Furious eyes bound Deimos beneath their sharp claws ready to plunge deep into flesh and draw blood, unhesitant mouths fling words of daggers towards him. Each strike of theirs he takes calmly with strength as a true warrior.
His spine straight head tilted up he meets the eyes of each present wolf. The chaos has merely begun yet it spreads unmercifully like wildfire. The pack erupts in flames, a tradition held with deep respect and honour broken down by their Alpha. What they had known as right and prideful stomped on by whom they are led by.
The elders are calm among the shrieking voices, their eyes unwavering from Deimos. They watch him as vultures watch dead prey circling, waiting to feast. I see the respect they held for him die with time, disgust seeping forward taking control.
Deimos sees this, he understands this so he allows this. He has the power to cage them, to control them, to bind them to his decision leaving them with no escape but to follow. But that is not the kind of Alpha he is, this I know. He leads with righteousness and truth therefore he allows the fire to spread.
The wolves from my pack peer up at Deimos with fresh new empowering emotions. They regard him with respect for his decision, they see him in a new light. They stride slowly towards me gathering around, a sign that they shall stand by to defend him and me. Their warmth comforts me for I know I am protected. I peek up at him who stands upon the stage by himself, is he protected? A question with a determined answer. An answer that depends on me.
More wolves who uphold his decision move towards me crowding around one and other, low growls booming from their chests to the ones who are against this. A free path lays between two groups, a division within the pack has been born.
“Your father would be disappointed. I hope you are aware of that.” An older female whispers from the back and the crowd quietens instantly, a void opens up swallowing the chaos leaving the spotlight upon her. She can barely walk her back hunched as she clutches the walking stick tightly within her trembling hand. There is no emotion she portrays on display watching Deimos with her eerie black eyes that seem to capture him and force him to be anchored.
She is such a tiny female so frail and weak yet her words hold immense power for what she had uttered broke his shield as soon as she struck. He looks away eyes sinking to his feet, there is a tremble of his clenched fists that he quickly hides behind his back. Memories rush him, memories of his training, of his father. The one thing he had always sought was his father’s pride towards him and acknowledgement of his leadership.
The chatter stops and the flames halt, they gaze up at him preying on his sudden weakness. These wolves, they disgust me. He has done everything, everything including putting our bond second to them. Yet here they are throwing their arrows to make him bleed all because of their closed minds.
There is a sag to his shoulder he had help up high, there is a hunch to his back he had held up straight and strong. That female knew exactly what would bring him to his knees. This they find his biggest betrayal to them, he should banish them all. Leave them to the rogues to feast on their flesh.
He needs support, a voice that shall speak for him. I straighten my back eyes glower at the wolves standing opposite to me. I will do my duty as Luna. I take the first strong step towards him determination pounding in my veins, I shall instil fear within these overbearing wolves. I shall ruin their preying eyes.
Deimos’s eyes quickly snap to me as they widen slightly, he gives me a curt shake of his head. “No.” His mouth whispers. Frowning paying no heed to his words I take another step forward Deimos nods to a wolf behind me and a warm hand captures me swiftly clutching my bicep pulling me back.
“Luna.” Ragon whispers his eyes serious whilst he gazes at me. “You must not go. This is his fight, not yours.”
As I open my mouth to protest against his words, Deimos trudges down the stairs of the stage. He stands in front of the two groups, his heart sinks deep knowing that he has caused a division one he expected yet one that is painful to him for after all he grew up with them, they held him when he was alone.
“I understand your upsetness with me and my decision. I shall not force you all to abide by it.” He says voice booming through the land, tone strong and dominant. He carries his authority with humbleness. This is why your wolves dare to go against you, Deimos. “I allowed you all to lead me, after my parents died and Phobos left you gave me warmth. A warmth that comforted me, a warmth that saved me. I was grateful so I allowed the pack to lead me I thought it was the only way for I owed you all but from here onwards I shall be the one to lead.”
Heat. The heat of caged fury is unleashed his words hold his truth. As an Alpha, the pack comes first but he has chosen otherwise. A new path he has started upon. A new era.
“This tradition holds who we are as a pack, if you end it our ancestors shall seek retribution from you.” Another female speaks up her voice raised so every wolf present can hear. Many nod in acknowledgement of her words, their beliefs standing strong above all thoughts. They are blinded by this, they see no wrong in this.
Deimos pays no heed to her words as he begins to strip himself off his shirt, no fear oozes from him but a gut-wrenching sadness one kept from others in the depth of his mind and heart bare only for me to witness.
I do not understand what is happening wishing to know further I take a step forward to get closer to him, to possess a better understanding of the entirety of the situation only for Ragon to pull me back once more. I bare my teeth at him with a snarl my wolf not liking his antics. She will not let him overpower us just because he is a male whom we like.
“The challenge to my title is open, but know this. You will meet the moon if you choose to go against me.” Deimos whispers, an early warning he gives. If he had spoken aloud it may seem normal but he whispered. This itself is a sign that he shall give no mercy.
“Challenge? What challenge?” I question into the crowd, whilst Deimos rotates his neck relaxing his limbs. Closing his eyes shut he prepares himself, for what I have no idea that comes to light within me.
The situation seemed so unclear until it happened, elders pushing potential warriors forward, strong male wolves to fight him. To strip him of his title for what he has done is unredeemable and unworthy in their eyes. Understanding swells within me, he is being challenged for his title.
He opens his eyes only to find a line of wolves merely waiting for their turn. He meets the eyes of each one of them and nods as an acceptance of their challenge. Memories flood him with no hesitation, memories he had with some of them. These were his warriors after all but this… this is their biggest betrayal to him as a pack.
Deimos is swift his wolf not giving him any time for emotional thoughts to consume him surging forward breaking barriers of control, scorching red eyes awaken from within. Body moulds itself to birth his wolf whilst his bones snap plunging upward through flesh and skin.
His wolf stands tall onyx fur dancing to the music of the summer breeze, he slouches low on his front legs lips pulled back fangs on display, his title has been threatened and he shall not allow it whatsoever. This male unlike Deimos has no issue with feasting upon the flesh of his pack.
They are weaklings in his eyes, weaklings taking the seats he offered them upon his table for granted.