three

I have known Damini ever since we were pups. We have always shared a deep hatred for each other. Our packs have been rivals for years. Ever since Damini’s great grandfather broke my great grandmother’s heart, there has been nothing but bloodshed between the two most powerful packs in America.

We have lost many wolves in battle, Damini and I’s father being part of them.

So I was used to seeing Damini glare at me with hatred, but this time it was different. It was fueled. Her violet orbs were filled with a fiery anger I had never seen before. More wolves from her pack circled me, and it did not take long before I was cornered. My eyes fell on a familiar ginger wolf and a light grey one standing by her side; Amanda and her new lover.

The scent of the young one’s blood filled the air, and it only heightened their rage. I knew exactly how bad this looked. I was on enemy territory and my fur was covered with the blood of their own. A child’s for that matter.

There was no explanation for this.

Damini howled, and that was all it took to have all her wolves charge at me at once. I clawed, snapped, and bit into as many of them as possible. I was taking in quite a lot of damage, but it would take a lot more than claws and canines to take me down. One of them lunged at me from behind and took a large bite out of my back, ripping out the flesh. Pain shot through my body and my wolf howled with pain.

He ripped our attacker off our back and bit out his throat, killing him instantaneously. My eyes fell on an opening in the woods and I quickly took it. I could feel about five of them charging after me, but they were not as fast. Well, except for two of them.

A ginger and a violet wolf appeared on my two sides and were gaining on me. Amanda was the first to attack. She jumped me and pushed me to the hard dirt, but I easily pushed her off of me. I did not know exactly how much force I used; all I knew was that she was flying across the woods and slamming into a nearby tree. I heard a crack before I shot to my feet and continued sprinting for my life, not once giving a second thought that I might have broken one of my mate's bones.

My eyes fell on the river separating our lands, and just before I could jump in, Damini charged at me and took a swift bite out of my upper paw. A snap filled my ears and the pain followed afterwards. My wolf’s growl was devilish as he swiped his paw over her face, leaving a bloody gash on her snout. Her grip on our paw loosened and we took this as an opportunity to free ourselves from her grasp. We dived into the river, and I could feel the sting of the freezing water on our wounds. But that did not stop us from going.

I could feel the fatigue starting to kick in and the dizziness. They must be the after effects of the injuries. My wolf has sustained way too much damage. I did not know at what point we switched. All I knew was that by the time I was getting out of the water, I was on my two feet and a lot taller. I could see Damini and her wolves swimming across the river, and I urged my feet forward.

Now that I was in my human form, I could see and feel exactly where the wounds were. My left arm had large teeth marks and was bleeding profusely. My right leg had several slashes and was bleeding as well. I did not even want to think of the state of my back at this moment. I knew that would be worse. I wonder how long it will take before my pack realizes that I am here. I was losing a lot of blood and couldn’t concentrate with all the ravenous wolves chasing me. I couldn’t even call for them through our mind link.

I guess I am on my own with this.

Like always.

I urged my wolf to take over, even though I knew he didn’t want to. But I'll assist him this time. I had been avoiding a war, but I guess there really was no hope in that matter.

I got on my knees and let him take over. He was weak, I could easily tell. But he wasn’t alone in this. We continued to charge ahead and sure enough, Damini and her wolves followed after us. My wolf released a howl and we were thankful when we got some response.

My pack was coming.

I didn’t have much time to rejoice before about three wolves were pouncing on me. Pain erupted in every part of my body as they bit and tore at my flesh. My wolf howled in pain and the world around us began to sway and dim. But my ears were quick to pick up the rapid pounding of paws against the dirt, and soon the weight on my back was gone and the sound of tearing flesh filled the air. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the various howls of pain was all that could be sensed.

So much blood. So much destruction. All because I wanted to see Amanda, all because I showed weakness.

But what would have happened to the child if I hadn’t been there? Those rogues would have surely killed him. The child...

My jaw clenched and my canines clashed together. My anger was building and I was not going to hold back. My wolf shuts his eyes for the final time and lets me take over. I mustered all my strength to get back on my feet, and what I saw next was something I haven’t seen in the past eighteen years of my life.

A blood bath.

The last time I saw something like this, it was during my father’s reign. He had always been a lover of violence and always sent members of our packs out to risk their lives in some meaningless war, and my mother was one of them. I swore to never follow in his footsteps, and I wasn’t. So why this? Why so much death?

Some lay in their human form while others were in their wolf form. Blood soaked the earth around us and severed parts of their bodies littered the dirt. The majority stared up at the full moon without a hint of life in their eyes, while others were battling for their lives and their leader.

My stomach twisted uncomfortably when my eyes fell on my beta. His heart was very much visible through the open gash in his chest, and for the first time in a while, I actually felt something close to pain. It was like my entire chest had been set ablaze, and I wasn’t talking about the numerous wounds on my body.

Dante was the closest thing I had to a friend. He was the only one that stuck with me ever since childhood. We lost many battles together, and won others. But I guess this time we weren’t going to make it out of this together.

I felt a pair of eyes burning into my skull, and I looked ahead to find Damini staring at me from across the woods. She was now in her human form and the hatred she had in her violet orbs from earlier had dwindled and was now replaced with nothing but regret. The sight of our fallen wolves was the most painful thing a leader could ever behold. I guess that was the only thing we had in common.

"Enough!" My voice came out a lot stronger than I anticipated. I had been holding back so many things for way too long. My voice boomed through the forest and the earth shook beneath the feet of the living. They all stopped their fighting and looked at me. "Get out of my land, bloody canines, and never come back. You are obviously outnumbered."

The enemy looked at me with nothing but hatred, and they snarled at me. I could see some of them attempting to charge at me, but my wolves blocked their path. We stood on two opposite sides now. My wolves guarded me while Damini’s guarded her.

The Bloody Canines looked towards their leader for direction, and it was more than obvious she was torn. Her teeth began to sharpen and her eyes grew wilder. She was livid. I could see the battle in her eyes as she thought of whether to stand and fight or retreat. She was a woman of pride, after all, but she was also smart.

"Mark my words, Alpha Damon, I will kill you, even if it’s the last thing I do."

With that said, she turned her back on me and retreated with the rest of her pack.