~ Six ~

The sound of fast footsteps and gasping breaths could be heard on one side of the Fortress Hill forest. It got faster and faster. Lyall tried to push his limits. He kept running non-stop for a few minutes, until his legs gave out. He ran through the forest, up the hill, and over the rocky path.

After a few minutes had passed, Lyall stopped running. He bent his body for a moment then stood back up and put his hands on his hips. Sweat was pouring down his muscular body. He was not wearing a shirt. Only his black shorts and running shoes. This was the second time he had changed his shoes because he had run too much. It seemed like his training craze was getting bigger.

Suddenly Lyall's body froze. He sharpened his hearing. He was sure he heard something and it was fast. Lyall looked around and was alert. Something seemed to be circling him. That thing became closer to him and.. Zaiden came out of the bushes and laughed. Lyall snorted in annoyance.

"Did I scare you?" Zaiden teased with a small smile.

"You and your weird jokes. What the hell are you doing here?"

“Training with you of course.” Zaiden answered casually.

“I never agreed to it.”

“Okay, now you agree, right?” Zaiden handed Lyall a bottle of drink.

“Never, not even in my dreams. I don’t need that.” Lyall stared at the bottle Zaiden handed him.

“Can’t you not be so cruel to me?” Zaiden made a pleading face, with his lips slightly forward. Like a child asking to buy candy.

“And can’t you not bother me?”

Lyall ran again. Zaiden of course followed him.

“Zaiden, stop following me!” Lyall replied without stopping his running.

“I’m not following you, I’m also practicing running.” Zaiden said indifferently. Lyall growled then sped up his running. The longer he ran the faster he got. Not caring about the steep road, rocks, or even the bushes. He charged at them. But suddenly...

Lyall’s body fell together with Zaiden’s. Zaiden threw himself down along with Lyall to stop him. They rolled on the ground then stopped and got into their respective ready positions.

“What the fuck was that?” Lyall growled angrily. His eyes were round and his breath was fast.

“To stop you. You won't stop even if i yell at you.”

Lyall looked around. “This is still RaClaws territory. I didn't trespass. Why should i stop?”

“I know Lyall, but listen.”

Lyall and Zaiden stood up. Lyall tried to listen with his wolf ears.

“I don’t hear anything. You’re crazy.” Lyall started to leave but Zaiden stopped him again.

“Listen again! Lycan is not only a monster, Ly. but he also gives you benefits. Your five senses become heightened, more sensitive and sharp than other werewolves. Use it!”

“Why are you bringing up that monster all of sudden?” Lyall started to get annoyed.

“I want you to use it.”

Lyall snorted in annoyance. “Stop your nonsense and stop bothering me.”

“I’m not talking nonsense.” Zaiden seemed convinced by his words. Lyall stared at him for a moment.

“Listen to me. Nothing good can come from—”

Lyall stopped his words. This time he heard it too. A sound that moved quickly towards him. Not just one, but many. His nose also smelled wolves.

"You heard it." Zaiden guessed.

"They are werewolves. Maybe members of the RaClaws pack. Just let them be."

Lyall looked at Zaiden. There was still seriousness on his face. His forehead was furrowed, and his eyes were unfocused. Lyall was sure Zaiden was still trying to listen.

"Zai. You—"

Not long after, several wolves came out from behind the bushes and trees. Lyall and Zaiden turned their heads.

"Rouge." They said at the same time.

"What should we do now?" asked Lyall.

"What else? Fight." Zaiden answered casually.

"Are you out of your mind? You can't fight them alone."

"Who said I will fight alone. I have you!"

The Rouges' growls grew rougher and stronger. Lyall stared at the Rouges for a moment then turned to Zaiden.

“Hell no.”

“I can’t fight alone, Lyall!”

“I don’t care! You can do mindlink some member of the RaClaws pack or whatever.”

“Are you crazy? The Rouges are here! now!” Zaiden shouted.

“I won’t turn myself into a wolf, no matter what.” Lyall said firmly.

“Lyall, I’m here to help you.”

Lyall laughed. “You think that will work?! Have you been that stupid all this time?! If I turn myself, I will become that monster and kill people again. KILL PEOPLE!!”

“You won’t be able to control it if you keep hiding and avoiding it!!” Zaiden’s voice was no less loud.

“I don’t fucking care!”

“Lyall—“

“STOP FORCING ME!!”

“Uhm guys?” a voice stopped their argument. One Rouge had turned into a human and it was…. Trey?

Lyall was shocked and confused at the same time.

“You guys will die if you keep arguing like that.” Trey said again.

“I didn’t know you were Rouge.” Lyall said still in shock.

“Uhm… I have a pack, RaClaws. That means I’m not a Rogue.”

That’s right, Rogues don’t have packs. They’re all on their own. Some have groups but not like werewolf packs. Lyall was getting more confused. One by one the Rogues turned into people he knew.

“What the hell is going on here? I smell Rogue from your bodies. Why-- This is weird.”

“Well we have the skin and fur of the Rogues we killed for attacking the villagers. We use it to disguise our scent.” Theon explained. Theon was also one of the disguised ones.

Lyall looked at each person including Zaiden. “Did you do this on purpose?”

“We just want to get you to control him.” Zaiden explained making Lyall stare in disbelief.

“You’re really crazy.” Lyall got up and left.

“We’re not crazy, Lyall and you should stop running away.” Zaiden’s words stopped Lyall's steps. Lyall's hands clenched, his jaw tightened, holding back his anger. Lyall walked back towards Zaiden. He stared at Zaiden as if he could swallow him alive.

"Don't you ever, try to control me. I'm not your brother, I'm not your friend, I'm not your subordinate either. I won't follow your crazy stupid game!" Lyall said firmly.

"Then what if you disappear? There's no Lyall anymore. There's only that monster. Are you okay with that?"

Lyall pulled one corner of his lips. "That's none of your business."

“Oh of course it’s my business, Lyall. I may not be your brother. You can also consider me not your friend. But you are my alpha. Like it or not, you are my alpha and the alpha of the LyClaws pack now.”

Lyall stared at Zaiden’s face intently, looking for a lie or a loophole that he could refute. But there was nothing. Zaiden seemed convinced by his words. Lyall turned and walked away. Zaiden didn’t chase him, just watched him go in silence. He couldn’t keep pushing him. He didn’t want Lyall to get too angry. That would be bad. Lyall always turned into that monster when he was really angry. Theon came to Zaiden and patted his shoulder.

“Maybe he’s not ready yet.”

“It’s not about being ready or not, Theon. Even if he’s not ready, he has to be ready. He’ll be eighteen soon. He doesn’t have much time!” Zaiden looked frustrated.

“But you forgot one thing, he’s still a teenager, Zai. He’s still a child. And he’s not the type of child that can be controlled easily. It has to be with strategy. Forcing him, is not the way out.”

Zaiden took a deep breath. Yes, he was frustrated. He wanted Lyall to at least learn to control it, but since that incident, Lyall no longer turned himself into a wolf. Lyall thought that if he didn’t turn into a wolf, the monster wouldn’t appear.

“Zai! Are you sure he’s an alpha?” Tray asked loudly. Nathan elbowed Tray, telling him not to ask. “What? I’m just asking! So that we don’t get the wrong inforciation.”

“Information.” Nathan corrected. Nathan took a deep breath while shaking his head.

“Yes, that. Information. Just look at that. He was even busier arguing than fighting.”

Zaiden was silent. He didn’t know how else to persuade Lyall. It wasn’t that he had never persuaded him gently or just motivated him. But since the massacre, he really didn’t want to turn himself into a wolf.

Meanwhile, Lyall ran away from them, as far as he could. He tried hard to hold back his anger. He felt like no one understood his situation. Everyone asked him to try to control the monster. He had tried. But the monster kept controlling him.

Lyall kept running. Suddenly, his mind remembered the events of that night. When he turned into that monster, killing several people. Even ordinary humans. He also killed his best friend, Ray. A flash of that memory came back. Lyall ran faster. He remembered how he killed his best friend, tearing his whole body apart.

Lyall stopped running. His breath was short, his chest tight. He began to have difficulty breathing. Lyall used one of the trees to hold on to while trying to breathe normally. One hand held his tight chest.

When he started to calm down, Lyall walked back through the forest, until he heard the sound of many footsteps approaching him. Then growls were heard. One by one the wolves appeared. Lyall sighed in annoyance.

"Really? Seriously? Are you really going to do this?!" Lyall shouted. He was really annoyed now. The wolves kept growling even louder and rougher.

"Stop that. You guys are ridiculous!"

The wolves didn't stop. They prepared to attack Lyall. Just as Lyall was about to curse them, he immediately realized something. The wolves that were members of the RaClaws pack were different from the wolves in front of him now. Even their smell was different. They both had the typical Rogue smell but the wolves in front of Lyall smelled more pungent and wet, the typical Rogue smell. Maybe they...

Sure enough, one of the Rogues jumped high, attacking Lyall. Lyall quickly dodged.

"Shit! They are the real Rouges!"

The Rogue who attacked earlier growled and jumped high again. Lyall quickly managed to push away the Rogue's body. Another Rouge approached him and tried to bite. Lyall quickly dodged, but the other Rouge started attacking too. They attacked simultaneously. Lyall was overwhelmed facing seven wolves at once. He tried to push away, hit and even kick them. But they kept getting up and attacking again. Lyall slammed two Rogues. One Rogue pushed his body until Lyall fell. The Rogue tried to bite him. Lyall tried hard to hold the Rogue. Another Rogue came and also tried to bite him.

"Aaarrgghh!!!"

Lyall screamed as one Rogue bit his hand. And screamed a second time as the other Rogue bit his shoulder. Lyall pushed the two Rogues one by one then slowly retreated after being able to get away from them. He held his injured hand. Fresh blood was still flowing from his wound. Smelling the blood, Rogue became even wilder.

Lyall endured the pain. His breath was tight. Part of his body wanted to turn into a wolf, but he refused.

Suddenly from behind the Rogues, another Rogue came. He was different from all the Rogues who had attacked him. His body was more sturdy and bigger. His fur was silver, a very rare fur color. It didn't look like a Rogue at all. His eyeballs were also different. Rogues had black-brown eyeballs. While the new Rogue was orange. This was the first time Lyall had seen eyeballs of that color. But the wolf was a Rogue because of its pungent Rogue odor.

The Rogue didn't say anything. He just stared at Lyall. Another Rogue growled and prepared to attack Lyall. But the silver Rogue growled at the Rogues. Then suddenly he ran fast towards Lyall and jumped high. Lyall dodged easily but unfortunately the Rogue was very fast. Just landing on the ground he immediately jumped again, without a pause. Making Lyall surprised and unprepared. The Rogue swung his claws towards Lyall's chest. Lyall screamed then fell hard to the ground. The Rogue walked back towards Lyall who was trying to get up and hold back the pain. With a rough growl, the Rogue jumped towards Lyall, trying to bite him. Lyall was overwhelmed holding him back with his injured hand. The Rogue scratched Lyall again. This time his left cheek to his neck. Rogue's size was very large beyond ordinary humans plus his injured hand made him even weaker.

“Aaarrrgggghhhhhh!!!

Lyall screamed again as another Rogue bit his leg and scratched his stomach again.

Lyall's screams were heard in Zaiden's ears who was still with the RaClaws pack members. Zaiden was shocked. He stood up from his seat. His face looked shocked and panicked.

“What? What's wrong?” Theon asked. Everyone looked at Zaiden.

“Did you hear that?” Zaiden asked. Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

“Hear what?” Theon asked again.

“Lyall screamed.”

Everyone looked at each other again.

“We didn't hear anything.” Nathan said.

“I didn't hear anything but them (pointing to Tray and his friends) maybe you heard wrong.”

Zaiden frowned. He heard the screams. Was it just his imagination?

Lyall was starting to get weak. He was powerless to withstand all the attacks on his human body. The silver Rogue opened his mouth and bit Lyall's neck. Lyall shouted, instantly his hazel eyes turned into a deep red color. With all his might Lyall hit the silver Rogue and pushed the other Rogues, making them fly away. Lyall turned into a black and gray wolf, and there was a white line between his eyes and his forehead. Lyall growled angrily and then Roared loudly.

The Roared was heard again in Zaiden's ears.

"Lyall!" Zaiden stood up from his seat again. He growled roughly then started running. Theon ran to stop Zaiden.

"What happened?!"

"I heard Lyall's roar!" Zaiden was sure, this time he didn't hear it wrong.

"Did you hear something?" Theon asked his members. Everyone shook their heads in unison. "No one heard it, Zai. Not even me."

"This is the second time. The first time he screamed was when he was still human, but now, he has turned. Lyall strongly refused to become a wolf for any reason and now he has turned! I'm sure there is something happened to him." Zaiden started to leave again but Theon stopped him again.

“Listen to me. No one heard the howl or scream except you. It only happens between betas and alphas. Are you Lyall's betta?”

“What?! No, no. I’m not anyone’s beta. You saw my eyes, they’re blue, just like yours. I’m gamma.”

“But no one heard them, Zai.”

“But I—aarrgh…” Zaiden’s legs went weak. He sat on the ground. His breath was ragged, his heartbeat was beating faster. “Lyall roared again.” He said. Zaiden was wrapped in emotion. Theon crouched in front of Zaiden.

“Are you—” Theon stopped his words. His eyes widened. He was so shocked by what he saw.

“What? Why? Did you hear it too?” Zaiden saw Theon’s shocked expression. Theon shook his head.

“Your eyes…. Aren’t blue.” Theon said still in shock.

“What do you mean? Ah, I have to go. It feels like Lyall is pulling me.”

Zaiden turned into a white wolf. He stared at Theon for a moment and then ran off.

“Did you see his eyeballs?” Miro asked.

“I saw it. They’re yellow. But isn't he a gamma? They should be blue, right? Just like Theon.”

“He’s a beta now.” Theon spoke. “Lyall’s beta.”

Zaiden kept running on instinct. He tried to mindlink Lyall but to no avail. Lyall turned off his mindlink. But somehow he knew exactly where to go. He seemed to be drawn to that direction.

Meanwhile Lyall had killed four Rogues. There were four more including the silver Rogue. He was so strong. Lyall’s wounds were almost healed. He would be back to normal. The silver Rogue started to growl softly. Lyall roared twice but the Rogue didn’t even flinch. The silver Rogue and Lyall charged forward together. Lyall swung his claws but the silver Rogue was so agile, he was able to dodge. They landed on the ground simultaneously. They attacked each other again, trying to tear each other apart. Rogue Silver bit Lyall's neck while Lyall stuck his sharp claws into Rogue Silver's stomach, then tore his skin. Rogue silver groaned in pain.

At that moment the three remaining Rogues attacked Lyall. Lyall managed to throw one Rogue, but another Rogue bit his back and another Rogue under Lyall's feet. Lyall groaned, turned his body and swung his claws at the Rogue who bit him and bit the Rogue's neck until it tore his skin and flesh. Alpha bites are the deadliest poison for other werewolves under him. Rogue was no exception. The Rogue immediately lay weak on the ground. Two other Rogues attacked him simultaneously. Biting the back of Lyall's neck and back, while Rogue silver swung his claws at Lyall's face.

Not long after, Rogue silver was thrown roughly hit a tree and fell to the ground. One other Rogue also suffered the same fate, while another was scratched. Zaiden had arrived there. He immediately joined the fight. He fought two Rogues at once and Lyall fought Rogue silver. Suddenly the silver Rogue swung his left claw and hit Lyall's arm. Lyall growled. It hurt, more than a normal scratch. But after that, the silver Rogue slowly backed away and ran away. Lyall was confused, but his chest felt sore and burning, his heartbeat was beating very fast, his breath was short, and his body felt sore.

'Zai....'

Bugh!

Zaiden threw one Rogue's body.

'Lyall? Are you okay?'

'I... No. This will happen again.'

'What do you mean—"

Zaiden groaned in pain. One Rogue bit him when his focus was diverted to Lyall. Zaiden tore the Rogue's body and threw it away.

'Lyall! Are you okay?'

'I can't control it, Zai. The monster will come out! I don’t know why!’

Lyall’s wolf sat on the ground, groaning in pain.

‘Lyall, you can control it.’

‘No... I can’t.’

‘You have to try!’

‘Damn it, Zai! I really can’t! It coming!!'

Lyall growled even more angrily. His growls became increasingly harsh. Several members of the RaClaws pack came. Zaiden took them away from Lyall and explained the situation. Zaiden also asked to call the alpha Carl. Zaiden had transformed into a normal human. He ran towards where Lyall was but his steps stopped. He saw a girl standing right in front of Lyall.

“Whoah I’ve never seen an animal as big as you.” The girl said.

‘She’s... Eira.’ Lyall was shocked. ‘She’s... Not afraid of me?’

Eira looked at Lyall’s wolf body carefully.

“Oh! You’re hurt! Can I see?”

Grr!

Lyall growled softly.

“Okay, okay I won’t touch you. But I just want to help.”

Lyall growled even more roughly. He showed his sharp teeth. He wanted to scare Eira and so she would leave. But Eira didn’t even look scared.

“It must be hurt, right?”

Lyall tried to shoo Eira away but Eira didn’t leave and that made it difficult for him. He didn’t want to hurt Eira when he turned into a monster. Because he couldn’t hold it in anymore. His body temperature was getting hotter, his heartbeat was getting faster. Lyall tried to stand up to get away from Eira but his legs were weak. He was starting to lose control of his body.

‘Oh my god.. She’s going to get hurt.’

Lyall closed his eyes, he was going to change now.

Lyall felt a touch on his cheek. Lyall’s body froze. Like there was an electric shock flowing through his body. Lyall opened his eyes. In front of him was Eira with a distance so close to him. Eira smiled at him.

“Does it hurt that much? (stroking Lyall’s wolf cheek) you’ll be fine.”

Lyall was stunned. He didn’t even move at all. He just stared at Eira.

“Your eyes are red. Are you an alpha? Like in those novels?” Eira chuckled. “That’s impossible; there's no such thing like that. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

Lyall realized something. His heartbeat returned to normal, his breathing also returned to normal and his body no longer felt hot. He was sure that he would turn into that monster. He had even given up. But when Eira touched him, everything changed. Even Zaiden who had been watching it all along was shocked.

Who is she?