15th November 2012

Glengariff, Cork.

She took brisk steps. It was already getting dark and she wants to meet up with him before the moon comes out.

"Ouch" She exclaimed as the branches cut into her arm. " Gosh… these damn branches." She muttered and stopped to check her arm.

The branches rustled around her and her ears twitched at the sound of a scream. " Huh… what's that?" She thought to herself and took slow steps forward.

The sound came again but this time, it sounded muffled. " That's a woman's voice," She said to herself, as she hurried towards the sound.

Realizing she was getting closer to the sound, She slowed her pace and tiptoed towards what was the Alpha's quarters. Heart beating fast at the thought of what she was going to see, she hid behind a huge tree and watched as the shadows become more visible.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ryan stood up from his bed, wondering what sound woke him up. He sighed, his Auburn hair wet from sweat, and moved close to the window.

'It might have been a nightmare' he thought as he opened the window, his parents seem to have affected him more than he thought.

The wind was chilly, and the sound of branches rustling calmed him. He closed his eyes and remembered his favorite memory of his parents.

It was when he was six years old and had no idea that he was going to end up being the Alpha. He was sulking because some of his childhood friends were keeping their distance from him. His mother, bless her soul, was making some stew when he walked in.

She had always known how to sense his feelings without him saying anything, so when she saw him, she just smiled and asked him to join her.

"Little Ryan, What got into your pot?" She asked, her Amber eyes glowing with love, oh the love she had for him. He had just looked into her eyes and felt calm. It was then he knew that she had superpowers, his mother, his favorite person was a special person who could sense what he was feeling and make him calm.

Now that special person was no more. He felt his whole world crumble when he heard of his parent's death and thought he was going to die when he watched their bodies being lowered to the ground. He had wanted to jump into the ground with them but stopped himself. If his parents were still alive, they would have protected him from that elder who was always bossing him. He knows the elder wouldn't have been able to face his father, his super…..

The sound of a scream cut into his thoughts and his ears twitched. He raised his head sharply and opened his eyes, staring at the stone bridge overlooking his room. Listening for another sound, he hurriedly grabbed a shirt and took a deep breath, hoping it was not what he thought, and stood still for a second before walking out the room.

He hurried towards the sound and stopped when he realized where the sound was coming from. Sighing deeply, he took slow steps towards the Alpha's quarters.

He hesitated before walking towards the shadows, his fingers trembling at the sight before him. 'The nasty elder was at it again!' He thought and clenched his fingers.

He frowned and watched as the elder grabbed the lady by her hair and used his hands to cover her mouth, pulling her to the ground.

Running his hands through his hair, he grimaced as the elder caught sight of him and smiled at him.

"What ya looking at lad?" He asked, as he tore the young lady's clothes and used his knees to make her still.

"No..nothing," Ryan muttered and wet his lips. He hated this, his throat was always dry whenever he faced this man and his voice. Gosh, what was that? Why does he sound like a turkey?

He should do something but his feet feel glued to the floor and his palms are sweaty. He just stood, powerless, watching as the elder forcefully have his way with the poor lady, hating himself.

He continued standing, his eyes tearing up at the sound of the woman sobbing and he turned his eyes away from them, blinking furiously. A heavy heartbeat sounded in his ears and he placed his sweaty palm on his chest, his eyes widen when he realized that it was not his own.

A soft breath escaped his lips as he glanced around them, his breath increasing with every second. Someone was out there! Someone was watching them… watching him as he stood in front of the elder unable to do anything.

He held his breath as his eyes locked contact with angry blue eyes in the woods and he silently prayed that whoever it was would be sensible enough to keep staying hidden. The eyes continued glaring at him and his heart sank as he recognized those eyes.

"Oh please, Adrienne, don't move," he said with his eyes as her gaze lowered to the elder and her eyes watered. Confused, he followed her gaze and sucked his breath.

The lady was no longer moving! His eyes went back to her and pleaded with her to leave but those angry blue eyes of hers continued staring at the body under the elder.

The elder stood and used his legs to shake the body. "The lass is dead, she was such an awful gobshite" He murmured, and looking at Ryan, he motioned him over with his hands.

Taking one last look at Adrienne, Ryan walked to the elder, his hands behind his back. Looking down at the lady, his heart sank deeper at the thought that he could have saved her.

"Look 'ere lad, let no word of this come out of…." The elder's words trailed as his ears picked up another sound and he glanced sharply at the tree where Adrienne was hiding.

"Who's there?" The elder said, sharply, and Ryan felt his legs weaken as Adrienne boldly stepped up, her head raised in indignation.

"You've been watching us?" the elder questioned as his gaze went over her.

She looked at him, then back to the elder, then the lady, and folded her arms.

"Lad… I'll give ye something to do. You have just one choice to make." The elder said, his eyes not leaving Adrienne's. " Kill her or you die"

His control finally broke and his legs started trembling, He knew the elder was going to harm Adrienne but he never expected him to order him to kill her.

His heart sank as he glanced at Adrienne who was looking at him, expecting him to do something. He has no choice, he has to stay alive and become the Alpha. It was all her fault, she should have just continued staying hidden when the elder asked who was watching them. She was just stubborn.

"Do it," the elder's voice cut into his thought and he grabbed the cub on the floor beside him and walk towards her. Her eyes widen in shock as she saw him coming toward her. What did she expect? He wasn't ready to die for her. Closing his eyes and ignoring the sound of her gasps, he smashed the cub on her head and watched as she fell to the floor, his hands shaking at the sight of her blood.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ryan Makarios watched as the minors with him dumped down the filled-up, heavy sack. He tried not to feel guilty about what he had done.

After all, it wasn't his fault. It was hers for poking her nose into what was not any of her business. If she had simply gone her way and pretended like she didn't see anything, she wouldn't have ended up dead and bundled into the sack.

"Rest in peace." He told the unmoving body. "Throw her down." He commanded his men who did as he said.

If only he knew how much he would regret those words later…