Cursed Stars: Became The Hunted (Book #1)

♡~Chapter Five: Caught~♡

Eclipse leaped to her paws at the splash nearby." Wha--- Alpha? Wh-what are you doing here?" She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. Of course it had to be the Alpha of the Creek Pack! It couldn't have been any other wolf, right?

" Who... is... this...?" Riverbank repeated, lifting his paw off of Oni's head to allow the rogue to come up for air, before shoving him underwater again. The Alpha was truly magnificent--- He was bigger than Oni. A two-toned wolf with tan, blue, and gray fur. He also had a sort of sea-shell earring, with a starfish carved out right in the middle of the accessory, and shiny rocks wrapped around his legs. His ocean blue eyes flashed with the unmistakable authority of an arrogant Alpha who wasn't even there for his Pack.

Eclipse lowered her head in respect." It's just some rogue... he was just passing through the territory. He was just getting ready to leave."

Riverbank snarled." Are you sure about that? Are you sure you weren't hanging out with him? It wouldn't surprise me, with you being the little half-blood you are..." he ducked his muzzle under the water and sank his teeth into Oni's scruff, climbing off of him. He dragged the rogue out of the water and onto the shore, pressing a steady forepaw to his flank again so he couldn't move.

Oni gasped a little." You set me up?" He glared at Eclipse. No way... she couldn't have set me up... and half-blood...? He didn't really believe that the she-wolf was half-blood. The Alpha was probably lying to make a scene... But why...?

" Quiet, you," Riverbank snapped, shoving the red wolf roughly." Now Eclipse... tell me why you didn't drive this rogue out."

Oni fell silent, just looking between Riverbank and Eclipse.

The silver and dark gray she gritted her teeth, lifting her head and swishing her tail across the ground. She swallowed a growl as she answered," I don't... drive... rogues out. I talk to them, if they're willing to talk, and see if we can come to an agreement so that they'll leave. If not, I use teeth and claws to make them leave. This wolf... he's the only one who understands me... so yes. I was allowing him to stay for a bit." Her tone was cold--- It would be surprising to here so much confidence from her, as the Alpha was... well, an Alpha. And he was also noticeably larger than her.

Riverbank glared at her for a few moments, before looking down at the red wolf." So, Eclipse... I'll give you two choices. You can either kill him right here, and prove your loyalty to the Pack, and possibly be a Beta... or he will be put on trial."

What... kind of trial? Eclipse thought, before the other question processed. Her ears went back, and she flexed her claws in and out of the snow. Kill him...? But... he's a friend. Kind of. Plus, he didn't do anything wrong...

But the respect... She went on staring silently. I could order Gear around and torment him like he tormented me... everyone would regret looking down on me... I would have their respect. But...

Eclipse looked down at the blood red wolf. How could the Alpha be so cruel to give her two choices that would either: a) Scar her for life or b) leave Oni humiliated, or dead, or hating her for the rest of his life... or maybe all of the above!

And how could she choose loyalty over friendship? Or... maybe not friendship... an okay relationship? Ore, Midnight, and Fade had already proved to her that friendship could last forever. If it were loyalty... one mistake made, one time you slipped up.. and all that you worked for would come crashing to the ground and leave you at square one.

And really... what would it change if she killed Oni, anyway? The Pack would still see her as a half-blooded nobody, even if she was a Beta.

So finally, Eclipse made up her mind. She glanced down at her paws and muttered." No... I won't- I can't kill him..."