CHAPTER 22 – Humiliation

“The two candidates stand before the council of elders,” Brynn’s voice sounded cold. Both candidates stood before the council of elders, their families seated beside the elders.

“Now I’m scared, mother,” Ingrid said, looking at Bianca, “This man is a psychopath, he kills for fun.”

“How could Brynn allow this?” Bianca asked, with a worried look, while she clenched her fists.

“Before you start, I must state the rules:  Candidates must fight in their fully shifted werewolf form. No external weapons of any kind, no use of any form of magic or magical objects. No external interference of any kind, and most importantly, no deathblows. The goal is incapacitation or submission, not death. The trial ends only when one of the candidates physically submits, or is rendered fully incapacitated and can no longer continue.” Brynn said.

Theodore and Lucius looked at each other, and Lucius gave a death smirk. He looked desperate to win, even if it meant breaking the rules.

“Now listen to this essential part,” Brynn said, with a serious look. He wasn’t here to play. “A candidate who violates any of these rules will be dishonoured, disqualified, and subjected to judgment by the elders who would oversee the trial, and there shall be no unnecessary noise or disturbance from the crowd.”

“Both candidates can now go ahead to offer a drop of blood from their palms into the cauldron, to bind themselves to the sacred terms of the trial.” He added.

Both Theodore and Lucius walked to the cauldron that was still burning inside.

They both brought out their claws and drew out a drop of blood as instructed, and the flame became brighter.

“Let the fight begin,” Brynn concluded, and went to sit down between Bianca and Graham, Lucius’ father.

Theodore stepped back, spread his hands wide as though he was surrendering to an unforeseen force. He closed his eyes as he yielded to his wolf, allowing it to take full control. The crowd waited, for this was a rare sight to behold, as only a few had seen Theodore in his wolf form.

Then it started,

His bones began to crack loudly, and the sound echoed in the arena; the silence in the crowd ensured it.

His back arched as his muscles tore and mended themselves, growing broader and denser. Fur flared up across his whole body, an ashen silver, streaked with darker patches, ran along his shoulders and flanks.

His hands twisted into claws, long and curved like a hawk’s talons, his face deformed, the bridge of his nose stretched into a snout.

A snarl was heard; he was aching with the pain he hadn’t mastered yet.

His transformation wasn’t smooth, as he was yet to unlock his full power.

He stood up shakily to his full height; he was over eight feet tall, with trembling muscles and fur, and his legs were adjusting under the weight of his form. The crowd watched him steady himself, as he was now a tall wolf-man with flaming golden eyes, beaming under his furrowed brows and bared teeth.

“Wow!” Ingrid whispered with her eyes widened, “I’ve never seen him like this before.”

Brynn removed his glasses and pinched in between his eyes; his son and heir seemed weak. He began to prepare himself for the humiliation that was to come with Theodore's loss.

Lucius stepped forward with a smirk on his face; unlike Theodore, he didn’t hesitate.

His body jerked, but he embraced it wholeheartedly.

His shifting was fast… too fast, like he was already too used to it.

His flesh tore with unusual ease, his bones rearranged with little to no effort, and he screamed like he had won already.

Dark, thick furs protruded from his body like his second nature; he was swallowed by the beast he had long surrendered to.

His form was massive, bigger than Theodore’s, his arms were longer, and his claws jagged.

His snout was sharper, more angular, and his eyes glowed crimson, which made him look more of a beast than a man.

Brynn’s eyes narrowed, but Bianca and Ingrid were in shock, seeing the full form of Theodore’s contender.

Graham’s face was still expressionless, like he wasn’t impressed one bit. Lucius, in his shifted form, turned to look at his father, expecting to see a glint of pride on his face, but Graham scoffed and yawned out loud enough for Lucius to notice.

Lucius’s snout twitched.

“Begin.” Brynn’s voice cut through the anticipation of the audience.

Bianca swallowed hard, holding Ingrid’s hand for support.

She leaned towards Brynn for a whisper, but Brynn held up his hand, stopping her.

The air in the arena became still.

Lucius lunged, snarling and crashing into Theodore with brute force and haste, so that the ground shook at their weight. Theodore stumbled back, barely getting himself.

Bianca and Ingrid flinched, while Brynn clenched his fist.

Lucius came in full speed, as his jagged claws slashed across Theodore’s chest, leaving him with sizzling wounds.

Theodore growled as blood splashed on the barricade circling them, and the crowd gasped with shock.

But Lucius was determined, as he came again, this time faster. Using his shoulder, he rammed Theodore into the barricade, and the impact left a crack in the barricade.

“I can’t watch this,” Bianca whispered, burying her head on Ingrid’s neck.

Brynn’s eyes twitched in disappointment.

Before Theodore could recover, Lucius roared and struck again, this time, hitting Theodore’s ribs with a violent and relentless swipe.

Theodore fell on one knee, and the silver in his fur was severely drenched in his blood. 

“Theodore,” Ingrid whispered in shock; she dared not shout.

Bianca snapped and looked at her son, looking defeated. Brynn blinked, his breath becoming heavy, as his wolf growled.

“Rules are rules, master Brynn.” Graham reminded, hearing Brynn’s wolf growl.

Luke looked at Theodore, thinking how much disappointment Brynn was going to feel toward his son.

While Moira couldn’t help but imagine the pain the young master was going through.

And just then, Lucius lifted both hands, with his claws ready to deliver the final strike.

Bianca jerked to her feet with shock, Ingrid closed her eyes with both hands, and Brynn closed his eyes.

Graham grinned slightly. His son was going to make him proud, finally.

Suddenly…….