Entangled with the Alpha Zander

Zander Talbot's powerful legs propelled him forward, through the tall pine trees that towered hundreds of feet above him. His paws landed on the lush, rich ground, thudding a pagan war sound that signaled to the world we were hunting. His tail flew out from behind hil as his dark fur blended into the thick ferns that coated the area. His sharp ears could pick out the sound of waterfalls in the distance, birds chirping, lake churning with fish. His nose caught onto the scent of the mountains, fresh dew and he enjoyed the blissful sun rays as beaming onto his back.

His world was one from ancient times, a living, breathing monument in the modern, digital age, passed down from wolven ancestors. Zander's family stuck to the old ways, by keeping their tradition.

Zander ran for one more mile before he came to an open clearing. He paused to catch his breath. He wanted to give an experimental howl, to see if any other wolvens were nearby, but that might scare the creatures off. He stayed put, trying to figure out the next line of action.

Hunting was part of the game, killing a prey would be an achievement for him. For years, his clan have been hunted by manors and monsters. His father handmade sure to secure all around the nature preserve with charms that repel these monsters. Over the years the monsters seem to have mutates and gotten stronger.

The forest of Eldar was huge and half secured, but it went on for hundreds of miles. Even working together, Talbot's entire hunting brigade probably hadn't covered a tenth of what was out here.

Zander heard the roar of a wolfabove, along with a long shadow. Hesearched the huge pine trees, then he changed into his human form. Fur became clothes, and he went from standing

on four legs to two. Zander took out his sword and hid behind a nearby boulder to wait.

There was a loud sound nearby like a creature was landing, and the ground shook. He heard a rustle in the trees, and the scent of scales and smoke. A few moments later, a man stepped out of the trees and stood beside Zander, smirking.

"Miss me, young wolf?"

Zander tossed a rock at the shape shifter. "I just saw you this morning. Far too soon, in my opinion."

Jordan dodged the rock, and it hit a nearby tree. It made a blasting sound and shattered off a chunk of the trunk, sending bark and splinters everywhere. "I suppose I must've thrown it too hard. I wish it landed on your head," Zander chuckled .

Jordan gave a sarcastic noise. "Except you're trying to kill me. Your temper's getting worse than mine."

"It would've bounced off your thick skull. Nothing can penetrate that helmet you call a head."

"That's not the only part of me rumored to be harder than stone," Jordan boasted.

Zander forced the grin off his face. He didn't want to spend the rest of his time out here listening to crude jokes. He has a monster to kill.

Jordan was the same age as Zander. He stood few inches taller than Zander and broader. He had black hair that grazed his shoulders. His black, almond eyes had a look that dared someone to try and piss him off.

After their high school education, Zander had spent two years joining his father on learning how to run a werewolf clan. The best part of training was the hunt, how he enjoyed himself when they did. He liked toying with his prey, human or animal. Jordan always teased him for that.

In a few months they will be resuming studies at the only university in Eldar Hornsby University.

"I found something," Jordan squatted to the ground, he moved dried shrubs and touched thick red liquid stained on the ground. "it must have been wounded.

"Did you see any trace of it?" Zander asked him, specifically referencing the monster in question.

Jordan shook his head before he drew out his cell phone. He sent a quick text, to his group leader and assistant, before shoving it back in his pocket.

Although our race made use of modern technology alongside our ancient customs, we kept our society hidden from humans to ensure our survival. After all, if the human world found out there were a clan of weremen mated to humans who could change into wolves, they'd surely kill them all. Eldar was a small town, small enough to shield them from harm. With the help of good allies, they kept the clan hidden from humans with their illusions and wards, to prevent such any chaotic event.

But sometimes during a hunt, there were mistakes. And if whatever we were hunting got out into the human world, it could expose us. Which meant it needed to be killed. Fast.

"I lost the animal we're trailing somewhere over the falls," Jordan said. "It just leaped up and vanished. but I'm sure it's wounded."

"Dammit." This was concerning. The monster had already slain three people, and Zander had yet to discover what it was. This forest was huge- one of the largest in the continent. It could be anywhere.

"Sure you're not losing your touch, son of Talbot?" Jordan asked in a scathing tease.

Zander smiled. Jordan knew the different subtle ways to annoy him, but it was always good to have a wolven as a best friend. The other wolfs stared away from me because they feared my father. "Why don't we race to the middle, we could find some company there. What do you think?" Jordan asked.

Zander nodded. "I run faster when I shape shift."

"Let's do it then." Jordan pounced, and rose into the air. His limbs stretched, muscles expanded and tore from his cotton fabric. Hair sprouted from his face, as transformed to his white wolf form. He gave a roar that sounded like an insult. Zander gave him a rude gesture in response. He was already several metres ahead of me.

Long, curved ears grew out of his head, and white, sharp fangs hung over the lips of his mouth. Spines grew along his back, ending in a sharp barb at the end of his tail that he'd threatened to hit Zander with one too many times.

The boys were supposed to be working, for three days the clan had been trailing the mysterious monster and were exhausted. There was no harm in having a little fun? Or so Zander thought.

He bounded back into his shifter-skin and chased after him. He increased his strides in order to catch up. Zander knew Jordan was faster he had to push himself to retain speed. Jordan was more or less breezing effortlessly along the trees.

His running skills was almost unbeatable. This made him extra competitive with the other wolfs their age.

Zander was no small wolf by any means- nearly twelve feet in height - but he had yet to gain his position as an Aldanian alpha,

Jordan was having a delightful running in the field. Zander could hear his barrel-laughs as he struggled to catch up.

Zander's father, Talbot Jonas broke through the trees to join the race. He wore a wide smile, and paid no attention to the destruction that Jordan had caused on his way down. Jonas' stance was wide and commanding. His long hair was gray, broad shoulders covered by a long cape of bear's fur. People in the clan said he was a mountain of a man, though I was nearly as tall as he was. His large hands were covered by skin gloves, one of which grasped a tight dagger in his belt, set with rare gems and polished fangs.

"What are you boys up to?" he asked.

"Nothing dad, just goofing around," Zander said. Lucian, his father's right-hand man was not with him, which Zander was thankful for. He slowed down, beckoning to Jordan to do the same.

Jonas had a tendency to be less of himself and more of a leader when people were watching him. His eyes slightly narrowed. "This isn't a game, boys. There's a monster on the loose."

"Sorry dad. It was Jordan's idea."

A chuckle danced at the corners of his mouth. His eyes darted from corner to corner alert for any sudden movements.

Jordan changed to his human form

"I'm convinced it flew off. A beast disappearing for three days is unheard of," he said. He snorted, and strands of hair fell of his nostrils.

"We saw drops of blood back in the forest, it's possible the monster is wounded," Zander added.

Jonas listened keenly. "There is reason to be concerned because this something is off about this one."

From the distant look in his eyes, Zander could tell his father seemed troubled. "I've killed my share of monsters. Why would this one be any different?"

Jonas frowned. "I'm not sure, son. Monsters usually leave clues behind. This one... it's too clean. There's no scent, no tracks, no indication that it's been in the area at all, Something's not right."

Zander glanced at Jordan. He also agreed with what Jonas said. It was time t stop playing around and take the hunt more seriously. When they had found the bodies of the slain Aldanians, they'd been outside of town, bodies ran through with twisting spines that pierced through their bodies. Blood and entrails everywhere, though there was enough indication the monster that had killed them desired to feed. The bodies had been marauded, hearts ripped off their chests and brains sucked out. This creature seemed extremely hungry for blood.

"We need to hurry before sunsets," Zander said.

Jonas waved his hand, as an indication for the Zander to follow. He pointed upward. "Search the skies, Jordan Perhaps there's something we're missing. Maybe the creature can fly."

Jordan became his wolven form, and took off, climbing a tree. The white wolf quickly reached the top spot of the tallest tree and howled into the sky.

Jonas transformed, from his brusque human body to his wolven form. The old wolf's fur seemed to be getting grayer by the day.

Zander followed his lead, and changed himself. His father towered beside him as they stalked the woods, keeping close to the ground.

Jonas alpha nature was fierce, powerful and intimidating. Zander hoped to be like him someday. Other Wolvens were jealous of his leadership qualities and sorcerers had to pay with their blood to earn a privilege with Jonas.

Zander had yet to prove to the clan his worthiness, and unique capabilities to be a true alpha. Zander wasn't sure what he had to do in order to prove that - he had hopes that someday his father will spill the secret.

Zander was aware his father's rank increased when he met his mother. His first true mate had betrayed the clan and wandered off with a sorcerer who had promised her the gift of eternal life. She was never heard from until date. He always vowed he could've accomplished ten times more than what he already did if his mother had become his mate, although he never spoke this openly in the presence of my mother. He loved her, too much, and Mother was an accomplished sorceress herself but having a wife wasn't the same as having a mate, something he'd drilled into my head from the moment Zander had come of of age.

Jonas noticed Zander's mind was drifting. His face was getting melancholy. He tapped Zander's shoulders and squeezed. "I have faith that within the year, you will accomplish more than you would ever imagine. But come what may, know that I will always be proud of you. You will be a great leader."

Zander fought tears clouding his eyes The statement humbled him instantly. He'd spent most of my life fearing that he would screw up. The pressure increased every day.

His father's declaration made every journey worth it. And that meant everything to Zander .

Zander made to say something, but words failed him. As he finally came up with something, there was a cracking sound somewhere up ahead-the sound of wild vines breaking.

"Shh. Something's here," Jonas paused.

Zander kept his mouth shut and his pricked ears up, listening. The sound got closer, he heard the movement tearing up roots, moving closer towards the men.

"Do you perceive that smell?"

Zander shook his head. "No." If his father sensed a smell then the monster was close. A strange scent filled my nose. It wasn't like anything I'd ever smelled before. It was equal parts decay and woodsy, as well as slightly burnt.

"It's there. In the glen," Zander whispered. There was a part up ahead where the trees broke and the wilderness became a long, sloping valley. That's where I spotted the monster. It was a manor, a demon looking flesh eating monster.

Jonas crouched. "Let see if we can sneak up on it, before it attacks."

This would be an easy kill. Zander thought. He ran the process in his mind. Sneak up, jump, and give a fatal bite to the monster's neck before it made any fatal move.

Zander followed his father's lead. "I'm right behind you."

"Stay low." he advanced. Zander maintained a short distance behind hi father.

They reached the trees. Father crouched, then sprung into the air with one coiled fist, he punched the manor in the head.

But then he faltered, and his hind legs lost balance. He weaved in the air and hovered over the ground, avoiding whatever he'd initially tried to attack.

The manor was fully alert of their presence now. Zander had no such way to prevent myself from halting my charge, as everything happened so fast. Instead he shifted his weight in mid-air to turn away from impending attack. He hit the ground and rolled, wondering why his father had drawn back.

When he lifted his eyes to witness the creature, he understood why. The had made a critical mistake, underestimating the size of manor. The creature was like something out of a storybook. It was twelve feet tall, with tree roots for feet and long, dangling arms that dragged along the ground and ended in black claws, connected to a masculine form. Its head was that of a deer's, with large antlers growing out of either side of its head. There were sharp, ravenous teeth, and a skeletal body that had grey skin dangling loosely off bone.

It was much worse than Zander feared. A manor. A demonic man-eating creature of the forest, rumored to be given black powers by the ancient Greek gods.

Jonas rolled further away from the creature, but close enough to see Zander. "Zander, run!" he shouted.

Zander didn't need to be told twice. He tried heading to the safety of the trees, but the manor raised his clawed hand, and sharp spines sprung up from the fingers. Zander dodged as blow rolling on the ground away from the brutal attack. It barely missed his torso as they stabbed upward through the dirt.

Jonas had changed back into his human form. He brought out curved ram's horn, and blew into the pipe signaling to the other hunters that he needed help.

Zander heard the loud noise as he did his best to outrun the manor as it pursued him through the valley. The ground shook underneath his feet like an earthquake as sharp spines came flying over his head.

From a distance, Jonas snarled, and he erupted into his wolven form. He took to the skies and charged at the manor, trying to distract it. He attempted to get close, but every time he tried the monster swung his large claws, preventing him from landing a secure bite. Now that the manor was distracted, Zander thought it wise to help his father he noticed he was limping his right foot, from the fall earlier.

Zander ran forward and sank his teeth into its leg. It was like biting through a wood. The manor gave no indication that it was hurt, merely kicked Zander off. The blow sent him crashing into the tree stem. He heard something crack, most likely his ribs. He moaned in pain, struggling to get up as he watched my father war with the manor.

Zander's eyes widened and he watched his father miss a blow The manor's claws came too close, and they cut across his father's chest. He snarled, and blood spilled. The cut was deep.

Zander gasped. Despite the agonizing pain in his ribs, he forced himself to stand and return to the fight. His father needed him. He wouldn't sit back and watch the manor rip his father to shreds.

Taking a leap, the manor threw back its head and let out a wicked cry. Just in time for Zander to hear thundering in the trees. He looked ahead and there were a sleuth of wolves stampeding through the forest and into the valley. There were dozens of them- the clan hunters had arrived.

Jonas paid no attention to his wounds. He kept focusing on the manor. Making sure to distract it. One wolves transformed to human, he was Lucian. The manor tried to whip him out into the air, Lucian dodged and sliced his sword through the manor's hand. Jonas turned on the manor and pinned it to the ground.

Jonas hadn't given up. His grey pelt was soaked with blood, but he was determined to bring down the manor.

He ran at the creature with teeth bared. Jonas and the manor met, rearing up on their hind legs to strike out at each other with antler and fang.

Jonas was limping but he exerted more pressure on the creature.

Zander could only move but stiffly for the pain in his ribs. but I wasn't content to die unless it was on his feet and defending his clan A second wolf charged at the manor, it was Jordan. He sank his teeth in the neck of the creature. Jordan dipped his fingers into the eyeballs, bursting the eyes from its socket.

There was a roar from manor, as Jordan continued to rip the face of the manor apart. Zander's heart lifted. The other hunters began to throw gallons of gas on the manor.