Blood Rose

Ashen

Thea's POV:

It's been five years. Five years of grieving my family. Five years of healing from the wounds that were created. Five years of searching for my sister and brother.

I relive that night over and over. Not a day passes that I don't remember watching my family fall one by one. I hear Momma's agonizing howling. Daddy's last whispers. Evie's frightened voice telling us to go. Liam's screams. The protests of my baby sister trying to be brave for us all.

Not all of us have the luxury of forgetting, of blocking out the pain.

I stare at the cursed land that lay ashen before me. Ruins of houses and buildings. Bodies long since buried or burned. The land of my people. The land of my family. The land where my father and mother were murdered on. The land that my pack's blood seeps into. I stare at the land that was once my home. A pit stop on my way to find my lost siblings. In deep hopes they both remain alive.

I stare at the ashen land remembering.

Flashback:

Five years ago...

I stare brokenly at the spot little Rosalie and baby Liam had been seconds before. I stare even with the chaos around me. I remind myself why I made the decision to send them away without me. Momma and Maeve. Turning I see houses on fire, bodies fallen across the ground, screams are heard from every direction, the pungent smell of blood and death filled the night air.

Turning around I spot Momma fighting three wolves away from me. Shifting I charge towards the one closest to me. Nipping at her until I get my teeth around her neck. Dead. I move quickly to the next wolf. He growls at me as Momma screams at me to run. My wolf, Flare, takes over as she is challenged by the wolf. Fiercely jumping into action, roughly landing on him and snipping at his belly and throat. Pinning him on his back, Flare snaps her teeth onto his stomach. Blood fills my mouth and a sharp pain caresses my eye and cheek. Taking back control from Flare I spit the wolf from my mouth. With a wince I get up turning to the last wolf. Momma's eyes fill with horror and tears as she looks at my face.

The wolf stands in human form with his claws extended towards Momma's throat. With a laugh, he removes his hand from her throat only to slice into her stomach as I had with his friend. Dropping her onto the ground and running at me. I claw at his face as he reaches me. He bites my thigh dragging me with him. Not giving up I snap at anything within reach. Catching his stomach with my claws and teeth, slowing him down but not stopping his torturous pulling. In one motion I kick him in the neck and tackle him onto his back, biting his throat as I shake my head. Shaking him until he goes limp.

I spit the blood out leaving the copper taste in its wake. I rush to Momma only to be met with her lifeless eyes and a small smile gracing her lips. Still in wolf form, Flare and I whimper and sob pawing at her. Not unlike Rosalie did with Daddy who lays a few feet away from us on the grass. I hear howling from the remaining rogues signaling their departure. Questioning everything, specifically, Where is Maeve?

Snapped out of my memories by the voice of my Beta, Lauren. "Alpha. We need to keep moving if we want to make it there before the sun sets." Feeling the cool wind against my face I turn towards Lauren.

She stands in front of me, still taller at 5'3 compared to my 5'1. Lauren is beautiful that's for sure. Her light brown hair lay curled against her back, contrasting with her uniquely patterned eyes. Her left eye a rich brown, her right eye a bright green. A small smile splayed on her lips as she looked back at me, waiting for a command.

"Round everyone up for departure. Have Dylan and Vince meet me at the northern border by the forest." I tell her. Lauren doesn't waste a second as she takes off running. I make my way towards the border knowing the boys would already be waiting.

Dylan, the 5'9, dark brown shaggy haired, blue eyed warrior and Vince, the 6'1, dark brown curly haired, hazel eyed tracker. Two of my favorite guys.

I arrive to see Dylan and Vince waiting for me at attention, still as statues. Shaking my head, I growl up at them. "Boys. What did I tell you about going all submissive on me?" The boys break out in laughter giving me big bear hugs. "It was Dylan's idea. You always get so bothered by it. it's so funny." Vince says in between laughs. "Whatever. You thought it was a great idea." Dylan mouths back at him. "Whoever did it doesn't matter. Now time for business. Dylan, I need you to help Lauren round up everyone and bring them here. We need to move now before it gets too late." Dylan grins and nods. "Alright, boss lady I'm on it." He turns to Vince, kissing his lips. "See you soon. I love you." Vince hugs him and smiles. "Love you too. Now go." Laughing Dylan takes off running back towards Lauren.

A pang rings in my chest. Mates. Wolves usually find their mates at 16. I did find him but my mate, Brandon, died in front of me in our first few months together. Yet another rogue tragedy.

"Are you okay?" Vince asks me, softly. Forcing a smile, I look up at him and nod. "I need you to track lead. We will meet up with the Silver Howlers pack tomorrow, so we need to get going. Get a team ready to go." He nods. "We will find them. We are so close."

"There are reports of a woman killing rogues across the country. She is obviously looking for something. I just can't figure out what it is. They call her The Blood Rose. Say she leaves a single white rose dipped in her victims blood at the doorstep of her next target in warning." I tell him warily. "Keep an eye out for her. I want to know any rumor or tale that is spoken."

"You don't think it's her do you?"

"I don't know what to think anymore. At least if it is her she is alive." 

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