38- A Lesson in Blood
POV Edric Eldoria:
He opened his mouth, breathing with difficulty.
"She belongs to Alpha Alessio," he whispered, the only thread of voice that still passed through his compressed throat.
I roared, squeezing my hand so hard that the bones of his neck snapped with a dry, sharp crack, echoing through the treetops like the melody of death. The broken bones twisted into grotesque angles, tearing through the skin as the throat was crushed. More blood gushed out, drenching me. His body went limp in my hand. I released him, letting him fall beside his comrade.
I stood up, my hands filthy with blood, my chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. I stared at the two corpses, feeling my irritation reach dangerous levels. The pallor of death was already spreading across their skin.
I walked over to them, pressed my foot on the neck of one, and crouched down, pulling his body to the other side. The broken bones made it difficult, but I applied more strength, tearing the head from the rest of the torso. Blood poured like a waterfall, staining the leaves on the ground, forming a small red pool. The metallic stench wrapped around me. I liked it, liked the way it burned in my nose. It reeked of death. The death of my enemies. And that was... fun and pleasurable.
I went to the second wolf and repeated the movement, beheading him as well. Grabbing both heads by the hair, I walked toward my house.
"What are you going to do?" Anton asked, confused and shocked. I didn’t stop to answer, continuing on my path.
"Bury the bodies," I ordered, raising my face to the full moon that was rising in the sky. "I have a lesson to teach a little wolf. No one ignores me. No one."
After teaching the little wolf her lesson, I would study a way to kill that bastard Alpha who dared believe he had enough strength to challenge me, sending his cursed wolves into my territory. He would be wiped from the face of the Earth.
"Edric, I don’t know if this is a good idea," Andrei warned. I smiled.
"You’re right, it’s not a good idea. It’s an excellent idea."
Laughing loudly, I kept walking with long, determined strides.
(...)
POV Lunara Grimwald:
I looked at Celindra, enchanted by her beauty and kindness.
Her eyes were almond-shaped and Asian, set in a face with delicate yet distinctly striking features. Her mouth was heart-shaped, her nose small and slightly upturned, and her jawline was slim. Dark hair fell straight and shiny over the medium-brown skin of her shoulders, and she moved with natural elegance as she circled the room, serving the little cakes to the students.
She was tall and slender, with long arms and legs and a thin torso. Unlike Lyris, who exuded strength, Celindra was delicate.
The pups were between ten and twelve years old and were getting ready to go to the forest for a picnic. Lyris leaned against the wall beside me, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on her beloved.
"She’s beautiful," I whispered, nudging her shoulder slightly.
She smiled and gave me a look before turning her gaze back to Celindra.
"I know," she agreed, sighing dreamily. "And it’s not just her beauty. Celindra is… good, pure, and generous. She loves being with these pups, teaching them, welcoming new classes, and seeing former students take important steps toward their futures." She pointed her chin toward the beta. "She’s always willing to help others, sees goodness in everyone, and is driven by forgiveness. No matter what someone has done, she’ll always be willing to forgive. Very different from me." She laughed. "I’m extremely resentful."
Lyris spoke of Celindra with so much love, affection, and devotion. For a moment, I felt envy for what they had, because that was what I wanted, what I dreamed for myself.
I wished someone would love me, look at me, and speak of me the way Lyris spoke of Celindra. Their love was beautiful.
I let out a broken breath.
"I believe that’s how it works, how things flow so well. One different from the other, they complete each other."
"Hey…" She tapped my shoulder. "Why do you look sad?"
I smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but I felt the smile didn’t reach my eyes.
"Once, I dreamed I would have that, you know?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I mean, I thought I would live that with Alessio, that he was the perfect male for me."
Lyris looked at me, sympathetic.
"But he wasn’t," she stated.
"No, he wasn’t," I agreed. "Not him, not anyone. I’ll never be able to live a love like that."
For a few seconds, neither of us said a single word. Lyris observed me in silence, brows furrowed, lips pressed tightly together.
"I’m sorry, Lunara," she whispered, surprising me by speaking my nickname. "I wish things were different for you."
I smiled.
"Yeah, me too."
If only I were accepted in the pack, I could live beside my sister. And for the moment, that was enough for me.
Celindra approached us, smiling shyly as she looked at Lyris.
"Thank you for the cakes, I’m sure they’ll love them. They’re already so happy and even more excited about the trip," she said gratefully.
I shrugged.
"It was nothing. I can do it more often. Cooking isn’t a problem for me, and I really enjoy pleasing the pups."
Getting bored, yes, that was a problem. If needed, I would cook every single day for them with the greatest pleasure.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed someone entering the room. I smelled her without needing to turn to confirm. She reeked of filthy bitch.
"This is the first time since this school was founded that Thalira has come here," Celindra commented.
I kept my eyes fixed on her, ignoring that damned wolf.
Lyris looked at me before turning back to her girlfriend.
"Oh, but I know exactly why she came," she said, pointing her chin. "She’s dying of jealousy over Lunara, so she’ll keep chasing her like a bitch after a bone."
I rolled my eyes.
"If she wants Edric so badly, she can have him all to herself," I hissed.
Celindra laughed.
"How sweet, the love of you two, bonded wolves," she teased.
She must have known the truth. I highly doubted Lyris would hide anything from her female. I doubted even more that Edric would prevent her from telling her beloved. They were like a team.
"Just like in the romance novels," I mocked.
They burst into laughter, and I joined them, relaxed, truly at ease for the first time since I had arrived at the school. I had been tense, worried that the pups wouldn’t like my cakes.
Some parents wandered around the room, helping the pups with their things for the picnic, as did the wolves in charge of security. Deep down, I knew this was only necessary because of Alessio’s pursuit of me.
Thalira approached, stopping at our side. Lyris and Celindra ignored her, as did I.
"Today is going to be a very special day," she said, smiling broadly.
Lyris raised a brow.
"Is it? And may I ask why?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Nothing much, I just feel it’s going to be a special day."
"Yuck!" a pup exclaimed and began spitting.
Celindra quickly rushed to the boy, touching his shoulder, trying to understand what was happening. Then another pup did the same, coughing violently.
"What’s happening?" the teacher asked, panicking.
The students began making gagging noises in their throats as if they were getting sick.