Chapter 45: Kurt, the New Alpha

Though Kurt's roars were strong enough to topple over trees still standing in the forest, Silvana and Duponte both stood their ground as the beast hollered.

The rest of those still alive, Solaris, Angus, Amelia, and Bruce were all left frozen by Duponte's unwavering magic. Orange sludge dripped down from the blistering welts lacing Kurt's silver and black furred hide. His once amber eyes flared with the same bright, unhealthy orange.

"What the hell happened to him?" Silvana asked.

Duponte looked at Kurt with absolute and unequivocal disgust.

She said, "He's tried, rather unsuccessfully, to enhance himself with the blood of a witch."

With a tilt of her head and sniff from her nose, Duponte inspected Kurt.

"Our blood, Silvana, no less, is what he's taken" she sneered. "From your father. And look at what it's done to the mongrel."

Kurt howled with a raspy, unearthly voice, and driblets of orange saliva flew from his infected and rotting fangs, leaving behind acidic and flaming