CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2

A niggling feeling tore at Baron Fergus' senses, dragging his attention away from the fight. He had had the same clawing feeling the night before and then when he woke up, but it was faint and he had chucked it up to hunger for battle and the sleepless nights he'd been having lately. The nightmares had come back again. 'The endless war' He had named the nightmares because of how frequently they occured. The dream always started gruesomely. He'd wake up submerged in a sea of blood and then he'd emerge and then he'd be transported to a dark forest, one that was littered with dead bodies of a dark castle, One he'd never seen before would appear it would always followed by a loud scream that usually woke him up in a cold sweat. Baron was by no means weak or scared of battles, he reveled in it. He had won many battles since he ascended his throne and had taken kingdoms upon kingdoms for himself, built an empire no kingdom would want to be enemies with so why did the nightmare make his stomach twist?

He slipped back into the fight as his hands connected with one of his guard's faces, sending him flying three feet through the air. He smiled when the man's body crashed against a pillar.

Another guard came charging towards him almost immediately screaming at the top of his lungs. He evaded the attack of the screaming man by stepping aside at the very last second as the man's blow was about to connect to his chest, he stretched his legs out and the man tripped on it and fell hitting his head against a pillar with a force that left a gaping hole in his head.

Pathetic, he thought.

He shook his head at the new recruits.

Was this the best they could do?

Disappointed did not begin to explain how he felt.

He had been feeling bored when he decided to test out the progress of the new recruits, it had been three weeks of training and they still weren't coordinated enough to understand simple rules of a fight. What were his soldiers teaching them, None of them would last a second in battle, not that there was any to prepare for anyway.

They had not fought a war in over five years and while that was a good thing for the economy of the kingdom, Baron thought it made the youth of the land weak. He was itching to fight again, to tear people apart and make a show of his strength, he was a proud man after all, made for the battlefield.

He sighed as he punched another of his subordinates with ease, sending him flying in the air again. When he had decided to come to the arena this morning, he had come looking for entertainment, maybe even some cheap Victory, he was after all the strongest in the land but the more he spared with his subordinates the more it seemed like he was sparring with a human toddler.

The nagging feeling was back again clawing for his attention like a cat did for its prey. His focus wavered but he continued evading attacks and landing lethal blows with ease... but the pull was a little stronger this time like he was being summoned by something he didn't understand the pull to the forbidden area; Lauren hill. He had not stepped foot there in years. So what was it that called his Spirit?

What is this feeling?

He asked.

"Watch out" another of the new recruits came running towards him again bringing him back into the fight. He held him by the head and flung him like a rag doll across the arena. Mid air the young lad coughed up blood before landing on the floor face up.

"Never announce your attack, you leave room for your opponent to prepare, not to mention read your moves. Have you all been taught nothing!"

Baron barked, getting bored of the fight.

The young lads shivered in fear at the sound of his voice.

"Pathetic all of you!" He roared. "None of you would last a second in the Battle Field you'd immediately be taken down. Peace has weakened the lot of you* Baron shook his head at his outburst. This was supposed to be entertainment.

He sighed and looked over at Silas.

"Silas, come at me" Silas who was resting on one of the pillars nodded. He was one of Baron's oldest guards. He was a skilled fighter and had followed him into many battles and came back unscathed. Though he was strong and skilled and a good strategist he was no match for Baron as no one had ever lasted five minutes in the ring with him.

Silas obliged his Alpha and walked slowly towards him. His eyes sharp as he stepped closer and closer.

"New recruits, watch carefully this is how a fight should be"

Silas moved with the wind, so fast that he almost landed a blow but Baron was faster, he evaded his subordinate's attack with little effort, he dragged Silas back by the neck Silas ducked as Baron's hands almost connected with his face.

Silas smiled, wiping sweat off his nose

"Nice one Silas but that was mere luck"

"Back at, you your majesty"

Baron scoffed.

Silas came at him again but Baron caught him by his face and threw him accross the ring. He hit a pillar and fell down.

"You've become weak, Silas," Baron smirked. Silas grunted where he lay, unable to get back up.

"Is there no one here that can last more than a minute with me!" Baron roared.

Alpha?” Steve raised his voice, interrupting the training.

Steve was the Baron’s Beta, and probably the only Lycan that could last more than five minutes with the Alpha in the ring. A record that no Lycan had ever come four minutes close to beating.

“Ah, Steve. Care for a few rounds with your king?” Baron breathed.

“I fear I must decline.”

“Why Steve? Scared of a little wound? You still heal in less than a minute, right?” Baron teased with a dark smirk.

“After our last bout, I wouldn't call it a little wound,” Steve teased respectfully, before he murmured, “If you call a hole in my chest a little wound.”

“Aw come on, don’t be shy. Engage me. I have been forced to endure the mediocrity of these soldiers all day” Baron maintained his evil smirk.

“I am here to …”

“nope, nope, not listening"

“I am…”

“I'm still not listening, steve…” Baron paused.

“I need to relay this information.”

"… Fight me and I will hear whatever you have to say.” Baron slowly transformed his fingernails into claws of his Lycan form.

“As you wish Alpha.” Steve gnarled, his eyes turning burgundy.

“Let’s see if you can last longer than you did the last time.” Baron wasted no time to open the attack and land the first hit on his worthiest opponent. He spread open his claws and tore at Steve’s face but Steve healed in no time.

“Lucky shot.” Steve licked the blood off his lips and threw a punch at Baron, but Baron evaded it swiftly.

Baron danced like a leaf in the wind while Steve flung heavy punches his way like he bore a grudge with the Alpha.

“Too slow.” Baron smiled and threw a punch with the speed of lightning at Steve. But Steve was quicker than the Alpha anticipated, he dodged the quick punch by a hair’s breadth, causing the force of the blow to slice a thin section of his cheeks.

“You’re coming up. One minute. Let’s get this over with.” Baron went full rage mode on Steve, not allowing the poor Beta a chance to launch an attack – only the chance to dodge attacks that were too fast for him.

“My turn.” Steve said, breaking out of the momentum and finally landing a very fast blow on Baron.

“Not bad.” Baron stroked his unblemished chin with a smile, “Ticklish, but not bad.”

The teasing was getting to Steve and so he roared in childish anger, as he ran towards the Lycan Alpha with a clenched fist.

The pull to the forest of Lauren hill came again distracting him from the fight, This time with a force that he abandoned his stance to focus on the direction of the pull. the pull was so potent he felt like a Sailor who was being called by sirens to jump into the sea. His wolf gnarled at the as he heard a voice, though faint but prominent, called out to him… he didn't understand a word but he knew there was something there that he could no longer ignore.

He regained his attention when Steve landed the heavy blow on his face. “Distracted my lord?” Steve asked with a proud smile and landed another quick one on his face.

“Enough!” Baron’s roar echoed, causing his subordinates to tremble, even Steve.

“Any problems, my liege? I never pegged you for a sore loser.” Steve teased in reserved fear.

Baron's eyes became dark and unforgiving. His once jovial demeanor had taken a dark threatening one that made Steve pause in fear.

Baron stepped off the training ground, The pull became even stronger dragging him into its abyss. A familiar smell wafted into his nostril, one that only existed in the confines of his dreams. A threatening presence that made his wolf stand at attention.

He looked over at Steve who was staring at him confused

"Everything okay, My liege?" Steve asked, confused at the sudden change in his alpha's demeanor.

"Wrap this training up, we are going hunting" he said, all trace of familiarity gone and settled in its place was Alpha Baron, ruthless killer Lycan. The man who

Baron and his subordinates journeyed on high alert through the forest and into Lauren hill, a border that separated the lycan territory from the werewolf.

As they grew closer to Lauren hill, the pull and smell became stronger, it was like a compass guiding Baron to what had been plaguing his senses all morning. He jumped down his horse as he sensed something potent calling for him.

"Everything okay my liege?" Steve asked, climbing down his horse to follow his Alpha.

"Everything is fine Steve!" Baron said, trudging through the thick forest. His attention focused on the pull that carries him.

"Are you sure my liege? Because right now we are close to the werewolves territory" Steve whispered standing at his Alpha's side.

"And so what? Are you afraid of the werewolves now? Lack of battle has made you weak" he spat.

"It's not that, the men are worried, they are wondering what we are doing here"

"Hunting, Steve, like I said before"

"Yeah, you say that but I think that it's more. The men are wondering what we are hunting all the way out here and frankly I can't blame them. We are getting dangerously closer to the territory of the werewolves and…"

Baron sighed

“Steve. Steve. Steve. You worry too much about these weak werewolves. We are here to hunt wildebeests so let’s focus on that , if we mistake a werewolf for a beast, then it’s their unlucky day.” Baron still didn’t look at Steve. He was too focused on the force that pulled him to the woods, as he almost closed in on Lauren Hills.

"But Alpha…"

"Steve, shhh. If you keep talking we might Chase our prey away" Baron said.

Steve looked at his Alpha with worry etched on his face. He sighed out loud knowing he had lost the battle. He nodded in defeat and followed his lead.

He knew once his Alpha had his mind made up there was no stopping him.

As they trudged through the thick forest, Baron's ears perked up at a loud scream that came from behind them.

"What was that?"

Baron asked no one in particular