Eyes of fire
Killian
Logan poked his head into the door just after opening it gently. His smile, a tight, lifted one, on his face expressed that he had probably heard some part of the previous conversation and most likely smelled the anger coming off me in droves.
“I don’t know if this will lift your spirits, but it certainly does need some lifting,” he chuckled at his own dry joke as he walked in slowly. “It would seem that your mate wishes to speak with you as a matter of urgency.”
I just gestured for him to sit, one that he took with a grain of salt from his expression. My young niece didn’t say much, but he raised a finger. “It seems the human is slightly disgruntled about something. She would like to vent her grievances to you, if you don’t mind.”
My beast leapt for joy within at the prospect that perhaps I would see her, pull her into an embrace, and mark her neck. 'You whining little puppy. ' I shifted at my worst. None of that would be happening at any point or any time whatsoever. Still, Brandon’s words came back to mind, that even though I was supposed to wear her ago and even though my mind did, my heart deep down did not want to. Reasons, of course, were only known to my internal system.
“Fine,” I said. “After the council meeting.”
My voice shook a little, as though I myself wasn’t so sure about the council meeting. Anything could happen, I thought, and I carried that same thought until the next day as I donned my mirror.
Lucas stood beside me, not saying anything. He too had the straight expression on his face. It was almost as though I imagined him to be a cat, and the cat stood on its front haunches, almost as if ready for battle. He said nothing even as I walked into the hall and sat in front of both council members and pack members alike.
A different scent flowed into my nose. Interesting that my nose could pick it out amongst the other sea of rather distasteful scents floating around. Hers was too distinct, too important not to take note of. Instantly, my beast, asleep within me, arose, rearing his head and baring his fangs in position. 'Claim her, ' he said. 'Claim her. '
That was all I heard through the entire council proceedings until one particular sentence snapped me out of this light haze.
“As the Alpha stands on his position, it is well known that the pack members can rest upon him to be sturdy, never moving like a rock. Today, we must thank him for dispelling all the rules laid before us.”
Brandon mumbled. Baldwin, a friend beside him, mumbled the same. Somehow, in that moment, something snapped within me.
“Sturdy like a rock?” I asked myself. “Stand firm?” That was far from the truth.
I looked up suddenly toward the hall and the other inhabitants, my nose flaring as I searched for a scent. I found it, but just that instant, she stood clearly, the one. She was cloaked, but her dark hair peeked out from the sides of the hood over her face. Her pale hands, bloodied, clutched onto the clothing as she scuffled through the crowd of mumbling and audible “excuse me” from where I sat.
Confused, I watched as she left the hall until I felt another snap within me. She was gone. I didn’t know for how long, but I stared out the door for what felt like forever until I noticed she wasn’t coming back.
Another sentence was said that seemed to tip me further over the scale of the ever-growing madness and insanity building inside me. I trembled slightly as more condescending words floated out of the council members’ mouths. I briefly caught sight of Logan, who placed a hand on the table and slowly stood.
“Outside,” he called out, his voice louder and cutting into the mumbles of the other council members.
My head was bowed now, my fingers laced together as I fought with my beast for control. 'She has left, ' it growled in my ears and in my mind, pulling control from me and taking it.
My eyes snapped open, and I knew it wasn’t 'my ' eyes that saw. After all, it was in a haze of red. I heard my own growl coming from my mouth as my claws slowly elongated. I could feel it as my nose, lips, and jaw started to form into the snout of my beast. I felt the change coming, but it didn’t matter.
I saw the surprised faces of my council members.
“Alpha!” Brandon’s voice was loud and around me. “Do not give in to the beast,” he said. “Fight it,” he said. “You have the strength.”
I felt a soft hand on my shoulder and dipped my head quickly to see who it was. It was 'not ' my mate.
My beast growled. 'It is not mate. It is stranger. ' He growled further. All hopes to reason with him proved futile; after all, he was beast. He lived only on instincts, and the instinct to mate, the instinct to find her, rolled above all others.
The desperate need to see her, to inhale her scent, to mark her, took over him. With a fully shifted arm, he pushed Selena away, causing her to let out a scream as she slammed into the wall behind.
That was when all hell broke loose. Pandemonium, screams, a stampede followed. The council members began to push over themselves to get out of the hall through the entrance closest to them, save for Logan.
I walked slowly, breathing in and out just as slowly, baring my fangs at the elder. He just stood as I reached for the marble table in front of him and flung it toward the wall behind me. He still stood straight, breathing in slowly despite the fear that I could smell coming off the old geezer in rows.
He shut his eyes and spread out his hands. He would no sooner accept death, even if it came from me.
“I would rather it be you,” he said. “No one else. My life is yours, my Alpha.”
He turned slightly, exposing the soft skin of his neck in submission. I raised one claw to his neck, touched it, and that was all. I acknowledged his submission.
“Enough from the old man,” my beast thought as he pushed him lightly to the side, let out a roar, and began to search for her.