Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Aiden’s POV

The air was very thick with tension as the eyes of the rogue leader pierced through me, charged with both wrath and perverse joy. Around us, it felt like the forest was tightening its fist, making the darkness look denser and more menacing.

All my muscles were coiled, waiting for an inevitable confrontation. Hayley was standing next to me; her hand held mine firmly as if it would save me from despairing this night.

“Hayley, are you ready for this?” I asked in a whisper.

She nodded at me while continuing to focus on the rogue leader. “I’m ready. We have come too far to turn back now,” she said.

“Hmm, such touching determination! It’s a pity that I have to destroy you both,” the rogue leader sneered as he curled his lips into an evil grin.

“You won’t succeed,” I said firmly. “We won’t allow it.”

The sound he made when he laughed was brutal and grinding; it felt like ice on my skin. “It’s good talk, but talk won’t save you-it’s actions,” he said.

“Then let’s fight with steel!” Hanley replied, though I could see she was terrified.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Before the rogue commander could say anything else, he sprang at us with fast and lethal moves. With barely a second to think about it, I shoved Hayley aside and went to meet his charge. The impact of our bodies was so strong that it knocked me off balance; however, I refused to give in.

“”Stay back, Hayley!” I yelled at her, in vain hope of holding back the rogue leader.

“No, Aiden! We are in this together!” She argued with a firm voice.

I stole a quick glance at her heart, torn between love and fear. “Please, Hayley. I need you to be safe.”

“And I need you alive,” she replied with empathy, which made her walk towards me again.

The rogue leader’s eyes turned from one to the other, his countenance darkening even more. “How sweet. But love won’t save your lives,” he said.

“It may not,” I said, “but it gives us strength.”

The rogue leader made his move again, lunging with claws extended and a loud roar. This time, however, the two of us moved as one. Our movements were completely in sync; every blow he threw at us was met with one of our own. The connection between us was something that we needed at all costs.

“Not possible!” he growled; it was clear that he couldn’t hold it anymore.

“Let’s settle this,” I replied affirmatively, my eyes stuck on him.

The fight carried on, with all four of us taking and receiving blows. The rogue leader was merciless with his brutal attacks. But we fought back, using everything available to stop him from winning.

“Hayley, get this out!” I screamed, seeing an opening.

She moved quickly, and her fist landed a powerful blow on the rogue leader’s jaw, making him stagger back. I took advantage of his disorientation by hitting him repeatedly until he was left reeling.

“You’re strong,” he said as he wiped blood from his lip. “But not strong enough.”

“We will see about that,” Hayley said in a resolute voice.

The rogue leader’s expression was that of pure malice as his eyes narrowed. “You’ve forced my hand. No more holding back.”

With a snarl, he unleashed a flurry of attacks so vicious that they pushed us to our limits, with

our bodies straining under the weight of them. But we didn’t quit; we couldn’t.

“Aiden, this has to end,” Hayley gasped, face lifeless from exertion.

“I know,” I replied while panting heavily. “Somehow we need to find a way.”

“Let me handle it,” she said, determination sparking in her eyes.

“Wait!” A voice cried out behind me, but before I could protest, she had already charged towards the rogue leader with fluid and precise movements that were so quick that they left him momentarily unsteady on his feet, then hit him hard enough to make him wobble back dramatically.

“Hayley, be careful!” I shouted; my heart was pounding in fear.

“I know what I’m doing right now,” she answered in calmness.

It was simply amazing how aggressively she continued attacking; her strength and skill were proof of how much she wanted victory. She was just great beyond measure, which caused an overwhelming feeling of love and pride towards her within me.

“I’m impressed,” said the rogue leader. “But it still won’t be enough.”

“We’ll see,” she replied, her voice unwavering.

The battle continued, with each of us giving everything we had. The rogue leader’s attacks were relentless, but we fought back with equal ferocity. We were a team, and together, we were strong.

“Aiden, now!” Hayley shouted, seeing an opening.

I moved swiftly. My fist connected with the rogue leader’s jaw in a powerful blow that sent him staggering back. Hayley took advantage of his momentary disorientation, landing a series of precise strikes that drove him further back.

“Hayley, we can’t keep this up forever,” I said, my voice tinged with worry.

“I know, but we have to hold on a little longer,” she replied, her eyes never leaving the rogue leader.

The rogue pack began to close in, their eyes filled with bloodlust. I knew we were running out of time.

“Hayley, we need an escape plan,” I said urgently.

She glanced around, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “There,” she said, pointing towards a narrow path through the trees. “If we can make it to that path, we might be able to lose them in the forest.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, doubt creeping into my voice.

“We don’t have a choice,” she replied firmly. “We have to try.”

“Alright, let’s do it,” I agreed, steeling myself for what was to come.

“On my signal,” she said, her voice low and steady. “Ready… now!”

We transitioned into a sprint, dashing past the narrow pathway. The thief pack roared at us in anger. My heart raced in my chest as we swerved around trees, while the sounds of the pursuit behind me became louder.

“Keep going, Aiden!” Hayley shouted, as she was urging me on.

“I’m right behind you!” I called back with legs on fire from effort.

The path twisted and turned and became narrower and more treacherous. Branches clawed at our clothes and faces, but we pressured on as if stricken by sheer willpower.

“Almost there,” Hayley breathed out, gasps between words sounding like a quickened pace.

We burst out of the trees into a small clearing, and for a moment I thought that we had lost them. But then I heard the unmistakable growls of the rogue pack closing in.

“We need to keep moving,” Hayley said, her voice filled with urgency.

“There’s a river up ahead,” I said, recalling the map we had studied earlier. “If we can get there, we might be able to throw off their scent.”

“Lead the way,” she replied with determination etched on her face.

We sprinted towards the river, our footfalls pounding on the ground beneath us. As the rushing water became louder, hope shone in my heart.

“There it is!” I yelled out while pointing towards the river just ahead of us. We have reached the riverbank and jumped into the water, the cold shock waking us up. It was a strong current, but we fought our way across while the water was pulling our clothes and limbs.

“Keep going, Aiden!” Hayley urged, her voice barely audible above the river’s noise.

We straggled up to the opposite bank, drenched and exhausted. There was no time for a break. We had to keep moving.

“This way,” I said, leading us deeper into the forest.

We ran for what felt like hours, breathing heavily.

“Do you think we have lost them?” Hayley asked in a strained voice.

“I hope so,” I said. “But we can’t stop now,”

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the woods.

“They are still on our trail!” Hayley screamed, her voice betraying panic.

“Quick, this way!” I directed turning off the path,

We broke through the tree line and found ourselves at the edge of a small town in Australia.

“Blend in,” I whispered. “Play natural.”

We went fast down the streets, trying to be as normal as possible.

“Can you see them?” asked Hayley, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Not sure, but they could still be around us,” I replied, keeping my eyes wide open.

We turned around one street corner, avoiding crashing into a group of locals.

“Sorry,” Hayley murmured, sounding downcast.

Don’t vex yourself over it,” one of them remarked while watching us with interest.

I implored, “Keep going,” pushing Hayley ahead gently.

We moved through the crowded streets, facing tensions that rose with each step that we took.

“There!” Hayley whispered urgently, pointing at a narrow alleyway.

And as we dashed down the alley, it was as if our hearts wanted to explode out of our chests.

“Do you think they’ll follow us here?” She asked in a shaky voice.

“I can’t tell, but it’s worth trying,” I said, looking around for some way out.

All of a sudden, steps rolled across the alleyway.

“They have found us!” exclaimed Hayley as her eyes popped up with fear.

“Run!” I shouted as I snatched her hand and ran along with her.

We rushed down the alley while lots of footsteps were coming behind us.

“There is an escape ladder!” I pointed out a metal ladder resting on one side of a house.

“Go, go fast!” issued out from Hayley’s mouth, followed by climbing up the stairs because it has taken us so much time.

On the topmost part of the building, now we are there, gasping up with thick breaths, looking down in front of the alley way below.

“Did we lose them?” asked Hayley, bent from exactly where she was standing.

“I believe so,” I answered when scanning around.

But just as we began feeling relaxed, someone walked out from behind something where he or she seemed to have hidden all along somehow.

“There they are!” cried out someone behind us.

“Run!” I yelled as I pulled Hayley over to a different side of this rooftop.

We jumped onto another building and barely made it across.

“We will have to escape this place!” and that’s how I sounded.

“There!” Hayley indicated an unbarred window.

We dove through that aperture, landing in a dark and deserted room.

“Hide,” I voiced behind a pile of boxes.

As those strides neared the opening, we hushed into silence.

“Did they enter?” spoke another, observing her intently.

“I don’t know,” said another member.

“Continue looking,” commanded the first voice.

Slowly, soundless footfalls receded as our breath returned.

“That was touching close,” said Hayley, trembling.

“We haven’t reached safety yet,” I replied. “Keep going.”

“They want us to move where? her eyes full of doubt asked.

“Anywhere but here,” I said while lifting her up.

We stealthily slipped out of that room and into a hallway dimly lit by artificial lights.

“Stay close,” I whispered, leading the way.

Every creak and groan made us jump as we made our way through the puzzle-like building.

“Will we ever be safe again?” Hayley asked despairingly.

“I am not sure,” I confessed, “but it’s worth a shot.”

But just before reaching our exit sign, there was another sound resembling steps.

They’re alive yelled Hayley, quivering with fear.

Quickly! yelled out his voice as we collided into the night through the opening in the wall.

However, it was far from over. Our destiny remained ambiguous.”