My Rogue

Chapter 22: Ready, Set, Go!

*This chapter is unedited, so excuse any mistakes... I hope to fix it soon*

Adriel's POV

"C'mon, baby, it's for your own good." I pleaded to my mate.

Mika said nothing as he stayed hidden behind my elder sister, his emerald eyes flashing between annoyance and fear.

I'd been trying for nearly an hour to get the small boy outside for some training. Mika was tough, sure, but if I'm being honest, he was lucky to outrun and outfight the old pack that had chased him for six months. He was scrappy and thought quickly on his feet, but as far as basic skills and technique go, Mika had none.

After our talk with the Elder and having the truth come to light about Mika and his Moon Spirit, I was more determined than ever before to have ever pup in the pack trained to be the best fighters we could be. I had had a few conversations with Nokomis in the last few weeks and it was clear to me that the old pack Mika ran from was out to get him, Rogues most likely in tow.

It wasn't hard to convince my pack to buckle down and train; the memory from that night three years ago still haunted every wolf here. Not a family was saved from the horror of watching a family member die by the hands of the Rogues.

At first, people were scared when I told them of Mika and what was after him. Mothers and fathers alike had sent me glared lined with fear as they hid their children behind their arms, their teeth bared. Of course, the innate desire to protect their future Luna was there, but so was the pain and fear.

Elder Simi herself had come out from her abode to help explain the situation. You can imagine the shock and confusion that ran through our pack as she explained what exactly Mika was and why it was important they protect him, not only as their Luna, but as a precious gift from the Goddess.

The attitude of the pack changed immediately on learning about Nokomis, even meeting the Moon Spirit himself When Nokomis felt the need to apologize for inconveniencing the pack. Mika, of course, was horrified as he saw the entire pack bowing to him when he woke up. It took nearly two weeks for us to convince the pack it was okay to pass by the future Luna with a smile, that there was no need to get on a knee every time he came into their presence.

Mika was slowly coming to terms with the Spirit inside him, but I could tell it was still unsettling to him. He said he had accepted Nokomis, that he had befriended the Spirit in his childhood. He told me of how, due to the abuse of his former pack, Nokomis spent nearly all of his energy keeping Mika alive, causing Mika to forget about his childhood friend through the years.

My fury at the story he told boiled my blood. I could feel the uncontrollable rage just beneath my surface scratching and clawing its way to the top. I hated that I hadn't been there, that I had done nothing to help my mate. Top it all off with the fact I had rejected him the first second I saw him and I think the shame had nearly killed me.

Ever since then, I demanded Mika learn to fight, more than just the gorilla-warfare style he had picked up being on the run so long. He was an amazingly fast learner and packed up on techniques by just watching at times. It was hard to know if having a Moon Spirit influenced that at all, but according to Elder Simi, the Spirit was meant for healing, never fighting as the Goddess couldn't harm her own children, rogue or not.

Noko informed me that was just Mika's natural talent and I was of course the proud mate in the world. Mika, on the other hand, was not so in love with his new found natural talent in fighting.

"I just think I'll be better helping Ayana," he complained from behind my sister, the doctor just chuckling to herself as she went about her paperwork. "You already have so many war wolves-"