𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒓 | ✓

𝑬 𝑰 𝑮 𝑯 𝑻

The evening sun found the pack racing across the border of Nyght territory and hurdling headfirst into the neutral zone. The second they crossed into it, Gabriel got sideswiped and rolled out of formation, tangling in the dirt with another wolf.

Tobias skid to a stop, sending more dirt flying as he prepared to help Gabriel. His plans were cut short when another wolf pounced and landed square on his back.

As the dust rose and clouded the fight, Nadia moved to protect Esmeray but was taken out by a large reddish wolf and dragged into the growling haze.

Esmeray's body tensed and she stared into the milkiness of the dust, her hackled rising as snarls and yips of pain surrounded her and she prepared for a fight. She felt the presence the same moment her front half was lifted in the air by the scruff of her neck. She whimpered and growled, struggling and kicking against her captor. The more she fought, the tighter the grip got. She went limp in hopes of getting free as she was carried by the scruff. After a moment of being dragged, she laid in a forced submissive position beneath a huge wolf. She inhaled the scent, definitely male and overwhelmingly akin to the scent of blood. Her skin crawled. This male was a Bloodborne. She growled and fussed, jerking her head to free herself or to see the one who held her but to no avail. She gave up the fight and panted, watching the dust rise as the others battled it out somewhere amongst the airborne clouds of dirt.

After what seemed like hours, the dust settled and the air cleared with complete silence. Tobias grunted as he stood up from the ground and took a step from the body of his attacker. He rubbed his face, sweeping his gaze to find Nadia and Gabriel finding their footing a few steps away but no sign Esmeray. His chest heaved, his pulse thundering while his eyes searched the area for her but still there was nothing.

"Looking for her, Tobias?"

Tobias froze, the hair on the back of his neck standing. That gravely voice was a voice that haunted his dreams. He would never forget who it belonged to. He pivoted on his heel to face the source of the voice, flashing his canines. "Killian."

"That's my name," Killian greeted with a fang-showing grin. His blood red eyes glinted as he pulled Esmeray closer agaisnt his body, one arm cinched around her middle and the other holding the blade of a wickedly sharp knife to her neck. "What's Connor Blackfang's sister doing with you?"

"That's no concern of yours," Tobias stated flatly, lifting his chin as the red of his wolf glinted in his eyes.

Killian pressed the edge closer to Esmeray's throat, hearing her whimper as it nicked her and drew blood. He smirked at the look of horror in Tobias's eyes. He knew this brought back painful memories, and those memories would be to his advantage. He flung his graying white blonde hair out of his face. "You love her, don't you?"

Tobias clenched his jaw, the muscle rippling from the tension. He titled his head slightly, taking in that all too familiar look in Esmeray's eyes. It was one of pleading, one of fear. The last look Isobel gave to him. The crimson trickle on Esmeray's throat stirred up something within him and he growled. "Maybe."

"Oh you do. Marking her proves it," Killian declared with a smirk, pressing a kiss to the side of Esmeray's neck. He breathed in deeply, savoring her scent and enjoying the torture he was putting Tobias through. He saw the other two Nyght wolves but they didn't matter. He kissed Esmeray's jawline and chuckled at Tobias as Esmeray squirmed in his grip. "Don't like that do you?"

Tobias showed his canines, itching to rip Killian's throat out. "Leave her alone, Killian. You have no business with her."

"Oh but I do," Killian corrected with a sadistic smile. His hand moved along Esmeray's abdomen as he felt of her, his eyes glowing and his lips parting to show the tips of his canines. "She's unmated, and has a gift within her no one is aware of, not even herself or her brother. One day, she'll rule with me."

"You sick bastard," Tobias fumed, his chest heaving as his anger boiled over. He wasn't about to lose someone else to Killian. Not now, not ever. "Get your filthy claws off her."

"Or what? I obviously have the upper hand here. I'm the one who calls the shots." Killian ran his hand down Esmeray's stomach, his hand going ever further to places she didn't want him touching.

Esmeray's pulse skittered when she felt the blade on her throat lift enough  she knew she could get free. Her face flushed with heat as Killian's hand stopped on her lower area and she felt disgusted. Once she felt his fingers beginning to rub while he bantered with Tobias, she took advantage of his loosed grip and grabbed his hand, forcing the blade away and twisting it before sidestepping and pressing it to his throat in the same way he'd done her. She pressed it close and knew she was cutting him some. "Who'd you say had the upper hand? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it's me," she growled near his ear as she held the blade and the others slowly began to approach.

Killian quickly overcame his surprise and laughed. A smirk slowly spread across his lips and he snorted. "My love, you'll never have the upper hand."

With his words, the knife in Esmeray's hand vanished and her mouth gaped open in shock. She cried out when he grabbed her throat, feeling his claws against her skin as he choked her. "Fuck you," she gasped out.

Killian chuckled at her before smirking up at Tobias, Gabriel, and Nadia. He could see the urge to attack in their eyes but also the understanding that if they did, he wouldn't hesitate to rip Esmeray's throat out. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Esmeray's lips as they turned slightly purple from her lack of air. He let go of her throat and shoved her back, sending her sprawling onto the ground.

Tobias and rushed to Esmeray as Gabriel rushed past. He held her close to his chest as she coughed and gasped for air. He glanced up to see Gabriel standing where Killian had been moments before. He bared his teeth. "Where the fuck did he go?"

Nadia stepped up beside Tobias, putting a hand on his shoulder, her eyes wide and tainted with fear. "He vanished."