章 65: Chapter Sixty-Five
As the words spilled from Lucian's lips, something broke within Atlas. His gentle aura with the Elders and a taunting, playful attitude were severed entirely from his persona.
Atlas clenched his fists tight and narrowed his eyes. His red irises turned blood red in their hate.
"Don't you fucking dare talk about my father as though you knew anything about him." He spat at Lucian.
Lucian grimaced as Atlas' saliva flew into his face. He used a free hand to wipe it from his cheek slowly. He jerked his arm deeper into Atlas' throat, smiling evilly as he did so.
Atlas tightened his grip on Lucian's arm and grunted. The carbon dioxide within in lungs burned the edges of his chest. His face turned to a dark shade of red as the blood yearned for some new oxygen. Atlas wheezed and gasped as Lucian snickered from his position above.
The world around Altas swayed and whirled. The anxious voices of the Elders around him muddled into a pool of indiscernible noise. His eyelids drooped, and soon, black surrounded him.
"Atlas?" A soft feminine voice spoke into his ear.
He spun around, searching the void for the source of the voice.
"Hello?" He called to the void nervously. His heartbeat pounded loudly in his ears.
"Atlas." The woman spoke again. "What are you doing?"
"Who are you?" He shouted, irritated by the nagging.
"What are you doing, my dear boy?" The woman whispered into his ear.
Atlas spun toward the voice. A bright blur stood at his side. He swung up an arm to cover his eyes from the harsh light.
"Who are you?" He repeated.
"You have to ask?" She chuckled. The humanoid figure took a step closer, and the brightness of her aura dissipated with each step.
Atlas faltered, a sharp pain rose through his spine as he hit the cold, hard, black ground.
The woman knelt and extended her shimmering hand.
Atlas' breath caught in his throat as the woman knelt before him, offering him help.
"Who are you?" He whispered, unwilling to accept her help.
She lowered her hand and sat before him. The light around her faded to a gentle grey.
"I'm saddened you don't even recognize your mother." She spoke sorrowfully. Her shoulders and posture were slumped forward. "I supposed I can't blame you as I never really was in your life. I was taken from you much too soon."
Atlas froze, everything in his body longed to understand the young woman before him. Who she was and if she was his mother. How was it possible for her to be here, and where even was he? His head pounded and screamed for relief.
"How can I be sure it's you?" He stuttered, wanting to believe but finding it too bizarre.
The woman scooted forward and placed a hand neatly on her lap. The other one she waved once in the air. A bright cream swirl appeared and glittered around her hand as she moved in a steady and smooth motion. The sparkling faded and revealed a long, luminescent, red scarf floating beneath her fingers.
The red slice of thick wool fabric swayed gently between them, and the familiar scent tickled Atlas' nose.
"The scarf." He whispered, stunned by the conjuration. A content smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Yes, Atlas, it's the one thing that you gave to someone who was in need. The time that you proved that you were my son and were going to become the best Alpha for the Riverwood pack."
She held out the scarf and dropped it into Atlas' hand.
It was completely weightless and as soft as feathers. Atlas shivered as the scarf drifted into his palm. He clutched it tightly in his hands as tears burned the rims of his eyes. He couldn't cry. Not yet.
He looked up at his mom and smiled brightly for the first time since he had given that scarf away.
"Thank you." He smiled.
She scooted closer to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her joyful face turned stern, she looked deeply into her son's eyes.
"I need you to listen to me, Atlas." She spoke quickly and directly. "I need you to give this fight everything you have. I know you have refused to use your wolf because of your father, but I need you to trust me. The wolf wants only the best for you as its partner and host. You will become an amazing Alpha. So please use the gift the Moon Goddess gave you."
Atlas nodded fervently, his hands still clutching the scarf.
She smiled at him once more before pulling him into a hug.
"I love you, Atlas. I'm sorry I never told you that. Tell Venus I'm proud of her and the woman she will grow up to be."
The woman faded into light particles as soon as her sentence finished. They drifted to the ground and created ripples of light as they landed at Atlas' feet. His heart ached from the loss, but his resolve was set.
He shut his eyes tightly, and immediately, the world around him was colorful and loud. Elders scrambled around the island, unsure of if they should intervene of let the proceedings continue.
The scarf was no longer in his grasp. Instead, his nails dug deep into Lucian's neck above him. Deep red blood dripped down his hands and arms, sticking to every hair follicle and thread.
Lucian's eyes were wide in shock. Their blood veins popped out of the whites of his eyes. Lucian gasped for air and clawed at Atlas' arm, but to no avail.
Atlas slowly rose to his feet, tightening his grip on Lucian's throat as he stood. Lucian dangled in the air, kicking wildly at Atlas the entire time.
Atlas smiled, his eyes wet from the tears of seeing his mom again, but he was determined. Determined to see this till the end.
"Let's have a real fight."
"What?" Lucian choked out with the remaining oxygen in his lungs.
"Wolf to wolf. I'll prove to this pack that I am the one worthy of being Alpha."
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