CHAPTER 5 The Mystery Woman
Zachary's POV
I had heard whispers of a rogue who had defied all expectations, fighting her way through obstacles that should have sent her running. A rogue, allegedly from the North, displaying skills that outmatched even seasoned Southern-born warriors.
"Did you hear about the rogue?" Derek, my best friend, had asked me the other day. "Apparently, she's been making waves in the Elite Warriors' training grounds. Outsider, from the North. They're saying she's taking down warriors left and right."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Derek smirked. "Yeah, and not just any warriors. She's holding her own against some of the best. She even survived sparring against Jarek on her first day."
That caught my attention. Palecrown Pack didn't have many female warriors, so to hear that this female held her own with Jarek? I was a bit skeptical.
"Derek, you sure you're not exaggerating because she has a pretty face," I teased.
He laughed, shaking his head. "I swear, Zachary, this one's different. I'm telling you; she's got the skills to back up the talk. No one's ever taken me on like that."
Honestly, it would be a break from trying to track down information on who murdered my brother. I was nowhere near the truth, and Kayla seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"Any word on Kayla?" I asked, not expecting much but needing to ask.
Jarek's face tightened, the humor fading. "Nothing. She's gone, Zach. The council believes she's dead, and at this point, I'm inclined to agree. No trace of her, no leads. If anyone knew anything, they're keeping it quiet."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. It's just hard to accept. She was here, and then... nothing."
Jarek clapped me on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out, Zach. You always do. But this rogue- she might just be the distraction you need. She's got your attention, so go see for yourself."
I nodded, his words echoing in my mind as I made my way toward the training grounds. While I was walking the dimly lit path to the training grounds, a voice caught my attention.
A woman's voice pleading. "Please, please stop."
Then, a man's voice. "No, you're going to pay for being disrespectful."
A sharp cry of pain followed after. My head snapped toward the sound, my instincts flaring. In the shadows of a narrow alley between two storage buildings, I spotted a group of warriors- three of them- surrounding a trembling Omega. One of the men had her pinned against the wall, his fingers digging cruelly into her wrist as he attempted to rip her pants down.
Rage ignited within me.
"That's enough," I growled, stepping forward. The warriors turned sharply, surprise flashing across their faces before recognition set in. They knew who I was.
The warrior holding the Omega froze, his grip tightening for a split second before he let go.
"I'll be back for you," he growled at her.
The Omega collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, her light brown hair in disarray and her pale skin bruised.
Without hesitation, the three warriors took one look at me and fled, disappearing into the darkness. They knew better than to challenge their Alpha, but I hadn't gotten a good look at them.
"Get back here!" I snarled, getting ready to chase them.
"Please...don't leave me," the omega called to me. I stopped and turned my attention back to the Omega. She was visibly shaking, her eyes wide with fear.
I crouched down beside her. "Are you hurt?" I asked, keeping my voice calm despite the simmering anger in my chest.
"N-No, Alpha. Just shaken," she stammered.
Her injuries told a different story- blood dripped from a gash on her forehead, and her wrist bore the deep marks of someone's cruel grip. Then there was a sharp gash on her waist, weeping blood.
"You need medical attention," I muttered, moving closer to check her injuries.
I reached for the hem of her sleeve, intent on lifting it to examine the bruising beneath. But just as my fingers brushed the fabric, I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. My wolf howled within me, "To your right!"
Years of battle-honed instincts had me moving before my mind caught up. I twisted, barely dodging the object- a wooden crate- that shattered against the wall beside me. Splinters flew through the air.
I turned sharply, my eyes locking onto the attacker.
A woman.
A beautiful woman with a light complexion, fierce golden-brown eyes, and dark curls cascading around her face. Her stance was ready for a fight, breathing steady despite the rage radiating from her. I could smell that she was a rogue.
"What the hell-" I started, but she didn't give me the chance to finish. She lunged, her movements fast- too fast for an ordinary rogue.
I barely dodged the first strike.
The second came just as quick.
She fought with precision, her technique brutal and efficient not wild like an undisciplined rogue- no, this was calculated. She aimed to disable, not just wound.
Who was she?
"Stop," I snapped, blocking her next attack. "I wasn't hurting her."
She didn't believe me. "Liar! I saw you!"
Whatever she thought she saw, she wasn't willing to listen. She struck again. I caught her wrist mid-air, twisting her arm behind her back. She gritted her teeth but didn't cry out. Instead, she shifted her weight, twisting her body in a way that forced me to loosen my grip or risk dislocating her shoulder.
Smart.
She broke free and whirled on me. I dodged just in time.
Then she made a mistake.
She pivoted, aiming for another hit, but I caught the flicker of hesitation in her movements, just enough to give me an opening. I seized it, stepping in close and grabbing her arm, forcing her off balance. Her eyes widened in realization.
She slipped.
And fell straight into me.
The moment her body collided with mine, something unexpected happened.
A jolt of heat surged through me, something primal and electric, awakening a restless energy deep within my core. My wolf stilled, then growled- not in anger but something else.
I froze, my grip on her tightening involuntarily as if my instincts refused to let her go.
"Who are you?" I asked. The need to keep her close to me was overwhelming.
She tensed in my hold, her breathing uneven for a fraction of a second. Then, with sudden urgency, she yanked herself free, pushing off my chest.
Without another word, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the night.
I didn't chase her.
Not because I didn't want to.
But because I was still standing there, trying to process what had just happened.