Chapter Text
The faint sounds of pleading screams were all that was left. The sobs, the agonizing mewls, the wishes that the pain would be over soon… all haunting sounds being carried by seemingly gentle winds that cascaded in tantalizing twists amongst the trees.
It was a contrast as to the scene laid before him.
The young alpha stood at the top of the mountain, watching over the village that succumbed to the devastation they didn’t see coming.
That he didn’t see coming.
Ash and decay were what would be left behind once the fires finally died down, the need of combustible materials slowly becoming less and less as time continued on.
He ground his jaw, the small act flexing the muscles tight. The pain radiating down his limp arm was miniscule compared to the anger that burned through his skin, the unfettered anguish teetering on the edge of ferocity, and he couldn’t continue to stare at the devastation in his wake.
Or maybe it was the actual burn that mauled his skin, the area red and tight and hot.
If only he had acted sooner.
If only he had smelled the familiar scent of copper in the air or smelled the distress that had masked the area.
If only he didn’t wander farther from the edge of the forest to find the traces of deer and rabbit that had migrated south.
If only he hadn’t fucked himself by following a dead scent, this wouldn’t have happened.
If only…
The roaring sound of blood filled his ears, only slightly muffling the sounds of his erratic breaths coming out in quick pants. Katsuki couldn’t keep staring. He couldn’t keep wondering what if. It would only drive the alpha mad with rage, maybe to the point of feral, but he couldn’t get to that point. He had to stay in control, no matter how dire the situation seemed.
Katsuki loosened the tight clench of teeth, shifting his jaw enough to lessen the pain from biting down for so long. He let out a small, angry huff through his nose and looked away, closing his eyes as he repeated the words that he had been repeating when he realized his acts of heroism was fruitless.
They were not his pack.
He let out a low growl in between heavy pants, the adrenaline slowly dissipating as he tried to extricate the guilt that remained heavy in his chest.
They were not his pack.
It wasn’t like he knew the people in the village. He had only stepped foot near this small mountain village a few days prior, maybe a week or two if he was truly counting, but he always stayed within the confines of the forest where he felt more at ease.
He wasn’t meant to make himself known at all.
Katsuki considered himself a lowly wanderer, a man set on a destined journey to find himself and ensure that he would be a great king to his people. He came from a long line of Dragon Born who had done the same, and Katsuki would never settle being less than the best in everything regarding this destiny.
It was ingrained into his life since the moment he was born.
This journey would prove that he was able to be resourceful and live off the land while fending for himself as he defeated the various dangerous predators around him. But in order for him to truly take his rightful place as the next Dragon King, he must come back alive, stronger, and scarred before the next red moon.
He trained and readied himself to lead his pack to safety and greatness, just like his mother and grandfather had done before him, and he wouldn’t dare prove them wrong.
Three months into his journey, he reached the outskirts of the forest, landing on the sight of villagers milling about. He was intrigued by the many shops littered about the open area, noticing a blacksmith towards one end of town where he could possibly barter his services in lieu of servicing his dagger, but he didn’t care to speak to those outside of his own village and pack.
But what intrigued him most was what wasn’t there.
Katsuki tsked when he noticed how open the village seemed to be—it was as if the Elders were negligent in protecting the perimeter of the village from the dangerous rogues that wandered aimlessly around—the same ones that pillaged, ravaged, and killed those that stood in their way from gaining what they wanted.
But maybe it was justified.
Katsuki’s snarl dropped to a frown. He couldn’t sense any rogue alphas in the general vicinity, and there wasn’t even a hint of danger marking the forest as he made his way through the previous three months.
He tilted his head up and sniffed again, his head swaying back and forth as he tried to find an inkling of danger, but he sensed none.
Yet he couldn’t help but be wary over it.
Katsuki looked up and noticed how low the sun hung on the horizon, determining that it would be better to stay put for the night before speaking to the blacksmith in the morning.
As he prepared his latest kill—a small rabbit that he happened to snare as he gathered wood for a fire—he noticed an elder flagging him over from a small field away.
Katsuki clicked his teeth with his tongue. He truly wanted to ignore the fucker in lieu of his meal. Choice words were on his lips when he realized the elder had already managed to walk halfway towards his camp, a small feat given that he wobbled with a cane.
He let out a low growl in annoyance while placing his uncooked meal to the side in order to meet the man somewhat halfway.
“What do you want old man?” He eyed him warily, but the old man continued to smile as he recognized the pendant that hung on his chest.
“Seems like our paths have met once again.”
Katsuki’s brow arched in confusion.
“I don’t remember you.”
The elder chuckled. “Of course you don’t, but you look just like another alpha that came ‘round here many moons ago.” The elder looked up, his nose scrunching up as his eyes crinkled with mirth as if remembering that time again.
Katsuki could have cared less than being told a story of years passed, but the twinkling gleam in the elder’s eye had proved to intrigue the young Dragon prince, with his own wolf howling and pestering at him to stay.
For what? He couldn’t tell.
The Elder—a beta the prince deduced—proceeded to relive a time where a woman with the same pendant, maybe even the same age as the prince stood now, had come through and helped his village during a time of great distress. He listened to how the alpha woman had come in with this confidence that seemed to pour from her body, helping them prepare and hunt for a devastating winter that was bound to come.
They were forever thankful for this alpha to come in one day without question, and after a brutal winter, she had left the village with a mate of her own, a sweet omega who cared for her when she had fallen ill at the end of the cold season.
Katsuki knew that the elder was speaking of his mother and father, and he couldn’t help the small smile at knowing her legacy still existed outside of their small pack.
The elder had asked the young prince if he could help once again, just like his mother had done many moons ago, and after the pleading look by the old man, Katsuki could only sigh with annoyed agreeance.
Katsuki blinked in quick succession.
Black splotches started to dot his vision, and he growled out at how weak he was.
A King protects. A King can stand on his own two feet.
So why did the ground look like it was reaching his face so quickly?
Katsuki growled and shifted his stance, willing his body to comply with staying upright. He couldn’t falter. He couldn’t fall. He had to get away.
He just had to.
An aching throb shot through him and he couldn’t hold back the loud howl that ripped through his body. Sharp pain radiated up and down his limp arm, and he realized too late the wound that punctured his side, blood oozing down onto his pants, discoloring the brown color to almost black.
“Fuck.” Katsuki growled out, reaching the gnarly gash with his uninjured arm. He didn’t even remember when he got this particular gash or how he was able to avoid seeing blood this entire time.
Another shot of pain ripped through him, and he couldn’t help but falter to his knees.
“Get up dammit.” He ground out through gritted teeth, failing to keep himself upright as his body refused to listen. He leaned over the soft earth, bracing himself on his elbow as he pressed his palm harder onto the wound, willing the blood to stop. He sucked in a breath as the black spots multiplied, inundating his vision, causing the young alpha to panic, furthering his distress.
This was not my pack. He tried to say once more, but he fell to the ground completely as the world faded to black.