Nexus Bond

Band of Wolves Arc: part 6

Morning sunlight streamed over the jagged cliffside, bathing the forest in golden rays. A pack of wolves gathered silently around the rocky expanse, their eyes fixed on the duel unfolding before them. At the center stood Glock, a towering black wolf with muscles rippling beneath his fur, and Eldric, a white wolf with piercing crimson eyes that seemed to glimmer in the sunlight.

The tension was palpable as Glock charged first, his massive frame shaking the ground beneath him. Eldric, smaller but quicker, darted to the side with precision, his jaws snapping onto Glock's flank. Blood spattered the ground as Eldric leapt away, avoiding a retaliatory swipe.

Glock pressed forward relentlessly, his sheer weight forcing Eldric closer to the cliff's edge. Each strike was heavy, calculated, and fierce, but Eldric moved with grace and strategy, exploiting every misstep. As Glock lunged again, Eldric twisted sharply, using the larger wolf's momentum against him. With a thunderous crash, Glock's hind legs slipped over the edge, gravel scattering as he scrambled frantically to regain footing.

Eldric seized the moment. His jaws clamped onto Glock's scruff, and with a final burst of strength, he hauled the massive wolf back to solid ground. Glock lay there, bloodied and exhausted but alive. Eldric stood tall, his white fur gleaming under the sunlight, exuding a quiet yet commanding presence. His crimson eyes swept over the gathered wolves, igniting a sense of awe and respect in every gaze.

With great effort, Glock rose to his feet and locked eyes with Eldric. Then, tilting his head back, he let out a long, resonant howl—a howl of defeat and submission. One by one, the rest of the pack joined in, their collective voices echoing across the forest, declaring Eldric as their new leader.

Under Eldric's leadership, the pack flourished. Their strength and numbers grew as they triumphed over rival packs and evaded human threats.

Eldric was not just a leader but also a father, with a devoted mate and three playful pups. Together, they lived a life of unity and strength.

But fate had other plans.

One fateful full moon night, the pack engaged in a brutal war with a rival group. The wolves fought ferociously, utilizing their humanoid transformations to gain the upper hand.

Eldric's pack emerged victorious, their dominance cemented, but the battlefield was strewn with casualties. Among the defeated stood only one survivor of the rival pack—their leader, Malice.

Malice was a dark figure, his black fur marred by scars and his left eye a hollow void. He knelt before Eldric, battered and broken, as the victorious wolves encircled him. The moonlight cast Eldric in an almost divine glow as he stood over his defeated enemy.

"What should we do with him, Eldric?" Glock asked, his voice laced with both anger and anticipation.

Eldric's response shocked the pack. "Let him live," he said.

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the wolves. Some laughed nervously, unable to comprehend their leader's mercy.

"That's our leader," Glock muttered, though his tone betrayed his unease.

Malice let out a dry, rasping laugh. "You're just like me, Eldric," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Or should I say… you will become like me."

Eldric's crimson eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Malice's grin widened, revealing jagged teeth. "I once had a pack like yours. A family. I was strong, respected, and loved. But then I realized something: strength is nothing without true power. So, I did what had to be done."

Eldric's voice hardened. "What did you do?"

Malice's words were a dagger to the heart of everyone present. "I massacred them all. My pack, my mate, my pups. All of them."

The gathered wolves froze, their faces etched with a mixture of horror and disgust. Fear flickered in their eyes as Malice continued.

"You see, Eldric, sentiment makes you weak. Honor makes you weak. I became what I am because I let go of those chains."

Eldric's growl rumbled low in his throat. "You're a monster."

"Am I?" Malice retorted, his lone eye gleaming with twisted amusement. "Or am I simply what you'll become? Mark my words, Eldric. The day will come when you'll see the truth."

Glock snarled. "Let's end this now, Eldric. He's nothing but poison."

Malice laughed again, the sound grating like metal on stone. "You can't kill me now. Not like this. If you fight me while I'm wounded, it'll prove you're weak. Just like I was."

Eldric's voice was steady and resolute. "You're wrong. I'll fight you when the time is right—when you're at your full strength. On the next full moon, I'll face you in a duel."

The pack erupted in protests, but Eldric silenced them with a commanding glare. "This is my decision. Until then, we'll help him recover."

Glock's voice was incredulous. "Help him? Eldric, have you lost your mind?"

Eldric's tone brooked no argument. "This is an order."

Malice grinned as he was escorted away by a few wolves. "Enjoy your last days with your family, Eldric. After that you will not be able to see them." His laughter echoed as he disappeared into the forest, leaving a shadow of doubt in his wake.

Eldric remained standing, his gaze fixed on the moon.

Malice's words lingered in his mind, an unshakable whisper that clawed at his resolve. He tried to silence it, but the foreboding seed had been planted.

The next full moon would bring more than a duel; it would bring a test of his very soul.