CONNOR

I kneel in front of my father, my knees scraped and bleeding, staining the carpet as I wait for him to finish with his punishment. We are in his pack office where everything he says is followed to the T.

He's currently sitting in his chair behind the desk with a cigar in his hand, and a glass of whiskey in the other. He's drunk which means he has no control over his emotions and that's why I am kneeling here in front of him, after getting caught while hanging out with the pack's weakest wolves.

"You know that we are Alphas. We don't mingle with the pack, we rule over them," he says, his voice rougher because of the alcohol. I nod even when I want to say a big no., I am fifteen for fuck's sake. I know a lot of things about the pack, I am not a kid anymore.

"Do you want to say anything?" he asks and I lift my head to look at him. He's standing now, his face is expressionless, well that's expected. He never wears his expression on his face. He's carefree but only when he's with my mom but nowadays even those events have disappeared.

"Dad, it's good to be friends with your pack. They'll share their problems better if we are friendly with them." I watch as he makes my way towards me and in the next instant, I feel a slap on my face, the force causing me to fall back on my side.

I wipe off the blood trickling from the corner of my lips, trying not to wince. He doesn't like when I show that his beatings hurt.

"We are not here to play house, Connor. We rule this pack. We show our dominance. We don't befriend our subordinates," he growls the last words, bending down to pull me up by my hair. I get up not in the mood of getting another slap.

"You should be punished. You should know your place," he says and then walks up to his desk. He puts his cigar on the ashtray and then opens the bottom drawer to remove a cane.

I feel a little shiver of fear run down my spine but otherwise, I try to be as calm as possible. I should get used to this I think to myself for I've been receiving beatings from my father since I shifted into my wolf at 11 years of age.

"Strip, Connor," he orders and I feel dread crawl up my spine. I swallow and maintain a stoic expression to lessen the number of beatings that I am sure I am going to receive today.

He's drunk, he's angry and he caught me with friends whom he doesn't approve of. I am going to receive at least 15 whips today. I do as he says; he always whips me where the marks won't be visible. I remove my shirt and pants, standing in front of my father in my underwear and wait for him to turn. I want to run but I know it's of no use. He always catches me, making it look like a fun run in front of the pack members but when we are alone, he punishes me all the more severely.

"You are learning. Good," he says and then turns, picks up the cane and motions me to kneel.

I do and brace myself for the first bite of that cane on my back.

Almost a decade old, the memory flashes in my mind, fresh as all other painful memories. Cursing at the timing of that memory, I shift into my wolf in the training field of my pack where my father had already shifted into his wolf.

My mother comes in front of me and leans down to land a kiss on my furry forehead.

"My child, unleash the Alpha within you. May the Goddess be with you," she whispers above my head, her voice very low but I hear her clearly.

I nod at her and then she turns to stand beside me, signalling Natalie, a neutral wolf to be the referee in our dual. I agree. My father won't raise a hand on a female at least he's not that cruel.

I trot towards my father's wolf and stand in front of him, bringing my sister's tear-filled face in front of my eyes. One by one he's hurt the three important females in my life, my mother, my sister then my mate.

My mate was the last straw, I realise and lunge at him, my rage giving me the additional strength.

Surprising my father, I land a big blow on his shoulder, making the wound gape and bleed. He snarls in anger and then runs into me, his head bulldozing into me.

My body is flung by the blow and I bang on the branch of the nearby Birch tree. Shaking myself from the tremors of the blow, I get back on my feet ignoring the pain from the scratches and the trauma of being thrown off, I start marching towards him and speed up in my run. He's running at me at full speed and we meet mid-air to claw at each other's shoulders.

I successfully, claw his teeth out and fling some of them towards my mother's feet. This will give him a lesson to not manipulate my mother into claiming her again. I grunt in satisfaction, while he roars, the blood gushing out of his mouth. He thumps the ground with his front paw, the pain of his teeth being plucked out must be immense, not that I have ever experienced it.

I watch him, my focus on his hind legs as he springs up in action, jumping towards me but I dodge his attack, effectively making him smash into the mud. Before he can regain his footing, I pounce and bite off his shoulder, delivering a very deep bite.

That was for banishing me, for punishing me when I just stood up for my friend.

He growls at the pain of his shoulder being chewed off, but then attempts to snap at me, but misses by an inch. Sighing in relief, I quickly move forward to claw at his belly. Unfortunately, he manages to pierce his claw into my jugular, making me gasp in pain.

I breathe in a lungful of air, watching my father doing the same. I smile internally thinking that I successfully clawed his belly.

That one was for my sister. He had punched Zion in his stomach when he had come here to take back my sister. The bastard didn't even acknowledge the fact that Zion is his daughter's true mate.

I watch as my father snaps his teeth at me, well the remainder of his teeth and then lunges at me. I wait till the last moment that he's almost over me when I scrap at his jugular vein, hitting him perfectly in the vein making him collapse forward. I duck from under him and watch as he goes down.

Satisfaction and pride for avenging my mate flow through my body.

I want to kill him for doing this to my Catrina who's already in so much pain because of me but the thought of him being my father and my mother's bond with him, makes me stop and I take a step back, breathing heavily through the rage.

My father growls in his wolf form but doesn't back down instead tries to get up, growling, rage clear in his eyes. I wait for him to surrender but he doesn't. I sigh in frustration. He should give up.

I dodge his attacks now, not wanting to do any irreparable damage to his life. He can survive without teeth but not without any other organ. Even if he's done so many wrongs, I can't rip him apart like a normal rogue. He's my father and that thought stops me from retaliating back.

He growls in frustration now when I don't attack but just dodge his attacks.

"Connor, don't bait him. Just deliver a blow and end it," growls my mother, knowing full well that I can't kill him.

I nod my head and watch him, as fear starts to set in, he doesn't want to let go of his title. If he loses today, his pride will receive a massive blow. He won't be able to claim for the Alpha-position again.

With that thought in mind, I launch myself at him. He doesn't make my work easier at all. In fact, he tries to land a few very good blows on my shoulder and belly.

A particular claw in my belly, makes me lose my balance and I collapse at the shock of it and that's when my father raises to bite me in the neck.

Gathering all my strength, I slip from under him at the last moment, pawing him in the side and pounce over him. Not letting him get up from the submissive position, I cover his body with mine and grab hold of his neck, not in a killing bite but to dominate over him.

I wait for a few seconds, making sure that everyone has a look at me winning over the previous Alpha and letting the people know that I am finally the Alpha of this pack. By blood and sweat.

"Connor, you have made your point," whispers my mother, only then do I let go of my father.

I shift back into my human form, wincing at the wounds and pull up the pair of shorts that Yuri passes me. All the while, I watch my father who hasn't shifted back.

"This pack is rightfully mine and I am the Alpha of this pack," I announce clearly making sure that everyone hears it. They do because all their heads bow in respect and acceptance.

Today, I proved that I can protect them far better than my father ever did. Not that he was a bad Alpha but rather a negligent one. He was the worst father, though.

My father growls when he realises that everyone has accepted my claim on the pack.

"Father, I know that you forced Catrina to reject me," I whisper, letting the pain seep into my voice. Everyone needs to know what's happening and why.

The females gasp probably in shock at their adorable ex-Alpha's behaviour.

My father shifts back to human form, his rage and humiliation visible on his face.

"I told her that I would choose a suitor for her but that bitch had to tell you," growls my father making me growl back. How can he even think of arranging a mating with someone else?

"Father, that's nonsense. You can't do that to Catrina. She's mine. I claim her as mine. She claimed me too, she was ready to begin our life but you ruined it," I growl, my wolf already on edge, and father just shakes his head.

"She's a dormant, you idiot. She's Xavier's daughter," snarls my father.

"We don't judge our pups for the crimes of their parents. This is pointless," I growl back, wanting everyone to know the true self of my father.

My father watches every one of my pack members who now have an expression of disapproval written all over their faces when they look at my father. He realises that and maybe that's why he just smirks.

"Well played, son. You played me. By doing this in front of the pack, you brought family matters out in the public. Suit yourself. When your pups don't shift into a wolf and when you have to give up your position, then we'll see."

I growl at that prospect knowing full well that there won't be any kids here. But still, I accept it. I'll live with it as long as Catrina is mine.

"Who'll be my successor is my decision to make, not yours. I am the Alpha here," I announce, daring him to reply but as expected he doesn't.

"Fine, be it then. Have fun as the Alpha. I'll make my own," he growls, before shifting back into his wolf form and then runs away, only this time there's no breakage of bonds. They were already broken but still, it hurts to be rejected as a son. I was an idiot who wanted to impress him.

"Congratulations, Alpha. So, I am still the Beta, yes?" whispers Yuri, trying to lighten the mood and I smile when most of our pack members let go of their serious expressions.

"As of now, you are. But there's a lot of work pending, so the position of Beta might open up in the future," I smirk.

"Not happening. I'll get back to work. Come on everyone. Shows over. Let's relax." Yuri makes the work of settling all the pack members and the comfortable atmosphere seeps back into my pack.

I feel a huge weight being lifted off of me as I realise that my father can never claim my position again and my pack members now don't have any reason to deny me as their Alpha.

"You did good, son," whispers my mother and I startle to see her still standing there waiting for me. 

"Thank you, ma," I whisper, walking towards her watching as all the emotions play on her face. She's happy but she's sad too. Her mate's alive but doesn't care about her and their pups.

Such a disgrace, I shake my head at the thought and let my mom, caress my cheek as if I am still a kid.

"Your wounds are not healing fast. You should go and bring Catrina back. Claim her. She'll anchor you," whispers my mom, gesturing towards my wounds which are just now starting to clot.

"I will but I don't know what lies father put in her head. I just..." I take a deep breath not wanting to be emotional in front of my mom when she's dealing with her own problems. But it's so difficult. Every passing minute is like I am wasting my time. I should just leave all this and go and beg Cat to take me back.

"I know, baby. I know. You'll be fine. She'll take you back and we always have the hope of her shifting into a wolf. I have never heard of any wolf being barren. Every wolf can at least give birth once."

"Mom, she was pregnant. She lost them because of me–"

"Human doctors can't diagnose a werewolf body, malysh, even if she's dormant. Her body is different. Don't lose hope," she whispers and somewhere it feels that it's not possible. She's just trying to console me.

"I hope mom, I really hope. Because if that's the case then Catrina taking me back will become a possibility. If it can help in healing her mind, I'll try anything," I whisper, desperately now wishing that the Goddess helps me out here. 

~~~

As promised, I have updated early.

So, what do you all think about this chapter?? Why did Connor leave Conan alive? Will we see Conan again??? What's Conan's fate?? 

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