Affliction - Book One - Man x Man

Chapter 9

The black beast lumbers towards us, a predator stalking his stunned prey. I take a step back, clutching my companion's arm. The fear strikes through me like a bolt of lightning, all at once my courage feels all but drained. 

He looks at me like I'm something to eat, I'm a parasite invading his territory and he's come to end my existence. The black wolf bares his fangs as he stands between us and the city entrance. Beta must have been on night duty, he must have smelt us coming, or perhaps he had been waiting here all along.

 "A little late to be out taking a stroll." He isn't asking, he's demanding a reason for our presence here. Tonic says nothing; he's stalk still as if that would protect him.

 It will be up to me to get us out of this. "I wanted to get here before the shops closed; I forgot something in the book store." I lie. 

The wolf snarls and I slow my breathing. I refuse to show how it rips through my very soul. Flashbacks hit me like a slap in the face, I see my mother being torn apart. My chest throbs in agony, my soul bleeding for her. I feel light-headed.

"Do you find me a fool?" His tone is harsh, saliva seeping from his exposed jaws. "Do you know what I think? I think you are trying to escape. Your people are about to pay for your treachery. Wait until Alpha hears about this." His head tips back to howl and I throw up my hands. 

"Stop!" I command. "I'm here to see the rebellion; to arrange a meeting with Alpha." He watches me in disbelief.

"The only use the pack has for the rebellion is to end it." 

He's not buying it, it's not enough. "That's not true! Alpha wants to negotiate with them, I'm set to pick a time and place. We are going to make an alliance." I'm hoping the information will spare me the accusations that would cause my people to be slaughtered by their wolf overlord. Surely this beast must have a reasonable side? "Leave my people out of this, if you have a problem, take it up with me!" 

I feel as though I have hit a nerve, for now, the black wolf begins to stalk forward once more. Tonic staggers behind me, I know what's about to happen, everything in my body tells me to brace for impact, for the death that is imminent.

The bark makes my blood run cold. I feel his breath hot on my face. "I'm sick to death of your pompous attitude. I'm sick of these pathetic excuses as to why you're still alive. You are nothing. You are worse than useless; you are a waste of good flesh. The fact that you have been kept alive for entertainment value is an insult to our kind, how can a whisp like you possibly command the attention of a man such as the Alpha? What kind of sorcery do you hold over him? What are you planning?"

 Beta gets louder, more demanding. His hair stands on end and his muscles flex as he rolls back on his hind legs. I can feel it building, the tension of a spring coiling for launch.

 I wonder what it will feel like, will I be in too much pain to really comprehend? Will I be awake every moment of this short battle?

 He pulls his lips back to expose his teeth and parts his jaws in a deafening snarl. The echo stirs my hair and I shut my eyes.

"You're right. I'm nothing. I'm not a threat to you." I surrender to my imminent death. I've seen this play out before; I know I don't make it through this. I wonder if my father knew he would die that night; if he was ready. Is anyone ready? 

 I don't want to see it coming. I've seen enough to know what my murder would look like. I think back to my dream, the gray was the one who caught me, the black was never cunning enough but I suppose I wasn't ready for him this time. He did not have to chase me; I stand before him in acceptance. There isn't a trick or a cunning phrase that could remove me from his sights.