Rogues

Prince Greg’s POV

“This is water,” I said, allowing the sphere to expand and contract with the flow of my magic. I then shifted my focus, and the water transformed into a swirling gust of wind, blowing gently around us.

Anna’s hair fluttered in the breeze, and she looked at me with astonishment.

“Amazing,” she gasped.

“And this is air,” I continued, letting the wind dissipate before my eyes. Next, I extended my hand again and created a small mound of earth from thin air. It hovered above the ground for a while.

“This is earth,” I said, manipulating the mound into various shapes—a small rock, a rising pillar. Anna watched, her eyes reflecting the changing elements.

Finally, I decided to demonstrate another area of my magic.

I concentrated, and a soft light began to glow from my palm, illuminating the area around us with a gentle radiance. “And this is light. It’s not an element like the others, but it’s part of my magical set.”

I dropped my hand as she clapped. I did a mock bow as I looked around to make sure we were alone.

“It’s all I can do right now seeing as I’ve run out of tricks.”

Anna stared in amazement, clearly impressed by the display. “That’s incredible, Prince Greg. I had no idea you had such control over multiple elements. It’s like you’re a master of all the fundamental forces.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm. “Thank you. It’s a result of both my heritage and years of practice. The ability to harness different elements comes with a lot of responsibility and discipline.”

Anna took a step closer, her expression one of genuine interest. “How did you learn to control all these elements? Was it something you were taught, or did you develop it on your own?”

I smiled, reflecting on my past. “It wasn’t easy. My mother taught me the basics when I was young, but as I grew older, I had to practice and refine my skills on my own. It was a challenging journey, but it was worth it. My father on the other hand didn’t like it so I had to keep my powers away from him.”

“It must have been tough for you,” she said as I nodded.

She stepped towards me as she stumbled upon a fallen log before I used my speed to hold her in place.

She fell to my chest which had me chuckling.

“Are you doing all of this just to get my attention?” I asked as she blushed, looking away from me.

I leaned in closer to Anna, her eyes widening with anticipation of what would happen next. Our faces were inches apart, and I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I was just about to close the gap and kiss her when a sudden rustling sound shattered the moment.

I snapped my head up, my heightened senses immediately on high alert.

From the dense foliage around us, shadows emerged—dark, menacing figures that moved with the stealth and confidence of predators.

The rogues.

A group of rogue werewolves that had been spotted countless times outside our borders were here, their eyes glowing with malice and hunger, surrounding us in a tightening circle.

Their laughter was a low, rumbling sound, filled with cruelty and bloodlust.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them I presumed to be their leader sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Prince Greg and his little fox toy."

Anna tensed beside me, fear flashing in her eyes. I stepped protectively in front of her, my muscles coiled and ready for action.

The leader of the rogues, a massive brute with scars all over his face, took a step forward, his grin revealing sharp, yellowed teeth.

"We’re going to enjoy this," he growled. "We’ll kill you, prince, and do much worse to your little friend here. Then we will declare war to your brother and…"

“That’s enough talk. You should be acting by now.”

With a roar that echoed through the forest, he sprang into action.

I dodged with ease before lunging at the leader, my fists connecting with his jaw in a bone-crunching impact.

He staggered back, a look of surprise and pain on his face.

“There’s more where that came from,” I smirked, making sure Anna was safely behind me.

These rogues were very dangerous creatures. They could attack without honor and I needed to be careful about their tricks.

The other rogues didn’t hesitate. They rushed at me, their claws extended and fangs bared.

I met them head-on, my senses sharpened and my instincts guiding every move.

One rogue slashed at me, but I dodged, grabbing his arm and twisting it with a snap before tossing him through a row of trees with my strength.

Another rogue tried to flank me, but I was faster. I spun around, delivering a powerful kick to his chest that sent him flying into a tree.

The impact was so forceful that the tree itself shook, leaves and branches raining down.

Anna was crouched behind me, her eyes wide with fear. I could sense her presence, her heartbeat quickened but steady. I had to keep her safe.

“Stay close,” I muttered to her. “Don’t leave me.”

“So you think you can attack me,” the leader who had recovered from my initial attack laughed before charging at me with a snarl. “I’ll show you not to mess with me.”

He was larger and stronger than the others, but I was not going to be pushed down.

We clashed in a brutal exchange of blows, each of us landing powerful hits that would have incapacitated a lesser opponent.

Blood and sweat mixed, staining the forest floor as we fought.

He managed to land a heavy punch to my ribs, and I felt the sharp pain of bones cracking but I healed back immediately.

I staggered but quickly regained my footing.

With a primal roar, I summoned all my strength and tackled him to the ground, pinning him beneath me. My fist came down in a relentless rush, each punch driven by the need to protect Anna and my pack.

“This pack is not yours,” I said while smashing his face into the dirt.