Note to readers: Sorry for the delay, no internet for almost a month and exams have stopped me from uploading, plus trying to get a few chapters written for the second installment of the Dark series. Please enjoy!!!!
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The wolves bayed as the sun set casting formidable shadows that heralded the battle about to take place. They sat in a circle just outside of the fence in a glade usually used for sparring.
Tonight a real battle would take place and for the first time life's blood would drench its earth. Brent lay in his wolf form growling at the thought of Passion and Naomi battling to the death, but in the end he held no power over the Stillwater pack and could do nothing but sit and watch as the events unfolded.
Marie hugged his shaggy neck in an attempt to soothe him and Brent nudged her cheek with his nose before growling all over again.
Joshua sat crossed legged on the grass next to his cousin. Patting the wolf's head he waited for the ceremony to begin.
A number of the men from the pack brought out drums and began to beat them in a steady rhythm that mimicked the beating of the heart.
The howling became high pitched as Passion and Naomi entered the ring both in their wolf forms. Joshua gripped the soil beneath him trying to find solace in the feel of it between his fingers but it just felt like dirt. What he wanted now was Passion back in his arms.
"Sisters and brothers, tonight we have terani." The wolves yipped and howled as Letia's words echoed in the glade.
Compared to his large, black timber wolf mother, Passion was tiny in comparison. Her features were more coyote than wolf but she was a wolf none the less and he knew that she would do everything in her power to defeat Naomi.
"Passion Oaken, mate of our Alpha battles Naomi our fallen Alpha." Letia said. The wolves' howls became silent.
Passion and Naomi circled each other, occasionally one would snap at the other before retreating back.
Joshua couldn't bear the tensions of the fight and just as he was about to throw himself in the middle of the ring they attacked.
Passion ran at full speed towards Naomi aiming for her throat. Naomi foresaw the attack and dodged her attack grabbing the small wolf by the tail and flinging her into the air.
Passion howled as she landed flat on her back the fall jarring her body. Naomi gave her no time to regroup as she bore down on her, her jaw snapping at her muzzle.
Passion drew up her paws using the strength from her hind legs to push Naomi away from her. The small reprieve was enough for Passion to get away.
Whimpering as her back leg gave in she hobbled to the furthest part of the circle. The drum beat got stronger and stronger as Naomi ran full force towards Passion.
Rearing back Passion ran out of her way, her small lithe body made her faster than Naomi and she was able to evade her.
Panting for breath Passion tried to figure out what the best plan for attack would be. She couldn't keep dodging Naomi's attacks, eventually all her energy would be exhausted and then she would have no defence. Naomi snarled her ears pined back as she ran full force towards Passion.
Joshua growled as his mother slammed into Passion ripping into her foreleg, the small red wolf whimpered using her claws to scramble away from the larger wolf. Joshua tore at his clothes shifting as he did so.
"What are you doing?" Marie hissed.
"I have to save her." He yelled just as he mouth turned into a muzzle.
Marie tried to hold onto him but in his wolf body he could easily shake her off. The other wolves turned on him snapping at his paws as he tried to break into the circle.
One wolf grabbed him by the ruff and pulled him back. Joshua fought her off chomping on her ear and slashing at her throat. He had to get to Passion, if anything happened to her he'd die.
He couldn't bear the thought of life without her and he would kill anyone who got in his way. Ripping through the wolves he made it closer to the circle, bounding forward.
Running faster he slammed into his mother's side catapulting her across the circle. Growling he stood protectively in front of Passion. If his mother wanted Passion dead she would have to go through him first.
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The man looked through his scope and swore. His master had never told him just how many of the devils would be at the gathering.
He had watched the two bitches tearing into each other and had hoped that they would have killed each other. Now that his target was involved in the fight, there was no way he could get a clear shot without drawing attention to himself.
"Damn you." He muttered, taking the safety of the rifle.
Looking through the scope he kept his aim steady smiling at the demon stood to protect his bitch.
"You are mine." He laughed pulling the trigger.
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Naomi's ear twitched as she heard the sound of a guns safety being taken off. Catching the glint of metal in the corner of her eye she realised that there was someone lurking in her home.
Giving a call of warning to her pack she raced towards Joshua and his mate knocking them to the ground just as the bullet whistled through the air.
Joshua slammed into Passion as his mother's full weight hit him. All around him the glade burst with activity, the wolves ran to where the shot had come from and their growls were punctured with the sound of gun shots.
He felt Passion wriggling beneath and made room for her to get out from under him. Something sticky and wet seeped through his fur covering his skin. Shifting into his human form he picked up his mother and cried out as he felt blood.
"Mom...Mom!" He shook her but she just flopped lifelessly.
"Here let me." Passion said having flashed back into a human.
Placing her hand at Naomi's side she felt for a pulse. Leaning towards her muzzle she listened for any sign of breathing but there was nothing. Joshua nudged her, his eyes hopeful as he continued shaking his mother.
"I'm sorry Joshua." She said. Joshua shook his head and began to laugh. "Honey."
She soothed stroking his neck, Joshua's laughter turned into tears as he sank his head in his mother's fur. His shoulders shook with the force of his sobs as he cried out for Naomi to awaken.
"Guys you might want to see this." Dravo called.
Passion tucked a strand behind Joshua's ear kissing him softly on the cheek then got up to see the wolves pinning down a body.
He was dressed in all back with a variety of weaponry on his person. He was young for someone with such an arsenal of guns and curiosity won out over her anger.
Crouching she grabbed his face with her hand pinching hard. The man continued to stare contemptuously at her refusing to say a word.
"He won't talk." Brent said, kicking the man in the ribs.
Though he flinched his stare did not
lose its intensity. Passion slammed his head against the ground finding satisfaction as he cried out.
"Who are you?" She snarled baring her teeth.
The man smirked and spat in her face. The wolves growled tightening their grip on his arms and legs, blood seeped from where they held him down.
