ANDOR.
The night was dark and filled with tension as the creatures of the night vied for supremacy, hidden from the unsuspecting human world. Werewolves, strong and quick, possessed the ability to transform under the full moon. Witches cast spells and glimpsed into the future. Vampires, creatures of the night, fed on the blood of foolish humans who strayed into their paths. A silent war raged between the factions, each harboring hatred and disdain for the others.
Amidst this conflict, my father, Halden Magnus, lay dying. He was the most powerful werewolf in all the lands, a warrior and leader of the werewolf council for a hundred years. But now, he suffered from a strange illness, baffling even the most skilled physicians.
As his strength waned, he handed over the leadership to his rival, King Isaac, his longtime friend. The healers were unable to understand the ailment, but I knew the truth. My father sought to explore battles in the afterlife, for he had conquered life and found little glory in it.
Our relationship had been strained, marked by constant fights and arguments. My existence was an unwanted burden for him, as he believed his bloodline to be cursed. Yet, my mother's desperate plea had compelled him to give her a child, and I came into this world unwanted and ignored.
Now, with his death looming, my father wanted to make amends for lost time, but I was reluctant to embrace the legacy he never wished for me.
My best friend and I, Edmunds, rode our horses through the thick forest slowly back home. I went hunting to clear my head and since he knew my route, he had been sent to come find me.
Edmund was the quiet type. My father abducted his father during a raid about a hundred years ago, his father fought back, and as a reward for his bravery, my father turned him into a werewolf.
We grew up together; he was the only werewolf or person that I could trust with my life, and I hoped he felt the same way about me.
Edmund's father had long died since then; during an attack on our castle, he died defending the red siren pack, and as a result, he was known as a hero and his son was treated with honor.
"I heard some rumors," Edmund broke the silence between us.
"What about?" I asked.
"It is Erling, my lord. He wants to be Alpha," He explained.
I flared up internally but kept a cool face.
"Are you going to contest to be Alpha as well?"
"I intend to claim my birthright if that is what you are asking. Are you worried that Erling is going to kill me?" I inquired.
"Yes, lord. Erling is the strongest werewolf in our pack. Even your father couldn't defeat him when he was in his prime. He would challenge for the alpha position, just because he can."
"That is true," I replied.
"He shouldn't be doing this. It feels like he is trying to bully you with his strength."
"It is his right," I answered. "He is my father's Beta and has every right to contest me for the Alpha position. Erling is not an idiot; if I refuse to fight him, the men would see me as weak. That way, I am not Alpha Either."
"You would fight him?"
"If that is what he wants," I replied.
***************
As we reached the village, smell of shit from the animals filled the air. It was a smell that we all were accustomed to due to our nomadic lifestyle.
Our people were mostly former warriors who became farmers after fighting to their fill. My father and the current members of the werewolf council joined forces and created a large army that decimated the whole land formerly known as England.
Satisfied with the fruit of their labor, the four shared the lands they conquered, my father took the east, and king Isaac took the west. King Floki and king Bjorn took south and east, respectively. My father ruled his territories from a village of Sarapen, situated in the middle of his domains; he gave his warriors home, and the red siren pack lived there with him.
My mother stood outside the great hall waiting for me. A goat ran past, almost knocking her down. She led me through the back of the pile as she mumbled prayers for my father's safe passage into the afterlife.
She took slow deep breaths to balance herself; it was the first time I had seen her crumble since I was a boy, and she came to hide me when our castle was under attack, and even then, she maintained her calm and reassuring presence.
She hugged me tightly and spoke very quietly.
"He wants to see you." She sobbed.
"I came to check on you. I have no intentions of giving my father any reprieve." I replied.
She gasped. "He is your father."
"He doesn't get to choose when it is convenient for him. I won't let him. We would meet in the after-Life and settle our differences there. Our account on earth is settled."
I kissed her forehead.
"Does your hate for your father extend towards his pack?"
"No, mother. Of course not."
"Good." She replied.
"I must go tend to your father. He would leave soon to the afterlife."
I nodded back. She stood on her toes so that she could touch my face. Then, she left to go back into my father's chambers. Her reluctance to force me to say goodbye to my father softened my resolve. It made me feel like I was making a mistake, so I stood at the door and listened as he took his last breath.
My mother wept. My mother's wails signaled to the guards outside that it was time. The castle erupted with cries, and the guards rang the great bell in the middle of the court, continually running.
I walked out of the room and addressed the pack members who stood outside. My father turned a lot of men in his time, and they were all loyal to him. They built settlements around his caste to be near him, and he gave them food and protection in return.
We also owned many enslaved people from the wars fought, and they helped clean the house and make sure we did not step on goat shit.
Human kings knew about our prisoners. They also knew what my father was, so they did not dare challenge him, knowing the consequences.
"Members of the Red siren pack. Today you Lost your Alpha and king. My father had a lot of shortcomings in his life, but I know that he loved every one of you like his blood."
Edmund walked from the crowd and stood by my side, a gesture I did not take lightly. He was publicly declaring his loyalty.
I continued speaking. "My father's time is over, but that doesn't change; I will rule with the same love and devotion he did.
"Long live Alpha Andor." Edmund roared.
"Long give Alpha Andor." The crowd replied in unison.
And as Edmund predicted, Erling strolled out of the crowd. He had a scowl on his face. The mud that stuck to his boot didn't slow him down.
"You are too weak to lead the Red siren pack." He growled.
I stood at 6ft, 4 inches. But, I was still way smaller than Erling. He stood at 6ft 9 inches and had the speed and agility of a leopard. It wasn't a full moon so that we could fight in human forms.
I could feel the fear in the air, especially from Edmund, as Erling approached. He stood above me and continued speaking.
"Your father had no right to hand over the Alpha position to a puny little boy." He spat on the ground.
I stood still as he spoke.
"I challenge you for the Alpha position; tonight, we fight to the death, and the winner becomes Alpha."
"I have nothing to prove to you, Erling," I replied.
"What happens when someone else comes to challenge this pack? You are weak and would be crushed by our enemies the same way I am about to destroy you,"
"You are a traitor, Erling," I replied. "And that is the reason you'll never become an Alpha."
"Enough talking. Tonight, I tear you into tiny bits and bury your body parts in separate graves. " Erling smiled at me.
"I accept your challenge," I replied sternly.
He smiled and walked out amidst murmurs from the crowd, presumably to go and prepare for the fight. I also returned to my chambers to prepare.
When nightfall approached, I heard a knock on my door; I opened it and found my mother standing outside.
"Can I come inside?" She asked.
I nodded.
"Your father would be burial rights tonight before all the fighting starts," She explained.
"That's fine by me," I replied.
"Be careful, son." She replied.
"Tell that to Erling. He is the one that wants to die over something that is not his."
"You could show him mercy." My mother replied.
"I will not. I will give him the same fate that he has promised me. Erling will be an example for the rest."
"Very well." She answered and left my presence. " This is his doing."
Soon, evening came, and it was time to bury my father. I put on my amour and held my sword made out of silver. The other pack members gathered outside; my father's body lay on a funeral pyre, and his sword was put by his side.
My mother stood beside him, so I joined her. She kissed his hands and said. "You have decided to leave me alone in this Lifetime for reasons best known to you. I will join you soon. My alpha and my mate. I will find you in the next life; until then, watch over your son and me from the other side."
She then collected a torch from one of the soldiers and burnt the body.
As the fire started burning, Erling approached me. "It is time," He said quietly.
"You are prepared to die?" I asked.
"Make the square!" He yelled in response. A square was made when two men challenged each other; only one person walked out alive.
Men, who I assumed were keen to see who would prevail, immediately started creating room for the fight to go on. They put long wood logs together until a square shape was formed in the middle.
Erling was the first person to step into the circle; he brandished his long silver sword and wore armor but declined to put on a Helmet.
"Come, boy. It is time." He yelled.
I entered the square. Erling ran towards me with his sword. As he lifted his sword to cut me, I caught the edge of his sword with my claws and threw him across the floor.
Terror flashed across his eyes as he saw me transform into a werewolf.
My bones crunched as I grew bigger, and hair grew out of my face. Fur grew out of my body, and my sharp teeth were exposed as I howled. I growled at a scared Erling, who had begun to shake.
My huge figure chased after him and tried to bite his head off, the first bite took half his leadoff, and the second time, the bite went clean through. I growled at his dead body as blood dripped from both sides of my mouth.
Everyone except my mother looked at me like I was a demon from hell, and maybe they were right.
I transformed without the full moon to a half-man, half-werewolf, something impossible even during the full moon. The change only allowed them to transform into full wolves during the full moon. It was unheard of that a man could become half man and half wolf.
While still in my werewolf form, I dragged Erling's body to the center of the square, picked up his sword, and was about to start chopping his body when a female voice called out.
"Please!" She said. "Please, allow me to bury my father in one piece," she started sobbing immediately.
Her tears moved me, and I transformed back into a man. She had long blonde hair and high cheekbones. She looked like an angel.
"I can not do that," I replied. "I am simply doing what your father intended to do to me."
"I know." She said
"My father fought for yours, and even if he betrayed you at the end, he was loyal to the Red siren track."
She saw that her words did not move me, so she tried a Hail Mary.
"I offer up myself to you. In exchange, I ask that you allow me to bury my father."
Her plea went directly to my heart; I felt a need to listen to her words.
"Bury your father," I said as I dropped the sword.
The rest of the pack went on their knees in unison and roared.
"Long live Alpha Andor."