Chapter 2 Tristan

Third Person's POV

The night was rapidly getting cooler than the previous night. The Alpha's men moved closer to the flames, trying to stay warm.

Atticus stares at the flames, something he loves to do. Fire fascinates him, he's so drawn to it. He loves the way it flickers and dances to its own beat. A sudden squeak from a little Omega has Atticus looking in his direction.

Annabelle laughs as the little Omega frowns at him before squirming around in her lap as he gets comfortable. 

The Alpha watches his Beta make his rounds through the group. Making sure he chats with everyone, trying to make them laugh. Most of the pack members love talking to Tristan. Their eyes light up when it's finally their turn, and a smile stretches across their faces. It's only when he reaches the Delta 1 warriors that he receives resistance. But even they love him, even though they seem annoyed. 

Atticus's eyes go to Austin as he talks about the bracelet that was passed down from one generation to another. The Alpha's heart clenched when Austin said he'll probably be the last person in his family to wear it, seeing as his whole family died during the attack. His only hope is that he finds his mate and has a child he can pass it down to.

"Can I see it?" Ron asked, reaching his hand out from the other side of the bonfire. 

"Sure," Austin reached his hand around the flames and then took a sharp breath in when the bracelet slipped from Ron's fingers and fell into the flames.

Atticus quickly moves forward and reaches into the flames, grabbing the bracelet and setting it on the ground to cool off. 

"Oh my Goddess, are you okay?" Austin asked, trying to get a look at the Alpha's hand to make sure he was okay. The Alpha quickly hid his hand, wrapping it in his shirt.

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I heal fast. I'll be back in a little while. I'm going to do a perimeter check." Without another word, the Alpha turned and walked away. Once he was far enough away from the group he pulled his hand from his shirt and looked at it. He held his fingers out, looking at his unburnt hand. 

He closed his hand and dropped it to his side as he let out a sigh. Atticus can smell the scent of ash as Draven comes to the surface. 

"I'm sorry you have to hide me." Atticus's other half apologized in his head.

"You don't have to apologize. You're not the reason we have to hide. It's the rest of the world, they're the reason. I wouldn't trade you for the world. I love you Draven! You're my other half. I wouldn't choose anyone else over you." Atticus wished he could touch Draven. But it's just not possible. 

"We'll go for a swim tomorrow before breakfast. Just try not to eat all the fish." Atticus smiled at his other half and his heart swelled when he felt Draven pressing against the inside of his head, nuzzling it.

"I love you too, Atticus!"

....

The Alpha once again wakes to the cold ground underneath him, and a little Omega curled up next to him shivering. This morning seems to be a little colder than the previous morning, and the little Omega's teeth chatter. Atticus wraps his arms around River, trying to create as much warmth as he can. But it's no use, the morning is just too cold, and the little Omega is still shivering. 

Atticus feels Draven come to the surface before the Alpha smells the scent of ash. Almost right away, the little Omega breathes a sigh of relief as his little cold body begins to warm up. Atticus can almost see his other half smiling as they look at the Omega. 

Even though he's not their original Alpha, and he's only known his people for five years, he feels like he's known them much longer. 

Atticus still remembers when he first ran into them. They were scared, and heartbroken from the massacre of their pack, and some were still wounded. He remembers when they realized he was an Alpha, and their pleas when they begged him to be their Alpha. Desperately wanting someone to lead them, give them direction, and hope, and keep them from going rogue.

Somehow the small group of people worked their way into his cold heart that was closed off to the world. They warmed the Alpha's heart and caused it to beat again. It gave him a new reason to live, and keep going. Even though he felt like all hope was lost.

"ALPHA!  There's a large group of people coming our way. I don't think they're rogues." A warrior patrolling said through the link.

"EVERYONE UP!" The Alpha's voice boomed and his small little pack was immediately on their feet, looking at him for instructions.

"You know the drill, stay together, watch each other's backs, and don't lose River! Head north." Atticus said and disappeared into the woods with his seven warriors, leaving his Beta to guide their people to safety.

Atticus and his men could hear the fighting before they got there. Atticus grits his teeth when he feels Annette take a critical hit and he growls as he finally makes his way to the fight. His eyes immediately landed on Annette and he could see why he felt that critical hit. A much larger wolf has its teeth embedded in her stomach, and rapidly shakes his head as her wolf howls in agony.

Atticus wastes no time as he quickly moves forward. The Alpha and his other half are furious and the scent of Ash quickly surrounds him as Draven comes forward.

Atticus's claws extend as he thrusts his hand forward, and sinks his hands through the enemy's back. He quickly tosses the body aside before promising Annette he'll return.

The image of her torn stomach angered Draven even more and the scent of Ash intensified with his aura.

Atticus's eyes land on who he's assuming is the team leader. His cocky ass is leaning against a tree, grinning as he watches Atticus before pushing off the tree and approaching him.

Atticus growls, his eyes flickering between his and Draven's as his Alpha aura intensifies. The cocky asshole finally feels Atticus' aura and his eyes widen before his face contorted in agony and he dropped to his knees.

His painful sounds come to a halt as Atticus grips his head, growling as he twists and pulls upwards, ripping the cocky bastard's head off and then throwing it at the asshole who was on top of Ron. The guy flinches as it hits him in the back of the head. The slight distraction was all Ron needed and his wolf leaned forward, wrapping his mouth around the enemy's throat and violently shaking his head, ripping his throat out.

Atticus's muscles bulge as he takes on three enemies at once. His claws become razor-sharp and he slices through them like butter. 

Atticus doesn't stop, he quickly moves on to the next enemy, remaining in human form as he plows through the enemies, one after another.

Annabelle raises an eyebrow and gives a lopsided grin as she watches her Alpha move so fluently through the fight. His body twists and turns, ducking as a wolf lunges for his throat, and then raises his hand, slicing through its belly, gutting him before kicking his foot out to the left, his heel slams into the jaw of the next wolf lunging for him. 

His growls are deeper and rougher than any growl she's ever heard. His Aura became so thick, that it almost made her lightheaded, even though it was not directed at her. 

Even though she can't see his wolf, she can feel the Alpha wolf inside, almost as if he's in its true form. That's one of the things that's always amazed her about Atticus. How strong she can sense the Alpha wolf inside at times, even though she's never seen him shift. 

Her nose scrunches up as the scent of Ash gets stronger, so strong she almost swears there is smoke coming from the Alpha as he roars, before sprinting toward the four new arrivals. Atticus leaps into the air, plowing into them. The enemies growl and snarl, their jaws snapping at Atticus, but each time missing. 

Atticus roars again as he grips the last wolf's muzzle and yanks his hands apart. An agonizing howl turns gurgled, and Annabelle quickly looks away from the grotesque scene.

"Hey Annabelle, think fast!" Austin said, and Annabelle quickly swung her hand, swatting the flying head away and glaring at Austin.

"Will you stop throwing body parts at me!" Annabelle scolds before walking toward her Alpha to make sure he's okay. Even though she's quite certain he is.

As she gets closer, her nose scrunches up again at the strange scent of Ash coming from him.

"Stay back for a moment." Atticus' voice was much deeper, much rougher, letting her know the Alpha wolf was near the surface. 

Annabelle immediately stops and then takes several steps back, giving her Alpha more space.

Atticus's chest rapidly rose and fell as he struggled to control the anger and fury that raged inside of him. Draven itches to get loose, pressing just under the surface. Goosebumps spread across the Alpha's body as he feels Draven at the surface, so close he swears he could feel him against his skin.

Smiling faces, the laughter of his people, his Beta's annoying chatter that he secretly enjoys, and the little Omega curled up in his lap were what the Alpha pictures… Slowly, Draven's rage is snuffed out and he slowly recedes, the scent of Ash slowly disappears.

"Annette? Get her back to camp, I'll link everyone and send them back." The Alpha immediately pushes on the link, opening it to every member of his small pack, and calling them back to camp.