The Empath’s Pack

The Battle

Carmen stepped out into the crisp winter morning. She knew that her time in this pack had come to an end. She knew she was meant for an alpha, but was tired of jumping from pack to pack. Her father told her she was destined for greatness. Alpha Alarick wasn’t who she imagined, but would still stay with him. There was no way a vampire was better for this pack than her.

“Carmen they are ready for you.”

Darren the weapons trainer had a nervous look on his face. She smiled confidently. How tough could an Empathic be? Carmen had heard that she was from the council, but no other rumors surrounded her. At least that she heard of.

“Don’t look so down Darren. I’m tougher than I look.”

He stifled a laugh. “Well we will see won’t we.”

It was no lie that the pack didn’t really like her. She thought there would be more backlash however at a vampire being the Luna. She hadn’t grown up in this pack, but she figured it wasn’t different from her own. Her pack seemed to understand the importance of power.

“Carmen Wright, you have challenged Luna Dawn, Alpha Alarick’s destined mate. Luna Dawn had accepted the challenge of a weapon battle for her position of Luna. If you lose, however, you will be sent to the council at the request of the Alpha and Luna.”

Carmen gulped, “I accept the condition.”

Carmen knew if she was sent to the council she would never be mated to an Alpha. She would be trained. Then for challenging the Moon Goddess’ pairing would be never able to return to a pack. This would limit finding her true mate, but if he wasn’t an Alpha could she really accept the pairing. She made her way to the battle ring.

“Wish me luck?”

The words hung in the air as she passed Alarick. His face turned to a growl. Carmen cast her eyes down in submission. How could he blame her for taking her rightful place in the hierarchy of a pack. Alarick kissed Dawn and it took everything for Carmen to remained composed.

“Are you sure you want to do this pup?”

Carmen gave an exasperated gesture, “yeah you old hag.”

There was a snarl from Alpha Alarick’s direction. Carmen was the first to attack. She held a stake in her right hand and charged Dawn. Dawn quickly moved out of the way of the attack. Carmen recovered and lunged for Dawn. Her movements were sloppy. Dawn hadn’t even raised the spear she had in her right hand. Her abilities made her too quick for Carmen. Carmen was becoming more and more desperate.

“Fight me!” She screamed in anger.

Dawn raised the spear and used the blunt end to smack her side. Carmen stumbled forward and a round of laughter filled the air. Carmen’s eyes shifted a light blue hue. Her wolf was surfacing. Dawn remained calm through the whole fight. Carmen glanced at Alpha Alarick and saw the love and pride he was radiating. It took her seconds to shift.

Darren ran forward, “shifting is not permitted upon your terms!”

Carmen growled and knocked him out of the ring with one paw. Dawn sped with her vampire abilities over and caught him before he hit the ground. Carmen didn’t even glance in their direction as she turned on the crowd that had just laughed. She stalked forward toward a teenager. Carmen saw Dawn out of the corner of her eye race toward her. Her wolf pounced toward Dawn. Dawn had sliced her side ever so slightly with the spear.

“Stay down!”

The dominance Carmen felt from her words made her knees weak. She however, couldn’t go to the council. She needed to get rid of this Vampire. Carmen’s wolf form towered over Dawn, but didn’t seem to scare her in the slightest. Carmen jumped again faster, harder and with as much strength she could muster. Dawn had been trapped by her paws. Her drool fell to her cheek. Dawn stared into the wolves eyes and pleaded.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

The growl filled the forest floor. Carmen was more animal than human in this moment. Dawn needed to knock her out without harming anyone. She dug her hand deep into the wound on her side. Carmen’s jaw clenched. The look Dawn saw was pure hatred. In that moment Dawn caught Alarick’s stare. She used her vampiric strength and forced the wolf in the air over her head. Everyone gasped at the feat. Dawn knew she needed to take out this wolf or she could harm someone.

Carmen’s canines were barred. She lowered her body and began to circle Dawn. Something changed in Carmen’s eyes once more. Dawn had recognized the look of an Epsilon Wolf. Normally only rogues could become Epsilons. Carmen looked to Alarick and back to Dawn. She raced toward Dawn and managed to knock her down once more. She tore into her shoulder. Carmen then scratched across her stomach as she continued her hold.

“Carmen enough!” Alarick yelled.

Dawn’s head snapped up at his voice, “Beloved, you’ll have to stop me.”

Carmen’s wolf tilted its head at the change in energy. Dawn’s wounds began to heal. She tried to push Carmen off, but her new found strength wasn’t so easy to deter. Dawn reached her hands up to Carmen’s head. Her power started draining the hatred from Carmen. She began forcing her own emotions in.

Alarick noticed the daze everyone seemingly was falling into. He raced to Dawn and pulled the wolf off, smashing her into a nearby tree. Dawn needed to be pulled away from the pack. Her loss of blood and drain from the emotions would start to cause problems.

“Darren take Carmen to the hospital. I’m taking Dawn to regain some strength.”

“Yes, Alpha!”

Alarick shifted and placed Dawn on his back. He raced toward Dawn’s home. He knew he would need to come back to deal with Carmen. Dawn however came first. She needed blood and needed his body. He made it to the house in ten minutes. Once they broke through the door, Alarick shifted and carried her toward the bedroom. Dawn in her now confused shape let her fangs drop. Before Alarick could even think about it, she had sunk her teeth into his neck.