The Alpha's Mutt
The Belly of the Beast

Chaos ensued.

When we first arrived at the vampire territory, we remained to the outskirts until everyone could organize into their teams. From Hugo’s information, we knew that many of the clan’s houses were spread out over large areas, sometimes miles apart. So, we focused in on surrounding the three buildings where we had identified Belial to be hiding.

We successfully spread out and surrounded them but the moment that our presence was detected, we were swarmed upon. Those three buildings held far more vampires than we ever could have predicted. We had brought a fairly large number of wolves, but would it be enough?

The vamps ran straight at the wolves without hesitation. Any plan to only act in a defensive fashion went right out the window as teeth and claws clashed. Blood was splattered and fur flew as I pushed my way through the crowd. I knew that we had to be fast. Any second now the vampires in other areas of the territory would be alerted to the battle and would begin making their way towards us. And we could not afford to be fighting a battle on two fronts.

I needed to get to Master Belial and I could not let anything stop me. I looked towards Hugo and nodded my head, indicating that we were going to be taking off together. I watched from the corner of my eye as he opened the vial of my blood and poured it down his throat. Seconds later, we were off, using our enhanced speed to make our way through the mayhem.

“Mysti!!!” I could hear Farris calling out to me despite the pandemonium surrounding us.

I knew that he wanted to chase after me, but he was stopped short by a couple of vamps suddenly blocking their way. I was certain that he would be alright. Farris could handle himself. Plus, he had Relic and Casey to assist him.

“I am sorry…but I have to do this. I love you.” I linked with Farris one last time before I blocked any further conversation between us.

I knew that he would only attempt to change my mind if I allowed our interactions to continue and I did not need him to be focused on me. I needed him to focus on himself and protecting our packs. I was doing what I had to in order to bring an end to this. I believed that he would understand my choice…eventually.

Hugo and I hurried through the throngs of bodies that were locked in intense and bloody combat. We swerved around vampires and wolves alike. We pushed our way passed vamps who seemed as though they were planning to attack, but they stopped short upon seeing Hugo coming upon behind me. I wondered if they believed that Hugo was in pursuit of me as he followed behind, perhaps appeared to be chasing me to those not in the know. Whatever the reason, I was glad that it was working.

We made it inside the building that housed Belial without much resistance. The wolves had done their job in clearing a path for us and the speed with which we moved had certainly helped. Once inside the building, I realized that Hugo had not been exaggerating when he had described the inside of these buildings as mazes. Almost immediately after entering, we came across the entry to several hallways that seemed to spiderweb out in all directions throughout the building. I quickly shifted back to human form and Hugo handed me some clothing that he had been carrying.

“Alright, Hugo. You’re up. Lead the way.” I offered as I gestured for him to step up in front of me.

“I will try my hardest, Alpha. I believe that in a time like this our best bet in tracking him down will be to head to the inner sanctum. Seems like the most likely place where he would hide.”

“The inner sanctum it is then.”

Hugo took off making sure to keep his speed quick, but not so fast that I was unable to follow. My speed may have been greatly enhanced, but it was still not quite to that of a vamp at their full running speed. We rushed down hallways and we took turn after turn. There was so much back and forth, lefts and rights, that I completely lost track of where we had been. I was grateful to have Hugo with me. Admittedly, I was not certain that I would be able to replace my way back out of this place without help.

“We’re getting close now, Alpha. Be ready.” Hugo warned.

“Do you think it is strange that we have not run into any guards yet? I would think that he would have someone in here protecting him.” I wondered out loud.

“I’m not surprised, he probably sent all his guards outside to hold off the wolves. I am sure he thought that he would be safe in here.”

We rounded another corner and then…

We were blocked by a small group of three vampires. They stood, poised and ready to fight.

“I guess I spoke too soon.” Hugo sighed as we halted to a stop.

“Well…well…well…what have we here? A vampire HELPING a wolf?! I never thought I would see something so disgraceful and disgusting.” One of the vampires, a male with long, multi-colored hair, sneered.

“We’re going to enjoy tearing the two of you limb from limb. But we will make certain to make your death particularly painful, traitor.” Another vamp added, speaking directly to Hugo.

I growled feeling protective over someone that I considered a member of my pack.

“You will not lay a single filthy finger on him, if you know what is good for you.” I threatened.

“No one is speaking to you, savage!” The vampire snapped. “We will get to you when we are done dealing with this traitor.”

The group took a step towards Hugo, and I stepped in front of him to shield him from them. I gave them another warning growl and they hissed in return, barring their fangs.

“He is a member of my pack. If you want to get to him, you’ll have to go through me.” I snarled, revealing my canine teeth despite my, otherwise, human appearance.

The long-haired vampire took another step forward and I did not need further invitation. He wanted a fight, and he was going to get one. We did not have time for any delays, we needed to get to Belial before too many wolves were made to suffer.

I rushed the leader with the multi-colored hair and Hugo charged the other male in the group. I extended my claws and drug them along the male’s chest, leaving a trail of blood and battered meat behind me. I moved much faster than your typical wolf and the vamps had not been prepared for the fact. He clutched his chest and the female vamp looked on in shock. It was clear that she was in over her head, I got the sense that she did not really belong here. That she was not as dedicated and hateful as the others. I had a feeling that if she were temporarily disabled, when she came out of it, she would flee the scene rather than remain and fight. I knew it was a gamble, but it was one that I decided to take any way to avoid another death.

While she stared on in shock and before the other vampire recovered enough to continue our fight. I hurried up on the female, grabbed either side of her head and snapped her neck. Her body slumped to ground and while that would have been fatal for any other species. It would only serve to disable her for a couple of hours. She would survive this war and, hopefully, she will be grateful for the gift that I have given her when she arises.

“You bitch!!!” The long-haired male cried out at the sight of his fallen comrade.

“You know…I really don’t care for that term.” I smirked as I stared him down.

He jumped at me, hissing as he went. He grasped onto my shoulders and tried to gain access to my neck. I head-butted him in the forehead before could get close to sinking his fangs into me. He shook it off and rammed me into the wall behind me, causing my back to hit painfully. I retaliated by bringing my arms to the inside and upward before swinging them out, successfully breaking his hold on my shoulders. I then grabbed his left arm, spun him around and pinned his arm behind his back before rushing him into the wall before me, slamming him face first into the drywall.

“You think that you can best me, little vamp?” I teased, growling into his ear. “I faced far worse than you in my life.”

“I won’t matter what you do to me.” He spat back, blood trickling from his lips. “Soon enough the Master will do away with all of you. The wolves will be nothing more than a long-forgotten memory.”

If I had not been angry before. I was now. The audacity of this vampire to think that they could end a species as powerful as the wolves. We are the favored children of the Goddess of the Moon. We would not be erased as if we held no significance in this world. I would do absolutely whatever it took to ensure the survival and sustainability of the wolf race.

I saw red now. My rage overwhelming me to the point that I hardly had control over my actions any longer. I was in my human form, but I was more animal than anything else. More beast than person. I felt no compassion for this vampire, and I feel no remorse for the actions that followed. He was hateful and could not be redeemed.

I opened my mouth and exposed my canines. I knew from the old tales that wolf bites were supposed to cause vampires’ great pain. So, I sunk my teeth into the back of his shoulder and bit down hard, ripping out the flesh. He screamed, a bloodcurdling sound, as his other arm reached out for his shoulder in a futile endeavor to still it against the pain. I released his arm and he slide forward against the wall, falling to the floor.

Still in my fury-filled haze over his threats against the wolves, I knew that I needed to silence him before he alerted too many of the others. I reached down and gripped his head, underneath in chin and towards the back. I snapped it to the side and then continued twisting, yanking upwards before pulling his skull clean from his body and dropping it to the floor. There would be casualties in this war, it was simply unavoidable.

Once I was certain that he was taken care of, I turned to assist Hugo with the vamp that he had been fighting. Only to replace Hugo gripping that vampire’s heart in his fist, having ended his opponent’s life as well. Hugo stared down at the bloody scene for a moment and I knew that he was filled with torment over what he had just done. I was certain that it was difficult for him to take the life of one of his own kind. He was simply not the killing type. I felt badly that I had put him in this position. This was something that I had been hoping to avoid.

“It is alright, Hugo. You did what you had to do.It was self-defense.” I offered, not knowing if it would help any.

“I know.” He responded, an obvious shudder to his voice.

I patted him on the shoulder in an attempt to offer him a moment of comfort. However, I knew that we did not really have any time for this. As much as I did not want to rush him. There were other lives at stake. Wolves that I cared for, that I was responsible for, were outside fighting for their lives.

“If you cannot go on, Hugo, I understand. If you just give me the best directions to the inner sanctum as you can. I will continue on my own.” I suggested, giving him a way out of any further violence.

But to my surprise, Hugo cleared his throat and straightened his stance. He wiped his hand clean on his pants and turned towards me with a new look of determination.

“I’m alright, Alpha.” He stated, firmly. “Let’s end this thing.”

I nodded at him, feeling a strong sense of pride at his sense of duty to the pack.

We continued on our path until we finally came to a faux stone niche archway carved into the wall and we stopped. It was the size of arched doorway, but it was clearly a solid wall…or so it appeared.

“It has been spelled.” Hugo explained. “All of the inner sanctums in the largest buildings in an area are protected this way. An enemy combatant would not think anything of it and would continue onward. Only a member of the clan would know…” He paused and shoved his arm through the indented part of the wall, and it disappeared on the other side. “This is actually a doorway.”

Without any prompting, Hugo stepped the rest of the way through the door, and I followed closely behind him. There was no turning back now and I was certain that no one would know where to replace us if they attempted some form of rescue. We were truly on our own now, even more than we had been before.

The inner sanctum was less grand than I had imagined. In my mind I had pictured some kind of mythical throne room where Master Belial sat proudly like a king. Yet, I found it dark and kind of dingy. The stonework, while detailed and minorly ornate, was a dull gray. There was, in fact, a large chair on at one end, but it was only mildly throne-like, weathered with age, certainly nothing like I had imagined it to be. Master Belial stood just in front that throne, but he was hardly the proud king. No crown sat up on his head and only a scowl graced his face. He was much older than I had imagined as well. His, seemingly, frail form making me wonder what it was that I had been afraid of all this time.

“THIS is Master Belial?” I questioned, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I had to admit that I was almost disappointed by what I was facing. I had expected this to be a bit more difficult than ripping apart some ancient old fool.

“Do not let his appearance fool you.” Hugo cautioned. “That is part of how he gets you to drop your guard. He does not look formidable, but I assure you that he is. With his age, comes strength. Your only hope is to bite him. Bite him as quickly as possible. Your wolf venom will weaken him almost instantly.” He instructed whispering the last part as lowly as he could in the hopes that Belial would not overhear.

“Who are you and why are you disturbing me?” Master Belial questioned, seeming almost bored by our presence as we approached.

“I am Alpha Mystique of the Pariah Pack. You have threatened my pack, you have threatened my friends, you have threatened my mate.” I snarled out my accusations. “So, I am here to kill you.”

Master Belial merely chuckled in response clearly not taking me seriously…

“You can try.” He said with a smirk.