Chapter 2

• DEARIL POV
• "You should gouge out their eyes for staring at you in that derogatory manner" my wolf growled in my head, its teeth snapping and claw plunging as I tried to keep a steady pace while I walked through the halls of the pack house for the meeting. The idea of doing exactly what my wolf suggested was very appealing and I had to clench my fist and hold in my rage as the beta's that lined the entrance stared at me.
• The fear in their eyes was soothing, but it did nothing to tame the hunger in me. I still wanted to claw my hand into their throat just to listen to what scream they'd make as they struggled to breathe through severed arteries.
• I pushed the thought back even as my wolf howled in my head. I was a fucking Alpha! I shouldn't be thinking about killing the people I was meant to protect, but I couldn't stop it, and as the scent of the other alphas thickened in the air, the closer I got to the room, the more my hackle rose.
• I've always held it in during the pack meeting, but my wolf had been restless lately, and as the full moon drew nearer, I knew there were going to be darker days ahead. I also knew that I was going to be spending it locked away in the basement so as not to kill my pack members or the humans beyond our territory.
• I reached to shove at the door, and I'm not surprised when it crashed open. I hadn't realized the strength I had put into it. I gritted my teeth as their scent thickened in the air, all directed at me, and all with the same clear message. They fucking wanted me to submit to them. How fucking dare they? My wolf snarled, furiously trying to get out, so I gave it a reprieve, and let go of some of its rage mixed with mine. My scent flooded the room. The redolence of my domination, suffocating. I knew it too because of the sudden shift in their posture, their faces were grim as they tried to resist the scent I was pouring out in spades. The mayhem was already starting and it wasn't the full moon yet.
• I glanced at each of the Alphas who ruled over the other pack houses until my gaze met those of the grand Alpha, the supreme leader, my father. His scent was aggravating, but I knew if I gave in just a bit more to the temptation of my wolf, they'll all be kneeling at my feet.
• "Yes! Make them bow to us!" my wolf hissed, urging me on, before flooding my brain with bloody images of us shifting and clawing through every threat that stood around us. The idea of ripping out everyone's throat made my wolf euphoric and I had to hold my breath for some seconds to stave off the feeling.
• "Leave it to Dearil to always make a grand entrance by being destructive" Keres got out, his voice a bit tamer than it used to be.
• Vaughn Lyall raised his hand and everything in me rebelled against his command for silence. My wolf barked furiously within me, and I couldn't stop my claws from elongating a little.
• "Control your pheromones Dearil, or you'll be stripped of your title," father's sharp voice cut through the tension in the air, and my gaze snapped in his direction, my wolf barring its teeth.
• "He can't even control his wolf, it was a mistake to make him Alpha of any of the parks, this is fucking pathetic!".
• I was grabbing him by the throat as soon as the word got out of his mouth, and as I squeezed, my claws digging into his vein, Keres stood helpless in my hands, unable to breathe or move a muscle. The other Alpha stood up, their gaze on me, waiting for me to snap his neck so that they could attack.
• I pulled Keres closer, breathing fear into his stubborn set pair of blazing golden eyes.
• "I was born an Alpha Keres, and you will speak to me with the respect that I deserve" I warned, the strength of my gaze burning into his cranium. I don't even need a mirror to know that my eyes were a burning color of coal.
• I let go of Keres and he wheezed, then steadied himself as he took in air.
• The room thickened with agitated pheromones and I knew they were all waiting for father's order, they'll kill me once he gave them the go-ahead.
• "This is the reason why everyone thinks you're not fit to lead your current pack. A rogue is almost more preferred to you at this point" father said, his voice raspy with rage.
• I hated the comparison, it made my wolf see red. A fucking rogue.
• Destinos snickered. "He doesn't even have a mate. Tell me brother, who is going to carry on your legacy, and how will you find a mate when you can't even sense her even if she stood right in front of you… accept what you are Dearil, you're a freak of nature. You've been cursed, and you'll never be a normal Alpha."
• Black nodded in agreement. "We've had to clean up your mess Dearil and we are tired of it. What alpha harm's his Park? The growlers park is getting tired of trying to figure out a way to cure you, you should become a rogue and prowl the other forest, away from us, since you clearly are not fit to lead".
• My claw grew longer even tho I was trying to remain calm. I stared at my father. "Is that the decision you had agreed on before I arrived".
• Father watched me, his eyes steady like a still body of water. "You decided your fate Dearil. You've been cursed, and even tho, you are an Alpha, and my son, I declare you… "
• "Enough!" I roared, flooding the room with so many pheromones, Keres fell to his knees in submission before he could stop himself. He stared around aghast and I basked in his humiliation, despite how angry I was. Father's nostril flared in disstate as Keres picked himself up from the floor, his face blotchy red from the embarrassment. I ignored him, and my gaze fixed on my father. If it was up to my wolf, they'll all be dead, but no matter how much I loved the idea, I drew a line when it came to family.
• "You will not be stripping me of my pack. I've always handled my shift without harming anybody, and that will not change ".
• Black scoffed and it was enough to push me over the edge. My hand lashed out, and he howled out his pain as my claw dragged through his face, blood spurting out like a fountain. Watching him clutch his face in pain, the blood partially blinding him before he started healing didn't faze me, it made me happy instead. I didn't feel an ounce of remorse for my actions.
• "I'll handle this month's shift just as I've always had." I continued, my gaze moving from one person to the other to get my point across. "No one should mess with my pack while I'm incapacitated because I won't hesitate to protect and stake a claim on what is mine. The witch cursed me right? Well, that curse is bullshit, and I don't believe whatever it was she spewed out of her flesh-eating mouth. I will find my mate, and once I do, none of you will run your mouth in disrespect."
• "That's if you live long enough to. The blood moon is just two years from now Dearil, once your time frame is up then you'll become lower than a filthy rogue, you'll be a mindless beast, and once that happens, we'll put you down like the animal you are"
• Black said as he moved towards me matching my stare, his face once more normal except for the blood and faint scars.
• "We are all Alphas here Dearil, you will not disrespect, attack us, and think you'll walk out of that door without being punished for it. We have our code of conduct Dearil Vaughn Lyall, and just because you're the son of the leader doesn't grant you any immunity".
• My muscles rippled with tension as I fought to stay in control. "I'll take my punishment like a man and I have never taken advantage of my status," I said, then glanced at the man who called himself my father. "How can I, when he doesn't even see me as his son?" I said and my father looked away from me, his face set grimly.
• They all turned to face him, waiting for my judgment.
• "A hundred lashes for hurting an Alpha, and another hundred for disobeying a direct order from me. Alpha Keres will deliver the beating, and you'll accept it without fighting back" he said, using his Alpha voice, and it weakened me effectively. It was useless to fight when he resorted to that. "This council meeting is dismissed, for now, but we'll entertain ourselves by watching you being brought to heel" he grinned, his eyes glowing a heated red as his canine grew longer.
• The other joined in while I stood in the center and stewed, my blood boiling from having to restrain myself from doing something I'd regret. I was strong but I knew I wouldn't survive a fight with four equally strong Alphas.
• I walked towards the punishment arena with my head held high. Getting tied up to the pole was humiliating, but I was willing to play along to buy myself some time.
• The first slash of the whip was a shock to my system. The scent of wolfsbane hit my senses as my skin sizzled, the pain ricocheting through, past my skin, and unto my soul until my wolf howled in pain and anger. I clenched my teeth, fisted my hand, and bore each strike without making a sound.
• Closing my eyes and breathing through my nose helped calm my wolf even though it rebelled against the very act that I was being put through.
• It was all the black witch's fault, and as the whip tore through my skin, and the first cry of pain wrenched out of my throat, I thought back to those grand days when we had hunted Etral forest, ridding it of all evil, killing anything that moved or breath, vampires, witches, and rogues alike.
• I was an Alpha who wanted to protect my pack, I wanted to make my father the greatest chief of Alpha, I wanted to be the best. I should have left the witch and her daughter alone, but my craving for blood had pushed me too far. I didn't see the void until I fell into it, and then it was chaos.