Chapter 24

Avery's POV.

We came to a sudden halt, an obstacle blocked our path home.

If my vision is sharp enough, the rogue wolves in front of us were more than five. I can't tell if there are more to come but I do know that whatever is happening isn't good.

They were still in human form, but the ones at our back were in wolf form.

I know we can't keep running, the more we run, the more we stray far from home and I don't wish that.

I could hear Xander's angry growl.

‘calm down Xander, we need to think before we act.’ I told him, trying to calm his anger.

"Well..well.. well... Who do we have here? Wolves straying away from home, hmmm... Didn't your parents ever warn you not to wander into the woods? There are things eager to kill you!"The huge one said as he marched towards us.

I'll have to think of something reasonable, and I have to do it fast.

"She's a pretty one, look at all those white fluffy furs, I'm dying to have a feel of them."Another rogue said and Xander growled at him.

"Ohhhh, looks like they're mates. He's a jealous one."Commented the second one and they gave a burst of rowdy laughter.

"Then this would be fun. Shift back to humans and we'll spare your lives. I'll have a rethink if I like what I'll see." The first one ordered and Xander made a growling sound, I could tell that he was not attacking them because of me.

‘listen to me, Xander. We need to shift,’I told him.

‘Are you serious right now? If we shift, we'll become vulnerable to their attacks and we might not be able to fight back.’He muttered, I could sense that he was trying his best to maintain his temper.

‘Trust me, Xander. I'll take care of things.’ I assured him.

‘No!’ Came the angry short reply.

‘You'll have to trust me, on the count of three. We're shifting back.’ I threatened the stubborn wolf.

‘one....., two...and..’I began to count.

As I count, I concentrated every ounce of strings in me and all my thoughts were focused on us wearing clothes as we shift back to humans.

I prayed earnestly that the moon goddess would help us and give us some decent clothing to cover our nakedness from these rogue wolves. I can't even imagine the action Xander would take if those rogue wolves tried to touch me.

‘Three...’I completed the count and Xander made a snorting sound and shifted with me.

"Holy goddess of rogues! How's this possible?"The first rogue wolves asked no one in particular.

We were fully clothed and Xander heaved a big sigh of relief, but there was confusion in his eyes.

‘I'll explain everything later, for now....you need to work on your temper.....don't flare up no matter what. I'll handle things dear, trust me.’ I told him and he nodded, I know her temper is balanced on a sword edge. Whatever I want to do, I'll have to do it fast before this over-possessive wolf loses his temper.

I can't tame a jealous mate and teach those rogues lessons at the same time.

"I'm surprised darling but I'm not disappointed. You're one beautiful wolf, how about you strip while I have a good look at your sweet body, covered by those barriers." The first rogue said.

It seems he's in charge of the others. I could see the ones at the front grinning from ear to ear.

What's the worst that could happen in a day? I'm supposed to be back at the palace preparing for the burial of my dead parents but here I am, with my mate... In the middle of this dangerous wood and preparing to teach some mannerless wolves some lessons.

I entwined my fingers with Xander's own and I began to tell him my plan through our mind link. He kept grumbling about how he disliked the plan but on a second look, we had no choice. They're too many for us, I'm just wondering how the rogue wolves team up on us, but this is not the time to think but act.

The first rogue, who had a huge cut on his face, came very much close to me and inhaled my scent deeply.

Xander's body stiffened as the first rogue got a feel of my hair, I held his hand and kept reassuring him.

"She smells divine, really good. I feel like having her right here."He said, with a wicked grin on his face.

"What's stopping you? it's not like they can do anything. They should be lucky that we are considering letting them go. "Someone said from the back.

The rogue wolves that gave us a hot chase before had shifted and looking at them is making me nauseous.

"So lady, are you willing to buy your freedom from us? I'm sure you can satisfy ten rogues." He asked but I strictly told Xander to let me do the talking, I could feel his anger on the verge of exploding.

Ten rogue wolves, that's what I want to hear, there are ten of them, and those nonentities want to lay me.

Are they serious?

How am I to have sex with ten wolves, even a prostitute would never think of such, it's a suicide mission.

"Touch me." The ice-cold order came from my mouth.

I saw from the corner of my eyes, the look on Xander's face.

‘Are you in your senses, Avery?’ he asked gravelly.

‘Trust me please, just trust me.’I begged him.

‘Whatever you want to do, do it fast. I don't think I can tolerate those shits coming out of their garlic stinking mouth.’

I know I had to act fast, my mate is a boiling inferno and he could erupt with any wrong moves from those rogues.

"...spicy, I love it. I love willing women in bed." The first rogue said as he moved his hand towards my breasts.

I prayed hard to the moon goddess to give me courage.

I concentrated hard and thought of him slapping himself hard on his cheek repeatedly.

'Paaa.... '

I heard the sound as the first rogue hand that was meant to grab my breast, landed on his cheeks.

Everyone was awed, struck, as the second slap came, the third, fourth and it continued.

Xander made eye contact with me and smiled. He knew I was responsible, why wouldn't he know? I left him suspended in the air once.

The other rogues rushed to the first rogue, trying hard to stop him from slapping himself but it was impossible. When they hold his hand to stop it, the spell seems to affect all of them as they start slapping themselves too.

Xander burst into a hearty laughter and how handsome he looks when his face is void of worries.

I felt someone grab me from behind, and poked a knife at my back.

"Make them stop." Came the order, there was fear in his voice and I detected it fast.

Xander was quickly alerted but the rogue threatened to shove the knife into me if he made any sudden movements.

The knife poking my back can't kill me, but it would leave a deep wound that might take a few hours to heal.

I looked at the wolves rolling on the floor due to pain and I discovered they were nine.

One more to go.

"I'm not responsible for their actions, the moon goddess is probably punishing them for attempting to rape me." I defended myself, in the most innocent voice I could matter.

"I don't care what you think, but I'm sure you're responsible, you stupid gullible bastard." He said, poking the knife more and it made contact with my skin.

Ok. That was it!

How dare he call me gullible, I just lost my parents and I'm no bastard!

"I'm not a bastard, you son of a nobody," I muttered, my anger rising to its peak.

All I have to do is think of what I wanted him to do to himself. The next thing he did was take the knife away from my back and begin to cut himself with it.

I was so angry that I want him dead, my claw began to sprout from my hand and, my body began to shake with anger but Xander hold me tightly to his body and I tried to free myself from his grasp and use my claw to tear that rogue's till he can't breathe anymore.

He called out to me, "Avery, get hold of yourself, and don't let your anger control your powers!"

He turned me over and placed his lips over mine. I resisted at first, hitting him with claws but he wouldn't let go. He hardened the kiss till I became putty in his hands and began to cry.

I could taste my tears in our kiss, but he held me tight till I was calmed.

"Free them, my love."He said gently, as he released me from the hug.

I looked at them, they were in a pitiful state... Especially the one slashing his naked body.

I shifted and headed home, Xander shifted and followed me.

'Won't you release them?' He asked.

‘I will, but when we're far enough.’I said and raced ahead.

My eyes gleaming in the night.