Chapter 26

~Grace~

How were the Rogues getting the upper hand? I thought the Black Lycan clan was fierce and powerful! None of the other packs dared to mess with them.

Looking around the garden, I watched in horror as Lycans women retreated, chased by the Rogues.

Alex tore through the battlefield, a black flash as he ripped through Rogues with his bare hands. It was honestly a terrifying sight to see.

With Alex here, I knew the Lycans would be alright. There was no way the Rogues would win against him.

I ducked behind a table as a Rogue rushed past me, snarling and searching for a Lycan to attack. My heart beat fast, and I tightly clutched the knife in my hand.

“Help!” A shrill shriek rang out, and I looked toward the Lycan woman who had insulted me earlier.

She had been able to fend off the Rogue for now, keeping his snarling teeth away from her face, but she was slipping. I had to get to her!

It didn’t matter if she hated my guts, that was no excuse to let someone die!

Fear gripped my gut, but I quickly scanned the area, ensuring I was out of sight of Rogues before darting out.

I hit the Rogue hard with my shoulder, knocking him to the side. He yelped in surprise, and I fell forward from the momentum. The Lycan woman scrambled away, tearing her dress against the rough ground.

Her eyes were wide with fear, and I steadied myself, brandishing the knife out in front of me. The Rogue got back on his feet, snarling with hatred at me.

“Get out of here! Get inside!” I shout at the woman over my shoulder, still keeping my eyes on the Rogue.

She didn’t hesitate, and quickly ran for the doors.

The Rogue eyed her, seeming to consider going after her as she ran by, but I picked up a rock and threw it at him. It hit him right on the top of his nose, and his head snapped back to me, eyes dark and dangerous.

I felt frozen to the spot, looking deep into his threatening eyes. But as another scream cut through the air, I snapped out of it.

I needed to get back inside the castle, too, if I had any chance of surviving.

I eyed the door, it was so close. I could make it if only I could distract this Rogue for just a second…

The Rogue stepped forward, brandishing its sharp teeth at me, and I knew I was out of time. I had to make my move now.

Kicking off my heels, I kept the knife positioned out in front of me as I rushed forward, just as the Rogue rushed toward me. I could see the whites of his eyes, and my heart was beating through my throat.

At the last second, I dropped into a roll, and the Rogue leapt into the air. I slid under him, and taking no time to stop and celebrate, I broke out into a full sprint to the door.

Just before I reached it, glass shattered from a window and I covered my eyes instinctively as glass shards flew toward me.

I cried out in pain as I felt tiny cuts appear on my arms, and I dropped to my knees, feeling a sharp, burning pain in my side.

Come on, you have to move! Get inside before they kill you!

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and got back to my feet. The door was only a few steps away and I slipped inside, breathing a sigh of relief. It was quiet here, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

The Lycan woman from earlier that I had saved stood nearby, nervously wringing her hand around the fabric of her dress. Her eyes widened as she looked at me, and she rushed over.

“Oh my goddess, are you alright?”

I laughed, giving her a smile. It really didn’t hurt that bad. “I’m alright, don’t worry about me. Are you alright, though?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine… only thanks to you,” the woman said, a little flustered. Her face was red, and her dress was torn and covered in dirt.

“It was nothing,” I said, giving her a smile and putting my hand on her shoulder.

“I’m… sorry about earlier,” she said quietly, and my chest felt warm with appreciation.

“I for-” I started, when the door banged open. We both whirled around.

Had the Rogues broken in?!

But it was Alex, panting, his hair messy and falling over his eyes, and his shirt unbuttoned down past his chest.

I sighed in relief, and the Lycan woman next to me bowed at the sight of him.

“Are they gone?” I asked, and Alex looked at me, his face a twisted scowl. I was a little taken aback. Why was he looking at me like that?

“You’re hurt,” he said shortly, and I looked down. Blood seeped through my dress, although hard to see through the black fabric.

I shrugged. “It’s nothing, it doesn’t even hurt-”

In two long strides, Alex closed the distance between us, and I felt my feet leaving the ground as he scooped me up, holding me in his arms. My face flushed.

What was he thinking? I was not a baby!

“Alex, I’m fine! Set me down!”

But his grip only tightened around me, and I quickly discovered it was useless. I stayed silent in his arms as he carried me through the castle to his room.

I had never been in here before, out of privacy and respect for Alex, but looking around now… there wasn’t much to look at. It was a very simple setup, only the necessities and gray colors.

Its minimalistic look was in stark contrast to the rest of the castle. I wondered if he liked the simpler look.

My eyes drifted across his nightstand, where a photo of a man, woman, and two children posed with smiling faces. Could they be his family?

I had never heard him mention his family even once, and it made me curious to know more about them. Was he estranged? Did they reject him, or did he reject them? Where were they now?

My mind itched with curiosity, but I shoved it down. I shouldn’t be asking personal questions, anyway. Our relationship was strictly business only.

Alex sets me down gently on the bed, and I go to sit up, but he pushes me back down.

“Stay still. I’ll clean your wounds,” Alex said, voice deep and quiet. Something about the authority in his voice made me do it without complaint.

It truly didn’t hurt that bad, and I didn’t think the injuries could be that serious, there was no need to be so dramatic over it. Most of the cuts had stopped bleeding, anyway.

Alex climbed onto the bed with me, and he moved close to me. He picked up my arm, seeming to analyze the wounds. I watched him nervously. He didn’t have to be so close to do this… didn’t he have some bandaids or something he could just slap on?

Alex opened his mouth, and licked one of my cuts.

My heart pounded. What was he doing?!