Nexus Bond

Band of Wolves Arc: Part 7 

The countdown had started for the duel between Malice and Eldric.

Malice was with the other wolves. He was well-fed and received plenty of rest. In contrast, Eldric was restless, training day and night, leading his pack, and protecting his family. But something had changed within him.

The gaze that once commanded confidence and respect was diminishing. His leadership faltered, and his bond with the pack grew weaker. He became more aggressive, always lost in his thoughts.

In battles with other packs, his attacks became brutal and merciless. Not a single opponent was left alive, each killed in a fatal, savage manner. Eldric had become a different kind of beast after meeting Malice.

One day he discovered that his three pups were missing. His wife was frantic with worry. Eldric immediately ordered every wolf in the pack to search for them. He ran through the forest, his heart pounding with fear until he found them. They were near the cliffside where he and Glock had fought, playing with Malice.

Eldric charged toward Malice, barking furiously. Malice stepped back from the pups with a sly grin. Eldric barked sharply at the pups, and they scurried back home.

Malice locked eyes with Eldric, his tongue rolling out as his grin widened. He began to scoff, his laughter echoing in the forest.

Eldric turned away, trying to ignore him, but Malice's words from their last meeting echoed in his mind. He tried to shake them off but couldn't. He glanced back at Malice. The black wolf stood there, tongue still lolling, the same mocking smile on his face.

The night of the full moon arrived.

The moon rose high into the night sky, its light illuminating the cliffside. The entire pack gathered to witness the fight, standing in their humanoid forms. Even Eldric's wife and pups were present.

"Bring him forward," Glock commanded. The wolves dragged Malice into the arena.

"You should have eaten less," Glock said, pointing at Malice's grown belly.

"Yeah, but the food you brought was so good I couldn't resist," Malice replied, sticking out his tongue.

"Good you enjoyed your last meal," Glock said scoffing

 "Now, please bring my opponent," Malice said

Glock glanced around, but Eldric was nowhere to be found. "Where is Eldric?" he asked.

"Looks like your leader ran away," Malice said, laughing. "No, he will come. Just wait," Glock replied.

Malice's grin widened. "I have a trick to call Eldric."

Everyone looked at him, puzzled. "Now, imagine I start killing you all one by one. First, that wolf. Then another. Then you, Glock. And finally, his family. Your howls would reach him, and he'd come running to fight me."

"Should we do it?" Malice asked, his voice dripping with malice.

Glock snarled, clenching his claws. Every wolf's eyes burned with fury as they stared at Malice, ready to pounce. But before they could act, clouds covered the moon, plunging the cliffside into darkness.

A sudden attack broke the silence. One wolf from the audience barked, only to be struck down and killed.

Chaos erupted as the wolves barked and howled, unable to see their killer. The mysterious figure moved through the darkness, attacking with savage precision. With every slash, his claws dripped with fresh blood.

The forest, once glowing under the moon's light, was now shrouded in shadow and drenched in blood and dead bodies. The pack, unable to comprehend what was happening, turned on one another in panic. The mysterious figure exploited the chaos, his killing spree relentless.

Glock, struggling to understand the carnage, turned to Malice. The black wolf's grin was still visible, even in the darkness. "You plotted something against us!" Glock growled, grabbing Malice by the throat.

A wolf managed to pin down the attacker. But when he looked into the figure's face, he froze. "No way... Glock, it's Eldric," the wolf whispered before Eldric tore his jaw apart.

Glock released Malice and turned toward the voice. As the clouds parted, the moonlight illuminated Eldric. His monstrous form stood bathed in silver light. His stance was no longer that of a leader but a beast. One eye was missing, and his claws and mouth dripped with the blood of his own pack.

Glock was petrified, unable to believe what he was seeing. Then, from behind, Malice struck. His claws sank into Glock's throat. "Didn't I tell you Eldric wouldn't see you till morning?" Malice whispered with a sneer.

Glock struggled to speak. "How did you—"

Malice didn't let him finish. With one swift motion, he tore Glock's head from his body. Holding it up, he turned to Eldric and began laughing.

Eldric's crimson eye fixed on Glock's severed head. His expression was unreadable, devoid of any emotion. Slowly, he turned his rage on the remaining pack, killing every last wolf.

That night, Eldric didn't just slaughter his pack—he killed the remnants of his past self, becoming a monster consumed by anguish and devoid of any emotion.

"What happened to his wife and pups?" Mel asked, her voice trembling, her eyes wide and numb.

"His wife and pups?" the mysterious wolf repeated, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "The monster himself killed them."

"No..." Mel whispered. "Eldric killed his pups and—"

"He killed my pups in front of my eyes!" the wolf interrupted. "He didn't just kill them. He tore them apart."

Mel's heart sank. "What?" she asked, barely audible.

"Yes," the wolf sobbed. "I was the unfortunate mother of those pups." She broke down completely, her grief overwhelming her.

Mel, stunned by the story, collapsed to the ground. Her numb eyes began to flood with tears as the weight of the tragedy settled over her.