Chapter 6: The First Bite
539 Words
The hall was frozen.
Not cold. Frozen. Like time itself stopped breathing.
Damian stood in front of his golden throne. His claws were out. His eyes were glowing. But his hands? His hands were shaking. Just a little. Just enough for me to see.
Good, the voice purred. Let him tremble.
I took another step forward. My claws clicked on the marble. The sound was loud. Too loud. Like bones snapping in a quiet room.
"Lila," Damian said again. His voice was lower now. Trying to sound calm. Trying to sound in control. "You don't understand what you're doing."
"Then explain it to me," I growled. My voice was wrong. Deep. Rumbling. Like thunder talking. "Explain it to me like I'm stupid. Like I'm the Omega you threw away."
Sarah stepped forward. Stupid girl. Brave girl. She put her hand on Damian's arm.
"Damian, maybe we should—"
"Shut up," he hissed. Pushed her away. She stumbled. Fell to her knees.
I laughed. The sound cracked the nearest window.
"Even your perfect mate is trash to you," I said. "You don't love her. You never loved anyone. You just wanted a weapon. A womb. A thing to stand next to your throne and look pretty."
Damian's face twisted. Rage. Shame. Fear. All three fighting for space.
"You know nothing," he spat.
"I know you killed my mother."
Silence.
"I know you rejected me because my blood scared you."
More silence.
"And I know," I said, lowering my head until my purple eyes were level with his, "that you're already dead. You just haven't stopped breathing yet."
He attacked.
Fast. Faster than I expected. His claws aimed for my throat. A killing blow. Quick. Clean.
I didn't move.
His claws hit my neck.
And stopped.
My fur was thicker than steel. His claws scraped. Sparked. Broke.
Damian's eyes went wide.
"Wha—"
I grabbed his arm. My paw wrapped around his wrist like a trap. Squeezed.
Crack.
He screamed. His bones were powder. His hand hung limp. Blood dripped. His blood. Red and hot and smelling like copper and cowardice.
"That's for my mother," I whispered.
I pulled him close. His face inches from my jaws. I could smell his fear. Sweat. Piss. He'd pissed himself. The great Alpha. The killer of my family. Pissing his pants like a baby.
"And this," I said, opening my mouth wide, "is for me."
I bit his shoulder. Not to kill. To taste.
His blood filled my mouth. Hot. Sweet. Perfect.
He screamed again. Louder. Begging.
I let go. He fell to his knees. Clutching his ruined arm. Crying.
The pack watched. No one moved. No one helped.
I shifted back to human. Naked. Bloody. Smiling.
I looked at Sarah. At the elders. At every face that ever laughed at me.
"Your Alpha," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is a murderer. A liar. And now? Now he's a cripple."
I walked to the throne. Sat down. Naked. Covered in his blood.
"This pack belongs to me now. Anyone disagree?"
Silence.
"Good."
I leaned back. Looked at Damian. Still crying on the floor.
"Get him out of my sight," I said. "Throw him in the dungeons. Let him rot."
- Writer
