Unnamed

CHAPTER 3

DEREK

Kyros, paused looking quizzically at Nicholas. Seeing that he has caught his attention Nicholas straightens his stance puffing his chest out.

"Kyros son of Adamo, I challenge you for the position of the beta of this clan. The fight would take place in two weeks' time, but do you dare to accept the challenge?" He looked at my dad with clear disdain in his eyes.

"Why wait for two weeks, when we can just have the fight now,"my dad said, cracking his neck while he walked back to stand on the platform.

"Kyros, you just fought with Achilles and I don't want to take advantage of your weakened condition", Nicholas said in a fake righteous voice .

"Cut the crap, just come at me let's get it over with," with a cracking sound of shifting of bones, Kyros turned to his wolf form.

Nicholas handed over the dagger to the omega that brought it earlier, pulling off his clothes he turned into a gray wolf though much smaller than kyros but threatening in his own way his blue eyes turned more piercing as if there is a living electric current in them.

He launched himself at kyros, swiping his clawed fingers at his neck. But Kyros took a step back dodging the attack. Pressing his advantage, Nicholas attacked again.

He swept his leg under kyros trying to put him down. With no other choice, Kyros jumped up trying to avoid the leg. As kyros was in midair, Nicholas used his other leg as a spring jumping up after kyros while he opened his maw full of sharp teeth and clamped it on kyros neck.

As the teeth sank into Kyros neck, blood spilled out. Seeing that he has lost again and not ready to lose his life to Nicholas, my dad tried admitting defeat but the blood coming out of his throat prevented him from talking. Having no other option, "I admit defeat" he said, which sounded in every clan member's head through our mental connection.

Hearing him admit defeat, Nicholas released Kyros' throat and retreated standing at the edge of the platform. A change occurred in our consciousness but not as dynamic as when Achilles became the Alpha.

My dad, who is now the Gamma of the clan, left the platform silently, while some of the clan members came to congratulate Achilles and Nicholas.

I know the position of Alpha comes with its own perks and seeing my dad being defeated I know the probability of being the next alpha is low.

I look at my dad, he doesn't seem to be disappointed as if all that has just happened has nothing to do with him.

He may seem healthy, but I know he's suffering from a sequelae from the fight with the vampire matriarch twenty years ago.

His time is running low, we have visited many herbalists and witch doctors but all to no avail. I heard that my dad visited a druid but there's no news about the results. I know that I may lose him one day that's why I work hard to take back the alpha position before his death.

Though, he seem disappointed there's no reaction from me apart, from my expressionless face. But, it disappeared leaving an expressionless face. I felt sad for him and vowed within myself to train harder and also kill the vampire matriarch in the near future.

Watching my dad move back to our quarters, I walked after him . Reaching at our quarters — upper right wing of the clan house we vacated it with the help of some clan members taking a half of the left wing which we would be sharing with the pack's beta – Nicholas.

Entering the new apartment, a three bedroom apartment with an office which of course is one quarter of the alpha's where I had an argument with my dad earlier.

After settling down in the new apartment,my dad called me into his new office which also serves as his study.

Stepping in the office which is the size of a hotel room compared to the hotel suite sized office my dad had before. I saw my dad sitting behind a mahogany desk which looks too small for his size.

Looking up from what he was reading earlier my dad directed me to sit in front of him. So I pulled out a chair and sat in front of him.

Pushing his chair a little back to get comfortable, my dad took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and then lit it with an antique lighter that was lying on his desk.

He took a long drag then looked at me, "how do you feel about what happened today?", he asked while releasing a cloud of smoke from his mouth and nostrils.

"You fought to maintain your dignity, I guess" I said with a shrug. Shaking his head, my dad looked at me and said "Not only for my dignity, I fought Achilles to show him I am not an easy target, the fight may seem to be dominated by Achilles…." he smiled, then he smirked.

Standing up he moved close to the window shifting the curtains to let the moonlight in "... But I held back and he knows, if I were to go all out he would still win but he would pay a steep price."

"What about the fight with Nicholas" I said, confused why he would be defeated by Nicholas when Achilles would have to pay a steep price to take him out in a fair fight. Giving a short mocking laugh, he took a long drag of his cigarette and released it as his body relaxed.

"Oh! That clown, beta and gamma there's no difference if he wants the position he can have it," he said, as his eyes twinkled in good humor.

"That aside, I have news for you," he said. I am being baited, which I am sure I would swallow both bait and sinker.

"And what's that?" I asked curiously.