The Condemned Alpha's Mate

"You again. Ugh, let's scram."

"His eyes scare the wolf out of me."

"I know, right? Have the river to yourself, weirdo."

It's always the same thing every day. I'm starting to get used to being bullied and sidelined, so at this point, I'll just keep adapting to the discrimination. Yes, I'm a werewolf, but not just any werewolf-I'm a hybrid. My mom is a wolf. As for my dad, I don't know much about him. My mom never tells me about him, even though I've asked like a million times.

I share a body with two distinct beings. Because of this, I'm feared and disdained. My heterochromia doesn't help, either-one of my eyes is green, showcasing the werewolf blood in me, while the other is purple as a grape, still remaining a mystery to me.

"Wow, this is the biggest salmon yet! Mom is going to be so proud."

I grabbed my bucket of fish and anchored my rickety fishing rod over my shoulder. The season was changing so fast; the damp earth smelled different, like the Earth was trying to convey a message. The sun had started to set. I noticed this and pranced along, singing, until I reached the hill that descended into my village.

That's when my eyes caught something strange.

There were other people in the village-numerous, and not in their human forms. They were in their werewolf forms. But why? Why?

I thought to myself as my feet grew cold under their immense aura. Were they trying to form an alliance or... something else?

I ran as fast as I could, seeking answers to the questions growing like fire in my thoughts. As I descended the sloping hilltop, I tripped and rolled down the hill. By the time I reached the bottom, thanks to the fall, I got up, hid, and peeped out from behind the auburn foliage.

I spotted one of them, probably the alpha, judging by his large body frame. Even without transforming, his aura screamed "unbeatable." I watched as he dismounted a massive beast called the Marding. It was my first time seeing one. It was so big and powerful, even from a distance-a beast befitting an alpha.

Although no one in the Crimson Howl Pack possessed one-not even Alpha Rex.

"Hey there, Alpha Rex, how have you been, my dearest friend?"

"Alpha Thorn, what brings you here? You're here to share some supplies for winter, right?"

They both laughed. They seemed like friends, although I could barely hear what they were discussing. Their interaction was oddly soothing to watch.

"You and your sweet mouth," Alpha Thorn teased. "Bring it in, my good friend."

I sighed in relief as they hugged and patted each other.

Then, in the blink of an eye, I caught the most terrifying sight I had ever seen-Alpha Rex's head was sent flying into the air like a trebuchet-launched boulder, arcing through the sky with unstoppable force.

My eyes widened in horror as our beloved Alpha's body lay motionless-all at the hands of his supposed friend. Dread filled my chest as the crowd erupted into panic.

"Why? Why?"

Beta Max jumped in, furious and ferocious, transforming into his werewolf form. He slashed at Alpha Thorn's chest, but before he could land a second blow, Thorn crushed his head into a gory mess with one swift move.

I couldn't keep up with what was happening. This six-foot-plus beast was unhinged.

"Attack! Kill them all! Invade and destroy! Let this place reek and scream of Shadowclaw territory, because it's ours now. Destroy everything!"

His command was loud, clear, and obeyed without hesitation.

Women, kids, and men were dragged from their homes and brutally slaughtered by the trained wolf warriors.

The courageous few who transformed into their wolf forms were still completely massacred. They were just too strong. My mouth quivered as my brain reached the horrifying conclusion: We were doomed.

"Kindle and torch everything! Destroy their homes! Loot their treasures! Just destroy it all!"

The orders were absolute, filled with anger, fury, and domination. I couldn't help but cry at the chaos unfolding before me. Why is he so vicious?

"Mom."

The word slipped out of my mouth as I remembered her. I ran from my hiding spot, dashing toward my mom's hovel.

"Mom, please be alright."

My lungs needed air, but I denied them. My legs begged for rest, but I ignored them. My mom-I was ready to save her.

When I arrived, she was outside, screaming in terror at the blood, heads, and mutilated body parts strewn everywhere.

"Mama, let's go! Please!"

Dragging her hand, I pleaded, "We have no time. Let's head into the woods. I don't think we've been spotted yet."

I was crying as I pulled her along. She cleaned her eyes and hesitated, holding my face in her palms.

"Run. I'll be fine. Run, Ronan. Run. I promise I'll come back. I just need to get something that will help you with all your questions. You know, the ones you've been asking me."

I froze. "You mean... about Papa?"

"Yes. Now go to the hilltop. I'll meet you in a few minutes."

"Okay, but promise me one thing. If I don't make it... promise me you will become stronger, way stronger than anyone, so you can take vengeance for your pack and for... for m-e."

"Wait, what do you mean, Mama?!"

"Just go. I'll meet you soon."

She pushed me away as she whisked inside to grab this "something."

I obeyed her and ran as fast as I could, reaching the hilltop until my gaze landed on this towering beast. It was Alpha Thorn.

He grabbed me by the neck, his powerful hands gripping so tight that I was on the verge of dying. Out of desperation, I reached into my pocket and brought out a worm.

I threw it in his face, pathetically.

"You!" he growled in annoyance. "How dare you? Such insolence!"

He slammed me with such force that I felt my ribs crack. I yelled in pain.

"What's with your eyes, huh? You're a hybrid-a rare one, huh? You should serve me. You may be of great use later on," he said as he stepped on my thigh, almost snapping my leg in half.

"My legs!" I cried out in agony. Amidst the pain, I could see blood dripping, but it wasn't from me. It was from Alpha Thorn.

A long, sharp poniard had been plunged into him from behind, jutting out through his abdomen.

"You won't lay a finger on my son anymore."

"Mom!" I screamed in absolute delight.

She removed the bloody poniard and stabbed Alpha Thorn's leg to render him immobile.

"I'll kill you myself. You've caused enough chaos to the Crimson Howl pack. It ends now, you foul monster! You are a disgrace to wolfkind. You should just kill yourself."

"Oh, shut up!" His voice was raspy. "You really think that rusty knife could kill me?"

He stood up and slapped my mom to the ground. All his wounds seemed to have healed in a fraction of a second. His ability to heal was beyond extraordinary. It felt like he had dabbled in dark magic.

"Mom, please! Don't hurt her! Let her go!"

"Shut up, you pathetic hybrid. You can't even heal. What are you? And here I was thinking you might be useful for me one day, but you just keep lying there like the rest of your fallen comrades. You... you are weak."

My mom stood up, looked at me, hugged me, and before I could wink or blink or make any facial expression...

I had been pushed off the hill onto a river leading to a waterfall.

"Mom, no!" I swung my hands as I was sent flying. I cried as I fell. The splashing sound of my fall into the water echoed across the woods.

"Mom!" My voice cracked. I was beyond exhausted. I knelt at the shoreline. My injuries had already healed-typical amongst wolfkind.

I was still baffled by how Alpha Thorn managed to heal so fast.

"Find him. Torment him. Kill him," I heard him command.

The loud running noises were unmistakable. The omegas had been ordered to hunt me.

"Mom... she has to be alive. She's still alive, right?" I was delirious.

"I'll go back and find out. Maybe this time... maybe this time, I'll defeat Alpha Thorn."

My resolve was absolute. I got up and started running, seething with anger, fury, and vengeance, while hoping and praying for my mom to be spared and alive.

Within minutes, I found myself surrounded by big wolves and werewolves. The omegas had caught up to me.

With crimson red, fiery eyes, one of them stepped out from behind. His large frame gave him away-it had to be the beta. Even though he was still in his human form, his presence was intimidating.

"Hey, kiddo. I brought you something. Think of it as a way to say we're sorry for all the trouble we've caused."

"Shut up!" I yelled, my tone slicing through the tense air.

"Oh, cocky, aren't we? Here you go."

He snapped his fingers, and one of the omegas brought out my mother's head-plunged onto the poniard she had used to stab Alpha Thorn.

My heart shattered into a trillion pieces.

"No... no. Mom! Is she dead? Mom? You killed her! You beast! No! What have you done to my mom?!"

I screamed in anger as my whole body was covered in purple flames. I grew as tall as six feet. My hands transformed into jagged bones with claws reaching the ground.

Three wings emerged from my back.

A horn on the left side of my head grew out, glowing red.

Terrified at what I had turned into, the beta and the omegas started to panic.

"What is this? What are you?"

The beta tried to calm the omegas. "Don't falter. Kill it! Don't be scared. We are the Shadow Pack. We are the Shadow Clan. We fear nothing. Attack!"

Hesitation was in the air, but I wasn't ready to wait. Full of fury, I wasted no time. I completely obliterated the first ten werewolves.

They stood no chance. I clamped on throats and shredded through thick hides like paper. I had lost control as I turned the plains into a bloody fest. I flung one omega as high as I could, watching him plummet to his death.

I grabbed more of them, tossing wild beasts like they were inconsequential leaves in a gale.

I was unstoppable-until I grew out of breath.

The beta immediately transformed, noticing my weariness. He was ready to fight me. I fell to the ground, transforming back into my human form.

Confused, I noticed blood and guts everywhere. I was shocked and traumatized. There was no time to process it as the hulking beta charged toward me.

"Now you die!"

I had accepted my fate as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Stop!"

A commanding voice carved through the ground like an earthquake. I looked around, searching for the source.

Looking up, I saw Alpha Thorn in his human form, perched on his large beast.

"But Alpha, we can't leave him! He's a threat to our pack!"

"He's probably the last remaining survivor of the trashy Crimson Howl pack. We can't leave him. It's risky. Let's kill him! Let's kill him!"

The beta protested.

"I said leave him. I would love to kill him myself when he's much stronger and older. Even with that abnormal transformation, he still doesn't pose a threat to me. Although..."

Alpha Thorn smirked.

"He managed to pique my interest."

His cadence was full of courage and pride.

"So I did this? I killed these werewolves?" I questioned myself, refusing to believe it.

Terrified and traumatized, I got up and started limping toward the darkness of the woods.

I turned back for a moment, staring up at Alpha Thorn. My gaze shifted to a girl, probably in her early teens, climbing up the hill.

My eyes twitched, and a fresson crept up my spine for an evanescent moment. It was a bizarre feeling I had never felt before.

"Who is that girl?"

It's been 10 years since the brutal destruction of my pack. For those past 10 years, my life has been a model of suffering-a living nightmare I can't escape. I'm now an adult, living as a rogue with grey morals.

If I've learned anything throughout these years, it's the fact that I needed to get stronger. I'm weak, huh? I'll slap that stupid smirk off your old face. I'll rip off your jaws and feed your brain to the swines and fishes.

My heart had turned cold, neglecting the joy of life. It was a revenge arc; nothing was getting in my way. I left my black, luscious hair down as I came out of the brook.

I need to get stronger-for Mom.

An innocent smile blossomed on my face but was immediately killed the moment I remembered and mentioned his name. Thorn.

And that bastard of a beta. I won't stop at killing you. I'll take your entire pack too. I grinned in a dour manner.

Count your days.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

I dressed up and continued my wandering. A rogue has no home-just kill, live, and keep trying your best to survive.

I was obsessed with getting the job done.

I entered a neighboring wolf town known as the Moonshard Pack, celebrated for its beautiful aesthetics, artistry, and charm. But I wasn't here for any of that. The main reason I was here was their traditional fighting festival.

I planned on participating because I needed the prize money. A rogue needs money too. Let's sign up and see how far I've come. The prize money was an illusion I'd created in my mind. I was obviously in it to see how far and how strong I'd become over the years.

At 22, I was in my peak. I should be unstoppable.

I'm unstoppable, I thought, cracking my fingers.

"Hey, look! It's that hybrid! I thought it was a myth. Wow, it's actually real!"

"Bro, don't point! He'll see us!"

"Come on, Jason. Don't tell me you're scared of that half-wolf, half-cretin!"

I could feel their eyes scanning my frame, taking in my six-foot-plus height. "It's quite huge... maybe 6'6," Jackson described.

I interrupted their discussion with my intentional approach. "Any of you know where to sign up? I'm walking away with the cash prize," I questioned.

Jason butted in. "Oh, shush! You think you're a whiz, huh? You ain't making it past the first round!"

"Look!" he said, pointing at a middle-aged woman. "Register and grant me the chance to watch a half-wolf, half-cretin like you lose as you howl in disgrace," he sneered in disgust. "Am I right, Jackson?"

"Jackson, come on, big bro. Don't bail now!"

"Let's see," Jackson said gently, his voice balancing between concern and apathy.

"I hope you two will be participating!" I snickered, my deep, gravelly voice intimidating them.

Of course, you- I don't really know you, and yet I thoroughly revile you," Jason shot back like a catapult.

"Good," I replied, tilting my head backward.

I headed to the woman and paid the registration fee.

"The fight is in two days' time. Prepare, young one," she said, her face gleaming in a mixture of concern, affection, and wisdom.

"Don't tell me what to do, Missy," I frowned, replying arrogantly.

I left the markets for the woods. As usual, the discrimination continued as eyes trailed my body.

"Hey, look, that's the rumored wolf hybrid guy. He's quite charming, I must say. Those eyes are dreamy!"

For once, it wasn't just resentment and discrimination but a mixture of both with a little touch of compliment.

The whispers were frankly annoying as I burst out in frustration. "So what?! I'm a hybrid, and I could possibly-and probably-destroy this whole pack if I wanted to. I'm not weak!"

I let out a loud grunt as I tugged my long black cape, signaling my exit.

"He talks big for a hybrid," they scoffed.

"Let's see if he can beat Alpha Cranel."

"Yes, let's see."

I ignored their remarks as the murmurs fell on deaf ears. My confidence was infinitesimal for a 22-year-old.

I headed to the mountains to meditate, using the caves as my hideout until the awaited day finally came.

It was time. I headed down to the lake and rinsed my face, my hair coiling onto my scalp during the process, making it difficult to untangle. After a few struggles, I left it. Who am I trying to look good for, anyway? I scoffed to myself.

"Let's kick some wolves to the grave," I muttered.

"Dude, I can't wait for the tournament to begin."

"Me neither," another passerby said. The chatter grew louder as the scuttlebutt spread through the crowd.

"The hybrid."

That tag infuriated me.

Upon reaching the stage, I realized I was late. The winner of the first bout had already been declared. A tall, lean, muscular werewolf stood above his defeated opponent, his dark red eyes reminding me of him.

"Hey, you! Face me if you dare!" I yelled.

"Wow, such arrogance. Or is it bravery?" he questioned with a raised brow.

"Ahhh, let's find out. Get in here, now!" he growled, drooling like an animal ready to pounce.

I was interrupted by a dwarven wolfkind, probably the moderator. "The rules are simple. You can't kill your opponent; you can only make them unconscious or get them to submit. Is that clear?" he questioned, somewhat angrily.

I wore an evil simper on my face that screamed without me moving my mouth: I'll try not to kill him.

The dwarf's eyes widened as he muttered, "F-I-G-H-T!"

I entered the battleground with the confidence of a hundred gladiators.

"Go on, transform. Show me your werewolf state. Let's see you in action," my opponent goaded, the air thick with tension as a challenging smirk danced on his lips.

"I can't transform, buddy," I answered casually.

The roar of surprise from the crowd-and even my opponent-crashed over me like a tidal wave, a deafening testament to their shock. Faces contorted with disbelief as though they had heard an earth-shattering secret.

My opponent broke the stunned silence, yelling, "How disgraceful! You should just die. How pathetic could one be? How dare you even challenge me with such misfortune?"

He transformed back into his human form, his face plastered with a mirthless look.

"Out of pity, I will fight you in my normal form, just so you can stand a little chance. Now rejoice, for I have presented to you an oasis in the desert. Thank me by fighting with all your might, weakling!" he erupted.

"Fight you?" I questioned, laughing mockingly. "Transform back now, if you want to LIVE."

My expression enveloped the air with negativity as I rebutted.

"Hahaha, your funeral, son," he retorted, transforming back into his werewolf form and lunging into the air. Without wasting a second, he landed a devastating spin kick to my jaw and hammered away a barrage of punches, each blow heavier than the last.

The crowd's faces contorted with surprise and disbelief.

"How is he taking all the Alpha's heavy hits? Even in his werewolf form, no one should be able to survive that!"

"Oh, so this is Alpha Cranel, huh?" I smirked, wiping the blood from my mouth as I shook my head in a concoction of disapproval, disappointment, and embarrassment.

"Is that all you've got?" I asked, my face lighting up with excitement and pleasure.

The air thickened with tension, a palpable force pressing down on everyone present. The crowd gasped in utter wonderment, boos pressing onto my chest like a vengeful poltergeist.

"What? How are you still standing?" he questioned anxiously.

"What do you mean, how am I still standing?" I retorted angrily. "Are you that blind? Are you that slow? Are you that stupid? It's simple-I'M STRONG, WHILE YOU ARE WEAK.

"Now brace yourself. Don't die, old man. It's my DAMN TURN!"

Before the blink of an eye, I vanished, leaving Alpha Cranel and the crowd puzzled and bewildered.

"Where did he go?" Alpha Cranel questioned fretfully, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple, enhancing his already restless demeanor.

"Behind you, champ," my voice deepened with authority.

Fear imbued in him, he spun around in panic as I delivered a bone-crunching, soul-shattering blow to his face. The impact cut across the arena, leaving mouths agape in absolute horror. He was down on the ground, his face knotted with blood and saliva.

I ensured he wasn't dead by holding back.

"You are too weak," I shouted. "One hit? Really?"

The dwarven referee raised my hand as he declared me the victor and the new Alpha.

"Here is your winner and the new Alpha! What's your name, sir?" he gently questioned.

"Ronan Darkfang. Don't forget it!"

"Y-Yes, S-Sir... RONAN DARKFANG!"

Of course, I wasn't accepted. Their boos were as loud as beasts fighting over territory. I was hated, although I hadn't realized that this traditional fighting festival was the way to crown new Alphas. I didn't want it-I didn't want the burden attached to being the leader of a weak pack.

"I refuse," I declared, shutting down the boos with my voice.

Two boys in their late teens, probably 18 and 19 respectively, jumped into the battleground to check on the defeated man on the ground. It was Jason and Jackson.

"Papa, get up!" they pleaded in unison.

"He was weak. He is weak. That's why he failed. Follow his footsteps, and you'll suffer the same defeat," my voice crushed their disintegrated hearts.

"Quiet! We two challenge you! We will kill you ourselves!" Jackson yelled, obviously infuriated.

"Nah, kid. All it took was one hit from me to leave your pops immobile. Do you really think you guys stand a chance? Come on now, don't be foolish. At least train for like 50 years, then come back to me," I said as I left the arena, grabbing my prize money.

The crowd had never seen something like this before. I'm sure their disdain shot up steeply.

"But, but... you are the new Alpha!" the dwarf reposted as I walked by him.

"Coward! Come back here! Fight me! Fight us, you loser!" Jason and Jackson yelled as I blended into the background.

Ignoring their comments, I embraced my huge-impact win and walked out of the Moonshard Pack, clenching my fists in victory.

"I defeated an Alpha. I guess those years of self-training paid off," I rejoiced internally.

Days later, on my journey, I overheard a few passersby discussing the tournament that happened a few days back.

"That hybrid guy is too strong. I heard he landed Alpha Cranel on his back without even transforming. And yet, he refused the title as the Alpha of Moonshard Pack."

"I know, right? I hope we never come across him!" they laughed.

Speaking of Alphas, one of them said, "You know that war-crazed lunatic who destroyed a small pack? I think the Crimson something... betrayed his childhood friend in the process."

"Oh, that Alpha? He's the epitome of evil personified. What's with him, though?"

"I heard he'll be visiting a neighboring pack soon. Probably to form an alliance. Or maybe it's just one of his cunning tricks to destroy and rule over another pack again!"

They gossiped joyfully as they walked past me.

I smirked in delight.

ALPHA THORN!!! Destiny has brought us together once again.

"Not bad. Even without adequate resources, I was able to make a tasty meal out of this boar," I praised myself.

I had recently made a home out of an old abandoned hovel in the woods. I got up from the dining ground and stretched my body while staring at the stark silhouette of my figure, etched by the moon onto the cracked walls. The light illuminated every crevice, exposing the desolation of the hovel. I decided to go for a little traipse to avoid getting lost in the abyss of my own thoughts.

The creatures of the woods were having a little party-from the colorful myriad of fireflies illuminating the often-somber woods to the croaking of frogs and the mating calls of other creatures-all were music to my ears. I beamed with elation as my lips finally experienced joy after such a long time. I climbed onto a tree, smiling and grinning like a lovestruck teenager.

"Has the world always been this beautiful?" I asked myself. A part of me felt like enjoying life without worrying too much. But I had briefly forgotten that the world doesn't revolve around happiness alone, as a short-lived incident would soon jolt me back to business, reminding me that the world isn't all roses and tulips.

Out of the blue, my keen ears picked up a distant voice, faint but unmistakable.

"Please let me go! Papa, Mama, save me!"

It was a cry for help.

It must be the remnants of those bandit rogue wolves I dealt with back in the day. I jumped down from the tree with effortless grace, darting like a phantom across the forest floor. Using my keen ears as a compass, I arrived at a much darker side of the forest in seconds. There, I sighted five omega wolves-probably rogues too-but definitely not bandits, as they looked and dressed too classy.

One of them kept tugging at the horns of a little girl.

"Wait, horns?"

My eyes widened, leaving my mouth agape in shock.

"That's not a wolfkin!" My thoughts raced, trying to make sense of the creature before me.

"Come on, let's hurry. She might alert rogues with all this noise she's making. Muffle her mouth," one protested.

"She's too much trouble. Too bad we can't hurt her. I don't have the patience for all this-I haven't cuddled with my wife in days," another snapped, showing his frustrations.

"Remain composed. If we do anything stupid, the Alpha would destroy us," another cautioned.

"Alpha? They aren't rogues-they're omegas," I probed.

I didn't truly understand the werewolf hierarchy. I felt I didn't need to understand it, maybe because of the discrimination I'd endured. All I knew was that there's an Alpha who rules the pack like a king, his fated mate who is the Luna, and a very powerful wolf second in command-the Beta. The rest I often thought of as redundant members of the pack. But realizing I was also an Omega, just like the ones planning to kidnap another life form, made my heart flutter briefly.

The sensation faded quickly, replaced by a wicked smile curving effortlessly on my lips.

Observation is over. It's hero time.

"Ugh, that sounded corny. Hero? Nah," I laughed as I stepped out of the bushes.

"Hey, who are you? And what's got you laughing like a nutcase?" one of the omegas demanded, his voice screeching like a startled bat.

"It doesn't matter. It's unfortunate your sorry self has seen too much already. You're leaving this plane of existence now," one of the Omegas said.

"Is he mad?" another scoffed.

"Sorry, guys. I just cracked a joke. Can you believe I thought of myself as a hero?" I responded, laughing loudly again.

The muffled creature kept groaning, her eyes scanning mine, pleading for mercy.

"What's with this guy? He's pissing me off. Let's just ignore him-Alpha Thorn really needs her," one of the frustrated omegas churned in.

"Wait, did you say Thorn?"

The teasing laugh and smile that played on my lips evaporated instantly, like a droplet of water on a scorching desert. Fury surged through me, turning my face a furious shade of crimson. My fists clenched tightly, knuckles whitening, as a prominent vein throbbed, nearly bursting with the intensity of my rage.

"It's Alpha Thorn you peasant! Show some respect!" a furious omega corrected.

I bent my knees briefly, building up energy to bolt in between them.

"Seeeeeezhh," my teeth drew in air as I pounced on the first omega with speed that exceeded a striking hawk. My movement was a blur of raw power and precision.

"I WON'T HOLD BACK!"

I punched a hole through the face of my first victim, my fist stuck in the grotesque orifice. The crunch of bone and squelching flesh, mixed with the ripe tang of blood, filled the air. He dropped dead as the contents of his face spewed out.

The muffled creature moaned before fainting in fear and shock.

The remaining four wolves were beyond startled, panic evident in their eyes.

"Monster! He's a monster! Run for it!" one of them shrieked, his voice trembling.

But there was one Omega who remained composed, though his expression was laced with fury and fearlessness.

"And you all dare call yourselves Alpha Thorn's warriors? Pathetic! I knew you were all worthless the moment I was tagged with you!" he reprimanded angrily, his words dripping with disapproval.

"Are you done with your pep talk?" I chimed in, my eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

The composed Omega hissed in response, his face twitching with irritation. They reached into a pouch, pulling out a small vial of green, slimy liquid. Without hesitation, they consumed the potion.

"You shouldn't have come here, bloke. Don't worry, you'll be on a vacation to the afterlife soon," the composed Omega declared, his voice now steady with malevolent glee.

The potion's effects were immediate and grotesque. Their bodies began to transform, bulking with grotesque proportions. Fangs elongated into blade-like protrusions, their hind limbs swelled to monstrous sizes, and their claws sharpened into wicked talons.

"One scratch from us, and your body will be flooded with poison, spreading like a deadly tide," the composed Omega boasted.

The other wolves howled in delight as their forms completed the transformation.

"You blab too much," I retorted. "Come at me."

All four pounced at once.

The first claw aimed for my neck, but I dodged, crouching low and twisting into a powerful heel kick that sent one wolf stumbling to the ground, laying motionless. Their enhanced strength was evident, but their movements were clumsy and slow.

Another wolf aimed a spinning kick at me. I evaded it, seizing his head mid-motion and delivering a brain-rattling headbutt. He howled in pain, staggering backward.

The remaining two attacked in tandem. One feigned a strike to draw me in, creating an opening for the other Omega's heavy uppercut. The blow connected, rattling my jaw and followed by a kick to my thigh.

Pain flared through my body, but fury ignited stronger within me.

I lunged forward, a blur of motion, pinning one of them to the ground. My arms locked around his neck. We both roared-he in pain, I in rage-as I ripped his head from his shoulders. Blood sprayed everywhere, bathing me in its tangy scent.

The last Omega hesitated, his tail tucked between his legs, his wide eyes betraying sheer terror.

"You... you are... evil. What are you?" he stammered, his carefully constructed composure shattered. His body began reacting to his fear, his form shrinking slightly as if the transformation itself was reversing.

"My dear composed buddy," I mocked, my voice echoing through the blood-soaked clearing. "What happened? Wolf got your tongue?"

"P-please... spare me," he begged, his voice cracking.

"Fine," I said, stepping closer to him. "But..." I grabbed his arm firmly. "Take me to Alpha Thorn. Right now."

He nodded rapidly, his fear palpable.

We boarded a crude wooden carriage, speeding through the darkness toward Shadow Claw territory. I held the fainted girl in my lap, her horns gently resting against my chest.

"Are we there yet?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with impatience.

"N-no, boss," he stammered.

"And this creature... she's not wolf-kin, is she?" I asked, tugging slightly at her horns.

"N-no... she's a... a demon-folk, boss. A demon."

"A demon?" I muttered, my anger momentarily replaced with concern. "And what does Thorn need her for?"

"I... I don't know the details, but I think she's supposed to be made into a potion... granting him immense, unnatural strength," the Omega mumbled, trembling.

My heart pounded. The mention of Thorn, combined with this heinous plan, awakened an old, buried fear-the same fear I'd felt when he gripped my neck ten years ago.

"We are here, sir," the Omega announced.

Shadow Claw territory was unlike anything else in the werewolf lands. It was the most developed of all the packs, but the beauty was hollow and false. Stolen treasures, animals, and art adorned their lands-a revolting display of selfish growth. The golden banners fluttered arrogantly in the moonlight, a condescending reminder of their dominance.

I descended from the carriage, the unconscious girl cradled in one arm and the disheveled Omega trailing behind me. "Take me to him," I commanded.

"B-boss... oh... okay," he stammered, my raised brow silencing any further hesitation.

Alpha Thorn was in the middle of a meeting in his opulent palace. The walls and floors were adorned with blinding displays of gold and diamonds, a sickening reminder of his greed and power.

I barged into the hall, the doors flying off its hinges shattering the room's serenity. The council members flinched, their faces contorted in a mix of fear and confusion.

My voice roared through the chamber, carrying ten years of pent-up anger.

"You cowardly bastard of an Alpha! I challenge you to a trial of combat!"