Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Karina wanted to hug him and tell him it was all going to be okay. “Were they not able to heal?”
Rage blew out a breath. “That is the problem with a rogue wolf, Karina. Their bite—their attack—is toxic.”
“What?” She’d never heard of a rogue wolf bite being toxic. Why wouldn’t anyone tell her that? “How is that even possible? What about wolves’ ability to heal? Can it be from a single cut or a bite?”
“No, not a single bite or cut. Those can get infected if not treated and yes, if they remain infected, it can then lead to death. The attacks on my parents were not just a single cut or scratch. They were gouges of flesh torn out. It was a full-scale attack.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Me too.”
“What leads to these attacks? Are they planned?”
Rage sighed. “That, unfortunately, no one knows.”
“How can no one know?”
“A rogue is unpredictable. They do and act however they damn well please. There’s no stopping them. It’s why their attacks are so lethal. They come out of the blue and there’s no way to stop them. All anyone can do is hope and pray the pack is strong enough to fight them off.”
“I had no idea. I can’t believe no one ever told me about this.” Karina looked down at the beautiful bouquet of roses they had packed, but she didn’t see the beauty. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? There’s been an increase in rogue attacks, and they’re getting close to the pack.”
Rage took her hand and rounded the table they’d been working at on opposing sides. He locked their fingers together and then placed his palm flat on her back. “Yes, it’s why I’m here. Your father is concerned about the attacks happening in the area. He is worried for his pack, and he wants to make sure that if one ever happens, there are other alphas out there who have his back.”
“Why you?” she asked. “I’m so sorry, that is rude.”
“I’m close, but I’ve also dealt with rogue wolves before.”
Karina couldn’t help but glance down at the couple of scars he had on his arms. “From a rogue?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry. They didn’t get infected?”
“I treated them.”
She couldn’t help it. Stepping close, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body flush against him. It was an odd sensation to have, but she felt the need to offer him as much comfort as possible.
****
Rage hadn’t seen the point in explaining his scars. They were from rogue wolves, but they were not pesky little scratches either. At one point, he’d been surrounded, teeth had sunk into his flesh, claws had been about to tear out parts of his body, but he’d fought them off.
After he’d killed them all, it had been touch-and-go about whether he’d survive the night. The injuries had been so severe, his pack hadn’t known what to do. He had told them to return to their previous packs or appoint another alpha immediately.
They hadn’t left his side, nor had they made the decision for him to be replaced. His pack believe their vigil had helped him heal. Rage knew he’d been close to death. He had felt it washing over his body like a wave of water, waiting to swallow him whole. But he’d fought that light. He’d fought death, and he’d come back, healed, and made sure there was no way in hell any other rogue would ever attack.
He knew that was why William had reached out to him. There were many rumors surrounding him, some of them good, others bad. Of course, there were the usual ones that claimed he was also part rogue. His parentage was called into question. Others believed him to be some kind of super being. He knew he had the pack to thank, and he was loyal to his men and women that joined him.
“No, absolutely out of the question,” William said.
“You won’t allow me to take Karina out of the village for one day?” Rage asked, folding his arms as he looked toward the other alpha.
William wasn’t behaving like an alpha, though. He stood in front of a concerned father.
“I know to you this may seem quite silly but Karina has never left the safety of the pack. You know how delicate she is. I don’t think she should leave. We have no idea what could be waiting for her!” William slammed his palm on the table.
Rage understood him. There was fear in his eyes.
“William, I know you’re worried about the rogues, but you don’t have to fear them attacking her.”
“You don’t know that. You’ve heard the rumors, you’ve seen what they’ve done.”
“Yes, and I also know there’s no logic when it comes to them attacking. They don’t plan, William. They don’t take time to learn the area, to see a person’s weakness. This is what makes them different from hunters, or even from fellow wolves hoping to take over packs. Rogues don’t have any such goals. They’re mindless. They won’t be waiting for her and if they are, then they’re already coming for the pack.”