Alpha Derick's POV
"Remember, don't hurt the children, the women, and innocent males. We are only fighting against the pack warriors! And remember—Alpha Steven and every member of his household must not be killed by anyone else. Their deaths belong to me!" I roared, my voice echoing through the cold night air. My one thousand warriors stood before me, ready to march into battle, ready to invade the Full Moon Pack—a place that was once my home.
"A home that was stolen from me."
"Roger that, Alpha!" my warriors responded, their voices echoing.
"Now, we move—for vengeance, for blood, and for victory!" I bellowed before sprinting toward the pack's border, my men following closely behind.
With a deep growl, I let go of my human form. My bones cracked, muscles stretched and shifted, and thick black fur burst from my skin. My jaw extended, fangs sharpened, and claws emerged from my fingertips as I dropped to all fours. The transformation was seamless and effortless—I had done this a thousand times before.
My massive wolf form hit the ground, and a bloodthirsty howl ripped from my throat, sending chills through the night. My warriors followed, shifting mid-run—great numbers of fur and fangs racing behind me.
We reached the border. The guards barely had a second to react before we were upon them.
Around me, my men tore through the border guards like rabid beasts. Limbs were ripped from bodies, blood pooled on the forest floor, and the screams of the dying echoed into the night. One guard tried to run—a foolish mistake. One of my warriors caught him by the hind leg, dragging him back before sinking his fangs into his spine. The cracking of bones was music to my ears.
Satisfied that no one had escaped to warn the others, I raised my bloodstained muzzle to the sky. "Move out!" My command was sharp.
We sprinted through the pack's territory, our paws thundering against the ground.
As instructed, we did not attack the homes of the innocent. We did not waste time on the weak.
The moment we reached the mansion gates, I didn't slow down. I lunged forward, my claws slicing through the thick iron like it was nothing. The gates burst open with a loud crash, the metal groaning under the sheer force of my attack. My warriors poured in behind me.
The guards stationed at the entrance barely had time to register what was happening before we were upon them.
A gray wolf snarled and charged at me. Fool. I sidestepped his attack, my massive jaws clamping down on his neck. With a violent shake, I snapped his spine and tossed him aside like trash. Blood sprayed onto the ground, mixing with the dirt.
All around me, my men tore through the guards, their howls of rage drowning out the screams of the dying. Claws slashed through flesh, fangs ripped through throats, and the air became thick with the metallic scent of blood. They were overwhelmed—outnumbered, outmatched, and doomed from the moment we arrived.
A warrior in human form raised his sword, his hands trembling. I scoffed at his pathetic attempt and pounced. My claws slashed across his chest, tearing through armor and skin alike. He let out a strangled gasp before collapsing, his body twitching before going still.
This was too easy.
With the last of the guards dealt with, I shifted back into human form, naked, my body dripping with blood—none of it my own.
"Secure the perimeter! No one gets in or out!" I barked the order, my voice cutting through the chaos. My warriors immediately obeyed, taking their positions around the mansion.
I turned toward the large double doors of the mansion and kicked them open with enough force to send them flying off their hinges. The wood splintered, crashing loudly against the marble floor.
I moved my eyes around the familiar yet strange building before me. This was home, yet it lacked warmth.
Moving my eyes around, I spotted him.
Alpha Steven.
The man who had betrayed my father. The man who had taken everything from me.
He stood at the top of the grand staircase, his face pale, his eyes wide with fear. He wasn't alone. Four of his most trusted guards surrounded him, their hands shaking as they held their weapons.
Pathetic.
I took a step forward, and Steven took one back.
"Who are you… why are you attacking my pack?" he said with a trembling voice, and I scoffed. It was obvious the old man didn't recognize me anymore. It had been twenty years since he last saw me, but still—how could he forget?
"Really? You don't know who I am?" I whispered, taking another step closer. "Take a good, long look."
His guards moved to attack, but before they could reach me, I shifted in a blur, my massive wolf tearing through them like they were nothing. Claws slashed, fangs ripped, bodies hit the floor.
Steven turned to run, but my men were already blocking his escape. They pinned him to the ground before he could take another step.
Within seconds, his guards were dead, and I shifted back to my human form, standing naked before him.
"You… are… D-Derick…" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
A slow smirk stretched across my lips. "Didn't expect to see me again, did you?"
His eyes widened with shock—it was as if he had seen a ghost. "No… that is not possible… You are supposed to be dead… I sold you to butchers who sell human parts!" His voice was filled with disbelief.
I scoffed. How foolish of him. He truly had no idea that my uncle had hidden my identity so well, ensuring my survival. I grew up, lived in the next pack, just a border away from him, and yet, he never knew.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Listen, we can—"
I was in front of him before he could finish. My claws wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. He gasped, his hands clawing at my grip.
He didn't dare shift.
He knew his old, feeble wolf was no match for me.
"No negotiations," I growled, my eyes burning with years of pent-up rage. "You're going to die, Steven. Just like you deserve. You should have killed me when you had the chance."
I tightened my grip.
"Alpha… I found someone." The familiar voice of my Beta Interrupted.