunning and strategy. A single fox could outsmart an entire group of enemies, relying on speed and wit rather than raw force.”

I nodded, picturing the agile foxes slipping through the shadows, always one step ahead of their foes. It was a huge contrast to the Wolf clan’s more direct approach. “And the second difference?” I asked, intrigued.