3rd person’s POV
The moon hung low over the Bloodmoon Pack, sending a faint light across the Borders. The aftermath of the rogue strike was clear-blood-stained dirt, injured soldiers being treated, and the acrid odor of smoke hanging in the air. Despite the triumph, Dimitri felt a lot of stress. Every conflict, every skirmish, triggered something evil inside him-something he had long battled to suppress.
Dimitri, the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, had always taken pleasure in his control and iron will, which had gained him the respect of his pack and the terror of his foes. But deep down, he dreaded a part of himself: the cursed Lycan blood coursing through his veins, threatening to unleash a savage anger. He had lived with it for years, constantly cautious and on alert. However, with the escalating attacks and betrayals, that control has began to erode.
Tonight’s duel was the closest yet.
As Dimitri alongside Kate and Louis were heading back to the Pack house, there came an alert from the Eastern border of the pack, there is another yet another attack from the rogues, the rogues have been attacking relentless now, they are really on to them, and the information Roland had be passing to them has really made them vulnerable.
They hadn’t record any other death asides the first attack but their were injured men.
The other packs are also receiving threat messages from the rogues and they have also been seeing rogues lurking at their pack border, so it’s really hard for the ally packs to provide them with more Warriors as they are also safeguarding their packs.
Dimitri tightened his fists as he stood at the edge of the pack’s training grounds, his body still humming with adrenaline from the battle. His chest heaved as he took slow, controlled breaths, attempting to quiet the tempest brewing inside him. His muscles shook, not from tiredness, but from the effort to keep his Lycan side from fully erupting. During the battle, his eyesight dimmed, and he nearly let go.
He could still feel his beast clawing to the surface, eager for blood and devastation. It was a raw, primordial power with no respect for logic or control. And it had come too close tonight. Way too near.
“Dimitri?” Kate’s words interrupted his thoughts.
He turned to find her standing a few yards away, her face etched with anxiety. Her golden eyes mirrored the moonlight, and her presence, like always, gave peace to his agitated spirit. But even now, the serenity felt fragile, like a tiny thread that may break at any time.
“We are victorious once more,” she said, moving closer. But something is awry. “I can feel it.” You seem to be disturbed from within and I can tell it is not just about the frequent attacks.
Dimitri turned away, unwilling to face her sight. He did not want her to witness the evil that existed within him. She was his Luna, the one person who could keep him grounded, but even she didn’t realize the full scope of his curse.
“It’s nothing,” he said, his voice low and scratchy. “Just tired.”
Kate narrowed her gaze and pressed her lips into a tight line. “Do not lie to me, Dimitri. I know you better than that. You have been distant since the conflict. “What is going on?”
Dimitri inhaled hard, attempting to calm himself, but the beast within him raged, begging to be heard. He could feel his grip failing again, and his hands trembled briefly. His gaze shifted to Kate, noticing the anxiety in her eyes, which just added to the tension.
“I-” His voice caught, and he tightened his jaw. How could he explain that to her? How could he make her realize that he was scared of himself and what he may become if he lost control?
Kate stretched out and softly placed her hand on his arm. “Whatever it is, Dimitri, you do not have to carry it alone. “I am here.”
Her touch was warm and relaxing, but it also left him feeling vulnerable. She had seen him at his lowest point, battled beside him, and saved him more than he could count. She had seen him control his Lycan form but she had never seen him when he is unable to control it, which makes him anxious.
Dimitri gulped hard, his throat tightening. “It’s the curse,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The lycan blood. “It’s getting harder to control.”
Kate’s eyes widened, but she did not back away. “I’ve seen you control it before,” she added quietly. “You’re stronger than it.”
“Not always,” he said, his voice harsh. “Tonight, during the battle…” Kate, I almost lost it. I could feel it take control. The wrath; the hunger. It’s like a fire inside me, and I’m not sure whether I can stop it from engulfing me.”
Kate tightened her grasp on his arm, her stare furious. “You cannot let it win. “You are not the monster it wants you to be.”
Dimitri shook his head, his chest squeezing with anxiety. “What if I’m Kate? What if, one day, I lose control and attack you? Or the pack? “I’m not sure how much longer I can fight it.”
Kate moved closer, her fingers moving up to cup his cheek. “You aren’t alone in this. You have me, Louis and the pack. We will fight this together. “We believe in you.
Her words soothed his strained nerves, but they couldn’t take away the nagging anxiety. He wanted to believe her, to think that he could contain the beast within himself, but each conflict pushed him closer to the edge. And one day, he may not be able to pull back.
He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. For the time being, her presence deterred the beast, but he knew it wouldn’t last forever. “I don’t want to lose you,” he muttered.
“You won’t,” Kate stated firmly. “Not to the curse; not to anything. We’ll confront this together, Dimitri. Always.”
Dimitri opened his eyes and met hers, feeling the weight of her words. She believed in him even when he did not believe in himself. That should suffice for the time being.
But as the night progressed, the weight of his curse remained, a constant reminder that the battle within him was far from over.
***
Later that night, Dimitri stood on the balcony, overlooking the dark forest, as the pack fell into a tense but temporary peace. The cool breeze did little to quell the raging fire inside him, the cursed Lycan blood still simmering beneath the surface. He hadn’t told Kate everything, including how close he had been to losing control during the battle. The truth was, he was terrified of what he could become if he allowed the curse to take hold.
He’d managed to keep the beast locked away for years, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Every fight and challenge seemed to fuel the fire, and tonight had been the worst yet. He could feel the shift: his vision blurred, his senses sharpened, and his rage flared up. For a minute, he longed to cut through the rogues with his own hands.
And he would have, if Kate had not been present.
Her voice, her presence-it was the only thing that had brought him back and prevented him from becoming the monster he feared. But what if one day she isn’t there? What if the beast within him eventually burst out, with no one to stop it?
Dimitri grabbed the railing, his knuckles white. He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t lose control. Not now, not ever. His pack depended on him, Kate depended on him. But the more he battled it, the more the curse appeared to push back, testing his limitations, daring him to give in.
A rustling sound behind him made him tense, and he turned to see Louis climbing onto the balcony.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Louis asked, his voice low.
“Something like that,” Dimitri mumbled.
Louis leaned against the railing beside him, his look serious. “You’ve been on edge since the conflict. Is it… the curse?”
Dimitri didn’t answer immediately away, but he understood there was no sense in hiding it. Louis had been with him long enough to recognize the signals, and he had always been the one to watch his back. “Yeah. “It is becoming more difficult to control.”
Louis nodded, his expression stern. I understand and I’m so proud of you how you been able to held back with the rising threats, the attacks and the betrayer.
Dimitri groaned and ran a hand over his hair. “I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it together, Louis. Tonight, I nearly lost it.”
Louis maintained a steady focus on him. “But you didn’t. You held on. That is what matters.
“For the time being,” Dimitri said bitterly. But what about next time? Or the period after that?
Louis paused for a time before speaking, his voice calm but forceful. “You are stronger than this, Dimitri. I’ve seen you fight the curse for years, yet you’ve not allowed it take control since the incident . “You will not let it win now.”
Dimitri wanted to trust him, but the terror gnawing at him was overwhelming. He didn’t know how much longer he could battle the beast within him. And with each new challenge and conflict, the risk of losing control increased.
But as he looked out into the dark forest, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t afford to lose this battle. Not with the pack, not with Kate.
Because if he did, the results would be disastrous.
The next threat was already on the horizon.