Howl's of the Silver Wolf: My enemy is my soul mate

Sirenex Path River, South West of Eurka.

"Ahooo!" The howl echoed in the distance, a haunting sound carried by the wind. I could feel the tremor in the ground from paws pounding as if the earth shook beneath them. They were on the hunt. We were on the hunt.

I stood at the cliff's edge, gazing down at the waterfall. The sunlight broke through the leaves, casting golden beams that danced on the surface of the water. Winter had passed, and spring had just arrived. The air was warmer now, and I could feel the soft heat on my skin. I should be in my werewolf form but here I am staying in my human form.

Suddenly, the sound of running paws came to an abrupt halt behind me. I smiled, knowing who had arrived. "Lex," I said, calling the name of the werewolf that had just appeared, his fur a mix of gray and brown.

"I thought we were friends," I said, keeping my voice steady, trying to sound formal. But inside, my blood boiled, ready to kill him. The sound of the waterfall was loud enough that a human wouldn't have heard our words over the crashing water. But we weren't human.

Lex took a step closer, his voice a low growl. "We were friends," he said, and I wanted to hear a hint of regret in his tone. I hoped he would ask for forgiveness, but as I looked into his eyes, I saw only a readiness to kill. "Until you chose this path," he added.

"You betrayed us, Lex," I snapped, turning to face him fully. "You chose to save those warlocks and witches instead of killing them! They're a threat, and you know it."

His jaw clenched. "What you're doing isn't protection. It's murder."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Murder?" I growled, taking a step toward him. "It will be murder if we don't stop them from bringing disaster upon us all. They are dangerous, Lex. You know what the prophecy says."

Lex shook his head, frustration clear in his eyes. "What prophecy? We don't even know if it's real! You're willing to kill innocent people based on a story passed down for centuries—stories that might not even be true!"

I felt my fists clench, my claws threatening to emerge. "You think it's just a story? How many more signs do you need? How many more attacks before you realize that they're the cause? The prophecy is happening, Lex, whether you believe in it or not."

"There's no prophecy, just senseless killing," Lex snarled, his voice rough with anger. His body shifted, preparing for a fight as he began to transform. In moments, his figure changed, taking the shape of a humanoid werewolf. His muscular form was covered in dense fur, a blend of brown and gray, and his face had morphed into that of a wolf, teeth bared in a vicious snarl.

Lex had once been one of our strongest—an asset, a powerful ally, a friend. But that was before his betrayal. Now, he was nothing but a traitor, and traitors had to be dealt with.

I took my position, meeting his reddish eyes. He was well aware of what I could do without needing to change the form. My strength didn't rely on a transformation. I couldn't help but smile, feeling the confidence surge through me. His new form wouldn't save him.

"You won't win this," I said, my grin widening as I took a step toward him. "Not even like that."

"I know," Lex replied, his voice steady. "But at least it will buy time for those children to get away." He smiled, calm despite the situation.

Fuck you. I cursed silently. I had been too focused on how to take him down, forgetting my real target—those witches and warlocks. No, my pack could still finish them off.

"You're probably counting on your pack to handle it," Lex continued as if reading my thoughts. A smug grin spread across his face. "You may be a silver werewolf, but you're not as sharp as you think."

I felt my claws extend. Who does he think he is? I am a royal wolf, a Lunar Caustic, a chosen warrior of the Gods. He is nothing but a lowlife, a mutt from the lower packs. The very thought made my blood burn hotter, but I controlled it, toying with him would be more satisfying.

Lex lunged at me, closing the distance in an instant, but I sidestepped, letting his claws swipe at empty air. A mocking grin spread across my face. I could see the frustration in his eyes as he spun around, preparing for another attack. But I moved faster. Before he could react, I struck him across the chest, my claws slicing through his fur and skin like butter. He grunted in pain.

"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, circling him slowly, like a predator playing with its prey.

He charged again, this time with more force, but I met his attack head-on, grabbing his wrist mid-swing and twisting it hard. Lex growled, eyes filled with fury, but I was just getting started. I shoved him back, sending him stumbling.

"You're out of your depth, Lex," I sneered, watching him struggle to stand tall. "You were never meant to fight someone like me."

Lex's breathing grew heavy as he wiped the blood dripping from his chest. His next move was slower, more desperate, and I dodged easily, slashing him across the shoulder. He groaned in agony, falling to one knee, but I didn't stop. I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him slightly off the ground, enjoying the terror in his eyes.

"I could end this now," I whispered darkly, bringing my face close to his. My claws dug into his neck, piercing his flesh just enough to draw blood, a thin line trickling down his furred skin. He gasped, unable to howl or call for help. His body trembled beneath my grip.

Lex staggered back, clutching his neck, his hand desperately trying to stop the bleeding. His eyes flickered with a mix of pain and defiance, but he was weakening. I didn't move. I just watched him, savoring his struggle. Each step he took was unsteady as if the weight of his own body was too much to bear. Blood dripped between his fingers, staining the ground beneath him.

He kept retreating, one shaky step after another, his gaze never leaving mine. His breathing grew shallow, and for a brief second, I almost thought he would drop to his knees. But instead, he took one final step backward, closer to the cliff's edge.

Without a word, Lex let himself fall. I watched as he plunged into the river below, the water swallowing him with a deafening roar. He disappeared beneath the waves, his form vanishing into the churning depths.

I stood at the edge, looking down at the raging river, unbothered.

I heard the approach of three werewolves behind me. They came into view, all gray-furred.

"My lord, the witches, and warlocks… they escaped," Sasha growled, frustration clear in his voice.

"I know," I said calmly, still kneeling on one knee as I stared down at the river from the cliff's edge. "They planned well, using him to buy them time." My voice was cold, but inside I seethed.

My eyes remained fixed on the water, waiting. Lex's body had to surface soon. And then, there it was—his lifeless form bobbing in the current, carried by the river's force. A slow, grim satisfaction spread through me.

"Pathetic.", I said in a lower tone.

"Kill all the traitors," I commanded. "Don't let a single one survive."

*****

It was midnight when I arrived at Argentum Isle. After a long journey, I finally had a moment to take a bath and change into fresh clothes. But as soon as I finished, a knock echoed from my door.

"My lord, His Majesty Vulcan is summoning you," said a young servant girl outside.

I opened the door, and she immediately bowed her head. Without a word, I stepped into the dark hallway, the sound of my footsteps soft against the stone floor. Shadows clung to the walls as I made my way toward the throne room.

As I turned a corner, I spotted Isha leaning casually against the wall, her reddish eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Her brown hair framed her pale face, and she stared at me with a look I couldn't quite read.

"I heard you killed Lex," she said, it's not a question but rather a statement.

"I did," I replied, pride swelling in my chest.

Her eyes flared, anger flickering behind them. "He was our friend."

"Not anymore," I said, my voice cold with venom. "He chose to betray us. He sided with them."

I stepped closer to her, my hand reaching out to cup her cheek. "Are you going to betray our kind too, Isha?" I asked, my tone dark and threatening. "Because if you are, you should tell me now, so I can spare you a slow, painful death. I'd make it quick... you wouldn't even see it coming."

Her eyes met mine, unflinching, showing no fear. One thing I despised about Isha was her ability to mask her emotions perfectly, never giving anything away.

"If you think you can," she said, daring me, before turning and walking in the opposite direction. She knew her worth—her powers made her untouchable. Killing her wouldn't be easy, and she enjoyed reminding me of that.

I clenched my fist, barely containing my frustration. Then, without warning, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I gasped, stumbling slightly as the familiar sensation of the curse returned. Black veins began to snake up my skin, spreading from my chest to my face.

Damn it. Not now.

I needed to get to the throne room, but I couldn't let my father see me like this. I turned on my heel and ran, heading in the opposite direction. I had to tend to the curse before I could stand before my father.