The stillness could almost be felt all around. It seemed like everything had paused for just a split second. Their worlds had been turned upside down and then, all at once, everything was in slow motion.
Sophie gripped Theo's arm as the residual sound from the shot boomed out. The chilling sound echoed and spread in every direction and once again they were plunged into panic.
Theo grabbed Sophie by the waist and hoisted her up into his arms. He took off without a second to think, all his instincts telling him to run. He sprinted in the direction of a still raging war but in this moment he could only think of his people.
Theo had no idea who had gotten hurt but in his mind he had already pledged to kill the person who had harmed them.
It seemed like forever but he finally made it down the horrendous stairs with Sophie in his arms. The five seconds it took him seemed like they dragged on for a lifetime.
As soon as he got to the door, Sophie was gently placed on her feet and Theo slammed through, breaking the wood.
He shifted immediately, tearing easily through the one article of clothing that adorned his body. His growl resonated with power as he shredded through the body of one of the intruders that stood before him.
The screams of the unfortunate soul drew attention to his direction from more intruders but what they saw immediately turned them away. Crimson lined his fangs and blood splattered onto the wolf's clean coat. The dark color matted into him and mixed red with white.
The elders held strong in their efforts and pushed back the attack.
Theo's wolf howled out and suddenly, it was as if everyone on the battlefield stood still. He took a menacing step forward and the wolf's paws made contact with the now blood-stained grass. The intruders were now aware that another threat was headed their way and they all started to run in the opposite direction.
"Fall back!"
They screamed as they ran and Theo sped towards the center of the war as he spotted where some of the Elders had formed. Their claws were extended in fury as they fiercely built a tightly wounded circle. Theo assumed that they were trying to protect the person that was hurt.
Theo shifted back to his human form when the coast was clear and approached the circle only to be stopped in his tracks by an Elder.
"Stop. You need to go find a safe place for you and her right now."
The elder gestured to Sophie's small and shaking form standing behind him.
"I need to take care of my pack and right now whoever is hurt needs me."
"Don't come any closer."
"I'm the son of the Alpha, this is my responsibility—"
As the words left his lips he realized why they wouldn't let him near. His blood ran cold.
"No!"
The scream that ripped through his body could probably be heard from the farthest corners of the territory. Strings of guards rushed towards him and clamped their hands down onto Theo as they tried to drag him away. The act however was futile as Theo wriggled his way out of the guards arms as he fought with all his strength.
He had to do it.
He had to see that this had really happened with his own two eyes or he could never admit it to himself.
Theo ran up to where the elders had woven themselves around the body to create a barrier. He tried to speak but he couldn't, his voice breaking.
" N-No… No!" Theo rushed over to the group of people, effectively pushing his way through them. "Let me in!"
There, on the cold wet grass, laid his father. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he knew from the moment he stepped on that grass something was missing. His father would never willingly be absent from a fight and now his eyes had confirmed why.
"Father, no. This can't be happening!"
The warm blood gushed out of the open wound staining the green below. The small wound in the Alpha's chest gushed as the blood poured out of his heart.
There was only one thing that could kill a man like him and it was a silver bullet.
The metal scorched Theo's hand as he placed it over the wound. He tried to stop the bleeding and applied pressure, as if the pain in his hand was nothing. Then again it was nothing compared to the one that encompassed his entire being.
He had lost one of the most important people in his life and he had no idea what to do.
"Don't just stand there! Someone go get the healer!" he screamed at the group of people that surrounded him, trying to get someone to help him.
"We have to save him," he sobbed and his voice broke.
Theo tried fruitlessly to bring his father back. He refused to stop or to let anyone move the body.
Suddenly, a small hand was placed onto the shoulder of the grieving man. Her touch was light and comforting, and somehow he just knew who the hand belonged to.
"Theo. I am so sorry but he's gone."
A waterfall of tears burst out as he turned around and grabbed Sophie. He was still sitting on the ground as he buried his face into her abdomen. All of his emotions poured out of him in that moment, his tears like small streams.
"Take the Alpha—" Sophie hesitated. "Take Theo's father where you need to and I'll take care of him."
"Yes ma'am."
The guards nodded as they obeyed Sophie. They, too, knew it was the right thing to do. They immediately began their work and Theo turned his head in the opposite direction. His face was no longer buried in her embrace but he remained seated on the cold ground.
They carefully wrapped the body of their once strong leader before placing him on a mantle fit for a king. When they were finished Theo was still sitting on the ground, his position unchanged from when they first started. Sophie thought that he would get up to say goodbye. However, when the guards announced that they were finished and about to leave, he remained.
"We're going to bring him to the temple, they will look after him there."
"Thank you."
Sophie whispered her gratitude to the men and received a nod of acknowledgment in return. The person in charge started yelling orders and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Sophie glanced around and saw that everyone else was standing at a distance. Close enough so that they could protect Theo, but far enough for him to feel alone. In that moment she felt as if she was the only person capable of bringing him comfort. Yet, she couldn't find the words.
How do you comfort someone who just lost everything?
The thought ran through her mind and she thought about how it would feel if she had lost someone she loved. Her eyes wandered over to him and she knew what she had to do.