He grips Joseph by his throat as he growls loud in his face. “Where is she? Where has that wench gone?” Alarick demands making Joseph tremble in place.
“I – I do not know sir! I swear. I do not know.” He holds his hands up defensively but Alarick does not buy his cowardly tactics. He knows Joseph far too well, better than Joseph considers to admit.
“Lies! All lies! Search the premises!” He gestures the guards as Dylan comes forward, taking Joseph away from the room and tries him at a near tree.
***
“Dylan, you have to believe me young boy! I have no idea where your mother is; and I can assure you she was not trying to harm any one.” He obliges to persuade Dylan, but to no avail.
“Save it you perfidious scoundrel! I heard your conversation with her earlier today. You killed my father! And for that, you’re going to pay.” Dylan takes a few steps back, allowing himself to turn to his wolf.
Joseph’s eyes turn from nerves to terror as the massive grayish brown and white wolf comes to view in front of him.
His heart raises at a million per second, his throat suddenly dry as he gulps down harshly to utter his words out.
“P- please! A- Ash- Asher, please I beg of you. I meant no harm. Your mother, obliged me to kill him. Please Asher, I beg of you! Show some mercy on this old lycan I’m begging you boy!” He pleads, his
lips tremble as he quivers and shakes.
Asher (Dylan’s wolf) chuckles as his nose wrinkles and slowly makes his way, circling around the tree, his long paws making tracks on the earthed ground and his long tail slowly erasing them as he moves his massive body around Joseph.
“I always thought it was evident my father did not have an accident. It was too obvious someone had set him up. Now I know why. You and that wench killed him. You will have mercy! I will give you a heads up.” With his claw, he drips the strap holding Joseph steady on the tree, Joseph’s body falls to the ground with a thud as the straps break him loose.
“I- don’t understand! What do you mean heads up?” He narrows his eyebrows in confusion and runs the back of his neck.
“You have to the count of five to run before I come after you and rip your head off of that conniving body of yours.” Joseph’s eyes widen once again in terror, he takes a step back and falls on his behind as he stumbles on a small root above the earthed ground.
Quickly he stands as he sees Asher near him. “1-” Asher begins to count, he growls and moves slowly towards him.
Quickly, Joseph turns his body and makes a run for it. “2, 3, 4” Asher shouts his counting as Joseph makes a run for the forest. Running across, and past many trees. He knows he may be able to out run him if he shifts to his lycan form, and as he nears a small creek, he swiftly shifts.
The seconds it takes him to shift, is enough for Asher to catch up to him. Tackling him down to the ground with a big thud as they both scatter on the floor. Turning and tossing against each other.
Both growling loud, Joseph drags his long claws across with force as he tries to hurt Asher on his jaw, but he moves before he can get him, jumping behind him, giving Joseph no time to act, as he turns and is met with the hard bite to his head.
Before he can act, Joseph’s head flies above the sky, landing by the waters. His body slowly falling to its knees and falling to the ground.
Asher slowly walks, circling around the decapitated corpse of Joseph. He sneers, and can’t help but let out a whimper and a tear escapes his eyes he reminisces about the happy moments he had with his dad.
He slowly shifts back to his human form and walks back to meet with Alarick and the rest. His head hangs low as he exits the forest. The moonlight slowly makes his body noticeable and Elena slowly places a warm blanket around him. He wraps himself around her. Both allowing themselves to cry for the reality of the loss of their father.
“I should have gone with him that day Ella! It should of been me protecting him that day! I knew something was off, I should have followed my instincts! I-”
“Shh! Dylan, it’s ok. You didn’t know. We both didn’t know! You can’t blame yourself for this. Please brother! We have to stick together. Promise me, no matter what happens, we will always stick together and look out for each other! Promise me brother!?” She cups his face, her cheeks stained with tears mimicking his own resemblance.
“I promise sister! ALWAYS!!”
She hugs him tight and kisses his cheek. She can taste the saltiness of his sorrow.
“Ella!” Harou runs towards them as he heaves trying to catch his breath.
“Is it true? My princess?” His eyes filled with tears as he runs a hand across his chest. Elena smiles and walks towards him.
“Harou! Yes. It’s true. I’m sorry Harou, my mother is the cause for all this. But I promise you that Alarick and I will find her and make her pay for this treachery.” He nods, closing his eyes.
“I don’t care what happens to Carrie. I just want to hold my baby girl. Please Ella! Where is she?” He looks at her with a gleam of hope in his eyes. Elena gestures for him to turn and the moonlight hits the direction of Alarick holding a tiny bundle in his arms.
Harou quickly runs to him, stopping just in time to see a little hand moving about from out of the small blanket covering her body.
Her tiny eyes now mildly open, revealing a set of beautiful baby blues like her dad’s. A head full of raven black hair like her mother’s.
“May I?” He gestures Alarick, asking for permission as he holds his hands up.