Her warm, honey eyes slipped shut, her light form going limp in his caging arms. He held her close, breathing in the scent of the forest earth that wrapped around her so easily which had the wolf in him go wild.

"Mine. Mine. Mine."

He couldn't help but growl out under his breath, clutching onto the ethereal beauty as if she meant everything to him and had hung the moon and the stars up in his night sky that had been too dark for far too long. But then she came along, and he could feel the light again. He felt deep within him that she was the cause of the blooming of these unfamiliar feelings inside his chest. Feelings that had him wanting more... and more... and more.

And she was all his...

Those long, luscious golden locks that splayed upon his arm like pale ink, those tiny hands - hands that he could easily wrap up in his own without difficulty- that clutched onto him tightly despite her unconscious state, her creamy skin that brushed against his own calloused one effortlessly like fine silk, the adorable light splatter of freckles that dotted her button nose in a display of beautiful patterns, those full pink lips that beckoned him to swoop down and claim them in a breath-taking kiss that would have those cheeks of hers turning into a dark red, and those eyes... those beautiful swirls of sweet honey that gazed at him with so much hope... so much desperation that it crumbled the few remains of what his heart had been only to piece it back together to make it whole... To make it new...

His...

All his...

"Alpha..." The wavering sound of Grey's voice brought him out of his entranced state, and he blinked down at the beautiful mate that the Moon Goddess had bestowed upon him in his arms, his gaze starting to focus properly after his moment of awe, but what he found under the dim light of the dark forest had the monster within him start to tremble in what could only be described as rage.

The beautiful creamy skin of the angel lying in his arms was soft to the touch but it angered him to the point of no return to see what should have been untainted skin painted with dark bruises and silver scars that he knew should never have been given to her.

His wolf bristled at the sight, and the world had gone silent for a moment as they watched in growing apprehension and terror as the feared Alpha started to rise to his full height, gently laying down the human girl in his arms onto the floor of the metal cage. The air seemed to thicken with the building anger that the Alpha was emanating and the other girls started to huddle into their cages to seek some form of safety from what would happen next.

His eyes remained glued to her bruised body and he shook in rage as he scanned over her, taking each and every cut and sore, every mark that they had dared to inflict upon her that marred her body, the body that belonged to him.

His wolf didn't like the fact that someone had purposely marked their mate with the visible effects of pain that they had inflicted upon her, and he found that he didn't like it either.

In fact, his own anger rivaled that of his wolf's in a way that it had never before. He could feel the beast shake and desperately tear at the inner walls he had built to keep it in and he found that he was more than willing to let the beast out.

He wanted to unleash upon those pathetic beings an inexplicable pain that would leave them begging for him to just kill them.

For they had hurt her...

They had Hurt her...

Allowing the anger to take over and the beast to come to the fore, he spun around to the crowd with a deafening roar that shook the very earth and whipped their ears like a deadly clap of thunder, feeling the suffocating wild feelings that built up inside of him in a frenzy coming to the forefront of his very emotions. His gaze wild, and his form trembling from restraining the beast, he turned his newfound anger to the filth... the pile of dirt that he had mistakenly invited to his pack.

The crowd had stepped back in fear as they watched the infamous Alpha unleash his raw anger in waves upon waves in a way that they had never seen before. The women huddled into their cages with cries of fear, the 14-year-old managing to slip into one of the other cages when the man that had been holding her released her in shock. They cried out in fright and dared not move an inch, fearing for their lives that they were desperate to preserve.

The Claws froze in terror at the sight of Alpha Titus' muscled body morphing into that of the beast that they had feared to encounter. His fur glistened a dark, angry black, covering every inch of his intimidating frame that reached well over 6 feet. His lips were pulled back into a snarl, revealing a set of sharp, and deadly teeth that were just mere moments of sinking deep into their flesh to tear them apart. His dark, ruby eyes cut deep into them, instilling the fear that he had desired into each and every one of their bones.

He wanted to terrorize.

He wanted them desperate.

And his beast wanted them all to perish.

The Infierno pack had gone eerily silent as they started to blend into the background as if they had been trained to do so, slowly slinking into the shadows, knowing full well of what could... and would... be happening next.

They had learned first-hand what their Alpha's rage tasted like.

And they did not want a taste of that bloodied poison again.

But even if they did try to intervene, what more could they do? They were men beyond men with strength normal wolves could not compete against, it is true... But against the unstoppable, brute force of the deadly creature they called Alpha?

They were nothing more than thin, paper-thin leaves that brushed against his scarred arms.

There was no stopping him now.

Beta Grey lingered for a moment, staring straight at the trembling members of the Claws, his eyes hooded. He assessed the situation before him like he normally did, calculating the possible repercussions might be of his Alpha’s actions by terminating these enemies.

No, to call them enemies would mean that they'd actually pose any threat to their Alpha. The better term would be pests... Pests that Alpha Titus could squash in whatever way he'd want whenever he'd want. To cast his shadows of evil and his flames of pain over them would be no more than child's play to the Alpha.

The Devil Prince...

Pathetic, Grey wanted to say as he caught sight of their leader backing away like a scared little pup in the face of the devil. It was laughable, really, how a bunch of men who even dared to harm innocent women could only cower at the sight of true danger.

Two minutes... He mused to himself, eyeing their scared leader that looked more than ready to abandon the rest of the group to save his own ass.

They wouldn't last any longer...

Smirking to himself, he noticed how Alpha Titus had taken his stance, positioning himself for the most deadly blow he could land in the first attack. The flames of hell licked behind the rage in his dark eyes, and the Alpha wolf visibly bathed himself in the flames of rage.

He was ready...

The Beta gave them one warning, "Run."

They took off, screaming over their shoulders like madmen as they dashed through the thick foliage in a desperate effort to escape from Alpha Titus. And now, the wolf was unleashed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grey had given the Alpha time while he directed the members to take care of the women, most especially the peculiar girl that had fainted in his Alpha’s arms. He had saw his Alpha whispering things into her ears, and he could hear exactly what he was saying. He knew then that this woman was now worth more than the entire universe combined to their pack, even more so to their Alpha.

With firm nods at the Beta’s orders, the warriors immediately went towards the cages to free the girls. Others scouted the surrounding area in case of traps, though they carefully steered clear of their Alpha’s path, and the patrolling wolves at the territory perimeter had been warned to be on guard in case of wandering pests. The pack was now effectively on lockdown.

Even so, Beta Grey made strict orders not to touch their newfound Luna who was still lying on the soft grass, unconscious. He had a slight inkling that the Alpha would not be pleased with another man’s scent on her as of the moment, and he wanted to avoid that outburst. Titus was a bit more than off-kilter at the moment.

The girl was exceedingly beautiful, Grey could not deny, but he admits that she is not what he had expected their Luna to be like. With their Alpha’s personality, he could only picture a woman of equal ferocity and strength to rival Titus and keep him in line. This woman was far from being a warrior, more of a delicate little bird with innocent eyes and a small figure.

But maybe it was right to pair them this way as the Moon’s decision. Maybe it was their drastic difference in personas that could end up balancing the scale. Grey could only hope, especially with the knowledge that Titus walked an extremely fine line of sanity nowadays. She was the only hope now.

Contemplating his options, Grey decided on the one that would anger his Alpha the least, well… he could only hope. He called on the pack nurse, a middle-aged woman called Nora, through their link to come quickly and bring a blanket. He decided to not tell her about the Luna as of yet.

She arrived quickly, carrying a few thick blankets with a worried look on her face. “Beta, the women are here?”

Grey nodded solemnly, “Yes, but they are in a bad state Nora. Please identify the ones that need more urgent care and bring them to the infirmary. Let the men help you carry them.”

“Right away, Beta Grey. I will see to it immediately-“ Beta Grey cut her off before she could make another move.

“Except for the girl laying on the grass, Nora. She needs urgent care, but no one must directly touch her. Wrap her properly in those blankets to keep her covered before anyone carries her. But she must be treated first. Also, give her a private room. Other the doctor, no one can get in or out.”

Nora had a curious look in her eyes, but she did not ask more questions and hurried over to the unconscious girl.

With a last look, Grey turned then to enter into the trees, knowing that it was time for him to look for his Alpha.

__________________________________________________________________________

The Beta's eyes narrowed as he observed the situation from the background, keeping a very close watch on the condition of the beast that he recognized as his Alpha. His eyes focused on each and every move the Alpha made as he swiped mercilessly at the limp lump of meat that once had been the man called Bruce.

One, two, three, four...

It's too fast. This is bad. He managed to process right before Alpha Titus painfully rammed his clawed fist straight through Bruce's stomach, allowing a burst of blood and scattered pieces of intestines and such to fly in every direction. The Alpha took deep, heaving breaths as he let the body fall to the floor, his fur and arm now dripping and soaked through with the blood of the scum he had all killed.

It felt satisfying seeing Bruce's body in the worst state it could possibly be in and he could feel the smile tugging on his lips, his fangs elongating at the rancid smell of blood that coated him ever so diligently. But to him, it smelt like heaven.

His own personal drug.

Despite him having killed all of what made up the Claws, his wolf still clawed at the back of his mind, still refusing to give him back control.

Burn them.

Tear them apart.

Feed their remains to the hounds.

Must not let them die easily. Must make them suffer.

KILL.

DESTROY.

SHOW THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO DIE.

Unable and uneager to take back control from his wolf, he found himself sinking his canines deep into the carcass of the man that had once been Bruce, taking in the rancid smell of his remaining body parts that only seemed to rile his wolf up even more. He let out a feral growl, ready to sink his teeth in further and dig into his body.

His wolf was going mad.

He was going mad.

But before he could partake in the flesh of the dead man, a rough shove to his shoulders brought his burning gaze to his Beta. He let out a snarl, baring his teeth at him but the Beta dare not flinch despite the fear that was clambering deep within him.

He had to remain strong when the Alpha lost control. It was his job, and he would make sure that it would be done even if it meant his own head on a platter.

Beta Grey knew of the risky consequences of what the Alpha was about to do and he refused to face that terrible situation again.

Not again….

He needed to be firm with his Alpha, despite him knowing how Alpha Titus could sever his head from his body in one swipe of his claws. It was important for him to stand his ground on this even when his own wolf was starting to grow terrified of the beastly Alpha in front of him. But he needed to stop him, for if he does not, what happened in the past would surely happen again in the future. He wanted to bury those memories deep within the back of his mind and lock them tight, never to be seen again.

“Alpha, you need to stop.” He started slowly, his tone soft like that of an adult talking to a misbehaving child. He knew how crucial it was to resolve to this solution especially when his Alpha was this angered, and it usually worked effectively for him.

But this time, it only seemed to allow himself to be labeled as a threat to the Alpha. Alpha Titus turned his raging eyes to him, the sizzling fire turning into a blazing inferno.

His hulking, beastly form started to disfigure, bones crunching and reforming to reveal the human yet still threatening form of the Alpha. Though, one could tell that it was still not Titus in control but the beast that resides within.

Beta Grey let out a strangled sound from the back of his throat as the raging Alpha slammed him into a nearby tree. Starting to feel terrified, he peered up at the looming figure of Titus, his heart palpitating wildly at what he knew the Alpha could do to him.

“You… Do Not… Tell me what to do…” His voice was strained in anger, sounding more beast than man, and Beta Grey realized how far gone his Alpha was at that point. He could only send out a quick prayer to the gods, asking for the right words to come to him, before he pried open his mouth.

“A-Alpha, you’re not thinking clearly. You must cease now. The threat has long passed, and… your mate… she needs you.” At the mention of her, the Alpha tensed, muscles coiling as he released the breathless Beta. He breathed in deeply, feeling his beast’s outrage silencing at the mere thought of her.

Her.

His beautiful mate.

A few moments passed, the Alpha coming to realize that his mate… his mate needed him and he decided then and there that his mate would always come first, even before tearing apart the filth that dared to hurt her.

Mate…

Hurt…

She needs us…

She needs me…

Just the thought of those honey eyes silenced the raging inferno residing within him. God, he needed to see those eyes… peer into the innocence once again…

He needed her.

Slowly, the beast retreated to the darker recesses of his mind, allowing him control over himself again. He clenched his fists, he wanted time to gather his wits first before seeing her again. He wouldn’t want her to fear him, just the thought made his blood run cold. No, he couldn’t have that.

He will not allow it.

Not when he hadn’t even come to know of her name yet…

“Grey.” He snapped out after a few minutes in silence, turning his now dark crimson eyes to the figure beside him. Beta Grey felt the relief fill his lungs, knowing that a huge crisis had been averted. His Alpha would be fine, at least… for now.

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Get me a change of clothes… And for my mate as well.” The Alpha ordered, finality in his tone as he started to stride away, steps quick and rushed, wanting to just see her again.

“….Yes, Alpha.” Beta Grey lingered for a moment, watching his Alpha briskly disappear into the foliage in the direction of the pack house.

“Where is she?” The Alpha’s loud growl silenced the low chatter that once filled the area, allowing his voice to carry out and instill the power he wanted them to feel. His hands were itching, begging, desperate to feel his mate again. Yet, the place where she had lain, was now empty and devoid of the beautiful woman he called his.

He barely even registered the fact that the once caged women were now huddled outside of their cages, tended to by some of the pack warriors and healers who were checking over their wounds. Some were being carried away towards the infirmary.

He only felt the blinding anger as it rose, clogging his throat as he quickly advanced to a group of his warriors, who were looking at him with something akin to fear.

“Where is she?” He repeated, this time in a fiercer tone as he cornered his men who were more than desperate to scramble back.

“I-Inside the infirmary, Alpha. W-we decided it would be best to bring her in.” One warrior answered, Orion, believing that the Alpha would be pleased about thinking of their Luna’s welfare.

But their Alpha’s eyes flashed dangerously, a dark hue overcoming his usually crimson eyes. “Who brought her in? Who dared touch her?”

Grey’s voice stepped in as he emerged into the clearing, folded clothes laid neatly in his hands. “No man touched her, Alpha,” he allowed the title to come forth to appease the frantic man. “She was brought into the infirmary wrapped in blankets by Nora, I made sure of it. No scent will be on her.”

Titus narrowed his eyes at his Beta, but bit back his next words. His wolf was brooding, but he knew he was being silly. His mate was in need of help, but his wolf was still getting bothered over who would handle her. He couldn’t help but think the worst.

“Finish up quickly here then,” Titus ground out as he started his quick advance towards the infirmary, not once even looking back.

He was raging, mad at the thought of another male touching his angel. She was his, and he would be the only one to touch her, to hold her close… to feel the warmth of her frame as he embraced her to his being.

And he was going to make sure that nothing was ever going to change that..

Even if it meant he had to tear through the whole world to keep her his.

His mind was racing, and he could only think of the further chaos that this little mate of his would bring to his mind.