Fangs of Love

CASSIOPEIA NYX

My hands shook as i rested against the wall of the grimy and dirty cell that i called home. The solid structure of the wall against my back gave me more support than i had ever felt in my entire life. The sad life of being born a cursed one.

Incessant squeaking from the edge of the cell resounded in the quiet and vast room, making me feel so small as i huddled into myself, My dark hair falling over my face as i rested my head on my knees.

We were two to be executed.

The first was Erica, She had found out her husband disregaded their mate bond and mated with another female so she injected silver into his blood stream and killed him.

Just like me she was quiet, not a sound could be heard from her cell.

Although my fingers trembled, my palms were clammy and my head dizzy from imagining the feeling of death, i looked foward to it and so did she.

The time came just as light began to seep through the tiny window at the top corner of the cell.

The rusted chains wrapped around my wrists and ankles jingled as I shook the dust and dirt off my palms.

If i had a last wish.

I would probably wish to see my mother and tell her i was sorry.

The door to the cell swings open almost sweeping off its hinges. The cold glare of Delta Raymond harshens even more as his eyes fall on my marred face.

He grunts a command out and detaches my chains from their resting place. I knew better not to resist and followed eagerly as he walked out . The instantaneous spark as the morning sun hits my skin for the first time in months and it felt like paradise. I must have been lost for minutes for when I came back to my senses, A stoic and trembling female stood beside me, clad in the drab and dreary garment I was adorned with.

" I'm innocent, I didn't kill anyone that didnt deserve to die " She screamed at the warriors that surrounded us.

Her audacious statements were met with the warrior's bootheel and she crumpled like a thin layer of glass unto the floor, Her ungracious fall piqued the interest of numerous warriors as her fair and round bottom peeked out from under the dreary garment. The bright contrast of her milky skin against the dirt covered floor was undoubtedly evident.

"Should've just kept your mouth shut like your fellow mutt over there".

I could feel the vibrations of the cart in the very sole of my feet as we steadily rode through thepack. The wind frizzled through my hair and my skin basked in the warmth of the sun, despite the cangue around my neck and the incessant jingling of chains, this was the most fulfilled I had felt in years.

Erica lay still like a log of wood beside me as the jostle 0f the carriage shook her about, it seemed that it was only this moment that realisation began to settle on her.

According to pack laws, anyone convicted of murder was to be burnt alive. The law was set in place by the Great Alpha King and i heard he would be attending. Ofcourse my father was quick to use this opportunity to curry favor with him as he thought maybe they could bond over the screams and torture. Great Minds think alike.

Finally.

Hundreds of commonfolk stood around the pyre at the town square, patiently waiting for their lambs to arrive. The crowd parted as we trotted through, they grew painstakingly to an ensemble chanting and grunting all kinds of crude remarks.

A familiar bootheel brought Erica back to life and for a millisecond, relief passed through her eyes as she took in her surroundings, gasping heavily. Her relief was snuffed out just as fast as it came as her eyes darted comically from my expressionless face to the glaring snare on the warrior's face , the looming pyre a few feet away and finally to the enraged and scorned crowd.

Fear and tears fill her brown eyes as the guards grab her underarms and haul her out of the cart. They toss her unto the floor and make moves to do the same to me but I was already up on my own and making my way out of the cart.

My knees buckle as I trot through the pathway. A sharp blow to the leg brings me straight to the ground right infront of the podium. I merely watched as Erica was dragged to the pyre, Her beautiful brown eyes searched around helplessly for a savior that didn't exist. Despite trying to put up a fight, she was no match for even the weakest warrior and was soon strapped to the pyre, She trembled like a leaf as she watched helplessly as the town folk cheered the warriors on.

The dull pain in my head increased sligthly as my heart became heavy.

"p..please", Her voice was just as heavy as a mountain, weighed by tons of fear and despair yet as smooth as a river. "Have mercy"

The flames begun like a sweet old slow dance increasing its tempo voraciously, dancing to the gut wrenching screams of its canvass and the excited cheers of the crowd. It seemed the more the crowd chanted the more the flames increased, Her eyes were boring straight into my soul, eyes that spoke of unfathomable torment and her mouth was stuck in a wordless scream as the flames lapped greedily at her hair, skin, face and arms. It wasn't long until her screams died down leaving in its wake the subdued fragments of a once exuberant form of life. My fearless façade crumbled a bit as I watched them gather her ashes into an earthenware pot.

Soon enough I had taken her place - strapped to the pyre.

The metal chains burned slightly as Raymond wrapped them around my neck -rather forcefully, The sharp pain was like an appetizer, giving me a little taste of what was to come. My heart thrummed violently in my chest as I watched the surrounding warriors place some more wood into the pyre. This was it. The end I had been waiting for was finally coming. My eyes forced to a close as he grabbed a kindling and tossed it unto the pile of wood under the pyre. Smoke came first warning me of the racing pain. My toes curled as my whole body trembled and I waited for the pain to settle in.

There was pain allright. But not the infinte and torturous pain i had expected it to be. i didnt feel my life force draining out of me instead the pain i felt made me fully aware of my existance as my head and my heart beat so healthily, my blood circulating with unsupressbale force. I could literally feel my head cracking open. My breath came out in pants as i tried to blink the pain away.

Make it stop.....

The pain started to recede a little giving me a short-lived breather. Tiny dot like stars fill my vision as I try to pry my eyes open, It was only then that I noticed the ghoulish figure before me, through blurry eyes, I tried to make out what it was.

A smile blossomed on my face as I saw the light slowly fade from the sky, a flash of ocean and then total darkness.

And just as my consciousness faded, a single thought kept ringing in my head.

The flash of ocean was the glaring and haunting eyes of a man.

Xeros Romanov

"Alpha King" Anakin yelled out, sucessfullly gaining my attention. I glanced at his strained form, hunched at the drivers seat. He didn't spare me a glance as his eyes were fully focused of the lands that lead to Nightwolf pack.

"Is something the matter, Your Majesty". He asked after noticing that he had sucessfully gained my attention. I ignored his words, not quite in the mood to speak. A brimming trepidation was forming in me. Like something life changing was about to occur. What could possibly be life changing at a purge ceremony. The only the life changing event was that a few murderes were going to lose their heads. Well, not only their heads.

From the corner of my eyes, I felt Anakin glance at me mulitple times until it was no longer ignorable. "I'm fine Beta" I stated before returning my gaze to the view from outside the car window. He took that as a cue to focus on driving.

Soon enough, the borders of Nightwolf pack came into the view. I could feel the change in the dynamic, Ofcourse being an immortal Lycan, the entire pack was no match for me. But in their territory, their chances had increased from an obviously zero to a 10 percent chance. Travelling to foreign soil, weakens all wolves. Even a lycan wasn't immune to that.

Once i had alighted from the car, Dimitri met me with the usual deference, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for signs of the turmoil within. "Welcome, Alpha King Xeros," he said, his voice steady, though there was an undercurrent of urgency. "The ceremony is about to begin. Please, allow me to escort you."

I nodded curtly. "Lead the way, Alpha Dimitri."

The path to the high table took us through the heart of the pack's compound, where members of the Night Wolf Pack had gathered in a tense, expectant crowd. The air was thick with anticipation, their murmurs barely masking an underlying excitement. My skin prickled as I followed Dimitri, my eyes flicking to the faces in the crowd, seeking a clue to the source of my unease.

We reached the high table, a platform overlooking the central square where the executions would take place. The pyres were already set up, their dark forms stark against the twilight sky. I took my seat, my gaze drawn inexorably to the first pyre. The accused, a struggling young woman was dragged forward and bound to the stake.

Erica Miller- Killed her husband.

I had gone through her file a few days ago, she fed her husband liquid silver for months before finally killing. Before any pack could perform the purge, it had to be authorised by me and today- i was glad we had only one person to burn. I wanted to be in nightwolf no longer than I needed to be.

The Last purge I had attended at Lakewood pack had 32 criminals up for burning. I had to go through each of their files, i had approved 25 and rejected 7.

Dimitri stepped forward, raising his hands to silence the crowd. "Today, we witness justice," he proclaimed. "The traitors who sought to undermine our pack will face their punishment."

The pack's response was a guttural cheer, the sound reverberating through my head. I watched as the pyre was lit, flames licking at the man's feet, rising swiftly to consume her. The crowd's fervor grew with the flames, their shouts of approval mingling with the crackling fire and the woman's screams.

A wave of the peculiar feeling washed over me. The heaviness in my chest was almost unbearable now, my heart pounding erratically. I stood abruptly, drawing curious glances from those around me. "Excuse me," I muttered to Dimitri, who nodded in understanding.

The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside, a welcome contrast to the stifling heat and noise within. I took several deep breaths, trying to steady myself, but the unease only grew. I paced restlessly, my mind a whirl of fragmented thoughts and emotions.

"What is wrong with me?" I wondered aloud, frustration coloring my voice. I had faced countless battles, endured unimaginable hardships, yet nothing had ever shaken me like this. I leaned against a stone pillar, closing my eyes, willing my racing heart to slow.

Moments passed, and gradually, the chaotic storm within me began to subside. The night was silent now, the distant sounds of the execution muffled by the walls of the compound. I straightened, feeling a reluctant calm settle over me.

"Your majesty, you need to return now" Anakin's voice sounded in my head. A hint of urgency in his tone. It seemed i couldn't avoid my duties any longer. I needed to return.

With a resigned sigh, I made my way back to the hall. The scene that greeted me was eerily similar to when I had left, yet something felt profoundly different. A second pyre was prepared, and as my eyes fell on the figure bound to it, my world tilted on its axis.

A second person?.

An unauthorised purge?

What exactly was Dimitri playing at?

I felt my breath catch, my vision narrowing to focus solely on the figure bound to the pyre. The noise of the crowd faded to a distant hum, and all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.

My lycan, usually a silent presence in the back of my mind, surged forward with a force that nearly knocked me off my feet.

"MATE" The word echoed through my consciousness, a primal howl that left no room for doubt. The heaviness in my chest, the erratic beating of my heart, it all made sense now. I had found my mate.

And then, I saw her.

She stood strapped to the pyre, her body motionless, her face turned toward the ground as if she had already accepted her fate. My breath caught in my throat, the heaviness in my chest now a crushing weight that threatened to bring me to my knees. Her scent hit me like a tidal wave-lavender and rain-a scent I had only ever dreamed of.

My Lycan howled in my mind, the sound a primal, desperate cry that echoed through my very soul. It was then that I knew, with a certainty that shook me to my core.

She was my mate.

My mate

The one I had been searching for

The crowd roared, oblivious to the storm raging within me. My world narrowed to her alone, the firelight casting shadows across her delicate features. Every instinct screamed at me to move, to tear her from that pyre before the flames could touch her.

But I was frozen, rooted to the spot, my body trembling with the force of my emotions. The pack began to chant, their voices rising in unison as they demanded her death.

And then, the torch was lit.

Xeros Romanov

My Mate.

Their Queen

My Luna

She would have been dead in a matter of seconds had I decided to delay.

My vision blurred with rage. I felt the beast inside me clawing at the edges of my mind, demanding to be let out. Every instinct I had screamed to tear apart anyone who stood between me and her. She was mine, and they had dared to touch her. Toharm her.

I could feel my control slipping, my humanity waning as the lycan within me surged forward.I don't remember crossing the distance to her. One moment I was watching in horror, and the next I was at her side, ripping through the ropes that bound her with a single swipe.

Her body fell into my arms, so fragile, so still. She whimpered just barely, and it was enough to make my blood boil. I was too late. Too late to protect her from whatever hell they'd put her through.

"Alpha King!" a voice called out, but it barely registered in my mind. I turned, my gaze locking onto Alpha Dimitri as he approached, his face a mix of fear and confusion

"Put her down," Dimitri said, his voice trembling slightly. "You're mistaken- this isn't what you think."

His words were meaningless. They did nothing to soothe the fire raging inside me. I had been mistaken before. But this... this was unforgivable

I could barely hear the rest of what he was saying. It was all drowned out by the thunderous roar of rage building inside me. How dare he stand there, trying to explain away this atrocity?

How dare he try to reason with me when my mate was lying there, broken and bruised?

The next thing we both knew, My claws connected with his face, sending him crashing to the ground. I didn't even wait to see if he would get back up.

I just ran, holding her close, desperate to get her away from this nightmare.

"Don't worry, King. I'll take care of the rest" Anakin sounded in my head.

I reached the palace in a haze, my mind barely functioning beyond the primal need to protect her. The guards didn't dare stop me, didn't even speak as I barreled through the halls, heading towards the infirmary.

My voice was almost unrecognizable as I barked orders at the doctors."Save her. Now."

They hesitated. I could see the fear in their eyes as they looked at me, at the murderous intent I knew I was radiating. One of them finally stepped forward, trying to muster the courage to speak

"My king... we...we need you to undress her so we can... treat her injuries.'

I nearly lost it right then. My growl reverberated through the room, causing the doctors to flinchback.

"Get the female doctor. Now." My voice was barely more than a snarl, but they understood the command, and they scrambled to obey

Once they were gone, I looked down at her, my rage simmering beneath the surface. She was so beautiful, even like this. But as I began to undress her, the anger i had been holding back surged forward.

Her body was covered in bruises,her skin marred by cruel hands. When I saw the whip marks across her back, the anger I felt became something more. It became a deep,searing fury that threatened to consume me entirely.

I couldn't even think straight. I couldn't process the extent of her injuries. My hands were trembling as I removed the last of her clothing revealing the full extent of the horrors she had endured.

A howl tore from my throat, the sound filled with pain, rage, and something I hadn't felt in a long time-fear.

The door burst open, and the female doctor Martha, hurried in. Her eyes widened in horror as she took in the scene before her-my mate battered and broken, lying in my arms, and me, a king barely holding onto his sanity

"My king,|-"

"I'll kill them all," I growled, cutting her off.

The words slipped out before I even realized I was speaking. "I'll rip them apart, every last one of them."

Martha took a step back, clearly terrified. But she stayed calm, stayed professional. "Please, my king, let me tend to her. She needs care, and you need to.. calm yourself.

Calm myself? How could I possibly calm myself when the only thing stopping me from tearing this entire place apart was the frail body of my mate lying before me? But i knew she was right.

If I stayed any longer, I would only make things worse. I would hurt her in my anger, and that was something I could never forgive myself for.

Reluctantly, I handed her over to Martha. I could feel the beast withing me trashing, demanding to be let out, to be unleashed upon those who had done this to her.

I would only make things worse. I would hurt her in my anger, and that was something I could never forgive myself for.

Just like how I would never forgive myself for allowing this to happen to her.

Reluctantly, I handed her over to Martha. I could no longer handle the beast within me thrashing, demanding to be let out, to be unleashed upon those who had done this to her.

My hands were shaking as turned away, forcing myself to leave the room. i had to get out, had to put distance between myself and her before I did something I couldn't take back.

The moment I stepped outside, I felt the change coming. It was uncontrollable, unstoppable. My body twisted and contorted, fur sprouting as my bones snapped and reformed. It was a painful feeling I hadn't felt in centuries, but I welcomed it.

I needed it.

With a final, earth-shaking roar, I let the beast take over, my lycan form finally breaking free.

The palace behind me became a distant memory as I bolted into the forest, the scent of blood and vengeance driving me forward

They would pay. Every last one of them. And when I was done, there would be nothing left but ashes.