Delta [Epsilon #2]

Chapter Three

The Alpha folded his arms and leaned back into his chair, his sneer etching deep lines in his forehead. I could see the golden-haired Luna looking back and forth between us and her husband, a worried look on her features. In fact, I was almost sure the people in our peripheral were doing the same. The Delta, of course, looked as unphased as ever. In fact, I would have said he looked almost bored.

"Is this little party of yours a threat to my court, may I ask?" the Alpha spat. Raina was rigid at my side, and I was so still I could barely think to move. Azure's eyes only narrowed.

The male chuckled, a humourless sound that echoed eerily throughout the pin-drop silent hall. Slowly, he sat forward, scanning our faces beneath that night-like gaze. I couldn't look at it for too long -- something about it bought uncanny resemblance to Azriel.

"I must warn you that, if you are indeed a threat to me, I will not hesitate to have you gutted and thrown before Alpha South's feet."

Panic sliced through me, and Raina went rigid at the threat. Azure, ever the stoic woman she was, did not faulter as she replied with equal venom, "And if you lay a finger on me -- or them -- I will have your throat upon these glittering before you even have the means to blink."

Suffocating silence fell over the room, and it seemed even the Alpha himself was too stunned to speak. He paled -- with fury, or fear of Azure's threat, I didn't know. A part of me wanted to hug Azure and thank her for saying the words I could not, but another part of me knew we were toeing a dangerous line here. This court was perhaps our only refuge, and judging by the Alpha's enraged face, it seemed he wasn't so eager to be on our side. Azure, though bless her courage, wasn't helping our case.

I took a moment to look at the Delta, whom of which was staring at Azure, face void of emotion. However, I could have sworn amusement glimmered those eyes, if only for a moment.

Slowly, the Alpha rose from his chair, black eyes glaring down Azure all the while. Her eyes tracked him; relentless, focused, like a predator on prey. Part of me feared Azure would try to kill him right there, right then. And honestly, I wouldn't try to stop her.

"Delta, throw them out," he snarled, eyes not straying from the blonde's poised form.

The Delta's head snapped to the Alpha. I felt it before I saw it, the fury that exploded through the room, a certain aura that had every animal instinct in me screaming to run. The feeling suffocated me as he boomed, "I did not haul ass to capture South's slave just for you to throw her out, so some other pack can use and abuse her!"

His words rattled my bones, their insult not quite registering with my mind. No, I was stuck in a blind panic -- animalistic panic. And judging by the pale faces of the crowd, I could only assume they felt the same, too.

And it seemed to have the same affect on the Alpha. His face paled as he stared down the dark male, black eyes wide with fear, and something else. Resentment.

"And do you have any idea of the Upsilon army he has possession of now? Because of her?" The Delta aimed a finger at me, and I felt myself feeling slightly nauseous as the people's gazes followed, disgust and hatred written all over their features. Azure seemed to straighten in my defence, but no amount of words could save me from the judgement, from the guilt.

The world seemed to still as the Delta whipped back his arm and pulled back the sleeve, revealing the marred skin beneath. A bite, but not just any bite. One that had left his skin dark and rotting in places, the blood brown and black. Bruises snaked from the wound, like webs of a purple poison, spreading to the rest of him.

"Their bites hurt like shit! And worse than that, they negate my healing. If I wasn't as strong as I am, I'm sure this shit would be getting much worse!"