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“STOP!!” 

A thunderous roar resounded in the air, shaking the entire ship for a moment as it sailed across the seemingly endless water around it. High in the sky was the bright full Moon, providing no  warmth from the freezing night.

“Come here!” the voice commanded. “I will not repeat myself, Omega.”

It belonged to a man in his early thirties with a muscular build. His long hair was a mix of black and white, and his eyes glowed a dangerous crimson. They were fixed on a young lady putting on rags. The coldness of the sea made her skin very pale. Starvation had carved her cheeks into knife-edges.

She was standing on the rail of the ship, staring at the vast blue depths beneath her. She had her hands fisted and her back turned to the man behind her.

“Alpha Rex,” she whispered, slowly turning to Rex. “I don’t want to die.”

Her threadbare dress fluttered like a surrender flag. When she finally looked at him, Rex’s breath caught. Tears gathered in her hazel eyes, threatening to fall out any second. She swallowed hard.

“Then step down.” Seeing how fragile she was, Rex calmed his tone while edging closer. “Please.”

“I can’t…” A tear fell down her left eye and she turned to the sea in front of her. “I-I can’t take it anymore.”

Rex began to walk to her slowly, his eyes fixed on hers. A few paces from her, he noticed a small knife in her right hand.

“Merciful Goddess, forgive me.”

Just as Rex took another step, the young lady brought the knife to her neck and in a flash, slit her throat with it. Rex fell to the ground on his knees as he watched the lady’s body fall to the sea with a splash. Every nerve in his body was aflame with anger. He fisted his hands so tightly his claws pierced into his flesh.

“That’s the sixth one this week,” came the voice of an old lady behind him. She held a tattered shawl over her with one hand and her walking stick with the other. “At this rate, the entire pack will be dead before the next Moon.”

“Better a quick end than rotting alive on this floating coffin,” scoffed the young man beside her.

He had short black hair and was less brawny than Rex. He stood bare-chested like he wasn’t affected by the cold, but had a pair of woolen trousers on. His ribs jutted under skin gone gray with hunger. 

“Ethan-”

“Don’t Grandmother! Just don’t!” the young man shouted, shutting the old lady up. “It’s been five bloody months since we set sail. We’re on the brink of starvation without a clue where we’re headed on a ship that’s falling apart. All around us is nothing but the damn sea. When will you admit it?” His vice cracked. “The Goddess has abandoned us.”

 “Abandoned? The Goddess would never abandon her people. I don’t want to hear you say those words again!” the old lady warned striking her walking stick on the deck.

 Just then, Rex stood up and turned to both of them.

 “He’s right.” His eyes radiating a deep crimson. “I’ve had enough patience with the Goddess.”

“Don’t loose faith in-”

“When we were forced out of our home, I swore on my life that as Alpha, I would restore the prosperity of the Moon Flame Pack.” He paused, closing his eyes for a moment. “And I will. With or without the Goddess’ help. We’ve lost more than half of our brothers and sisters to this accursed sea. I’m done waiting on the Goddess to save my pack!”

The old lady opened her mouth to speak but a look In his blazing eyes and she thought better of it. The last time Rex spoke with that tone was the night he slaughtered the traitors who’d doomed their homeland. She feared what his next move would be. The frustration and desperation in his voice was frightening.

Rex walked passed them both, heading below deck to his chambers. On getting to his chambers, Rex took off his shirt, knelt on the ground with a knife by his side, and closed his eyes. In silence, he stayed that way for a long time, breathing in a stable rhythm. When his eyes finally opened, they were void black. Rex picked up the knife then dug its blade deep into his left wrist and then his right. Blood welled in the twin sigils carved into his wrists. The pain should have been unbearable. With his gaze fixed on the sigil, Rex found himself saying three words he never thought he would say in his lifetime;

 “Hades,” he whispered. “Come forth!”