Reigning myself into calmness trying to show that I am not fleeing and this is not a sign of surrender or defeat I am struck by surprise as a large hand strikes forward grabbing the female by her jaw. His claws poke into the flesh of her cheek making her bleed. Adding little pressure he crushes her jaw bone with ease. She is old and her bones are weak making it easier for Deimos to break them.
“Disrespect my female again. I dare you.” Deimos spits words of fire as the old female screams her eyes rolling back she sways unable to handle the pain given to her. Her punishment. He takes another step towards her as she crawls to the ground.
“Alpha please don’t. She is my mother.” Another female barges through the crowd kneeling onto the grass floor along with her bleeding mother. It will take longer for her to heal for she has merely a few more years to live.
“Move. She has not received my punishment yet. She is not worthy to be a part of my pack. She must die.” He hisses out his command his eyes peering down at them with a burning furious intensity. His look is enough to scare the storms away. She shall face his wrath.
“Please, Alpha. Please.” The female begs on behalf of her mother. She covers her mother with her body acting as a shield. Her body trembles knowing what is bound to happen she is thinking of ways this might turn out.
“Ragon.” Deimos says and his beta emerges from the shadows. He strides with eerie coldness eyes emotionless as though he is an empty soul that merely receives commands to follow. I haven’t seen Ragon this way before. He holds the young female by her shoulders caging her in his arms pulling her away from her mother.
“Alpha, please. I beg you, please don’t.” The female fights Ragon’s hold nails digging into his flesh. He grunts trying to hold onto her.
Deimos moves to kneel by the bleeding female who whimpers loudly in agony of the pain he has caused his claws shimmer in the sunlight one swipe at her throat he will spill life.
“I-I will take punishment on her behalf. Spare my mother.” The young female pleads her chest heaving as she struggles to breathe through Ragon’s crushing grip. Tears stream down her cheeks her eyes swollen and red. Her heart pounds in her chest and the smell of her gut-wrenching fear saturates the air.
Deimos seems to think for a moment for this is allowed in a pack. A family member taking punishment on another’s behalf. “Bring her to me.” He instructs.
Ragon immediately brings the still now obedient female near us. She does not struggle merely shutting her eyes with low whimpers preparing for death. A death that shall be on display for every wolf to see.
Deimos raises his hand high preparing to kill her in one strike so she feels no pain. The only mercy he can show her.
“Deimos, don’t.” Without thinking, my hands go out to clamp around his wrist holding onto him. He may not be able to show the kind of mercy that is needed for that is his title but I… I can. I do not want any death to overcome and darken the brightness of Kal’s special day.
His halts immediately eyes widening whilst he turns slowly his eyes landing on my palms that touch his flesh. My eyes broaden like him by the surprise of my action. I touched him. I didn’t mean to, it happened naturally. I didn’t think. I didn’t think.
Quickly extracting my hands from his flesh I clear my throat and look towards the trees in the distance. Well, this is awkward.
“My female has saved a worthless piece of trash that does not deserve to be saved. Perhaps death is not what I can give you for Lumina does not want it but a severe punishment is what I will give in return. Take her to where we keep our captives I will deal with her when I see fit.” He says. Ragon straightens preparing to carry out his next order.
“Thank you. Thank you.” The elder whispers beneath her breath her chest pulling in painfully with a wheeze.
“Apologize. Kneel and beg.” Deimos instructs taking a step back looking down at her with spite as if he finds her disgusting.
She gathers her energy crawling to my feet. Once she is settled she kneels her right hand supporting her hanging jaw that cannot seem to thread itself together. “Forgive me for my disrespect, Luna.” She whispers her eyes unable to meet mine. Shame mixed with a now a deep-rooted fear surges within her.
“If I hear or see anyone disrespecting my female you will die by my hands. Do you all understand?” He roars his eyes blazing the sound of his words manifests into a thunderstorm of wrath.
“Yes, Alpha.” Many reply back to him.
Hands held behind his back he walks to the group of females who were with his chosen that day. Bending down closer to them he whispers, “I cannot hear you.” He grits out.
“Yes, Alpha.” They scream in unison in acceptance of his command. He gives them a curt nod of satisfaction and walks back to my side.
“Let the ceremony recommence.” He mutters and the wolves waiting in line smile once again preparing to meet their future Alpha the tension quickly melting away. His lesson has been taught.
From beneath my lashes, I peek at Deimos who stands at my side acting as a shield putting down wolves for my sake, taking the blame for me. Is this an act or do you truly… truly feel for me?
As the sunsets, the ceremony comes to an end. When the last wolf gives his wishes to Kal and joins the others, Deimos immediately scoops Kal from the crib pushing his face into his neck so his male can calm and relax knowing he is safe with his father.
“You did well. You did well, my male. Forgive me for putting you through this, it must have been hard for you.” Deimos speaks while gently rocking Kal whose eyes begin to flutter close. Tiredness taking over his senses.
Deimos turns towards me. “He must be hungry, my female. You need to feed him, yes?” He questions and I nod in reply. “Here take him.”
I walk over to Deimos ready to carry my male back home as a wolf clearing his throat from behind me has my attention quickly like none other. It’s a feeling rooted deep within me. It’s a knowing of who is present.
“Lumina.” The wolf whispers my name. My eyes widening I swiftly turn around to meet him.