Chapter Eight

She then walked up to Conner sticking her hand out to shake, "I think the score is settled, no hard feelings." He nodded at her statement and joined me in front of the others. "River, would you like to help with the assessments?" she looked at me surprised but graciously stepped forward. "Do any of you have any strengths that stand out that you are absolute superior at in your mind?" Everyone raised their hand except Jada the one River was talking about earlier. "How about you miss?" she asked pointing at Jada. "Well, um, I think I am pretty fast, and I can smell excellent."

Before River could respond to her Marie spoke up with laughter in between her words, "Oh, please. She never finishes first, she couldn't beat the slowest one here." River did not take kindly to her words or interruption. "Then since you are the slowest you can go up against her." Before she could utter another word, River was quick to stop her. "I know you are the slowest because you can not even complete the training as the rest of the pack, so enough talk. Both of you blindfolds on, the rest of you I need you to run in wolf form circling them and howl to distract them." They did as she instructed and then nodded at me. I knew what she was doing, we watched as our mate ran in multiple directions, and then after she went and climbed a tree hiding within it.

"Okay, enough." Everyone stopped staying in wolf form I walked up to the two females removing their blindfolds and giving them the rules. I let my Alpha tone seep into my words, "Both of you are to race and follow the scent of River. Without guidance from your wolves, you are to only use your senses." They nodded in agreement and were off.

After about ten minutes I noticed Marie was following River's scent in circles not even realizing it, but Jada was being cautious and examining every detail. She then followed and made her way to the tree where she looked up. 'Alpha, Luna said not to tell anyone I found her to come over like I gave up she has a plan.' 'Thank you, Jada do as she asks.'

A few more minutes had passed, and Marie was also at the tree, yet she did not look up she just looked ahead and turned to leave the forest line when River put her plan into action. She jumped onto Marie's back scaring the living daylight out of her. They both returned to the group. "As you see Jada already had found River by using only her senses, not her wolf. Marie did not follow her instincts, and this happened. She would be dead if this was in a war or in battle." I shouted to the group.

"Now everyone that is it for today we will resume tomorrow." I then went to talk with my mate when she was talking to Jada. "Jada do not ever let fear stop you from achieving greatness. You only need your own approval, never be less than what you are." Jada hugged River and went towards the pack house. "River, you did great out there today." "Thank you, Bain." I wanted to ask about her wolf, but we were interrupted by shouting and bells being rung which meant one thing could be happening, an attack.

We ran to the borders on the west side where we seen over a dozen rogues attacking our guards. Something was different about these rogues. Their fighting style was more balanced, thought out, not like normal rogues.

I did not take time to think on that matter I needed to help the pack there were five wolves splitting off heading to the children playground as I was helping the warriors. 'hurry we need to get to the children before the rogues do.' I shouted through the mind link to the others. A dark blonde wolf leapt to attack me while I had another in between my teeth as I snapped it's neck quickly I took a paw clawing the other down the belly has the wolf over jumped causing the wolf to fall dead behind me. Seeing the few lefts were taken care of I noticed River was no where to be found and got even more worried as I ran to the children.

RIVER

As I was following Bain and the others for the battle taking place, I noticed a few rogues separating themselves heading the children's playground. I took my time following them to see where they were going. When I came around the building, I seen the rogues stalking towards an older woman guarding two small children. "Stay away from them," she shouted trying to hide the fear in her words she was being brave for the children who were weeping and sobbing in her skirt.

Willow and I were fuming at the sight unfolding before us. How dare these rogues' trespass on our land threaten our pack, 'wait our land, our pack.' 'Yes, River we are their Luna, and they need us.' I did not argue with my wolf because she was right, they needed us.

"How about you pick on someone your own size", I shouted as I walked in from behind the rogues. They snapped their heads in my direction and growled telling me to back off, like I ever listen. They charged me and I was quick with the first one jumping on his back snapping his neck instantly. The second one caught me by surprise and knocked me to the ground. I let Willows claws extend as I turned quickly upward slashing him from his chest up his throat causing an unsettling gurgle and sounds from him choking on his own blood. The third one was a female, and I am guessing that was her mate by the roar that came from deep within her. She charged me like a raging bull knocking me back, but I flipped landing on my feet. She growled even louder charging again, this time I was ready and kicked her in the side of her wolf head hearing bones break from the impact. She fell to the ground I was quick to straddle the wolfs back grabbing her head in my hands, "I am sorry you had to watch your mate die, but no one threatens this pack." Then I snapped her neck, quickly.

I remembered a fourth, but I could not see them when I smelled a familiar cinnamon scent knowing Bain was near, I also seen a man wearing only sweats in front of me, I then remembered his face with the long scar from his cheekbone to his collar bone, because I gave it to him. "Hello River, he is coming for you and this time he will get what he wants." That is all he said before retreating into the forest. I was frozen in place with my thoughts going back to a place I did not want, until a voice appeared behind me. "Who is coming for you River and how does he know you." Bain said with sadness in his tone. 'River, we have to tell him everything.' 'I know Willow, but this is where he rejects us.' 'He will not, and you need to not talk like that, what happened was not our fault, none of this so stop thinking that.' 'Okay Willow, I guess it is time.' "Well Bain, I guess it is time we truly get to know each other."