The full moon illuminated the dark wilderness, casting an eerie glow over the rolling hills and dense forests. In the distance, a herd of antelopes grazed peacefully, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the night, causing the antelopes to freeze in fear. Three massive werewolves emerged from the trees, their fur standing on end as they bared their sharp teeth. The leader of the pack, a giant black werewolf with glowing blue eyes with a tinge of gold, let out a deafening howl, signaling the start of the hunt. Its fur was matted and its eyes glowed with a fierce hunger
The antelopes panicked, scattering in every direction as the werewolves charged toward them. The black werewolf leaped into the air, landing on the back of an antelope and sinking its teeth into the animal's neck. The antelope let out a piercing sound before falling to the ground, motionless.
The second werewolf; a grey and black mixed-colored one, chased after another antelope, its powerful legs propelling it forward at lightning speed. The antelope tried to outrun the werewolf, but it was no match for its speed and agility. The werewolf caught up to the antelope and tackled it to the ground, sinking its teeth into its throat and ending its life in a matter of seconds.
The third werewolf, a white one with a mix of grey, went to intercept the scattered animals, the white ring around its piercing blue eyes glowing in the dark. It was the second largest of the three and appeared most cunning. It stalked its prey carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike. An antelope made to dart passed it, and it pounced, tackling it to the ground and tearing into its neck. The antelope let out a final cry before falling still. The third wolf then continued to kill more of the antelopes, picking one after the other, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake.
The ground was slick with blood, and the smell of death hung heavy in the air. The third werewolf howled loudly with its blood-covered muzzles raised to the moon. Meeting the gaze of the big black wolf for about a minute, it then lowered its head to carry one of the antelopes with its sharp teeth. The two others joined in, imitating the act. And then the three scampered away, leaving behind the carnage of their hunt.
Alpha Roffe Barther and his two sons: Arric; his first son, and Marcus; his second son, set up camp deep in the wild, surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of nature. For the past two days, Alpha Roffe Barther had been teaching his sons the art of lying low and hunting like a predator. He’d shown them how to track and stalk their prey, using their heightened senses to hone in on the antelopes that roamed the forest. And on the third day, he figured it was time to let them hunt on their own and show him if they had learned anything at all.
"Alright boys, it's time to show me what you've learned," Alpha Roffe Barther said as he rekindled the bonfire in the middle of the clearing. "Now go out there and bring back some meat for dinner,” he said over his shoulders.
“Yes, Father,” the boys chorused and got up, heading into the forest.
When they were about a kilometer away from camp with Arric, scouting and tracking antelopes tracks, the boys shapeshifted into wolves, their bodies contorting and fur sprouting as they prepared for the kill They prowled through the forest, their eyes scanning the grounds and ears pricked, catching every sound.
They soon caught sight of two antelopes grazing on the grass. Arric and Marcus crept closer, their hearts pounding with excitement as they prepared to strike. They lunged forward, tackling the antelopes to the ground and killing them quickly and efficiently.
Returning to camp, Marcus spotted a third antelope and wanted to kill it, but Arric stopped him. "We don't need it," Arric said. "Two is enough for the three of us for dinner."
But Marcus was insistent. "We can always use more meat," he argued, "what's the harm in one more?"
Arric shook his head. "We need not kill unnecessarily, there’s always tomorrow…" he said firmly. "Two antelopes is enough."
“That’s funny considering you were consumed with bloodlust on our last hunt with Father…” his junior brother scoffed before reluctantly releasing the antelope, which scampered away into the forest.
“I was hungry. Father deliberately starved us to get that effect. It will not happen again,” he replied, sounding a tad angry with himself.
“No judgment here… just saying… we are what we are after all. Why deny ourselves,” Marcus said.
“It’s called self-control, you are too young to understand,” Arric snapped.
“What? You are just five years older than me…” Marcus replied irritated.
“Exactly…” Arric said with an arched eyebrow.
“Father is not going to like it…”
“ I know…” Arric replied. “ I will take full responsibility.”
Back at camp, Alpha Roffe Barther was waiting for them, a fire already crackling in the pit. "Where's the rest of the meat?" he demanded, a scowl on his face.
"Two is enough for the three of us," Arric said, trying to keep his voice steady.
His father glowered at him. “What did you say to me, pup?! he spat, grabbing Arric roughly by the throat before pushing him to the floor. “Mingling with those fucking unchanging is beginning to mess with your head, turning you into a bloody weakling. Now you listen to me, you little shit! No son of mine is going to act like a fucky pussy! When I say kill, you better do as I say or I will skin your hide and have you thrown inside a pit!" When Arric didn’t say anything nor look contrite, he added, "I think you are full tonight. You should go up the tree and stand watch then."
Arric got up, rubbing his sore shoulder, and walked away from the clearing with jaws clenched and eyes blazing with fury. He knew it would not always be like this. Soon he will grow as big as his father and the older man would no longer be able to push him around.
The full moon illuminated the dark wilderness, casting an eerie glow over the rolling hills and dense forests. In the distance, a herd of antelopes grazed peacefully, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows.Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the night, causing the antelopes to freeze in fear. Three massive werewolves emerged from the trees, their fur standing on end as they bared their sharp teeth. The leader of the pack, a giant black werewolf with glowing red eyes, let out a deafening howl, signaling the start of the hunt. Its fur was matted and its eyes glowed with a fierce hunger
The antelopes panicked, scattering in every direction as the werewolves charged toward them. The black werewolf leaped into the air, landing on the back of an antelope and sinking its teeth into the animal's neck. The antelope let out a piercing scream before falling to the ground, motionless.
The second werewolf chased after another antelope, its powerful legs propelling it forward at lightning speed. The antelope tried to outrun the werewolf, but it was no match for its speed and agility. The werewolf caught up to the antelope and tackled it to the ground, sinking its teeth into its throat and ending its life in a matter of seconds.
The third werewolf, a white one with piercing blue eyes, was the second largest of the three and appeared most cunning. It stalked its prey carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike. As an antelope passed by, the white werewolf pounced, tackling it to the ground and biting into its neck. The antelope let out a final cry before falling still. The white wolf then picked on another and another, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake. The ground was slick with blood, and the smell of death hung heavy in the air. The third werewolf howled loudly with its blood-covered muzzles raised to the moon. Meeting the gaze of the big black wolf, it carried one of the antelopes with its sharp teeth. The two others did the same and then the three scampered away, leaving behind the carnage of their hunt.
Alpha Roffe Barther and his two sons: Arric; his first son, and Marcus; his second son, set up camp deep in the wild, surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of nature. For the past two days, Alpha Roffe Barther had been teaching his sons the art of lying low and hunting like a predator. He’d shown them how to track and stalk their prey, using their heightened senses to hone in on the antelopes that roamed the forest. And on the third day, he figured it was time to let them hunt on their own and show him if they had learned anything at all.
"Alright boys, it's time to show me what you've learned," Alpha Roffe Barther said as he rekindled the bonfire in the middle of the clearing. "Now go out there and bring back some meat for dinner,” he said over his shoulders.
“Yes, Father,” the boys chorused and got up, heading into the forest.
When they were about a kilometer away from camp with Arric, scouting and tracking antelopes tracks, the boys shapeshifted into wolves, their bodies contorting and fur sprouting as they prepared for the kill They prowled through the forest, their eyes scanning the grounds and ears pricked, catching every sound.
They soon caught sight of two antelopes grazing on the grass. Arric and Marcus crept closer, their hearts pounding with excitement as they prepared to strike. They lunged forward, tackling the antelopes to the ground and killing them quickly and efficiently.
Returning to camp, Marcus spotted a third antelope and wanted to kill it, but Arric stopped him. "We don't need it," Arric said. "Two is enough for the three of us for dinner."
But Marcus was insistent. "We can always use more meat," he argued. "What's the harm in one more?"
Arric shook his head. "We need not kill unnecessarily, there’s always tomorrow…" he said firmly. "Two antelopes is enough."
“That’s funny considering you went all bloodlust on our last hunt with Father…” his junior brother scoffed before reluctantly releasing the antelope, which scampered away into the forest.
“I was hungry. Father deliberately starved us to get that effect. It will not happen again,” he replied, sounding a tad angry with himself.
“No judgment here… just saying… we are what we are after all. Why deny ourselves,” Marcus said.
“It’s called self-control, you are too young to understand,” Arric snapped.
“What? You are just seven years older than me…” Marcus replied irritated.
“Exactly…” Arric said with an arched eyebrow.
“Father is not going to like it…”
“I know…” Arric replied. “ I will take full responsibility.”
Back at camp, Alpha Roffe Barther was waiting for them, a fire already crackling in the pit. "Where's the rest of the meat?" he demanded, a scowl on his face.
"Two is enough for the three of us," Arric said, trying to keep his voice steady.
His father glowered at him. “What did you say to me, pup?! he spat, grabbing Arric roughly by the throat before pushing him to the floor. “Mingling with those fucking unchanging is beginning to mess with your head, turning you into a bloody weakling. Now you listen to me, you little shit! No son of mine is going to act like a fucky pussy! When I say kill, you better do as I say or I will skin your hide and have you thrown inside a pit!" When Arric didn’t say anything nor look contrite, he added, "I think you are full tonight. You should go up the tree and stand watch then."
Arric got up, rubbing his sore shoulder, and walked away from the clearing with jaws clenched and eyes blazing with fury. He knew it would not always be like this. Soon he will grow as big as his father and the older man would no longer be able to push him around.
Arric watched as the doctor continued to examine Eirika and then she breathed a sigh of relief. "See here … this hole indicates the bullet went through and did not dislodge in her stomach," she said, showing Arric a hole in Eirika's back. "This is good. You are very lucky, Luna, the bullet missed your baby, we just need to be sure it missed vital organs too." Dr. Michelle Riverclaw worked quickly to patch up Eirika's wound and stop the bleeding. Eirika was in agony, but she stayed still, knowing that the doctor was doing all she could to save her. As soon as Eirika was stabilized, Dr. Michelle Riverclaw said, "We need to get them to the clinic." Her voice was urgent. "And make sure they get the proper care." Arric nodded, his eyes never leaving Eirika and their newborn child. "I'll take care of them," he said with determination in his voice. Arric called out to Danny who was waiting by the door with the others. "How are they? Luna and the pup?" Bishop asked eagerly. "They are
"So… another defenseless victim, huh? That's a surprise," she said and continued to laugh almost hysterically now. Mauro came to stand beside her and pulled her painfully by the hair to force her to lift and tilt her face upward and stopped laughing and also to get her close enough to stab her stomach. But Eirika could not be deterred. "Seriously, Mauro, tell me… I'm going to die anyway right? There must be human blood in you somehow," Eirika taunted still. "You fucking bitch!" He snarled. "Soo that's a yes… I thought so too," she said and before he could react, she plunged the knife she had pulled from the rack earlier under his armpit, pushing it deep enough to puncture his heart. His eyes widened in shock. When he tried to stab her still, she gripped his wrist and with a loud growl continued to push the knife through his body with every strength she could muster, shaking from the effort. "You must be dense to think I would be that easy to kill," Eirika snarled, "I killed your
The night was cold and crisp at Narrow Creek Manor - the perfect weather for the Lycanthropes to come out to play. At the back of the imposing building, a bonfire was roaring, casting flickering shadows across the clearing where the makeshift dining table was set up. The table was long and sturdy, crafted from a thick slab of oak. It was surrounded by rough-hewn log benches and cushioned chairs, where the guests sat. The aroma of grilled meat and roasted vegetables wafted through the air, making everyone's mouths water. Arric sat at the head of the table with Eirika. Beside them were their guests: Aricel and his human girlfriend, Gwenna, Shadowclaw and his son Nigel, Zenesha and Arric's regular crowd: Bishop, Craineghis, Jimothy, Danny, Jeff, Jarom, and York, who was still recovering from his injuries with his mate; Dr. Michelle Riverclaw. There were also other alphas from smaller packs and black guards who were now the founding members of the enforcers. Arric raised his glass of w
The summit venue was decorated with colorful banners and flags representing each region and all packs. In the center was a circular stage, elevated to provide a better view to all attendees. The seating arrangement was divided by region, with each pack occupying a designated area. The Northern Packs were situated to the left, with Arric and his entourage taking up the front row. The Black Wolves, who controlled the transition zone between the North and East, were seated to the right. Alpha Aricel, who had taken over the Grimtooth Growlers Pack, and The Swiftfang Walkers Pack, occupied the second row, representing the West. Alpha Shadowclaw, who represented the Silvertooth Nightstalkers Pack and the South, was seated in the third row. The other smaller packs who wished to serve as witnesses were seated behind them. The expansive space was equipped with all the necessary amenities. There were comfortable chairs for the attendees, refreshment stands that served a variety of drinks
Bishop filled Arric in about the extent of York's injury. The stab wounds had caused severe damage to his kidney and thus had to undergo major surgery. Arric listened as Danny transported them to the East, his face lowered and his elbows resting on his knees. "Did they say how long it would take for him to get back on his feet?" Arric asked. "The doctors said a few weeks but then he is a werewolf," Eirika replied. Arric nodded. "He is going to be fine, Alpha," Bishop added. "He must, Bishop," Arric replied almost to himself. Everyone on the craft studied him with a compassionate gaze. "How did you two meet?" Eirika asked. "I met him not too long now… like four months? And it feels like I have known him my whole life…" Arric chuckled despite himself. "I met him when he was three years old," Arric replied. Eirika gasped. He nodded, giving her a side glance. "Now you know I'm an old man in a young man's body," he added. Aricel laughed. "That is something…" Eirika said with
"Tell me please…" he added in a fervent plea. "He is not out of the woods yet, but he's fighting, everyone is keeping vigil, praying…" she whispered against his chest. Arric let out a low growl. "I can't lose one more brother…" "I love you so much, Arric," she whispered. "I can't lose him too. The doctor said he could hear us, so I forbade him to leave us. I could almost hear him laughing, and teasing me," she said and then burst out crying. Arric tightened his hold around her, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Shh… it's okay, baby," he cooed, crying quietly too. Arric hadn't expected Bishop to be so daring to let her come to the blackguards' pack. He couldn’t believe that he would so blatantly disregard his orders but then having her there with him, holding her – his sweet, beautiful mate, and knowing she felt as strongly about his men as he did, made him feel happy. The storm that had been raging in him for the past hours calmed. He was almost in shock at her effect on him. "Why