The closer they got to the village, the louder the howls became.

Suddenly, Aleana stopped dead in her tracks. “Lera, go into the bushes over there.” Her voice was riddled with panic.

He knew better than to object; fear had entered her eyes.

Just as he had sufficiently covered himself in the branches, a figure emerged. He had dirty blonde hair that went down to his shoulder blades with green eyes that hinted of malice.

“Well now Aleana. Fancy meeting you here,” he purred.

“Fuck off Heric. I don’t need this right now.”

He walked closer to her, but Aleana stood her ground. “Come on Aleana. Aren’t I good enough for you?” He grasped her hips in his hands and pulled her forward. With a passion only he could feel, he brought his lips down upon hers.

Lera felt a savage urge inside him like he had never felt before. He wanted this man’s blood and he wanted it now. Silently he prayed for this man to leave; he could not take much more of this man’s hands being on something that was his…

What? She isn’t mine… But oh how I want her to be…

Aleana shoved him away. “You have always been the same Heric. You will never change,” she spat.

“Come to me ‘o broken one

Lay down your staff…” Heric began to sing.

Aleana stopped him by binding his voice. “DON’T YOU EVER SING THAT TO ME AGAIN IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE.”

Heric began to laugh silently. Aleana released her spell.

“You do realize sooner or later you are going to be mine,” Heric half wheezed.

“Is that a statement or a hopeful mantra you mutt?”

“A little bit of both I think,” he shot back as he disappeared into the woods.

When Lera emerged from his hiding place, he found her with her head hung down.

“Aleana?’ he whispered as he walked up to her. When she didn’t answer, he turned her around and raised her chin up towards him. She may have had an intimidating presence, but he was still taller.

“I’m sorry Lera, but he…he is TERRIBLE!”

“You look so beautiful when you’re angry.” Oh my God. Did I just say that out loud?

He knew he had by the fact that Aleana just stared at him wide eyed.

“What did you just say?”

Instead of answering, he brought his lips close to hers. “I said that ‘you look so beautiful when you’re angry’,” he whispered.

Aleana sighed softly. Just as Lera’s lips were about to brush against her own, a howl erupted near by. They both jumped apart instantly; their breathing ragged.

“Well…I think we have to get going,” Aleana stammered.

“Yeah, I guess.”

They continued their walk to the village, with Aleana leading the way.

The funeral of a werewolf is much different than that of a human’s. On a slightly raised hill, a pyre is made, with a wooden platform for the corpse. The body is placed upon the wood and lit on fire. Like a phoenix, their leader is said to rise in spirit to run in the fields of above. Many neighboring packs come to pay their respects and to mark the competition. A week after the funeral, which is considered the standard mourning period, werewolves can challenge the next in line. If he or she fails, the other takes over. After the fight, there is a feast to celebrate their new leader and the fact that their old leader has found the afterlife.

And Aleana was determined not to let Heric take over.

They emerged form the dense forest to find Kolrey’s body already lain down. The torch had been lit and was being kept at the ready. Aleana shuddered at the Kolrey lying there that wasn’t really Kolrey at all.

The werewolves had all changed into their wolf forms. Many whimpered and a few howled weakly. Heric stood at the top of the hill, glancing at the mixed packs below. His gaze stopped at Aleana and Lera. He watched as they made their way to the top of the raised patch of earth. He knew not of who this man was, but he could guess that this was the next in line.

The werewolves all turned in shock at the sigh of Lera. Their eyes followed his slender form as he strode behind their Watcher. He held his head high and looked straight forward, not giving up any of the small amount of dominance that he possessed. Aleana led him towards Heric.

Lera felt something stirring inside him as he beheld the full moon making its way above the treetops. His heart shivered with joy.

Heric snickered. He could tell the boy was struggling with his inner animal. After the pyre there was to be food. A bloody course of raw meat to be enjoyed in werewolf form. Heric knew such a thing would be hard to resist. He chuckled darkly to himself as the pair finally reached him.

Aleana turned to Heric and frowned slightly before facing the crowd. “My brothers! My sisters! Here before lies Kolrey, one on the best leaders this pack has ever known.” A wild chorus of howling followed. “And here beside me, stands Lera, his son, and his successor.” At this announcement, many cocked their heads to the side or began whispering among themselves.

Aleana stabbed Lera in the rib with her elbow. “Say something mutt,” she whispered. Lera lifted up his hand and waved before lowering it quickly. Aleana rolled her eyes before continuing.

“Now I ask for a moment of silence, to pay respects to him.” She closed her eyes and began to pray silently. A suppressive silence soon swept through the crowd, making Lera uncomfortable as he closed his eyes and held down his head.

When Aleana could fell the tension of the crowd rising, she snapped out of her prayer. “Let the fire be lit!”

Two men, perhaps some of the few who had not yet changed to wolf form, came forth with torches and lit the wooden platform.

Aleana held back a cry as she smelt the stench of his burning meat fill the night air. Lera grabbed a hold of her elbow for support. “Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear. She shivered as she felt his breath against the nape of her neck.

“Yes. I am okay,” she whispered back. Lera shook his head and pulled her close to him, so that his arms wrapped around her.

“You look like the dead. I don’t want you falling over,” he whispered back. She only nodded and sunk deeper in his arms.

Heric watched them with distaste. They looked like young lovers whispering of their heart’s desire as they held one another. A growl erupted in the back of his throat as he looked away. He would have Aleana, and he would lead the pack as well.

And he would do anything to keep this promise.