BLOODY RAMPAGE

FREDA

This was not how I planned this meeting to go down. I had planned out how I would want everything to go down. In my head, of course. It went like this: I would appear and stay invisible, the alphas and the vampire king would discuss a peace treaty, and they would come to an agreement to end the war. The vampire king wouldn't go through with whatever he planned to do with us alpha daughters, and I would be free to go back to that wretched pack where I would continue to plan my escape back to human civilization.

It all seemed so perfect, and I made myself believe that this was the exact scenario that would play out. I had thought of things going south, but I had never imagined that we would be surrounded by vampires wielding weapons of various shapes and sizes. If we didn't solve this situation real quick, we would most certainly be dead by the time dessert came in.

“Do you all truly believe you can fight your way out of this, alphas?” King Draken's voice boomed over the meeting hall. “My patience has worn thin. Now, kneel before me, and perhaps I would show you dogs mercy.”

The alphas’ responses were, of course, snarls of defiance.

“Go to hell, Draken,” an alpha spat out as he snarled at the vampire who pointed a spear at him and his daughter.

“Perhaps you all would come to your senses when I take some drastic measures,” King Draken said. His voice took a low, dangerous edge. I blinked my eyes, and when I opened them, the king was gone.

I heard the terrified voice of Licita scream behind me. I turned around abruptly only to witness King Draken’s pale hands clamped around the throat of Licita in a vice-like grip.

“What the…” My voice trailed off as I continued to watch King Draken squeeze the life out of Licita. I was scared shitless right about now. King Draken had moved in the blink of an eye. It was so fast that even Licita’s father couldn't react in time to save his daughter. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as I subconsciously tightened my hold on my father's coat.

“Let go of my daughter, Draken,” Alpha Lyrus spun around and lunged towards the king. He shifted mid-stride, fur erupting across his skin, claws extending from his fingers, and in a few moments, he shifted into a massive silver wolf.

“Stand down, mutt. One more step and your precious pup gets it.” King Draken was unfazed as he tightened his hold on Licita’s neck. His clawed fingers dug into her skin, and blood began to trickle from the wound.

Alpha Lyrus let out a deafening howl, trying to intimidate the king, but he didn't move. He just stared at the huge silver wolf with mocking crimson eyes.

A cold, inhuman smile stretched across his face as he surveyed the room. He knew he had us, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come next. With a swift movement, he tilted Licita’s head back, exposing the vulnerable flesh on her neck. His fangs elongated, and before anyone could react, he sunk his teeth into Licita’s flesh.

A gasp escaped her lips. Her struggles became even more frantic, but it was all futile as the king kept her in check while feasting on her blood. Her eyes went wide with terror as her eyes locked with her father's for a fleeting moment.

The silence that descended in the hall was thick, heavy, and even more suffocating than the tension that preceded it. The cruelty of the vampire king had completely drained me as I watched in a numb daze as the life drained from the girl's body.

As much as I hated Licita, I had never wished death upon her. Well, I did wish death on her, but I had never wanted her to die like this. This time, I threw all the hate I had for my father out of the window, and I was practically clutching his cloak tightly.

The minutes continued to stretch into eternity, and the only sound that filled the meeting room was the sickening slurping of Draken feasting on Licita’s blood. Her once vibrant skin turned pallid and waxy as Draken continued to drain the blood out of her. Then, with a final shudder, Licita’s body went limp. She was dead.

King Draken tossed her body aside like a discarded rag doll, her lifeless form landing on the floor with a thud.

The sight of his daughter's lifeless body finally snapped Alpha Lyrus from his paralysis. He raised his head and let out a howl filled with pain and grief. The howl reverberated through the meeting hall, shaking the very rafters of the hall and our souls. He lunged for Draken, his crimson eyes brimming with killing intent, but the only thing King Draken did was…smile.

Before Alpha Lyrus could even reach the vampire king, a wave of silver blades descended upon him courtesy of Draken’s warriors. Spears and swords pierced his thick fur, pinning him to the ground with a sickening crunch.

He struggled desperately, but it was all in vain as more blades sank into his flesh, drawing crimson blood that stained the marble floor.

A strangled howl erupted from his mouth, but it was all for naught. He was done for. Slowly, he shifted back into his human form while spewing a huge amount of blood from his mouth.

“Pathetic,” King Draken spat out with a look of disgust. He stretched out his hand, and one of his warriors gave him a sword. The sword gleamed wickedly in the dim lighting as Draken continued to walk towards him with slow, menacing steps.

“This is what happens when you dare to cross my might. Alphas, watch closely.” Draken addressed the alphas, and he swiftly made his way towards Lyrus. With one clean sweep, he beheaded him cleanly. Blood gushed out of the wound, and my stomach began to churn.

I turned around and barfed out everything I had for dinner. This was the first time in my life I had witnessed so much blood, which made me empty my belly. My father stretched his hand out and handed me a handkerchief while his focus was entirely on Draken.

I wiped my mouth with the handkerchief and shifted my attention to the king as he surveyed his work with a satisfied smirk. Initially, I had been curious as to why the alpha's reluctantly obeyed the Vampire king. But after witnessing how he effortlessly speed blitzed Lyrus to kill licita and killing Lyrus in cold bold, I finally understood. He and he alone had absolute power.

Suddenly, the doors of the meeting room burst open, and an attendant rushed towards the king.

King Draken frowned with displeasure as the attendant made his way to him.

“This better be important,” King Draken snarled at the attendant. “Do you have any idea what's going on here?”

“It’s… your sons, your majesty. They are back,” the attendant responded in a low tone.