The entire cavern erupted in gasps and murmurs between the Elders. But the two teenagers stood there facing each other. Their gazes met and never wavered. Both were angry at the other. Lucian set his jaw and tightened his fists.
Elder Briar walked up behind Atlas and placed a hand securely on his shoulder. At the contact, it was as though a fog lifted. Atlas shook his head and blinked a few times. He was no longer consumed by the rage and anger that Lucian brought into his mind. His fists and face relaxed, bringing back the young boy who the Elders have raised.
"Come now," Elder Briar whispered reassuringly into Atlas' ear. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Atlas turned his head and nodded at the man.
"I do. It would be improper of me to go back on the laws my father put into place. I am to be the Alpha. I must be an example to the people who will follow me."
The old man smiled with so much pride at the boy before him. He squeezed Atlas' shoulder and retreated a few steps.
"So be it." He said, sitting back on the log.
He crossed his legs and planted his hands atop his knees. He nodded once to the other Elders, and immediately, they all followed his example. The Elders formed a ring around Atlas, watching the boy intently.
Lucian scoffed and puffed his chest as he entered the circle with Atlas.
Confidence radiated from his walk and his smile. The years of experience he had would more than cover the role of Alpha.
"You ready?" Lucian paraded around Atlas.
Atlas closed his eyes and straightened to his full height. His head rose above Lucian's.
Lucian paused for a split second. His mind forgot how tall Atlas was compared to himself. His heart skipped a beat before steadying to its normal, arrhythmic beat. He exhaled sharply and bounced, flicking his hands back and forth.
Atlas opened his eyes. They were crimson as his wolf rose to the forefront. The man behind the red glass was absent, replaced by an angry beast.
Lucian chuckled at the sight. He inhaled sharply and yearned for his wolf to make a move. He called out to it, but it refused to answer him. He scoffed at his wolf.
"Coward." He muttered under his breath.
Atlas cocked his head.
"Are you talking to me?" Atlas teased. "Or are you having problems with your wolf now that you've started this confrontation?"
Lucian glared icily.
"No problems. Didn't think you could hear a lowly servant like me anyway."
Atlas spread out his arms to their full length.
"Come on. What kind of Alpha would I be if I couldn't hear the child before me? Now show me your worth." An evil grin spread over Atlas' face. His canines protruded from his chapped, red lips.
The boy that was before Lucian and the council was no longer there. He was replaced by the inner beast, the inner wolf. The wolf was the offspring of the bloodiest Alpha the Riverwood Pack had ever seen.
Lucian stumbled slightly as the tip of his shoe caught on a loose stone.
Atlas let out a loud, obnoxious laugh. He pointed at Lucian and smiled mockingly.
"Are you sure you want this, child?"
Lucian bit down on his lip hard. Blood pooled in the bottom of his mouth and dripped down his chin. His eyes watered and blurred the world around him into a mixture of blues, greens, and pinks.
Atlas lept forward and collided with Lucian. The two crashed into the forest floor.
Lucian gasped as Atlas' elbow dug deep into his stomach as his spine hit the stones and grass.
Atlas laughed under his breath as he pressed against Lucian's chest, pushing it deeper into the earth's crust.
Atlas towered over Lucian, who lay coughing up dust beneath his feet.
"Is that all?" Atlas swung his arms out wide and taunted.
Lucian gritted his teeth and tasted the remnants of the iron from his blood. He gripped Atlas' ankle tightly with both hands and tugged it toward his head sharply.
Atlas fell backward, and immediately Lucian was on top of him.
"No." Lucian coughed, blood flung over Atlas' face, splattering red in every direction.
Atlas smiled.
"Good. It was getting boring."
Atlas threw Lucian against the large tree. Lucian bent backward as the force of the throw hit the immovable tree. He grunted as he landed in the pile of roots. He lay still, arms and legs at odd angles, and blood flowed steadily from his skull. It matted his ash-colored hair and turned it to a reddish-brown.
A few of the Elders rose from their seats to see if Lucian was still breathing.
His breath was straggly at best but still present.
Atlas strode toward Lucian, pushing away the Elders that were in his way. He knelt beside Lucian and pressed his nose closed to Lucian's ear.
"I thought you were going to try." He mocked, his voice light. "It really is too bad your mother isn't here to see this. What would she have done?" He pressed a finger to his lips and pretended to think.
Lucian formed a weak fist with the remaining strength he had.
"Don't you... dare talk... about... my mother that... way." He sputtered, blood popping into little bubbles as he spoke.
Atlas reared back, laughing hysterically.
"Oh?" Atlas wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned back down. "At least my mother wasn't a coward."
"At least I had a loving parent." Lucian snapped. He jerked his head toward Atlas' and headbutted the Alpha.
A loud crack shook the cavern. The Elders shot worried glances at each other as the two wolves fought before them.
Lucian shouted and grunted as Atlas threw fist after fist into Lucian's chest and ribs. But despite the constant barrage, Lucian kept pressing toward Atlas.
Atlas punched high, aiming for Lucian's jaw. But Lucian ducked, punched Atlas square in the gut, and threw his other arm around his neck. Lucian pressed the crook of his elbow deep into Atlas's throat.
Atlas sputtered and coughed as Lucian pressed his arm more and more tightly around Atlas's throat.
Atlas clawed and elbowed Lucian, but he accepted every blow, rolling with them as they came.
Lucian pressed his head next to Atlas and whispered into his ear.
"At least I can accept the fact my father was an asshole who only cared about himself and killing the Blood Moon Pack's Alpha."