The Rise of Nix
Chapter 11

Blood pooled in his hands as he tried to put pressure on the wound, his mind unable to focus on what to do. Deimos had seen this countless times from his spying on the humans, but never before was there this much blood and not the one he loved providing it.

He had admired Nix’s behind as she straightened herself, a feeling of pride making him soar above the clouds. Not only did he finally kiss Nix, but she also wanted him, as evident in her body’s actions. As much as he had wanted to take her right here, it was not right. She deserved more than this place, and he intended to give it to her, but the searing heat in his pocket had other plans. Palming the vase through the material, the heat began to feel unbearable, but an opportunity had not risen yet, and he did not know if it ever would. The Gods were most likely watching, and this little display would surely anger them, and the fact that he has not yet started his job.

As she turned around, the thought of them vanished as her big, shiny eyes landed on him. Deimos began to smile but stopped as he saw Nix’s face morph into fear, the globes growing double the size.

“A...a... monster.”

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck sprang to life as his senses warned of imminent danger. A branch cracked behind him, and he tensed up while trying hard to evaluate the situation. What was behind him was unknown; the only indication was the petrified look on her face.

“Look at me,” demanded Deimos. Nix’s terrified gaze looked up. In a split second, he decided what to do. She is more important than him, so he needs to face the unknown beast stalking them to save her. “When I say run, you run,” he whispered, hoping the beast could not hear him over the waterfall. In this place, he could only suspect one supernatural, and werewolves are not known for their communication before attacking. Another branch broke, this time closer. Nix also heard the sound, for her head began to turn, but Deimos stopped her, placing his palm on her cheek and forcing her attention on him. “Do you understand?”

Nix nodded, the fear evident in her features. Taking a deep breath, Deimos slowly grasped the spear Nix had picked up before she saw the beast and held it close to his body. Nodding back, Deimos spun around while aiming the sharp end at the wolf. He knew he was correct in his assumptions, for before him was a werewolf, dark fur sprouting from its humungous body, sharp teeth open in a growl, and black eyes locked onto him. As the beast took a step forward, Deimos took one back, pushing Nix away and behind him. Her soft fingers wrapped around his upper arm as she shivered. A new rage sprung up as his hold tightened on the spear.

“You do not have to do this.” began Deimos, hoping he could convince the wolf to leave them alone. “These people have a truce with yours, and attacking us would break that bond.”

The wolf could understand him, for Deimos knew the species well, but this wolf ignored his words as it stepped closer, his head lowered and jaw open, saliva dripping from its fangs. Letting out a ferocious growl, the wolf kept advancing, forcing them back. But suddenly, the beast stopped, but Deimos knew why. As its front paws dug into the ground, Deimos acted on instinct. “Run,” he yelled. Nix gave a slight jump at his demand before moving. She was not stupid enough to stay.

As a breeze on his back indicated her departure, Deimos refrained from turning to ensure she was gone, for he had a mere split second before the wolf attacked. His front paws dug into the ground, using the force from pushing down to jump. It moved in a blur with a flash of a shadow before its heavy body crashed into Deimos, sending them to the ground. His back slammed into the hard ground, and with the wolf on top of him, his breath knocked from his lungs, but he had no time to waste. Sharp teeth clamped at his neck, inches from his flesh as the spear japed into its open mouth, Deimos pushing hard to get the wolf away. Sweat dripped down his forehead while he pushed up, the wolf biting down on the wood that separated them. While more saliva dripped on his head, Deimos frantically searched around him for another weapon, looking back to see the shaft cracking under the wolf’s weight, splitting in half a second later.

Deimos froze as he pictured his end while looking at the wolf. He swore he saw a glint of pride flash in the beast’s black eyes, the seconds counting down for him. Letting out a deeper growl while opening its jaw wider, Deimos saw the sharp teeth up close, knowing the damage they could do. In slow motion, the wolf reached down for his flesh, inches from tearing him apart, but all he could see was Nix and the life they could have.

Self-preservation kicked in. Palming the broken spear, Deimos thrust it up, hoping to hit its target, and it did, for the hot breath fanned his face before a loud shriek burst at his ears. Warm liquid rushed over his hand with wet fur brushing his skin. The wolf jumped back, Deimos’ hold on the spear pulling out the wood from its injury. Whining became loud as the wolf licked at the hole in its side, coating its jaw with dark blood. Jumping up, Deimos brandished the red-soaked pike at the wolf, his stance ready for a fight. He might have injured the wolf, but with their healing ability, the werewolf would be fine in a second, and this was the case when the wolf swung back to him, his teeth bared. The sparkling white was covered in its blood as he growled.

“Come at me,” yelled Deimos, ready for round two.

The wolf obliged as it jumped again, slower than before but still fast. Gripping the wood tighter, Deimos pulled back his arm, ready to attack with all his strength, but it was cut short. Mere inches from him, a solid form slammed into the wolf mid-air, slamming it into the ground. Deimos looked confused, only to watch in horror as a familiar set of eyes clashed with his.

“Nix, DON’T!”

Deimos was too late to sprint to Nix and the wolf entwined on the ground. With a flash of its paws, Deimos saw its sharp claws sink into Nix’s soft belly, eliciting a blood-curdling scream. The sound froze him and the wolf, for it quickly jumped up, letting go of Nix’s body as she lay on her back, four slash marks on her stomach with blood pooling before it cascaded over her body and onto the ground.

“NO,” Deimos yelled, dropping to his knees next to Nix, his hands on her stomach as he tried to put pressure. “What did you do?” he whispered, pressing hard, but it was useless. The red liquid seeped through his fingers, covering him in her blood and life force. “You can’t die. We have a lot more to do.”

His voice coached Nix’s eyes open, her chest heaving as she tried to breathe, only making her blood bubble from the wound. “I’m sorry.” mumbled Nix as a trail of red slipped from the edge of her mouth and down her chin.”

“Shh.” whispered Deimos, tears running down his face, “Save your energy.”

Nix began to blink wildly as her vitality drained away with her blood, her skin turning pale. With the last of her will, Nix lifted her hand to rest over Deimos’ hand, covering her skin in the scarlet liquid. “Thank...you,” she uttered.

“No, this is not how it ends.” moaned Deimos, but he was too late. Her chest suddenly stopped moving as her eyes stared blankly up while her hold on him dropped, her hand sliding down his leg. Suddenly, a searing heat burst over his leg as her limp hand brushed the magic vial in his pocket.

“Oww,” he yelled. Letting go of the wound, Deimos reached into his pocket, not bothered by all the blood he had smeared on himself. Pulling out the magic, he noticed the purple had morphed into a dark blue form, the liquid swirling inside the glass prison. This could be his only chance, and he took it. Careful not to spill it, Deimos pulled out the plug, moving to lift her head. Placing the vial to her lips, he tilted the contents into her mouth, praying all the while that the magic could save her life.

As the sun fell below the mountains, bringing the moon and stars. Maverick marvelled at his pack, sitting on his throne while watching the members have a wonderful time. After years of travelling while fending off neighbouring groups, he was glad to call this place home finally. As the Alpha, he was responsible for caring for his pack members, and finding a home was the most considerable stress he faced. After humans had pushed them from their lands, he had decided to let the cruel act go, for a war now would have devastated his pack. Instead, they had packed up and moved hundreds of miles away to this glorious piece of land. Khan, the leader of the human village, seemed eager to keep them here, and he was keen to stay, but not just for his pack. Each werewolf has a mate, a destined soul that completes them, and he is yet to find his, until now. As they travelled through the country, a strange pull had called out to him, leading the way. Usually, he would ignore signs like that, but the feeling of home had clung to him, so he followed it only to realize what it could be—his mate.

As he sat watching his family and friends have fun around the fire, drinking and chatting, he replayed the moment he saw her. Big hazelnut eyes watched him as a sweet scent drifted to his nose. Sparks were lightly swamping his hand and arm as their skin had connected. Nix, the woman from the human village, had finally stirred something deep within him. The stories from pack members about finding one’s mate had given him hope, but their descriptions of the feeling differed from what he had felt. Humans can’t be a wolf’s mate, but she is unusual. As the image of Nix filtered through his vision, Maverick leaned back in his chair and enjoyed the moment of tranquillity. His pack had a new home, and his mate was close, more he could not ask for. As he imagined the feeling of her silky blond hair running through his fingers, her sweet scent bombarded his senses, a remembrance from their first meeting. As the smell increased, a sudden commotion pulled the Alpha back to the present. His eyes opened, not even sure when they closed, and he scanned the scene. Groups had split up, littering around their camp. Some splayed on the soft grass in front of the fire while others gathered around the musical instruments, the sounds mixing with others’ laughter. Bouncing his gaze over the group, a particular wolf caught his notice.

The man, just below his height with messy black hair, stumbled through the crowd gathering around him, splashes of red popping up as he walked past them. Maverick sat up straight, his back arching from the backrest as his hands curled over the armrest, his wolf fighting internally for control. The sudden shift in mood from his wolf piqued Maverick’s attention as he zoned his senses on the approaching wolf. Clearing the bodies, the man revealed himself. A single cloth covered his manhood, the dark material blending into the night. The flame’s shadow highlighted the blood smeared on his body, causing the usual red to turn scarlet. As he walked closer, his pained movement became apparent. His left leg was dragged behind with a dark bruise on his abdomen. Jumping up, Maverick knew the signs of an injured wolf and jogged towards the man. But getting closer, the familiar sweet scent crashed into him, the same he had imagined earlier, and as he put two and two together, fury manifested with his wolf banging inside, fighting to be let loose.

Relief covered the man’s features as he spotted his Alpha, limping towards his saviour, but as his leg began to cramp and he slowed down, he paid closer attention and froze in place. The usual calm gaze of the Alpha had become dark as his brows pulled taught with his jaw locked. Fighting the urge to run, the man stood his ground as the Alpha ploughed down on him, knowing a simple act as turning your back on a member is seen as cowardly, especially the Alpha.

Maverick spotted the man’s fear as he stopped inches from him, smelling the hopelessness on him, a strange mixture combined with his mate’s sweetness. Tilting his head, Maverick gazed down at the frightened man while going over possible reasons for why his mate’s scent was all over him and if the blood was his or hers.

Shivering, the man peeked up as his gaze clashed with the darkness of his Alpha. A small moan escaped before he swallowed it, telling himself to calm down. He did nothing wrong. All he was trying to do was protect their land, for the humans had invaded their space once again.

As the anger rolled off from the Alpha, the closest wolves sensed his anger, looking and praying that they weren’t the source of it. A few members crowded the pair while others chose to watch from afar.

“What happened?” demanded Maverick, his deep voice emotionless as he fought for control over the beast, a beast that wanted to rip off the man’s head before he could get answers from him.

The man’s shivering intensified as he struggled to answer. “They...they were on... on our land.”

“And who are they?” continued Maverick, knowing full well the answer.

“The.. the girl. Blond hair.” stumbled the man, “With a strange man.”

A muscle twitched in Maverick’s jaw at the mention of the blond girl. His hands fisted to hide his growing claws by his side. As his nails pierced his skin, Maverick ignored the pain but used it to calm his wolf, the beast slamming against his mental barriers.

Dragging in a deep breath, Maverick uncurled his palms, blood dripping to the ground before his skin healed. With his senses, the man could smell his Alpha’s blood, and he confirmed with a glance the red liquid already drying on his skin. Glancing up again, the impact of the angered stare involuntarily pushed him back, but the Alpha’s fast reflexes caught him before he could dash. Strong fingers clung to his upper arm, the slight pressure uncomfortable.

“And who’s blood is on you?” asked Maverick, applying pressure to his grip.

“Mine.”

The short answer was not what he wanted to hear. Grabbing his other arm, Maverick lifted the man in the air, his weight not even making him sweat. “I asked, who’s blood is on you?”

The man’s feet dangled above the ground as he stared down at the Alpha, the first and last time any man had done it. “The... the girl.”

A ferocious growl burst from Maverick’s chest as his suspicions became confirmed. Red flashed before his vision as he began to lose control. A loud buzz sounded around him while his vision blurred. The sweet scent of his mate washed over him, hiding the smell of fresh blood. As the buzzing intensified, the screams of pain became silent, pushed to the back of his mind. All Maverick could picture was Nix lying on the ground while covered in her blood, with a massive hole in her chest and no heart. While the buzzing finally subdued and he saw a dead Nix next to his feet, reality slowly returned. Dozens of heartbeats attacked him at once, followed by soft murmurs. A warmth coated his hands, and when he looked down, he was shocked. A Thick layer of fresh blood covered his skin, and remembering Nix, he feared what he had done to her. But laying by his feet was not a dead Nix, but the man, his heart ripped from his chest with his face frozen in a silent scream.

“A... Alpha.” someone whispered.

Turning around, Maverick finally noticed his pack, and the frightened gazes pointed to him. Did he kill a member of his pack and not remember?

“Alpha.” the same person whispered.

His Beta slowly stepped closer, left arm shaking as he reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Maverick gazed over his shoulder at the man. Silas was a lowly member training to be a guard, but his ambitions had killed him. Wiping the shock from his face, Maverick turned off his emotions, knowing his features looked angry. Swing back to his Beta, Maverick placed a hand on his shoulder, noticing the slight jump from his second in command. Good, if they feared him, they wouldn’t rebel against him, a usual occurrence in pack dynamic.

“I am good, my friend,” Maverick spoke as he turned to face his pack, everyone silently watching him, none daring to breathe too loud. “As for Silas, he has received just punishment for his actions. You see, not only did he attack humans without informing us about their whereabouts, but he also attacked my mate.”

Calling Nix his mate made the group perk up as some began whispering between them. “That is amazing news, Alpha,” said David, his Beta.

“Thank you.” replied Maverick to David, “Your Luna has been found, and for she is not aware of it yet, she will be joining us soon. But for now, do not harm Nix, for you will pay with your life, just as Silas did.” he addressed the group.

“Remove his body,” whispered Maverick to his Beta before strolling back to his throne. Dropping down, he eyed the group, noticing a few stares and mixed receptions. He did not mean to kill Silas, for his wolf had taken over, but his death would serve a purpose. His pack will be kept in line while Nix remains safe from them until he officially marks her their Luna.

As the party slowly returned, a few guards carried the body away as a she-wolf clung to the corpse, crying hysterically. The scene elicited no remorse from him, for that is life. The only path now is to bond with his mate, provide pups for the pack and keep them safe. If one has to die for that, he would gladly kill them.

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