I am not Rogue

Chapter 4

The water pulls me under, twisting and twirling my body with its sheer force. My body, slamming into the rock. I let out a cry, my body battered and bruised.

I look around disoriented when I brake the surface. My arms flail as I notice the sharp, deadly rocks ahead.

I need to get out, now.

I look around desperately for something to help me. I observe the big rock in front of me.

My body's thrown into it and I latch onto it. I grunt against the powerful water as I shift my feet to hold me.

I use the rock, pushing myself against the water to keep myself steady. With my free arms, I balance myself. With the immediate threat out of the way, I take my time to form a plan.

The gurgling sound of someone drowning pulls my attention to the side. The Beta struggles to keep himself above the water.

Before he slips past me, my hand shoots out to grab his arm. Searing hot pain rips through my shoulder. Once the Beta's head is above the water, it whips to me. His eyes are wide with surprise as they find mine.

I feel my warm blood spurt from the wound in my shoulder. My wounded arm the one clutching him. I let out a loud cry as tears blur my vision. The pain overbearing.

I try to pull the Beta to safety but I feel him slipping.

"Just let me go!" He yells, seeing my pain and struggle. There's little chance I can save us both. Despite that fact, I growl at him. "I'm not going to let you die!"

His eyes widen in shock before flickering down to my wounded shoulder in... regret.

"Extend your claws into my arm!" I yell, still trying to pull him. "What?!" He yells in disbelief. "Do it!" I command. His face falls into determination and nods.

Claws piece my arm and I bit my lip. In turn, I extend mine. Now the grip I have on him is insured I put my focus into tugging him to safety.

I grab him with my other arm and finally pull him up next to me. "Thanks." He mutters under his breath. I nod distractedly as I eye the bank. I nibble my lip.

I can make it, I note. I glance at the Beta with a sinking feeling. I can save him, but whether he saves me is another story. I sigh, he's a Beta, he has a job, a family and a life where's I'm a lone wolf, I have nothing.

I pull the Betas attention to me, "Do you trust me?" I ask. I laugh at my question as the Beta turns to me with narrowed grey eyes. "Too bad." I giggle, grab his wrist with my hand.

With my good arm, I put all my wolf strength behind the throw as I lift him out of the water and soaring to the bank. He successfully reaches safety but with the momentum of the throw, I lost my footing.

The Beta watches me with his wide grey eyes as I plunge back into the water. Rocks painful bash my body and the water throws me around like a rag doll.

"Rogue!" I hear the Beta call as my head makes it out of the water. I cast my gaze over to the bank to see the Beta running along with me. Hope sparks with me for a few seconds only to be knocked right out.

My body slams into a giant rock, sending me hurtling to the side. My ribs crack on contact.

I'm underwater again and my body crashes into the bank. The water drags me along the side, the dirt and roots scratching my cheeks.

I hopelessly grasp at the mud, trying to grab ahold of anything.

I seize hold of a root and drag half my body out of the water. I sputter, trying to fill my lungs with air and not water. I cough up water and it trickles down my lips.

A hand yanks at the back of my shirt, pulling me the rest of the way out of the water.

Once I'm safely away from the water, the Beta lowers me to the ground. Laying on my back, I take a breath and finally apply pressure to my wounded shoulder.

The Beta sits next to me, on his knees hunched over. We stay, in the silence, both resting and gathering our thoughts.

Water drips from his wet golden locks, plastering themselves to his forehead and hanging into his grey eyes.

He saved my life.

His head snaps to me as I grunt, trying to stand.

"Hey," he speaks softly, surprising me, considering the harshness of our last conversation. "Stay down, rest. You're in no shape to even move."

"I can't." I whimper as I shakily stand on my feet. "I can't stay here and you know it. If somebody finds me... I'm dead."

The Beta sighs. "I need to go." I state firmly. He nods before quickly glancing around. "Easiest way out of the territory is that way." He points south-west and continues, "I can hold off the warriors but the Alpha is coming, if you get caught by him there's nothing I can do." He shakes his head.

Shocked I stare at him. He's helping me? I cast my eyes to the forest floor. I press down harder on my wounded shoulder. "Thanks." I whisper.

A small smile tugs at the lips of my new friend and I smile back. He looks at me, "I was wrong." He states simply. My mouth opens to ask his meaning when a howl rings through the air.

"Go." He barks and I nod. Don't need to tell me twice.

I jog away, my wounds disabling me to actually run.

The distant sound of howls and growls makes me run fast despite the overbearing pain in my body. I pant, my lungs burning as trees blur past.

The sharp smell hangs in the air, notifying me of the pack's border. A relieved smile tugs at my lips as I hobble towards freedom.

My stomach drops and dread fills me as a growl resonates through the area. I still, frozen in shock as I hear his thundering paws.

The giant, powerful brindle wolf leaps out of the undergrowth. The forces of its body hitting mine sends me flying to the ground.

It leers overtop of me, pinning me to the ground and establishing dominance. His golden eyes narrowed and his lips pulled back in the threatening display of sharp canines.

His black guard hairs stand on end showing his threat and the soft brown underlay of fur. He is so close, and I dare not move.

His tense muscles suddenly relax. His once flattened ears perk toward me, flickering for a sound. His lips draw into a confused pout and his glowing eyes observe me.

I bite my tongue to stop the awe when he tilts his head adorably. His head lowers and I stare wide-eyed as he boops his nose against mine.

I gasp, shocked. Both of us springing away from each other as we realise. One word circulates my mind as I stare at the wolf before me.

Fuck.