Chapter 152 - 151. Because Of You

The female dominant was surprised by Eden's reaction but a vicious smile appeared on her face as well as on that of her comrades. The one holding Cherry tightened his grip and incited a new scream that he muffled from the omega female.  Trembling in anger, the beta was caught in a dilemma.

He wanted to attack and support Eden who was the future Luna of his pack but his mate was in danger. If he moved to help the male omega, Cherry would be hurt. He was racking his brain for a solution when Eden's voice echoed in his head.

[Take care of Cherry, I'm getting rid of the girl. Once I'm done, take care of the others the way you know. I want to talk to them.]

Dante snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head to Eden to assess the situation. He knew his friend was strong but he had always had support so far. Although the werewolves in front of them were only middle-rand and low-rank, there were too many and it was his role to fight anyway, not Eden's. The beta clenched his fists.

[No, there are too many for you to reach the girl. Let's…

[I wasn't asking, or… Are you discussing my order?]

The male omega side-glanced at his friend and packmate and, for the first time, Dante felt a shiver run through him and pin him in place. A mixture of almighty authority and a strength different from physical strength emanated from his childhood friend and it drove his instincts crazy.

Everything told him that he had to obey Eden and the beta was disturbed by the sensation.

He remembered a few days earlier in front of the academy when Glen had arrived and the whole school without exception, from students to teachers, had ended up in a state he could not understand.

Whatever had happened hadn't affected him. Neither he nor Cherry. When he had arrived at Glen's friend who is an agent at the WIA, the alpha had finally told him that he preferred Eden to talk to him because they were friends and it had to come from him.

The only thing he had agreed to tell was to keep an open mind because, on the path that he had taken, Eden would undoubtedly need him.

As mysterious and enigmatic as these words were, the beta felt that it was related to this strange feeling he had for a while now.

From the moment Eden had met his fated mate, he had felt a change in the omega that he couldn't explain. His respect and friendship weren't because he was the Alpha's son and the future Luna but because the male omega was brave, wise, and strong despite his blood rank which showed the omega's determination. It was something that taught him to be humble. But Eden wasn't the friend he knew anymore. He was much more.

These thoughts raced through his head and Dante swallowed. He felt Eden's gaze on him. The two golden circles were waiting. He knew that once he gave his answer, there would be no turning back. He would have to follow Eden on this path Glen had told him about.

The beta's eyes took off to stare at his mate for a split second. The fear in her eyes and the tears on her cheeks tore his heart in pieces. He squeezed his hands even tighter and his claws that he had unknowingly spread pierced his palm.

[No. I'll do as you said.]

Eden's focused back on the girl who was the leader of the gang who had attacked them.

"Your time is out," stated Eden staring at the werewolf teenager.

The middle-rank dominant scoffed but the sound that came out of her mouth didn't even have time to completely end when Eden was in front of her. His hand was raised to her face, fingers spread and claws ready to tear her face apart.

But the blond didn't do any of that. The male omega's palm pressed against the female werewolf's face and she felt each finger and each claw pressing against her skin before applying light pressure.

Her eyes widened in fear. She could feel it. If he wanted, Eden could crush her head. Her eyes darted from side to side seeking support from her comrades and she noticed that Dante had already taken care of the werewolf holding his mate. His opponent was lying on the ground, unconscious and the beta who had released his pheromones, held in check his other comrades who dared not move because the knew that they had no chance against the beta.

Cherry was sniffing, her fingers clinging to her mate's shirt, her body still shaking and the beta who tightened his grip around her shoulders glared at the werewolves who flinched and took one step back. They were ready to flee at the first opportunity but Eden was pissed off. He wouldn't let them off the hook that easily.

They had taken the trouble to study their habits, schedule, and wait for them here, but above all, they went after his best friend.

The female omega was helpless and it was precisely the kind of disgusting behavior he couldn't stand from dominants of any rank.

Moreover, Eden was sick and tired of being targeted and this time he had no idea what the reason could be. He had never dealt with them before, and, aside from the girl he had bumped into in the hallways, he had never seen them. Since he was recently transferred from Black Moon, he didn't know anyone here. That's why Cherry, Dante, and he always stuck together.

"I'll release you and then we will discuss like civilized beings. Is that quite clear? Gone are the days of maiming or killing for a wrong look. If you understand, nod slowly. Oh, and I forgot…"

He clenched his fingers which pressed against the female dominant's skull, and she winced, her eyes wide with fear. "I'm not in the mood for backhanded blows. Don't think that because there are more of you, you have the upper hand. And no retreat either." He turned his eyes to the other werewolves who nodded frantically as Dante increased his pheromones. "You better behave. Am I clear?" Eden concluded and the werewolf's head moved up and down slowly.

As soon as he felt the movement that showed her agreement, Eden released his grip and took a step back. The dominant female's legs gave out and she fell to her knees on the floor. She put her hands on the floor, scratching her palms in the process, but her arms were shaking from the fear she felt. She raised her head to glare at Eden and the coldness of the gaze the omega laid on her made her cower on the ground.

"Who are you and why are you after me? I don't remember ever meeting you other than that day when we jostled in the hallway."

The werewolf kept silent. She carefully avoided looking at Eden. An expression of contempt distorted her features despite the fear. Seeing her stubbornness, the blond took a step forward and he saw her flinch.

"You agreed to speak. Are your words worth as little as your methods?"

The dominant female's head swiveled towards him, her eyes shooting daggers.

"You speak loud and clear only because you have support. Whether it's your mate or the future beta of your pack who is always glued to your tail, it's thanks to them and only thanks to them that you have..."

Eden shrank the distance between him and the girl who continued to spit her venom and bent down so that their faces were a few inches from each other.

"Listen, I thought I made it clear. You already pissed me off so now, I want you to speak or I swear I'll find a way to rip the words out of your mouth and if you think I'm acting because I have back-up, I'll show you that you and I aren't in the same category." Without turning his head, the male omega whose face expressed intense anger addressed his packmate. "Dante, take Cherry to the infirmary. I take care of them alone."

The werewolves suppressed their sly smile when they heard Eden order the beta to leave.

Even though he wasn't entirely calm about leaving Eden with so many hostile people, Dante didn't argue. He walked away with Cherry in his arms.

He had barely disappeared from their sight when one of the werewolves that Dante held in check swooped down on Eden still crouched on the ground.

The omega who knew very well that it was their intention from the start, dodged the attack with ease. He used the werewolf's momentum to drag his body into a hold that sent him to the floor and Eden sat on his back, one foot crushing his assailant's forearm to the ground. The other arm was held back by Eden. He had already pulled the member out of its joint and the pressure he was exerting could tear the member off at any moment.

A cry rose from the werewolf's mouth and everyone else around stopped, not daring to move.

"You tried to hurt my best friend and I overlooked it because I was playing nice. Now, I offer you to settle the matter like civilized beings and yet you try to hurt me?" He increased the strength of his grip and the werewolf Eden was holding began to whimper as he felt his flesh tense, ready to give in and being torn apart.

"Never try to lay a finger on my beloved ones and if you dare to challenge me once again it won't end with just a dislocated shoulder." Eden released his grip and stood up.

His head turned to the female werewolf who had witnessed the scene in horror like the rest of her friends. She already knew what the omega male expected of her and he had no intention of repeating his command.

"It's because of you! Lia is dead, because of you!" She broke down in tears. "Ever since news broke that you and your mate had done the Omega's mark Ritual, her dad had been pressuring her. He was pissed and he wanted to prove that it was something that was within everyone's reach.

For several days, he deprived her of meals, beat her. She had been locked up for days. Lia wasn't ready for the mating and she didn't like any of the candidates but …" Her voice broke and her tears redoubled, falling in large drops on the floor.

Her whole body was shaking and Eden knew it wasn't because of fear anymore. The female dominant was devastated by the loss of her packmate. Eden's heart sank.

"She had to choose one of them and as soon as Alpha Loan heard her choice, he locked them away and demanded Lia to bite him. The Red Orbs' alpha wanted to run away but Alpha Loan confused him saying that if he let Lia do, they too would be considered as chosen by the Moon Goddess. He stayed and Lia bit him.

At first, everything was fine, the day went normally apart from the fact that they were still locked up. Nobody knew what to expect with this ritual so Alpha Loan simply ordered that they be locked up together until the next full moon. He had them served a meal and there was nothing else. The guards posted at Lia's door didn't notice. Unfortunately, at night...

They heard screams and growls. Lia was screaming and asking for help, they opened the door just in time to see the Red Orbs alpha who had lunged at her to forcefully mate with her and claim her, he was half transformed, and when he bit her, instead of claiming her he ripped off half of her neck and the toxin sealed her fate.

As soon as she passed away, the Red Orbs alpha hugged her. Guards said he probably lost his mind because, even though he was the one who had just killed her, he acted like he was desperate for her death. Then, he collapsed on the bed and died holding her in his arms."

The dominant female wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Tears were still streaming down her cheeks but silently.

Eden's body was completely cold. He had no idea that was how werewolves who failed the omega ritual died. It was a dreadful death. As dreadful as the purpose of the ritual was beautiful. He understood the dominant female's anger, he understood her anger, but he didn't understand everything else.

"Tell me how come I'm the one responsible for this. Was it me who beat Lia?" He took a step towards the werewolf sitting on the ground.

"N-No, but…"

"Did I starve her? Did I lock her up, terrorize her to the point that she had to agree to choose a mate she didn't want only to end up being killed by him?" He took another step, his fists clenched and his shoulders shaking with anger.

"No, it wasn't you but…"

"Then why in the hell do you want to take your anger out on me and hurt the people I love?" Eden yelled out. "You talk about what Alpha Loan did to your packmate, but what did you just do to my friend? You did the same! The level may not have been the same but you mistreated an omega! You took advantage of her being vulnerable to hurt her and you would have done the same to me if I couldn't put you in your place.

You are no better than the low life who serves as your Alpha. You and this failure of a leader who killed his daughter and exposed his pack to the wrath of another leader because of his thirst for power, are the same!" The disgust on Eden's face when he spoke his words was worse than a punch in the stomach for the dominant female who lowered her gaze to the ground.

She wanted to deny, she wanted to say that what she had done had nothing to do with the horrible treatment that Alpha Loan had put her daughter through. She wanted but no sound came out.

Eden exhaled for a long time, letting his anger calm down and he turned to the werewolves who had listened to his outburst.

"Do any of you have a car?"

The dominant female frowned at the out of nowhere question but shook her head in response, as did the rest of her comrades.

"My father needs to meet with Red Orbs' Alpha. He wants to convince him not to attack your pack and I have a proposal for Alpha Krasny…"

"Fight with several students and now you plan to skip class?" Eden turned back to the owner of the voice that cut him off and swore between his teeth.