Unexpected

PAIN

"I didn't know he was our beta. I thought he was a rogue or a werewolf that went A-wall."

The elderly man spoke as I kneeled before a pool of red liquid. The man said he shot a werewolf at close range in the chest.

He was holding a rifle, and I could smell that it's Akim's blood. That was the blow that Darnell and I felt in the car.

His body wasn't here, but I had a feeling he was gone.

"Please, I'm-I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

The man continued to plead his case while I set off to search for my pack brother's body. Darnell stared at the old man like he wanted to rip his throat out.

"He didn't know. Let's go."

Listening to my words, he followed me into the woods. This has got to be one of the worst days of my life besides my brother Moses passing away.

It had the same eerie feeling like the day my father and I went to retrieve Moses' body. I stopped, rethinking what I was doing.

"What's wrong, Knox?"

"I don't think I can handle losing another brother."

Tears filled my eyes, and my legs felt weak. I didn't want to take another step.

"We have to find him. We can't leave him out here alone."

After hearing his words, I gave a nod and continued to lead the search. My heart was preparing itself for the worst, but I still tried to hold on to that Akimitsu was okay.

We got to the split trail, and the familiar scent led my nose to the left. Following the smell, my life with Akim flashed before my eyes.

From the sandbox to college parties, He really was the glue that kept our brotherhood together.

We began to hear noises around us as the darkness took over the woods. The moon was our only guiding light.

The growls slowly came in from the distance. Now, Darnell and I had to prepare for a potential attack.

Rogues are always lurking in the woods, so it made sense why the old man would think Akim was one.

"Come out. We know you're there."

I said my words, but they continued to lurk in the distance. Darnell and I began to move forward. Finding our brother was our main focus.

It was pitch black in certain areas, so our night vision came in handy. I was now getting different scents around me. The rogues were closing the distance to us slowly but surely.

"Oh no."

I heard Darnell speak, then fall to his knees. When I looked in the same direction, his eyes stared, and a gasp left my mouth.

"Akim?"

My best friend was sitting on the ground naked with his back leaning up against a tree. He had multiple bullet holes in his chest and body that were not healing, which could only mean one thing.

"He's-He's dead."

Darnell's voice was shaken, but I wasn't ready to agree. Akim must've had a death wish. He came out here on purpose, hoping the old man would kill him.

"We gotta get him outta here."

"Your friend picked the wrong place to die."

The rogue finally spoke, and I told Darnell to get Akim while I kept guard. I gave my button-up for him to put on Akim. I stood there with my undershirt on, ready for whatever.