Kelp pov
Mark had kept us updated through the link we all shared, and we knew that the Blood Meadow pack Alpha had been challenged by the Starlight pack Alpha. “Kelp, if we do not consider ourselves Blood Meadow pack, then what are we? We are not lone wolves or rogues, are we?” Alpha Luna wondered aloud.
“Katia, we are not rogues because you have gathered us as your own pack, and we are not lone wolves either, because we live as a pack. We can call ourselves whatever we wish but will have to someday petition the council to charter us a pack.” I explained to her.
“I think we should be the Moon Touched pack. Maybe the goddess will give us her blessing and tell the council to do the same.” She retorted.
Someone went running by yelling about the Alpha being challenged by another Alpha. Mark spoke up telling us that things were not going well for our Alpha.
Katia shifted and ran for the northern border and, with little choice, the rest of us followed. “I will stay out of sight and will hide amongst the trees. I want to see what is going on.” She was linking us as we ran.
“Little Luna, you have worked so hard and have come a long way in healing. Please be careful. We have kept you hidden for this long and do not want to bring unwanted attention from anyone who may mean you harm.” Kelp worried. He was so sweet as my gamma. He knew exactly what cost I have paid over the last few years. Thank the goddess, he has not been with me all my life as I believe he would have gone insane feeling all the pain I have suffered throughout the years.
We reached the edge of the clearing and, hanging back, shifted back to our human skin. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but us werewolves spend a lot of time in forest, clearing, and gardens. It seems like our favorite place to hang out. We can be ourselves and not worry about humankind discovering our existence. If humans do decide to be in the woods, it is usually an area closer to developed land and they pretend they are living off the land or grid.
My thoughts are interrupted by a scream. Glancing toward the clearing where the Alphas were fighting, I saw that a huge muscular man with long blonde hair shifted into a big black wolf. He begins stalking Alpha Thomas. Thomas starts walking backwards a few steps and is saying something I cannot quite make out. I am sure it is him trying to finagle his way out of whatever he did to upset the other Alpha. The Black Wolf just keeps watching and stalking. He never stops slowly moving towards and around Alpha Thomas. Meanwhile, Thomas is so busy talking he is not paying attention to how close the wolf is getting to him.
The black wolf lunges at Thomas, swiping one of his front paws across his chest. Thomas screams, shifting into his scraggly yellow wolf. He jumped towards the other. Alpha’s black wolf jumped, taking a swipe at his face and missed. The black wolf once again watched and stalked forwards and around like he was putting Thomas in the position he wanted for his next move on him.
As I was watching the fight, I kept smelling the most wonderful smell of lemon grass and limes. It reminded me of sprite cola. Except there were no bubbles to make me giggle. A yelp drew my attention back to the fight and Thomas was bleeding from his right hind leg. This time the black wolf did not back off, he kept attacking. He lunged for Thomas to go for his throat missing and took a huge chunk of skin out of his left front shoulder. Blood was everywhere but none of it was the challenging Alpha’s. He has not had one injury so far.
Kelp was standing next to me observing the fight and he stated the same as I was thinking, “Alpha Thomas has deteriorated so badly that he cannot even defend himself in a fight against someone his equal.” I saw the sadness in Kelp’s eyes. “There was a time when all of us were friends and respected one another. He was so strong and wanted to change the pack for the better when he took over as Alpha. Whatever mind sickness his father had took hold as he got older, and we could not get him to see it was happening to him.”
“I am sorry Kelp. I know that you, Mark, and the rest of the pack knew him at a time when he was a good person and had to watch him worsen throughout the years.” I could not help thinking if he had not found me, maybe his illness would not have progressed as quickly as it has.” Sighing, she turned towards the scene of our Alpha finally paying the consequences of his actions.
Alpha Lorn was still at full strength and playing with Thomas. He could finish it at any time. He wanted Thomas to suffer. He wanted Thomas to feel the same pain he had put his sister and the other girl through. Hell, any woman he had hurt. He deserves to pay, and he is paying with his blood. The man is delusional, and he thinks he is winning the fight. He thinks the blood covering him is mine and cannot tell he is bleeding from every wound I have inflicted. His Beta and the pack doctor are just standing there. Neither is speaking up to try and stop the fight. They both act like they have something more pressing to take care of. Glancing towards the trees like someone is awaiting them. Just then a slight breeze blows, and I catch the most enticing smell. Oranges and cinnamon are like a fall day and my favorite smells. Someone must be cooking something for dessert after dinner tonight. It smells delicious.
Thomas landed a slap because of my inattentiveness, and I laughed, “is that all you have, Thomas? Hit me like you hit my sister. Strangle me like you did my sister. Come on, why are you afraid to do the same to me, knowing I can defend myself?”
“Rogues killed your sister. This is ridiculous. You should be hunting the rogues, not fighting me. I loved your sister. She was my fated mate and Luna.” He mumbled in between breaths.
“Oh Thomas, I am your rogue problem. My man will testify that he witnessed you kill my sister in a fit of rage when she told you she wanted to reject you and return home.” Alpha Lorn sneered.
“Finish him off, son. He will never admit he did anything wrong. He will never admit the truth. Get this over with so this pack can heal and so we can do the same.” His father yelled at him.
Thomas and Lorn had been shifting between skin and fur throughout the exchange. Shifting back and forth like that could be exhausting, but the two Alphas acted as if they could continue doing so all day.
Alpha Lorn had enough, and he was a blur that stopped in front of Alpha Thomas. Alpha Thomas was still in his wolf form but just stood there with a blank look. Suddenly, he dropped to the ground, changing back into his human form. Blood was still draining from all the wounds and a new one in his throat was spurting. He lay there looking at the tree line and his eyes widened for a moment, then went blank.
Everyone turned to see what he had seen just before his last breath. Standing just outside of the trees was a young girl in a white dress. She was pale with what looked like blood on her head and extremities. The gamma, a nurse, the head warrior, a few other warriors, and pack members surrounding her.