Family.

Beta

After our Alpha's speech, everyone was filled with determination and continued on with their training. Axel and Forrest trained with even more hope and motivation. Mixen returned with John, and they both seemed to have...changed?

John looks like he's no longer lost in life, and Mixen...it's as if...no I must be imagining things...

...

...No, there's something definitely different yet similar to Mixen...like John, he no longer looks lost.

I stopped my staring as my Alpha continued to walk. I followed Her like a lost pup. I would usually act aloof and above Her, but not after that speech. Not after She's back.

She headed straight to the healing cabin and I got confused as to why we were here. She headed to our only lab. I grew flustered at my ignorance. Of course She would head here. Man, that speech has put me off by a lot.

"Violet..."

I perked at her, my heart skipping, until I realized She wasn't calling for me, but for Her mate. Man, I'm so stupid.

"Violet.", She said more sternly and I knew it was for me this time.

"Y-yes, Alpha.", I stuttered.

"Heh,", She chuckled, "what's got ya all lost in thought? Yer hearing can't be that dull.", She tried to act as if She wasn't calling for Her mate the first time.

I would've called Her out on it and mocked Her, but that of course didn't cross my mind at the moment.

After a pause (probably expecting a comment from me), She continued, "I guess it's time we've put this lab back to its proper use, don't ya think Violet?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"But first,", She said darkly, "let's test Axel...".

Axel

The Alpha called us over. Well, She called me, but of course Forrest is having none o' that. So here we are, in the training grounds with the big Boulder. She stepped over to us in wolf form, and demanded us all, but Forrest, to shift. She introduced Sally to me as my partner.

"Partner for what?"

They all remained silent. Forrest didn't like the secrecy behind this and was about to demand some answers when the Alpha silenced him.

"You will fight Sally, as a test for all yer trainings."

"Ah ok, cool!", I smiled.

However the mood was still grim. Terribly grim.

"Get into positions.", She ordered.

Me and Sally stood across from each other, 7 feet away. We looked each other in the eye for respect. Mine held confusion, meanwhile hers held the same grim expression as the Alpha and Beta.

"Axel,", She began, "Sally will be yer partner for fighting. She is yer final test after all yer trainings."

Okay, that doesn't sound too bad...

"We all know that you are a special case. Ya got special training. So therefore, ya get a special test."

Yeah, that's fair...

"Ya started late, meanwhile Sally didn't. However, the war we are going to is more dangerous than most wars in our history. We are going against at least 5 other packs. And Axel,", She looked at me with sympathy and a smile,

Here it comes...

"Won't ya rather die by a pack member?"

I froze on my spot and looked at Her fully, then back at Sally who's expression didn't change. Forrest morphed into a wolf and the Beta held him down.

What...?

I fearfully watched Forrest struggle against the changed Beta.

Wasn't Forrest stronger than the Beta?

The Beta held such power in his eyes. Power that was excited to be back again, as if finally free from its restraints.

Forrest looked surprised as well, but it was obvious it wasn't because he didn't know this side of the Beta.

Forrest.

"Positions,", She barked, and with a short yet seemingly long pause, "fight."

I snapped back at Sally who pounced towards me, I evaded her. She quickly recovered and went after me with such heavy power in her paws, but I was quicker than her. I continued to evade, not wanting to hurt a member of my pack.

"You can't evade forever in a war, Axel."

I continued doing so anyways, "I trained to fight enemies! Not family!"

Her face darkened.

Sally lunged at me, but she was too close to evade. She was on top of me, trying to get a bite at my neck. "Sally. Sally! Don't tell me you actually want this?!", but my words never reached her ears, for in her eyes it was obvious that nothing but my murder was on her mind. "Sally this isn't you! You're kind! Caring! Selfless!".

"War's change people, Axel. Even if they returned alive, don't expect everything to go back to the way it was before. There's no such thing as a good war."

Sally was growling and making fearful noises as she continued to get a bite at me.

No.

A sudden rage overtook me, and I pushed Sally off making her land on her back. It was the perfect moment to go in for the kill, but that never crossed my mind as I turned to my Alpha and defied.

"I get that! But why do I have to prove myself with the life of my family?! Why can't I prove it in the war?!", I quickly turned back and evaded Sally's paws.

"Because, you're a special case..."

"Let...me...GO!!", Forrest growled menacingly. I stood still with shock at the ease our Beta was handling Forrest. However, it only took one second of stillness for Sally's paw to completely knock me off my paws. I heaved heavily, her strength was really something. I didn't have time to think about getting up since she was already back on top of me, again aiming at my neck.

"What happened to you?!", I yelled at Sally. What could have possibly made her this...this...brainwashed!!

She backed up her head and scratched terribly deep into my arm with her claws.

I yelped in searing pain. She clawed at me a second time on the same wound and I yelped louder.

"AXEL!!" Forrest pleaded, "AXEL!!". His voice trembled and tears were sliding down his human cheeks. How he was still awake after being forced back into human form, I didn't know.

I continued to stare at my mate as I got clawed over and over again. I didn't see how the Alpha was breathing heavily, refraining Herself from stopping the fight before Her.

"AXEL...!!", Forrest pleaded with such pain and woe. It snapped something in me. I looked back at Sally who's intent still hasn't changed, and pushed her off.

Something was boiling in me. Not hatred, nor anger, but the will to survive and live for not only myself, but for everyone else.

The Alpha released a held, stuttering breath that I didn't know of.

I was bleeding heavily, a pool of blood right under me, but still I stood up with determination in my eyes as I watched Sally regain her posture. Something in her eyes quivered, but it wasn't long until it went back to being the way it was.

"I will not die here!"

Sally completely stood up.

"I will live for my family!"

She dashed towards me once more.

"And I will fight to the death for my family!"

She got closer.

"But I refuse,"

She was 4 feet away.

"To kill my family!"

She jumped.

"And Sally is family!!!"

I evaded her jump weakly as she landed on all four paws, but she didn't move afterwards. She stood there, facing the ground with legs apart.

She sniffled.

Her body jolted.

Then she morphed into her human form, tears streaming down in confusion.

I just stared at her, not realizing I collapsed and that the Beta was tending to my injuries. It went on like this until my beloved called my name.

"Axel, Axel, Axel!", he sobbed while hugging my wolf body. I was surprised he even allowed the Beta to touch me after what he just did. Oh well.

"Axel,", our Alpha said, "rest first, we'll talk later."

I was about to object until I saw her heading for Sally.

I felt really dizzy.

Then my eyes began to feel really heavy.

I fought to stay awake.

"Axel,", the Beta looked at me in the eyes, "don't sleep just yet.". Something about the Beta after he "woke up" was very...odd. It wasn't off putting at all, more like everything fitted, made sense. As if he was finally fully there.

"Who are you...?"

He put a finger over his lips, "Shh..."

I was then laid down by Forrest. This shocked me since I didn't know I was being carried, I looked at Forrest.

"Forrest...?"

"Yes, love?"

My heart melted and I giggled weakly.

"You called me love?", I hummed.

His eyes fell from worry to a mixture of sadness and happiness.

"I wish I said it more.", he confessed in a whisper, "but,", he held my paw, "pumpkin suits you more, love..."

I giggled and gently hit his arm with a weak and bloody paw. I didn't realized the Beta was still treating me nor that we were in the cabin (as obvious as that should've been), all I could focus on was my mate. Forrest tried not to look worried as my blood colored his skin. He morphed into a wolf and began licking the top of my head soothingly.

My eyes began to feel heavy again.

"I love you, Forrest...", I murmured.

"I love you too, Axel...".

Important

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Thank y'all fer the comments and votes! This was rather more saddening to write. I'd like to inform y'all that I'll be postin more comments on my profile asking about y'alls opinions and answers for this story so please check that out. Also, thank y'all for 1K votes, you guys are amazing! Please comment more throughout the story, I'd like some feedback cuz I know I ain't that good (I'm serious), like feedback on what I could work on, tips, some advice, etc. ya don't even have to be a pro or like a writer to even give advice. Maybe ya can't write a story to save yer life, but still gotz some advice~ I'll hear it out. Thank y'all once again, lemon sponges! Have a good day/night :D