Chapter 15

"Get off!" Lightblood snarled, throwing Nikita with his weight. She landed on all fours, snarling. "This is all your fault Lightblood! You'll pay!" She pounced, but Lightblood dodged and grabbed her scruff, throwing her over his head.

She landed with a heavy thud, and with the advantage Lightblood placed his paw on her neck. He pressed down with such force that Nikita couldn't breathe. "I told you...you can't defeat me," he said coldly.

"Brother! Stop this!" Peace ran forward, standing in front of her brother. Lightblood looked shocked. "Peace? I thought you were dead," "No...I left," "But...why?"

"You don't get it big brother, you never did. You run this pack out of fear and hatred. You think that all the other wolves in the world are weak and pathetic...Why? Because they form peace and alliances with each other. You are the only wolf who is seen as a sickness, and needs to be rid of,"

She flicked her ear. "Look around you brother. Is this how you want to see your pack be like? Savages? Murderers?" "If that's how it must be...then so be it,"

"Then I won't stay in your pack anymore, they've treated me like dirt," "You aren't going to leave," "Try me litter-brother, I've had enough…" Peace turned on her paws and walked away.

"Peace wait!" he barked, running after her. Nikita gasped for air, turning over on her stomach. She coughed and gasped. Just as she was about to get up, another wolf pinned her down on her back.

"Don't move…" it growled darkly. Nikita quivered, she slammed her eyes shut as she felt claws sinking into the back of her neck.

This is it….I'll be off to join the Spirit-Wolves….

Suddenly, an agonizing howl of pain from a wolf made all of them stop their fighting. The wolf that was attempting to kill Star had been burned to an ugly, black corpse. It was so badly burned that you couldn't tell who the wolf was anymore.

Star however, was on his feet...his powers clearly visible. He scanned each wolf with his flaming eye sockets...and they fell on the wolf pinning down Nikita...he snarled lowly in his throat, his teeth pulled back.

He slowly made his way towards them...the wolf froze, and just as Star reached them did he jump off and scurried away. Star looked down at his mate, his face unreadable. "Star?" Nikita whispered. He didn't answer, but scanned each wolf. All of them were gazing at him in both shock and amazement.

A sudden deep growl broke the trance, and all wolves turned to see Lightblood with a pure look of rage on his face. "I knew you were my arch enemy from the moment I saw you…" he growled coldly.

He took a step forward, but an ear splitting howl filled the air. All wolves turned to see an enemy pack running towards them at full speed. "Now what?!" Lightblood snarled.

As the pack came running, Nikita gave a sharp whine of shock. "It's Slash's pack!" Star wasted no time and went to face the intruders. He snarled in warning, but the look of pure rage in their faces was unmistakable. They leaped straight for him, tugging at his fur and ears.

He snarled and tried to fight them off, but he was outnumbered. "Star!" A few packmates yelled running to his aid, ignoring Lightblood's pack immediately. Lightblood turned to his pack and barked. "What're you waiting for? Now's our chance to kill them!" But no wolf made any attempt.

But shortly a wolf walked forward, it was Falcon; the young male who Nikita first encountered. He stared at Lightblood darkly and in a cold tone, he spoke:"We've had enough Lightblood, you are no longer our leader…" Lightblood growled. "Yes I am, and I always will be!"

Another wolf walked forward. "It is clear who we have chosen as our Alpha...you never showed respect to other pack's other than us…" The others barked their agreements.

"Are you all fools?! You can't join that scumbags pack! They treat us like dirt!" "No. You treat them like dirt. And all the other neighboring packs. It's over Lightblood," They all snarled and bolted past him, they all were switching to Star's side. Lightblood howled in rage. "You'll regret it!"

But no wolf heard him. Instead, they were all focused on defeating Slash's wolves. Clearly his pack was too far gone to be negotiable, they were all focused on killing.

Lightblood growled low and went for one of his own wolves, but someone grabbed his tail and pulled him back. He spun around and was face to face with Dagger.

"Now do you get it? This is what it is to earn loyalty. Your pack has chosen my son as their leader, you've done enough damage Lightblood," Dagger narrowed his gaze and spoke coolly. "Let this end now…" "NEVER! Bring it on mutt!" With an enraged snarl, Lightblood lunged at Dagger.

Dagger had fought against wolves and other predators before, but so far those had only resulted in them fleeing.

Lightblood however, seemed mad beyond reason, and he was not going to let Dagger get away from challenging his authority over the pack he had ruled for years. Those who stayed with him he destroyed or beat down into submission.

Lightblood was only a tad smaller and younger than Dagger, but long periods of training advanced him greatly. Dagger, on the contrary, was in better shape and quite strong for a dire wolf.

He had learned to survive the hard way ever since he had been a teenager and had mastered it in a way this wolf never had. His family had taught him how to defend himself, and the tough life being an alpha and father had sharpened these skills to near perfection.

However, it didn't take long before it was clear that Dagger had the upper paw in this fight. But still Lightblood refused to back down and continued to fight fiercely. Dagger refused to use his power on this wolf, despite how much he deserved it.

He wanted this fight to be at least fair, and to prove to Lightblood that not all dire wolves were savages. However, it was then that Dagger made a mistake that he had been warned about ever since he was a young teenager, being trained by his father.

He succumbed to an unforeseen blood-lust, one of the worst things a dire wolf can do. Rage took control and the world around him disappeared, his only focus was his opponent and his only goal was to tear him into pieces. Everything else he became oblivious to.

This was, according to his mother, something not even her father had encouraged his pack to do. A dire wolf blinded by rage is a reckless one, and a reckless wolf can make some disastrous mistakes. Therefore, dire wolves must never lose control.

Regardlessly, Dagger did just that: he lost himself to rage and tore savagely into Lightblood like he was a mere chew toy. He ripped up painful wounds into his pelt, barely noticing his desperate attempts to fend him off. Then, at last he sent him to the ground with a heavy blow to the face, blinding him in the process.

Lightblood fell heavily to the ground in a cloud of dust, blood streaming out of several other wounds and the place where his eye used to be. There was no mistaking that he had lost this fight.

To his great dismay he saw Dagger coming at him again, with the insane rage continuing in his eyes. He realized he was not going to stop, and it didn't take long before Dagger's eyes began to glow.

"N-No..." He wailed as he tried to get up. But he flew at him, pinning him down to the ground. Any morals he may have had a few heartbeats earlier were completely forgotten, neither did he hear his pleads or saw his helpless state.

"NO! Please, don't-" The last thing Lightblood saw was his sharp fangs bolt down to his throat. Then he was no more. Dagger heaved with exhaustion, blood dripping from his muzzle.

He succumbed to a few bites and scratches, but was fine nonetheless. He opened his eyes and gasped. Lightblood's broken bloodied body lay a few feet in front of him. He looked at his paws that were soaked in blood.

What had he done? He already knew the answer. He was a dire wolf and he always would be. There was an animal rage deep in his heart that would never go away.

He was told to never lose control, but he did just that. He killed the one wolf who made his children's life a living hell. But he never...NEVER wanted to kill him. He only killed 1 other wolf, and he promised himself he wouldn't do it again. But he broke his own promise.

He did what he told himself long ago not to do. Suddenly he felt guilt, the kind he never felt before. He heard voices, but they were clouded out. "DAD!" Star's voice strained. Dagger snapped back reality, but a few wolves got to him before he could react. They pinned him down, biting and scratching at his flank and ears.

He made no attempt to fight them off, and soon a pool of blood formed underneath his black fur. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Roared Winter, lunging at one of the attackers, landing on their back. She bit and scratched savagely, her rage pulled to the surface.

The wolf yelped and shrank back, knocking her off. A few more wolves attacked as well...sending Dagger's attackers running. "Dagger! I'm here!" Winter pressed her head to her mate's. Star was there immediately, his eyes were downcast. "Dad?" There was silence, no snarls...no cries...just dead silence.

There was a small rumble above, and soon rain began to fall. It fell in large drops, making the smell of blood fume in the air. Dagger's breathing was raspy and weak...his flank barely moving. He opened his eyes weakly, a smile formed on his face. "I'm glad I got to fight alongside my family…" Winter whined, her eyes filled with tears.

"Dagger please…" her voice choked. "You're strong. You're a fighter, please fight this now…" Dagger raised his head weakly to nuzzle her. "I can't Winter, I'm already fading...my time has come," Star yelped in sadness. "No Dad! We need you! You're our leader! Please don't go…" His eyes were filled with tears, Nikita came to his side.

"They don't need me Star, they have you," Dagger coughed. "Me? But I can't!" "You must Star...you're my son, and the pack's future Alpha...you're young and smart. It is time for you to step up and become a leader," "Don't say that! Mom needs you! I need you!"

Winter's cries got louder, her head pressed further to Dagger's. "Dagger my love, please...don't leave me…" He heaved another cough, blood flowing from his mouth. "I'd never leave you Winter...I love you. You're my heart and soul, that'll never change…" He closed his eyes, and for an instant, Winter panicked.

But his eyes opened once more, his voice a mere whisper. "I will be with the Spirit-Wolves now. I'll be free to watch over you and the other's. Just...promise me...you'll move on…" "I promise Dagger...I love you so much," Dagger chuckled weakly.

"That's the Winter I know…" With a final cough, his eyes closed for the last time. Winter lifted her head and put her paw on Dagger's head. "D-Dagger? Dagger?!"

He didn't move, his flanks motionless. Winter's stomach turned over, her tears flowing and never stopped. She flopped herself on Dagger's bloody body, his blood covering her fur. "Mom...I'm so sorry…" Star's voice was choked, he took a step forward but Winter snarled at him. He flinched. "Mom?" "Leave us…" she said coldly.

"What? But Mom-" "NOW!" She snarled viciously, a clash of lightning hit the sky. Star took a few steps back, the rain began to pour heavily. "Star...come on," Nikita reassured him, nudging him. He was hesitant, but followed her.

His pack and Lightblood's former pack followed him. He paused and looked at them. "Why are you following us?" he growled. Falcon stepped forward. "We wish to join our pack's together. Lightblood ruined our lives, it won't be the same with you..we all agreed."

Star studied him for a cool moment. But Zara stepped forward. "They aren't bad wolves brother, they're fiercely loyal and selfless. They wouldn't let you down…"

Star was going to protest but he stopped. Zara was their beta, they trusted her. He sighed and addressed them. "Do you swear to be loyal to me? To respect my decisions and respect me as your Alpha?" They barked their agreements.

"Then I guess we'll see how it goes...for now, we must leave my mother to mourn over the loss of her mate...my father,"

He began to move on again, but his pain and grief boiled in his stomach. A single tear ran down his face, his jaw clenched tightly. How could I have let this happen? This is all my fault…