I watched Ashton struggling to find a convincing lie with unconcealed amusement.

"I don't-"

I cut him off. "Just come. The party won't be that bad." I told him. Luckily, Nicole wasn't paying attention to us anymore.

He pouted unhappily. "Fine, Mom! If that's what you really want. . ." He seemed so grumpy that I wanted to pull his cheeks at the puppy eyed look he gave me.

Instead, I stuck my tongue out at him and ruffled his hair, since I knew it would set him off. Ash absolutely hated it when I messed up his out-of-bed hairstyle (or whatever it's called.).

He gave me a glare and and tried to set his hair again. "Go away. I hate you."

I placed my hand over my chest, feigning hurt. "Ouch, you just broke a girl's heart!"

He shot another glare and eyed his reflection sorrowfully in the spoon. "Right. Like that's ever possible."

I chuckled and stood up as the bell rang. "See you at the gym after an hour." I told Ariana, who was watching us banter with a small smile on her face. She nodded and gave me a quick hug.

"What was that for?" I asked, surprised at her sudden show of affection.

She shrugged. "I don't know. For being my sister whom I can't help loving?"

I blinked and this time I hugged her back tightly. "Care to explain what that was for?" She asked me with a laugh.

"Because I love you too." I told her sincerely. She may be stupid, eccentric, immature and foolish, but after all she was my sister. I would move planets to find her if she was ever taken from me.

"What's wrong with the two of you?" Ashton asked us, baffled at our behavior. "Are you both menstruating?"

We flushed red. "Werewolves don't menstruate, Ashton."

He shrugged cluelessly. "I see a lot of this from my sister too. I always thought she officially lost her head once a month."

Ariana chuckled. "Maybe it's you, not the hormones. You annoy her until she loses her mind."

He merely cast her a sheepish smile and turned towards our next class.

I, on the other hand, patted her lightly on her shoulder. "Bye again, Boo!"

She rolled her eyes. "Until we meet again!" she waved back just as dramatically. Aden just gave me a hesitant smile as he took her hand and walked away.

Little did I know that was the last time that I would hug her. The last time I'd see her smile.

Though my sister and I were twins we were nothing alike. She was blonde and blue eyed, while I was brunette with light violet eyes. She took after our mother while I was a replica of our father.

In many ways I wanted to be like her. She was beautiful. People gravitated towards her. Liked her. While, I was more of a prankster who hardly cared about her looks.

With these thoughts in mind, Ashton and I made our way to the chemistry class. Nonsensical chatter filled the corridors and I was barely paying them any attention, until a voice in my head stopped me dead in my tracks.

I was halfway through class when my father mindlinked me. "Kiara, get out of school right now! We are being attacked by rogues!"

"What?" I blinked in shock. "Dad, what are you—?"

"Don't waste time. Run and hide as fast as you can!" He interrupted me. "I can't hold them off much longer. If anything happens to me, remember to take care of your mother and sister. I'm counting on you."

I was too stunned for a moment to actually move.

"What's wrong, Ki?" Ashton seemed surprised by my abrupt stop.

"Rogue attack." I breathed.

Ashton stiffened next to me at once. "What? Now? How-?"

"We need to get to Arie right now." My voice was hoarse yet urgent.

Ashton shook his head, "We need to get you to safety first. She can manage." He was tugging at my arm. "Let's go!"

"NO!" I screamed, panic flooding my senses.

There was freaking no way I would leave Ariana unprotected. She didn't know the basic defence tactics. If she was cornered by a Rogue, she would be as active as a lump of clay.

I turned back and ran to Ariana's class. The students gaped at me and wondered if I had gone nuts. "Rogues!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "They are coming. Run and hide!"

And that was it. In seconds, chaos erupted.

The news began to spread like wildfire, while I rushed towards the class with Ash hot at my heels. I could see the students on the ground run for safety while the elders pulled a few of unbelieving ones away with haste.

"Arie, run. It's the rogues. They're coming!" I shrieked making all the students in the class look at me.

I saw Ariana's pale face and guessed Dad must have already warned her.

"What is the meaning of the this-?" Mrs Gables began, with an indignant expression on her face.

Was she really so slow to understand?

"The rogues are coming. We need to leave the school premises as soon as possible." I wheezed out. My hands were on my knees as I drew in deep breaths.

Aden sprang out of his seat with Ariana by his side.

The class was in pandemonium. Aden, made his way through the stampede towards us. "Take Arie with you and find a safe place to hide!" He urged me.

I shook my head. "No. They are in plenty. I will fight with you too. Arie, you go hide in the underground room."

"NO!" Ashton and Aden growled in unison. Even Arie shook her head vehemently. "You are coming with me."

It seemed pointless arguing with them. I pulled Arie towards the underground room while Ash and Aden ran towards the gate.

I intended to take Arie to safety and then rush back to Ash and Aden. There was no way I would leave them to face those mutts alone. The mere idea of them fighting off the merciless rogues without anyone's aid sent a shiver down my spine.

"Be safe, okay?" I whispered to Arie.

"No, Ki. Don't go! Please. I can't lose you." She seemed on the verge of tears.

What she had no idea about was that I had secretly been training since the time I shifted.

Being the future Betas and Alphas, we shifted early. However we began training only at the age of sixteen. I used to watch the adults train often and soon began training myself. Of course my family had no idea about that. If they caught me I would probably have to answer a round of questions beginning with me sneaking out of the house.

"I will be fine." I reassured her. Kissed the top of her head. "I promise."

I whirled on my heel and raced out, leaving Arie crying and screaming at me to return. By the time I got outside, the rogues were already swarming in through the gates, crowding the school premises.

My gaze fell on Alpha Jason fighting off a huge brown rogue in his giant black wolf form. Blood dribbled down the deep gash on his cheek as the wolf swiped his paw at him.

My eyes anxiously searched for Ashton and Aden until I finally spotted them a few yards away, fighting off a grey rogue together. I watched as they swerved and ducked out his reach. Growling and snarling, they were circling him, looking for a way to take him down. Unfortunately for them, they didn't notice a brown rogue using the opportunity to sneak up behind Ashton.

I saw red.

Bones cracked, grew and reformed as I shifted into my wolf form. In one giant leap, I launched myself on him, biting him straight on the neck. Blood oozed through the wound. He howled. Moaned. Fought in vain to shake me off but I kept my grip on his neck firm. Soon, the blood loss is too much for him and he passed out on the ground.

I released my hold. Then, turned my attention towards them again.

They had managed to kill off the grey one and were gawking at me; their faces a mixture of both annoyance and awe.

However, we soon had more pressing matters at hand and began to fight off more rogues.

I was in the process of tackling a scrawny looking rogue when I smelt Ariana in the area. My breath caught in my throat. Heart hammering in my chest, I looked in her direction. There she was—trying to escape the clutches of a huge grey wolf with little success. Quickly, I finished off the scrawny one and barrelled towards her.

"Arie!" I screamed in panic, "I'm coming!"

She whimpered as she stared at me. The terror in her blue eyes was a stab in my heart. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I hurtled for them with full force.

The grey mutt observed me with cold, shrewd eyes before turning towards my sister again.

She cowered at his approach but her eyes never left mine. "Help me!" She cried helplessly.

She was already wounded from his previous bite. The blood was leaking from her side, making her weak. Her eyes fluttered close. My heart dropped to my stomach at the sight of it.

I knew I had to kill him quickly and then take her to safety. The way she was losing blood, it wouldn't be long before she succumbed.

I could never, ever forgive myself if that happened.

I launched my furry lupine form on his back trying to divert him. It worked—for a moment. However, he was stronger than I anticipated.

He turned and flung me away with ease which surprised me a bit since Arie and I were white wolves.

But I shook off the discouraging thoughts and stood up again.

We still hadn't developed all our powers, but we were still considered stronger than the normal wolves.

I ran back and bit his tail which caused him growl and retaliate. He attacked me. Bit my shoulder, teeth digging into the flesh and causing me to stagger backwards. I could feel the warm liquid oozing out of my body and struggled to get up again.

That was when I saw a blur of black.

Aden. Realisation dawned me like lightning. Aden was trying to save us.

He shot forward to face the rogue head on, leapt at him attempting to divert his attention from us to him. His canines pierced the rogues' flesh, causing the rogue to throw his head back and let out a tortured howl. In a surprising move, he collapsed on the ground and rolled over.

At first I thought Aden had managed to subdue him. Kill him.

Too late, I realised the truth.

The sudden move caused Aden's hold to loosen. And that was all the rogue had been waiting for. In one swift move, he's back on his feet. His jaws open wide and as shrieks go up in the background, he bit him in the neck. Blood spurted from his carotid. Aden's eyes widen.

"Kiara." I heard him croak. His breath was coming out in short, ragged gasps. "Run."

"Aden!" I called out. "Aden, God—please, someone help him!"

I tried to stand again. My legs wobbled from the sheer force with which the rogue tossed me away. With tremendous difficulty, I managed to grab onto his leg. Clung onto him with all my life.

Pathetic, I know, but it was all I could do.

He snorted and flung me away yet again. This time I hit my head hard against the ground and I could already feel the blood seeping out.

I feebly opened my eyes to see him grab my sister and take her away by the neck.

"Kiara!" She shrieked in fear. He was dragging her away from me, while lay helpless just watching her.

"Arie..." I whispered as the darkness began to blur my vision. Dark spots were tinting the edges of my vision. The hit on my head was making me dizzy.

He took my sister away.

He attacked her. Wounded her while I lay there unable to move from the blinding pain overpowering my senses.

I had failed my sister.

The fact would haunt me the rest of my life.

(Ashton and Kiara as pups)