Ranking Of Wolves: The Victor Of His Heart

"This boring world needs at least one villain."

-Artemis Walker.

*****

In the world full of savage beasts with the nature of clawing each other in show of power and dominance, The Ranking Of Wolves was held to maintain the only balance in that very society.

The ranking was held once every decade, that way, anyone is given the opportunity to rule over one pack to another. Every decade that came, hundreds of packs in need to exchange of a leader are being ranked from the biggest to the smallest territory; and thousands of individuals participates on wanting to atleast rule over one. The strongest amongst those individuals have the greatest lead on which pack shall he/she reign.

The epic battle of bloodshed, was what other people define it to draw children and most woman away in participating. And yet, I, Artemis Walker is no child, and despite having the fatigue of a lady, the ranking thrills me unlike any other nature of a she wolf there is!

"Finally." I chuckle ferociously, the shifting stench of iron blood enters my senses as I stood proudly at the top of the open Battue Arena. The distinct smell of bloodshed left in place before me sent shivers of delight running down my spine. I never felt more alive in facing death alone.

"Art, get back here." Came my older brother, Aries's voice from behind, pulling me backwards before I could get fully drowned in the temptation of wanting to get succumb in a bloodbath. "I know you're excited, but stay still."

"Of course, Ari." I purr when he pats my head. He's the only one who gets to tame the beast in me without getting scarred.

"Mother is getting worried, we should go down now."

"Ugh." I grunt, my sullen mood shifts back in an instant at the mention of mother. "So she cares now."

"I know you hate her but don't say that, she's still our mother." He tells me softly as he caress my cheeks to ease my anger issues down.

"No, I don't have a mother since I only have my brother." I chime ever so sweetly, making him pat my head once again. He then picks me up in his arms.

"We should avoid letting you move before the ranking begins." Aries advices as he jumps down while carrying me. "Wouldn't want to trigger the ranking to start early." Smirking maliciously, he adds once we landed without flaw.

That's what I love about my brother, he cares for me in the most inordinate of ways that makes me adore him even more.

"Aries, what happened to your sister!?" A timid yet soft voice calls out, drawing the attention of the other individuals around us in awe. "Why are you carrying her like that?"

My moods drops at the sight of Savannah, our witch of a mother looking ever so elegant and perfectly brilliant. Her raven dark hair which both me and my brother took over, flows in rhythmical fashion with her movements, enthralling anyone who gets to lay their eyes on her.

I scoffed, looking pretty is the only talent she ever had, with disregard to that, she's weak and useless enough not to continue the glory of our family in the ranking. I don't understand why she even went with us in the ranking in the first place.

'Probably to humiliate her children.' Alona, my wolf spat in spite. We share the same hatred and anger against anyone, may it be our birth mom.

"Artemis, my darling girl, are you okay?" Savannah's eyes widens in worry, examining me from head to toe after Lucien drops me down on my feet.

"Can't you see?" I retort bluntly.

"Artemis." She sighs, on the verge of tears. Ugh, I so hate the weak look in her eyes, just looking straight at it is enough to kill me!

"Don't look at me like that." I snarled in anger. That very look she possesed was the sole reason why father died, I can't bear with it. We had the same looks, her beauty was so contagious that neither me and my brother avoided taking it over our own facade. But the only difference is that the strong willed demeanor I have is far from her frail ones.

I never liked it, her hopeless expression. My fury then heightens my senses to the point I was hearing the series of hushed whispers coming from the people around us.

"The Walkers, you heard about them? Such unfortunate creatures for their glory to disappear as silently as though they never existed."

"I heard they used to possess both beauty and the beast in their glorious name."

"The beast disappeared, and I guess beauty is the only thing they have left."

"Why are they even here?"

"Those poor children, must be striving to bear the humiliation of being here."

Those words thrown upon us echoes repeatedly in my head. I'm used to it, we've been stepped down repeatedly as the lowest of them lows ever since the strength of our family withered away. But that doesn't mean I'm okay with it, I've been silently watching everything for so long.

From the way us 'Walkers' used to influence and spread terror among the lands. Our family was carved and entitled as Lycans- the title given to the greatest hunters of all- it was our pride. We were so powerful, respected, and looked up to by many that a lot envied and hated us for it. Although, sooner, we were scorned and the hatred of other packs rummaged to destroy us by seeking through my father's weakness- which is his very mate.

I was so young yet proud that time, every time to be exact. I've always thought of my father is the strongest person ever, and he was. But to think that his weakness could turn out it be something so common, so vestal, and so fragile, my expectations towards him ceased at the same time he ended his own life for her. Mates are pathetic, I never wanted to be like him then.

Altogether, our glory turned from that to the way my mother trembles as she hangs on me for dear life every time somebody comes to take advantage of us. My brother putting his life on the front line to fight off those invaders while she uses me as a shield against those who got through. I'm disgusted, even up until now, she still clings on me, trembling in prolonged fear. Why does she have to be so fucking weak that she has to sacrifice her children on behalf of her own life?

And now, she's putting her fake act of concern in public while cowering under me. Frustrated, I shoved her hands away before facing the spectators who formed to watch us in disdain. I'm not as patient as Aries that I tend to lose it easily for no reason.

"Says who?" I bellow, facing those spectators head on, my wolf forcing her way through the surface as her own pride got scarred. I was tempted to launch right at them and continuously claw them alive, my sights slowly got tainted red with burning fury as I let my wolf out completely.

I just needed to hurt somebody, anybody, to gain the satisfaction my blood is craving for. I reach for the first person to enter my range, only to stop midair as an electrifying current enters my nerves.

"Shit." I wince as soon as my body drops down the ground, yet the electric current did not stop overflowing throughout my body. Rushed footsteps enters my hearing before a woman's cry broke through. Darn it, the anger intensifies in me even more, she's going to make me look weak in this state.

I struggle to break free, yet the more I struggle, the more the pain intensifies.

"It's okay now." Aries's face was the first to enter my blurry sights as he searches all over my body before pulling something with his bare hands, easing the electric current until it disappears. "See, it's okay-"

Even his own voice then came short. His frame drops over me as he struggles to prevent himself from pushing down on me while a frame hovers over us from behind him.

"The Walkers, huh?" A random warrior, that's what the aura that radiates off him. "You still have the audacity to enter the ranking despite your rotten states, how shameful."

As he lets go of his words, my brother's frame falters his back bending down yet he still refused to fall on me. Don't tell me...he's stepping down on him?

My brother isn't weak, although we're both strong, both our ways of fighting was derived from our carnal instincts alone that we tend to get out of control. Usually, I was the one who easily does, and that's the problem with him, he's holding himself back too much.

'Alona.' I call forth, since my body is still adjusting to the numbness, the only one who could control me better was my wolf.

'Leave it to me, babe.' Alona howls as she stretches her body in me before shifting upwards to take full control. By then, she arches my back in a ridiculous angle, sprinting upwards while holding Lucien and simultaneously landing a swift kick right on the warrior's jaw.

'Ooh.' I snorted when the guy came flying in the crowd of people that formed around us.

"Alona." Aries scolds almost immediately, sensing my wolf's enthusiasm.

"I'm so sorry, honey." She gave him a peck on the cheeks before retracting herself back in.

'You bitch.' I thought when she ran away to make me face a scowling Aries, which I flash one sheepish smile with.

"You know how much I hate it when people look down upon us."

Much to my relief he only sighs in defeat, but more towards behind me. "We're in trouble."

I tilt my head in confusion before loud, heavy footsteps enters my ears. I snap my head behind to meet the lawful sights of the Rankers, my grip soon tightens on my brother's cloak in caution but the menacing glint in my eyes heightens at them.

Well, hello, Mr. Policemen.

The Rankers, I only heard about them and since it is my first time attending the Ranking, it's also my first time encountering them. They seem to consists of a special form of elite were forces enough to be entitled as Lycans, for they withhold the power to maintain the fairness and legality of the Ranking. Those Rankers also has the ability to halt and block one's wolf from its owner if ever things get a bit out of their hands. But what makes them totally intimidating was the way they spread unrestrained force against those who break their law.

Hah, for me, the only attractive points I had towards them was their outstanding stance and dashing cool fighting gear in all black leather clothing. Nothing more, especially not their pleasing stance enough to send every woman down their feet. Except me, that is.

And since they're so lawful enough, us rebellious kinds can be considered as in opposition from theirs. They're the enemy of our state and we are the enemy of theirs.

"Artemis Walker." A smooth manly voice calls out, I tense somehow. Not out of fear, but of the chills.

I look up in curiosity and sooner did I meet the Ranker's aqua gaze, it became a given I forgot how to breathe. He holds my sinful soul captive in just one glance, I'm afraid I'll begin to burn in hell together with the onslaught of my sins he's about to reveal. I couldn't even move, nor let alone break one mere eye contact and I don't have any idea why!

Aries tries to slowly pull me behind him, but before he could, a whip came slashing amidst the silence of the air. Even from under the hood, the leather whip rips through the fabric and graze my cheeks open.

Ah, it stings. I eventually managed to break contact with him and thoroughly cursed him in my mind. I think I hate him and I never did hate anyone this fast before.

Alona growls in me while I click my tongue in irritation in order to fight the urge to combust as a wave of countless strikes follows through to inflict pain all over my whole body.

The slash of the whip echoes throughout the still audience as I stood in silence, taking every stroke while biting my lips under the cloak serving to keep me out of insanity. The pain was exaggerating my patience, I'm pretty sure my vibe gets darker and darker throughout the minute I refuse to falter on my stand.

'I hate him. I want to kill him.' I mindlessly sent my thoughts through the mind link. But I know for myself my brother's the only one who gets to hear it, since our coward of a mother had gone off somewhere to abandon our state once again.

'Don't heal yourself, Art, I'll take care of this.' Aries tells me calmly, I could feel him send a wave of comfort to ease my pain but careful not to heal my wounds.

"My lord, if I may." He says, taking the Ranker's attention off me. "You must be mistaken but my sister is not that skilled enough to send that man flying, she could barely even heal herself."

Aries then pulled the strings of my cloak to reveal my dull complexion in public. I've been wearing the hood all along, no one else has seen my face, and now, they seemed struck with awe at the enchant I possess; a spiteful legacy of my mother's.

"Tsk." I refuse to meet any of the stares, especially the heating gaze of the man before me. Even if I thoroughly wanted to burn him with my gaze, I can't. Not because I'm scared of the foreign feeling he's causing for my body to react... yeah, definitely not scared of that.

"Very well, my sincerest apology, Artemis Walker. I shall disqualify Aries Walker instead." He decided and left in a rush after the announcement broke through the arena to begin the Ranking. His decision is a must and cannot be changed when left spoken as he carries the law in his name.

Now, they're going to think I'm as frail as that Savannah.

"How dare he disqualify you." I let out restrained growls as my brother pulls me towards the back arena for the particular participants to await. My anger rises even more at that certain asshole's words.

"It's better than you getting disqualified." Aries wipes a stray blood off my cheeks while my scars disappears in a blink as though it was never there. "I know how much you've been wanting this, so I'm fine with it."

Ah, he's spoiling me too much. Needless to say, I love it. Who doesn't love getting spoiled anyway?

"The first round is the Death Match, after you go pass that round, you'll be qualified enough to rule over a pack." My dear brother then tells me after eyeing the matches ahead, a viscous smirk creeps up the corners of his mouth. "Enjoy yourself, Artemis."

My eyes narrows, I'm pretty sure with the amount of adrenaline rushing through me, the emerald in my eyes glints with inexplicable destruction instead of serenity. "The pleasure is all mine."

"But I won't just aim for any random pack, Ari." I add, facing the lists of hundreds of pack names. "Tell me which one do you want, I'll take it for you."

My brother hums, yet his eyes are trained at the top number on the list. "I'd like to take the challenge and rule over the top." He mumbles as I follow his gaze on the red bold letters.

"Crimson Solstice, the most strongest and largest pack ever to be managed amidst the list." I squint my eyes as I read the subtitles. "You want that?"

"I'm still your older brother, you know. We share the same interest in things..."

"For instance, to rule over the highest paw." I finish his sentence.

Aries looks at me proudly, the pride of our title still engraved evidently deep within him. I never knew it though, the said 'glory' our family had been mounted with. Little me never really understood nor knew exactly what it all to felt, but my father's Lycan and Alpha blood overflowing through my veins registers it all. I want the glorification thrown upon me. I want it all.

With one last peck on my forehead, Aries bid his farewell to go and find his seat, leaving me alone in the middle of a crowd of participants. I eyed the list of packs and beside it was the map of the whole Battue Arena.

"So Crimson Solstice it is." I stretched my arms as I announce to myself and my wolf, who, need I mention, was pretty silent the whole time. I tried an attempt to call her, although no response came.

That's strange, maybe she's preparing herself for the battle. I thought with a shrug. I'll be fine either way, with or without Alona's influence, since her anger only riles up together with mine, which is quite too troublesome to control.

I was about to walk and find my way at the corner of the place and out of the still buzzing crowd, when, all of a sudden, an instant feeling enters me. The feeling of being watched with much intent.

I hold the hood of my cloak to cover my face even more, I refuse to take it off after Aries had taken the initiative to do so. Like what he had adviced me, I shall stay lowkey to avoid getting the Rankers attention until the Ranking begins. With my cloak on, no one should be interested in a my merely present existence.

But why is he?

I was about to walk and find my way at the corner of the place and out of the still buzzing crowd, when, all of a sudden, an instant feeling enters me. The feeling of being watched with much intent.

I hold the hood of my cloak to cover my face even more, I refuse to take it off after Aries had taken the initiative to do so. Like what he had adviced me, I shall stay lowkey to avoid getting the Rankers attention until the Ranking begins. With my cloak on, no one should be interested in a my merely present existence.

But why is he?

***

I narrowed my eyes through the crowd of people, directing it towards the source of all the staring; the same Ranker who mercilessly whipped me for whatever lawful reason he has.

He's not aware I'm glaring at him, is he? From the way my cloak hangs, I don't think so. He has his distant eyes on me though, but mine flares with anger throughout, blocking all unnecessary feelings but despise, disgust and most specically, hatred.

I should stay as low as I can, I don't want to disappoint my brother, I'll have to hold it in until the Ranking starts and by then, I'm bound to break

all of hell loose from within.

Rushing to get to the coner while keeping my sights trained on him, I didn't get to watch my steps and ended collapsing with someone. The person's body was so hard that I came bouncing off his chest and fall down butt first on the ground.

"Uhu, this mutt dare get in my way?" Another specimen came to reach down and pull me up effortlessly by the collar of my cloak. What's up with all this shitheads encountering me nonstop!?

I let him though, without putting much of a fight in between. His bloodshot eyes glares at me through the hood of my cloak until he took the initiative to shove it off.

A huge ugly grin came creeping on his face at the sight of mine before he pulls and pushes my back on the corner walls, blocking my body away from the prying eyes with his stupendous frame. "Why, would you look at this fine catch..." His filthy fingers then slides down the delicate skin of my cheeks.

Ugh, fuck, I growled at the back of my throat, fighting the urge not to snap his head. I try to push him off in a not so obvious way as to not gain attention, only to fail as he's obviously ten times stronger than me.

"You smell nice, oh, so nice..." He chuckles me off, not budging once from cornering me. The foul smell of his breath-- a mixture of alcohol and cigarette-- hurts my nostrils, it disgusts me.

Arghhh, darn this motherfucker! I was only inches away on being tempted to claw him when somebody luckily beats me to it.

A spear came slashing on the sides of the man's shoulder, bringing him along as it flew on the other opposite corner in just a blink.

I limply fell down on my knees, keeping my low key pace at bay as the Rankers' ironic scent came to my senses; they smelt of iron and metal, and claws and spears. Yet this certain Ranker before me, his scent was different as his was more distilled and clear through my nostrils.

"This is why women and kids should stay out of the Ranking." He tells me in a matter of fact tone as to not make it sound more of a mock. I know one when I hear one, I've lived up hearing mockery against our family my whole life, it's easy to catch up with their words of ridicule.

"Ah, it's the Walker kid again?" Another voice came as he sighs in pity. I don't need his fucking pity, I should really throw his breath back in his lungs.

"Who? The enchanting woman?" Followed by another with a cringe, I could basically feel it, see it even though my head is hanged low. I don't need to ask if I'm hallucinating or anything, I'm expecting all of it-- the harsh words they're throwing.

Damn, does it sucks. And no, not me but them! Like duh, hell would likely freeze over before I get to pull myself down the hole of my insecurities. But overall, that doesn't mean their words don't affect me.

Clenching my fists in anger, the corners of my eyes began to burn at how small I feel underneath their criticizing eyes. If Aries were here, I would've acted more dignified despite being low against their awful sights, but now that I can't even feel my own wolf, I feel lone and hopeless and... almost out of my mind!

I'm beginning to get so sick of it as the tears burns at the back of my eyes; even my tears were hot spit with fire. Hah, I want to kill them!

In the middle of my murdering thoughts, a hand reached down for mine. I flinch almost immediately at the sudden gesture, like, huh?

What's this for? Taken by surprise and most of all, confusion, I glared at it as though it is some sort of unspecified gesture to me. I refused to look up, but curious to whom it may have came from, I sniffed.

Ugh, it's him. I quickly snort.

"Don't bother." I slapped his gloved hand off before pushing myself off the ground. At the same time, the alarm sounded throughout and I took that as my cue to shove my cape away.

It's too heavy and hot underneath it, my closed off anger got covered as well. Unfortunately, if I don't take it off, I can't spread terror.

"That'll be too terrible for my nature." I said mostly to myself, keeping my flaring eyes on the Rankers before me, who's attention are set on my clothing.

I stood proudly with my fighting gear made especially just for our clan.

Most of the black and red leather clothing covers and follows the curves of my whole body, but one shoulder remains bare to showcase the black tattoo engraved serving as our family's crest. Dark clouds of gray mists rounds my bare left arm, as though some kind of flowing ink in water, and at the top side of my shoulder forms a black rose filled with thorns.

And that, is what we Walkers are, the thorns amidst the rose.