Chapter 36

I watched in horror as one of the rogues took Frode to the ground, despite being in his protector form. Clasping a hand over my mouth to keep quiet and not distract my mates, I felt my magic hum in my veins. I knew when we arrived at the edge of the field that something was off, but I couldn’t place my finger on it.

My mates hadn’t noticed anything and had kept their formation around me. The feeling of darkness had only grown as we approached the small community of wolves that lay on the outskirts of the Asketill Territory. I couldn’t understand how my mates couldn’t feel it.

We’d left before lunch the day before and camped last night in the SUV. We were so far north that there’s only forest and small groupings of houses. No hotels, or bed and breakfasts. Nothing had felt off then, but as we drew closer the sense of darkness and pain had grown. Now it was almost suffocating me.

Once we’d arrived at the small community, there was only a few wolves to talk with. Most had been killed or were so wounded they couldn’t speak. The rogues had attacked at night, during a bon fire the community held each year to welcome spring.

The details were hard to piece together, everyone saw something different it seemed like. I’m sure a large part of that was the confusion and fear of the attack. There were three rogues it sounded like, and they attacked everyone, not caring about age, gender, or threat level. A cardinal sin in the shifter world.

Women were almost sacred in the shifter world. There were few of them, and even if they were mated to the enemy, they were useful for all packs. Children were always considered innocent. The rogues hadn’t cared, they killed almost for pleasure not for need.

The planning and organization that would have taken for three rogues to commit this type of massacre would have been extensive. Something that was almost unheard of with rogues. Rogues were lone wolves, they didn’t work together, and certainly didn’t sit down and make battle plans together. That was when the dark feeling and unease really started to settle in my body.

This was my first-time hunting rogues with my mates, but it hadn’t taken me long to realize that is not normally how the trips go. It started out fine, but the skill and bloodlust these rogues had rivaled nothing I’d ever seen or heard of.

We’d spent the next day tracking them, and it was like they wanted to be found. They took no precaution or steps to hide their trail. Their scent was easy to follow, even for my untrained nose. Rune hadn’t even needed to shift to follow it.

The heavy thud of a body hitting the ground pulled my attention back to the scene before me. Erik was standing with me, trying to keep me shielded from the rogues. Fortunately for me, they were preoccupied with the others.

“Get her out of here.” Frode yelled.

Without hesitation, Erik turned and threw me over his shoulder.

“No, put me down.” I yelled, punching his hard back.

“Not happening. Quiet, don’t distract the others.” Erik growled as he pushed himself to run faster.

A sudden urge of protectiveness came over me and Erik stumbled. My magic hummed and wished I yield as some shifters could to help during battle. I wished that I could slow him down, wished I could stop him. I wished I could do anything, but I was in no position to do anything.

“Whatever you’re doing, stop.” Erik said through clenched teeth.

Confusion passed over me. I wasn’t doing anything. Then I realized that Erik had slowed down, moving like he was wading through water. I thought harder about slowing him down, then shifted to wanting him to put me down. He growled and put me down, glaring at me. Anger pulsed from him in overwhelming waves.

“What the hell is this, Astrid?” He growled, his hands twitching like he was going to reach for me but couldn’t. “It’s not safe to be having this conversation here.” He growled.

“I’m not trying to talk. I’m trying to help.” I pushed by him, his anger following me.

He didn’t try to stop me, but I got the sense that he would have if it was an option. He didn’t have that option. I felt him following so closely that I could feel his body heat radiating off him.

A pained yell came from Rune as he staggered backward. The familiar hum of my magic throbbed in my veins, but it was stronger this time. Instinct guided me as I watched bonds form between me and the rogues.

A connection, much like I’d used when I worked with the healer, formed but this time it was more like a cord. Thinner, but stronger and fused together. It was better than a knotted rope. It created a direct tether from me to the rogues.

Fear and anger radiated through the connection, enough that if I’d been able to, I would have winced and moved away. I couldn’t. I was stuck. Faintly, I heard Erik call my name.

I took a deep breath and focused on the cords. A fear that I’d been able to associate with dark magic oozed from the rogues. I ignored it and felt the connection solidify. It was done, we were connected.

I felt my wrist flick, followed by a sickening snap. The rogues heads tilted to the side at an awkward angle and they dropped to the ground. Sten, Rune and Frode just stared at them in awe as their chests heaved and they caught their breath. A sizzling sound and smoke rose from the bodies.

Frode stepped closer, moving to investigate. A rotten, deathly smell filled the clearing. He squatted and looked at the exposed chest.

“Sten, look at their chests. There are carvings.” Frode commanded.

Sten didn’t hesitate. He stepped to the closest one and studied its bare chest. His mouth moved like he was reading and then the sizzling stopped, and he stood.

“Runes, like we use in the territory, but these weren’t used for show. These were magic.” Sten walked to Frode.

The smell of lessened taking with it the ominous feeling that had settled over me the last few days. I stepped into the clearing, stepping on a twig, snapping it. Frode spun on his heel, concentration leaving his expression, replaced by anger.

“I’m so mixed on what I should do with you right now, little one.” He snarled as he stepped toward me.

He moved with anger and coldness toward me. I stopped so quickly Erik bumped into me. I felt him back up as Frode reached us.

Then I was pressed into Frode’s chest. The warmth of his body, and the strength of his arms is comforting, and I lean into. The comfort is only temporary as he pulls away to address the rogues that lay on the ground around us.

“Do they represent the same thing as they would for us?” Frode asked Sten, turning the focus back to the runes that were carved into the chests of the rogues.

“Yes, but it’s a darker meaning. My best guess is that they were possessed by dark magic. The runes I saw, assuming they were the same on each person, was warrior, strength, partner, protect, disruption, and enhancing athletic abilities. They were created into killing machines.” Sten didn’t move his gaze from the rogue in front of him.

“That explains why they fought so hard and didn’t respond when we tried to talk them down.” Rune held a hand to his arm.

He’d been hurt, that was what had triggered my action. I pushed away from Frode fully and moved to Rune. He shook his head and waved me away.

“Just a scratch, angel. I’m fine.” He said.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” I put my arm around him and hugged him, before walking us back to the car.

Once he was settled leaning against the back bumper of the SUV I pulled his arm away. It was more than just a scratch, but with a good cleaning would just need a bandage. The skin was already starting to heal itself.

“Was this everything you’d hoped for?” Rune asked a with a grin.

“And more.” I smirked back.

At least he hadn’t lost his sense of humor.

“They’re mad that you used your power.” Rune winced as I cleaned his arm.

“I’m mad that they tried to make me leave. So, we can be mad at each other.” I huffed as I pulled out a bandage.

We should have known the first time we all went out together it would be anything but simple. Ever since I’d come home with them everything had been anything but simple. When they’d talked about mates and being fated it sounded so easy. I was quickly realizing it was anything but.