The Dire Choice (Otherworld Series #7)

Chapter 2- Shredder

Soul Shredder.

It all begun with that name. His life had begun with that name and it would end with it. Though, he once wanted a name that started with the letter 'C'. It would be nice to have a human name. Carter or Callum or Fred.....Fred started with 'E' or a 'D', he didn't really know, why did it even come up in his head?

He carved the name into the tree with his scythe. Starting it with a 'D'.

"I will remember you, Fred." He pointed at the name. His scythe did not reply. It usually didn't. But he liked his one sided conversations. His scythe was the only one he could rely on. The only one who supported him.

He went deeper into the forest, following the sound of water.

Memories played before his eyes. He sang the hymn of praise his Goddess had taught him.

"These Memories,
They Bind me, They Hold me,
They Comfort me...."

He did not remember the rest. It had been so long. His Goddess used to sing so sweetly. She used to braid her long black hair, seated utop a rock in the center of the sacred river of healing, the moonlight shining upon her.

"Come to me." She would say, her fingers beckoning him ahead, her beautiful bluish green eyes at half mast, seducing him with just a look.

"I come." He said aloud, his voice echoed in the forest. It was cold, the clothes he wore did nothing to protect him from the weather.

He remembered a time when a little cold breeze did nothing to affect him, he used to be so strong. It was all the full beasts' fault. He had come to an agreement with Seth Blackmane, and Lunia Vel Miorisi, now Lunia Vel Kisare had made it so that the demons were supplying his pack with food and clothing, but his goddess had forbidden him from partaking, and so he starves, obeying her wishes.

"Speak to me." He said, but her voice was silent, she had retreated into the back of his mind, very less, now, did she speak to him. But soon, she would call to him.

He walked further until he scented Stormcaller. Then he followed the scent to his shaman.

Stormcaller had been his friend since ages. They had been raised together to be constorts to the Goddess but she had chosen Soul Shredder. Stormcaller hadn't been bitter about it and had chosen to be the pack shaman.

He had been an honourable and fully sane packmate until a few years ago, one night when he had been on the mortal side tracking an enemy, and a van of humans had run him over. They had been colourfully dressed idiots who though he was a very hairy human and took him with them. A few weeks later Stormcaller came back to the pack lands, but he was different.

Now he spent his days going over to Blackmane lands and offering free advice to the young full beasts that lived there. He was as idiotic as the humans who had adopted him had been.

Soul Shredder stopped at the border, and waited. The full beasts that spotted him stopped and stared.

He was something to stare at surely. Almost seven feet tall, his face was as pale as snow, the left side of his face covered in the ancient runes that declared him the sacred consort of the Goddess, the right side, all handsome male, complete with high cheekbones and a straight unbroken nose.

But beauty was only on the outside. And after a while, even that wasn't enough, Shredder had loved his Goddess, had given her his body, mind and soul, but in the end, she strayed from him, in the end, he was not enough.

The full beasts that spotted him had alerted their Alpha and Seth Blackmane, ever the stern, strong Alpha strode towards him, Storm Caller by his side.