Chapter １７

Suddenly, I smelled something peculiar.Not werewolf odor.

Was it a rogue? I paused and listened closely.

Nearby, I heard footsteps.These footsteps were approaching us.

I estimated there were more rogues than yesterday based on the sound.

My injuries hadn't healed.We were outclassed.

Daina was nude in the hot spring, so I couldn't easily take her out.

The footsteps approached.

It was necessary to temporarily conceal and adapt to shifting conditions.

I breathed deeply and went into the hot spring pool.

I walked lightly to avoid alerting opponents.

Stephan Buther's POV:

Daina was shocked by my quick entrance.

"Mr.Stephan Buther"

"Didn't you hear footfalls? I covered her lips and said, "Rogues are close."

"Shut up. Let's hide."

Then I dived underwater with Daina.

Daina tensed as she heard rogues were close.She kept still and let me hold her without more inquiries.

After we jumped in, the rogues arrived.

I had excellent hearing as a lycan.

I guessed more than 30rogues, which was uncommon.

Never before have so many rogues appeared at Grey Mountain's frontier.

Daina and I killed 30 rogues yesterday, but today there were another 30.

These rogues plotting? I held my breath in the water while a rogue cursed.

"Werewolves! I'd murder them all! "

How can we execute the assignment so effortlessly if werewolves are harsh by nature? I heard that two strong werewolves killed scores of rogues yesterday. They were very brutal.

"What scares you? Isn't the elder after Grey Mountain's Alpha and Luna? Once we get them, the pack will be exposed."

"Exactly.Stop moaning and continue searching.Our mission is to kill all werewolves in this forest."

The rogue's plot startled me. No wonder so many of them had assembled. They planned to seize Alpha and Luna.

These rogues were overly ambitious, wanting to seize Grey Mountain.

While pondering how to cope with the adversaries, I realized Daina appeared off.

Her face became blue as she ran out of air.

As a lycan, I could hold my breath longer than most werewolves, therefore I felt comfortable underwater.

I forgot that Daina, a typical werewolf, was different.She'd been suffocating for a while.

I couldn't let her get to the surface to breathe, so I breathed oxygen into her mouth while holding her head.

Daina's first intake of air was like rain after a long drought.

Her chest lifted and sank as she gulped breath.

I could just faintly see her underwater.Her features softened, relieving me.

Her lips were sensitive.I couldn't let go.

I kissed Daina while giving her air.

Under the hot spring, we kissed passionately.

Daina reacted passionately to the kiss, putting her arms around my waist. Perhaps she needed air or was as turned on as I was.

All my problems vanished at that instant.

I couldn't stop thinking about kissing her.When they s eventually went, I didn't know how long had gone.

Daina gulped oxygen as we surfaced.

Her face gained color.

"Thank you, Mr. Stephan Buther," she murmured guiltily.

"I'm sorry. If you weren't here, I don't know what may have occurred."

"Don't worry. All that counts is that you're okay. Let's go back to the lodge and brainstorm countermeasures to thwart the rogues' plot. They want to annex Grey Mountain!"

I soothed her and moved the subject inscoffeed of criticizing or punishing her.

Daina smiled, blushing.

"Thank you for saving my life," I coughed.

Now, I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss.

I'll never forget Daina's fragrance.

"Let's hurry back, "I said.

I left the hot spring pool first, restraining myself.

Daina quickly dressed after me.

I turned away to give her solitude, but I could hear her movements, which aroused my desire.

The picture of her bare body submerged haunted me.

Soon, we returned to the cabin and changed.Daina's face was still crimson, as if she was still humiliated.

She then inquired about our strategy.

First, I called Grey Mountain's Alpha.I have to warn him about the rogue s.

The werewolf that replied wasn't the Alpha, but a Grey Mountain elder.

"Hello,Mr.Stephan Buther.I'm ted, an elder of the Grey Mountain. Alpha Bond and Luna Julia have been captured by rogues, and the situation is dired if Stone river pack could help, we'd be thankful.

"Both taken?"We were later than expec.

ted said "yes" cautiously.

"Where were they taken?"

"We know where they are, but we don't have enough soldiers on Grey Mountain to rescue them."

"Provide me the location and I'll attempt to find a solution.Inform the werewolves of Grey Mountain to meet as soon as possible and wait for my command in the forest at the pack's border.I'll personally lead them to rescue Bond and Julia.I'll send you my location as well.Don't forget to check it."

I hung up after giving ted instructions.

ted quickly responded when I provided him the cabin's location.

The Grey Mountain knew where Bond and Julia were imprisoned, so rescuing them was easy.

Since the rogues had captured the Alpha and Luna of my pack, the Grey Mountain, I couldn't keep out of it.

Only by rescuing them could I ensure that the stability of the pack was maintained.

I quickly sent a message to the Rosryal guards of my pack, asAlpha them to come and help.

I arranged for Daina to meet the Grey Mountain werewolves.

Their eyes were wet with gratitude.

Still nighttime.

We might enter renegade territory before sunrise.Bond and Julia may be saved now.

With my help, all the werewolves dressed as rogues and invaded.

Bond and Julia were locked up in the dungeon when we got to the castle.

I knew our disguises were just temporary.We'd be discovered eventually.

We had to save the pair quickly. Daina and I crept inside the castle as the other werewolves wai ted outside.

If Daina and I failed, they could wait for Rosryal guards and rescue us jointly.

Daina and I slipped inside the rogue's stronghold in the dark.

Stephan Buther's POV:

We looked like any other rogue in disguise.

If the rogues examined us carefully, they'd realize we weren't their comrades.

In the dark, we quickly reached the dungeon.

Daina stayed ahead.

Despite encountering multiple patrolling rogues, they didn't uncover our identity.

My surprise was Daina's adaptability.

We discovered the dungeon.Bond and Julia were cellmates.