A Lot to Fight for

A Lot to Fight for
 I was sweating blood from every pore, coloring my skin red. The cabin was too silent, something was very wrong.

I tried to get up, but fell to the floor. The floor slippery with my life draining away for no apparent reason. I dragged myself to the door, leaned on it to stand up. I turned the doorknob, the room led to the old man's alchemy room, and he was sitting on the floor, next to the cauldron, sleeping with his head down. I staggered to him, and used my foot to wake him, but his body fell to the side.

By the gods, the old man wasn't sleeping, he had a dagger plunged into his chest. How long had he been like this? I couldn't tell if it was day or night, if hours or days, even weeks, had passed. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to achieve some lucidity amidst the pain I felt. The old man grabbed my hand and I opened my eyes with a start.

He whispered something, with difficulty, but I didn't understand. I bent down with great effort and approached his face.

"An Alpha for an Alpha!"

He opened his hand and showed a flask with a purple liquid.

"One of you will die, I didn't have time to make enough for both. You need to drink, Derik, the pack needs you! Forgive me, for little Rael, but I couldn't identify the witch before..."

I knew, from the distorted visions in my mind, I knew she was the one he was referring to. But, a witch? Damn her! All this time, right under our noses!

"How can she be a witch, I've known her since she was a pup! We grew up together!"

"She sold her soul, son, she's no longer your childhood friend!"

By the gods, what did she do? How did she do it?

"You're not going to die, old man, I need you!"

"I'm sorry, boy, know that I love you like a son, I always have!"

"You're the only father I've ever known, old man! I'd be nothing without you!"

"I know, I'm very proud of you!"

He closed his eyes, forever. I couldn't feel my nature, even amidst the pain. My pup, I need to see my pup, she wouldn't be capable of killing the pup!

Rael was lying on the bed, motionless, colorless... For a few seconds, my chest burned with the loss of the pup, until I noticed that his chest was moving, slowly, but he was still alive!

"Rael, you're going to be okay. Here, daddy will save you, son! Drink this, my alpha son! That's it! Drink it all!"

He opened his eyes, but pouted when he saw my state.

"Alpha..."

"No, pup, you can always call me dad."

He hugged me, even covered in blood as I was. His arms were like embers, burning the skin where they touched.

"You'll be a good Alpha, you'll take care of your mommy Nadja and your little brother, promise?"

He hugged me tighter, crying, even though he didn't understand that I was saying goodbye, he knew something was wrong.

"Promise, my son, that you'll take care of mommy Nadja and your little brother!"

"Okay, daddy, I pwomise, I'll take care of mommy Nadja and my little bwother or sister!"

"Good boy!"

I touched his face, but regretted it, for getting blood on him.

"Daddy will send someone to pick you up, okay? Will you be quiet for daddy?"

He nodded, lay back down on the bed and buried his face in the pillow, crying.

I went out the door, but collapsed to the floor with an attack of intense pain. I wouldn't be able to reach my female like this. I needed help.

"Great goddess, I implore you, help me return to my third form so I can fix my past mistake once and for all!

My body exploded into my third form, and I couldn't measure the pain I felt as my body convulsively molded itself. All the beast wanted was to reach our Luna in time, and to get revenge on the witch who killed us.



SHE

I opened my eyes, my eyelids were heavy, and I closed them again. Is it day or night? It doesn't matter. I hugged a pillow, the bed was too comfortable for me to get up. I heard knocks on the door, I didn't answer. The knocks got louder, but I didn't turn over, I was so tired. I needed to sleep a little more, why were the jailers making so much noise?

Someone called my name, I think it was a dream. Rebecca must still be sleeping, she would wake me up if it was time to work.

I heard a bang, then another, and the sound of the metal mug hitting hard somewhere, but sleep was so strong…

A strong smell of blood and rotten flesh invaded my nostrils when I felt damp hands touch my face.

— Female! Wake up, you can't sleep, it will weaken you

— My Alpha, didn't you leave me?

— I would never leave you, if I had a choice, my Luna! You need to wake up, don't let the spell mess with your head!

— Spell? What spell?

— Hira is a witch, she is messing with our emotions. Weakening our bond weakens us too!

I closed my eyes tightly, to concentrate. When I finally managed to look at my Alpha, I noticed that he was covered in blood and a kind of dark slime, both coming out of his pores and covering his skin.

— My Alpha, what happened to you?

— I'm so sorry, Nadja…. I thought I would have all the time in the world to love you properly, as you deserve, but I don't. I've already sent for your gammas, they will protect you, take care of you and our pups. I beg you to take care of Rael.

Derik lost his strength and fell to the ground. He was breathing with difficulty and when he coughed, blood came out of his mouth.

— What's happening, Derik? I don't understand! — I looked for injuries on his body, but there was nothing, the smell coming from his mouth was rotten, like the slime mixed with the blood on his skin.

— A spell…. An Alpha for an Alpha…. Hira is a witch…. Rael is healed, so, it's all in me….

I naively tried to lift him, in vain, I desperately screamed for help, guards rushed into the room and knelt before my Alpha, their heads bowed, as if he were already dead.

A spell….. How do you cure a blood spell? I don't know, and I don't feel my wolf.

— You're not going to die! I still have a lot to fight with you about, you arrogant, idiotic alpha!

He tried to smile and touched my face with his bloody finger. I didn't feel the aura of his wolf, but the Beast was still there, although very weak!