Shadow Wolves

Ryder got to the forest, he went to where Vivian had told them the attack was. He saw Ava on the floor, bleeding and unconscious. The dead bodies of the rogues lay on the ground beside her.

"Ava!" he bent down close to her and checked her pulse, she was still alive but her pulse was weak, he picked her up in his arms and carried her home.

Jayden and the other wolves searched around the forest if there were any more rogues hiding in the bushes.

Helena was waiting at home with the medical supplies when Ryder brought Ava home.

Helena cleaned her injuries and gave her medicines.

Ryder left her to meet with Jayden.

"Did you see anything?" he asked Jayden.

"Nothing Ryder, there were no other rogues."

"How did they get past the magic wards?" Ryder asked.

"They had help from a witch." Jayden said.

"But why would a witch help the rogues, the witches are our allies." one of the pack member asked.

"Yes the witches are our allies but Evena told me that some witches have been leaving the coven to go rogue as well. I think this is the handiwork of one of those witches." Ryder said.

"What do we do?" Jayden asked.

"I will ask Evena to come over and reinforce the wards. Tell everyone to go inside and stay there. No body should be outside." Ryder ordered.

"Yes Alpha." they left to carry out Ryder's orders.

Ryder went to his study, he opened his cupboard and brought out a shimmering paper, he wrote something on it and burnt it with a candle.

It was a magical paper that would get his message to Evena quickly.

He went outside and saw one of his warriors.

"Is everyone inside?" he asked.

"Yes Alpha, everyone is inside."

"okay, go inside. Remember no one must go outside" he warned.

"Yes Alpha."

Ryder left the pack house and walked to a building which was forbidden for anyone other than the Alpha to enter. This was where the pack kept the shadow wolves.

The shadow wolves were rogues and prisoners who had committed heinous crimes, they were punished by stripping their human side from them.

They would then remain as wolves permanently.

The shadow wolves were only controlled by the Alpha. They were used to find rogues who attacked the pack.

The shadow wolves only attacked those didn't bear the scent of the pack and who smelled suspicious. They were bloodthirsty and this was why Ryder had said everybody was to remain outside.

Ryder released the shadow wolves, he instructed them to kill anyone who didn't bear the scent of the pack or who looked suspicious.

The wolves rushed into the pack intent on carrying out their orders.

Ryder went back to the house, he went to Ava's room.

"How is she?" he asked Helena.

"I have treated her injuries and given her medicine, she has started healing already. All she needs for now is rest." Helena told him.

"That's a relief. She was really brave." Ryder said as he looked at her.

"I am really curious how she fought the rogues on her own." Jayden said.

"Me too. I guess we just have to wait for her to wake up." Helena told them.

"By the way, nobody is to go outside tonight." Ryder told them.

"Why?" Helena asked.

"I released the shadow wolves." Ryder replied.

"What!" Jayden asked in shock.

"Why are you surprised? this is their work, they can find any rogue no matter how well they are hiding." Ryder told him. 

"Will... will.... they check the forest?" Jayden asked in a trembling voice. 

"Yes they will."

"Oh no!" Jayden exclaimed and ran out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Ryder yelled after him.

Minutes later one of the warriors came upstairs.

"Alpha, Jayden just left the house. We tried to stop him." he reported.

"Did he say where he was going?"

"No Alpha."

"You may go." Ryder dismissed the guard.

Ryder looked at Helena who looked panicked.

"You know why he went outside, don't you?" he asked her.

"Yes I do." Helena admitted.

"So why did he go outside?"

"Lavender." Helena said.

"What do you mean?"

"Lavender is in the forest, he didn't leave the pack. He stays in one of the houses in the ruins."

"You mean to tell me Lavender is in the forest and that Jayden has gone there to save him. The same forest I released the shadow wolves into?"

"Yes Ryder. You have to call the shadow wolves back."

"I can't do that, their instruction is to go back into the house by sunrise. Nobody can stop them until it's sunrise." Ryder said in panic.

"Is there nothing that can be done?"

"unless I get Evena here quickly." Ryder said, he left the room to his study.

He wrote on the shimmering paper and burnt it and paced anxiously waiting for Evena.

Minutes later, Evena appeared in the room. 

"Can't reinforcing the wards wait till tomorrow?" he whined.

Evena was a wizard (male witch) and Ryder's close friend. He helped the pack in making the magic wards and he had also helped in making the shadow wolves.

"This isn't about the wards, I need you to call the shadow wolves back." Ryder said.

"Why?"

"Lavender has been hiding in the forest and I had no idea and released the shadow wolves. Jayden stupidly ran to save him. I don't even know if they are okay, I need to call the shadow wolves back and I need your help."

"Well let's get started. We don't have time to waste, neither of them can fight off a pack of shadow wolves." Evena told him.

.......

Jayden was in the forest running to the small house where Lavender stayed.

He hoped he wasn't too late, in his haste he tripped and sprained his ankle.

He looked up to see a shadow coming towards him slowly, Jayden was very scared. He couldn't even stand up. Was this how he would die? Jayden asked himself.