Dérik turned his hand from side to side, his claws cutting into the flesh of the enemy's belly. The hot, sticky blood dripped down his forearm to the elbow. The body fell backward, lifeless.
Seeing that the leader was dead, the survivors of the packless Wolves, who could still run, fled, leaving the wounded behind.
This was the third attack by packless wolves against the Black Wolves Pack in the same lunar cycle (one month). Groups of rogues (packless wolves) were joining forces in an attempt to take down the Alpha and seize the territory. Four years ago, the rumor that Alpha Dérik no longer possessed the third form spread quickly, soon after the naming of the clan's Luna.
— We won, Alpha! — Beta Eli approached, his body as dirty with blood as the Alpha's.
— How many did we lose this time? — Dérik asked, his gaze distant.
Eli lowered his head, thinking of the brothers lost in battle weighed heavily on his heart.
— Alpha, three males were killed and Adanir was severely injured.
Dérik ran his hand over his face, displeased.
— Where is he?
— He was taken to old Agar's hut, unconscious.
Dérik felt his soul becoming darker. There was no hope for his pack's future. He was an Alpha without a soulmate, his third form disappeared as soon as he named a female from the harem as Luna, four years ago.
In a desperate measure, upon receiving a visit from a born Luna and her mate, he let desperation take over and tried to outsmart fate. He drugged the couple so they would mate on his territory in the hope that the females would be able to bear pups, but as soon as the couple left the territory, miscarriages followed and the shadow of death never left the pack again.
Only one pup survived, an heir for a pack on the brink of extinction.
The Luna enthroned by him did not have the power of a true Luna, and his beast retreated into the void, abandoning him since then.
The rumors were true, he no longer reached the feared third form. As a devoted Alpha, he protects his pack with all his strength, but there was no hope for his people.
Only a miracle could restore them, and Dérik did not believe in miracles.
*****
Nadja woke up with the strange sensation of warmth on her face. Five years barely seeing the light of the day had made her eyes and skin more sensitive.
Her mind was confused; she felt lost as she opened her eyes in a strange place. Her tired and fragile body lay at the edge of a stream, flanked by leafy trees on both sides. The robe she wore was wet, and the rays of sunlight brought a cozy sense of warmth.
She touched her face, incredulous. She thought she would die when she fell from the cliff, but despite some pain from her battered body, she was alive and whole.
The sound of birds singing filled her ears with the beautiful melody of a new day.
There were wounds on her arms, legs, and feet, but despite being painful, they were not serious. She felt cold, but the greatest discomfort came from her empty stomach. She looked around with no idea where she was or where she should go.
In which direction was the kidnappers' camp? How could she know if she was not walking back into her nightmare?
She stood up with difficulty, a paralyzing fear seizing her, scared of the punishment she would receive if she were captured.
She was alone in the world for the first time, she had never made any decisions, she grew up obeying orders and did not know what to do.
She remembered that Rebeca would follow the river; perhaps she had a better chance of staying safe if she did the same. If she was lucky, she would find her friend and Rebeca would know where to go, wouldn't she?
She followed the stream for a few minutes, but luck seemed not to be on her side, as the sound of male voices paralyzed her once again.
*****
— Is there a problem, Alpha? — Beta Eli asked when Dérik suddenly stopped walking.They were patrolling the border of the territory, scheming how to better promote security and avoid invasions. A quiet walk after the victory against the last attack they suffered, to rectify some flaws in security. However, not only did Dérik stop suddenly, but the energy of his third form was felt after so many years.
— Do you smell that? — Dérik asked with a distorted voice.
Eli took a deep breath, but did not notice anything different. Upon noticing Dérik's black claws tearing at the tips of his fingers, he ordered the wolves accompanying them to take an attack position.
Seeing his men ready to attack, whoever was nearby, the black fur bristled on Dérik's hands and face. The growl he directed at the men made them fall to their knees on the ground.
Uncontrolled and confused, Dérik followed the strange scent that penetrated his nostrils and completely clouded his mind. His heart beats fiercely, as if it wanted to escape his chest and go by itself in that direction.
Eli spotted a figure running towards the trees, and before he could order the men to capture the intruder, Dérik ran at a terrifying speed.
— Who's there? — Dérik roared, dazed. — Step out from behind that tree, and maybe I'll let you live!
A frightened girl, with a face full of tears, slowly revealed herself. She was small, of uncertain age, dirty, with large eyes that shone with terror. She trembled from head to toe, and upon seeing the blood from her wounds, Dérik growled even louder.
Eli did not understand why his alpha was so furious with that intruder. She was weak and pathetic; the weakest of his men could break her neck effortlessly. However, when her eyes met his, he realized she was a Luna by birth, though still looked immature.
Dérik took a step toward the girl, and she reacted by taking two steps back, which made him growl, annoyed.
Eli's mind quickly worked on the advantages of having a true Luna in their pack. They could use her to benefit the females, and by chance, produce pups. Last time, they managed to produce an heir; it would be better not to kill her, but to keep her in the harem.
Without thinking properly, he grabbed Dérik's arm.
— Sir, we can't kill her; she doesn't seem to pose a danger to our people. Let's take her to the Harem; she could be useful as a breeder and—
Dérik's body exploded, revealing the terrible third form. Bones twisted and flesh structured into a huge beast. A giant mix of wolf and human, powerful, strong enough to crush Eli's skull with just two fingers. The monster brought its snout to Eli's ear and roared:
— Mine!
The beast grabbed Eli by the neck and threw him away before running towards the small intruder. She tried to flee, which amused the beast.
So little and naive, did she really think she could escape from him?