Broken Claws and Glittering Jaws

Emory

The decay of what was once our race lay before me, a group of five patrolling warriors dwindled to one, who valiantly and defiantly stared down each of my wolves with the tenacity of a prideful fighter. My fur pricked with excitement. I glanced around at the cut down bodies of his comrades, pity, they had so much potential.

Above the dark-hued wolf, Viiocc hovered, a giant leaning all his weight against his Prisoner. The eager glow in his amber eyes proved he was ready and willing to end the wolf in the name of the pack. But something about the tenacity of this male piqued my interest. Before me, shielding me from view, Rion stood giving a brief nod to Viiocc who clamped his jaws onto the scruff of the Warrior. His face contorted in a wince but he did not whimper, only growl. My tail twitched in amusement.

Patiently I watched Rion taunt him, I drank in the sight, hoping that the wolf would impress me further, but it had been a valiant effort on his packs' behalf. All five males fought hard, but underestimated my wolves severely and it had cost all but one their lives.

Growing bored, I let a low growl part my lips, Rion's ears flattened slightly, the heads of those around lowered and Rion shifted aside.

Emory.

My eyes hardened as I watched the last of the fight flee from the Warrior, unconsciousness had stolen it from him and he now lay limp and weak beneath Viiocc. I felt gazes on me. Awaiting a reaction, an order, but I simply stared at the creature eventually c*****g my head to indicate to Viiocc to remove himself. He was hesitant, excitement shaking his body but with a quick snap, he tucked his tail and backed off the warrior's sleeping mass. My packs' eyes and ears were acutely aware of my actions, unwavering.

Luna, what are your orders. Heron, a slight built female asked. She was often the only one that didn't shy from repercussion and I admired her fire. Eager to please, she'd risk getting in my way just to ensure she could help. It was a stupid kind of loyalty that I can only imagine was engraved into her in her old pack. Soon she would learn it didn't work that way here.

Take him. Stage the others. It's time to let Gideon know we are here.

Without hesitation, the pack began to move to perform various tasks, Viiocc and Rion remained at my side as I once again turned my attention to the Warrior, his head lilted to the side he looked almost precious.

It's time you learned about the real world, pet. I muttered leaning towards his face, the two wolves at my side stiffening preparing as if the stranger would wake and get the upper hand. Our muzzles but inches apart, I breathed in his scent. A unique scent that embodied the pack he was about to be stolen from, ash and moss.

That would go with time.

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"How DARE you!" Gideon barked at me, his skin rippled as a shift threatened. My fingers tapped impatiently at the desk, waiting for him to stop whining about his losses and realize I had no remorse nor interest in whatever hate he came to spit at me.

"That's enough." warned Atlas, another truly magnificent specimen of our race. He placed a large hand over Gideon's shoulder and for a moment the Alpha looked petrified but regained his composure and sat. Smart man.

"Gideon, the reality is, you threaten everything I am, without thinking about consequences. I am simply here to show that all bark and no bite, is a surefire path to destruction."

His bushy eyebrows furrowed, permeating the wrinkles across his forehead. He was by no means a young man, nor was he anything of physical interest. His gut extended from his greed and he always seemed to be in a weird stage of shift, I could almost smile at the disgust a human woman would show at the hair that protruded like a wild animal from his shirt collar.

"Emory. You killed my wolves without provocation. You are lucky I haven't torn you down where you stand." he growled at me. I smirked before standing and leaning towards him. Atlas backed away a cautious step.

"There was provocation, you were about to throw yourselves to the wolves, quite literally." I said.

His brows furrowed in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Alpha, don't be stupid. You were about to allow Locke every opportunity to take your territory and wolves for himself."

"N-never."

"Bullshit!" I slammed my hand against the desk, he jerked to attention. "Don't mistake me for a fool, you were reaching a hand out to join a war you have no right to be in. So I simply showed you what joyous victory would await your pack."

"I... I wasn-" I lifted a hand to silence him.

"Gideon, the reality is you are too far consumed by your own lust and need for power that you trust too easily. Are you aware just how many of your own have turned to me for help? And how many of my own you've blindly allowed to infiltrate your ranks simply by enjoying the tenacity of their fight?"

His eyes shifted to his lap.

"We saved you. And we are here to offer a deal."

I could smell anger bubbling from the Alpha and knew immediately he was going to make it difficult.

"I have your Warrior." I sighed, leaning back again and folding my arms under my breasts. "Should you agree to my terms, he shall remain with us, as a show of good faith, he will still fight on your behalf but under my command. No further harm will come to him. However if you foolishly decide to turn away from my deal, he will be maimed and displayed for your pack to see and nightfall will allow the same fate to befall the rest of them. It's a less brutal end. Don't you think?" I said, glancing to Atlas who grunted in agreement.

"And what does this deal have for me? Do you think I'd trust you? Some Rogue b***h on a power trip?" He laughed but behind it there was doubt.

"Protection." I offered blatantly.

His words caught in his throat. A vein welting across his temple. "You're psychotic." he whispered.

"Perhaps, but any leader North of the expanding Dyreblood territories knows that I have gained quite a reputation for urking the tyrant. He dispises me simply because I have ruined his attempts at expansion before."

His shoulders fell. "How can I believe you? For all I know your mutts have eaten Mirron."

Mirron, so that's your name.

"I will show you. After which I want acceptance or your guts will be hung from the Brackenfall Gates along with his."

He nodded meekly.

Good.

I got up from my seat and nodded for him to follow, Atlas traipsing behind us, each step he took echoing loudly through the hallways. Occasionally chatter from other members could be heard but the deeper we walked into the building and down the stairs, the less noticeable it was.

Eventually we came to a stop at the very base of the building, a place stripped of light except for the flourescent affixations in the ceiling. That is with the exception of one large room. A converted bomb shelter that held little in the way of space and reality. It was often a place where wolves were driven to insanity.

I keyed in a code and the door opened with a hiss, whilst the shelter itself was ancient, built within the first of the major Human Wars. The very paranoid owner of the building had it fitted with a new door prior to becoming a chew toy to one of its new occupants.

I could smell him, his strength must have returned because he was wreaking of a strong scent of hatred and fire.

The light from the hallway framed him perfectly. His naked body rippling as he tested his binds. He was a handsome wolf but an even better looking human. Dark brown hair falling messily over green eyes, chiseled like a Michelangelo sculpture, a dark shadow growing over his square jawline and tattoos that snaked over his chest and arms. I would have swooned if I wasn't so aware.

"Mirron?" Gideon spoke from behind me. My head whipped around slightly late, he shoved past me and stood over his Warrior, looking defeated.

"Alpha?" Mirron queried.

Gideon paid no mind, he turned to look at me, meeting my gaze directly he nodded. "I accept your offer Alphess Emory, but should a single one of my pack members including this one come to harm, I will end you." he threatened. I half wondered what made Mirron so vital to Alpha Gideon, but said nothing more. Instead I waved a hand at Atlas who grabbed the Warrior as if he were a lap dog and dragged him through the door. Gideon and I followed.

"Pleasure doing business with you." I said to Gideon as we trekked through the unnatural light.

My Army built on Fear growing in numbers once again.