Jaxon went into the conservatory and smiled when he spotted Blake. Blake sat with a strange ticking device beside him and muttered words in front of a candle. The candle lit, then was extinguished. The little rabbit, named Coney, slept on Blake’s lap while Ahriman was nowhere to be seen. Jaxon stalked closer and leaned over with a frown.

“What are you doing?”

Blake let out a shout of surprise while the little rabbit rushed up shouting danger. It took a while for the two of them to settle down and both glared at Jaxon who scratched his head with a dumb look on his face.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Jaxon said with a smile before pointing at the door behind him,” you might want to have your front face the door so that you will know if anyone comes in.”

Jaxon could here Blake mutter that way too many people seem to disturb his training section.

“So what are you doing?”

“Training, I finally got the hang of the next fire spell. I can now extinguish the fire I create,” Blake said proudly.

“Wait, you couldn’t extinguish it before? I thought that was a basic spell.”

Blake muttered a word under his breath and Jaxon yelled out in surprise when a small flame scorched his favorite jacket. It was not strong enough to do too much damage but it left a distinct scorch mark.

Blake just humphed along with Coney and both refused to look at him.

“Sorry, sorry. I did not mean to tell you that you are bad at spells. I meant that most learn those spells very fast,” Damnit, he is still digging his own grave. Better change the subject.

“I am a bit distracted. I encountered a serious problem that I needed to turn over to Elliott. It still bothers me.”

That seems to catch Blake’s attention as he opened his eyes and peered at him.

“You remember that ginger, Dale. The cocky Delta. I found him in the toilet crying. He was covered in bruises and bleeding from bite marks. Someone did a number on him,” Jaxon explained quickly. He notices Blake growing rigid.

“Who?” Blake’s voice trembled and Jaxon felt his wolf grow warningly. Something was wrong.

“Most likely Ronan. Or maybe Mark. The bruises were clearly from several people but the deeper ones wouldn’t heal. That means that they are from an Alpha. Wounds from Alphas don’t heal easily. Mark would never hurt Dale, at least he never did before. But Ronan would not appreciate such a confident Delta. He preferred them to be a tad more obedient according to Elliott,“ Jaxon explained as the atmosphere got heavy.

“So they beat him?” Blake said quietly. Jaxon could not see his face as his white hair covered it but he could see that his face was pale.

“Seems like it. They might have… done more. We are not sure,” Jaxon muttered and sensed anger coming off Blake.

“There is no need to worry. Elliott is going to confront Ronan about it. Dale will be okay,” he said quickly in hope of calming Blake down.

Blake did not answer and merely stared at the candle like he wanted to burn it to a cinder.

*****

Elliott walked over to the church that has become Ronan’s base of operation. Joshua followed suit with a bitter look on his face. He looked ready for blood. Elliott himself hoped that he could pull Dale out of the place without bloodshed but he knew that it was wishful thinking. Deltas may be seen by Ronan as weaker but they were still an asset. He would not give him up without a fight.

Elliott soon saw Kai waiting for them with a grim expression along with Freya and two more girls. One, Elliott knew was an Alpha wolf.

Clover Paddon was one of the few female Alphas and the leader of the wolves of Elan Academy. The girl beside her, on the other hand, was unknown. The thin, ginger girl with green eyes stared at the ground with a weirdly focused expression. She did not look up or acknowledge him and Elliott could hear her growl as he came closer.

Elliott could feel Silvergale growl back as she did not like the girl. It was something wrong with her. Clover leaned in and whispered something to the girl and she seemed to calm down. Even though she did not even blink.

“Freya, what are you doing here?” Elliott asked.

“Dumb as a box of rocks here said what was going on… With a bit of convincing,” Freya said and flashed a fang as Kai muttered something when Freya pointed at him. Damn, it can’t be easy being bullied by your childhood crush.

“We came as back up.”

“I don’t thi-“

“Don’t think, we will not follow you inside. But if it goes south, we will not be far behind,” Freya ensured.

“All fine by me, but pulling two little girls into the fight,” Joshua said and frowned at the girl who hadn’t moved.

“Oh, Clover is an Alpha so she will be fine and Millie… Well, she is a Beta but very special,” Freya said with shrug.

A Beta…

Elliott decided not to argue since he fully expected that he will need to help.

“So how will this go down, bro?” Kai asked.

“You, me and Joshua enter the church. Convince Ronan to let go of Dale. We leave with Dale.”

“Convince?” said Kai with a slow tone. His eyes gleaming dangerously.

“With force if necessary. Just try to not hurt the young ones too much. They don’t have much choice in the matter,” Elliott muttered and Kai cracked his knuckles with a grin. He was far too eager about kicking some ass.

“We are on the lookout, if I hear even a sound that I don’t agree with, I will come in and wreck the place,” said Freya and Elliott wanted to sigh. No wonder Kai liked her.

The three of them entered the church and were met by Ronan and his gangs. For once, Ronan looked surprised. He had apparently not expected them. At least not risk themselves for a Delta they did not even like.

Elliott perused the room and his gaze stopped at the pale Dale in the corner of the room. He refused to look at them and was unusually quiet. Most likely afraid to get attention from the pack. Ronan followed his gaze and frowned at Dale before turning to meet Elliott’s determined eyes.

“How might I help you, Price?”

Kai cracked his knuckles and several of Ronan’s pack members back away. Kai was rather infamous among lowlives. Ronan noticed and growled at Kai who just smirked.

“Cute,” Kai said and flashed two far longer fangs. Elliott was just about to interrupt them when Joshua let out a deep growl that sends shivers through everyone that heard it.

That was no warning, that was a promise of pain.

Ronan looked over at Joshua. Elliott had thought that he would give him some snarky comment after beating him up last time, but unexpectantly, he looked cautious.

“I did not think I would see you again, Dufort.”

“How could I not show my face after our last encounter? You called in the entire pack to take me down. When a man gives you such attention, you reply.”

Wait, what? Elliott had assumed that Joshua and Ronan had fought in single combat. That was the tradition after all. Had they ganged up on him? That explains why Ronan hadn’t run around bragging about his achievement and been rather lowkey about the incident. He would be in trouble if this got out.

“I had little choice since the rumors of the Margeride wolves being rabid was true,” Ronan said and many of his pack moved to give him back up.

What the hell had happened?

Elliott shook his head. “I need to focus on Dale.”

“We are here for the Delta,” Elliott said and nodded towards Dale who finally looked up but briskly turned away his gaze when Ronan looked over.

“Why? Is he someone’s mate,” Ronan turned to Kai. “The Price family sure is doomed if all of its members chase after males.”

“I am not gay!” Kai grumbled but Elliott merely rolled his eyes.

“Kai’s crush is just outside waiting to rip you apart. That one,” Elliott nodded to Dale,” is a member of my pack and he has been mistreated by you.”

Ronan looked at the young boy cowering in the corner with a clear disinterest. “He needed to be put in his place. A Delta acting like an Alpha is not natural.” Ronan then turned to Elliott,” though unnatural behavior seemed to be the trademark of the Price pack.”

Joshua growled and stepped in front of Elliottbut Ronan just watched Joshua with clear amusement. “Do you even know what he is? How he spends his free time?”

“No, he doesn’t and neither do you,” Elliott said coldly and stepped closer. “Let me make myself clear. We are getting out of here with Mr. Hawker. Over the bodies of your goons if need be.”

Ronan was just about to answer when the door swung open. Blake rushed toward the scene with fury in his eyes. Why did this keep happening?

“Blake-“

Blake raised his arm, aiming it at Ronan and Ronan grew rigid.

“Man Amwastan Sahm Hambadig!”

Ronan’s pack tried to rush forward but was stopped by Kai and Joshua.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Kai growled.

“How the fuck should I know?” Elliott snapped bitterly as he watched the scene in horror.

The room had grown dark almost like the spell shut out all other light. Twisted whispers crawled along the walls like insects while black veins grew on Blake’s arm like roots. His eyes turned white along with Ronan’s eyes and sweat erupted from Ronan as he gasped for air like he couldn’t breathe. Blake was far more serene though as not even a grimaced crossed his face.

The scene became even more frantic when Jaxon, Hadrien, Haley, Alex, and Aeron rushed in.

“Blake?” Jaxon shouted and relief crossed his face when he saw him at the center of the church. This was no time to be relieved!

Freya entered the room with her two minions muttering to herself while she moved the boys out of the way. “What the hell-“

She silenced and frowned at the smell of dark magic and her eyes stopped at Blake. A whistle left her lips. “That scrawny kid is a dark witch.”

This is not helping at all. Elliott was just about to deescalate the scene when a rough voice cut through all other voices. “You think this can stop me? I have already experienced my worst fear!”

Ronan growled as he twisted and turned to get out of the spell’s grasp. With a sigh, Blake released the spell and glared at Ronan. “You deserve much worse! How dare you claim yourself an Alpha when you are nothing more than a thug abusing those weaker than you?”

Ronan burst into laughter and looked over at the pale Dale who stared at Blake in disbelief. “You again?”

His eyes turned back to Blake with a mocking smile. “You must be really dim to come here defending him or have you not figure it out yet. That lad was the one that ripped your painting to pieces during Christmas. He hates your guts!”

Smack.

Elliott wanted to yell out his frustration but could only groan as another impressed whistle erupted from Freya. Ronan touched his aching jaw and stared in surprise at the tiny boy who had just hit him.

“Who the fuck cares? It was only a painting. He doesn’t deserve to be abuse for it. What the hell do you take me for?” Blake snapped and Elliott could see his hand trembling. At least it wasn’t broken.

Jaxon growled in anxiety as Blake was far to close to Ronan for comfort. Ronan grimaced at the lad, clearly uncertain what to do. Blake grabbed onto the weird medallion he always carried and black smoke erupted from the medallion. Ronan growled and jumped back as the smoke formed into Ahriman who grabbed onto Blake from behind.

“These mongrels again. Don’t you ever play with anyone of class,” Ahriman said but suddenly frowned and looked around. “What is-“

All hell broke loose when the shadows suddenly grabbed onto Ahriman like tentacles and slamming him into the wall.

“Ahriman!”

Blake’s scream set off every wolf in the vicinity. Hadrien, Haley, and Aeron threw themselves at the closest wolf with Joshua and Kai at their heels. Ronan’s pack crashed with them while Freya and the two girls threw themselves into the fray.

“Mutt, get Blake! Something is wrong,” screamed Ahriman. His voice was dark and you could barely see him as he fought off the shadows. Someone had grabbed onto a shocked Blake. Elliott could hear Alex scream a name. Franklin? Who the fuck is Franklin? He smelled like a witch. When did he get here?

The boy named Franklin said something to Blake who blinked and looked over at Ronan who walked over to them with a determined look on his face. “Jaxon!” Elliott shouted and Jaxon snapped out of his trans. His eyes turned to Blake who had pushed the boy out of the way just in time as Ronan grabbed hold of his throat and lifted him off the ground with a growl.

“Try to cast your spells now, witch!”

Jaxon tried to throw himself at Ronan but got hit straight in the face by Mark Rowe who grinned at him. “Get out of my way!”

“Watch your bitch die, Price!” Mark mocked.

Elliott grimaced as he threw off the Beta’s surrounding him as he rushed at Blake who scratched Ronan’s arms until he bled. Ronan just grimaced but soon let go when Blake successfully kicked him in the groin.

Blake fell onto the floor but threw himself at Ronan and bit down with all his might into his neck. The little rabbit that always was with Blake suddenly appeared in a ray of light and bit down onto Ronan’s leg. Elliott could only stare at the bizarre scene as the two tiny creatures tried to keep Ronan at bay.

Ronan kicked with a roar the rabbit away and ripped Blake off leaving a deep bleeding wound. Ronan’s blood dripped from Blake’s grinning lips. “See how you like it, bitch.”

That did it. Ronan let out an inhuman growled as he slowly turned into a wolf. Grey fur covered his body and his bones cracked.

“Run, Blake!” Elliott shouted but Blake did not go. He just wiped the blood off his lip and draw some strange symbol onto his palm.

“No, Blake! Are you insane?” Ahriman’s voice echoed and a shockwave exploded from the shadows that howled and burned under Ahriman’s rage. What stood there was a burned corpse with the same burning eyes as before. Long black hair that seemed to move like it was underwater covered most of the scars that soon faded and the man that Elliott knew as Ahriman stood there as nothing had happened. Ahriman rushed towards Blake but all froze as a sound deafen all other sounds.

A roar, not from a human or an animal, made the ground tremble and Elliott covered his nose when the smell of rotting flesh hit him. He looked up in horror at the scene that had turned from bizarre to that from a nightmare.

What soon stood there, was not Blake.

But a beast, half-human, half-wolf and covered in its own blood as skin cracked as the beast erupted from Blake’s body.

The agony was written on its face as the glowing green eyes were mad of rage and pain. Lost forever in pure instinct. Ahriman scream echoed through the church.

“What have you done?”