The Taming

To Consider

She eyed him consideringly. Changing the tables on him. "Who were you, before you became what you are?"

Sebastian looked at her tucked under his arm. Looking so sorrowful and small next to him. He gave a short laugh. "Nobody. I was nobody."

"Then how did you become so special."

"It was my brother's fault." He said flatly.

"Alazareth? What did he do?" Her voice rose.

"Don't give him so much credit." Sebastian said dryly. "He's deeply awful."

She giggled. "Don't be so dreadful to your brother."

"He's dreadful." Bast retorted. Though his tone lacked conviction.

They grew more somber, and he continued. "He was the one that wanted to be a hero."

She gave him a quizzical look.

"I was content being an aimless carpenter. But Alazareth wanted to join the cause of our world."

"Which was?"

Sebastian thought it over. His mouth twitching as he thought how best to illustrate it for her. "In our world, there were people being killed for what they believed in."

"That's sad."

He nodded. "It was."

"They were poor people, unable to protect themselves. They only wanted to travel to their holy land, but they were constantly robbed or killed. So, a group of honorable men decided to protect them on their journeys. Alazareth wanted to be one of them."

"So, you didn't?"

Sebastian shook his head. "I only went to protect him."

Elsabet groaned in aggravation. "I suppose I should've known that."

"But," Sebastian lifted a finger to halt her judgement. "when I really saw what we were doing, I gained an appreciation for the duty. I wanted to keep them all safe."

"Did you?"

"Not just me. All of us. Our captain was the best. He trained us hard, he was rigid, he made us behave methodically instead of acting on impulse. Under his direction we defeated everyone we engaged."

"He sounds incredible."

"That's why he's our alpha now?"

"Deragan? You chose him as your alpha?"

Sebastian scoffed. "There's not much choosing Deragan. He chooses you. You have no choice but to follow or get out of his way...We didn't want to be in his way."

"Ah."

"Don't get me wrong." Sebastian defended. "We'd all have killed or died for him. There is no leader that can compare to him."

"He doesn't make mistakes?"

"One." Sebastian lifted that finger to emphasize this time. "In all these centuries, he's made one mistake. The Great Battle. In the depths of his suffering, he made his only mistake."

"And many died." The authoritative voice came from the doorway. Drawing their eyes to the dark man standing there.

"Alpha." Sebastian greeted in a level tone.

"Hello, Deragan." Elsabet said.

"Sebastian. Elsabet." Deragan gave us each a nod. "I thought to let you know I was here."

"It is your stronghold. You come and go as you wish."

"You built it. You rule it." Deragan countered. "I heard you discussing me."