CHAPTER 3 ~ RETURN OF THE WARLORD

KURT’S POV

Watching the absolute terror appear on my older brother's face, I took another deep drag from my cigarette and let the gray smoke fill my lungs. Erwin stood on the wooden stage and trembled violently, his expensive suit suddenly looking ridiculous on his aging, out-of-shape body. Exhaling the smoke slowly into the warm afternoon air, my thoughts drifted back. Fourteen years ago, Erwin plunged a silver blade deeply into my stomach and pushed me off a high rock into the freezing water of the territory river. He wanted the Alpha title for himself, deciding to murder his eighteen-year-old brother to acquire the position. He failed to kill me. Surviving the cold water and the severe blood loss, I spent the last fourteen years building a massive financial fortune and a heavily armed private army in secret locations, while Erwin destroyed our family business and pack territory with his weak leadership.

Waking up very early this morning in a small hotel room located right outside the pack borders, I stood under a hot shower for twenty minutes to wash the travel dirt off my skin and relax my tight muscles. After shaving my face carefully with a sharp razor, drying my hair with a towel, and dressing in these dark clothes, I drank two large cups of bitter black coffee while reviewing the legal documents. Mentally preparing to reclaim exactly what belonged to me by birthright, I drove my heavy black truck directly into the center of the territory, with my Beta, Jason, following right behind me in a separate vehicle.

Now, sitting comfortably in the carved wooden Alpha chair, I felt the rough wood under my hands as I looked at the large crowd of pack members kneeling in the dirt below the stage. The physical pressure of my dominant energy field forced their bodies down to the ground, ensuring they could not stand up against the sheer physical force of my presence. Turning my head slightly to look to my right, I watched Jason walk up the wooden stairs and step onto the stage. Carrying a thick leather folder in his left hand and a heavy, coiled black leather whip in his right, he stopped right next to my chair and opened the folder.

"Read the official decree to the pack, Jason," I instructed in a calm, flat voice. "Make sure every single person in this clearing hears the words clearly."

Nodding, Jason pulled a thick piece of parchment paper from the folder, turning to face the kneeling crowd and the terrified former Alpha.

"By the absolute authority of the Supreme Supernatural Council, Erwin Fenris is hereby stripped of all Alpha titles and privileges," Jason read loudly. "Erwin Fenris committed treason by attempting to assassinate the true heir, Kurt Fenris. The Council officially recognizes Kurt Fenris as the sole and rightful Alpha of this territory. Furthermore, the Council grants Alpha Kurt Fenris full permission to enact physical punishment upon Erwin Fenris for his crimes against the bloodline."

Jason closed the folder and lowered the paper. The entire clearing remained completely silent, and nobody dared to speak or make a sound.

Shaking his head repeatedly, Erwin pointed a trembling finger directly at Jason. "I absolutely refuse to accept that decree! That document is a complete lie! I am the Alpha of this pack, and I will not let a man who was legally declared dead step into my territory and steal my position! Guards, seize them immediately!"

None of the pack guards moved a single muscle, remaining kneeling in the dirt and keeping their heads bowed in submission to my dominant aura.

Dropping my cigarette onto the wooden floorboards, I crushed the burning end beneath the heavy heel of my boot. Standing up from the carved chair, I walked slowly across the stage until I stood directly in front of my older brother, looking down at him because I was significantly taller and much broader than him.

"You reject the ruling of the Council, Erwin?" I asked him quietly, keeping my voice perfectly level. "If you truly believe you are the Alpha of this pack, then you can fight me for the title right now. We will strip off our shirts and fight to the death on this stage in front of your people. The winner takes the territory, and the loser dies today. Accept my challenge right now."

Staring at my heavily muscled chest and my broad shoulders, Erwin's gaze dropped to my hands, which were curled into large fists. He took three quick steps backward, completely terrified by the prospect of fighting me physically. Knowing he would die in less than a minute, he lowered his hand and stared at the floor.

"You are a coward today, just as you were a coward fourteen years ago," I stated loudly. Turning my body slightly, I looked at my Beta. "Hand me the whip, Jason. He refused the combat challenge, which means he accepts the physical punishment."

Stepping forward, Jason placed the heavy leather whip into my right hand. The leather felt familiar and rough against my palm as I uncoiled the long weapon, letting the end hit the wooden floorboards with a loud snapping sound.

"Get on your knees, Erwin," I commanded with absolute authority. "If I have to physically force you down to the floor, I will break both of your legs before I start using the whip. Get down right now."

Slowly lowering his body until his knees hit the hardwood, Erwin placed his hands flat on the floor and stared ahead. Raising my right arm high into the air, I brought the thick leather strap down forcefully across his back, the whip tearing through his expensive suit jacket and shirt to strike bare skin. As Erwin screamed loudly in pain, I raised my arm and struck him a second time. Hitting him exactly twenty times in front of the entire pack, I did not rush the punishment, making sure every single strike carried the full weight of my physical strength. Erwin collapsed completely onto his stomach and cried loudly while blood soaked through the shredded fabric of his clothes, dripping onto the wooden stage.

Handing the bloody whip back to Jason, I issued my next command.

"Bring the bucket of salt water from the truck," I ordered Jason. "Pour the entire bucket directly over his open wounds. When you finish doing that, drag him down into the underground dungeon and lock him in the darkest cell. Do not give him any food or medical supplies tonight."

Walking quickly down the stairs, Jason retrieved a large metal bucket filled with highly concentrated salt water and returned to the stage. He dumped the freezing, salty liquid directly onto Erwin's bleeding back, causing Erwin to let out a horrible, agonizing scream and writhe on the floor. Grabbing Erwin by the collar of his ruined jacket, Jason dragged him unceremoniously across the stage, pulling him down the stairs and toward the prison holding cells.

Turning my attention to the young man cowering near the edge of the stage, I watched Derek, my nephew, stare as his father was dragged away. Looking extremely pale and very frightened, he stood behind a young blonde woman in a red dress, actively using her body to hide himself from my line of sight.

"Step forward, Derek," I said, pointing my finger directly at the floor in front of my boots. "Stop hiding behind a woman and stand before your new Alpha."

Swallowing hard, Derek stepped nervously around the blonde woman to walk forward slowly, stopping several feet away from me. He kept his eyes focused on my boots, completely unwilling to look at my face.

"You stood on this stage five minutes ago and proudly called yourself the future Alpha," I told him, making sure my voice carried over the crowd. "You do not have the physical strength or the mental fortitude to lead these people. You are completely pathetic. I am officially stripping you of all your ranks and privileges within this territory. Your new rank is the lowest level omega in the pack hierarchy. You will report to the kitchen immediately. You will wash dirty dishes, scrub the floors, and take out the garbage for the rest of your natural life."

Finally looking up at me, Derek's face turned bright red with sudden anger. "You cannot do that to me! I am the son of the former Alpha! I have Alpha blood in my veins! I refuse to wash dishes like a common servant!"

Before I could verbally respond to his ridiculous outburst, a short girl with wild dark hair stepped out from the top of the stairs. Having noticed her standing there earlier, I had ignored her to focus on Erwin. Wearing faded jeans and an oversized gray t-shirt, she walked directly up to Derek and crossed her arms over her chest. She did not seem affected by my heavy aura at all, which surprised me greatly.

"You are absolutely delusional, Derek," the dark-haired girl practically yelled right into his face. "Are you truly stupid enough to argue with a man who just whipped your father into a bleeding mess? You have always been a pathetic, spoiled weakling who relies on other people to do your hard work. You should be extremely grateful he is only making you wash dirty dishes instead of ripping your useless head right off your shoulders!"