JULIUS

 

“Rudy had a penchant for exploring but things changed ever since he became a father. He still has a curiosity about what’s out there in the Timberlands. However, most of his curiosity is occupied by the unexpectedness that comes from being a father.”

Vesper led us forward down the trail as he explained what life was like living among the herd.

“What about you?” I asked. “How do you know what’s out here?”

“It’s my responsibility as protector of the herd,” Vesper said. “I have to know what’s out there. Giving all of them peace of mind is just as important as facing any threats.”

“A bear living among deer. It’s not something I’ve ever seen before.”

“Is it so strange? You live in Dirge. There are people there who live and mate with one another though the beasts that beat within their hearts are different.”

“You’re right. In the end, we’re all men and women. We must embrace that.”

“I have your back, Julius. Even though I don’t live in the city, you should know that you have my full support to foster a peace.”

“Thank you, Vesper.”

The big man nodded to me and continued moving forward down the trail.

The rest of the expedition remained quiet. Tristan stayed by my side, examining his surroundings curiously. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary despite how far east we were. I knew that few from the city had ever been out this far. There were some in the Timberlands themselves who’d never been out here.

I didn’t think much about where we were going when things started to change. The trees became sparse. The green foliage and brush I was so used to seeing were a pale yellow. The trail was dusty. Even the sky above looked a bit gray.

Then there was the smell. The coppery scent of fresh blood filled my nostrils. It would’ve been enough to turn the stomach of a weaker man. Along with the pheromones in the air, I knew that we were where we needed to be.

Vesper stopped in his tracks and looked back at me.

“We’ve arrived,” he said. “The Blood Woods.”

“I thought they were only a myth,” Tristan sighed.

“I’ve seen the Primals for myself,” Goro said. “This doesn’t surprise me.”

The danger we were in was unmistakable. Even turning back around was more dangerous than anything we’d done so far.

Despite the confidence I saw on Tristan’s face, I had to make sure to tell him what I’d been telling him during this entire journey.

“There is nothing to fear,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I won’t allow them to touch you. Not like the Fierce wolves did. I promise you.”

Tristan clenched his jaw and nodded.

“I knew how dangerous this journey would be before we left the city,” he said. “I wouldn’t have left if I was so afraid of what’s out here. We must do this. Not for me. For the Omegas that are out here.”

Tristan’s unwavering confidence put a smile on my face.

“Now all we have to do is find the Primals,” I said. “Just one pack should be enough.”

“We don’t have to find them,” Goro said. “I’m sure they’ve caught our scent and are just waiting to greet us.”

“Then we shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer. Let’s move.”

We kept moving down the dusty trail. The sun was covered by the gray clouds above us. It started to grow dark even though it was only the middle of the afternoon. It was warm but at the same time, the breeze that brushed by was enough to make me feel a chill.

The smell of blood grew stronger in my nostrils. I finally saw where the smell was coming from. Rotting carcasses lied in the brush. Bones stripped of everything except for the blood itself rested in piles in every direction as flies buzzed around them.

“My God…” Tristan muttered.

He’d lived in Pandora for so long but even he was shocked at the sight. This was worse than anything in the slums.

Vesper stopped in his tracks and put his hands up.

“What is it?” I asked.

He glanced at me.

“…They’re here.”

He’d barely finished speaking when the threatening snarls of wolves filled my ears. From every direction between the trees, wolves with silver and white fur emerged. They growled at us, baring their teeth with the blood of their most recent kills. Even their claws dripped fresh with blood.

They circled us and locked their narrowed yellow eyes on the expedition. Even among a group of proud bears, this fight would be dangerous if it came down to it. I was fully intent on making sure that no harm was done. I had to reason with the Primals.

I put my hands up to steady the expedition.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Don’t move. They won’t attack.”

I looked around at the wolves as they continued to eye us like we were their next meal. I searched for the Alpha but each one appeared to be just as strong as the next.

“I’ve come to negotiate,” I announced to the wolves. “Who among you is lead? I must speak to the lead. All of Dirge and the Timberlands are at stake.”

I kept staring at all of them until one of them finally stepped forward. The wolf shifted into a fair-skinned man with long, silver hair. His eyes were feral despite being a man, blood-tinged like nothing I’d ever seen before. There was some age on his face but his glare was more devilish.

“Who are you?” the man said.

“My name is Julius. I come from Dirge.”

“Dirge… The city… What business do you have here?”

“I’ve come to negotiate a peace.”

“Dirge is miles from here. We have no quarrel with those of you who choose to live as men. But you will have one if you remain here for much longer.”

“I’m not here for the city. I’m here for the Omegas.”

“What Omegas?”

“The Omegas from the packs who live here in the Blood Woods. I wish to offer them refuge in the city.”

“The deal was made when I fought the jaguar. Omegas are free to leave the Blood Woods at their wish.”

“Omegas who leave your pack are only banished to another inevitable death,” Tristan said. “We’re so far from the city that they would never make it to the city unassisted.”

The man smirked at Tristan and shook his head.

“And what would you have me do?” he said. “Accompany the lowliest of Omegas to the city.”

“Yes,” I said.

The smirk left his face just as quickly as it had appeared. He glared at me, his eyes narrowed.

“I told you,” he said. “I have no quarrel with you. But the longer you remain, the longer your life is in danger. I advise you to take your expedition and turn around before you become another part of the earth.”

“I won’t leave,” I said. “Not until you agree to do your part to assist the Omegas who’ve been outcast from your packs. You have to do your part to help those in need.”

“Who are you to command me?” he barked. “Your tongue has gotten you into a lot of trouble already. Leave now. Leave and I won’t rip your throat out.”

The wolves surrounding us continued to bare their sharp fangs. The man in front of me kept glaring at me. But I stepped toward him defiantly. Nothing would make me leave.

“I came to the Timberlands to make peace with everybody who lives out here,” I said. “Everybody must do their part to find a home for those who are struggling to survive out here. I don’t care how far you are from the city. It’s your responsibility.”

He looked down his nose at me. His eyes shifted up and down, sizing me up like I was something to kill.

“I warned you,” he said. “Now I must teach you a lesson.”

He snapped his fingers and the other wolves started to advance. They took a few steps forward. Goro, Vesper, and the other bears moved forward to engage them. Even Tristan appeared ready to fight.

“No!” I said as I put my hands up. “There’s no need for bloodshed among all of our people. You can save them.”

I pointed at the man in front of me.

“I challenge you,” I said. “If you are so strong, you would be able to defeat me.”

“Why should I challenge you when my pack will easily rip you apart?”

“Are you so afraid of losing to me? How can you be lead Alpha yet cower when someone challenges you?”

He gave me a half-smirk.

“You’re a coward,” I said.

He clenched his jaw and locked his eyes on me. He didn’t blink as he took another step closer to me.

“Do you wish to die?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I have no fear of dying,” I said.

“You should. Because you’re about to.”

“Then you accept my challenge? You and me. One on one. If you win, you and the other Primals can continue to go about your lives here. Nothing will change. But if I win, you must do your part to help the Omegas in this area. You must assist them in seeking refuge in Dirge.”

He walked up to me and looked me right in the eye. I dug my heels into the dirt and stood my ground. I knew what kind of a savage beast that beat within this man’s heart. The forest around him had been ravaged by his pack to the point that everything was dead. He wouldn’t hesitate to follow through with his threat.

“I accept your challenge,” he said. “Just know, I will show you no mercy. I learned that lesson when I faced the jaguar. Now I will make a lesson out of you.”

I didn’t hesitate to respond.

“I will kill you,” I said. “If that’s what it takes.”

“If I die, I don’t want to live as a leader who is forced to usher lowly Omegas to the city.”

“You won’t have to.”

The man took a step back from me, his eyes still staring right at me. He raised his hand up and all of the wolves started to back off.

“I’ll give you some time to say your goodbyes,” he said. “If I were you, I would tell the rest of your group to walk away. Die alone. It would be the honorable thing to do.”

He shifted back into a wolf and disappeared back among the trees with the rest of the pack. I looked and saw that everybody was still ready to fight.

“Mordecai,” Goro said. “His name is Mordecai. I’ve seen him before.”

“Donovan spoke to me about him before,” I said. “Mordecai can be defeated.”

“He was defeated because he showed mercy. Things will be different if he’s intent on killing you. His rage will be unrestrained.”

“Let me do it,” Vesper said.

Everybody turned and looked toward the man that led us here.

“Let me fight Mordecai,” Vesper continued. “I will be the one to kill him. I can defeat him.”

“It’s not your fight,” I said.

“It is my fight. I fight for the safety of the Omegas. My responsibility is the same as yours.”

“Your responsibility is your husband and daughter back with the herd.”

“And what of your responsibility?”

Vesper eyeballed Tristan, who was standing right next to me. I looked at the Omega and he remained silent.

“I won’t allow you to risk your life,” I said.

“I’m not risking my life if I know I can defeat him,” Vesper said. “He’s only a man. He’s only a wolf. I don’t care how savage he may be. I am a bear and I can beat him.”

Vesper seemed intent on facing Mordecai for me. I looked to Goro for some guidance but he was quiet along with the rest of the group.

“It’s your decision to make,” Vesper said. “You’ve been chosen the leader of Dirge. Now I ask you to make the right decision. Let me take this fight.”

I closed my eyes and sighed a deep breath, knowing the decision I had to make.

“Mordecai is intent on someone dying,” I said.

I looked at Tristan. He tried to remain confident but I could see the uneasiness in his eyes.

“He will be the one to die,” I said. “And I will be the one to kill him.”