Ranking Of Wolves: The Victor Of His Heart

"This boring world needs at least one villain."

-Artemis Walker.

*****

In the world full of savage beasts with the nature of clawing each other in show of power and dominance, The Ranking Of Wolves was held to maintain the only balance in that very society.

The ranking was held once every decade, that way, anyone is given the opportunity to rule over one pack to another. Every decade that came, hundreds of packs in need to exchange of a leader are being ranked from the biggest to the smallest territory; and thousands of individuals participates on wanting to atleast rule over one. The strongest amongst those individuals have the greatest lead on which pack shall he/she reign.

The epic battle of bloodshed, was what other people define it to draw children and most woman away in participating. And yet, I, Artemis Walker is no child, and despite having the fatigue of a lady, the ranking thrills me unlike any other nature of a she wolf there is!

"Finally." I chuckle ferociously, the shifting stench of iron blood enters my senses as I stood proudly at the top of the open Battue Arena. The distinct smell of bloodshed left in place before me sent shivers of delight running down my spine. I never felt more alive in facing death alone.

"Art, get back here." Came my older brother, Aries's voice from behind, pulling me backwards before I could get fully drowned in the temptation of wanting to get succumb in a bloodbath. "I know you're excited, but stay still."

"Of course, Ari." I purr when he pats my head. He's the only one who gets to tame the beast in me without getting scarred.

"Mother is getting worried, we should go down now."

"Ugh." I grunt, my sullen mood shifts back in an instant at the mention of mother. "So she cares now."

"I know you hate her but don't say that, she's still our mother." He tells me softly as he caress my cheeks to ease my anger issues down.

"No, I don't have a mother since I only have my brother." I chime ever so sweetly, making him pat my head once again. He then picks me up in his arms.

"We should avoid letting you move before the ranking begins." Aries advices as he jumps down while carrying me. "Wouldn't want to trigger the ranking to start early." Smirking maliciously, he adds once we landed without flaw.

That's what I love about my brother, he cares for me in the most inordinate of ways that makes me adore him even more.

"Aries, what happened to your sister!?" A timid yet soft voice calls out, drawing the attention of the other individuals around us in awe. "Why are you carrying her like that?"

My moods drops at the sight of Savannah, our witch of a mother looking ever so elegant and perfectly brilliant. Her raven dark hair which both me and my brother took over, flows in rhythmical fashion with her movements, enthralling anyone who gets to lay their eyes on her.

I scoffed, looking pretty is the only talent she ever had, with disregard to that, she's weak and useless enough not to continue the glory of our family in the ranking. I don't understand why she even went with us in the ranking in the first place.

'Probably to humiliate her children.' Alona, my wolf spat in spite. We share the same hatred and anger against anyone, may it be our birth mom.

"Artemis, my darling girl, are you okay?" Savannah's eyes widens in worry, examining me from head to toe after Lucien drops me down on my feet.

"Can't you see?" I retort bluntly.

"Artemis." She sighs, on the verge of tears. Ugh, I so hate the weak look in her eyes, just looking straight at it is enough to kill me!

"Don't look at me like that." I snarled in anger. That very look she possesed was the sole reason why father died, I can't bear with it. We had the same looks, her beauty was so contagious that neither me and my brother avoided taking it over our own facade. But the only difference is that the strong willed demeanor I have is far from her frail ones.

I never liked it, her hopeless expression. My fury then heightens my senses to the point I was hearing the series of hushed whispers coming from the people around us.

"The Walkers, you heard about them? Such unfortunate creatures for their glory to disappear as silently as though they never existed."

"I heard they used to possess both beauty and the beast in their glorious name."

"The beast disappeared, and I guess beauty is the only thing they have left."

"Why are they even here?"

"Those poor children, must be striving to bear the humiliation of being here."

Those words thrown upon us echoes repeatedly in my head. I'm used to it, we've been stepped down repeatedly as the lowest of them lows ever since the strength of our family withered away. But that doesn't mean I'm okay with it, I've been silently watching everything for so long.

From the way us 'Walkers' used to influence and spread terror among the lands. Our family was carved and entitled as Lycans- the title given to the greatest hunters of all- it was our pride. We were so powerful, respected, and looked up to by many that a lot envied and hated us for it. Although, sooner, we were scorned and the hatred of other packs rummaged to destroy us by seeking through my father's weakness- which is his very mate.

I was so young yet proud that time, every time to be exact. I've always thought of my father is the strongest person ever, and he was. But to think that his weakness could turn out it be something so common, so vestal, and so fragile, my expectations towards him ceased at the same time he ended his own life for her. Mates are pathetic, I never wanted to be like him then.

Altogether, our glory turned from that to the way my mother trembles as she hangs on me for dear life every time somebody comes to take advantage of us. My brother putting his life on the front line to fight off those invaders while she uses me as a shield against those who got through. I'm disgusted, even up until now, she still clings on me, trembling in prolonged fear. Why does she have to be so fucking weak that she has to sacrifice her children on behalf of her own life?

And now, she's putting her fake act of concern in public while cowering under me. Frustrated, I shoved her hands away before facing the spectators who formed to watch us in disdain. I'm not as patient as Aries that I tend to lose it easily for no reason.

"Says who?" I bellow, facing those spectators head on, my wolf forcing her way through the surface as her own pride got scarred. I was tempted to launch right at them and continuously claw them alive, my sights slowly got tainted red with burning fury as I let my wolf out completely.

I just needed to hurt somebody, anybody, to gain the satisfaction my blood is craving for. I reach for the first person to enter my range, only to stop midair as an electrifying current enters my nerves.

"Shit." I wince as soon as my body drops down the ground, yet the electric current did not stop overflowing throughout my body. Rushed footsteps enters my hearing before a woman's cry broke through. Darn it, the anger intensifies in me even more, she's going to make me look weak in this state.

I struggle to break free, yet the more I struggle, the more the pain intensifies.

"It's okay now." Aries's face was the first to enter my blurry sights as he searches all over my body before pulling something with his bare hands, easing the electric current until it disappears. "See, it's okay-"

Even his own voice then came short. His frame drops over me as he struggles to prevent himself from pushing down on me while a frame hovers over us from behind him.

"The Walkers, huh?" A random warrior, that's what the aura that radiates off him. "You still have the audacity to enter the ranking despite your rotten states, how shameful."

As he lets go of his words, my brother's frame falters his back bending down yet he still refused to fall on me. Don't tell me...he's stepping down on him?

My brother isn't weak, although we're both strong, both our ways of fighting was derived from our carnal instincts alone that we tend to get out of control. Usually, I was the one who easily does, and that's the problem with him, he's holding himself back too much.

'Alona.' I call forth, since my body is still adjusting to the numbness, the only one who could control me better was my wolf.

'Leave it to me, babe.' Alona howls as she stretches her body in me before shifting upwards to take full control. By then, she arches my back in a ridiculous angle, sprinting upwards while holding Lucien and simultaneously landing a swift kick right on the warrior's jaw.

'Ooh.' I snorted when the guy came flying in the crowd of people that formed around us.

"Alona." Aries scolds almost immediately, sensing my wolf's enthusiasm.

"I'm so sorry, honey." She gave him a peck on the cheeks before retracting herself back in.

'You bitch.' I thought when she ran away to make me face a scowling Aries, which I flash one sheepish smile with.

"You know how much I hate it when people look down upon us."

Much to my relief he only sighs in defeat, but more towards behind me. "We're in trouble."

I tilt my head in confusion before loud, heavy footsteps enters my ears. I snap my head behind to meet the lawful sights of the Rankers, my grip soon tightens on my brother's cloak in caution but the menacing glint in my eyes heightens at them.

Well, hello, Mr. Policemen.