The second Kimmik entered the camp, a snowy white wolf ran up to Lykos. She shot a hasty glance at Kimmik, but seemed to seem her news more important then the outsider.
"My Alpha," the wolf bowed her head, "I'm so, so sorry, but Beta Erika is gone."
"What?" Lykos gasped, but the wolf had already continued. She lowered herself farther in submission.
"She spoke with Salome this morning, she said that she couldn't handle the responsibility anymore." The wolf's eyes clouded with sorrow. "There's nothing we can do."
"Thank you, Accalia." Lykos replied. "Gather the pack, bring Aradia with you. We must have a meeting and decide on the new Gamma."
Kimmik saw the grey wolf straighten. "My Alpha," she said, beginning to lay her ears back.
"Now is not the time, Gamma Iode." Lykos replied. Kimmik smirked in satisfaction. Lykos was exerting her power, showing that she alone made the decisions. Right of rank did not ensure Iode would become Beta.
"Yes." Iode murmured.
"I'm sorry, but you will have to leave your rest for later." Lykos told Kimmik. "We are to have a pack assembly, and it would do you well to attend."
"Of course." Kimmik replied. Her eyes were cold and calculating.
This is your chance! The voices screamed, become Gamma, and your path will he set! With a whole pack behind you, who knows what you could do!
Kimmik suppressed them, but couldn't force down her smile. She knew her face was unreadable because of the mask, anyways. She knew they were right, she knew she would do whatever she could to become Gamma. And then you will die. She thought. She imagine blood dripping down Lykos' fur, running down and dying the grey wolf's eyes a pinkish white. Her thought turned to Death, but suddenly her control over her mental illusion shattered. Not Death. She decided. She tried to force herself to think the mercy only came because she had other things in store for the she-wolf, but she knew it wasn't true. Something about that wolf intrigued her.
Kimmik followed passively at Lykos's heels into a large cave system. Lykos sat, and the rest of the wolves ringed around her. Their quiet conversation seemed subdued, and their eyes shifted back and forth. Kimmik suppressed a snort of derision. If a high-ranking wolf had vanished in her Íglisk, they would be killed immediately. Lykos raised her head and the wolves fell quiet.
"As you all know by now, Beta Erika has vanished," Lykos began, "She served the pack well, but it is now time to appoint a new Beta. Gamma Iode has lived with us for many moons, overseeing training and ensuring the pack is safe. If there are no objections, she will be Beta."
There was some murmuring, but no one challenged Lykos's words. Iode stood tall and proud, her eyes flashing with glee. A cold, hard hatred for her grew inside Kimmik, fuelled by the voices that echoed ceaselessly in her head.

She know no hardship, a shadow whispered, You would do a better job.

In time, Kimmik responded. An aspiration began to form, joining with her hate and her bloodlust. In time she would have that post, she would become Beta.

While Kimmik was lost in thought, Lykos had brought the assembly back together. "As many of you already know, Kimmik will be joining us temporarily to learn our ways. In this time I have decided that she will serve as Gamma. The techniques she knows and the battle strategies will help us grow."

Shock filled Kimmik, but she concealed it quickly, stepping forwards. "Thank you, Alpha Lykos," she said, "I will do my best to serve you all as Gamma."

Varying expressions filled the faces of the wolves around her, from shock to anger to disbelief. Lykos, it seemed, had made an unpopular choice. Kimmik smiled. They would all drown in a pool of their own blood, and she would lead the survivors. For a moment the fantasy took over her mind and the hot reek of blood permeated her nostrils. A tide of sticky red liquid tugged at her fur and swept the wolves around her off their feet. It filled the cave, rising to the ceiling.

All at once the vision vanished, leaving Kimmik gasping for breath. Ryu pecked at her ear in concern, and she shook him off. The smell of blood was still hot in the air.

"Beta Kimmik, are you alright?" the white wolf, Accali asked. Kimmik nodded slowly.

"Yes, I was just thinking."

"Lykos was wondering if you wished to run a training session," Accalia whispered, "She's waiting for your response." Kimmik noded, furious at herself for loosing concentration. One step at a time.

"I will begin a training session now," Kimmik announced, "All those wolves wishing to take part will meet directly outside of this cave, as soon as this meeting terminates." Without waiting for a reply she turned and strode out of the cave. Ryu shrieked at everyone inside before following after her.

***

Kimmik glance approvingly at the wolves that  were training around her. Her gaze flitted to Death, noting her progress. The she-wolf had already beat five other opponents, and Kimmik could see her warrior training shining through. When Death pinned her newest opponent, Kimmik signalled for her to come over. She paired Death up with a warrior named Breeze, a small wolf that was prone to utilizing underhanded tricks. Breeze's greatest weapon was her ability to anger her opponent, and Kimmik wanted to see where this would lead. As soon as Death's fight started, however, another wolf caught Kimmik's attention. She was clearly struggling against the others, rolling over and showing her belly at the slightest provocation. Omega, Kimmik thought with some distaste. The wolf's opponent rolled her over and slashed viciously at her belly. Although Kimmik would have loved to see the pathetic weakling die, she supposed that would not endear her to the Alpha. Kimmik sighed and moved between the two wolves, stopping the aggressor from daring to make another move. The Omega shook in fear behind her, the whites of its eyes showing. Kimmik didn't spare it another glance. She raised her eyes to the wolf's antagonist and was met with none other than Beta Iode.

"I thought we had agreed not to shed blood," Kimmik said cooly, "I didn't know you were exempted from this rule."

"The wolf's an Omega," Iode sniffed. "It doesn't matter what I do to her."

Privately Kimmik agreed, but she knew Lykos would not appreciate her directly disobeying the Alpha's order. Omegas in this pack were not to be harmed.

"Lykos specifically ordered the entire pack to let the Omegas alone. I don't think she would appreciate the story I now have to tell."

Iode's eyes gleamed. "You won't get back to Lykos."

"Is that so?" Kimmik asked dangerously, stepping closer. "I don't think you would be able to stop me, Omega Iode."

With a snarl, Iode leaped. Kimmik had anticipated the motion and she ducked just in time, rolling away from Iode's flailing claws. She struck back, snapping her teeth over Iode's ear. The torn flesh shredded under Kimmik's grasp as she ground deeper. Kimmik let go and leaped back, shoving Iode away with her rear claws in the same motion. The large Beta hit the truck of a tree and did not rise.

Kimmik turned away from her defeated enemy and walked over to the Omega that lay on the ground. The wolf was tiny, with the fluffy fur of a pup just weaned. It huddled into a ball and squeezed its eyes close as Kimmik approached. The gashes in its chest still oozed blood onto the ground. Kimmik nudged the Omega gently, but it didn't stir. With a sigh, she gently closed her jaws around it and lifted it. She needed to find that wolf, Accalia. Kimmik had assumed she was some sort of healer, and even if she wasn't she would know who was. It was impossible for her to age the Omega, many small wolves ended up in the position as they were unable to hold up in a fight against a larger wolf. She could tell that it was still awake, but it seemed to petrified to say a word. It was the first time in many years that Kimmik had regretted wearing her helmet.

Fortunate;y, Accalia seemed to have scented the blood. Kimmik lowered the pup gently to the ground as she came running.

"Iode fought it," Kimmik said gruffly. Accalia nodded.

"I'll take care of her she'll live. Iode was always too rough on the Omegas anyways. I'll make sure she doesn't die, but after this she'll be expelled from the pack for sure."

Kimmik nodded. "The Alpha needs a Beta she can trust."

Accalia looked troubled, but only said, "You can return to the training. I'll be fine on my own." Kimmik nodded and turned away. For a while she stood, simply watching the surrounding wolves. Death finished her match and came to stand beside Kimmik. A few times she looked like she was about to speak, and then she seemed to change her mind, closing her jaws. Eventually she moved away, appearing to be giving orders. Kimmik's irritation spiked when she realized Death was instructing the wolves, showing them battle moves that directly contradicted what Kimmik had taught. The moves Death showed were sound, but they left the warriors open to attack from above, and with magic. Kimmik snarled slightly as she observed. Eventually, Death returned and Kimmik glared at her, growling a warning.

"I Gamma, and I will train these wolves. You may be a warrior and have nothing to do here anymore, but that does not make you in charge. Are we clear?" she met Death's red eyes solidly, imposing on her that she was not to be trifled with. To her surprise, Death straightened and raised her head instead of lowering it the way that was proper for addressing a higher rank. The action made Kimmik bristle, and the shadows whipped around her head, anger and vengeful thoughts flying.

"Gamma Kimmik, in my defence these wolves seem to be concentrating more with two wolves watching them instead of one. And I don't need fight training that much- as you can see I beat all my opponents. I train by myself every day."

Kimmik gaze loosened. She now understood this wolf, and her distaste increased. "That is where you are incorrect, Warrior Death. You never stop needing to train, for your enemy will always be bigger, faster, stronger. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you have nowhere to grow."

Death's fire seemed to die, and her head lowered slightly. "No, my Gamma." Kimmik nodded at her, and turned away to continue the training. She shad a feeling that Death was watching her, even after she had seemed to loose interest.

Hey guys! Sorry for the slow update, and sorry that this chapter is so bad. For Igiveuponthis AlphaKasumiRose  WolfLover1670  I hope that I portrayed you all correctly when I wrote this. If not, please let me know and I will change it.