Dark Affairs

The square is not a silent place. It has never been, as long as I can remember. The events done here always result in bedlam and chaos. And by events, I mean executions. Execution is not and has never been a thing of silence. Not for Crescent Moon Pack, at least. But tonight, the effect of the full moon and the execution about to take place is responsible for the continuous heavy pounding of paws and loud chatter filling the square. Heavy anticipation lingers in the air, so much that I can almost taste it. But unlike the majority of the crowd, Tala, my friend and I stand quietly, watching the scene with abated breaths and impassive faces. "When is it ---?" She starts "Any second now!" I say tersely. Almost immediately, the crowd scatters and the members of the Guard push their way through and I spot the Alpha a second before Tala does. "Son of a b***h!" She murmurs, fixing her cold eyes on him. I brush her shoulder softly. A silent reminder that we were in public. By son of a b***h, she was referring to our noble Alpha Romanus. The Alpha whose reign had brought nothing but pain and horror. He overthrew the rightful Alpha of the pack ten years ago. And ever since then, it has been nothing but mayhem. The meaning of pack has been lost to us as we live our lives every day as if in battle. The only way to live under Alpha Romanus' reign is to survive and not get attached. Finally, the whole royal family assembles in front of the crowd and a deafening silence falls in the square. Behind them, three people are staked to iron poles. Two men and a teenage girl. The Alpha's eyes glow wickedly. "There are rules guiding this pack. These rules have been established since my rule started and it is expected from every one of you to comply with these rules." "These tyrants here..." He gestures to the people behind him. "Have broken the most important rule. No form of rebellion is allowed against my reign. No alliance or even plans to overthrow my government is permitted because I will find you out and you can all be assured it isn't going to be a lovely death." " They have flouted that order and therefore the punishment is death! " He bellowed. The crowd roars in agreement and I watch the girl, discreetly. Unlike the two men who look intimidated, the girl stares at the crowd, her face impassive. "They're dying a death of dishonour which is why they've been stripped of their human form. Adolphus! " A hushed silence falls and I stare in silent awe as a muscular man advances from behind and moves forward with purpose. He's a man of strength, from his looks. Anyone can tell that. His black hair is shoulder-length, and it frames his face, making him look manlier. And his black eyes are ones that can pierce into the deepest parts of your soul, searching for all your demons. Too bad his black eyes are also the last thing anyone sees before they fall into the huge chasm of their death. Adolphus Delaney was someone who up until three weeks ago was nobody. But after he killed one of the Alpha's guards, Alpha Romanus had taken interest in him and in less than a month, Adolphus had been turned into a brash, aloof, ruthless werewolf. "Make their deaths slow, loud, and excruciatingly painful." Adolphus nods just as his clothes fall from his body, revealing muscles and well-toned skin and before the materials hit the ground, a huge black wolf now stands in his place. The large wolf prowls forward like a hunter, taking his time to come up with imaginative ideas of death if I am to guess. Without warning, the wolf springs for the second man, and snapping sounds fill the air. Followed by guttural screams. Those screams could never be forgotten. The wolf bounces back to the ground, a trail of blood following him. The skin covering the man's midsection is completely gone, leaving blood, bones and his insides on display. The man keeps howling and I bite my lower lip as Tala grabs my arm. She is always difficult with these things. Unlike me, she has problems controlling her emotions in public. I mean, it wasn't that hard when the punishment was death. Another manly scream fills the air and I guess I didn't pay attention because the first man's legs had been completely pulled off, now forgotten at the Alpha's feet. Bile rises in my throat as I resist the urge to double over. He turns and growls, charging for the girl slowly. She glares at him, not looking phased by the big black wolf who probably weighed three hundred pounds and was about to sign her death sentence. Brave. The wolf springs and I close my eyes, bracing myself for her screams but it doesn't come. My eyes fly open and I notice the pole she was staked to is now empty. Instead, a white wolf is now on the ground, growling back at Adolphus's wolf. Immediately, the Alpha's guards flank her and Alpha Romanus smiles. "Save her for last, Adolphus." His wolf nods and springs at the second man and in less than a second, gruesome sounds of flesh tearing fill the square. He bounces down again and the man's head lolls to a side. He charges for the first man and as he moves away, a head rolls until it stops at the Alpha's feet. The Alpha smiles, satisfaction all over his face. Adolphus was certainly going to get a promotion. I roll my eyes, watching quietly as the black wolf prowls forward, his eyes never leaving the white wolf. He springs and at the last moment, he flies past her. But apparently, he has other plans. Because snapping sounds fill the square again, louder this time. He grabs her left leg and twists it in the opposite direction. And does the same for her right. An animalistic growl fills the air as her wolf slumps to the ground weakly. White rage blinds me as Tala whimpers. Adolphus's wolf kicks the white wolf in the ribs until he cracks every single bone in there. Her wolf changes back to her human form and the girl lets out an inhuman scream just as a woman falls in the middle of the crowd crying. "Who's that?" "Her mother. They live next to us." I glance at Tala who stares straight ahead, trying not to cry. The woman is certainly going to get into trouble because public displays of emotions are not allowed. More snapping sounds fill the square and Tala shudders. Bile rises to my throat as the girl's arms travel in opposite directions and the woman on the ground howls more. The girl wails loudly and my anger hits me like a tidal wave. Getting stronger each second. Don't get attached! Finally, Adolphus steps back, looking satisfied with the mess he made. The Alpha steps towards the girl with lengthened claws and I curl my hands at my sides, bunching them into fists. Just one scrape against her torso and the material covering her torso tears, blood soaking it. He snaps his fingers and a member of the Guard whistles and immediately everyone starts dispatching. Just like that, the execution is over and he's going to leave that girl there, bleeding to death. The guards drag the woman on the ground away brutally amidst her protests and screams and I watch as everyone walks past me until I am left standing in the middle of the square. Her gaze meets mine. Pleading. And her mouth is trying to form words. By now, my anger is the only thing keeping me sane and is what propels my next action. Without thinking twice, I walk towards her in three long strides, and without uttering a word, I snap her head to the side. Surprising what one action can do to you. For a moment, only the snapping sound fills the air until I hear rustling behind me. "Morrighan!" I swivel in surprise and see Tala who is staring at me with bewilderment and panic all over her face. My body goes rigid when I see some members of the Guard a few feet away from me. Adolphus Delaney steps forward and nods his head in my direction. Immediately, two guards match towards me. "Bring her along. The Alpha will like to have a word." And I know immediately what my outcome is going to be.