Realm of the Rogues

Chapter III

I can feel my consciousness slipping as the blood drains from our body through our numerous wounds. It feels like we've been lying here taking a beating for hours, but it's probably only been seconds. The pain is not as unbearable as it was in the beginning, but Hera is losing her strength, and can't fight back anymore. That's when I see another wolf leaping over us and ramming into Timothy, causing him to fall back. This triggers my wolf's last deposit of adrenaline which gives her the strength to roll away from our attacker. She lifts her heavy head to check on Louise and Freya. They are both sitting and holding each other, gazing at us with tear- and fear-filled eyes. As through a fog I see that Louise is trying to yell something at me. I do my best to try and comprehend.

"Run ... are bleeding ... I ... Protect Freya ... GO!". My wolf fights herself up on her paws and I just pray that she will carry us to safety. I can feel that she is hurting and exhausted as well, but her certainty calms me, so I put my trust in her. 

"Don't worry, I can handle this, just gather your strength, so you can take over when we reach safety, okay?". I nod mentally, as this is all I can do right now, but I know that she understands me. She might have taken the physical beating, but I have never felt more emotionally drained before. I feel like I could sleep for days, and it would still not give me back a fraction of my strength. Before she runs off with us, she looks back at Louise, Freya, and Timothy, and I notice the wolf that saved us is still battling with Tim. The last thought to reach my mind before I drift off is Who is that?

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I have no idea where we are when I finally come to my senses. I look down at myself and realize that I'm back in my human form, and very much naked. I didn't get to get out of my satin dress before we shifted. It must be back at the camp torn to pieces. I search my mind to find Hera, but sense that she is very deep asleep trying to heal her body. I don't have a single scratch, but that's because Hera's body took every punch and bite. Hera and I are not the typical werewolf. Every werewolf in our pack is essentially one person/identity with the ability to freely shift between their human and wolf bodies. They have complete control at all times since they are the only ones in their minds. Hera and I however are two identities in one mind. I control the human body, and Hera controls the wolf. No one knows what happened to us exactly for us to come out like this. The eldest in our pack has a theory though. She believes that I and Hera were twins in Mum's belly, but that I absorbed her, or she absorbed me before birth, and now we are two separate individuals sharing one body. It's the only explanation that makes sense at least. 

Sharing a mind with someone else has its perks, but also cons. The perk is that any damage that one of our bodies obtains is not transferred over to the other body. Also, I'm never alone since I always have Hera to talk to. She is basically a copy of me, because all that she knows, are the things that I have taught her. I was the one to name her as well. I called her Hera, because my name is Athena, and I wanted her to be named after a Greek goddess as well. I don't know for how long she has been in my mind. I think she always has been there, but it was only at a certain point that I realized, that it wasn't normal for people to have two voices in their head.

But it would be wrong of me to say, that it's all a dance on roses. I have no control over Hera, which also means I can't control what thoughts Hera has, or what actions she takes when she has taken control and we are in the wolf body. She has a fierce temper, and I can't tame her when she sets her mind to something, nor can anyone else. When she does something bad, they don't understand that it's Hera's doing, so they try to correct and discipline me, which helps no one. This has also led to a rule stating that I am not allowed to shift in the camp because Hera causes too much havoc. It's really a pity. I feel like no one understands us or believes us, and even the ones that do completely misunderstand Hera. She is truly wonderful and funny, but they only see the bad sides of her, since she only fronts, when something is seriously pissing her off, or if we are in danger.

In the beginning, before this rule, people would more often than not try to avoid me, but after the rule was set in place, Hera has been easier to control. She doesn't just spring into action and take control as she would before. I have gained a lot of friends and I would almost say that I am one of the popular ones among the omegas. For a long time, Hera was a "problem" of the past... Until today. What she did would most likely sentence us to death. Especially because I know Timothy, and I know he would spin some crazy tale, and as the oldest son of the Alpha, people would believe him over me. I don't exactly blame Hera, she was protecting my sister, but I have to deal with the consequences of her actions.

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I take a look around me, trying to figure out where Hera has brought us. I can't recognize the place, but I'm pretty sure we are still within the perimeter of the pack's territory. I consider my options; 

1. I wait. If I do this the warriors will probably come for me and bring me back to serve justice. Either I would be sentenced to death or be expelled as a rogue. Both pretty awful.

2. I go back. Pretty much the same outcome as number one - maybe with the chance of me explaining myself and being pardoned, but the chances are slim.

3. I run away. I would probably be chased, but if I could escape, I would be a rogue. I would have no chance of ever coming back to my pack, but at least I would be alive for the time being.

I have no time to think any further, as I hear heavy steps closing in from close by...