Forged in Blood [Reupload]

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His muzzle held strongly against the forest floor, aromas of infinite possibilities pooling at his taste buds. He stalked the forest floor, for he was alpha.
There's were so many smells that assaulted him but his nose was hard at work finding meat, sweet blood to fill the beast.

A twitch in the corner of his vision zoomed by and instinct pushed him, he ran.

His opposite, another male, another alpha ran at his side.

This hunt a practiced dance, their weave through the bushes and trees never ending as they closed in on their hunt, a small buck who was big enough for the eating, such bug eyes that would make anyone not kill such creatures, but not these alphas.

The kill was so close, they could taste ripe blood on the tip of their tongues without even trying, it was such delicate prey.

The bigger of the two jumped while his twin took the lower, diving for the hamstring of the buck; he although took the throat spilling the blood of innocence on the in marred soil of fresh rain.

They tore in without mercy, their ears flattening against their head in overdrive as they tore into the soft flesh, he would've made a difficult opponent had he mated soon enough and found himself a promising doe; but to their luck he was alone, freshly freed from parental grasps and looking for a herd for the upcoming seasons.

When the meal was over an the carcass picked clean as much as they could the smaller of the two alphas jumped at the bigger one, he reached his brother's back an playfully bit into his bigger brother's shoulder blade; he yelped and threw himself on his back crushing his brother temporarily.

'What the hell do you think you're doing?!'  The bigger of the two was livid, snapping at his brother strongly. He hadn't expected an annoying attack after filling their bellies.
'It's not like I was some stupid rouge attacking you, I would've warned you if it was real' The smaller one snapped back gently, knowing he was in the wrong but was too pigheaded to full on admit to his wrongdoing in front of the stronger alpha.

'Let's just get this over with'

They had spent days away from home; days went by in the valley, exhaustion was not an answer as they ran and smelt territories; if they were to find her, they would have to get to the closest neutral territory and call their alpha, father is what they called him.
When they were to find their mates, the kingdom would rejoice in hope for the new era, the oldest was to take his place on the throne and his brother as beta as all tradición dictated. They would rejoice in the promise of a future with heirs that would take their father's when he would step down with their own mate in tow.

For now they followed the winds, more animals found swift ends at the purpose of their canines, chases ensued through the forest and time passed, their minds had become catalogues to every scent they came across, either animal or wolf.
They became reckless, snapping at unwary creatures and leaving traces of camp by as they moved from pack to pack; they didn't care that most likely the packs would consider them rouge's as they traveled from place to place.

Until one fateful they surpassed their own stupidity on a frosted morning...
They came to a pack, just like any other. Except, guards practically surrounded the territories border; it was no welcoming sight but that was most likely the appeal to so many guarding at a time. This pack most likely had no one guarding inside, all bark but no bite, the perfect place for rouges. They knew being caught would at least make them receive an earful from some beta male who could never be strong enough to take them off their feet. They gloat on their own of their strength.

They came closer, inspecting the schedules for a day before finding the perfect moment to seize the opportunity to sneak in; no biggy for a couple of alphas they thought.

Of course no biggy.

Within ten minutes of crossing the border the guards had sniffed them out and caught them from the bushes far from the main area of the pack.

'I told you it was too much noise!' the younger one complained and whined.

'Well, we're probably in luck. If they're taking us to the alpha I'm sure we can work an arrangement out. Besides, we probably look like we're actually wolves. Our fur got ruffed up on the outside with blood and dirt, I doubt they'll realize' The older brother snorted, it was still no biggy to him.

The smaller one was full of panic as he was tugged off, his older twin no match for all the guards that hefted them away. No orders were yelled or spoke between shifted men, meaning they could not catch on to plans for escape.

Their luck became worse when the loud yipes from the a stairwell to the underground could be heard in the proximity, and considering they were being dragged towards it told them there would be no deal struck with a small alpha for freedom, they didn't matter who or what they were.

The stench of urine, feces and iron made the princes want to shift and beg to get out immediately, but they couldn't. They'd stayed so long in their wolf forms it would take them at least an hour of pure concentration, if they didn't get drugged by the guards that is to, the get their wolf reeled in just enough to shift along with them being exhausted it could possibly take even longer.
Gratefully enough though, they were only left in a large, spacious cage that was more on the clean side considering they could smell all the disgusting details of other wolves.

They laid down trying not to think of the smells that assaulted their nose but tried looking around, now inside, there didn't really seem to barely be anyone else inside, and the newest smell of blood was at least a few weeks old. Probably the rouge or wronged packmate killed publicly considering this seemed to be one of those tightly knit packs where alphas showcased their power, where trial would take place but pitty did not exist for those who went against the alpha; they hoped they'd be able to talk, man-to-man with an alpha of this power, he could be useful in a future if he indeed didn't kill them without an explanation.