chapter 52

NIC'S POV:

After taking a nice long awaited shower. I jogged back downstairs and towards the kitchen where chattering could be heard.

I sat down between Seth and Gabe. Gabe- 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 -is busy stuffing food in his mouth. I looked over to my right, at Seth to find him silent and staring blankly into space.

Frowning, I gently nudged him successfully snapping him out of his daze. He turned to look at me, eyebrows raised.

"You okay?"

He nodded and gave a weak smile then returned back to his dazed state.

A plate was placed in front of me and I looked up and met Zannicus. I gave a smile in thanks and he returned one to me.

Zannicus really is more beautiful when he smiles.

I immediately dug and moaned at the taste. Everyone on the table had the same expressions and gave the same reactions.

"Ronan, are you going to train tomorrow?"

Zannicus asked and the warriors-including Gabe, Francis and Isaac, looked up in shock when he called him by his first name. Ronan turned to him and smiled which made the warrior's mouth drop open and the food fall out as he responded,

"Yes Zi, we need to. You're not gonna stay here tomorrow aren't you? If do i recall, you said that you will join us...are you?"

My mouth dropped at the nickname and I glanced at Francis, Gabe and Isaac to find them in the same state, their eyes bulged out of their sockets.

Zannicus smiled back as he replied,

"Yes Roo, I never break my promises"

My mouth opened even more, if it was possible, I think my mouth would've reached the floor. When Zannicus gave him a nickname, some of the warriors choked on their food upon hearing it while Gabe spat out the water he was drinking.

I don't think they remembered that they weren't alone. Zannicus turned and went to the sink while our eyes flicked to Ronan but he was busy watching Zannicus with heart eyes.

The warriors smirked the same time Isaac, Gabe and I exchanged a smirk. Then a smile formed on my face,

'He's making up for all the things he did...good job Ronan.'

I glanced at Seth and he was still in the same state only his head was down.

I frowned but then remembered that he liked Zannicus-if its possible, maybe even loved him. They even kissed on his birthday. My eyebrows furrowed as I felt pity for my friend, he has always liked Zannicus since we were little.

Whenever he would see Zannicus, he would talk about how cute he is, his striking eyes, how smart he is.

I continued to eat and we chatted for a while. When someone spoke,

"Wait, so..Zannicus will be training with us starting tomorrow?"

Terence, one of Dylan's friends asked,

"Yes. Is that a problem."

"How can you let this pathetic omega train with us. I mean, can he even fight? He can barely defend himself"

'Why this little fucker...'

He said and immediately all of us glared at him especially Ronan who was about to get up when Zannicus held him back.

He looked at him with a questioning gaze but he just nodded. He sat back down then Zannicus placed the plate he was holding down.

'Oh nooo.....a calm Zannicus is a scary and dangerous Zannicus.'

He calmly walked towards Terence who turned his whole body to him and stopped right infront of him,

"What? You have something to say?"

He said with a smirk. Ronan, Isaac, Seth and Gabe let out a low growl.

We turned to Zannicus who was silent the whole time. His face was passive. We waited for his reaction. The air started to get thicker and thicker making everyone shuffle on their seats.

Then suddenly his eyes glowed making us gasp and Terence eyes widened and before he could react more, Zannicus grabbed his arm and flipped him off his chair and over his back and he yelled in pain and we winced when we heard a crack, then picked him up by the collar of his shirt with one hand and hoisted him up.

His eyes glowed even more and when he spoke, I swear the whole house rumbled,

"I hate it when people underestimate me. You're the one who complains after a few hours of training and you couldn't even see the attack I did coming. You're the one who's pathetic, its actually humiliating that we have someone like you as a warrior. Someone who just partied and fucked around, you wanna see me fight?.....then LET'S FIGHT..tomorrow. Let's see who's more weak and pathetic."

He spoke with such a low and growling voice that I don't even think its his. All of us-including me watched the whole scene with wide eyes, shivered and all bowed. He finished with a snarl that made Terence shake in his hold, even Ronan is shaking.

Then Zannicus dropped him back on his chair and Terence bowed and he continued,

"And if you're wondering why my eyes are glowing, you should know, that I was never human."

He said in a growling tone that me gulp. He turned once more to Terence and glared at him. The air got even more thicker with power that oozed out of him, its almost suffocating,

"Sleep with your arm like that. Let's see how you endure the pain. If you're done....Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. My. Sight"

Zannicus growled out in gritted teeth. Terence shakily stood up and quickly bowed to him before scurrying away.

When he was gone, he closed his eyes as he took deep breaths in. Ronan stood up and walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

He visibly tensed at the touch but then relaxed. He opened his eyes and its color returned to its normal one.

"That..was..awesome!!"

Gabe exclaimed and Zannicus scoffed then chuckled and we chuckled along.

He turned to us,

He started but was cut off by loud screams. We jumped and turned our heads towards the door. The screams got louder accompanied with growls and snarls, we all turned to each other with wide eyes then we quickly stood up and ran towards the door.

When Isaac flung the door open, a look of horror took over our face.

More than 20 rogues were running around the field and attacking our pack members. There were already dead bodies on the ground.

The warriors and Ronan growled in anger and caught the attention of the rogues and several charged towards us. The warriors lunged forward, shifted and met the rogues half way but before Ronan, Seth and I could leave, Ronan turned to Zannicus,

"Stay here!"

Then he ran out and we came in tow and shifted in mid air. We lunged at the rogues and they did the same.

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ZANNICUS' POV:

I watched with horror as Ronan and the group rushed out and started fighting. Several bodies were on the ground and the screams of our pack members filled the night.

I looked around and my eyes landed on one family outside. Their father and brother fighting off the rogues who tried to come near the pregnant woman and a child was clutching on her arms.

I growled then ran towards them. A rogue suddenly ran towards me, I jumped over him as he tried to bite me and he skidded to a stop and turned and lunged again. I slid under him and slashed his stomach and he howled in pain before collapsing.

I ran towards the family again and behind the woman were two rogues about to jump on them, but before they had the chance to sink their teeth's in them, I released a roar and their heads snapped towards me. One snarled and rushed forward, I side stepped him and clawed at his throat at the process.

The other tackled me and bit me in the shoulder. I gritted my teeth then I wrapped my legs around his body and squeezed with all my might. He howled in pain and he bit down harder. I grabbed his head and did the same thing.

He continued to whine and howl as I squeezed before a satisfying crack was heard, I pushed him off and rushed towards the woman who jumped when I touched her. She sighed in relief when she saw it was me,

"Come on! Follow me and stay close!!"

She nodded in reply then clutched my arms and I scooped the child in my arms. But she tugged me,

"But what about my husband and son?"

She yelled with worry in her eyes. I glanced at them before turning back to her.

"They'll be fine, I promise you. They can handle themselves but you can't. I'll come back for them"

I shouted in reply and she nodded and with that I lead them out of the field. I picked up more members who were trapped along the way,  most were women and children.

We were almost near the pack house when three rogues blocked our way. I pushed all the children behind me. 

I growled at them and they snarled back. I let out a ferocious snarl as I felt my eyes glow.

My hands clenched as I felt fire forming. They stared in shock before one of them lunged.

I met him half way and grabbed his throat. The fire from my hand transferred to him and a second later, he was on fire. I let him go and he stumbled and ran around trying to put it out while howling.

The other two turned to me then both charged. I felt my claws come out and still in human form, I ran towards them, they opened their mouths but I flipped over them and landed on one of their back. I clawed his back, he whined then I grabbed his head with one hand and snapped it.

The other was rushing towards the women and children. At lightning speed, I ran towards him and grabbed his tail just as he was about to kill a pup.

I pulled him then he turned around and tried to land a bite. I clawed at his face then he caught my arms and bit down. I yelled in pain and I let go of his tail and slashed his throat.

His grip loosened and I pushed him off before turning to the children.

"Come on.."

I said as I held a hand out. The youngest ran towards me and I carried him and continued to lead them out of the field and into the pack house.

They were still a few rogues left and when we arrived, all of the members were already inside. I led them all to the living room and I set the child I was holding down on the couch.

I heard gasps and I looked up to see them staring at me wide eyes,

"You're bleeding!!"

I looked down and grimaced inwardly. The bite on my  shoulder was deep and I was bleeding heavily and same goes for my arms. I turned to them and gave a reassuring smile,

"I'll be fine, don't worry. Stay here and lock the doors! And don't open it for anyone, if you recognize one of the voices, then let them in! Take the children and the pregnant women upstairs, in the library, there's a secret door, just turn the picture hanging on the wall and it will open. Don't come out until I tell you to. Prepare water and the medical kits are in the kitchen and some are in the upstairs bathroom! Stay here!!"

I pointed and yelled out as I ran out the door. They nodded and shouted in unison, 'Yes Luna!' and one of them closed the door and bolted it.

I went around and found the brother and father of the woman who were frantically looking for them. I ran to them and told them that they're in the house and out of harm's way.

The father thanked me and the brother hugged me. We went around and continued to fight and picked up more pack members and led them back in the house.

As the door closed, I turned back to the field. I was panting so hard.

'All the pack members are inside...'

I looked around to see if anyone was needing help. I saw one of the warriors struggling with three rogues.

I ran towards them and jumped on one of the rogues' back. He jumped and kicked around trying to get me off.

I dug my claws in his back and he roared in pain, then I clawed him to the tip of tail.

Another lunged at me while the warrior was fighting the other.

He tackled me and I grabbed his snout and threw him off. I got up as he did the same.

We circled each other then he charged and I met him half way. I pushed at his chest as he kept snapping his mouth.

He was pushing against me and bit down on my already wounded shoulder making me scream. I let him go and slid under him as he stumbled forward.

I was panting so hard, he quickly recovered and lunged again.

I roared at him as I lunged as well, I stabbed him in the chest and he howled and I shut him up using my other hand, and sliced his head off.

I let go and the body fell down. The fight was done, a couple of rogues ran off. I panted heavily and I started to get dizzy and my vision blurred.

I stumbled backwards and I looked around for the familiar colors of Ronan, Seth, Nic, Francis and Gabe.

They were safe then they shifted as well, panting heavily then Gabe turned and met my eyes. My vision got even more blurred.

His eyes widened in horror when he saw me. He shouted to the rest of the group and the last thing I saw was them running towards me and Ronan frantically yelling my name then there was darkness.