Red

Kasan’s POV:
That night… I killed those men? All along I thought father was out to kill an innocent pup solely because he feared what I’d become. I thought for sure that he was the one who severed our bonds because we were different. But I…I was the pathetic one who allowed myself to be devoured by my wolf’s bloodlust? I was the one who made myself into the monster he saw me as? I was the one who forced his hand?
If that is true…then I…do I even have the right to condemn father for what he’s done?
“You must be right…” I murmured. “I am the monster…just like he said…”
His features were immediately struck with shock, clearly, he didn’t expect those words to fall from my lips. But it was gone as quick as it came and he gritted his teeth. “Even though I knew full well what you were capable of, I still wanted to follow every step you took, I wanted to stick by your side. It was how I grew up, like a shadow behind you. Father didn’t care about me because I wasn’t the kind of leader he wanted. Despite that, I didn’t hate your guts, I only wanted to be like you. Even when you ran away and I was set to become the next leader of father’s men, I still chose to follow you. And even when I knew you only welcomed a pathetic human like me just to spite father, I still followed you. Do you think I did all that just to turn around and betray you? No. Father, mother…screw them both! I did it because you were more family to me than anyone else!”
A pang of guilt ran through me at his words, I couldn’t even counter.
“But this moment…you’ve been waiting for it, haven’t you? Considering how easily you believed someone you barely even know, you’ve been wanting to find a reason to rid me off this earth, haven’t you? You never liked me from the beginning, I was just a lost puppy following behind you, weren’t I? This chance… is probably like gold. Even when you gave me tasks… you chose the hardest of them all as if you wanted me to die. I’m obviously not as strong as you werewolves yet, instead of the others, I was the one who you chose to lead your pack in your absence. One bullet to the chest and I’d die, but you didn’t care. And no matter how many tantrums I threw, you never cared about that either. Yet your precious mate doesn’t even get the chance to touch a fucking table knife without your supervision.” He let out what sounded like a miserable chuckle. “You just don’t care about my existence and I can’t hold that against you.”
“Is that…” I swallowed. “…what you thought all along? That I was trying to get rid of you?”
“Am I wrong?” He glared.
Very wrong.
All that he’s said…I’ve never thought that way…ever.
I had my doubts so everything I asked of him, every job I gave him…was because I wanted to trust him. Wherever he went, I always made sure there were wolves ready to protect him at all costs, I never asked him to jump headfirst into danger on his own! Besides, he’s a human among wolves, if I treated him like a fragile weakling, he was bound to have felt out of place!
All that foolishness he just sprouted; does he really believe it?
Is this why he betrayed me…?
“Seriously?” I hopped off the table and swung my hand, sending it flying into the wall as I glared at his figure. I raked through my hair, my anger now hitting the roof. “Fuck! If I wanted to get rid of you, you would’ve been dead already, ages ago! That’s not why I-”
“It doesn’t matter.” He cut me off, hugging his knees as strands of his hair fell over his eye. “You said you wanted to know why I met with father? The elder proposed an offer to give him and his people the ability to shift. He told me he rejected the offer more than once but they kept approaching him after laying off for a while.”
So, they tried to get Father on their side? I wouldn’t put it pass that woman.
“When I met him a few days ago, he said they threatened to slaughter him and his people if he didn’t agree to the offer, it’s why he wanted to secure a deal with you. He sa—”
“A deal? With me? Are you crazy?”
That’s impossible…
I know for a fact that father hated my guts with everything he had in him. Even if he was a second away from dying, he wouldn’t reach out to grab my hand. Even if he’s at the end of his road, he would never ask me for help. Kenley should know that I’d never believe a lie so obvious.
I crossed my arms over my chest, scowling. “Father would never-”
“-join hands with the likes of you?” He finished my words with a smirk. “You already know how much of a coward he is. He was panicking when he asked to meet me, literally shaking in his shoes. If it meant getting rid of the elder and her plans, he would’ve done anything.”
“Then why…why the hell am I hearing this now? I swear to god if you’re lying to me, I will crush your fucking face!”
“How do you think I should’ve told you? Say ‘oh, I’ve been meeting with father and he told me to beg you to make a deal with him because he’s scared’? You would’ve treated me like a traitor, just as you’re doing now. And that deal…I knew for a fact that you wouldn’t take it.”
“What the fuck do you know?!” I growled, “If you had just told me, I wouldn’t have d—”
My words were cut short when the sudden sound of a twig snapping sounded. I paused, ears perking. Silence followed but soon after, I didn’t miss the unmistaken sound of footsteps. Over a dozen persons were closing in on shed, likely entering through the woods. Are they wolves? Enemy wolves?
Fuck. Why now? Why now of all fucking times?!
Clicking my tongue, I looked towards the door while sniffing the ear, hunting for any hints of a familiar scent. But I picked up on nothing but blood. These wolves, whoever they were, had hidden their scents. Which means…
…they’ve come for war….
I cracked my neck, teeth grinding in irritation as I moved off, stalking towards the door. Where the fuck are my wolves? If someone’s coming, they should’ve alerted me by now.
“We’re not done.” I told Kenley. “Move a muscle and you’re dead. I’ll take care of these pests and c—”
Loud cackling cut me off.
There’s someone this close to the shed?! This means they’ve already engaged with my people? What about Clara?! Where the fuck is she?!
“Who…Who is that?” A murmur came from Kenley.
“Get up! We’re surrounded!” I spun around, readying to grab Kenley by the arm, but it was in that moment that a loud bang was heard as the wall shattered behind him.
Everything happened so fast, I could barely react. One moment Kenley was leaning against the wall, peering around as if trying to spot the source of danger. And another moment, there was blood gushing from his lips and a hand piercing through his stomach, a hand that beared long claws, a hand that belonged to a werewolf.
The door slammed aside not too long after and the scents of Clara and Lucas drifted into my nostrils…still, I didn’t move. I didn’t move a muscle.
“KASAN! KENLEY IS NOT THE TRAITOR!”
That was Clara’s voice.
“ALPHA, WE MANAGED TO GET HERE FIRST BUT WE NEED TO MOVE. THEY ARE CLOSING IN FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS, A LOT OF THEM!”
And that was Lucas’.
The words they said…were at the forefront of my mind. The more I understood, the more it made me seethe. And the more I looked at the scene before my eyes, the more the world around me darkened. My wolf was angry, hunting for control while scratching at my consciousness.
“K-Kenley…”
No response, not even the twitch of his fingers…
Truthfully…I…wasn’t…going to kill him. I wasn’t going to touch another hair on his head. And yet, in the blink of an eye…right before me…
Something strong was building inside, a kind of rage that I’d never felt before…
My insides were tightening and my veins were popping, I could hardly feel my own limbs. All were signs that my wolf was forcing his way out…
But…I didn’t stop him.
Fuck. FUCK!
I WILL KILL THEM! I WILL KILL THEM ALL!
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For the first time in a long time, all I saw…
…was RED…