The Alpha's Claim

7

Beta Eric almost dropped the limp alpha in his jaw when Damien entered the clearing. He had successful found the girl. Her leg was wrapped in a red cloth—or perhaps a blood-soaked cloth. Damien was shirtless. Murder was written across his face.

Naomi was unconscious; Eric has seen Damien carry wounded members before, but he held her differently. He clutched her close to his chest protectively. His muscles were shaking, not from effort, but from unconcealed rage.

Eric stared, trying to figure out what message his eyes were communicating to his brain.

Damien's anger didn't cause Eric any confusion; it was the girl.

She had huge golden wings jutting out from her back.

Alpha? He asked.

Damien ignored him and gently set her down on a small incline off to the side of the clearing. Eric noted the sudden care and shift in demeanor from wanting to kill to wanting to protect.

Damien turned and looked at the alpha stuck in Eric's jaw. Suddenly, Damien was back in kill mode.

"Shift into your pathetic human form," Damien commanded. Eric dropped him and Maximus transformed into his human form, blood smeared across his throat. Damien stepped closer and stepped on Maximus' outstretched hand, making him shout in pain. "Did you know?" he asked sharply.

"Know what?" he asked, grimacing. Damien stepped of his hand, which Maximus drew into his chest. "That she's gullible and would fall for my trap?" Maximus spat at Damien, spit mixing with blood.

Damien grabbed Maximus by the throat and lifted him up. Maximus began to squirm. "Did you know what she was?"

Maximus's eyes widened in panic, almost popping out of his head. He nodded fervently, and Damien dropped him. Maximus grabbed his throat and gasped for air.

"Who else knows? Surely the Wereking would be interested in an angel."

"This birdling?" Maximus asked, cackling. He was smiling, but his eyes were unfocused, the blood loss obviously getting to his head. "And the Wereking is aware. He told me to keep her hidden until she blossomed. Then, I was to hand her over to him, of course after a little fee for taking such good care of her."

If Maximus were in his right mind, he would have known to leave out the fee part.

Eric bowed his head instinctively as Damien growled. "Why did the Wereking want her?" he asked.

Maximus just laughed. Damien lashed out and smashed his fist against his face. Maximus's laughter grew even louder.

"You know nothing of the winged ones?" he asked. "Surely you have not all forgotten! First, you forget the Hunt and now you know nothing of her? The winged one? You know nothing of the old magic. And you are too late."

Damien whirled and saw that Maximus's pack had arrived. Hundred of wolves watched on, standing at the edges of the circle. A single word was all that it would take.

"And there is my backup," Maximus said, laughing and wiping blood from his face. "Leave the girl, and we'll leave you and your beta in one piece. Each. Maybe."

Damien just smiled and snatched Maximus by his foot. Maximus growled, fear creeping into his eyes. Damien whirled him around and hung him over the bear trap that he had thrown into the clearing. Maximus realized what was happening and tried to shift.

Damien's eyes began to glow blue, and Maximus froze. He tried to shift again, but his wolf would not come out. "What are you?" Maximus accused, frantically flailing. He had never looked so pathetic, and his pack knew that very well. He looked like a dying rabbit in the jaw of a wolf.