The Attack

Rouge was awakened by the howling of wolves.

She sat up in bed shocked and slightly confused. But then she smelt them. Their stench served as a pungent wake-up call. She felt their presence as they intruded into her pack's territory, crossing over the boundary line. This is an ability she inherited from her father, Alpha Jesse.

She could feel their energy growing stronger and closer. It was closing in around the pack lands from the eastern borders. She couldn't determine how many, her tracking skills were not as developed to do so.

This was the feeling her father had told her about.

Rouges had invaded their lands.

The pack was under attack. Rouge felt herself tremble with trepidation. Father had trained her in anticipation of such an event. There had been several simulation drills in preparation for a situation like this. Her first instruction was to get her brother and then move to the bunker till it all blew over.

She knew this, she understood this, in fact, the simulation played on repeat in her head however she couldn't get her legs to comply. She had always prided herself on her bravery but today it failed her.

She had never felt such fear. Her eyes got misty as tears gathered threatening to spill. Rouges fingers held on tightly to her duvet as she blicked repetitively in an attempt to blick away the tears. She bit her lower lip willing in determination trying to calm her frayed nerves.

At that very moment, her room door burst open. She flinched at the sound, slightly startled. Looking up at the door, she saw her dishevelled looking mother.

Luna Skylar ran to her daughter on the bed, throwing her arms around Rouges small frame, engulfing her in a hug.

"You're okay baby, you're okay" she whispered into Rouge's ear before gently pulling away. Even from the corridor, she could smell her daughters fear. In the presence of her mother and support system, the tears Rouge had tried to hold back came pouring down her cheeks like a broken dam.

"What's happening mummy?" She asked in a tiny voice. Her small hands latched onto her mother's bigger owns for dear life.

"We are under a rogue attack, or about to be.' Luna Skylar explained. She did not sugarcoat her words or make light of the situation. Unlike human children or even amongst their kind, Rouge was forced to grow up faster than other children her age.

As an offspring of an Alpha, her bloodline demanded it.

"Now I need you to listen to me, Rouge. Listen well okay? Something is in the air. It's some kind of magic. It has everyone in a deep slumber. Everyone except you, Saint, your father and I. I theorize we are the only ones not affected because we are all of alpha blood.

This is an issue Rouge. If everyone is unconscious then they are all in danger. Now, There's too many of us in the pack and too little manpower at the moment, to be able to move everyone to the bunker in time before the attach so your father and I will take the front. You, my dear..." Luna Skylar raised her hands to her daughter's face, cupping both sides of Rouge's face.

"You will take the Pack house." Luna Skylar said looking into her daughters trembling eyes.

"You will protect your brother and everyone currently indoors. Here are the keys." She says pushing a bunch of keys into Rouge's palm.

"Be brave Rouge. Protect your family".

Rouge drew strength from her mothers displayed bravado and nodding her head in acknowledgement.

"Now clean those tears baby. Alphas don't cry" Rouge nodded again in understanding and rubbed her eyes dry with the long sleeve of her nightwear.

"Come," Luna Skylar said. Pulling her daughter by the arm. "We don't have a lot of time".

-----

Saint waited, as he was told to.

He was sat upon his parent's bed; knees brought up to his chest, arms hugging them and eyes trained at the door. It had been barely five minutes since Luna Skylar left to fetch Rough but it felt to him like he had been waiting forever.

Finally, he saw the door nub turn and watched as the door was pried open. His heart that felt like it was in his throat gained a semblance of calm seeing his mothers face.

He didn't fully understand what was going on but he knew something terrifying was about to happen and the howling did nothing but confirm his suspicions.

He watched as his mother pulled Rouge in tow with her and upon seeing his sister he climbed down the bed and ran to her engulfing her in a tight hug as he wept. They had their fair share of sibling rivalry but Rouge was his rock. His strength. His big sister and he needed her right now.

"Rouge I'm scared .."

"shuush" she cooed. "I'm here now, no one can ever hurt you". Rouge said confidently.

Luna Skylar watched her kids and a sense of pride overcame her. She knelt down to their eye level and waited till they pulled apart to regard them.

"My babies... I'm so proud to have mothered such beautiful children." She said, blinking back the tears that were starting to gather in her eyes.

" I want both of you to know that your father and I... We love you both very, very much. No matter what happens tonight, always remember that okay?" Both Rouge and Saint nodded in unison and she smiled. "Now come Rouge, it is time"

----

"I've checked the landlines and they've all been disconnected. Cell phones aren't working either so I'm guessing they've been jammed. I've also tried to mind link the High council and the Alpha king but there was no such luck. It seems there's been a magic block on that too." Alpha Jesse says walking towards his mate who was descending down the spiral staircase.

He pulled Luna Skylar into his arms and hugged her tightly. Behind her, he saw his children and he quickly schooled his features from one of worry into neutrality. He smelt their fear. He broke from his wife and went to his kids, engulfing them in a hug.

"I need you both to be brave today. Rouge, you take care of your brother. You're his big sister, his Alpha." He turned to Saint.

"Son, you're the man of the house till we get back okay. You should have your sisters back." Saint nodded vigorously wiping all traces of tears and snot from his face.

"Remember what bloodline you come from. Remember what I have always told you. Rouge is not just your sister but your future alpha too. Stand by her, never forsake her, always protect her, do you hear me saint? that also applies to you too Rouge"

"Yes, father," they both replied.

Alpha Jesse stood. A hand stretched out for his mate which she did then interlocked their fingers. He turned away from his kids and walked towards the mansion's double doors.

He had sensed a total of ninety-three rogues so far, already closing in behind the packhouse. It was time. He turned and regarded his kids one more time.

"Now, just lock the door and the bolt will be put in place. As soon as the door is shut, do not open it for anyone except for us." Luna Skylar instructed before walking out the door with her husband in tow.

Rouge ran to the door locking it as instructed before activating the security lockdown feature as she was trained to. She stepped away from the door turning to her brother to take his hand before hurrying down the hallway and into her father's office to wait out the battle.

Upstairs felt safer but she wanted to be closer to the doors. She trusted in her parent's strength and wanted to be close. She wanted to be able to hear them when they came back knocking.

What she did not expect was that unfortunately, this night they would not come knocking.