Chapter 231: Blood on Sacred Grounds
Alpha Thorton’s wolf was very much like his daughter’s― dark, strong, and filled with killing intent. He leaped straight for me without any hesitation, easily soaring through the air, out for blood.
Visions seemed to overlap, a mix of present time mixed with memories of the past. I could see Dahlia’s shadow in her father’s figure, the same bloodlust headed straight for me.
But just like how Dahlia’s plans were foiled — and thankfully, her wedding day did not turn into my funeral — Alpha Thorton, too, did not succeed. Damon quickly shifted in a crack of bones and the tear of clothes and flesh. Fur sprouted from his skin, and one second he was a man, the next he was a wolf the size of a car.
He quickly jumped in front of me, meeting Alpha Thorton’s blow halfway, using his powerful jaws to clamp down on Thorton’s claws before it could even come close to scratching my face off my skull.
Blaise wasn’t slow to react as well; he quickly followed behind, choosing to stay in his human form as he stood protectively in front of me, his eyes trained on Dahlia just in case she decided to aid her father.
"Damon!" I yelled, my eyes widening with alarm as I peered past Blaise’s shoulder.
He had easily pushed the older wolf back, biting and clawing as fresh blood spilled across the green grass of the sacred forest. The moon had just regained its silver glow, yet, scarlet still dyed the forest floor.
Alpha Thorton put up a fight. However, even for a werewolf who was the alpha of a strong and prominent pack, he was no match for his younger opponent. Damon didn’t allow Alpha Thorton a chance to fight back. He quickly cornered the latter, baring his fangs whenever Thorton attempted to retaliate. While the older werewolf successfully threw in a few claws, they were no match for the damage Damon did.
And it seemed like Damon wasn’t planning to stop.
"Abdicate," Blaise commanded, his eyes steely as he stared straight past Damon and at Alpha Thorton.
The wolf’s eyes swiveled to meet Blaise’s gaze, snarling as he crouched low. Of course, Damon did not allow that threat to go by without one of his own. He matched Alpha Thorton’s actions, and I knew that if Alpha Thorton tried anything, Damon would make good use of the older werewolf’s previous statement― he would make Alpha Thorton abdicate even if it had to be over his dead body.
"Give the position to a more fitting leader," Blaise said. "Or else, we might have to make use of that statement you just said."
The rest of the participants had formed a circle, watching with a mix of fascination and horror. They were no doubt intrigued by the events of tonight, for it was a rare show to watch an alpha go against another alpha in battle without being in any danger themselves.
However, I could see fear written clearly in their eyes as well. Damon had so easily made the alpha of Thunderstrike submit― what did that spell for the other smaller packs who dared to stand in his way?
Their questions were left unanswered.
Before either Damon or Alpha Thorton could react, one of the oracles stood in between them. When a gust of wind blew in their direction, the soft fabric of their dresses flapped around them like a set of fairy wings, dancing in the push and pull of nature.
Yet, as ethereal as they looked, the oracles proved themselves to be deadly.
She raised both hands, one in the direction of each wolf, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent both Alpha Thorton and Damon hurtling back. Two huge wolves that were the size of vehicles went flying back without the oracle even touching them.
Damon’s paws dug into the dirt below, his claws dragging through the mud as he attempted to anchor himself. Alpha Thorton did the same, and while Damon managed to stop himself a short distance away from me and Blaise, Alpha Thorton had to shift in the middle to prevent himself from accidentally crushing Dahlia, who was standing in the strike zone.
"Daddy!" Dahlia cried out, coming forward. With such a sudden shift, Alpha Thorton’s clothes had been ripped into shreds. Dahlia could only rip the tablecloth that was used for decoration from its original place, pulling the fabric free before using it to cover her father’s body.
A sharp gasp rang across the clearing as Alpha Thorton staggered to his feet. His body was filled with wounds, courtesy of Damon, and even with a werewolf’s insane healing ability, those cuts and bruises took time to patch themselves up.
On the other hand, Damon had shifted back as well. His bones snapped back into place and it wasn’t before long he stood in his full glory, unphased by the way he stood in the nude. Even in such a circumstance, Dahlia’s eyes moved down to stare at Damon’s gift before quickly averting her eyes and returning to tend to her father.
I could only roll my eyes.
Damon didn’t care, however, about whoever was staring. He looked straight at the oracle who had broken up the fight, gesturing to Alpha Thorton with a hand.
"He was the one who attacked first," Damon seethed. "Not only that, he dared to make false claims about me and my pack. Darach Elrod is in such a state because of his own father."
His lips were tightly pursed as he continued to glare at the oracle. She said nothing, silently staring at Damon while he maintained that gaze. At first, I had assumed that Damon was just waiting to see what the oracle would do, but I soon realized that was not the case.
Blaise quickly confirmed my thoughts.
"She’s telling him off," Blaise muttered to me, his voice kept low. "Blood isn’t to be spilled on sacred grounds. Damon had broken that rule."
"But he’s doing it in defense," I whispered back.
"And that’s the only reason why he isn’t immediately knocked out," Blaise replied. "The Oracles have powers beyond any of our imagination. If she wanted to, she could’ve ended Damon’s life with just a snap of her finger, especially while we are here in their domain."
"The Forest, you mean?"
"Yes," Blaise said with a nod. "The Forest of Selene is under the Moon Goddess’s protection. That means that her oracles can freely manipulate her strength and power here as they see fit. That is why we hold the council meetings here― the Oracles are what you would call a judge in the human world."
I turned to look at Damon again. While I couldn’t see his face clearly since he had his back facing us, I had a perfect view of the Oracle with whom he was conversing. Her eyes pulsed with an otherworldly glow, brightening and dimming like the beat of a heart.
Finally, Damon turned away, glaring at the ground.
At the same time, Alpha Thorton, who had staggered to his feet with the help of Dahlia, suddenly collapsed onto the ground. His knees slammed against the soil as he groaned in pain, most likely caught by surprise by the sudden, uncontrolled movement.
