Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice (Hell Dimension #4)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ALARIC

T he moon’s glow on my body felt weird, like being in a tanning booth instead of laying in the sun. My wolf knew it wasn’t right, but my instincts didn’t care. With shaking hands, I ripped off my clothes, throwing them to the ground. My control was nonexistent. It had been too long since I’d had a moon shift. My wolf needed it to stay sane. Being without the moon had to be by far the hardest thing about being trapped in Hell.

“Alaric, you okay?” Ivy asked. I groaned but managed a head nod to keep her from getting close. I would be fine once I shifted, but moon shifts always made the process longer. I might hurt her by accident.

“He’s doing good. Take your potion, so you can be there when he shifts. You’re his Alpha and mate, so he won’t feel the urge to find his old pack.” Trigger had become a good brother to have. He made our mate a transformation potion, so she could be a wolf with me. Well, she had to chase him and fuck his brains out to get it, but she loved every second of her challenge.

It’d only last for an hour and she wouldn’t smell like an animal. It’d be almost like an illusion I could touch. I didn’t care. Excitement buzzed through me.

Knowing that my mate would be a wolf soon had me eager to let my shift happen. My body popped and jerked for a few seconds until white fur covered me, and my legs changed into a wolf’s. My body and arms were next. The sizzling hot pain wasn’t new, but I still whimpered by the time I finished my transformation. Fuck. That was rough. Not having a moon shift regularly must have its consequences.

I’m sorry, mate. A female all-black wolf whined and nudged my head with hers. I stiffened before my senses kicked in and Ivy’s scent wafted into my nose.

You heard me? I didn’t know I could wolf speak with her. It was like our mate bond, but not as clear. As if we were putting our hands in front of our mouths, blocking the sound slightly.

Yes, she responded in my head.

Must be because my wolf considers you pack. You’re a gorgeous wolf. My exact opposite, I explained.

I was fully white, and she was pure black. She was slightly smaller than me, though not small by any means.

“You look gorgeous, Dreamgirl. I’d fuck you even as a wolf.” Trigger’s words made me growl. If anyone was mounting my mate as a wolf, it’d be me.

He chuckled and lifted his hands up. “I gave everyone a speed potion, so don’t hold back Alaric. Run your little fluffy tails off. You really are cute. Ivy kinda looks creepy, almost invisible in the dark, but you, I want to cuddle. Oooh, can we cuddle? I love dogs, but Lucifer would always kill my pets, so I stopped snatching them from Earth.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I turned around and showed him my butthole like the animal I was right now. It just made him laugh. He really did have a couple screws loose.

Come on mate. I won’t be a wolf for long. Let’s run, Ivy said.

I didn’t need any more encouragement than that. I darted off. Ivy was right on my heels. The sensation to join the howling packs was fleeting with Ivy and her mates with me. The men moved quickly, but they all let me lead. The new alpha nature inside of me loved it. He didn’t mind Ivy being the alpha, but she wasn’t a dictator. I felt like the alpha in a sense.

My troll and vampire sides settled inside of me as I ran. The rage that was a constant shadow in me vanished. It freed me to really give in to my wolf.

I was the hunter, and the world was my prey. I darted around any obstacles and jumped over boulders. The trees reached for me, trying to swat my tail with their branches. It was a game the wildlife played with the shifters. I missed it.

The air was humid and hot, but not even the stink of Hell could ruin this moment for me. I was a wolf. Nothing else mattered.

Little creatures darted into the shadows as I got near. I snapped at them but didn’t go for the kill or even hunt them. The run was what I desired. The way my muscles moved and stretched made me feel alive and awake, like the times outside of this moment were a lie. I was only bones moving around. That feeling had dwindled since finding my mate, but a little part of my wolf still lived for the full moon runs.

A howl in the distance had my hackles rising. This was my pack, and I’d defend it. As soon as that thought hit, I blinked it away, shaking my snout. That was new. I hadn’t had a full moon since becoming an alpha. My wolf still saw Ivy as my leader, but only by choice. With her magic she’d win any fight, but apparently my new alpha brain didn’t care. It said I chose her as my alpha, not because I had to. I could live with that as long as the wolf never challenged our mate. I didn’t think he would, but the thought still scared me.

The howling of one of the packs got closer. Great. We couldn’t take on a whole pack… Wait. What am I saying? My pack wasn’t just wolves anymore.

I slowed to a walk because the pack was almost upon us. Ivy brushed her wolf body all over mine, scenting me. My tongue drooped as I panted my pleasure. I knew I had a goofy grin on my face, but I didn’t care. The wagging tail was a dead giveaway.

The sound of approaching footsteps had all that puppy love vanishing. I growled and stood slightly in front of Ivy’s black wolf. I didn’t cover her because no other wolf would respect her if I did. Even betas could do this, but it definitely was looked down on.

Well, shit. The little she-devil did bring out that alpha nature your father gave you. Dram, my old alpha, stepped forward. His large brown wolf came out of the shadows. None of his other pack mates followed, so this wasn’t a challenge, but I still didn’t like him here.

What the fuck is he doing here? We agreed that we got this area to run for the full moon. Ivy’s voice in my head calmed me as if she’d run her hands along my back.

Dram’s ears perked up when he noticed the black wolf had Ivy’s scent. His tail wagged and he absently stepped forward like an alpha does when he sees something he likes. The strongest claiming growl rumbled my chest until my whole body vibrated. It startled Dram enough to take a step back in shock. He tilted his head at me, glanced her way, and shook his head in the wolf equivalent of not-worth-it gesture.

I just came by to wish the new pack well on the full moon. You all are a bunch of weirdos, but I see they are your pack. Congrats, Alaric. Although, you’re going to need to change your alpha name once you leave the school. Then, soon you’ll get your demon-name. It’s a lonely life without a mate. I’ll deny it if you tell anyone, but I envy what you have. Cherish it.

He left without looking at Ivy again. It might have been disrespectful if she was a real wolf, but he was giving me the respect I deserved for once. Who knew the douchebag had a soft side.

He had reminded me how I’d have to magically change my name and that just made my gut clench. Powerful alphas weren’t supposed to have a name known by many. It was like demon names in that someone could use it against me, but mostly I thought it was tradition for the prestigious packs. I knew a few alphas who had a public name, and nothing had ever happened to them.

I shook off my nerves and turned to my pack. They couldn’t hear anything Dram had said, so I relayed everything to them. The shock on their faces mirrored mine.

“Come on, Ivy doesn’t have super long as a wolf. Let’s keep running. Lead the way, alpha Alaric.” Trigger winked at me, understanding the huge respect a high-ranked alpha had just given me. Dram had only ever lost one fight. To my mate. His bite was poisonous for fucks sake, but he gave me alpha respect. I was living in a dream. I just hoped no one woke me up.

For now, all I could do was run and live free because with the battle sneaking up on us, it may not be that way for long.