The Lycan

Two cars sped through the darkness, almost as if racing on a circuit. They sped along without any intention of stopping. Every now and then, the driver glanced at the forest to his right and left, then at the rearview mirror, ensuring the car behind them was following them without any problems. His face showed obvious worry and nervousness. In the middle passenger seat, a middle-aged woman, still shedding tears occasionally, gently stroked the hair of the seven-year-old boy sleeping on her lap. She tried to appear strong, but her tears wouldn't cooperate.

Meanwhile, the car behind them contained three men. One of them was a teenager who had passed out, covered by a thick blanket. His face was covered with wounds and looked dirty. They were all equally nervous and worried. Every now and then, the twenty-five-year-old man in the front passenger seat would glance at the teenager. The driver, meanwhile, said nothing, focusing solely on driving.

"Dad..." called the man in the passenger seat. The driver simply nodded.

"Alpha... They're coming." The driver was mindlinked to the man who was driving the car in front.

“Get ready, Zaiden,” the driver said. Zaiden nodded. “After I get out, keep driving without stopping.”

“Wait, what? This isn’t what we planned.”

“Go all the way to where the witch is. Don’t stop or turn back,” Dal said firmly.

He shook his head quickly. “No! I won’t leave you Dad.”

“You have to do it. Go and protect Lyall.”

“I won’t leave you, Dad!” Zaiden raised his voice.

“This isn’t a request, Zai. This is an order from your beta. Lyall is the most important. Get him as far away as possible and protect him.”

“But—”

“Luna and the alpha will lead you, while I’ll hold them off.”

The sound of a pursuing wolf pack grew louder. Somehow, they were incredibly fast.

“Don’t stop, Dad. We can get past them.”

"No Zaiden. We can't. Considering they became that fast overnight, we can't."

The car in front of them started to slow down and finally stopped. Zaiden moved to the driver's seat. The woman who was in the front car got into the other car while holding her small child.

"Go, don't turn around and come back." Her husband wanted to close the door but she held him back.

"W-what? You're not coming?" the woman started to panic.

"Dal won't be able to hold them alone, darling. And he's my beta. I won't let him fight alone."

"No no no. We all go!"

There was a strong howl and it got closer.

"There's no time." The man looked at Zaiden. "Go now."

Zaiden just stared at the man. It was clear he didn't want to leave there.

“Damn it Zaiden! You want my family get killed?! I will protect your father, and he will protect me. I am your alpha, and I order you to leave. Are you going to disobey me?!” Alpha Cyrus snapped. Even his eyes were now a deep red, the hallmark of an alpha.

“Alpha, they’re coming,” Dal announced.

“Go! Now!”

As Alpha Cyrus was about to close the door, his wife held him back.

“Promise me… Promise me you’ll come back to us,” his wife pleaded. Alpha Cyrus just stared at his wife softly.

“Take care of the children.” That was all he could say, then closed the door. He couldn’t promise his wife anything else. The car immediately sped off again.

“Are you ready, Dal?” Alpha Cyrus asked as the car left.

“Always. Like the old time,” Dal replied, getting ready.

“Indeed. Let’s kill them.”

***

The car continued moving. But thanks to the alpha and beta, no one was chasing them. Despite his worry, Zaiden kept driving. He didn't want his father and alpha's efforts to be in vain.

"Is it still far, Luna?" Zaiden asked Luna, who was sitting next to him.

"No signs yet," Luna replied, also looking worried.

"Signs? What do you mean? I thought you knew the meeting place." Zaiden was confused.

"Our trusted witch acquaintances don't have a specific meeting place. It's all random. We have omens that we know each other by. The witch will give us a sign. When that time comes, you must stop the car."

"Okay, Luna, I understand."

A light shaped as a small, bright yellow ball appeared from within the forest. Luna saw it.

"There it is. Pull over, now!"

As instructed, Zaiden pulled the vehicle over. Luna got out, carrying her youngest child. Zaiden got out of the car and carried Lyall on his back. The small light approached them and then flew away. They walked quickly into the forest, following the light.

"Luna, are you sure it's them?" Zaiden asked, continuing to walk quickly.

"Yes, it's them."

They continued walking through the forest, illuminated only by the small light. Soon, they reached a section of the forest. Three people in white robes were waiting.

"Mr. Baldwin," Luna greeted one of them.

"Luna. It's nice to see you again. Thank goodness you're safe. Are they coming too?" asked the elderly man, who looked unique in his long robes. His clothes resembled a long white woman's dress.

"Yes, they are my children." Luna's voice trembled.

"Ahh... The future alpha is here. Okay. Are you ready, Luna?"

"Why... Why did you bring someone else?" Luna noticed the two people with Mr. Baldwin. They both looked much younger than Mr. Baldwin.

“Ahh… They’re my trusted knirers, Luna. They may be young, but they’re very well-trained and tough. I brought them just in case. It looks like your pack is in trouble.”

Luna nodded. “That’s right.”

“Then, let’s go.”

“No! We have to wait for my husband and his beta.”

Baldwic looked confused. “Then… Where’s the alpha?”

“Can… Can’t you help them? They’re fighting Alastor’s wolves. Please…”

“Luna, you’re a good friend, an old friend of mine, and you know very well I can’t do this.”

“But Cyrus is also your friend, Benjamin Baldwic! He needs your help!” Luna said, half-shouting. She dropped her honorifics to Ben.

“Sure, he’s my friend. A very good friend. But you know, as long as witches aren’t involved, we shouldn’t be either. That’s the law. I just don’t want it to become a fight between two races,” Ben explained. Stella let out a shaky breath. “He’s a great and strong alpha, trust him.”

“But—”

“Luna, someone’s coming,” Zaiden said.

“Could it be them? Your husband and his beta?” Ben guessed.

“No, not them. But they’re werewolves.” Stella looked wary.

“You two, stand a safe distance away and hide behind a tree.” The two knirers quickly ran to hide. “Shouldn’t we just go?”

“I’m not going without my husband.”

“But what about your children? Aren’t you thinking about them? Your husband has already done this much.”

Stella fell silent, then looked at her children one by one. Stella placed Lycus, her youngest, on Ben’s lap. Ben accepted it, confused.

“Go, take them to the planned location.” she turned to Zaiden. “Go with them and protect my two children.”

“No, Luna. We’re going together,” Zaiden said firmly.

“He’s right, Stella. We’re going together. They’re your children. It’s your duty to look after them. Don’t leave them without a parent by their side.” Ben approached Stella and placed Lycus back in her arms. “Trust your husband as he trusts his children to you. I promise, I’ll stay here until sunrise, after I see you off.”

Stella burst into tears. She looked at Lyall and Lycus in turn, then nodded slowly.

“They’re coming, Luna!”

“We’re going now.” Ben touched Stella and Zaiden’s shoulders and cast a spell. “Moven.”

Suddenly, everything went dark. The next moment, their feet touched wet grass. Zaiden was quite surprised. This was his first time teleporting with a witch. A middle-aged man greeted them. Stella hugged him, then handed Lycal to him and ran to Ben, who was still standing there.

"Promise me, you'll come back and wait for Cyrus. Please, Ben. You're my friend and Cyrus's, and I trust you." Stella looked weakly at Ben. He nodded.

"I promise. But I can't interfere. I hope you understand," Ben said firmly. Stella nodded and hugged him.

"Thank you." Stella released his embrace.

"Take care of your children." Ben's message was met with a nod. Ben teleported again. This time, he landed on a large tree branch. The knirers had previously warned them that wolves were patrolling the area. It was dark, with only the moon to illuminate them. Two knirers were waiting for him.

"Is something wrong?" Ben whispered to one of the Knirers. The Knirer nodded.

“But they seem very alert.”

“You guys go back. I’ll keep watch.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Ben interrupted. “One person is more than enough. The situation right now is very bad. It’s much better not to be in a group.”

The two Knirers nodded again, cast a spell, and left. Ben also cast a spell, appearing in various places. But he couldn’t find what he was looking for. He disappeared and then reappeared. This time, he landed at the edge of the forest. From where he stood, he saw several wolves lying unconscious. Ben approached cautiously. He saw blood everywhere. The road looked like a field of corpses. What if a normal human saw?

Suddenly, a rough growl sounded nearby. Without even looking, he knew he’d been spotted, and Ben cursed himself for it. The werewolves could certainly smell him. Ben turned his head, and sure enough, three enormous wolves, taller than an average human, were growling at him and walking toward him. Ben became wary.

“I was just passing by and saw all this. What's going on? And what if a normal human saw all this?” Ben began to speak. But seeing them continue to growl and advance, Ben panicked. He knew very well that the werewolves had been ordered to kill anyone who noticed this, even normal humans. Normally, they would stop and transform into humans. But this wasn't the case. Ben continued to walk backward, passing the corpses. Suddenly, one of them grabbed his leg. Ben was shocked. He recognized the person. Ben cast a spell and created an invisible shield around him and the man holding his leg.

“Where's Cyrus?” Ben crouched down and stared at the weak-looking Dal. Dal couldn't say anything, only pointing to one spot. Ben stared in the direction Dal was pointing. Suddenly, a wolf came and bit a man. Although it was dark, Ben was sure it was Cyrus. Dal tried to get up to help him. “Don’t. That’s enough, Dal. Now save yourself, I’ll take care of this.”

Ben stared at the werewolf trying to break his shield, but to no avail. Ben stood up, stretched out his hand, and cast a spell, "Croshune." Several wolves that had been trying to break his shield were blown away. They could break it, but it would take time. Ben pushed the wolf away and opened his defense.

"Croshune!" he pointed his hand at the wolf carrying Cyrus. The wolf and Cyrus were thrown, but Ben quickly cast another spell, and like a magnet, Cyrus floated toward him. But before Cyrus could reach him, he was pounced on by a wolf that had already leaped high. Ben was shocked. The large wolf had Cyrus between its legs and then placed one of its legs on Cyrus's unconscious body. The wolf glared at Ben and growled harshly.

"Damn! He's a beta!" Ben cursed under his breath. Seeing the wolf in front of him, larger than the others and with its bright yellow eyes, Ben knew it was a beta, and certainly not Cyrus's. Ben thought quickly about what he could do.

“Do you know it’s foolish to try to free a prisoner, especially one who’s about to be killed, only by yourself?” A middle-aged man stepped out from behind the large wolf. “I know you’ve been friends for a long time, but are you sure you’re willing to sacrifice your life to save them?” The man took a few steps and stood directly in front of his beta wolf. “And even if you survive this, you’ve broken the supernatural pact not to interfere in the affairs of others.”

Ben paused for a moment. He controlled his emotions to avoid appearing afraid or agitated. “What about you, alpha? With all these bodies? You’ve exposed your true identity, and that also violates the supernatural pact.”

“This is my territory!”

“That’s true. But this territory is also traversed by ordinary humans. I’m friends with him (pointing at Cyrus with his chin), so I know this territory well. And I saw a car there, which means an ordinary human passed through, and you killed them.”

“Bullshit!” the man shouted.

“Stop all this, Alastor. Let me take them away. This is enough, and I assure you, they won't come back.” Ben tried to make a bargain. Alastor laughed mockingly.

“No. Give me the child, or he dies.”

“He's just a child Alastor, for God's sake! He's the same age as your daughter! He's already suffered enough with that curse! As a father, don't you have any compassion?!”

“Compassion?!” Alastor laughed even louder. “He's not my child! Compassion? (spits out harshly) Don't be ridiculous. That child will threaten my throne!”

Ben stared silently at Alastor. Alastor was overcome with anger, envy, and jealousy. He couldn't be persuaded by anything. He wondered how he could reach Cyrus. Even though he was a wizard, werewolves possessed incredible strength and speed. He would be caught before he could reach Cyrus. Dal moved forward, but Ben blocked him.

Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out, startling them all. Ben swiftly cast a spell and sent Alastor flying. Then, from behind him, someone knocked the Beta away. Ben turned and saw a knirer. The knirer knocked another wolf away.

"Get to Alpha Cyrus and teleport away, now!"

The knirer nodded and quickly walked toward Cyrus, but was bitten by a wolf. The knirer screamed loudly. Ben knocked away several wolves that tried to attack him. The wolf that bit the knirer was also knocked away. Another knirer appeared after knocking away several wolves.

"Take him and go!!"

The knirer touched Cyrus, and the bitten knirer disappeared. Alastor transformed and jumped high to attack Ben. Ben was still busy casting spells on the wolves that continued to come. Dal transformed and jumped as well, pushing Alastor down. Alastor quickly got up and attacked Dal. Alastor clawed and bit Dal. Dal fell back unconscious.

"Dynamito!!"

Darr!!

A massive explosion occurred right in front of Alpha Alastor, who was about to attack Dal again. Ben grabbed Dal and quickly teleported away. But before he disappeared, Alpha Alastor's beta claws struck his back.

Dal and Ben fell onto a large grassy plain. Dal had transformed into a human and was unconscious. Ben couldn't move his body. The wound was too deep. His vision was starting to blur. Ben stared at someone running toward him, but he couldn't see them. As time went on, his eyes grew darker and darker.

***

Tadariez