Chapter 7

"You have some nerve showing your face around here Blaze". The guard posted at the front gate growled. His sapphire eyes were glimmering under the dim moonlight. "You know, you are not welcome here."

"I need to talk to Valdevious" the blond hair muscular man demanded, while standing tall in front of the guard. Getting his body ready for the inevitable, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled while his body tensed. If he was planning on not letting him in, well, then he will make his way in, one way or another.

 Two more men got to the front gate and stand on both sides of tall dark one, flanking him. One, the shortest one of the two was a bald, kind of chubby looking guy, not intimidating at all. Everything that a werewolf stood for, he was not. His deep brown eyes were fixed on Blaze with hatred and an unwelcoming stare. 

 The other one was tall and slim, his brown curly hair was wet, maybe because of the rain that poured earlier that day, maybe because he was sweating profusely, and Blaze with only one look knew at the same instant that it was the latter. His hands clammy, rivers of perspiration coming down all over his body. 

 Blaze started weighting down his options, "three against one". The one that was sweating profusely was a brand-new werewolf. Blaze realized that. That was one of the many adjustments that the body had to go through when becoming a wolf. It was the aftermath of a new werewolf's transformation, until their bodies adjusted to the scorching temperatures inside them. 

 He could take him down, no problem. New werewolf or not. The other two, well, he only will count one, Shinnok. Because the chubby one was no match for him either Blaze will easily tower over him; ultimately, he was faster and stronger. 

 The only setback, if any, will be Shinnok, the one who spoke to him at the beginning. Valdevious' right hand, his Beta. He was taller than Blaze without transforming, his robust physique was almost out of this world, but he was all brawn and no brain. 

 His muscles tensed in aggression, at the same time taking more space creating a bigger target, indeed an advantage to Blaze. His ever growing and defined muscles rippled under his shirt, straining against the fabric, specially at the biceps and chest, his neck was wide at the base.

"He is only muscles and no brain, what a pity" Blaze though in a mocking tone knowing the outcome of the brawl.

 Blaze was smart in fights, he was a strategist fighter, that, plus his ancestor's history, always have gave him advantage in any fights. But he rarely relayed on his muscles and his strength to do that, the last time he lost control... He didn't want to think about that, it wasn't a pleasant thought. 

 Being fast, and powerful wasn't what he needed to do now, but he couldn't help it. He will easily rip his opponents' throats with his teeth and claws even before anyone realize they were being attacked. This time his anger was getting the best of him, his muscles tensed in aggression. Melissa was attacked and he had to stop them. If he had to killed them, then he will do it, with no remorse.

 His body was taking more space, a prelude to his transformation. His muscles growing and expanding, filling his shirt almost to the point of ripping. His chest and biceps muscles were taut. Getting ready to transform, his broad back was all swell up by the rage, ready to attack. At the same time sending a message to his opponents to not mess with him as a warning. They all could feel it, the power, and the strength that Blaze had, he was the chosen one for a reason, one day he will lead the pack, but first he had to show he was worthy of it.

"This is not your fight Shinnok, let me trough". Blaze said trying to control himself, teeth bared in warning, ordering his brain to win over his animal instincts. It was not easy be a calculating werewolf and had to fight his own killing instincts.

"The only way you will enter here is over my dead body" Shinnok countered while his bones were starting to crack, the sound of the skin ripping made the other ones follow. Ripping their own skin to give room to the beast inside them, getting taller, claws growing at hands and feet, to finally show their bare teeth finishing in a snout. Shinnok icy blue eyes were fixed on Blaze like two balls of blue fire.

"I will go in even if you try to stop me" the blond hair man snarled, shifting into a wolf, his grey eyes turned black as he grew much taller than the others, his upper muscles almost tripled in size, his calves and legs muscles followed. Blaze's transformation was more, and more painful every time it happened, the more pain he endured the more powerful he was. 

 He knew that; he knew he was getting stronger, every time the shifting took place. It was like his transformation didn't have a limit. The more rage that concentrated inside him, the more powerful he got, and that rage was growing, multiplying by the minute now. He had to confront Valdevious, and he was powerful enough to subdue anyone that crossed his path in order protect Melissa.

 The moon was on its First quarter, he knew that even without the Full Moon he was stronger than any werewolves on this Den. He came with a mission, to make them pay for trying to kill Melissa, but he also knew exactly who gave the order.

"Now, now! There's s no need to show this kind of behavior in front of the Den" said an impertinent voice from the shadows. Showing a robust dark hair man; his skin, darker than cinnamon wrapped his entire body beautifully, tightly. His glassy greyed eyes gave to his face a sense of sepulcher that Blaze hated it. 

 He was now the one in charge of the werewolves, and there was nothing Blaze could do, at least not now. It was his choice to step down, but that will not restrain him from killing him, or anyone that interfere or wanted to harm Melissa.

"Calm down now Shinnok, let him through". Said the man, in a demanding voice, his large white tunic flowed with the night breeze. Shinnok was hesitant, for a moment, teeth still bare until finally he moved out of the way. 

"I suggest you all turn back to your human form". Said Valdevious while looking directly to the majestic beast in front of him. "We don't want our own blood to spill now do we." The oversized beasts walked towards Blaze, getting uncomfortably close to him, snarling and letting a menacing huff through their noses. 

 Blaze shifted back into his human form. "What is a little blood from a bunch of cowards compare to the powerful descendant's blood". Blaze said with hate. Valdevious turned to lead the way inside the mansion, not minding the wolf words. Blaze followed, leaving behind the hatred gazes of the others.

 They entered the house and a two a set of yellow stairs welcomed them. Going up to the second floor one mirroring the other. An ugly olive green covered the tall walls. "Whoever decorated this place didn't have taste at all" Blaze muttered. As Valdevious finished going up the wooden steps and stopped in front of a door to lead Blaze inside. 

 He entered the room and Valdevious followed him, closing the door behind him. Blaze saw the room, long brown curtains drapped from the ceiling, covering some part of the floor to ceiling windows, book collections stacked in bookcases standing tall all around the room painted once again in an ugly olive-green color. Making Blaze wrinkle his nose in disgust. Two upholstered brown and gold chairs were place in front of the long oak desk. The desk was the only good taste in this room, and maybe one or two books. The desk was where his grandfather used to sit.

 But he was never important in Blaze's life, his father on the other hand was the right alpha. He remembered everything clearly as a blue sky. Blaze's father lost the fight to Valdevious, making him the new lead of the pack. He clenched his teeth in hate while making a fist with both his hands. Drowning the though, the painful though of his father not being around him anymore. 

 Valdevious spoke and for a moment and Blaze was grateful, for a second. The Alpha's words brought him back from his thoughts. "What are you doing in here? you know your entrance here is prohibited". 

 The alpha said while sitting on the matching brown and gold chair behind the desk. "You are not welcome here, or did you come to get revenge on the attack to her?. She will die soon you know. I will make sure of it. You were stripped from your werewolf privileges the day you decided to protect her. The day you made a pact with no other than a filthy vampire. If she doesn't choose you our entire race will disappear. 

She will kill us all, and you, knowing that, are still on her side." Valdevious voice was menacing but that tone didn't bother Blaze, he was used to his empty talks.

"I will always be by her side; she is my destiny". Said Blaze in a low growl, an Alpha's voice, determined and demanding.

"Pfttt!!!" Valdevious snorted, "don't make me laugh" he breathed "just because she made you think she loved you? You think she will choose you over him? We have been at war with the vampires since the millennia, that cycle can't be broken, she can't decide between werewolf's or vampires. You actually believe all that nonsense".

"If she picks me, we don't have to die" Blaze said, his voice frigid, "our species will survive, and all the vampires will die". Said Blaze sounding almost reassuring.

"Argghh... you are a stubborn as your father". Said Valdevious with a malign tone in his voice. "He was oh! so sure on his principles" Blaze hands already in fists, tighten up. Valdevious continued "We all must follow nature's order. We must kill and get rid of the vampires, ourselves, for our future. For many more centuries to come. We can't rely on a promise". 

 Blaze didn't like Valdevious mentioning his father, it felt like salt rubbing into an open wound. "Don't you see, we need one another to coexist. We need vampires so werewolves can surface, and we kill them, they kill us and then more of them come and more of us turned, it doesn't stop, ever". 

"You said that we have been enemies from the beginning of times, and now you want to coexist with them? To keep killing each other?". Blaze asked fury emanating from his eyes.

"What I'm saying is that I rather exterminate them one by one that having her governing over us".

"No Valdevious," Blaze said, a menacing snarl dripping from his words. "What you don't want is to lose the power and control that you have imposed over the werewolves. But I assure you…" Blaze's snarled darkened, bone chilling, heart stopping. "…Making a pact with the vampire to protect her until she decides to be a werewolf like me is better than having you ordering me around, as soon as we get rid of those grotesques non-living demons. I will come back, and I will kill you. I will regaining my rightful place in the pack with her on my side". 

"Don't you ever try to attack her again, I will be always watching every step you take, every breath, every movement. From the shadows." Blaze finished with a menacing growl, as he jumped through the tall window breaking the glass and landing his werewolf form on the back side of the mansion, running towards the forest, melting with the night.

"Don't forget that she is a hybrid. You will have to see her die a painful death for you to finally live with her". Valdevious said to himself pouring cognac on a glass and shoveling compete down his throat.

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Hello there: Did you know that my Novel is competing for the Webnovel Spirit Awards 2021. It will mean a world to me if you vote for this book. As always thank you for your support.

JAlmodovar